Communication: Highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps of doped silicon clusters from core level spectroscopy.

A method to determine band gaps of size-selected and isolated nanoparticles by combination of valence band and core-level photoionization spectroscopy is presented. This approach is widely applicable and provides a convenient alternative to current standard techniques for the determination of band gaps by optical or photoelectron spectroscopy. A first application to vanadium doped silicon clusters confirms a striking size-dependence of their highest occupied-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital gaps.

Umbilical rotation: a new technique for the cutaneous fixation of continent catheterizable vesicostomies.

Purpose: For cutaneous fixation of the continent catheterizable vesicostomy we present a new technique, in which the umbilicus is rotated caudally by 180° and the catheterizable channel is sutured to the umbilical cone. This procedure reduces the distance between the stoma entrance and the bladder.

Materials And Methods: Between 2001 and 2008, 67 patients underwent construction of a continent catheterizable vesicostomy.

Clinical and radiographic natural history of cervical artery dissections.

Background: Cervical artery dissection (CADsx) is a common cause of stroke in young patients, but long-term clinical and radiographic follow-up from a large population is lacking.

Methods: Epidemiologic data, treatment, recurrence, and other features were extracted from the records of all patients seen at our stroke center with confirmed CAD during a 15-year period. A subset of cases was examined to provide detailed information about vessel status.

Sexual dysfunction in male Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom patients with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.

The medical records of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans who entered the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) residential recovery program were retrospectively reviewed for presence of diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculatory delay. Of 53 patients, 39 reported diminished libido, 26 reported erectile dysfunction, and 8 reported ejaculatory dysfunction. This rate of prevalence is comparable to that observed in prior studies of patients with chronic PTSD of many years duration, suggesting that the mechanism underlying such dysfunction is directly related to PTSD rather than age, other health concerns, chronicity of PTSD symptoms, or lifestyle.

Cdc42-dependent leading edge coordination is essential for interstitial dendritic cell migration.

Mature dendritic cells (DCs) moving from the skin to the lymph node are a prototypic example of rapidly migrating amoeboid leukocytes. Interstitial DC migration is directionally guided by chemokines, but independent of specific adhesive interactions with the tissue as well as pericellular proteolysis. Instead, the protrusive flow of the actin cytoskeleton directly drives a basal mode of locomotion that is occasionally supported by actomyosin contractions at the trailing edge to propel the cell's rigid nucleus.

Occurrence of perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage during pregnancy.

Background: Perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage (P-SAH) is a benign subset of subarachnoid hemorrhage with a favorable prognosis and low rate of re-bleeding. Risk factors may include hypertension and tobacco use, but it has not previously been reported during pregnancy.

Methods: We report two cases of P-SAH in pregnant women, a 40-year-old female, 8-weeks pregnant and a 37-year-old female at 35 weeks gestational age.

Down-regulation of liver Galbeta1, 4GlcNAc alpha2, 6-sialyltransferase gene by ethanol significantly correlates with alcoholic steatosis in humans.

Hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis are frequent results of long-term ethanol exposure. We have previously demonstrated that long-term ethanol down-regulates Galbetal, 4GlcNAc alpha2, 6-sialyltransferase (ST6Gal1), leading to defective glycosylation of a number of proteins including apolipoprotein (apo) E and apo J and the appearance of asialoconjugates in the blood of continuously alcohol-fed animals as well as in human alcoholics. In the current study, we have explored the possibility of whether ethanol-induced down-regulation of ST6Gal1 could contribute toward alcoholic steatosis in human alcoholics presumably because of impaired lipid and lipoprotein transport caused by this down-regulation.

Size dependence of L2,3 branching ratio and 2p core-hole screening in x-ray absorption of metal clusters.

Resonant 2p x-ray absorption spectra of size-selected transition metal ions and clusters consisting of 1 View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Rapid leukocyte migration by integrin-independent flowing and squeezing.

All metazoan cells carry transmembrane receptors of the integrin family, which couple the contractile force of the actomyosin cytoskeleton to the extracellular environment. In agreement with this principle, rapidly migrating leukocytes use integrin-mediated adhesion when moving over two-dimensional surfaces. As migration on two-dimensional substrates naturally overemphasizes the role of adhesion, the contribution of integrins during three-dimensional movement of leukocytes within tissues has remained controversial.

Sudden onset of diabetic ketoacidosis during consensus interferon therapy for chronic viral hepatitis C.

Introduction: Interferon (IFN)-alpha, used for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, has rarely been associated with the development of diabetes. Consensus interferon (CIFN), which is used for nonresponders, has not been associated with this complication. We describe the first case of new onset diabetes in a patient on CIFN.

Nodal stage classification for breast carcinoma: improving interobserver reproducibility through standardized histologic criteria and image-based training.

Purpose: Reliable pathologic stage classification of axillary lymph nodes is an important determinant of prognosis and therapeutic decision making for patients with invasive breast cancer. Pathologists' distinction between micrometastasis (pN1mi) and isolated tumor cells [ITC; pN0(i+)] is variable using the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging Manual (Sixth Edition). We sought to determine whether a set of clearly defined histologic criteria could lead to reproducible nodal classification by pathologists.

Liver Galbeta1,4GlcNAc alpha2,6-sialyltransferase is down-regulated in human alcoholics: possible cause for the appearance of asialoconjugates.

Galbetal,4GlcNAc alpha2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6GalI) mediates the glycosylation of proteins and lipids to form functionally important glycoproteins and glycolipids in the Golgi compartment. Our previous work demonstrated that long-term ethanol feeding in rats caused a marked 59% decrease in ST6GalI activity as well as ST6GalI messenger RNA (mRNA) level in the liver that was due to decreased stability of the mRNA. Clinical observations show that down-regulation of ST6GalI gene and consequent impaired activity of ST6GalI seems to be the major cause for the appearance of asialoconjugates in the blood of long-term alcoholics.

[Influence of a xylanase feed additive on Lactobacillus species in the jejunum of piglets].

rRNA extracts from the jejunum of rearing piglets fed a wheat/rye based diet with or without a xylanase feed additive were hybridized against eight Lactobacillus spp. specific digoxigenin labelled oligonucleotide probes. Known concentrations of sample- or culture RNA extracts were used to calibrate and quantify hybridization signals from different sample extracts and hybridizations.

Lycopene and other carotenoids inhibit estrogenic activity of 17beta-estradiol and genistein in cancer cells.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that carotenoids prevent several types of cancer, including mammary and endometrial cancers. On the other hand, such studies have also shown that estrogens are the most important risk factors for these cancer types. Genistein, the phytoestrogen mainly found in soy, also shows significant estrogenic activity when tested at concentrations found in human blood.

Canadian guidelines for training in adult perioperative transesophageal echocardiography. Recommendations of the Cardiovascular Section of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society and the Canadian Society of Echocardiography.

Purpose: To establish Canadian guidelines for training in adult perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Methods: Guidelines were established by the Canadian Perioperative Echocardiography Group with the support of the cardiovascular section of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society in conjunction with the Canadian Society of Echocardiography. Guidelines for training in echocardiography by the American Society of Echocardiography, the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists were reviewed, modified and expanded to produce the 2003 Quebec expert consensus for training in perioperative echocardiography.

Canadian guidelines for training in adult perioperative transesophageal echocardiography. Recommendations of the Cardiovascular Section of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society and the Canadian Society of Echocardiography.

Purpose: To establish Canadian guidelines for training in adult perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Methods: Guidelines were established by the Canadian Perioperative Echocardiography Group with the support of the cardiovascular section of the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society (CAS) in conjunction with the Canadian Society of Echocardiography. Guidelines for training in echocardiography by the American Society of Echocardiography, the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists were reviewed, modified and expanded to produce the 2003 Quebec expert consensus for training in perioperative echocardiography.

Eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome) associated with colon carcinoma.

Eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome) is an inflammatory dermatosis characterized by marked eosinophilic infiltrates. Drugs and various infections are recognized causes of eosinophilic cellulitis. Eosinophilic cellulitis has been reported in non-hematological malignancies in two patients with squamous cell carcinoma and one with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Thrombus formation on an atrial septal defect closure device.

Atrial septal defects (ASDs) are the most prevalent form of congenital heart disease presenting after childhood. Percutaneous closure has become a safe and effective strategy for managing adults with secundum-type ASDs. Reports on complications are rare.

Inhibition of PI-3 kinase sensitizes human leukemic cells to histone deacetylase inhibitor-mediated apoptosis through p44/42 MAP kinase inactivation and abrogation of p21(CIP1/WAF1) induction rather than AKT inhibition.

Effects of the PI-3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 (LY) have been examined in relation to responses of human leukemia cells to histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDIs). Coexposure of U937 cells for 24 h to marginally toxic concentrations of LY294002 (e.g.

Cancer treatment by telomerase inhibitors: predictions by a kinetic model.

The inhibition of telomerase activity in actively dividing cells leads to shortening of their telomeres and suppression of cell growth when the telomere lengths become smaller than a certain threshold value (typically about 1-2 kb of DNA). We evaluated the time (efficacy delay) required to reach the threshold telomeric DNA size after initiation of treatment, which is of critical importance for the efficacy of telomerase inhibitors. A model based on the solution of a system of differential equations was developed to analyze the efficacy delay and dynamics of tumor growth.

Cancer cell dynamics in presence of telomerase inhibitors: analysis of in vitro data.

The inhibition of telomerase activity in actively dividing cells leads to suppression of cell growth after a time delay (inhibitory delay) required to reach a threshold telomeric DNA size. We developed a mathematical model of the dynamics of telomere size distribution and cell growth in the presence of telomere inhibitors that allowed quantification of the inhibitory delay. The model based on the solution of a system of differential equations described quantitatively recent experimental data on dynamics of cultured cells in presence of telomerase inhibitors.

Transmyocardial laser revascularization remodels the intrinsic cardiac nervous system in a chronic setting.

Background: Prospective trials have demonstrated that transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) imparts symptomatic relief to patients with refractory angina. Because peak clinical effectiveness of TMLR is usually delayed by several months, it has been proposed that ventricular denervation is one mechanism whereby TMLR imparts symptomatic relief. We have demonstrated that TMLR does not denervate the heart in the acute setting, nor does it modify the intrinsic cardiac nervous system (ICNS) in the acute setting.

Effect of purified allicin, the major ingredient of freshly crushed garlic, on cancer cell proliferation.

The diverse health benefit effects of garlic include its anticancer activity. However, very little is known about such activity of isolated garlic compounds, among which allicin (the major ingredient of crushed garlic) has been the least studied. The aim of this work was to determine whether pure allicin exhibits the antiproliferative effect reported for garlic in in vitro models.