Lower total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in ankylosing spondylitis than non-inflammatory rheumatic disease controls in a 1978-98 study: a potential effect of increased physical energetics in manual occupations in the pre-2000 chronologic era.

Objectives: No article on serum lipids in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and control subjects has been reported from USA. The primary aim of this study was to determine if any difference occurred in serum lipid levels in AS and control rheumatic disorders in two time periods, 1978-98 and 2000-10. The secondary aim was to investigate variables associated with lipid levels and if a difference was found between AS and control disorders.

Trauma Teams That Train as One Work as One: Invasive Procedure Training in Residency Education.

Background: Invasive surgical procedures occur infrequently in an emergency department setting; however, procedural competence is expected from trauma residents. Emergent procedures are challenging to train in a formal manner because of the urgent nature when they present. To supplement education, new and creative teaching tools such as simulation and multidisciplinary training are being used.

Telemedicine and telerobotics: from science fiction to reality.

Advances in communication technologies have paved the way for telemedicine to transform the delivery of medical care throughout the world. Coinciding developments in minimally invasive surgery and in particular teleoperated robotic surgical systems will allow the surgeon to deliver expert care in remote locations. This study presents a systematic review of telemedicine, focusing on telerobotic surgical systems.

Massive panniculectomy results in improved functional outcome.

Background: Panniculus morbidus is a large abdominal apron found in morbidly obese patients. This condition creates a vicious cycle of weight gain and functional incapacity. Our study assessed the functional improvement in patients undergoing massive panniculectomy.

Identification and characterization of the nuclear isoform of Drosophila melanogaster CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase.

CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CCT) catalyzes the conversion of phosphocholine and cytidine 5'-triphosphate (CTP) to CDP-choline for the eventual synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC). The enzyme is regulated by reversible association with cellular membranes, with the rate of catalysis increasing following membrane association. Two isoforms of CCT appear to be present in higher eukaryotes, including Drosophila melanogaster, which contains the tandem genes Cct1 and Cct2.