Traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factor profiles in young patients with coronary artery disease.

Study Objective: There is an increasing trend in myocardial infarction (MI) hospitalizations in young individuals. The prevalence of modifiable cardiovascular risk factors is high in this population. This study aims to assess the prevalence of traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors among young patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) including novel lipid and dietary biomarkers with a focus on potential gender differences.

Spatial memory ability during middle age may depend on level of spatial similarity.

Spatial memory impairment is well documented in old age; however, less is known about spatial memory during middle age. We examined the performance of healthy young, middle-aged, and older adults on a spatial memory task with varying levels of spatial similarity (distance). On low similarity trials, young adults significantly outperformed middle-aged adults, who significantly outperformed older adults (s < 0.

Impaired spatial pattern separation performance in temporal lobe epilepsy is associated with visuospatial memory deficits and hippocampal volume loss.

Individuals with chronic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) experience episodic memory deficits that may be progressive in nature. These memory decrements have been shown to increase with the extent of hippocampal damage, a hallmark feature of TLE. Pattern separation, a neural computational mechanism thought to play a role in episodic memory formation, has been shown to be negatively affected by aging and in individuals with known hippocampal dysfunction.

Reduced Hemispheric Asymmetry of White Matter Microstructure in Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Objective: Many past studies have suggested atypical functional and anatomical hemispheric asymmetries in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, almost all of these have examined only language-related asymmetries. Here, we conduct a comprehensive investigation of microstructural asymmetries across a large number of fiber tracts in ASD.

Randomized, Blinded Pilot Testing of Nonconventional Stimulation Patterns and Shapes in Parkinson's Disease and Essential Tremor: Evidence for Further Evaluating Narrow and Biphasic Pulses.

Objectives: Evidence suggests that nonconventional programming may improve deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapy for movement disorders. The primary objective was to assess feasibility of testing the tolerability of several nonconventional settings in Parkinson's disease (PD) and essential tremor (ET) subjects in a single office visit. Secondary objectives were to explore for potential efficacy signals and to assess the energy demand on the implantable pulse-generators (IPGs).

Endoplasmic reticulum stress in insulin resistance and diabetes.

The endoplasmic reticulum is the main intracellular Ca(2+) store for Ca(2+) release during cell signaling. There are different strategies to avoid ER Ca(2+) depletion. Release channels utilize first Ca(2+)-bound to proteins and this minimizes the reduction of the free luminal [Ca(2+)].

Identification and treatment of depression in minority populations.

Depression is a common condition, representing close to 6% of visits to primary care providers. Although minorities are more likely to have chronic depression, they are more likely to be incorrectly diagnosed and less likely to receive treatment when compared to the mainstream population. Screening and appropriate treatment within primary care is recommended in clinical practices that have systems in place to assure accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and follow-up.

A metastatic colon cancer model using nonoperative transanal rectal injection.

Background: This study aimed to develop a noninvasive orthotopic model for metastasis of colon and rectal cancer using a transanal approach. Currently, the most accurate orthotopic representation of metastatic human colon cancer is via a cecal injection. The transanal model allows for further examination of systemic immune responses, tumor take, and onset of metastasis without prior surgical intervention.

Stapled transanal rectal resection vs. transvaginal rectocele repair for treatment of obstructive defecation syndrome.

Purpose: Stapled transanal rectal resection has been introduced as a new technology for the management of obstructive defecation syndrome. In this study we observed the clinical outcomes for stapled transanal rectal resection as compared with transvaginal rectocele repair for obstructive defecation syndrome.

Methods: This study is a retrospective review of patients who received transvaginal rectocele repair for obstructive defecation syndrome from June 1997 to February 2002 as compared with patients who received stapled transanal rectal resection from June 2005 to August 2007.

The gap in laparoscopic colorectal experience between colon and rectal and general surgery residency training programs.

Purpose: In this article, we review the laparoscopic experience of general surgery and colorectal residency training programs in the United States during the past 5 and 12 years, respectively. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an adequate experience was being provided, and at what level of training, to safely and effectively perform advanced laparoscopy.

Methods: General Surgery Operative Reports from the training years 2000 to 2004 were obtained from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

A pitfall of protracted surgery in the lithotomy Position: lower extremity compartment syndrome.

Although the lithotomy position is frequently used in urologic, gynecologic, and colorectal surgery, the potentially devastating complication of lower extremity compartment syndrome is not widely recognized. The authors report a 50-year-old woman who underwent 8 hours of colorectal surgery in the lithotomy position. After surgery she complained of bilateral calf pain and was noted to have episodes of ventricular tachycardia.

IUD removal with colonoscopy: a case report.

Background: Intrauterine device (IUD) perforation of the bowel is uncommon. Although IUD perforation may be asymptomatic, the most common complaint is unexplained abdominal pain.

Case: A case of IUD perforation of the large bowel was diagnosed 7 years after insertion.

Prospective comparison of laparoscopic vs. open resections for colorectal adenocarcinoma over a ten-year period.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to define the long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic resections for colorectal cancer.

Methods: We analyzed our experience via a prospective, nonrandomized, longitudinal cohort study. The period of study extended from April 1991 to May 2001.

Analysis of photoproducts, free radicals, and particulate debris generated during in vivo argon laser myoplasty.

Catheter-guided laser myoplasty in a closed ventricle has been advocated for the treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ablation of arrhythmogenic foci, and transmyocardial laser revascularization of ungraftable regions of ischemic myocardium. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nature of particulate debris and photoproducts generated in vivo. Accordingly, cardiopulmonary bypass was established in four dogs without active cooling and an apical left ventricular vent was placed.

Atherosclerotic Yucatan microswine: an animal model with high-grade, fibrocalcific, nonfatty lesions suitable for testing catheter-based interventions.

A new breed of swine, the Yucatan microswine, that was derived from repetitive inbreeding of selected, small Yucatan swine, was investigated as an animal model of advanced vascular atherosclerosis. Nineteen animals were fed an atherogenic diet for 9.9 +/- 1.

Vascular spasm complicates continuous wave but not pulsed laser irradiation.

Preliminary clinical experience with laser angioplasty has suggested that arterial spasm may complicate attempts to employ laser light to accomplish vascular recanalization. The present study was designed to investigate the role of energy profile on the development of arterial spasm during laser angioplasty. Laser irradiation was delivered percutaneously in vivo to New Zealand white rabbits and to Yucatan microswine with or without atherosclerotic lesions induced by a combination of balloon endothelial denudation and atherogenic diet.

[Effects of continuous laser on arterial vasomotoricity in vitro].

The effects of a continuous-wave argon laser irradiation on arterial vasomotricity were studied isometrically on 19 aortic segments obtained from rabbits. The segments had a resting tension of 1 g and were suspended in a perfusion chamber filled with a Krebs-bicarbonate buffer solution at 37 degrees C gassed with 95 p. 100 O2 and 5 p.

Pulsed ultraviolet laser irradiation produces endothelium-independent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle.

Recent studies have shown that continuous wave laser irradiation induces contraction of vascular smooth muscle, except at powers far below the threshold for tissue ablation. To determine the corresponding effects of pulsed laser irradiation on vascular smooth muscle tone, vascular rings of rabbit thoracic aorta were mounted isometrically with 1 g tension in Krebs-bicarbonate buffer and irradiated with 308 or 351 nm from an excimer laser through a 400-microns optical fiber. A total of 250 exposures were performed with 1-6.

[Effect of pulsed excimer laser on arterial smooth muscle].

The effect of pulsed lasers on vasomotricity was measured on 22 segments of isolated rabbit thoracic aorta. The segments were isometrically suspended in a bath of Krebs-bicarbonate buffer and irradiated with two excimer lasers (XeCl and XeF) emitting at 308 and 351 nm respectively and coupled with a 400 mu optical fibre. The 10 to 120 seconds irradiations were performed at frequencies ranging from 10 to 100 Hz and pulse energies comprised between 1 and 7 mJ.

Effect of argon laser irradiation on rabbit aortic smooth muscle: evidence for endothelium independent contraction and relaxation.

To study the effect of argon laser irradiation on vascular smooth muscle reactivity, ring segments of rabbit thoracic aorta were mounted isometrically in Krebs bicarbonate buffer. Laser irradiation was performed via a 200-micron core optical fibre interfaced with an argon ion gas laser. Laser irradiation at powers greater than 1.

Spectroscopic characterization of cardiovascular tissue.

We present results of a series of laser spectroscopic measurements on in vitro samples of cardiovascular tissue. These include laser Raman scattering, Fourier transform infrared, plasma emission and fluorescence, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results of these spectroscopic measurements are discussed in terms of their implications for the field of laser angioplasty.

Mechanism of laser ablation in an absorbing fluid field.

Selection of a laser source for intravascular applications has frequently been predicated upon assumptions involving transmissibility in blood of the wavelength of light emitted by a given laser. Standard absorption curves for ultraviolet radiation in blood and infrared radiation in water would suggest that transmission of ultraviolet radiation through a blood field and infrared radiation through any aqueous fluid field would be insufficient for tissue ablation. The present series of experiments was undertaken to determine whether these theoretical predictions would in fact obviate the use of these wavelengths in a blood field.

Percutaneous, in vivo excimer laser angioplasty: results in two experimental animal models.

Pulsed ultraviolet light from an excimer laser was successfully transmitted via conventional fused silica optical fibers and used to accomplish recanalization of stenotic or totally occluded arteries in an intact, flowing blood field of two atherosclerotic animal models. The fibers, 300-600 micron in diameter, were delivered percutaneously in wire-guided multilumen catheters and then used to transmit wavelengths of 308 or 351 nm from excimer lasers with pulse durations of 12 nsec or less. Lesions from 70-100% diameter narrowing, and 0.