The nuclear receptors SF1 and LRH1 are expressed in endometrial cancer cells and regulate steroidogenic gene transcription by cooperating with AP-1 factors.

Excessive exposure to estradiol represents the main risk factor for endometrial cancer. The abnormally high estradiol levels in the endometrium of women with endometrial cancer are most likely due to overproduction by the tumour itself. Endometrial cancer cells express the genes encoding the steroidogenic enzymes involved in estradiol synthesis.

Cognitive dysfunction after experimental febrile seizures.

While the majority of children with febrile seizures have an excellent prognosis, a small percentage are later discovered to have cognitive impairment. Whether the febrile seizures produce the cognitive deficits or the febrile seizures are a marker or the result of underlying brain pathology is not clear from the clinical literature. We evaluated hippocampal and prefrontal cortex function in adult rats with a prior history of experimental febrile seizures as rat pups.

Comparing network analysis measures to determine potential epidemic size of highly contagious exotic diseases in fragmented monthly networks of dairy cattle movements in Ontario, Canada.

Adult milking cow movements occurring in monthly periods in 2004-2006 were analysed to compare three network analysis measures to determine the lower and upper bounds of potential maximal epidemic size in an unrestrained epidemic: the out-degree, the infection chain or output domain of a farm, and the size of the strong and weak components. The directed networks generated by the movements of adult milking cows were highly fragmented. When all the farms that were not involved in shipments were included in the analysis, the risk of infection transmission through movements of adult cows was very low.

Autologous SCT with a dose-reduced BU and CY regimen in older patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Autologous SCT is a potentially curative procedure for patients with relapsed lymphoma (NHL). We analyzed the outcomes of 34 patients > or =60 years old, including eight patients > or =70 years old, who received BU and CY and SCT for NHL. Patients received BU 0.

Physician-based physical activity counseling for middle-aged and older adults: a randomized trial.

Sedentary behavior among older adults increases risk for chronic diseases. Physicians in a primary care setting can play an important role in promoting physical activity adoption among their older patients. The Physically Active for Life (PAL) project was a randomized, controlled trial comparing the efficacy of brief physician-delivered physical activity counseling to usual care on self-reported physical activity levels.

A mixed method study of the merits of e-prescribing drug alerts in primary care.

Objectives: The objective of this paper was to describe primary care prescribers' perspectives on electronic prescribing drug alerts at the point of prescribing.

Design: We used a mixed-method study which included clinician surveys (web-based and paper) and focus groups with prescribers and staff.

Participants: Prescribers (n = 157) working in one of 64 practices using 1 of 6 e-prescribing technologies in 6 US states completed the quantitative survey and 276 prescribers and staff participated in focus groups.

Rapid loss of dendritic spines after stress involves derangement of spine dynamics by corticotropin-releasing hormone.

Chronic stress causes dendritic regression and loss of dendritic spines in hippocampal neurons that is accompanied by deficits in synaptic plasticity and memory. However, the responsible mechanisms remain unresolved. Here, we found that within hours of the onset of stress, the density of dendritic spines declined in vulnerable dendritic domains.

A web-based Alcohol Clinical Training (ACT) curriculum: is in-person faculty development necessary to affect teaching?

Background: Physicians receive little education about unhealthy alcohol use and as a result patients often do not receive efficacious interventions. The objective of this study is to evaluate whether a free web-based alcohol curriculum would be used by physician educators and whether in-person faculty development would increase its use, confidence in teaching and teaching itself.

Methods: Subjects were physician educators who applied to attend a workshop on the use of a web-based curriculum about alcohol screening and brief intervention and cross-cultural efficacy.

A comparison of predictions made by three simulation models of foot-and-mouth disease.

Aims: To describe results of a relative validation exercise using the three simulation models of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in use by the quadrilateral countries (QUADS; Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and United States of America; USA).

Methods: A hypothetical population of farms was constructed and, following the introduction of an FMD-like disease into a single farm, spread of disease was simulated using each of the three FMD simulation models used by the QUADS countries. A series of 11 scenarios was developed to systematically evaluate the key processes of disease transmission and control used by each of the three models.

Misperceptions of patients vs providers regarding medication-related communication issues.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that there is little concordance in perceptions of medication-related communication between patients and providers, with providers estimating greater frequency of such discussions than patients; and to determine whether discordance is less apparent among patients who received e-prescriptions.

Study Design: Data are from a convenience sample of 96 providers practicing in 6 states and 1100 of their patients. Twenty-nine practices used e-prescribing, and 3 practices were initiating e-prescribing.

Untangling the Web--the impact of Internet use on health care and the physician-patient relationship.

Objective: The use of Web (i.e. Internet)-derived health information within the health care encounter is rapidly increasing.

Pathogenesis and pharmacology of epilepsy in the lithium-pilocarpine model.

To try to identify the critical structures during epileptogenesis, we used the lithium-pilocarpine model that reproduces most clinical and neuropathological features of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). We used imaging techniques as well as a disease modifying approach and pharmacological strategy. With [14C]-2-deoxyglucose autoradiography, we assessed changes in cerebral glucose utilization.

Fever, febrile seizures and epilepsy.

Seizures induced by fever (febrile seizures) are the most common type of pathological brain activity in infants and children. These febrile seizures and their potential contribution to the mechanisms of limbic (temporal lobe) epilepsy have been a topic of major clinical and scientific interest. Key questions include the mechanisms by which fever generates seizures, the effects of long febrile seizures on neuronal function and the potential contribution of these seizures to epilepsy.

Patient perceptions regarding electronic prescriptions: is the geriatric patient ready?

Objectives: To evaluate the extent to which electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) alters communication about medication use between geriatric patients and their clinicians, as well as geriatric patients' perceptions regarding e-prescribing.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: Thirty-five physician practices in six states using e-prescribing.

The North American Animal Disease Spread Model: a simulation model to assist decision making in evaluating animal disease incursions.

The North American Animal Disease Spread Model is a stochastic, spatial, state-transition simulation model for the spread of highly contagious diseases of animals. It was developed with broad international support to assist policy development and decision making involving disease incursions. User-established parameters define model behavior in terms of disease progression; disease spread by animal-to-animal contact, contact with contaminated personnel or equipment, and airborne dissemination; and the implementation of control measures such as destruction and vaccination.

Gastrointestinal safety of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors: a Cochrane Collaboration systematic review.

Background & Aims: Nonselective non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (COX-2s) are used to treat a variety of arthritic and inflammatory conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the upper gastrointestinal (GI) harms of the long-term use of COX-2s, compared with nonselective NSAIDs and placebo, in arthritis sufferers.

Methods: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted.

Melanoma early detection with thorough skin self-examination: the "Check It Out" randomized trial.

Background: Monthly thorough skin self-examination (TSSE) is an important practice for early melanoma detection that is performed by a small minority of the population.

Design: A randomized trial was conducted to determine whether a multicomponent intervention can increase TSSE performance and to describe the effects on performance of skin surgeries compared with a similar control intervention focused on diet.

Setting/participants: One thousand three hundred fifty-six patients attending a routine primary care visit in southeastern New England participated in this trial.

Simple models to assist in communicating key principles of animal disease control.

Aggressive actions for disease eradication, including animal disposal, can have serious impacts on the livestock industry, environment and public confidence. Coordinated efforts are required for effective, efficient and acceptable disease control and eradication. The authors summarise concepts from previous publications into a group of simple examples, schematic diagrams and basic equations.

Evaluating alternative approaches to managing animal disease outbreaks--the role of modelling in policy formulation.

Modelling is a powerful tool for informing development of policies for the control of animal diseases. By permitting the study of 'what if' scenarios, this tool can be used to help identify and evaluate strategies to reduce the number of animals destroyed to eradicate diseases. To be useful, models need to be fit for purpose and appropriately verified and validated.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors for primary prevention of colorectal cancer: a systematic review prepared for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Purpose: To examine the benefits and harms of nonaspirin (non-ASA) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitors for the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) and adenoma.

Data Sources: MEDLINE (1966 to 2006), EMBASE (1980 to 2006), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Collaboration's registry of clinical trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Study Selection: Randomized, controlled trials and case-control and cohort studies of the effectiveness of NSAIDs for the prevention of CRC and colorectal adenoma were identified by multilevel screening by 2 independent reviewers.

The use of aspirin for primary prevention of colorectal cancer: a systematic review prepared for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Background: Aspirin for prevention of colorectal cancer is controversial.

Purpose: To examine the benefits and harms of aspirin chemoprevention.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, 1966 to December 2006; EMBASE, 1980 to April 2005; CENTRAL, Cochrane Collaboration's registry of clinical trials; Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Retrospective investigation of chronic wasting disease of cervids at the Toronto Zoo, 1973-2003.

The occurrence of chronic wasting disease (CWD) at the Toronto Zoo was investigated retrospectively, based on an examination of management, animal health, and postmortem records, and immunohistochemical studies. Records of animal movements, clinical signs, and postmortem findings were examined for all cervids 1973-2003. All available samples of fixed, wax-embedded lymphoid or central nervous system tissue from cervids that died at the Toronto Zoo from 1973 to 2003, > 12 months of age, were tested, using prion protein immunostaining.

Neuropeptide Y: potential role in recurrent developmental seizures.

Seizures induce profound plastic changes in the brain, including altered expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its receptors. Here, I discuss a potential role of NPY plasticity in the developmental brain: in a rat model of febrile seizures (FS), the most common type of seizures in infants and young children, NPY expression was up-regulated in hippocampus after experimentally induced FS. Interestingly, NPY up-regulation was associated with an increased seizure threshold for additional (recurrent) FS, and this effect was abolished when an antagonist against NPY receptor type 2 was applied.

A randomized prospective trial comparing different regimens of oral sodium phosphate and polyethylene glycol-based lavage solution in the preparation of patients for colonoscopy.

Background: Regulatory agencies have warned clinicians regarding the risk of electrolyte abnormalities if more than two 45-mL bottles of oral sodium phosphate (NaP) solution are administered within a 24-hour period.

Objective: To compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of different regimens of oral NaP and polyethylene glycol (PEG).

Design: Randomized controlled trial.