Age dependence of smooth muscle myosin expression by cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells.

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) in vivo are highly heterogeneous phenotypically, particularly during development and in the adult during periods of remodeling. Much remains to be learned, however, regarding regulation of the SMC phenotype at the gene level. Here, we studied smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SMMHC) expression at the transcriptional and mRNA levels in SMC cultured from newborn, adult, and old animals, which express different patterns of differentiation markers.

Efficacy and safety of oral desmopressin in the treatment of primary nocturnal enuresis in Asian children.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of oral desmopressin (DDAVP) treatment in Asian children with nocturnal enuresis.

Methodology: This was a multicentre randomized placebo-controlled double-blind cross-over study. Patients were randomized to either active treatment with oral 400 mg DDAVP or placebo, with a 2-week medication-free period between the cross-over.

Primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis in Singapore--parental perspectives in an Asian community.

Primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (PMNE) is often not openly discussed in Asian societies. We report the parental view of PMNE in Singapore, its impact on patients and their families and the traditional beliefs and its influence on subsequent management. A screening questionnaire was used in evaluating 30 children enrolled in a clinical trial on the use of oral Desmopressin for the treatment of PMNE.

Prevention of tumour seeding following thoracoscopy in mesothelioma by prophylactic radiotherapy.

To determine the usefulness of prophylactic radiotherapy following thoracoscopy or pleural aspiration in patients with mesothelioma we reviewed the case notes of patients treated at St Mary's Hospital between 1990 and 1994. Twenty patients have received treatment to 38 sites and tumour seeding was prevented in all patients available for follow-up. Four patients acted as their own controls by developing nodules at untreated sites.

Effects of sleep deprivation on performance of Naval seamen: I. Total sleep deprivation on performance.

Sleep deprivation leads to impairment in performance, loss of efficiency and deterioration in mood states such as tension, depression, aggression, fatigue, confusion and vigour. These can be detrimental to combat readiness and could contribute to "battle stress". In the present study, a homogeneous group of 20 seamen under total sleep deprivation was rated 6 hourly with the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS), Profile of Mood States (POMS) and a battery of performance tests including the trail making, grooved peg board, digit span, digit symbol, sea-shore rhythm, flicker fusion, dynamometer and naval tasks.

A case of alkaptonuria with root canal stenosis.

Spinal involvement in alkaptonuria is common. Patients usually present in the third or fourth decade with spondylosis or acute intervertebral disc prolapse. Alkaptonuria with root canal stenosis has however hitherto not been reported.

Serial measurement of serum fructosamine and glycosylated haemoglobin as indices of glycaemic control in diabetic pregnancy.

Management of diabetic pregnancy requires objective information regarding blood glucose levels with the aim of achieving strict euglycaemia. Self-blood glucose monitoring and measurement of glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1) are two methods widely adopted in clinical practice. Serum fructosamine assay was recently introduced as a parameter for assessing short-term glycaemic control.

The importance of septic work-up in the febrile neonate.

71 febrile neonates admitted to the Paediatric and Neonatal Department in 1988 and 1989 were studied. Septic work ups were done for 84% of patients & 80% had lumbar puncture. These infants were subdivided into 5 groups in order to identify the significance of the various stages of septic work up.

Changes in collagen and elastin in rabbit right-ventricular pressure overload.

Collagen content, the ratio of collagen types I and III and elastin content were measured in 5-6- and 10-12-week-old rabbits with and without right-ventricular pressure overload. Significant and equivalent hypertrophy occurred in both age groups. A 2-day pressure overload caused a fall in collagen concentration below control levels in right-ventricular tissue from the older animals, but no change in the younger ones.