A risk profile of emergency room adult trauma victims: intentional versus unintentional trauma injuries.

This article presents a prospective study of 285 adult trauma victims admitted to a Los Angeles inner-city level 1 trauma center, from November 1991 to February 1992. The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of intentional and unintentional trauma injuries in this adult patient population, and to identify sociodemographic, lifestyle and medical risk factors predisposing patients to intentional vs. unintentional trauma injury.

Intracellular coexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor, Her-2/neu, and p21ras in human breast cancers: evidence for the existence of distinctive patterns of genetic evolution that are common to tumors from different patients.

Multiparameter flow cytometry studies were performed on cells from the primary tumors of 94 patients with breast cancer. Correlated cellular measurements of cell DNA content, Her-2/neu, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and p21ras levels were performed on each of 5,000 to 100,000 cells from each tumor. When criteria for positivity were matched with those in common use for immunohistochemical studies, 28 of 94 (30%) breast cancers were classified as positive for Her-2/neu overexpression.

Do stress echocardiography and myocardial perfusion imaging have the same ability to identify the low-risk patient with known or suspected coronary artery disease?

Although both stress myocardial perfusion imaging and echocardiography may have significant prognostic value, the annual death/myocardial infarction rate appears to be much higher in patients with a negative stress echocardiogram. This may greatly limit its ability to act as a "gatekeeper" for additional invasive and interventional procedures.

Rapid flow cytometric identification of putative CD14- and CD64- dendritic cells in whole blood.

Blood dendritic cells (DCs) may be identified as mononuclear leucocytes with high expression of HLA-DR, but lacking the antigens CD3, CD14, CD16, CD19, and CD56, which are characteristically expressed by T cell, monocytes, B cells, and natural killer cells. However, some DCs have recently been reported to express the monocyte-associated antigen CD14; also some monocytes may shed CD14 and so appear to be CD14-. It is therefore possible that the expression of CD64, which is absent on blood DCs but which is expressed by both CD14+ and CD14- monocytes may better distinguish DCs from monocytes.

Pure cut electrocautery current for sphincterotomy causes less post-procedure pancreatitis than blended current.

Background: Complications after endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy occur in 8% to 10% of patients when studied prospectively. It is not known whether the type of electrocautery current affects this rate. Theoretically, less edema of the ampulla after a pure cutting current sphincterotomy could decrease the risk of pancreatitis although the risk of postsphincterotomy hemorrhage might be greater.

Salmonella typhimurium aroB mutants are attentuated in BALB/c mice.

The aroB gene of Salmonella typhimurium, encoding dehydroquinate synthase, has been cloned into pUC19 and the DNA sequence determined. The aroB gene was isolated from a cosmid gene bank by complementation of an Escherichia coli aroB mutant and screening by Southern blot analysis. The nucleotide sequence of the S.

Extreme social isolation, use of community-based senior support services, and mortality among African American elderly women.

The effect of extreme social isolation and use of community-based senior services on longevity was examined in a national sample of African American elderly women (ages 55-96). Consistent with previous research on the social integration/mortality link, African American elderly women who were extremely socially isolated were hypothesized to have a higher 5-year mortality rate. It was also hypothesized that use of community senior services would be negatively associated with 5-year mortality.

Purification and characterization of recombinant catalase-peroxidase, which confers isoniazid sensitivity in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The Mycobacterium tuberculosis katG gene encodes a dual-function enzyme called catalase-peroxidase, which confers sensitivity in M. tuberculosis to isonicotinic acid hydrazide. We have constructed a system for the high level expression of a recombinant form of this enzyme by amplifying the katG gene from the pYZ56 construct (1) and subcloning into a vector suitable for expression in Escherichia coli.

Blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes from the majority of sickle cell patients in the crisis phase of the disease show enhanced adhesion to vascular endothelium and increased expression of CD64.

There is increasing interest in the role of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in the pathogenesis of sickle cell crisis. We studied the adherence of PMNs from 18 sickle cell patients in crisis, 25 out of crisis, and 43 healthy subjects (controls) to monolayers of human umbilical cord endothelium that were either untreated or pretreated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). Overall, the PMNs from patients in crisis were more adherent than control PMNs to untreated endothelial monolayers (mean 53% increase; P < .

A new locus for non-syndromal, autosomal recessive, sensorineural hearing loss (DFNB16) maps to human chromosome 15q21-q22.

Non-syndromal, recessive deafness (NSRD) is the most common form of inherited deafness or hearing impairment in humans. NSRD is genetically heterogeneous and it has been estimated that as many as 35 different loci may be involved. We report the mapping of a novel locus for autosomal recessive, non-syndromal deafness (DFNB16) in three consanguineous families originating from Pakistan and the Middle East.

Molecular scanning of the human peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (hPPAR gamma) gene in diabetic Caucasians: identification of a Pro12Ala PPAR gamma 2 missense mutation.

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR gamma) is a nuclear receptor that regulates adipocyte differentiation, and possibly lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. As such, PPAR gamma is a promising candidate gene for several human disorders including obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Screening for mutations in the entire coding region of the PPAR gamma gene (both gamma 1 and gamma 2 isoforms) was performed with DNA of 26 diabetic Caucasians with or without obesity.

Adhesion molecules are upregulated on dendritic cells isolated from human blood.

This study investigated whether the high expression of adhesion molecules on enriched preparations of circulating dendritic cells (DCs) was an intrinsic property of the cells or whether it was a consequence of the procedure used to isolate them from blood. Expression of the beta 1, beta 2 integrins (CD11/CD18 family) and other adhesion molecules on DCs in whole blood was compared with that on isolated DCs. Dendritic cells were identified by flow cytometry as leucocytes that were positive for human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DR, but negative for CD3, CD14, CD16, CD19 and CD56.

Aqueous-based microcapsules are detected primarily in gut-associated dendritic cells after oral inoculation of mice.

We previously found that aqueous-based microencapsulation enhanced virus-specific humoral immune responses after oral inoculation of mice. However, the mechanism by which microencapsulation enhances immunogenicity remains unclear. We found that spermine-alginate microcapsules were detected primarily in gut-associated dendritic cells (i.

A new method for studying the selective adherence of blood lymphocytes to the microvasculature of human retina.

Purpose: To develop a sensitive and reproducible technique for measuring the adherence of blood lymphocytes to vessel walls exposed in sections of human retina and for examining the role of lymphocyte and vascular adhesion molecules in these events.

Methods: Cryostat sections of human retina were overlaid with blood lymphocytes from healthy subjects, and experimental conditions were sought by which preferential attachment of the cells occurred to blood vessel walls in the retinal sections. Adherent lymphocytes were identified by staining with methyl green-thionine, and transected blood vessels were identified by their structure and by staining of basement membranes with periodic acid-Schiff.

Minimal criteria for placement of adults on the liver transplant waiting list: a report of a national conference organized by the American Society of Transplant Physicians and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

This report summarizes a recent meeting cosponsored by the American Society of Transplant Physicians and the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases to formulate minimal criteria by which patients with severe liver disease will be placed on the waiting list for liver transplantation. The participants agreed that only patients in immediate need of liver transplantation should be placed on the waiting list. Patients should not be placed in anticipation of some future need for such therapy.

Nonmalignant disorders of lymphocytes.

Objective: To review the etiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, and laboratory findings in nonmalignant disorders of lymphocytes.

Data Sources: Current literature.

Study Selection: Determined by author.

Neutrophil adhesion molecule expression during cardiopulmonary bypass: a comparative study of roller and centrifugal pumps.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether adhesion molecules and markers of cell activation were preferentially increased on blood neutrophils during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and whether such effects were influenced by the use of a roller pump or a centrifugal pump. Forty-six patients undergoing open heart surgery were randomly allocated into either the roller or centrifugal groups. Blood (1 ml volumes) was removed from arterial and venous lines immediately before and 1 h after the start of bypass.

Genetic heterogeneity in Schwartz-Jampel syndrome: two families with neonatal Schwartz-Jampel syndrome do not map to human chromosome 1p34-p36.1.

Schwartz-Jampel syndrome (SJS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterised by the presence of myotonia with a mask-like face, skeletal dysplasia, and growth retardation. Two types have been defined by the age of manifestation of the symptoms. Linkage of Schwartz-Jampel syndrome to human chromosome 1p34-p36.