tmRDB (tmRNA database).

Maintained at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Texas, the tmRNA database (tmRDB) is accessible at the URL http://psyche.uthct.edu/dbs/tmRDB/tmRDB.

Changes over time in audiometric thresholds in a group of automobile stamping and assembly workers with a hearing conservation program.

Noise induced hearing loss (NIHL) is among the 10 leading occupational diseases, afflicting between 7.4 and 10.2 million people who work in noise above 85 dBA.

Recent advances in peripheral angioplasty and stenting.

Utilization of percutaneous interventions for arterial and venous occlusive lesions continue to increase. With the progression of the technology supporting these therapeutic measures, the results of these interventions may be expected to improve. In general, a comparison of techniques for revascularization demonstrates similar initial technical success rates for surgery and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Issues and practices in multiple sclerosis.

The objective of this roundtable discussion of experts in the field of multiple sclerosis (MS) was to summarize the current understanding of MS and its therapeutic options. The experts discussed subjects ranging from the etiology of MS to the current standards for patient care. Specific topics included the subtypes of MS, with a focus on the benign subtype, brain atrophy, the role of magnetic resonance imaging or "neuroimaging studies," disease-modifying therapies, biological markers as indicators of drug efficacy, and combination therapies.

Abdominal aortic aneurysmorrhaphy and cholelithiasis in the era of endovascular surgery.

The incidence of acute cholecystitis complicating standard abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair has been reported between 0.3 and 18 per cent. This has prompted considerable debate regarding the management of cholelithiasis discovered incidentally during open aortic reconstruction.

Predicting iliac limb occlusions after bifurcated aortic stent grafting: anatomic and device-related causes.

Objective: Graft limb occlusion may complicate endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. The precise etiologic factors that contribute to the development of these graft limb thromboses have not been defined. We evaluated our experience with bifurcated aortic endografts to determine factors that may predict subsequent limb thrombosis.

A multicenter experience with the Talent endovascular graft for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Objective: The Talent endovascular graft has been used in the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in more than 13,000 patients worldwide. However, information regarding the results of its use has been limited. This report describes the experience with 368 patients with AAAs who underwent treatment at four medical centers as part of an investigator-sponsored investigational device exemption trial.

Failure of endovascular aortoaortic tube grafts: a plea for preferential use of bifurcated grafts.

Objective: Aortoaortic tube graft repair was the first technique used for the endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). However, progressive changes in the morphology of the distal aortic neck may be responsible for procedural failure. This study examines the use of aortoaortic tube prostheses and analyzes the factors that contributed to their failure and the methods used for their subsequent repair.

Endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms: stent-graft fixation across the aortic arch vessels.

The close proximity of the arch vessels to the origin of many thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAA) may result in placement of the stent struts across the left subclavian or carotid ostia. The purpose of this study is to determine the incidence and impact of transaortic arch vessel fixation during thoracic aortic stent graft deployment for the treatment of descending TAA. From May 1997 to July 2000, 20 patients (10 men, 10 women, mean age 82 years) with descending TAA were treated in the operating room with endoluminally placed stent grafts secured proximally to the thoracic aorta with a long (15-mm) uncovered stent segment (Talent LPS).

Difficult cases in heart failure: familial dilated cardiomyopathy.

While originally thought to be uncommon, familial dilated cardiomyopathy may occur quite often. Aside from symptoms of heart failure, these forms of dilated cardiomyopathy may be associated with arrhythmias and sudden death. The case detailed describes such a patient and emphasizes the importance of a careful family history.

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms: stent-graft fixation across the visceral arteries.

Purpose: Recent studies have suggested that transrenal artery fixation of endovascular stent-grafts is safe and may be a desirable means of reducing the risk of type I endoleaks, particularly those with short infrarenal necks. The close proximity of the superior mesenteric and celiac arteries to the renal arteries may commonly result in the placement of the stent struts across all the vessels of the visceral segment of the aorta. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence and impact of transvisceral artery fixation during aortic stent-graft deployment for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

Tarsal tunnel syndrome secondary to an accessory muscle: a case report.

The flexor digitorum accessorius longus is a rare muscular anomaly that has been reported as one of the etiologies of tarsal tunnel syndrome. The authors provide a case report of a patient with tarsal tunnel syndrome that resolved with resection of the flexor digitorum accessorius longus. The patient remains asymptomatic 40 months following surgery.

Endovascular repair of bleeding aortoenteric fistulas: a 5-year experience.

Purpose: Aortoenteric fistula (AEF) is an uncommon but catastrophic complication that can occur either primarily or after aortic reconstruction. Untreated, it is uniformly fatal. Conventional surgical management is associated with a perioperative mortality rate of 25% to 90% and frequent major complications.

Risk of spinal cord ischemia after endograft repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Background: Surgical repair of thoracoabdominal aneurysms may be associated with a significant risk of perioperative morbidity including spinal cord ischemia, which occurs at a rate of between 5% and 21%. Spinal cord ischemia after endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs) has also been reported. This investigation reviews the occurrence of spinal cord ischemia after endovascular repair of descending TAAs at the Mount Sinai Medical Center.

Internal iliac artery revascularization as an adjunct to endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms.

Purpose: Endovascular repair of aortoiliac aneurysms may be limited by extension of the aneurysm to the iliac bifurcation, necessitating endpoint implantation in the external iliac artery. In such cases the circulation to the internal iliac artery is interrupted. Bilateral internal iliac artery occlusion during endovascular repair may be associated with significant morbidity, including gluteal claudication, erectile dysfunction, and ischemia of the sigmoid colon and perineum.

Current use of endovascular grafts for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms.

The development of endovascular techniques for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms has significantly reduced the major morbidity associated with standard surgical repair. The indications for use of endovascular grafts and the limitations of their use have not been fully defined. The effectiveness of the numerous commercially fabricated devices is currently being evaluated.

Endoscopic plantar fasciotomy: a retrospective analysis of results in 53 patients.

This retrospective study analyzes satisfaction of patients who had undergone an isolated endoscopic plantar fasciotomy (EPF) between January 1994 and January 1997. A subjective survey was completed and returned by 53 patients (a total of 69 feet), and a chart review was performed to determine final outcome. Postoperative follow-up averaged 7.

Invasion of endothelial and epithelial cells by strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a periodontal pathogen that may also be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease. This microorganism has the ability to invade several cell lines. In this study, 26 different strains of P.

Porphyromonas gingivalis virulence factors and invasion of cells of the cardiovascular system.

Our laboratory is interested in the genes and gene products involved in the interactions between Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) and the host. These interactions may occur in either the periodontal tissues or other non-oral host tissues such as those of the cardiovascular system. We have previously reported the cloning of several genes encoding hemagglutinins, surface proteins that interact with the host tissues, and are investigating their roles in the disease process.

Expression and immunogenicity of hemagglutinin A from Porphyromonas gingivalis in an avirulent Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium vaccine strain.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major etiologic agent of periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease that ultimately results in the loss of the supporting tissues of the teeth. Previous work has demonstrated the usefulness of avirulent Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium strains as antigen delivery systems for protective antigens of pathogens that colonize or cross mucosal surfaces. In this study, we constructed and characterized a recombinant S.

Physiologic and thermal responses of male and female patients with multiple sclerosis to head and neck cooling.

Personal cooling systems are used to alleviate symptoms of multiple sclerosis and to prevent increased core temperature during daily activities. The objective of this study was to determine the thermal and physiologic responses of patients with multiple sclerosis to short-term maximal head and neck cooling. A Life Support Systems, Inc.

Comparison of treatment plans for lower extremity arterial occlusive disease made with electrocardiography-triggered two-dimensional time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography and digital subtraction angiography.

Background: The purpose of the study was to determine whether preoperative treatment plans for patients with lower extremity ischemia can be made with electrocardiography (EKG)-triggered two-dimensional (2D) time-of-flight (TOF) magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) as accurately as digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

Methods: Forty patients were prospectively evaluated with the combination of EKG-triggered 2D TOF MRA, DSA, and pulse volume recordings. Blinded reviewers graded arterial segments for disease severity.

Mutations within the Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus FP25K gene decrease the accumulation of ODV-E66 and alter its intranuclear transport.

Previous reports indicate that mutations within the Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrosis virus FP25K gene (open reading frame 61) significantly reduce incorporation of enveloped nucleocapsids into viral occlusions. We report that FP25K is a nucleocapsid protein of both the budded virus (BV) and occluded virus (ODV), and we describe the effects of two FP25K mutations (480-1 [N-terminal truncation] and FP-betagal [C-terminal fusion]) on the expression and cellular localization of ODV-E66 and ODV-E25. Significantly decreased amounts of ODV-E66 are detected in cells infected with 480-1 or FP-betagal viral mutants, even though during FP-betagal infection, steady-state levels of ODV-E66 transcripts remain unchanged.

Multiple sclerosis care: an integrated disease-management model.

A disease-management model must be integrated, comprehensive, individual patient focused and outcome driven. In addition to high quality care, the successful model must reduce variations in care and costs. MS specialists need to be intimately involved in the long-term care of MS patients, while not neglecting primary care issues.