Induction of cardiovascular pathology in a novel model of low-grade chronic inflammation.

Objective: Epidemiological and clinical evidence indicate that inflammatory processes play a pivotal role in a number of conditions associated with aging, including osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate cardiovascular pathology and select inflammatory mediators of interest in a model of low-grade inflammation-induced osteopenia.

Methods: Slow-release pellets were subcutaneously implanted in male rats to deliver 0, 3.

Biomarker identification in human pancreatic cancer sera.

Objective: The aim of this study is to identify biomarkers in sera of pancreatic cancer patients using mass spectrometry (MS) approaches.

Methods: Sera from patients diagnosed with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and sera from normal volunteers were subjected to gel electrophoresis to resolve and quantify differences in protein levels. Protein bands that differed quantitatively were digested with trypsin, and peptides were identified by electrospray ionization (ESI) ion-trap tandem MS.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). This study was designed to review the incidence of VTE in critically injured patients with an isolated TBI using a standardized venous duplex color-flow Doppler imaging program and to compare it with the overall and high-risk trauma populations.

Methods: Trauma patients who underwent lower-extremity surveillance color-flow Doppler imaging for VTE were identified.

A comparison of the Ranson, Glasgow, and APACHE II scoring systems to a multiple organ system score in predicting patient outcome in pancreatitis.

Background: Systems for evaluating acute pancreatitis are useful in hospitalized patients. Traditional systems of evaluation are well established but might be outdated. We propose a Multiple Organ System Score (MOSS) containing data that are more consistently collected and which are accurate in predicting patient outcome.