Are lipid profiles true surrogate biomarkers of coronary heart disease in periodontitis patients?: A case-control study in a south Indian population.

Background: There is abundant literature delving into whether periodontal infection contributes to atherosclerosis. However, whether periodontitis is a definite risk factor for atherosclerosis still remains empirical, with no systematic reviews or longitudinal studies to confirm this hypothesis. The prevalence of periodontitis and coronary artery disease also varies among racial and ethnic groups based on various factors such as diet, lifestyle, and genetic predisposition.

Effectiveness of percutaneous posterior tibial nerve stimulation for overactive bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of posterior percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in treating overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms by systematic review of the literature.

Methods: Systematic literature search was carried out (up to April 2011) using relevant search terms in Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, National Library for Health, MetaRegister of controlled trials, LILACS, and Google Scholar. Relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective studies were selected and then analyzed by two-independent reviewers.

Blast-induced neurotrauma leads to neurochemical changes and neuronal degeneration in the rat hippocampus.

Blast-induced neurotrauma is a major concern because of the complex expression of neuropsychiatric disorders after exposure. Disruptions in neuronal function, proximal in time to blast exposure, may eventually contribute to the late emergence of clinical deficits. Using magic angle spinning ¹H MRS and a rodent model of blast-induced neurotrauma, we found acute (24-48 h) decreases in succinate, glutathione, glutamate, phosphorylethanolamine and γ-aminobutyric acid, no change in N-acetylaspartate and increased glycerophosphorylcholine, alterations consistent with mitochondrial distress, altered neurochemical transmission and increased membrane turnover.

Reduction of sternal wound infections in diabetic patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery and using modified pedicle bilateral internal thoracic artery harvest technique.

Objective: We compared sternal wound infections between diabetic patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery using bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting or single internal thoracic artery grafting and nondiabetic patients receiving bilateral internal thoracic artery or single internal thoracic artery grafting using a modified pedicled harvest technique of internal thoracic artery.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted to analyze the data from 3072 patients who underwent primary coronary artery bypass surgery using an off-pump technique from August 2004 to October 2010. Of the 1211 diabetic patients, 181 received bilateral internal thoracic artery grafts (group 1) and 1030 received single internal thoracic artery grafts (group 2).

WITHDRAWN: Quantum dot-tumor targeting peptide conjugates for in vivo imaging of siRNA expression constructs delivery and silencing in tumors.

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author(s) and/or editor. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.

Mild neurotrauma indicates a range-specific pressure response to low level shock wave exposure.

Identifying the level of overpressure required to create physiological deficits is vital to advance prevention, diagnostic, and treatment strategies for individuals exposed to blasts. In this study, a rodent model of primary blast neurotrauma was employed to determine the pressure at which acute neurological alterations occurred. Rats were exposed to a single low intensity shock wave at a pressure of 0, 97, 117, or 153 kPa.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of a Quadrupole Magnetic Sorter Flow Channel: Effect of Splitter Position on Nonspecific Crossover.

In the Quadrupole Magnetic Sorter (QMS) magnetic particles enter a vertical flow annulus and are separated from non-magnetic particles by radial deflection into an outer annulus where the purified magnetic particles are collected via a flow splitter. The purity of magnetically isolated particles in QMS is affected by the migration of nonmagnetic particles across transport lamina in the annular flow channel. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations were used to predict the flow patterns, pressure drop and nonspecific crossover in QMS flow channel for the isolation of pancreatic islets of Langerhans.

Landmark optimization using local curvature for point-based nonlinear rodent brain image registration.

Purpose. To develop a technique to automate landmark selection for point-based interpolating transformations for nonlinear medical image registration. Materials and Methods.

Impact of preoperative renal dysfunction on outcomes of off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background: This study assessed whether preoperative renal insufficiency predisposes patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery revascularization to postoperative dialysis.

Methods: From August 2004 through June 2009, 2,275 patients undergoing off-pump coronary artery bypass were categorized into five groups (stages) by glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Of these, 1,855 patients had renal insufficiency: stage 2: 1,406; stage 3: 428; stage 4: 21, and 414 had normal renal function, stage 1.

Novel management of the microphthalmic orbit in a patient with PHACE syndrome.

A full-term female infant with severe unilateral microphthalmos and ipsilateral orbital hemangioma in the setting of PHACE syndrome was successfully managed with oral propranolol therapy and subsequent orbital conformer placement. After 3 months of systemic propranolol therapy, the orbital hemangioma had shown significant regression without systemic or local complications. The authors believe this to be the first reported use of systemic propranolol therapy in the management of a hemangioma within a microphthalmic orbit of a patient with PHACE syndrome.

Detection of viruses in used ventilation filters from two large public buildings.

Background: Viral and bacterial pathogens may be present in the air after being released from infected individuals and animals. Filters are installed in the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems of buildings to protect ventilation equipment and maintain healthy indoor air quality. These filters process enormous volumes of air.

Application of magnetic particle tracking velocimetry to quadrupole magnetic sorting of porcine pancreatic islets.

Magnetic isolation is a promising method for separating and concentrating pancreatic islets of Langerhans for transplantation in Type 1 diabetes patients. We are developing a continuous magnetic islet sorter to overcome the restrictions of current purification methods that result in limited yield and viability. In Quadrupole Magnetic Sorting (QMS) islets are magnetized by infusing superparamagnetic microbeads into islets' vasculature via arteries that serve the pancreas.

Sumoylation of vimentin354 is associated with PIAS3 inhibition of glioma cell migration.

The invasive phenotype of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a hallmark of malignant process, yet the molecular mechanisms that dictate this locally invasive behavior remain poorly understood. Over-expression of PIAS3 effectively changes cell shape and inhibits GBM cell migration. We focused on the molecular target(s) of PIAS3 stimulated sumoylation, which play an important role in the inhibition of GBM cell motility.

Generation and characterization of iUBC-KikGR photoconvertible transgenic mice for live time-lapse imaging during development.

A transgenic mouse line named iUBC-KikGR was generated, which expresses the photoconvertible fluorescent protein Kikume Green-Red (KikGR) under the control of the human Ubiquitin C promoter. KikGR is natively a green fluorophore, which can be converted into a red fluorophore upon exposure to UV light. KikGR is expressed broadly throughout transgenic embryos from the two-cell stage onward and in the adult.

Periorbital physical urticaria in an anophthalmic patient with dermatographism.

Physical urticarias are a subset of chronic urticarias in which patients have urticaria induced by a variety of environmental stimuli, including pressure. A 50-year-old white woman with a history significant for dermatographism presented with recurrent swelling of the eyelids shortly after manipulation or removal of her custom-fit prosthesis. This swelling, which lasted for hours to days, responded to treatment with oral corticosteroids.

Müller's Muscle Conjunctival Resection Ptosis Repair in the Aesthetic Patient.

Posterior eyelid ptosis repair via the Müller's muscle-conjunctival resection procedure is an effective, reliable, and simple technique for periorbital rejuvenation in the aesthetic patient. This procedure may be performed with other periorbital rejuvenation techniques without sacrificing results. Appropriate candidates are patients with maintained levator function whose ptotic upper eyelid elevates close to a normal eyelid level upon instillation of phenylephrine drops to the superior conjunctival fornix.

Registered bioimaging of nanomaterials for diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring.

Nanomedications can be carried by blood borne monocyte-macrophages into the reticuloendothelial system (RES; spleen, liver, lymph nodes) and to end organs. The latter include the lung, RES, and brain and are operative during human immunodeficiency virus type one (HIV-1) infection. Macrophage entry into tissues is notable in areas of active HIV-1 replication and sites of inflammation.

Surgical protocol involving the infusion of paramagnetic microparticles for preferential incorporation within porcine islets.

Introduction: Despite significant advances, widespread applicability of islet cell transplantation remains elusive. Refinement of current islet isolation protocols may improve transplant outcomes. Islet purification by magnetic separation has shown early promise.

Lobeline and cytisine reduce voluntary ethanol drinking behavior in male C57BL/6J mice.

Brain nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) have been implicated in the rewarding effects of ethanol and other drugs of abuse. The present study examined the effects of two important nicotinic ligands that target nAChRs, on ethanol consumption in drinking-in-the-dark or continuous access two-bottle choice drinking procedures in C57BL/6J mice. Nicotinic alkaloids such as lobeline or cytisine were administered via subcutaneous (s.

Synergistic antimicrotubule therapy for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer has been widely viewed as a chemoresistant neoplasm. Perhaps, the most prevalent antimicrotubule strategy involves docetaxel administration at its maximum-tolerated dose (MTD). Although the goal is to obtain total eradication of cancer cells, debilitating toxicities are presented by docetaxel therapy, including myelosuppression, immunosuppression, gastrointestinal toxicity and peripheral neuropathy.

Enhanced noscapine delivery using uPAR-targeted optical-MR imaging trackable nanoparticles for prostate cancer therapy.

The tubulin-binding anticancer activity of noscapine, an orally available plant-derived anti-tussive alkaloid, has been recently identified. Noscapine inhibits tumor growth in nude mice bearing human xenografts of hematopoietic, breast, lung, ovarian, brain and prostate origin. Despite its nontoxic attributes, significant elimination of the disease has not been achieved, perhaps since the bioavailability of noscapine to tumors saturates at an oral dose of 300 mg/kg body weight.

Nicotinic ligands modulate ethanol-induced dopamine function in mice.

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of two neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands on acute ethanol-induced dopamine (DA) function in the C57BL/6J mouse ventral striatumusing an ex vivo assay and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemicaldetection. Acute systemic injection of ethanol (2.5 g/kg) significantly increased the DA and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) content in the ventral striatum.

Evaluation of safety and feasibility of ambulatory urogynaecological procedures in a 24-h setting.

Introduction And Hypothesis: Our aim is to assess the safety and feasibility of ambulatory urogynaecological procedures in a 24-h day case surgery setting.

Methods: We evaluated women who underwent urogynaecological procedures in the 2-year period from April 2006 to March 2008 in an ambulatory care setting. Proportion of patients being discharged within 24 h was noted.

Effect of intensive lifestyle changes on endothelial function and on inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis.

Intensive lifestyle changes have been shown to regress atherosclerosis, improve cardiovascular risk profiles, and decrease angina pectoris and cardiac events. We evaluated the influence of the Multisite Cardiac Lifestyle Intervention Program, an ongoing health insurance-covered lifestyle intervention conducted at our site, on endothelial function and inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis in this pilot study. Twenty-seven participants with coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or risk factors for CAD (nonsmokers, 14 men; mean age 56 years) were enrolled in the experimental group and asked to make changes in diet (10% calories from fat, plant based), engage in moderate exercise (3 hours/week), and practice stress management (1 hour/day).

Two-dimensional echocardiographic findings of pulmonary valve cyst secondary to pulmonary valvuloplasty.

Real time two-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography demonstrated a mobile echolucent mass attached to the pulmonary valve in a 25-year-old adult, 20 years following balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty. The mass was surgically excised and pathology showed it to be a cyst.