Recurrent Episodes of Transient Global Amnesia: A Rare Clinical Entity.

Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a syndrome characterized by anterograde amnesia with otherwise intact cognitive function, resolving within 24 h of onset, occurring in the absence of neurological changes. Recurrent episodes remain rare. We report an interesting case of recurrent episodes of TGA in a 63-year-old woman presenting with altered mental status.

Missing PEG tube found at the ileocecal valve.

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes are indicated in cases of oropharyngeal or esophageal dysphagia to allow alimentation. Complications are superficial and minor, however obstruction in the setting of PEG migration has been noted. Most obstructions remain proximal, localized to the pyloric or pre-pyloric region, though distal migration to the large intestine, including the cecum, have been noted.

An internal medicine residency's response to the COVID-19 crisis: caring for our residents while caring for our patients.

Background: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, internal medicine residencies have had to develop new teaching strategies and attend to wellness concerns. Providing front-line care for patients in a time of widespread crisis while maintaining attention to training has created unprecedented challenges.

Objective: Our large community hospital based internal medicine residency sought to develop and evaluate a crisis response to the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic to meet our residents' educational and wellness needs.

Domestic source of phosphorus to sewage treatment works.

Phosphorus is an element essential for life. Concerns regarding long-term security of supply and issues related to eutrophication of surface waters once released into the aquatic environment have led governments to consider and apply measures for reducing the use and discharge of phosphorus. Examples of source control include legislation to reduce phosphorus use in domestic detergents.

Oxidized LDL enhances stretch-induced smooth muscle cell proliferation through alterations in nuclear protein import.

Mechanical stress contributes to hypertension and atherosclerosis partly through the stimulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. Oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is another important atherogenic factor that can increase VSMC proliferation. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether oxLDL could further enhance the proliferative action of mechanical stretch on VSMC, and to determine the mechanism responsible for this interaction.

Oxidized LDL promotes the mitogenic actions of Chlamydia pneumoniae in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Aims: The atherogenic actions of Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae), a common respiratory pathogen, are dependent upon a high-cholesterol environment in vivo. It is possible that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is responsible for promoting the atherogenic effects of C.

The alpha linolenic acid content of flaxseed is associated with an induction of adipose leptin expression.

Dietary flaxseed has cardioprotective effects that may be achieved through its rich content of the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha linolenic acid (ALA). Because ALA can be stored in adipose tissue, it is possible that some of its beneficial actions may be due to effects it has on the adipose tissue. We investigated the effects of dietary flaxseed both with and without an atherogenic cholesterol-enriched diet to determine the effects of dietary flaxseed on the expression of the adipose cytokines leptin and adiponectin.

Dietary vaccenic acid has antiatherogenic effects in LDLr-/- mice.

Epidemiological evidence has associated dietary trans fatty acids (TFA) with heart disease. TFA are primarily from hydrogenated fats rich in elaidic acid, but dairy products also contain naturally occurring TFA such as vaccenic acid. Our purpose in this study was to compare the effects of consuming a commercially hydrogenated vegetable shortening rich in elaidic TFA (18:1t9) or a butter rich in vaccenic TFA (18:1t11) in the absence and presence of dietary cholesterol on atherosclerosis.

Trans-fatty acids in the diet stimulate atherosclerosis.

Epidemiological evidence has associated dietary trans-fatty acids (TFAs) with coronary heart disease. It is assumed that TFAs stimulate atherosclerosis, but this has not been proven. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of consuming 2 concentrations of TFAs obtained from commercially hydrogenated vegetable shortening on atherosclerotic development in the presence or absence of elevated dietary cholesterol.

Oxidized LDL affects smooth muscle cell growth through MAPK-mediated actions on nuclear protein import.

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis partly through an action on cell proliferation and cell apoptosis. Nuclear protein import (NPI) is critical in regulating gene expression, transcription, and subsequently cell proliferation and apoptosis. The aim of this study was to determine if exposure of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) to oxLDL affects cell growth by inducing alterations in NPI and nuclear pore density.

Ceramide regulation of nuclear protein import.

Nucleocytoplasmic trafficking is an essential and responsive cellular mechanism that directly affects cell growth and proliferation, and its potential to address metabolic challenge is incompletely defined. Ceramide is an antiproliferative sphingolipid found within vascular smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic plaques, but its mechanism of action remains unclear. The hypothesis that ceramide inhibits cell growth through nuclear transport regulation was tested.

Mechanical stretching stimulates smooth muscle cell growth, nuclear protein import, and nuclear pore expression through mitogen-activated protein kinase activation.

Although it is known that mechanical stretching of cells can induce significant increases in cell growth and shape, the intracellular signaling pathways that induce this response at the level of the cell nucleus is unknown. The transport of molecules from the cell cytoplasm to the nucleoplasm through the nuclear pore is a key pathway through which gene expression can be controlled in some conditions. It is presently unknown if mechanical stimuli can induce changes in nuclear pore expression and/or function.