HIV-associated anal dysplasia: experience from a multiethnic-HIV clinic in Hawaii.

Purpose: To assess the proportion as well as predictors of anal dysplasia in HIV-infected Asian/Pacific Islanders.

Methods: This was a retrospective chart review evaluating the proportion of anal dysplasia among a multiethnic population from an ambulatory university-based HIV clinic in Hawaii. Demographic, clinical, and virologic parameters were examined with respect to abnormal anal Pap smear.

A quality-improvement project use of a computerized medical database and reminder letters to increase preventive care use in kaiser permanente patients.

Context: Previous studies have suggested that preventive health care measures may be improved by proactive patient-reminder systems and use of electronic medical databases.

Objective: Our objective was to use Kaiser Permanente's (KP's) electronic medical databases to improve the preventive health care delivered to KP patients in Honolulu, HI.

Design: Patients not seen by their primary care physician in more than one year ("low-utilizing patients") and overdue for preventive health care services were identified using KP's electronic medical databases.

Thoracic vertebral actinomycosis: Actinomyces israelii and Fusobacterium nucleatum.

Actinomyces spp. are considered rare pathogens in today's medicine, especially with thoracic vertebral involvement. Classic actinomycosis (50%) presents as an oral-cervicofacial ("lumpy jaw") infection.

Pediatric prescription pick-up rates after ED visits.

Objective: To determine the compliance rate in filling outpatient medication prescriptions written upon discharge from the emergency department (ED).

Methods: Emergency department records of children during a 3-month period were examined along with pharmacy claim data obtained in cooperation with the largest insurance carrier in the community (private and Medicaid). Pharmacy claim data were used to validate the prescription pick-up date.

Dental fracture risk of metal vs plastic laryngoscope blades in dental models.

Background: Dental fracture is a complication of laryngoscopy and endotracheal intubation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the potential fracture rates in dental models using metal laryngoscope blades with those using plastic laryngoscope blades.

Methods: Size 3 Macintosh plastic and metal laryngoscope blades were applied against 4 different dental model materials at varying torques to determine when the dental model material would fracture.

Ophthalmomyiasis in Hawaii.

Ophthalmomyiasis is the infestation of the eye by fly larvae. Commonly caused by Oestrus ovis, a female sheep botfly will accidentally deposit her larvae into a human eye, resulting in disease. Prompt recognition and treatment of this condition will improve patient care and reduce potential complications.

Dose and timing of total-body irradiation mediate tumor progression and immunomodulation.

The major goal of this study was to examine the effects of total-body irradiation (TBI) on lung carcinoma progression and determine if changes in tumor growth could be correlated with radiation-induced alterations of immune system parameters. Lewis lung tumor cells were injected subcutaneously into syngeneic C57BL/6 mice that had been irradiated with a single 3.0 Gy dose of gamma-rays (60Co) at four time points either before or after tumor cell implantation.

Modulation of innate immunological factors by STEALTH liposome-encapsulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha in a colon tumor xenograft model.

Background: Previous studies have shown that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) encapsulated in sterically-stabilized PEGylated STEALTH liposomes (SL) can better and more safely augment the efficacy of other treatment modalities than free TNF-alpha. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of SL-TNF-alpha in the LS174T human colon tumor xenograft model and to correlate its administration with alterations in innate immune system parameters.

Materials And Methods: Nude mice (n = 128) were injected subcutaneously with LSI 74T cells and treated intravenously with SL-TNF-alpha SL-placebo, or free recombinant human TNF-alpha; the animals were euthanized at 6, 18, 36 and 96 hours after injection.

Lymphocyte activation with localized pGL1-TNF-alpha gene therapy in a glioma model.

The major goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), delivered as pGL1-TNF-alpha, on hematological variables, as well as C6 tumor growth in athymic mice treated with and without radiation. pGL1-TNF-alpha was administered intratumorally at low to high doses (15, 150 and 450 microg) in all three phases of this study. In phase A, pGL1-TNF-alpha expression within tumors was dose dependent and transient, with highest levels seen at 18 h after injection, whereas no TNF-alpha protein was detected in plasma.