Progression of coronary artery calcium predicts all-cause mortality.

Objectives: This study examined a large cohort to assess whether progression of coronary artery calcium (CAC) was associated with all-cause mortality, and which among 3 different methods to assess CAC progression provided the best estimate of risk.

Background: Serial assessment of CAC scores has been proposed as a method to follow progression of coronary artery disease, and it has been suggested that excessive CAC progression may be a useful noninvasive predictor of the patient's risk of future events. However, the optimal method to measure calcium progression has not been well established.

Balance performance in head-shake computerized dynamic posturography: aging effects and test-retest reliability.

Background: The ability of the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) to detect subtle balance problems has been challenged. The Head-Shake Sensory Organization Test (HS-SOT) has been developed to improve the delineation of balance performance.

Objective: The purposes of this study were: (1) to examine age-related differences in balance measured with the HS-SOT and (2) to establish the test-retest reliability of the HS-SOT in younger adults who were healthy and older adults who were healthy.

Concomitant irritable bowel syndrome is associated with failure of step-down on-demand proton pump inhibitor treatment in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Background: The predictors for treatment failure of on-demand proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients are unclear. We studied the efficacy and predictors for treatment failure of step-down on-demand PPI therapy in patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and those with low grade erosive esophagitis.

Methods: Consecutive symptomatic GERD patients who had positive esophageal pH studies and complete symptom resolution with initial treatment of esomeprazole were given step-down on-demand esomeprazole for 26 weeks.

Immediate effects of 2 different whole-body vibration frequencies on muscle peak torque and stiffness.

Objective: To examine the immediate effects of 2 vibration protocols with different vibration frequencies that yielded the same maximum acceleration (106.75ms(-2)) on muscle peak torque and stiffness of knee extensor and flexor.

Design: Randomized crossover study with repeated measures.

Interventional oncology research in the United States: slowing growth, limited focus, and a low level of funding.

Purpose: To establish the characteristics of published interventional oncology (IO) research, including the volume, growth, geographic distribution, type of research, and funding patterns, and to determine how IO research compares with overall radiology research.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective bibliometric analysis of public data was exempt from Institutional Review Board approval. IO articles published between 1996 and 2008 were identified in the National Library of Medicine MEDLINE database.

Evaluation of the sodium-glutamate blocker riluzole in a preclinical model of ervical spinal cord injury.

Study Type:  Basic research Introduction:  Because sodium and glutamate play integrated roles in the pathology of spinal cord injury (SCI), there is intense interest in the potential role of the sodium-glutamate blocker riluzole as a neuroprotective agent for spinal cord injury. A phase I safety clinical trial of riluzole is about to commence in the USA and Canada.

Objective:  The key challenges in translating riluzole to the clinic relate to uncertainty regarding the time window for post-injury administration of riluzole and the optimal dose.

Incident neuropathy in HIV-infected patients on HAART.

We determined the incidence of and risk factors for distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) in individuals on HAART. Sixty-one HIV-positive subjects on HAART for at least 6 months and neuropathy free were retrospectively selected. The study included subjects who had previously tolerated d-drugs without developing DSP.

Accuracy in quantification of coronary calcification with CT: a cork-dog heart phantom study.

Rationale And Objectives: Coronary artery calcium is a sensitive risk predictor of cardiac events. However, measurement of calcium foci is affected by partial-volume effects, which ultimately have an effect on accuracy and reproducibility of calcium scores. In this study, we describe the accuracy of quantification of calcium foci of known size and density using cork-dog heart phantoms.

Stability of polymyxin B sulfate diluted in 0.9% sodium chloride injection and stored at 4 or 25 degrees C.

Purpose: The stability of polymyxin B sulfate in infusion bags containing 0.9% sodium chloride injection stored at 4 and 25 degrees C was studied.

Methods: Seven manufacturing batches of polymyxin B from different sources were tested.

Subconjunctival lidocaine before laser treatment: a randomized trial.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine whether subconjunctival anesthesia is effective at reducing pain associated with laser retinopexy.

Design: This was a single-center, prospective, patient-masked, randomized, controlled trial.

Participants: In the primary study group, 65 patients were recruited.

Pilot study on the safety and tolerability of extended release niacin for HIV-infected patients with hypertriglyceridemia.

Background: To determine the safety and tolerability of extended release niacin (ERN) in HIV-infected patients.

Methods: This was a pilot, open-label, 36 week study evaluating the safety and tolerability of ERN in HIV-infected patients with hypertriglyceridemia. Subjects with cardiovascular disease, diabetes or liver disease were excluded.

Effects of traction on structural properties of degenerated disc using an in vivo rat-tail model.

Study Design: An in vivo rat-tail model was adopted to study the structural changes of degenerated intervertebral disc after different traction protocols.

Objective: To investigate the effects of traction with different modes and magnitudes on disc with simulated degeneration.

Summary Of Background Data: Traction has been commonly used in clinical practice for treating low back pain.

Detecting cardiometabolic syndrome using World Health Organization public health action points for Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Objective: To assess the screening characteristics of World Health Organization (WHO) body mass index action points for cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) in Native Hawaiians and people of Asian ancestry (ie, Filipino and Japanese).

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional data were collected from 1,452 residents of a rural community of Hawai'i between 1997 and 2000, of which 1,198 were analyzed in this study. Ethnic ancestry was determined by self-report.

Multidetector computed tomographic features of oncocytic papillary renal cell carcinoma, a new subtype.

The following report describes the computed tomographic (CT) features of oncocytic papillary renal cell carcinoma (OPRCC), a new subtype. An experienced genitourinary pathologist identified each tumor as type 1 or 2, oncocytic, or other. Two radiologists independently reviewed CT images and assessed maximal tumor diameter, degree of homogeneity, calcification, enhancement, and growth pattern.

Mutation of the Drosophila vesicular GABA transporter disrupts visual figure detection.

The role of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA) release and inhibitory neurotransmission in regulating most behaviors remains unclear. The vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT) is required for the storage of GABA in synaptic vesicles and provides a potentially useful probe for inhibitory circuits. However, specific pharmacologic agents for VGAT are not available, and VGAT knockout mice are embryonically lethal, thus precluding behavioral studies.

Association of increased QTc interval with the cardiometabolic syndrome.

Recent studies indicate a high prevalence of increased QTc interval length in patients affected by the metabolic syndrome, but there is no data available to demonstrate the correlation of the QTc interval with severity of the cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS). The objective of this study was to estimate the association between increasing number of cardiometabolic abnormalities and increasing QTc interval length. Electrocardiograms were collected from 1420 participants in a cross-sectional study.

Anatomical observations of the moderator band.

Apical ventricular septal defects are rare pathologies of the ventricular septum. The moderator band, or other large trabeculations, is the major obstacle for the repair of such defects. The aim of our study was to identify and describe variations in the size and anatomy of the moderator band.

Short-term effects of extended-release niacin on endothelial function in HIV-infected patients on stable antiretroviral therapy.

Objective: To assess the short-term effects of extended-release niacin (ERN) on endothelial function in HIV-infected patients with low high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) levels.

Methods: Randomized controlled study to determine the short-term effects of ERN on endothelial function, measured by flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, in HIV-infected adults with low HDL-c. Participants on stable HAART with fasting HDL-c less than 40 mg/dl and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol less than 130 mg/dl were randomized to ERN or control arms.

Is volcanic air pollution associated with decreased heart-rate variability?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the autonomic cardiovascular control among residents of Hawaii who are exposed to varying levels of volcanic air pollution (vog), which consists largely of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) and acid aerosols. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study between April 2006 and June 2008, the authors measured cardiovagal autonomic function by heart-rate variability (HRV) in 72 healthy individuals who lived in four exposure zones on Hawaii Island: vog-free (n=18); episodic exposure to SO(2) >200 ppb and acid aerosol (n=19); chronic exposure to SO(2) ≥30 ppb and acid aerosol (n=15); and chronic exposure to acid aerosols (n=20). Individuals with diabetes or heart disease, or who had smoked in the preceding month were excluded.

A genetic approach to stratification of risk for age-related macular degeneration.

The genetic determinants of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are reviewed and a novel approach to risk determination based upon inherited genetic polymorphisms and smoking history is presented. Although AMD was long thought to have primarily an environmental etiology, genetic variation is now known to account for the majority of the disease risk, with variations in the genes of the complement pathways playing a prominent role. Independent and validated clinical studies have implicated the C3 gene and its regulator, complement factor H (1q31.

Weight loss, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia associated with sustained virologic response to Hepatitis C treatment.

Objective: To identify apparent adverse effects of treatment of chronic hepatitis C and their relationship to sustained virologic response (SVR).

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of all Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients treated with pegylated interferon and ribavirin in an academic ambulatory infectious disease practice. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were compared between patients with SVR and without SVR.

Short-term effects of backpack load placement on spine deformation and repositioning error in schoolchildren.

Backpack weight of 10-15% has been recommended as an acceptable limit for schoolchildren. However, there is still no clear guideline regarding where the backpack centre of gravity (CG) should be positioned. The changes of spinal curvature and repositioning error when carrying a backpack loaded at 15% of body weight at different CG locations (anterior or posterior at T7, T12 or L3) in schoolchildren were analysed.