The P2 receptor antagonist PPADS abrogates LPS-induced neutrophil migration in the murine air pouch via inhibition of MIP-2 and KC production.

In this work, we show that P2 nucleotide receptors control lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neutrophil migration in the mouse air pouch model. Neutrophil infiltration in LPS-treated air pouches was reduced by the intravenous (iv) administration of the non-selective P2 receptor antagonist PPADS but not by suramin and RB-2. In addition, the iv administration of a P2 receptor ligand, UTP, enhanced LPS-induced neutrophil migration.

Screening and instability of FMR1 alleles in a prospective sample of 24,449 mother-newborn pairs from the general population.

To study the instability of FMR1 triplet repeats in the general population, we screened a prospective sample of 24,449 anonymized mother-offspring pairs and analyzed transmissions of intermediate-size (45-54 triplets) and premutation-size (55-200 triplets) alleles. We screened all mothers for alleles > or = 45 triplets by Southern blot and studied transmission of 545 maternal alleles to their offspring using polymerase chain reaction. Out of 21,411 maternal samples with conclusive results, we identified 250 carriers of at least one intermediate-size allele and 39 carrying a premutation-size allele.

Comparative analysis of neointimal coverage with paclitaxel and zotarolimus drug-eluting stents, using optical coherence tomography 6 months after implantation.

Background: Intrastent thrombosis, while rare, has a poor prognosis. Strut non-coverage is one causal factor, especially in cases of resistance to or premature discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy.

Aim: To compare neointimal coverage with paclitaxel and zotarolimus drug-eluting stents, using optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Thermotolerant coliforms are not a good surrogate for Campylobacter spp. in environmental water.

This study aimed to assess the importance of quantitatively detecting Campylobacter spp. in environmental surface water. The prevalence and the quantity of Campylobacter spp.

A comparison of a single or triple injection technique for ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block: a prospective randomized controlled study.

Background: Good success rates have been reported with ultrasound-guided infraclavicular block using one or multiple injections of local anesthetic. We hypothesized that a separate injection of local anesthetics on each cord enhances the onset of complete sensory block. We designed this prospective randomized study to compare the rate of complete sensory block using one or three injections of local anesthetic.

Effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor versus valsartan on cellular signaling events in heart transplant.

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) provide similar biologic effects in model systems and similar clinical impacts in humans. The changes in the cardiac angiotensin system signaling pathways in the human heart in response to ACE inhibitors versus ARBs have been incompletely studied.

Objective: To investigate the effects of ACE inhibitors versus valsartan on the angiotensin II signal transduction pathways in the transplanted human heart.

Extracellular ATP and P2 receptors are required for IL-8 to induce neutrophil migration.

The chemokine interleukin 8 (IL-8) is a major chemoattractant for human neutrophils. Here, we demonstrate novel evidence that IL-8-induced neutrophil chemotaxis requires a concurrent activation of P2 receptors, most likely the P2Y(2) which is dominantly expressed in these cells. Indeed, the migration of human neutrophils towards IL-8 was significantly inhibited by the P2Y receptor antagonists, suramin and reactive blue 2 (RB-2) and potentiated by a P2Y(2) ligand, ATP, but insensitive to specific antagonists of P2Y(1), P2Y(6) and P2Y(11) receptors.

Long-term rates of cardiovascular events in patients with the metabolic syndrome according to severity of coronary-angiographic alterations.

Objectives: To assess the long-term risk of mortality and cardiovascular events, related to metabolic syndrome (MetS), in patients with less, or more severe coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: One thousand and eighty patients were divided in four groups, according to severity of CAD (1=less than 50% or nonsignificant stenoses; 2=greater or significant stenoses), and according to MetS (A=no; B=yes). Risk was evaluated with the Cox regression analysis.

Baseline regional cerebral oxygen saturation correlates with left ventricular systolic and diastolic function.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between baseline cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO(2)) and cardiac function as assessed by pulmonary artery catheterization and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: A tertiary care university hospital.

A highly sensitive CE-UV method with dynamic coating of silica-fused capillaries for monitoring of nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase reactions.

A new highly sensitive capillary electrophoresis (CE) method applying dynamic coating and on-line stacking for the monitoring of nucleotide pyrophosphatases/phosphodiesterases (NPPs) and the screening of inhibitors was developed. NPP1 and NPP3 are membrane glycoproteins that catalyze the hydrolysis nucleotides, e.g.

Multilocus sequence typing of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from humans, chickens, raw milk, and environmental water in Quebec, Canada.

Molecular strain typing is essential for deciphering the epidemiology of Campylobacter jejuni infections. We applied two different methods, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and analysis of the flaA short variable repeat (SVR), to 289 isolates (163 human, 56 chicken, 34 raw milk, and 36 environmental water isolates) collected in the province of Québec, Canada, over 3 years; in addition, the analysis included the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing results for a subset of 131 isolates studied previously. MLST defined 96 sequence types (STs) and 20 clonal complexes (CCs), including 49 STs (73 isolates, 25%) and 39 alleles not previously documented in an international database.

Regional differences in color tissue Doppler-derived measures of longitudinal right ventricular function using transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography.

Objective: This study was designed to compare the right ventricular (RV) Doppler tissue imaging parameters of tricuspid annular isovolumic acceleration (IVA), systolic velocity (S), and basilar myocardial strain and strain rate (SR) by using both transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) (inferior wall) and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) (free wall) in a cardiac surgical population under general anesthesia.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: University hospital.

Comparative hydrolysis of P2 receptor agonists by NTPDases 1, 2, 3 and 8.

Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases 1, 2, 3 and 8 (NTPDases 1, 2, 3 and 8) are the dominant ectonucleotidases and thereby expected to play important roles in nucleotide signaling. Distinct biochemical characteristics of individual NTPDases should allow them to regulate P2 receptor activation differentially. Therefore, the biochemical and kinetic properties of these enzymes were compared.

Temporal variations in hematocrit values in patients with left ventricular dysfunction: Relationship with cause-specific mortality and morbidity and optimal monitoring--further insights from SOLVD.

Background: Anemia is associated with an increased risk of death in heart failure (HF) patients. Currently, the relationship between temporal variations in hematocrit and specific causes of mortality and morbidity, as well as the most appropriate way to monitor changes in hematocrit, is unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of changes in hematocrit during follow-up on specific causes of mortality and morbidity in the Studies Of Left Ventricular Dysfunction (SOLVD).

Basal-prandial insulin delivery in type 2 diabetes mellitus via the V-Go: a novel continuous subcutaneous infusion device.

Background: The V-Go is a once-daily disposable device that allows coverage of basal and prandial insulin requirements over a period of 24 hours. The aim of this proof-of-concept study was to evaluate the clinical functionality, safety, and pharmacodynamics of the V-Go delivering insulin aspart and redistributing a single basal dose of insulin glargine as a constant basal infusion supplemented with prandial insulin in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: In six subjects receiving once-daily subcutaneous (SC) injections of insulin glargine (> or =15 U/day) with or without concomitant oral antidiabetic drugs, glargine was discontinued following a 3-day baseline phase.

Effect of intravenous nitroglycerin on cerebral saturation in high-risk cardiac surgery.

Purpose: To determine whether or not intravenous nitroglycerin (IV NTG) can prevent a decrease in near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) values during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Methods: We conducted a randomized double-blinded study in a tertiary academic center including 30 patients with a Parsonnet score>or=15 scheduled for a high-risk cardiac surgery. The patients were randomized to receive either IV NTG (initial dose of 0.

Inhibition of human and mouse plasma membrane bound NTPDases by P2 receptor antagonists.

The plasma membrane bound nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase)-1, 2, 3 and 8 are major ectonucleotidases that modulate P2 receptor signaling by controlling nucleotides' concentrations at the cell surface. In this report, we systematically evaluated the effect of the commonly used P2 receptor antagonists reactive blue 2, suramin, NF279, NF449 and MRS2179, on recombinant human and mouse NTPDase1, 2, 3 and 8. Enzymatic reactions were performed in a Tris/calcium buffer, commonly used to evaluate NTPDase activity, and in a more physiological Ringer modified buffer.

Specificity of the ecto-ATPase inhibitor ARL 67156 on human and mouse ectonucleotidases.

Background And Purpose: ARL 67156, 6-N,N-Diethyl-D-beta-gamma-dibromomethylene adenosine triphosphate, originally named FPL 67156, is the only commercially available inhibitor of ecto-ATPases. Since the first report on this molecule, various ectonucleotidases responsible for the hydrolysis of ATP at the cell surface have been cloned and characterized. In this work, we identified the ectonucleotidases inhibited by ARL 67156.

Right ventricular myocardial performance index predicts perioperative mortality or circulatory failure in high-risk valvular surgery.

Background: The prognostic value of right ventricular myocardial performance index (RVMPI) and right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) in mitral or aortic valve surgery has not been well described. The main objective of this study is to assess the prognostic value of RVMPI and RVFAC in predicting postoperative mortality or circulatory failure.

Methods: RVMPI and RVFAC were prospectively measured after induction of anesthesia using transesophageal echocardiography in 50 consecutive patients undergoing corrective mitral or aortic valve surgery.

Synthesis of enzyme-degradable, peptide-cross-linked dextran hydrogels.

Hydrogels derived from synthetic polymers have been previously engineered to degrade under the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). It is believed that these systems can act as extracellular-matrix (ECM) equivalents mimicking the degradation and remodeling of the ECM through the activity of cell-secreted enzymes. In this study, MMP-sensitive hydrogels derived from dextran were developed.

Comparison of intravascular ultrasound and quantitative coronary angiography for the assessment of coronary artery disease progression.

Background: The relative merits of quantitative coronary analysis (QCA) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for the assessment of progression/regression in coronary artery disease are uncertain. To explore this subject further, we analyzed the angiographic and IVUS data derived from a contemporary clinical trial population.

Methods And Results: We investigated the relationships between QCA and IVUS at single time points (n=525) and also for the changes over time (n=432).

Comparison of antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from humans, chickens, raw milk, and environmental water in Québec.

This study compares the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance to erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline among 384 Campylobacter jejuni isolates from humans (245), fresh whole retail chickens (56), raw milk (33), and environmental water (41) collected between 2000 and 2003 in Québec, Canada. Resistance to ciprofloxacin was significantly more frequent in human isolates acquired abroad than in those acquired locally (50 versus 5.9%; P < 0.

Improvement of adjuvant systems to obtain a cost-effective production of high levels of specific IgY.

Incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) is used as standard adjuvant for the production of specific antibodies. In this study, we evaluated the ability of supplementation of IFA with 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3)] or C-phosphate-guanosine-oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG-ODN) to enhance the quantity of specific IgY found in the eggs of hyperimmunized laying hens. In this comparative study, the fimbrial adhesin F4 of porcine enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli was used as prototype immunogen.

Long-term cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs improve metabolic parameters in metabolic syndrome patients with and without coronary heart disease.

Background And Aims: The effectiveness of long-term cardiac rehabilitation and exercise training programs on metabolic parameters was evaluated in metabolic syndrome subjects with and without coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods And Results: Fifty-nine CHD and 81 non-coronary patients with metabolic syndrome (59+/-8 vs 56+/-9years) were identified retrospectively at entry into identical cardiac rehabilitation and exercise-training programs. Metabolic syndrome was defined using modified Adult Treatment Panel III criteria.