Effect of aging on formation of reactive oxygen species by mitochondria of rat heart.

Mitochondrial electron transport chain is thought to be a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during aging. However, this view is supported mainly by accumulation of mitochondrial oxidative damage with age and the exact sites of ROS formation remains unknown. In the present study, we measured rate of ROS formation using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (DCF) probe in cardiac mitochondria from adult (6-month-old), old (15-month-old) and senescent (26-month-old) rats.

Detection of volatile biomarkers of therapeutic radiation in breath.

Breath testing could provide a rational tool for radiation biodosimetry because radiation causes distinct stress-producing molecular damage, notably an increased production of reactive oxygen species. The resulting oxidative stress accelerates lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, liberating alkanes and alkane metabolites that are excreted in the breath as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Breath tests were performed before and after radiation therapy over five days in 31 subjects receiving daily fractionated doses: 180-400 cGy d(-1) standard radiotherapy (n = 26), or 700-1200 cGy d(-1) high-dose stereotactic body radiotherapy (n = 5).

Significance of triphasic waves in patients with acute encephalopathy: a nine-year cohort study.

Objective: Triphasic waves (TWs) are a frequent electroencephalography (EEG) finding in encephalopathy, yet their origin and prognostic significance are not well understood. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and EEG characteristics in encephalopathic patients with TWs. We hypothesized that specific EEG characteristics are predictive of outcome.

Inhibition of mycobacterial alanine racemase activity and growth by thiadiazolidinones.

The genus Mycobacterium includes non-pathogenic species such as M. smegmatis, and pathogenic species such as M. tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB).

Identification and structural elucidation of ozonation transformation products of estrone.

Background: Quantitative methods for the analysis of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are abundant in the scientific literature. However, there are few reports on systematic methods of identification and structural identification of transformation products. For this reason, a new method based on high-resolution mass spectrometry and differential analysis was developed in order to facilitate and accelerate the process of identification and structural elucidation of transformation products CECs.

Atypical glomerulopathy associated with the cblE inborn error of vitamin B₁₂ metabolism.

Background: The cblE disorder is an inherited disorder of vitamin B12 metabolism that results in elevated levels of homocysteine and decreased methionine in body fluids. Renal complications have been reported in patients with cblC disease, but not in those with cblE disease. The renal complications of cblC disease include thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), neonatal hemolytic uremic syndrome, chronic renal failure, tubulointerstitial nephritis and proximal renal tubular acidosis.

Characteristics of scheduled bleeding manipulation with combined hormonal contraception in university students.

Background: There is a lack of information concerning the decision factors and sources of information influencing women who purposefully deviate from the prescribed use of their combined hormone contraceptives to exert elective control of their scheduled bleeding.

Study Design: A self-administered email survey of scheduled bleeding practices and beliefs was distributed to 11,900 female students at the University of Oregon. Assessment of survey participant characteristics, scheduled bleeding manipulation features and attitudes and knowledge toward hormonal contraception was analyzed.

Spectrum of elastin sequence variants and cardiovascular phenotypes in 49 patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome.

Haploinsufficiency of the elastin gene (ELN) on 7q11.23 is responsible for supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) and other arteriopathies in patients with Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS). These defects occur with variable penetrance and expressivity, but the basis of this is unknown.

Continuous electroencephalographic monitoring in critically ill patients: indications, limitations, and strategies.

Objective: Continuous electroencephalography as a bedside monitor of cerebral activity has been used in a range of critically ill patients. This review compiles the indications, limitations, and strategies for continuous electroencephalography in the ICU.

Data Source: The authors searched the electronic MEDLINE database.

Assessment of CA-125 area under the curve as a prognostic factor in patients with ovarian cancer.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of CA-125 area under the curve (CA-125 AUC) as a prognostic factor following surgical treatment for ovarian cancer patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted on ninety-five patients with ovarian cancer who had primary treatment in a tertiary center between 2000 and 2010. After either optimal or cytoreductive surgery, all patients underwent adjuvant chemotherapy.

Why mitochondria are excellent targets for cancer therapy.

New insights into cancer cells - specific biological pathways are urgently needed to promote development of exactly targeted therapeutics. The role of oncoproteins and tumor suppressor proteins in proliferative signaling, cell cycle regulation and altered adhesion is well established. Chemicals, viruses and radiation are also generally accepted as agents that commonly induce mutations in genes encoding these cancer-inducing proteins, thereby giving rise to cancer.

How to write an EEG report: dos and don'ts.

The EEG report is structured to include demographics of the patient studied and reason for the EEG; specifics of the EEG techniques used; a description of the patterns, frequencies, voltages, and progression of the EEG pattern that were recorded; and finally a clinical impression of the EEG significance. The interpretation should be concise, clear and to the point, avoid jargon and EEG specifics, and should be understandable by any health care practitioner.

Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of nonconvulsive status epilepticus: Opening Pandora's box.

Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is a state of continuous seizure activity for at least 30 minutes, with cognitive or behavioral changes. It may be classified according to EEG evidence of focal or generalized epileptic activity, but may be further categorized by etiology and level of consciousness, both with prognostic weight. There have been several attempts to define the electrographic characteristics of NCSE.

Clinical and imaging correlates of EEG patterns in hospitalized patients with encephalopathy.

To identify the relationship between pathologic electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns, clinical and neuroradiological abnormalities, and outcome in hospitalized patients with acute encephalopathy. This 5-year cohort study was performed at an academic tertiary care center. EEGs in 154 patients with altered mental status were classified according to five predefined patterns: Isolated continuous slowing of background activity (theta, theta/delta, and delta activity) and patterns with slowing background activity with episodic transients [i.

Flexible partial denture variations. The use of circumferential, combination, and continuous clasp designs.

The new design potential of the flexible partial and its clasp allows for a new treatment approach to the well-established problems of retention, stability, and strength. The 4 main clasp designs include the conventional, the circumferential, the combination, and the continuous clasp. The proper use of these various designs can be a strong foundation upon which to develop the clinical strengths of the flexible partial denture.

[Directly observed treatment for tuberculosis in a Buenos Aires City hospital].

The outcomes of directly observed therapy of tuberculosis (DOT) between 1/1/1979 and 12/31/2009 were analyzed. Results obtained in the 1979-1999 period were compared with those achieved in the 2000-2009 period. In a Buenos Aires City hospital, 582 HIV negative TB patients received rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide and ethambutol or streptomycin in the initial stage, followed by a second stage where patients were included in two groups: G1 composed by 424 patients (period 1/1/1979-12/31/1999) who received either rifampin and isoniazid or rifampin and streptomicin twice a week, and G2, with 158 patients (period 1/1/2000-12/31/2009) who received either rifampin and isoniazid twice or three times a week.

Calculating the risk benefit equation for aggressive treatment of non-convulsive status epilepticus.

Objective: To address the question: does non-convulsive status epilepticus warrant the same aggressive treatment as convulsive status epilepticus?

Methods: We used a decision model to evaluate the risks and benefits of treating non-convulsive status epilepticus with intravenous anesthetics and ICU-level aggressive care. We investigated how the decision to use aggressive versus non-aggressive management for non-convulsive status epilepticus impacts expected patient outcome for four etiologies: absence epilepsy, discontinued antiepileptic drugs, intraparenchymal hemorrhage, and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Each etiology was defined by distinct values for five key parameters: baseline mortality rate of the inciting etiology; efficacy of non-aggressive treatment in gaining control of seizures; the relative contribution of seizures to overall mortality; the degree of excess disability expected in the case of delayed seizure control; and the mortality risk of aggressive treatment.

Comparison of triphasic waves and epileptic discharges in one patient with genetic epilepsy.

Genetic epilepsies with generalized spike-wave complexes (GSWCs) and encephalopathy triphasic waves (TWs) may resemble each other and have three phases per complex. Electroencephalographic (EEG) interpretation is subjective, and EEGers have noted "TWs" in cases labeled nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE). Direct comparison of both wave forms under the same conditions is rarely possible.

A disease severity scoring system for children with type 1 Gaucher disease.

Unlabelled: Almost half of patients with Gaucher disease are diagnosed by the age of 10 years, and approximately two thirds are diagnosed by the age of 20 years. Besides symptomatic children, some presymptomatic children are being diagnosed through community screening programs and because of affected siblings. In addition, it is anticipated that in the near future, newborn screening for lysosomal diseases such as Gaucher disease will be introduced in the USA, identifying additional pre/nonsymptomatic children.

Neurologic outcomes in retinopathy-negative cerebral malaria survivors.

Objectives: Patients surviving retinopathy-positive cerebral malaria (CM) are at high risk for the development of epilepsy, developmental disabilities, and behavioral abnormalities. We aimed to establish whether retinopathy-negative CM is also a risk factor for these outcomes.

Methods: Between 2005 and 2007, survivors of CM and concurrently hospitalized controls in Blantyre, Malawi, were followed to assess the development of neurologic abnormalities.

Age-associated changes in Ca(2+)-ATPase and oxidative damage in sarcoplasmic reticulum of rat heart.

Altered Ca(2+) handling may be responsible for the development of cardiac contractile dysfunctions with advanced age. In the present study, we investigated the roles of oxidative damage to sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and expression of Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA 2a) and phospholamban in age-associated dysfunction of cardiac SR. SR vesicles were prepared from hearts of 2-, 6-, 15-, and 26-month-old Wistar rats.

Electroencephalographic criteria for nonconvulsive status epilepticus: synopsis and comprehensive survey.

There have been many attempts at defining the electroencephalography (EEG) characteristics of nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) without a universally accepted definition. This lack of consensus arises because the EEG expression of NCSE does not exist in isolation, but reflects status epilepticus under the variety of pathologic conditions that occur with age, cerebral development, encephalopathy, and epilepsy syndrome. Current NCSE definitions include "boundary conditions," in which electroencephalographic seizure activity occurs without apparent clinical seizures.

Effect of normobaric oxygen treatment on oxidative stress and enzyme activities in guinea pig heart.

Normobaric oxygen (NBO) therapy is commonly applied for the treatment of various diseases, including myocardial infarctions, but its effectiveness is controversial. Potential adverse effects of hyperoxia are related to excessive formation of free radicals. In the present study we examined the effect of 60-h NBO treatment on lipid peroxidation (LPO), activity of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and mitochondrial enzymes of energy metabolism in guinea pig heart.