The Significance of Preoperative Computed Tomography for Predicting Optimal Cytoreduction in Advanced Ovarian Cancer.

Optimal cytoreduction is the most important prognostic factor in advanced ovarian cancer. Although staging and assessment of operability are made by exploratory surgery, preoperative computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen is regarded as standard. The aim of this study was to examine various CT parameters with regard to prediction of optimal cytoreduction.

Reading Comprehension Instruction for Young Students with Autism: Forming Contextual Connections.

Central coherence is the ability to perceive and connect salient information in a context such as a narrative text. Individuals with autism exhibit a detail-focused cognitive style of processing information that overlooks connections and shows weak central coherence. A six-session instructional intervention to foster coherence processing was administered to first and second graders (N = 10) while a control group (N = 10) received an irrelevant treatment, mean age 7.

Profiles and service utilization for children accessing a mental health walk-in clinic versus usual care.

Many children and adolescents with mental health problems do not receive the treatment they need. Unmet need raises questions about specific barriers that may prevent service use, and/or the characteristics of children and families who are less likely to receive care. Brief interventions or single-session psychotherapy delivered in a highly accessible manner are methods of addressing the problems associated with waitlists and limited access to care.

Adenosine transport by plasma membrane monoamine transporter: reinvestigation and comparison with organic cations.

The plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT) belongs to the equilibrative nucleoside transporter family (solute carrier 29) and was alternatively named equilibrative nucleoside transporter 4. Previous studies from our laboratory characterized PMAT as a polyspecific organic cation transporter that minimally interacts with nucleosides. Recently, PMAT-mediated uptake of adenosine (a purine nucleoside) was reported, and the transporter was proposed to function as a dual nucleoside/organic cation transporter.

Transcriptional profiling of human cavernosal endothelial cells reveals distinctive cell adhesion phenotype and role for claudin 11 in vascular barrier function.

To determine specific molecular features of endothelial cells (ECs) relevant to the physiological process of penile erection we compared gene expression of human EC derived from corpus cavernosum of men with and without erectile dysfunction (HCCEC) to coronary artery (HCAEC) and umbilical vein (HUVEC) using Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays and GeneSifter software. Genes differentially expressed across samples were partitioned around medoids to identify genes with highest expression in HCCEC. A total of 190 genes/transcripts were highly expressed only in HCCEC.

Molecular determinants of substrate selectivity of a novel organic cation transporter (PMAT) in the SLC29 family.

Plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT or ENT4) is a newly cloned transporter assigned to the equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) family (SLC29). Unlike ENT1-3, PMAT mainly functions as a polyspecific organic cation transporter. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the unique substrate selectivity of PMAT.

Evidence for significant contribution of a newly identified monoamine transporter (PMAT) to serotonin uptake in the human brain.

The high affinity serotonin transporter (SERT) constitutes the principal pathway for removal of serotonin (5-HT) from extracellular fluid of brain, but evidence indicates that other transporters may also be involved in this process. We recently reported the cloning of a novel plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT), which is abundantly expressed in the human brain and avidly transports 5-HT [Engel K, Zhou M, Wang J. Identification and characterization of a novel monoamine transporter in the human brain.

Membrane localization and pH-dependent transport of a newly cloned organic cation transporter (PMAT) in kidney cells.

Plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT) is a novel membrane transporter recently cloned and characterized in our laboratory. We previously demonstrated that PMAT functions as a polyspecific organic cation transporter and efficiently transports many organic cations such as monoamine neurotransmitters and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)). In this study, we explored the role of PMAT in the renal handling of organic cations.

Fluid shear stress-induced nitric oxide production in human cavernosal endothelial cells: inhibition by hyperglycaemia.

Objective: To investigate whether fluid shear stress (FSS) induces endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and NO production in isolated human corpus cavernosal endothelial cells (HCCECs), and whether this response is altered during hyperglycaemia in vitro, as haemodynamic signalling during penile erection induces eNOS-mediated NO production in vivo.

Materials And Methods: ECs were cultured from HCC and characterized by the uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein and the expression of von Willebrand factor, VE-cadherin, CD31 and eNOS. HCCECs were exposed to FSS (1.

Interaction of organic cations with a newly identified plasma membrane monoamine transporter.

Many endogenous compounds and xenobiotics are organic cations that rely on polyspecific organic cation transporters (OCTs) to traverse cell membranes. We recently cloned a novel human plasma membrane monoamine transporter (PMAT) that belongs to the equillibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) family. We have reported previously that, unlike other ENTs, PMAT (also known as ENT4) is a Na+-independent and membrane potential-sensitive transporter that transports monoamine neurotransmitters and the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+).

Identification and characterization of a novel monoamine transporter in the human brain.

Precise control of monoamine neurotransmitter levels in the extracellular fluids of the brain is critical in maintaining efficient and robust neurotransmission. High affinity transporters in the solute carrier SLC6A family function in removing monoamines from the neurosynaptic cleft. Emerging evidence suggests that these transporters are only one part of a system of transporters that work in concert to maintain brain homeostasis of monoamines.

Mammalian nucleoside transporters.

Nucleoside transporters mediate cellular uptake of physiologic nucleosides for nucleic acid synthesis in the salvage pathways in many cell types. These transporters also play an important role in in vivo disposition and intracellular targeting of many nucleoside analogs used in anticancer and antiviral drug therapy. In mammalian cells, there are two major nucleoside transporter gene families: the equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs) and the concentrative nucleoside transporters (CNTs).

Management of acute superior mesenteric artery occlusion.

Background: This review examines the surgical management of acute superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion and the impact of interventional radiology techniques.

Methods: Eight consecutive patients with SMA occlusion were treated at the Lismore Base Hospital, Lismore, NSW, Australia, from 1996 through to 2001 and of these, one patient was managed successfully with catheter-directed lytic therapy. The study group included five male and three female patients with a mean age of 71.