An echocardiographic left ventricular wall area index for functional detection of myocardial injury in hemodynamically unloaded hearts.

Functional assessment of the left ventricle is affected by loading conditions. Detection of rejection-mediated myocardial injury in a heterotopic heart transplant model is a challenge for the echocardiographer because the heart is in an unloaded state. We examined the relationship of a novel left ventricular (LV) wall area index (LVWAI) and serum cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels.

Peer-to-peer psychoeducation in schizophrenia: a new approach.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of the first peer-to-peer psychoeducation program in schizophrenia.

Method: We developed a 5-step curriculum for structured training of peer moderators. In step 1, peer moderators participate in regular psychoeducation, and in step 2, they participate in workshops on knowledge about schizophrenia and moderation techniques.

Failure to confirm influence of methyltetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms on age at onset of Huntington disease.

Background: Huntington disease (HD) is a fully penetrant, autosomal dominantly inherited disorder associated with abnormal expansions of a stretch of perfect CAG repeats in the 5' part of the IT15 gene. The number of repeat units is highly predictive for the age at onset (AO) of the disorder. But AO is only modestly correlated with repeat length when intermediate HD expansions are considered.

The host response to the probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917: specific up-regulation of the proinflammatory chemokine MCP-1.

Background: The use of live microorganisms to influence positively the course of intestinal disorders such as infectious diarrhea or chronic inflammatory conditions has recently gained increasing interest as a therapeutic alternative. In vitro and in vivo investigations have demonstrated that probiotic-host eukaryotic cell interactions evoke a large number of responses potentially responsible for the effects of probiotics. The aim of this study was to improve our understanding of the E.

On the edge of autoimmunity: T-cell stimulation by steady-state dendritic cells prevents autoimmune diabetes.

Targeting of antigens to immature dendritic cells has been shown to result in antigen-specific T-cell tolerance in vivo. In the INS-HA/TCR-HA transgenic mouse model for type 1 diabetes, we tested the potential of the dendritic cell-specific monoclonal antibody DEC-205 conjugated to the hemagglutinin (HA) antigen (DEC-HA) to prevent disease onset. Whereas untreated INS-HA/TCR-HA mice all develop insulitis, and approximately 40% of these mice become diabetic, repeated injection of newborn mice with DEC-HA protected almost all mice from disease development.

Cellular retinoic acid binding protein I: expression and functional influence in renal cell carcinoma.

Despite the known anti-proliferative and tumor-suppressive effects seen with retinoic acid (RA), treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) failed to meet the initial expectations. As the exact mechanisms of action of RA and especially the role of the cellular RA binding proteins (CRABP) have not been elucidated yet, we investigated the expression of CRABP-I and its potential influence on RA response in RCC. Real-time RT-PCR analysis disclosed a significant lack of CRABP-I expression in four RCC cell lines and 12 primary RCC samples; in contrast, high expression levels were found in the respective adjacent normal kidney tissue.

Expression and functional influence of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II in renal cell carcinoma.

Introduction: Retinoic acid (RA) and its derivates possess antiproliferative and tumor-suppressive abilities and are successfully used in the treatment of various malignancies. However, in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), its application did not meet first expectations. As the exact mechanisms of RA action and especially the role of the cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins (CRABP) still remain unclear, we studied the expression of CRABP-II and its potential influence on RA response in RCC.

Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of pulmonary regurgitation facilitates the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis.

Diagnosing constrictive pericarditis (CP) remains a clinical challenge. Ventricular interdependence and dissociation of intrathoracic and intracardiac pressures are hallmark features that are readily recognized by invasive and noninvasive hemodynamics. The Doppler echocardiographic signal from pulmonic valve regurgitation depends on the relationship between pulmonary artery (intrathoracic) and right ventricular (intracardiac) pressure.

Biphasic Doppler pattern of the descending thoracic aorta: a new echocardiographic finding in patients with aortic valve stenosis.

A total of 59 patients (> or = 65 years of age) with normal left ventricular function (ejection fraction > 50%) and varying degrees of aortic valve structure and hemodynamics (normal to severely stenotic) were screened; 50 were subsequently enrolled. Continuous wave Doppler echocardiography in the descending thoracic aorta showed two general patterns: (1) in aortic stenosis, the pattern consisted of two peak systolic velocity components (S1 and S2); and (2) in normal aortic valve function, the pattern was a uniphasic signal with a single peak systolic velocity component. The new Doppler pattern yielded 95% sensitivity and 90% specificity in the detection of clinically significant aortic valve stenosis, and 92% sensitivity and 70% specificity in the detection of severe aortic valve stenosis.

Remembering by the seat of your pants.

According to dual-process theories of memory, "old" responses in recognition may reflect the separate or combined effects of two states, specific recollection and feelings of nonspecific familiarity. When decisions are based on familiarity, people may attribute enhanced perceptual fluency to memory for prior occurrence. In this experiment, we tested whether a subliminal somatic cue (a low-amplitude buzz) could enhance feelings of familiarity.

Locked plate fixation and intramedullary nailing for proximal humerus fractures: a biomechanical evaluation.

Background: Internal fixation of proximal humeral fractures is associated with a considerable secondary malalignment rate. Fixed-angle implants have been suggested to increase the stability of fixation.

Methods: The biomechanical properties of four different implants were tested.

In vitro-generated regulatory T cells induced by Foxp3-retrovirus infection control murine contact allergy and systemic autoimmunity.

Regulatory T cells are promising candidates for the modulation of inflammation and autoimmunity. To generate regulatory T cells in vitro, we have infected naïve CD4+CD25- T cells with a retrovirus encoding the transcription factor Foxp3. Foxp3-infected T cells are similar to naturally occurring regulatory T cells as evidenced by surface marker expression and function.

Generation of serum-stabilized retroviruses: reduction of alpha1,3gal-epitope synthesis in a murine NIH3T3-derived packaging cell line by expression of chimeric glycosyltransferases.

Retroviral vectors released from mouse-derived packaging cell lines are inactivated in human sera by naturally occurring antibodies due to the recognition of Galalpha1,3Galbeta1,4GlcNAc (alphagal-epitope) decorated surface proteins. In this study, an extensive analysis of the glycosylation potential of NIH3T3-derived PA317 packaging cells using combined MALDI/TOF-MS and HPAE-PAD reveals that 34% of the N-glycan moiety represents alphagal-epitope containing structures. Stable expression of glycosyltransferases and transport signal chimeras has been demonstrated to represent an efficient tool to alter cell- and species-specific glycosylation (Grabenhorst and Conradt, 1999.

Ventricular septal hamartoma mimicking hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in a 41-year-old woman presenting with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

We report an unusual case of cardiac hamartoma involving the ventricular septum. The patient presented with palpitations and exertional chest pain. Echocardiography indicated a large homogeneous mass occupying the superior two-thirds of the ventricular septum.

Attitudes of faculty and students toward case-based learning in the third-year obstetrics and gynecology clerkship.

Objective: This study was undertaken to compare the attitudes of faculty and medical students toward case-based learning and lecture format during the obstetrics and gynecology clerkship.

Study Design: For this prospective comparative study, student presentations were alternately assigned to traditional lecture- or case-based format every 6 weeks. Presentations were made to other students and a single faculty.

Metoclopramide effect on breastfeeding the preterm infant: a randomized trial.

Objective: To investigate the effect of metoclopramide on breast milk volume and duration of breastfeeding in women delivering preterm.

Methods: Women who planned to breastfeed and delivered between 23 and 34 weeks of gestation were eligible to participate in this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Women were randomized to receive 10 mg of metoclopramide or placebo 3 times a day for 10 days, starting within 96 hours of birth.

Evidence for self-cleaning in gecko setae.

A tokay gecko can cling to virtually any surface and support its body mass with a single toe by using the millions of keratinous setae on its toe pads. Each seta branches into hundreds of 200-nm spatulae that make intimate contact with a variety of surface profiles. We showed previously that the combined surface area of billions of spatulae maximizes van der Waals interactions to generate large adhesive and shear forces.

CD4+ T cell mediated intestinal immunity: chronic inflammation versus immune regulation.

Background: Several studies have suggested that chronic inflammatory bowel disease may be a consequence of antigen specific recognition by appropriate T cells which expand and induce immunopathology.

Aims: We wished to investigate whether autoreactive CD4+ T cells can initiate the disease on recognition of enterocyte specific antigens directly and if induction of mucosal tolerance occurs.

Methods: Transgenic mice (VILLIN-HA) were generated that showed specific expression of haemagglutinin from influenza virus A exclusively in enterocytes of the intestinal epithelium.

Quality of implementation: developing measures crucial to understanding the diffusion of preventive interventions.

As prevention programs become disseminated, the most serious threat to effectiveness is maintaining the quality of implementation intended by the developers. This paper proposes a methodology for measuring quality of implementation in school settings and presents data from a pilot study designed to test several of the proposed components. These methods included assessments of adherence, quality of process, the positive or negative valence of adaptations, teachers' attitudes and teachers' understanding of program content.

The transition from an analog to a digital echocardiography laboratory: the Mayo experience.

Our echocardiography laboratory has completed the transition from an analog to a digital imaging laboratory. The process involved a thorough analysis of the practice and design of a complete digital solution. After an effective implementation of a robust reporting solution, the transition to digital imaging ensued.

Pseudoaneurysm of the uterine artery requiring bilateral uterine artery embolization.

Objective: To report a case of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm which initially failed unilateral uterine artery embolization that subsequently responded to bilateral embolization.

Design: A case report.

Setting: University hospital.

How all stars works: an examination of program effects on mediating variables.

Prevention research continues to focus on school-based substance use programs aimed at adolescents. These programs are designed to reduce substance use and risk behavior by targeting key mediators, such as normative beliefs, which in turn reduce substance use. All Stars is a newly developed program that was recently evaluated in a randomized field trial in 14 middle schools in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky.

Pursuing the course from research to practice.

Diffusion of Innovation Theory describes the typical course by which innovations become standard practice. Research-based prevention programs are one such innovation. These programs have passed through the early phases of diffusion-innovation development and adoption by progressive schools that seek out innovations.

Teacher training in norm setting approaches to drug education: a pilot study comparing standard and video-enhanced methods.

Norm setting has been shown to be a crucial element of effective drug education. The purpose of this study was to examine the degree to which a videotape describing concepts and methods for establishing positive norms would enhance standard training. Participants included 35 teachers and 64 health education students who were randomly assigned to the standard training condition or the video-enhanced training.