[The importance of CT angiography for screening supra-aortic vascular damage in severely injured patients].

Purpose: Traumatic injury of supra-aortic vessels remains a challenge in the initial diagnostics of severely injured patients. The presented prospective study analyzed the impact of multislice computed tomography angiography (CTA) as the primary diagnostic method.

Methods: Patients with the following criteria were included and screened for a dissection of the supra-aortic vessels: a) admission directly from the scene, b) resuscitation room treatment indicated by the official criteria of the DGU (German Society for the Surgery of Trauma), c) suspected blunt trauma to head or trunk as well as d) age over 16 years.

Association of breast artery calcification with coronary artery disease and carotid intima-media thickness in premenopausal women.

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether breast arterial calcification (BAC) has an association with coronary artery diseases (CAD) in young premenopausal women and evaluated the association of BAC with carotid intima-media thickness and standard CAD risk factors. Among 84 premenopausal women aged < 55 years who were referred for coronary angiography, 34 (40.5%) had abnormal angiographic findings and 6 (7.

Association of the GNB3 825T-allele with better survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Purpose: Genotypes of the C825T polymorphism of the GNB3 gene encoding the G protein beta3 subunit were recently associated with the prognosis of different malignomas. We investigated potential associations of GNB3 genotypes with survival of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).

Methods: One hundred and sixty-one patients suffering from GBM were retrospectively investigated.

An Ascovirus-encoded RNase III autoregulates its expression and suppresses RNA interference-mediated gene silencing.

RNase III proteins play vital roles in processing of several types of RNA molecules and gene silencing. Recently, it has been discovered that some plant and animal viruses encode RNase III-like proteins as well. Genome sequencing of four virus species belonging to the Ascoviridae family has revealed sequence conservation of an RNase III open reading frame among the viruses.

Forecasting intracranial pressure elevation using pulse waveform morphology.

Unlabelled: Management of intracranial pressure (ICP) following a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an essential aspect of minimizing such secondary brain injuries as intracranial hypertension and cerebral hypoxia. Currently, ICU management of ICP elevations is reactive in nature; we propose a quantitative method to predict potentially harmful elevations in ICP.

Methods: Continuous intracranial pressure measurements were obtained from 37 patients at the UCLA Medical Center.

Effects of an ascovirus (HvAV-3e) on diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella, and evidence for virus transmission by a larval parasitoid.

Ascoviruses (AVs) are pathogenic to lepidopteran larvae, and most commonly attack species in the Noctuidae. The unique pathology includes cleavage of host cells into virion-containing vesicles which leads to the milky white colouration of the hemolymph as opposed to the clear hemolymph of healthy larvae. Recently, we showed that a Heliothis virescens AV (HvAV-3e) isolate is able to induce disease in Crocidolomia pavonana F.

A data mining framework for time series estimation.

Time series estimation techniques are usually employed in biomedical research to derive variables less accessible from a set of related and more accessible variables. These techniques are traditionally built from systems modeling approaches including simulation, blind decovolution, and state estimation. In this work, we define target time series (TTS) and its related time series (RTS) as the output and input of a time series estimation process, respectively.

A robust approach toward recognizing valid arterial-blood-pressure pulses.

We propose a projection method based on singular value decomposition (SVD) to validate arterial blood pressure (ABP) signal in order to avoid artifacts and noise in subsequent processing. The projection has been done on 567 validated ABP beats collected from 51 patients hospitalized in University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. Then, we compare the performance of the proposed projection method with that of a previously developed algorithm, signal abnormality index (SAI), which is a value- and trend-based approach, and has shown to be effective in cleaning the ABP waveforms.

Functional analysis of a cellular microRNA in insect host-ascovirus interaction.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key regulators in many biological processes, from development to defense, at almost all organismal levels. Recently, their role has been highlighted in pathogen-host interactions. Emerging evidence from a variety of virus-host systems indicates that cellular as well as virally encoded miRNAs influence viral replication.

A lipase-like gene from Heliothis virescens ascovirus (HvAV-3e) is essential for virus replication and cell cleavage.

A unique feature of ascovirus infection is cleavage of host cells into virus containing vesicles. It has been suggested that the virus induces apoptosis, either by expression of a caspase or other means, which is then diverted toward vesicle formation. There is little known about the mechanism of vesicle formation.

A subspace decomposition approach toward recognizing valid pulsatile signals.

Following recent studies, the automatic analysis of intracranial pressure (ICP) pulses appears to be a promising tool for the prediction of critical intracranial and cerebrovascular pathophysiological variations during the management of many neurological disorders. A pulse analysis framework has been recently developed to automatically extract morphological features of ICP pulses. The algorithm is capable of enhancing the quality of ICP signals, recognizing valid (not contaminated with noise or artifacts) ICP pulses and designating the locations of the three ICP sub-peaks in a pulse.

The role of actin filaments in ascovirus replication and pathology.

Ascoviruses (AVs) are insect viruses transmitted by parasitoid wasps. The unique pathology in host cells upon AV infection includes enlargement, blebbing and cleavage of host cells into virus-containing vesicles that are important in dissemination of the virus. The mechanism of pathogenesis and vesicle formation is largely unknown.

AVM resection after radiation therapy--clinico-morphological features and microsurgical results.

A subgroup of patients initially treated by radiosurgery underwent surgical resection because of recurrent hemorrhage or neurological deterioration. In a retrospective study, we want to analyze the clinical features of these patients and evaluate the effect of microneurosurgery in such rare constellations. Moreover, we hope to find answers about failure of radiation therapy in these cases by correlation of radiobiological and histopathological data.

A comparison of vital signs charted by nurses with automated acquired values using waveform quality indices.

Objective: (1) To investigate if there exist any discrepancies between the values of vital signs charted by nurses and those recorded by bedside monitors for a group of patients admitted for neurocritical care. (2) To investigate possible interpretations of discrepancies by exploring information in the alarm messages and the raw waveform data from monitors.

Methods: Each charted vital sign value was paired with a corresponding value from data collected by an archival program of bedside monitors such that the automatically archived data preceded the charted data and had minimal time lag to the charted value.

Regression analysis for peak designation in pulsatile pressure signals.

Following recent studies, the automatic analysis of intracranial pressure (ICP) pulses appears to be a promising tool for forecasting critical intracranial and cerebrovascular pathophysiological variations during the management of many disorders. A pulse analysis framework has been recently developed to automatically extract morphological features of ICP pulses. The algorithm is able to enhance the quality of ICP signals, to segment ICP pulses, and to designate the locations of the three ICP sub-peaks in a pulse.

Decompressive laminoplasty in multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy: bilateral cutting versus open-door technique.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate patients with multisegmental cervical spondylotic myelopathy (MCM) surgically treated via a dorsal approach. Two different laminoplasty techniques were compared by assessment of enlargement of the spinal canal and the neurological outcome.

Methods: Thirteen patients (mean age 49 years, 11 males) underwent decompressive laminoplasty over a 7-year period.

Anterior clinoidal meningiomas: functional outcome after microsurgical resection in a consecutive series of 106 patients. Clinical article.

Object: In this study, the authors' goal was to analyze a series of patients treated microsurgically for an anterior clinoid process (ACP) meningioma in regard to long-term functional outcome.

Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed clinical data in a consecutive series of 106 patients who underwent microsurgical treatment for an ACP meningioma at 2 neurosurgical institutions between 1987 and 2005. The main presenting symptoms of the 84 female and 22 male patients (mean age 56 years) were visual impairment in 54% and headache in 28%.

Development of vitiligo during melanoma treatment with a novel survivin inhibitor: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: The development of vitiligo has been associated with an improved clinical response in melanoma patients.

Methods: We report a case of vitiligo associated with a novel antisurvivin drug and review the literature to determine the pathogenesis of vitiligo occurring during melanoma treatment.

Results: A 78-year-old man with stage IV malignant melanoma developed vitiligo after the first therapeutic cycle of a novel antisurvivin drug.

Gender differences in risk factors and outcomes after cardiac rehabilitation.

Objective: We compared the baseline characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes between men and women in an Iranian cardiac rehabilitation programme after adjusting for age, body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio.

Methods: In a self-controlled descriptive study performed between 1996 and 2006, we evaluated 547 patients with documented coronary heart disease before and after a 24-session cardiac rehabilitation programme.

Results: Women were older, more likely to be obese, anxious, depressed, and had more traditional coronary heart disease risk factors than men.

Inferring cerebrovascular changes from latencies of systemic and intracranial pulses: a model-based latency subtraction algorithm.

Changes in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) pulse latency reflect pathophysiological changes of the cerebral vasculature based on the theory of pulse wave propagation. Timing CBFV pulse onset relative to electrocardiogram QRS is practical. However, it introduces confounding factors of extracranial origins for characterizing the cerebral vasculature.

Onyx embolization as a first line treatment for intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas with cortical venous reflux.

Purpose: Our purpose was to present our experience regarding embolization of intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) with cortical venous reflux using Onyx, a non-adhesive liquid embolic agent.

Materials And Methods: From January 2006 to December 2007, 16 patients (12 men and 4 women) with a mean age of 61 years (range 42 - 78) with an intracranial DAVF with cortical venous reflux underwent at least one transarterial embolization using Onyx. According to the Cognard classification, 2 lesions were grade V, 5 were grade IV, 6 were grade III, 2 were grade IIa+b, and 1 was grade IIb.

Chlamydia trachomatis prevalence in Iranian women attending obstetrics and gynaecology clinics.

This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of Chlamydia infection in women attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinics in Tehran, during May 2003 to October 2003. Women attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinics aged 15-42 were recruited by Sequential Random Sampling. Those who had not passed urine in the last hour were eligible.

Inhibition of apoptosis by Heliothis virescens ascovirus (HvAV-3e): characterization of orf28 with structural similarity to inhibitor of apoptosis proteins.

Ascoviruses (AVs) induce a unique pathology in their insect host cells causing cleavage of the cells into virion-containing vesicles. The mechanism by which AVs induce vesicle formation is poorly understood. It is postulated that the virus initially induces apoptosis leading to cell fragmentation.

Embolization of intracranial arteriovenous malformations with ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx).

Background And Purpose: Endovascular therapy of intracranial arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) is increasingly used. However, it is still under discussion which embolic material is optimal. We report our experience in the treatment of AVMs with ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx).

Effects of Heliothis virescens ascovirus (HvAV-3e) on a novel host, Crocidolomia pavonana (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

Ascoviruses are double-stranded DNA viruses which cause fatal disease in lepidopteran host larvae. They induce a unique pathology, causing cleavage of host cells into virion-containing vesicles. With the single exception of Diadromus pulchellus ascovirus, all ascoviruses have been exclusively reported from the Noctuidae.