Enterobacter cloacae ventriculitis successfully treated with cefepime and gentamicin: case report and review of the literature.

A 55-year-old woman was found unresponsive and subsequently was diagnosed with a subarachnoid hemorrhage secondary to a right posterior communicating artery aneurysm. The development of hydrocephalus and decreased mental status necessitated placement of an intraventricular catheter; 18 days later she was diagnosed with Enterobacter cloacae ventriculitis. After treatment was begun with intravenous cefepime 2 g every 8 hours and intraventricular gentamicin 5 mg every 24 hours, the catheter was replaced.

Tissue-specific depression of mitochondrial proton leak and substrate oxidation in hibernating arctic ground squirrels.

A significant proportion of standard metabolic rate is devoted to driving mitochondrial proton leak, and this futile cycle may be a site of metabolic control during hibernation. To determine if the proton leak pathway is decreased during metabolic depression related to hibernation, mitochondria were isolated from liver and skeletal muscle of nonhibernating (active) and hibernating arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii). At an assay temperature of 37 degrees C, state 3 and state 4 respiration rates and state 4 membrane potential were significantly depressed in liver mitochondria isolated from hibernators.

Virus-induced heterodimer formation between IRF-5 and IRF-7 modulates assembly of the IFNA enhanceosome in vivo and transcriptional activity of IFNA genes.

Transcription factors of the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family have been identified as critical mediators of early inflammatory gene transcription in infected cells. We have shown previously that IRF-5, like IRF-3 and IRF-7, is a direct transducer of virus-mediated signaling and plays a role in the expression of multiple cytokines/chemokines. The present study is focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation and function of IRF-5/IRF-7 heterodimers in infected cells.

Intracerebral hemorrhage secondary to vascular lesions.

The article reviews intracerebral hemorrhage caused by vascular malformations. The article also reviews incidence, prevalence, and distribution of parenchymal hemorrhage caused by aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, and cavernous malformations are defined, and less common vascular lesions. There is a discussion of the role of cerebral vascular malformations in producing cerebral hemorrhage in young adults abusing illicit drugs.

Allograft implants for posterior lumbar interbody fusion: results comparing cylindrical dowels and impacted wedges.

Objective: With the proliferation of implant types available for use in posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) procedures, the choices for surgeons have become increasingly complex. The goal of this study was to retrospectively review a series of 49 patients who underwent PLIF with the use of allograft cylindrical threaded cortical bone dowels (TCBDs) and allograft impacted wedges. Nerve root injury rates, fusion rates, and clinical outcomes of the allograft impacted wedge group are compared with those in the allograft cylindrical TCBD group.

A Phase II trial of topotecan and gemcitabine in patients with previously treated, advanced nonsmall cell lung carcinoma.

Background: Multiple trials have been performed to evaluate second-line clinical chemotherapy in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). However, no single agent or combination has demonstrated superior activity.

Methods: Patients with advanced NSCLC who had already received one chemotherapeutic regimen were treated with topotecan (0.

Isoform-specific regulation of 5' AMP-activated protein kinase in skeletal muscle from obese Zucker (fa/fa) rats in response to contraction.

Glucose transport can be activated in skeletal muscle in response to insulin via activation of phosphoinositide (PI) 3-kinase and in response to contractions or hypoxia, presumably via activation of 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). We determined the effects of insulin and muscle contraction/hypoxia on PI 3-kinase, AMPK, and glucose transport activity in epitrochlearis skeletal muscle from insulin-resistant Zucker (fa/ fa) rats. Insulin-stimulated glucose transport in isolated skeletal muscle was reduced 47% in obese versus lean rats, with a parallel 42% reduction in tyrosine-associated PI 3-kinase activity.

Measurement of microbial activity in soil by colorimetric observation of in situ dye reduction: an approach to detection of extraterrestrial life.

Background: Detecting microbial life in extraterrestrial locations is a goal of space exploration because of ecological and health concerns about possible contamination of other planets with earthly organisms, and vice versa. Previously we suggested a method for life detection based on the fact that living entities require a continual input of energy accessed through coupled oxidations and reductions (an electron transport chain). We demonstrated using earthly soils that the identification of extracted components of electron transport chains is useful for remote detection of a chemical signature of life.

Multiple regulatory domains of IRF-5 control activation, cellular localization, and induction of chemokines that mediate recruitment of T lymphocytes.

Transcription factors of the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family have been identified as critical mediators of early inflammatory gene transcription in infected cells. We recently determined that, besides IRF-3 and IRF-7, IRF-5 serves as a direct transducer of virus-mediated signaling. In contrast to that mediated by the other two IRFs, IRF-5-mediated activation is virus specific.

On the role of IRF in host defense.

Transcription factors of the interferon (IFN) regulatory factor (IRF) family have been shown to play an essential role in the regulated expression of type I IFN genes, IFN-stimulated genes (ISG), and other cytokines and chemokines. Three members of the IRF family, IRF-3, IRF-5, and IRF-7, have been identified as acting as direct transducers of virus-mediated signaling. In infected cells, these factors are activated by phosphorylation on the serine residues, transported to the nucleus, where they bind to the promoters of IFNA and IFNB genes and tether histone transacetylases to the transcription complex enhanceosome.

Anterior cervical plating enhances arthrodesis after discectomy and fusion with cortical allograft.

Objective: Anterior plate fixation has gained widespread acceptance for the treatment of cervical spondylosis, theoretically enhancing the rate of arthrodesis. There are few studies comparing fusion rates after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) with and without a plate. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of anterior cervical plating for fusion enhancement after one- and two-level ACDF with cortical allograft.

Body temperature patterns before, during, and after semi-natural hibernation in the European ground squirrel.

Ground squirrels undergo extreme body temperature fluctuations during hibernation. The effect of low body temperatures on the mammalian circadian system is still under debate. Using implanted temperature loggers, we recorded body temperature patterns in European ground squirrels kept in an enclosure under natural conditions.

Supercritical fluid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array-electrochemical detection of signature redox compounds from sand and soil samples.

A supercritical fluid extraction procedure and a chromatographic separation/detection method were developed for the detection of Earth-based microorganisms. After microbes in a sand or a soil sample were hydrolyzed in a diluted NH(4)OH/acetone solution, several redox compounds from bacteria could be effectively extracted with trimethylamine-modified supercritical CO(2) at 35 degrees C and 300 atm. These signature redox-active compounds were separated by a reversed-phase HPLC column in an ion-pair mode and then monitored with a diode array detector and an electrochemical detector.

Analysis of the in vitro inhibition of murine and human tumor cell growth by pyrazole derivatives and a substituted azabicyclo [3.1.0] hexane-2,4-dione.

3-Ethoxycarbonyl-5-phenyl-1, 3a, 4, 5, 6, 6a-hexahydropyrrolo[3,4-c]pyrazole-4, 6-dione, 2, 2, 6, 6-tetraethyl-1H, 5H-pyrazole[1, 2-a]pyrazole-1, 3, 5, 7-[2H, 6H]-tetraone and 6-ethoxycarbonyl-3-phenyl-3-azabicyclo[3.1.0] hexane-2, 4-dione demonstrated potent cytotoxic activity in the human Tmolt3, Tmolt4 and HL-60 leukemia screens, HuT-78 lymphoma and HeLa suspended uterine carcinoma cell lines.

Schizophrenia spectrum disorders: an autosomal-wide scan in multiplex pedigrees.

Genome-wide linkage studies, examining the relationship between the schizophrenia syndrome(s) and possible susceptibility regions within the human genome have identified multiple regions within which linkage to the syndrome may be explored. No regions have been found to provide supportive evidence for linkage in all cohorts. These findings are consistent with the schizophrenia syndrome being genetically heterogeneous, with genetic susceptibility arising from multiple sites which are differentially distributed in from pedigree to pedigree.

Mechanism of action of the antitumor agents 6-benzoyl-3,3-disubstituted-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2,4-diones: potent inhibitors of human type II inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase.

The observation that expression of the IMPDH gene is tightly linked with cellular proliferation and transformation has led to an interest in developing inhibitors that deplete intracellular guanine nucleotide pools. IMPDH exists as 2 isoforms, one of which is induced in tumor cells, type II and thus has led to new interest in this target for the design of isoform-selective anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. Several classes of IMPDH inhibitor are now in use or under development; however, only the 1,5-diazabicyclo[3.

Cytotoxicity of 2-aldo- and 2-ketopyridine-N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones and mode of action in human Tmolt4 cells.

The 2-aldo- and 2-ketopyridine-N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones and their copper complexes demonstrated potent cytotoxic activity against a series of murine and human suspended cultured tumor cells. Selected compounds were active against the growth of cultured cells from solid human tumors, i.e.

Targeting of human Tmolt4 leukemic type II IMP dehydrogenase by cyclic imide related derivatives.

2,3-Dihydrophthalazine-1,4-diones, indazolones, 3-imino-1-oxoisodolines, homophthalimides, napthalidimides, diphenamides, and 6,7-dihydro-5H-dibenz[c,e]azepines proved to be potent inhibitors of the activity of human Tmolt4 T cell leukemia Type II IMP dehydrogenase (IMPDH). This inhibition was competitive, yielding Ki values in the range of 1.96 to 48.

Cytotoxicity and mode of action of 1-(1-cyclohexenyl) and 1-unsubstituted 3,5-pyrazolidinediones in human Molt4 T cell leukemia.

The 3,5-pyrazolidinediones proved to be potent cytotoxic agents against the growth of a number of murine and human tumor cell lines, e.g. human THP-I monocytic leukemia, Hut-78 lymphoma, MCF-7 breast effusion, A549 lung carcinoma, U87MG glioma, Hela uterine and A431 epidermoid skin cancer.

A phase I-II trial of topotecan and gemcitabine in patients with previously treated, advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LOA-3).

The purposes of this study were to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), toxicity profile, and antitumor activity of topotecan (TOP) and gemcitabine (GEM) combination therapy when administered to patients with previously treated, advanced, non-small cell lung cancer. Both compounds were administered intravenously over 30 min, with TOP on days 1-5 and GEM on days 1 and 5 only. Nineteen patients were treated with 75 courses at three dose levels.

Induction of Tmolt4 leukemia cell death by 3,3-disubstituted-6,6-pentamethylene-1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane-2-4-diones: specificity for type II inosine 5'-monophasphate dehydrogenase.

Inosine 5'-monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH), the rate-limiting enzyme in the de novo pathway for synthesis of guanine nucleotides, is essential for normal cell proliferation and function. New derivatives of the 1,5-diazabicyclo[3.1.

Threaded cortical bone dowels for lumbar interbody fusion: over 1-year mean follow up in 28 patients.

Object: The authors retrospectively reviewed a series of 35 patients with mechanical low-back or one- to two-level discogenic pain; the patients underwent lumbar interbody fusion in which threaded cortical bone dowels (TCBDs) were placed to treat degenerative disc disease. The purpose of the study was to delineate fusion rates and outcome data in this series of patients.

Methods: The series was composed of 18 women and 17 men whose mean age was 46 years (range 17-76 years).

Physiological responses to short-term exercise in the heat after creatine loading.

Purpose: This investigation was designed to examine the influence of creatine (Cr) supplementation on acute cardiovascular, renal, temperature, and fluid-regulatory hormonal responses to exercise for 35 min in the heat.

Methods: Twenty healthy men were matched and then randomly assigned to consume 0.3 g.