Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm: a retrospective assessment of open versus endovascular repair.

Aortic stent graft repair has recently been applied as an alternative therapy for infrarenal ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAAs). We retrospectively assessed outcome in a continuous series at a single institution (an academic tertiary referral center) of patients with infrarenal rAAAs treated by either open or endovascular repair. Between October 1999 and July 2004, 24 patients were treated at the University of Alabama Hospital for infrarenal rAAA.

A non-conservative, coding single-nucleotide polymorphism in the N-terminal region of lactoferrin is associated with aggressive periodontitis in an African-American, but not a Caucasian population.

Lactoferrin is an antimicrobial protein which plays an important role in regulating bacteria that are associated with aggressive periodontitis. Lactoferrin kills directly (via its strongly cationic N-terminal region) and indirectly, through sequestering the iron that bacteria require for growth. As aggressive periodontitis has a strong heritable component, we hypothesized that genetic variation within the lactoferrin gene may play a role in susceptibility to this condition.

Optimizing treatment for African Americans and Latinos with HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS is a disease that has a disproportionate negative impact on the African-American and Latino communities when compared with the general population. African Americans account for more than 50% of new AIDS cases, though they comprise only 12% of the general population. More than one-third of AIDS-related deaths in the United States have been among African Americans.

Ziprasidone decreases cortisol excretion in healthy subjects.

Aims: To determine the influence of the atypical antipsychotic ziprasidone on cortisol excretion.

Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized cross-over design 11 healthy male subjects were studied twice for 2 consecutive nights (N1, undisturbed sleep conditions; N2, exposure to acoustic stress) 5 days apart. Placebo or ziprasidone 40 mg was administered orally 2 h before bedtime on N1 and N2.

Obstructive sleep apnea: Plasma endothelin-1 precursor but not endothelin-1 levels are elevated and decline with nasal continuous positive airway pressure.

Assessment of plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) reveals conflicting results in cerebral and noncerebral conditions. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome has been used as a definite challenge for the investigation of endothelin measurements. Despite marked sleep-related breathing disturbances in untreated patients peripherally measurable ET-1 concentrations remained within the normal range and did not change after an appropriate therapy with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Improved sleep continuity and increased slow wave sleep and REM latency during ziprasidone treatment: a randomized, controlled, crossover trial of 12 healthy male subjects.

Objective: Ziprasidone, an atypical antipsychotic, is a potent dopamine (D(2)) and serotonin (5-HT(2A/C)) receptor blocker, has agonistic properties at the 5-HT(1A) receptor, and blocks serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake. These transmitter systems are closely related to the regulation of sleep.

Method: The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, crossover study was to investigate the effects of ziprasidone on polysomnographic sleep structure and subjective sleep quality.

Differential gene expression in queen-worker caste determination in bumble-bees.

Investigating how differential gene expression underlies caste determination in the social Hymenoptera is central to understanding how variation in gene expression underlies adaptive phenotypic diversity. We investigated for the first time the association between differential gene expression and queen-worker caste determination in the bumble-bee Bombus terrestris. Using suppression subtractive hybridization we isolated 12 genes that were differentially expressed in queen- and worker-destined larvae.

Creation of tolerogenic human dendritic cells via intracellular CTLA4: a novel strategy with potential in clinical immunosuppression.

Activation of T lymphocytes requires the recognition of peptide-major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs) and costimulatory signals provided by antigen-presenting cells (APCs). It has been shown that T-cell activation without costimulation can lead to anergy. In this study, we developed a novel strategy to inhibit expression of B7 molecules (CD80/86) by transfecting APCs with a gene construct encoding a modified cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) molecule (CTLA4-KDEL) that is targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).

Evaluation of oxidative stress measurements in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Assessment of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is highly important in neurodegenerative disorders and neuroleptic treatment. However, conflicting results have been reported, which may arise from methodological difficulties. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome with episodic hypoxia-reoxygenation is proposed as a human model for the investigation of ROS measurements.

Narcolepsy increased L-PGDS (beta-trace) levels correlate with excessive daytime sleepiness but not with cataplexy.

Objectives: Alterations in the prostaglandin-D-system have been found in animal sleep experiments and disorders that present with hypersomnia or sleep disturbances. The recently demonstrated involvement of the leptomeningeal lipocalin-type prostaglandin-Dsynthase (L-PGDS) (beta-trace) in human physiological sleep encouraged us to investigate its role in the pathophysiology of narcolepsy.

Methods: In a pilot study, serum LPGDS and melatonin concentrations were assessed in 14 narcoleptic patients during undisturbed sleep and total sleep deprivation, compared with those from 14 healthy controls during undisturbed sleep.

Toll-like receptor mRNA expression patterns in human dendritic cells and monocytes.

The innate immune system recognises a wide spectrum of pathogens without a need for prior exposure. The main cells responsible are monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells (DC) and neutrophils phagocytose microbial pathogens triggering a cytokine network resulting in the development of inflammatory and specific immune responses. Findings in the Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, initially discovered in Drosophila, further elucidated these processes.

Human IL-19 regulates immunity through auto-induction of IL-19 and production of IL-10.

IL-19 is a novel, recently identified member of the IL-10 family of cytokines. We identified IL-10 as a cytokine that was strongly induced in IL-19-stimulated PBMC. IL-19-induced IL-10 secretion was dose-dependent and could be detected in culture supernatants after 3 h of stimulation.

Effect of warfarin anticoagulation on below-knee polytetrafluoroethylene graft patency.

When polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) must be used for below-knee bypass to achieve limb salvage, effective anticoagulation with warfarin may improve graft survival. We analyzed our practice of routinely using oral anticoagulation to improve graft patency rates for PTFE grafts to below-knee popliteal and crural vessels in limb salvage procedures. We reviewed our established vascular database from February 1999 through April 2003 to identify those patients who required below-knee and tibial artery bypass with PTFE for critical limb ischemia.

Early results of lower extremity infrageniculate revascularization with a new polytetrafluoroethylene graft.

When an autologous vein is not available for lower extremity revascularization, prosthetic grafts are often required. However, prosthetic bypass grafts have limited patency for infrageniculate reconstruction. To potentially improve patency, a new geometric modification of the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft, Distaflo (Impra, Tempe, AZ), has been developed for lower extremity bypass.

Patterns of variability at the major histocompatibility class II alpha locus in Atlantic salmon contrast with those at the class I locus.

In order to investigate the mechanisms creating and maintaining variability at the major histocompatibility (MH) class II alpha (DAA) locus we examined patterns of polymorphism in two isolated Atlantic salmon populations which share a common post-glacial origin. As expected from their common origin, but contrary to the observation at the MH class I locus, these populations shared the majority of DAA alleles: out of 17 sequences observed, 11 were common to both populations. Recombination seems to play a more important role in the origin of new alleles at the class II alpha locus than at the class I locus.

Phenotypic divergence despite high levels of gene flow in Galápagos lava lizards (Microlophus albemarlensis).

The extent of evolutionary divergence of phenotypes between habitats is predominantly the result of the balance of differential natural selection and gene flow. Lava lizards (Microlophus albemarlensis) on the small island of Plaza Sur in the Galápagos archipelago inhabit contrasting habitats: dense vegetation on the western end of the island thins rapidly in a transitional area, before becoming absent on the eastern half. Associated with these habitats are phenotypic differences in traits linked to predator avoidance (increased wariness, sprint speed, and endurance in lizards from the sparsely vegetated habitat).

Rapid evolution of the MH class I locus results in different allelic compositions in recently diverged populations of Atlantic salmon.

We compared major histocompatibility class I allelic diversity in two currently reproductively isolated Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations (Irish and Norwegian) with a common postglacial origin in order to test for among-population differences in allelic composition and patterns of recombination and point mutation. We also examined the evidence for adaptive molecular divergence at this locus by analyzing the rate of amino acid replacement in relation to a neutral expectation. Contrary to our prediction, and in contrast to the situation for other genetic markers, the two populations have almost nonoverlapping sets of major histocompatibility class I alleles.

Cypher drug-eluting stent treatment of tibioperoneal obstructive disease: a case report.

Stent placement in a tibial artery for suboptimal angioplasty results has had a high rate of restenosis and occlusion due to neointimal hyperplasia. Drug-eluting stents may provide a new therapeutic option in this situation. We describe the use of a Cypher drug-eluting stent after suboptimal angioplasty result in a claudicant with a severe tibioperoneal trunk lesion and single-vessel runoff to the foot with 6-month follow-up.

Exacerbation of cerebral amyloid angiopathy-associated microhemorrhage in amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice by immunotherapy is dependent on antibody recognition of deposited forms of amyloid beta.

Passive immunization with an antibody directed against the N terminus of amyloid beta (Abeta) has recently been reported to exacerbate cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA)-related microhemorrhage in a transgenic animal model. Although the mechanism responsible for the deleterious interaction is unclear, a direct binding event may be required. We characterized the binding properties of several monoclonal anti-Abeta antibodies to deposited Abeta in brain parenchyma and CAA.

Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay provides an alternative to dual-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and is widely used for the measurement of substances in biological liquids.

Dual-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Antibodies can be used to measures levels of molecules in solution using the dual-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Two antibodies are used that become bridged in the presence of the substance of interest, leading to the production of a colored product by a reporter enzyme.

African Americans and HIV/AIDS: cultural concerns.

AIDS is a disease that has had a disproportionate effect on African Americans. While there has been significant progress in the treatment of people with HIV infection, there are obstacles to the optimal treatment of African Americans, such as distrust of the medical system, cultural differences between patients and providers, and institutional racism. To optimize treatment of African Americans with HIV/AIDS, health care providers must learn more about cultural issues that impact treatment.

Prostaglandin D synthase (beta-trace) in healthy human sleep.

Study Objectives: The prostaglandin D system plays an important role in animal sleep. In humans, alterations in the prostaglandin D system have been found in diseases exhibiting sleep disturbances as a prominent symptom, such as trypanosoma infection, systemic mastocytosis, bacterial meningitis, major depression, or obstructive sleep apnea. Assessment of this system's activity in relation to human physiologic sleep was the target of the present study.

Odorant receptor gene expression changes during the parr-smolt transformation in Atlantic salmon.

The ability of salmon to home accurately to their natal stream to spawn has long intrigued biologists and has important consequences for the maintenance of population structure in these species. It is known that olfaction is crucial to homing, and that the transition from the freshwater to the marine environment (the parr-smolt transformation; PST) is a period of increased olfactory sensitivity and learning, resulting in a permanent memory of natal site odours that is retained, at least in part, in peripheral sensory neurones. These odours are then used as cues by sexually maturing fish on their homeward migration.