Effectiveness of an on-call counselor at increasing smoking treatment.

Background: Smoking cessation programs are very effective, but little is known about how to get smokers to attend these programs.

Objective: To evaluate whether an "on-call" counselor increased smoking cessation program referrals and attendance.

Design: We randomly assigned 1 of 2 primary care teams at the Sepulveda VA Ambulatory Care Center to intervention and the other to usual care.

Pharmacokinetics of gefitinib in humans: the influence of gastrointestinal factors.

Purpose: To investigate whether differences in plasma pharmacokinetic profiles of gefitinib between healthy subjects having normal (N; t(1/2)>20h) and altered (A; t(1/2)<20h) pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles might be explained by inter-individual variability in gastric emptying and/or precipitation/dissolution of gefitinib in the proximal small intestine.

Methods: One hundred healthy male subjects were screened to enable identification of subjects with the two PK profiles. Twenty five subjects from the screening were subsequently enrolled in an intubation study where a 250mg gefitinib dispersion preparation (IRESSA AstraZeneca) was administered directly into the stomach.

Visualization of the microtubules of glutaraldehyde-fixed cells by reflection-enhanced backscatter confocal microscopy.

Performing reflection-mode (backscatter-mode) confocal microscopy on cells growing on reflective substrates gives images that have improved contrast and are more easily interpreted than standard reflection-mode confocal micrographs (Keith et al., 1998). However, a number of factors degrade the quality of images taken with the highest-resolution microscope objectives in this technique.

Pathologic complete response may not represent the optimal surrogate for survival after preoperative therapy for esophageal cancer.

Background: We designed a phase II trial to examine the benefit of preoperative hyperfractionated radiation therapy (XRT) and concurrent chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC).

Aim Of Study: The pathologic complete response (pCR) was the primary endpoint to estimate efficacy.

Methods: Twenty-three patients with LAEC received twice-daily XRT during wk 1 and 5 and once-daily XRT during wk 2-4 (59 Gy).

Targeting cellular prion protein reverses early cognitive deficits and neurophysiological dysfunction in prion-infected mice.

Currently, no treatment can prevent the cognitive and motor decline associated with widespread neurodegeneration in prion disease. However, we previously showed that targeting endogenous neuronal prion protein (PrP(C)) (the precursor of its disease-associated isoform, PrP(Sc)) in mice with early prion infection reversed spongiform change and prevented clinical symptoms and neuronal loss. We now show that cognitive and behavioral deficits and impaired neurophysiological function accompany early hippocampal spongiform pathology.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of memantine in age-associated memory impairment (memantine in AAMI).

Objectives: To determine the safety and efficacy of memantine in treating Age-Associated Memory Impairment (AAMI).

Methods: Sixty adults between 50-79 years of age meeting diagnostic requirements for AAMI were randomly assigned to either memantine (titrated to 20 mg) or a matched placebo and treated for 90 days. An extensive battery of computerized cognitive tests was administered at screening, baseline and, thereafter, at monthly intervals.

Predictors of condom use self-efficacy in an ethnically diverse university sample.

A multitude of factors influence condom use self-efficacy, including age, gender, ethnicity, condom use attitudes and barriers, sexual experience, and partner characteristics. The current study integrated past research by evaluating these factors in a large, ethnically diverse university sample of women and men (N=665). The role of gender on condom use and sexuality variables was assessed across ethnic groups.

Predictive value of 18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose-positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) in the identification of responders to chemoradiation therapy for the treatment of locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of F-FDG-PET in predicting response to concomitant chemoradiation in locally-advanced esophageal cancer.

Summary Background Data: Approximately 25% of esophageal cancer patients experience a pathologic complete response (pCR) to preoperative chemoradiation therapy. Computed tomography, endoscopy, and endoscopic ultrasound are unable to identify patients experiencing a pCR.

FINE STRUCTURE AND TAXONOMY OF MONOMORPHINA AENIGMATICA COMB. NOV. (EUGLENOPHYTA)(1).

The euglenoid genus Monomorphina was defined by Mereschowsky in 1877 to include rigid euglenoids that were pyriform in lateral view, had a hyaline spine at the posterior end, and one to few parietal chloroplasts typically without pyrenoids. The genus included taxa previously assigned to Phacus Dujardin or Euglena Ehrenberg. The general structure of Monomorphina aenigmatica comb.

The relationship of radiation pneumonitis to treated lung volume in breast conservation therapy.

Breast conservation therapy has become a common modality for therapy of early stage breast cancer. Most studies of primary lung irradiation correlate the risk of pneumonitis with the volume of lung treated. It is proposed that the lung volume treated during tangential radiation of the intact breast may be calculated from a measurement of the central lung distance.

A wrapper-based approach to image segmentation and classification.

The traditional processing flow of segmentation followed by classification in computer vision assumes that the segmentation is able to successfully extract the object of interest from the background image. It is extremely difficult to obtain a reliable segmentation without any prior knowledge about the object that is being extracted from the scene. This is further complicated by the lack of any clearly defined metrics for evaluating the quality of segmentation or for comparing segmentation algorithms.

The new higher level classification of eukaryotes with emphasis on the taxonomy of protists.

This revision of the classification of unicellular eukaryotes updates that of Levine et al. (1980) for the protozoa and expands it to include other protists. Whereas the previous revision was primarily to incorporate the results of ultrastructural studies, this revision incorporates results from both ultrastructural research since 1980 and molecular phylogenetic studies.

Results of a randomized controlled trial to increase colorectal cancer screening in a managed care health plan.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer deaths; however, rates of regular screening for this cancer are low. A quality improvement (QI) program to increase CRC screening was developed for use in a managed care health plan.

Methods: Thirty-six provider organizations (POs) contracting with the health plan were recruited for a randomized controlled effectiveness trial testing the QI program.

A prospective evaluation of the impact of 18-F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography staging on survival for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Purpose: To determine the impact of 18-F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) in the staging and prognosis of patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC).

Methods And Materials: Between January 2000 and October 2004, all patients with LAEC evaluated in the Department of Radiation Oncology were considered for enrollment into a Phase II trial of preoperative chemoradiation. Entry required a staging whole-body FDG-PET scan.

Assessment of pragmatic difficulties and socio-emotional adjustment in practice.

Background: In professional practice, psychologists and other professionals such as therapists and teachers receive referrals of many children who present with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties that are difficult to understand and assess. The problems of some of these children may stem from pragmatic difficulties in communication. This paper reports the results of a study on the use of checklists in professional practice to assist in the identification of these difficulties.

Mechanisms of transport and exocytosis of dense-core granules containing tissue plasminogen activator in developing hippocampal neurons.

Dense-core granules (DCGs) are organelles found in specialized secretory cells, including neuroendocrine cells and neurons. Neuronal DCGs facilitate many critical processes, including the transport and secretion of proteins involved in learning, and yet their transport and exocytosis are poorly understood. We have used wide-field and total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, in conjunction with transport theory, to visualize the transport and exocytosis of DCGs containing a tissue plasminogen activator-green fluorescent protein hybrid in cell bodies, neurites, and growth cones of developing hippocampal neurons and to quantify the roles that diffusion, directed motion, and immobility play in these processes.

Are racial disparities in health conditional on socioeconomic status?

Racial health inequality is related to socioeconomic status (SES), but debate ensues on the nature of the relationship. Using the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I and the subsequent follow-up interviews, this research examines health disparities between white and black adults and whether the SES/health gradient differs across the two groups in the USA. Two competing mechanisms for the conditional or interactive relationship between race and SES on health are examined during a 20-year period for black and white Americans.

Montelukast for migraine prophylaxis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of montelukast 20 mg in the prophylactic treatment of migraine.

Background: A previous small open-label study in migraine patients suggested prophylactic efficacy for montelukast, an antagonist of the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor that is used in the treatment of asthma. We sought to confirm these findings in a randomized controlled trial.

Primary care provider perceptions of barriers to and facilitators of colorectal cancer screening in a managed care setting.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) screening tests (e.g., fecal occult blood testing [FOBT], flexible sigmoidoscopy [FS], etc.

Structure-activity relationships in platinum-acridinylthiourea conjugates: effect of the thiourea nonleaving group on drug stability, nucleobase affinity, and in vitro cytotoxicity.

The synthesis, cytotoxicity, and nucleoside binding of some platinum-acridinylthiourea conjugates derived from the prototypical compound [PtCl(en)(ACRAMTU)](NO3)2 ("PT-ACRAMTU"; en=ethane-1,2-diamine, ACRAMTU=1-[2-(acridin-9-ylamino)ethyl]-1,3-dimethylthiourea, protonated form) are reported. To establish structure-activity relationships within this class of compounds, systematic changes were made to the thiourea nonleaving group, which links the intercalator to platinum. Three new derivatives of ACRAMTU, one di-, one tri-, and one tetraalkylated, were generated, where the degree of alkylation indicates the number of alkyl groups attached to the SCN2 framework.

Sexual dimorphism in the craniofacial growth of the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus).

Variation between the sexes during ontogeny is frequently overlooked in discussions of the phylogenetic patterns of adult sexual dimorphism. Different growth trajectories can produce identical degrees and direction of adult dimorphism and the possibility exists that similarities in adults may be the result of differing growth patterns, suggesting independent evolutionary pathways among species to the seemingly identical adult morphology. We quantified the sexual dimorphism in craniofacial skeletal growth of Cavia porcellus, the guinea pig, using longitudinally collected radiographs.

Intrauterine device insertion-related complications: can they be predicted?

Objective: To determine risk factors affecting the incidence of intrauterine device (IUD) insertion-related complications and failures and, in particular, whether postcoital IUD insertions have a higher incidence of complications than routine IUD insertions.

Design: Retrospective case notes analysis.

Participants: The study examined 545 case notes of patients having IUD insertions at East Cheshire NHS Trust family planning clinics between 1 October 1997 and 31 December 2000.

Improving colorectal cancer screening rates in a managed care health plan: recruitment of provider organizations for a randomized effectiveness trial.

Evidence-based guidelines recommend regular colorectal cancer (CRC) screening for adults 50 years and older, yet screening rates remain very low. In this paper we describe the challenges associated with recruitment and retention of provider organizations (POs) for a group randomized, controlled effectiveness trial to increase CRC screening, among patients in a managed care health insurance plan. Using the health plan as the sampling frame, we recruited POs to test a facilitated quality improvement program to increase CRC screening.

The effects of acute and chronic lipopolysaccharide infusion in rats on the efferent function of sensory nerves in the isolated mesenteric arterial bed.

Capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons are stimulated by noxious stimuli, and may be activated in endotoxaemia. The present study investigated the acute and chronic effects of lipopolysaccharide upon the efferent function of these nerves. Conscious rats received infusion (i.

Oxidative phosphorylation by in situ synaptosomal mitochondria from whole brain of young and old rats.

Synaptosomes, isolated from the whole brain of young (3 months) and old (24 months) rats were used to study the major bioenergetic systems of neuronal mitochondria in situ, within the synaptosome. Approximately 85% of the resting oxygen consumption of synaptosomes from both young and old rats was a result of proton leak (and possibly other ion cycling) across the mitochondrial inner membrane. There were no significant differences between synaptosomes from the young and old rats in the kinetic responses of the substrate oxidation system, the mitochondrial proton leak and the phosphorylation system to changes in the proton electrochemical gradient.