New insights into lipid raft function regulating myocardial vascularization competency in human idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective: Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) affects myocardial vascularization. Whether a lack of demand for increased myocardial vascularization and/or an impaired response of circulating angiogenic-supportive cells are responsible for the vascular derangements found in IDCM is unknown.

Methods And Results: Left ventricle (LV) samples obtained at transplant from IDCM hearts were compared to control hearts from non-cardiac decedents.

Identification of temporal and region-specific myocardial gene expression patterns in response to infarction in swine.

Molecular mechanisms associated with pathophysiological changes in ventricular remodelling due to myocardial infarction (MI) remain poorly understood. We analyzed changes in gene expression by microarray technology in porcine myocardial tissue at 1, 4, and 6 weeks post-MI.MI was induced by coronary artery ligation in 9 female pigs (30-40 kg).

A randomized comparative 96-week trial of boosted atazanavir versus continued boosted protease inhibitor in HIV-1 patients with abdominal adiposity.

Background: Abdominal adiposity in HIV-1 patients initiating antiretroviral therapy may be part of a restoration-to-health phenomenon. Lipoatrophy is associated with long-term thymidine analogue therapy. Individual protease inhibitors (PIs) differ in their effects on lipids and insulin resistance.

Doxorubicin and paclitaxel versus fluorouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide as first-line therapy for women with advanced breast cancer: long-term analysis of the previously published trial.

Background: The aim of this study was to perform an independent review of the efficacy data and to determine whether the efficacy difference observed in a phase III randomised clinical trial that compared doxorubicin plus paclitaxel (AT) versus fluorouracil/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (FAC) in first-line chemotherapy of metastatic breast cancer was maintained after a longer follow-up period.

Material And Methods: A blinded independent review of original radiological images and original case report forms (CRFs) was conducted by an expert radiologist and an expert medical oncologist, respectively. The analysis of the updated data included time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS).

Multiple recurrent chromosomal breakpoints in mantle cell lymphoma revealed by a combination of molecular cytogenetic techniques.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is genetically characterized by 11q13 translocations leading to the overexpression of CCND1, and additional secondary genomic alterations that may be important in the progression of this disease. We have analyzed 22 MCL cases and 10 MCL cell lines using multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (M-FISH), FISH, and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). The 19 cases with abnormal karyotype showed the t(11;14)(q13;q32) translocation and, additionally, 89% of cases showed both numerical (n = 58) and structural (n = 77) aberrations.

New chromosomal alterations in a series of 23 splenic marginal zone lymphoma patients revealed by Spectral Karyotyping (SKY).

Splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is a B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder with characteristic clinical, immunophenotypic, cytological and histological features. Some karyotypic abnormalities have been related to this disorder and most of them are usually complex and difficult to define. The aim of present study was to characterize new chromosomal aberrations involved in this disease.

A phase I safety and pharmacologic study of a twice weekly dosing regimen of the oral taxane BMS-275183.

Purpose: BMS-275183, an orally administered C-4 methyl carbonate paclitaxel analogue, showed promising activity in a phase I trial investigating a weekly treatment regimen, but was associated with a relatively high incidence of neuropathic side effects. The current dose escalation phase I trial was initiated to investigate whether twice weekly administration of BMS-275183 would improve its safety and tolerability. Additionally, the pharmacokinetics and possible antitumor activity were studied.

Small supernumerary marker chromosome causing partial trisomy 6p in a child with craniosynostosis.

We report on a child with a small supernumerary marker chromosome (sSMC) causing partial trisomy 6p. The child showed a phenotype consisting of neonatal craniosynostosis, microcephaly, and borderline developmental delay. By molecular techniques the sSMC has been shown to contain approximately 16 Mb of genomic DNA from 6p21.

Phase II trial of the novel taxane BMS-184476 as second-line in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of BMS-184476, an analog of paclitaxel, in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) progressing or relapsing following at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.

Patients And Methods: Fifty-six previously treated advanced NSCLC patients received BMS-184476 at a dose of 60 mg/m(2) administered intravenously over 1 h every 21 days.

Results: The median number of cycles delivered per patient was five (range one to 17).

Absence of ATM deletions in 16 cases of splenic marginal-zone B-cell lymphoma (SMZBCL).

We present the study of 16 cases of splenic marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (SMZBL) combining conventional cytogenetics and fluorescence in situ hybridization technique (FISH). We used a locus specific probe (11q22.3) that hybridizes with Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated gene (ATM) and a centromeric probe of chromosome 11 as a control.

Prostate-specific antigen density: a means to enhance detection of prostate cancer.

The ability of serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and PSA density (PSAD) to distinguish patients with prostate cancer from those with benign diseases of the prostate was assessed in 495 men. All men were evaluated with PSA determination, digital rectal examination (DRE), transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) and ultrasound-guided prostatic biopsies. PSA was analysed by the polyclonal (Yang) assay.

[Computerization in private urologic practice with multiple practice locations: the use of medical software and a portable microcomputer].

The authors have used a medical programme, Medistory, since June 1990 to computerize a private urological practice. This programme allows personalization of data collection adapted to urology: interview sheets related to the disease, standard report forms, edition of letters, creation of a multi-entry file and entering of accounts. The consultation was always held without a paper support with real-time data acquisition and the accounting was performed at the end of the visit.

Advantage of systematic random ultrasound-guided biopsies, measurement of serum prostate-specific antigen level and determination of prostate volume in the early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

Two hundred and sixteen patients, presenting with a suspicious digital examination (stage T3 excluded) or a level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) greater than or equal to 2.5 ng/ml, assessed by radioimmunoassay, underwent a transrectal ultrasound examination. Prostate volume was systematically calculated and correlated to PSA level.

[The correlation between the level of prostate-specific antigen and prostate gland volume in the early diagnosis of prostatic cancer].

One hundred and eighty six patients (Pts) presenting with either an abnormal per rectum examination (P.R. suggestive of prostatic cancer (P.

[A pharmacokinetic study of diffusion in adenomatous prostatic tissue of an intravenous bolus of cefamandole].

Twenty-three patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hypertrophy received antibiotic prophylaxis with a second generation cephalosporin, cefamandole, administered by a single IV bolus of 2.5 g. A pharmacokinetic study was performed on blood and resection chips collected at regular intervals.

[Arthropathies following the administration of pefloxacin to an adolescent with mucoviscidosis].

We report the occurrence of knee joint effusion with prolonged functional impairment in a 17-year old boy with cystic fibrosis treated with pefloxacin for recurrent lower respiratory tract infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Because the quinolone pefloxacin fairly often induces joint disease in pediatric age groups, we advocate restricting its use to those patients whose growth is completed. In growing individuals, it seems reasonable to use second generation quinolones only in infections caused by resistant organisms and to avoid exerting the joints during treatment.