The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus and erosive esophagitis in patients undergoing upper endoscopy for dyspepsia in a VA population.

The purpose of this study was to establish the prevalence of Barrett's esophagus and erosive esophagitis in a group of patients undergoing upper endoscopy for dyspepsia. Computerized endoscopy records were retrospectively evaluated to identify patients who underwent upper endoscopy for dyspepsia. Objective findings were recorded, including the presence of Barrett's esophagus, erosive esophagitis, and peptic ulcer disease.

Cellular actions of somatostatin on rat periaqueductal grey neurons in vitro.

Functional studies indicate that the midbrain periaqueductal grey (PAG) is involved in the analgesic actions of somatostatin; however, the cellular actions of somatostatin in this brain region are unknown. In the present study, whole-cell patch clamp recordings were made from rat PAG neurons in vitro. In 93% of acutely isolated neurons, somatostatin inhibited Ca(2+)-channel currents.

Calcium-regulated changes in mitochondrial phenotype in skeletal muscle cells.

Cytochrome c expression and mitochondrial biogenesis can be invoked by elevated intracellular Ca(2+) in muscle cells. To characterize the potential role of Ca(2+) as a messenger involved in mitochondrial biogenesis in muscle, we determined the effects of the Ca(2+) ionophore A-23187 on the expression of nuclear- and mitochondrially encoded genes. Treatment of myotubes with 1 microM A-23187 for 48-96 h increased nuclear-encoded beta-subunit F(1)ATPase and malate dehydrogenase (MDH) mRNA levels by 50-100% (P < 0.

The practical discourse in philosophy and nursing: an exploration of linkages and shifts in the evolution of praxis.

The concept of praxis, also known as the practical discourse in philosophy, has been expressed in different ways in different eras. However, the linkages from one era to another and from one paradigm to another are not well explicated in the nursing literature. Difficulties with translations of 'praxis' into 'practice' and the connotations of the word 'practical' in the English language and in nursing have influenced extrapolation of the linkages.

A central role for the ring finger protein RNF11 in ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis via interactions with E2s and E3s.

The identification of novel tumor-associated genes represents an important area of cancer research. To that end, we have discovered a number of genes whose expression is altered in breast tumors. One of these genes has been identified as the ring finger protein 11 (RNF11) and its expression is elevated in breast and prostate cancer.

Design of artificial cell-cell communication using gene and metabolic networks.

Artificial transcriptional networks have been used to achieve novel, nonnative behavior in bacteria. Typically, these artificial circuits are isolated from cellular metabolism and are designed to function without intercellular communication. To attain concerted biological behavior in a population, synchronization through intercellular communication is highly desirable.

Prevalence of stroke survivors in rural South Africa: results from the Southern Africa Stroke Prevention Initiative (SASPI) Agincourt field site.

Background And Purpose: The importance of stroke in low-income regions such as sub-Saharan Africa has recently been emphasized. However, little is known about the burden of stroke in sub-Saharan Africa. We investigated the prevalence of stroke survivors in the Agincourt Health and Population Unit, a demographic surveillance site in the rural northeast of South Africa.

The value of outpatient hysteroscopy in diagnosing endometrial pathology in postmenopausal women with and without hormone replacement therapy.

Background: This study examined the endometrial pathology in postmenopausal women who had experienced abnormal uterine bleeding, both with and without hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and who subsequently underwent outpatient hysteroscopy.

Methods: This is a retrospective observational and comparative study. Patient data in the period from 1998 to 2001 inclusive were examined.

The life course prospective design: an example of benefits and problems associated with study longevity.

Although the life course prospective study design has many benefits, and information from such studies is in increasing demand for scientific and policy purposes, it has potential inherent design problems associated with its longevity. These are in particular the fixed sample structure and the data collected in early life, which are each determined by the scientific principles of another time and the risk over time of increased sample loss and distortion through loss. The example of a national birth cohort in Britain, studied from birth so far to age 53 years is used to address these questions.

Chromoendoscopy and magnification endoscopy in Barrett's esophagus.

Chromoendoscopy and magnification endoscopy appear to be a valuable adjuncts for the detection and classification of BE. These techniques may also prove to be useful aids in surveillance protocols for identifying dysplastic epithelium or early cancer within a segment of BE. Ideally, the use of these techniques would enable the endoscopist to rule in or out the presence of IM and of dysplastic or cancerous epithelium by obtaining only a minimal number of targeted biopsy specimens, or potentially performing no biopsies at all.

Convulsant actions of calycanthine.

The principal alkaloid of the family Calycanthaceae, calycanthine has long been recognized as a central convulsant. The alkaloid inhibited the potassium-stimulated release of [(3)H]GABA from slices of rat hippocampus with an ED(50) of approximately 21 microM. This effect appeared to be moderately selective since calycanthine at 100 microM had only a weak effect on the potassium-stimulated release of [(3)H]acetylcholine (15%) and no significant effects on the release of [(3)H]D-aspartate from hippocampal and cerebellar slices or the release of [(3)H]glycine from spinal cord slices.

Management of the aging forehead: a review.

Aging in the upper third of the face manifests as rhytids and ptosis of the frontal, glabellar, and brow regions. Frown lines may occur even in younger individuals as a result of habitual or dynamic forehead muscular hyperactivity. Multiple treatment options have been advocated to address forehead rhytids and brow ptosis.

Opioid agonists have different efficacy profiles for G protein activation, rapid desensitization, and endocytosis of mu-opioid receptors.

The differential ability of various mu-opioid receptor (MOP) agonists to induce rapid receptor desensitization and endocytosis of MOP could arise simply from differences in their efficacy to activate G proteins or, alternatively, be due to differential capacity for activation of other signaling processes. We used AtT20 cells stably expressing a low density of FLAG-tagged MOP to compare the efficacies of a range of agonists to 1) activate G proteins using inhibition of calcium channel currents (ICa) as a reporter before and after inactivation of a fraction of receptors by beta-chlornaltrexamine, 2) produce rapid, homologous desensitization of ICa inhibition, and 3) internalize receptors. Relative efficacies determined for G protein coupling were [Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-MePhe-Glyol]enkephalin (DAMGO) (1) > or = methadone (0.

CRM1/Ran-mediated nuclear export of p27(Kip1) involves a nuclear export signal and links p27 export and proteolysis.

We show that p27 localization is cell cycle regulated and we suggest that active CRM1/RanGTP-mediated nuclear export of p27 may be linked to cytoplasmic p27 proteolysis in early G1. p27 is nuclear in G0 and early G1 and appears transiently in the cytoplasm at the G1/S transition. Association of p27 with the exportin CRM1 was minimal in G0 and increased markedly during G1-to-S phase progression.

Gingerols: a novel class of vanilloid receptor (VR1) agonists.

1. Gingerols, the pungent constituents of ginger, were synthesized and assessed as agonists of the capsaicin-activated VR1 (vanilloid) receptor. 2.

Multidisciplinary approaches to reducing error and risk in a patient care setting.

In 1995, a medication error at Boston's Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) that received intense media scrutiny, transformed the Institute in many ways. Primarily, patient safety became a major priority that led to Institute-wide organizational learning. As a result, DFCI emerged as a national leader in the patient safety movement.

Anandamide is a partial agonist at native vanilloid receptors in acutely isolated mouse trigeminal sensory neurons.

1. The endogenous fatty acid anandamide (AEA) is a partial agonist at cannabinoid CB1 receptors and has been reported to be a full agonist at the recombinant vanilloid receptor, VR1. 2.

PKB/Akt phosphorylates p27, impairs nuclear import of p27 and opposes p27-mediated G1 arrest.

Mechanisms linking mitogenic and growth inhibitory cytokine signaling and the cell cycle have not been fully elucidated in either cancer or in normal cells. Here we show that activation of protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt, contributes to resistance to antiproliferative signals and breast cancer progression in part by impairing the nuclear import and action of p27. Akt transfection caused cytoplasmic p27 accumulation and resistance to cytokine-mediated G1 arrest.

Capsaicin activation of glutamatergic synaptic transmission in the rat locus coeruleus in vitro.

The vanilloid receptor protein (VR1) is a well-characterised integrator of noxious stimuli in peripheral sensory neurones. There is evidence for the presence of VR1 in the central nervous system, but little information as to its role there. In this study we have examined the actions of agonists for VR1 receptors in the rat locus coeruleus (LC), using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from acutely isolated neurones and neurones in slices.