Drugs of Abuse: Sympathomimetics.

Sympathomimetic drugs comprise a broad category of substances including both illicit and prescribed drugs that have deleterious effects when ingested or abused. The clinical syndromes that result from overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system by reuptake inhibition of biogenic amines, such as norepinephrine and dopamine, carry significant morbidity. Recognition and awareness of the appropriate supportive measures are required to mitigate life-threatening complications of multiple organ systems.

Effect of an Educational Intervention on Medical Student Scripting and Patient Satisfaction: A Randomized Trial.

Introduction: Effective communication between clinicians and patients has been shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce malpractice liability, and is now being tied to reimbursement. Use of a communication strategy known as "scripting" has been suggested to improve patient satisfaction in multiple hospital settings, but the frequency with which medical students use this strategy and whether this affects patient perception of medical student care is unknown. Our objective was to measure the use of targeted communication skills after an educational intervention as well as to further clarify the relationship between communication element usage and patient satisfaction.

Hyaluronic acid 35 normalizes TLR4 signaling in Kupffer cells from ethanol-fed rats via regulation of microRNA291b and its target Tollip.

TLR4 signaling in hepatic macrophages is increased after chronic ethanol feeding. Treatment of hepatic macrophages after chronic ethanol feeding with small-specific sized hyaluronic acid 35 (HA35) normalizes TLR4 signaling; however, the mechanisms for HA35 action are not completely understood. Here we used Next Generation Sequencing of microRNAs to identify negative regulators of TLR4 signaling reciprocally modulated by ethanol and HA35 in hepatic macrophages.

MicroRNA 181b-3p and its target importin α5 regulate toll-like receptor 4 signaling in Kupffer cells and liver injury in mice in response to ethanol.

Unlabelled: Increased inflammatory signaling by Kupffer cells contributes to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Here we investigated the impact of small, specific-sized hyaluronic acid of 35 kD (HA35) on ethanol-induced sensitization of Kupffer cells, as well as ethanol-induced liver injury in mice. Unbiased analysis of microRNA (miRNA) expression in Kupffer cells identified miRNAs regulated by both ethanol and HA35.

Myeloid-MyD88 Contributes to Ethanol-Induced Liver Injury in Mice Linking Hepatocellular Death to Inflammation.

Background: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is critical for ethanol (EtOH)-induced liver injury. TLR4 signaling is mediated by 2 proximal adaptor molecules: myeloid differentiation primary response protein (MyD88) and TLR-domain-containing adaptor-inducing interferon-β (TRIF). Studies utilizing global knockouts of MyD88 and TRIF identified a predominant role for TRIF signaling in the progression of EtOH-induced liver injury.

Limited Excessive Voluntary Alcohol Drinking Leads to Liver Dysfunction in Mice.

Background: Liver damage is a serious and sometimes fatal consequence of long-term alcohol intake, which progresses from early-stage fatty liver (steatosis) to later-stage steatohepatitis with inflammation and fibrosis/necrosis. However, very little is known about earlier stages of liver disruption that may occur in problem drinkers, those who drink excessively but are not dependent on alcohol.

Methods: We examined how repeated binge-like alcohol drinking in C57BL/6 mice altered liver function, as compared with a single binge-intake session and with repeated moderate alcohol consumption.

Receptor interacting protein 3 protects mice from high-fat diet-induced liver injury.

Unlabelled: Multiple pathways of programmed cell death are important in liver homeostasis. Hepatocyte death is associated with progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and inhibition of apoptosis partially protects against liver injury in response to a high-fat diet (HFD). However, the contribution of necroptosis, a caspase-independent pathway of cell death, to HFD-induced liver injury is not known.

Myeloid Mixed Lineage Kinase 3 Contributes to Chronic Ethanol-Induced Inflammation and Hepatocyte Injury in Mice.

Proinflammatory activity of hepatic macrophages plays a key role during progression of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Since mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3)-dependent phosphorylation of JNK is involved in the activation of macrophages, we tested the hypothesis that myeloid MLK3 contributes to chronic ethanol-induced inflammatory responses in liver, leading to hepatocyte injury and cell death. Primary cultures of Kupffer cells, as well in vivo chronic ethanol feeding, were used to interrogate the role of MLK3 in the progression of liver injury.

Development of a disaster preparedness curriculum for medical students: a pilot study of incorporating local events into training opportunities.

Objective: Contemporary disasters, like the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, have piqued the interest of medical students in disaster preparedness. The topic is also a requirement of undergraduate medical education.(1) Yet current literature suggests that disaster preparedness education is lacking.

HDL from apoA1 transgenic mice expressing the 4WF isoform is resistant to oxidative loss of function.

HDL functions are impaired by myeloperoxidase (MPO), which selectively targets and oxidizes human apoA1. We previously found that the 4WF isoform of human apoA1, in which the four tryptophan residues are substituted with phenylalanine, is resistant to MPO-mediated loss of function. The purpose of this study was to generate 4WF apoA1 transgenic mice and compare functional properties of the 4WF and wild-type human apoA1 isoforms in vivo.

Swimming injuries treated in US EDs: 1990 to 2008.

Objective: Swimming is one of the most popular recreational activities in the United States. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of the complete spectrum of injuries associated with swimming and swimming pools treated in US hospital emergency departments.

Methods: Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from 1990 to 2008 were analyzed.

Pediatric eye injuries treated in US emergency departments, 1990-2009.

This study investigates activity- and consumer product-related eye injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments among children <18 years old using National Electronic Injury Surveillance System data from 1990 through 2009. An estimated 1,406,200 (95% confidence interval = 1,223,409-1,588,992) activity- and consumer product-related pediatric eye injuries occurred during the study period, averaging 70,310 annually. The annual number of injuries declined significantly by 17%.

Pediatric volleyball-related injuries treated in US emergency departments, 1990-2009.

This study describes the epidemiology of pediatric volleyball-related injuries treated in US hospital emergency departments. Data for children younger than 18 years obtained from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission from 1990 through 2009 were analyzed. An estimated 692 024 volleyball-related injuries to children younger than 18 years occurred during the study period.

The serum of dysautonomia patients enhances proliferation and signaling in Schwann cells.

Disorders of the autonomic nervous system, or dysautonomias, affect a large segment of the population, especially women, and represent a diagnostic challenge. Identification of biomarkers for autonomic disorders, and the subsequent development of screening methods, would benefit diagnosis and symptom management. We studied the effect of sera from fifteen well-characterized dysautonomia patients (mean age 49+/-16 years, 10 females, 5 males) and ten control subjects (mean age 31+/-14 years, 5 females, 5 males) on the proliferation of cultured Schwann cells and activity of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in these cells.