Study of an unusual paratyphoid epornitic in canaries (Serinus canaria).

High mortalities in 17 canary flocks from different regions of Tehran, Iran, were reported. Necropsy and histopathologic examination revealed necrotic hepatitis and overall congestive septicaemia in carcasses. Salmonella enterica was isolated from 34 examined samples, two samples from each flock, including visceral organs of carcasses and droppings of live diseased birds.

The value, qualification, and regulatory use of surrogate end points in drug development.

The acceptance and use of either surrogate end points (SEPs) or efficient clinical end points are associated with greater and more rapid availability of new medicines as compared with disease situations for which clinical end points are inefficient or no surrogates exist. This review of the history of the development, qualification, and acceptance of key SEPs shows that both successes and failures had three key characteristics: (i) apparent biologic plausibility, (ii) prognostic value for the outcome of the disease, and (iii) an association between changes in the SEP and changes in outcome with therapeutic intervention--the three factors recommended for SEPs in the International Conference on Harmonisation's "Statistical Principles for Clinical Trials." We recommend that only prognostic value be an absolute prerequisite for surrogacy, because therapeutic interventions may not exist a priori, and biological plausibility can be subjective.

Variations in paranasal sinus anatomy: implications for the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis and safety of endoscopic sinus surgery.

Objectives: To study the radiologic anatomy of the paranasal sinuses in patients with and without chronic rhinosinusitis to assess whether anatomic variations are associated with disease pathology, and to identify those variants that may impact operative safety.

Setting: Tertiary referral otolaryngology unit.

Main Outcome Measures: Incidence and nature of anatomic variants with potential impact on operative safety, and the presence or absence of sinus mucosal disease and its correlation with anatomic variants with a potential impact on mucociliary clearance.

Identification of pre-coordinated term candidates in a Cardiology Outpatient Service.

Structured data entry systems have been used to facilitate detailed categorical entries which may be subsequently used for computer-assisted decision support. While these highly organized entry systems may encourage providers to document clinical findings more precisely, the detailed nature of these entries may prove more time consuming than traditional data collection systems. We retrospectively examine results entered in our structured entry system in this study for pre-coordination opportunities as a potential enhancement to the system.

Totally avulsed ear: new technique of immediate ear reconstruction.

Introduction: Reconstruction of the avulsed auricle remains a challenge to the plastic surgeon. Many surgeons suggest reattachment of the total or subtotal amputated ear as a composite graft, but this solution is unreliable. Some surgeons advocate the use of the retro auricular pocket to enhance survival of the reattached ear.

Molecular genetic differentiation of avian Escherichia coli by RAPD-PCR.

Escherichia coli is one of the most important bacterial avian pathogens and a common inhabitant of the gastrointestinal tract of animals. Most pathogenic E. coli can not be differentiated biochemically or by classic microbiologic methods.

Serum lipoprotein composition, lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase and tissue lipase activities in pregnant diabetic rats and their offspring receiving enriched n-3 PUFA diet.

The effects of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on lipoprotein concentrations and on lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activities were studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats during pregnancy and in their macrosomic offspring from birth to adulthood. Pregnant diabetic and control rats were fed Isio-4 diet (vegetable oil) or EPAX diet (concentrated marine omega-3 EPA/DHA oil), the same diets were consumed by pups at weaning. Compared with control rats, diabetic rats showed, during pregnancy, a significant elevation in very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low and high density lipoprotein (LDL-HDL(1))-triglyceride, cholesterol and apoprotein B100 concentrations and a reduction in apoprotein A-I levels.

Effect of lead on proliferation and neural differentiation of mouse bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells.

Bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered to be an ideal source of stem cells for assessing the effects of environmental toxins on the proliferation, multipotency and differentiation of adult stem cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lead on the proliferation and neuronal differentiation of murine MSCs. MTT assay used in this study revealed that while the proliferation of MSCs is sensitive to higher than 10 microM lead, a 50% reduction in the rate of their proliferation can be achieved in the presence of 60 microM lead.

A prototypical process for creating evidentiary standards for biomarkers and diagnostics.

A framework for developing evidentiary standards for qualification of biomarkers is a key need identified in the Food and Drug Administration's Critical Path Initiative. This article describes a systematic framework that was developed by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) committees and tested at a workshop in collaboration with the Food and Drug Administration and academia. With some necessary refinements, this could be applied to create an appropriately individualized evidentiary standard for any biomarker purpose.

Two hyperplastic esophagogastric polyps in a child with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1).

Hyperplastic esophagogastric polyps usually occur in the distal esophagus or gastroesophageal junction and have been associated with damage to the esophageal mucosa. Histologically these polyps show hyperplastic gastric foveolar and/or squamous epithelium with inflamed stroma. Reports of esophagogastric polyps in the pediatric population are rare.

ADRB3 adrenergic receptor is a key regulator of human myometrial apoptosis and inflammation during chorioamnionitis.

The pathophysiology underlying preterm labor triggered by inflammatory conditions such as chorioamnionitis remains largely unclear. It has already been suggested that beta-3 adrenergic (ADRB3) agonists might be of interest in the pharmacological management of preterm labor. Although there is evidence implicating ADRB receptors in the control of inflammation, there are minimal data relating specifically to ADRB3.

Prevalence and inaccessibility of URLs in the biomedical literature.

The World Wide Web is a dynamic environment that does not guarantee permanent access or content stability. We determined the prevalence of URLs in forthcoming, biomedical papers when they are first released in MEDLINE(R) and prospectively evaluated the rate of inaccessible URLs during a 19-day period. Among 96,153 references from 2,614 forthcoming papers (739 journals) the prevalence of URLs was 0.

The prevalence and inaccessibility of Internet references in the biomedical literature at the time of publication.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and inaccessibility of Internet references in the bibliography of biomedical publications when first released in PubMed.

Methods: During a one-month observational study period (Feb 21 to Mar 21, 2006) the Internet citations from a 20% random sample of all forthcoming publications released in PubMed during the previous day were identified. Attempts to access the referenced Internet citations were completed within one day and inaccessible Internet citations were recorded.

Observation of muon neutrino disappearance with the MINOS detectors in the NuMI neutrino beam.

This Letter reports results from the MINOS experiment based on its initial exposure to neutrinos from the Fermilab NuMI beam. The rates and energy spectra of charged current nu(mu) interactions are compared in two detectors located along the beam axis at distances of 1 and 735 km. With 1.

Fructose-enriched diet modifies antioxidant status and lipid metabolism in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Objective: High-fructose consumption in industrial countries has been shown to induce metabolic abnormalities or syndrome X. Changes in antioxidant defense are unknown in hypertension associated with metabolic disorders induced by high-fructose feeding.

Methods: Twenty spontaneously hypertensive rats were assigned to one of two groups; one received a fructose-enriched diet (60% fructose) and the other a starch diet.

A prospective study comparing oral sodium phosphate solution to a bowel cleansing preparation with nutrition food package in children.

Objective: The inability of children to comply with bowel preparation regimens can result in inadequate visualization of the colon. This study compares the safety, efficacy, and patient acceptance of a prepackaged diet kit plus a magnesium citrate/bisacodyl bowel cleansing regimen with a clear liquid diet and sodium phosphate solution regimen in children undergoing colonoscopy.

Methods: Children scheduled for a diagnostic colonoscopy, were randomly assigned to receive a prepackaged diet kit and a magnesium citrate/bisacodyl laxative (group 1), or clear liquids and sodium phosphate solution (group 2).

Direct effects of leptin on size and extracellular matrix components of human pediatric ventricular myocytes.

Objective: There is a well-documented association between obesity and heart failure although the mechanistic basis for this correlation is unclear. Both extracellular matrix remodeling and left ventricular hypertrophy are well-defined components of remodeling in heart failure, and here we further investigate the role of leptin, the obese gene product, on these parameters.

Methods: We used primary human pediatric ventricular cardiomyocytes combined with gelatin zymography, quantitative PCR analysis, proline and leucine incorporation assays, and investigation of kinase activation by Western blotting.

Leptin increases expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and does not alter collagen production in rat glomerular mesangial cells.

Obesity is a leading risk factor for the development of nephropathy. In nephropathy, one of the major structural alterations found in the kidney is the increase in, or altered profile of, extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagen. Excessive synthesis and decreased degradation of matrix proteins by proteases such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may contribute to this process.

Impaired oxidant/antioxidant status and LDL-fatty acid composition are associated with increased susceptibility to peroxidation of LDL in diabetic patients.

This study was carried out to determine the relationships between oxidant/antioxidant status, in vitro LDL oxidizability and LDL-fatty acid composition in diabetes mellitus. Plasma total antioxidant capacity (oxygen radical absorbance capacity, ORAC) and LDL-cholesteryl ester fatty acids were investigated in type 1 and type 2 diabetic subjects with and without complications. The degree of LDL oxidation was determined by the measurement of hydroperoxide levels before and after in vitro peroxidative stress with CuSO4.

Changes in lipid metabolism and antioxidant defense status in spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar rats fed a diet enriched with fructose and saturated fatty acids.

Objective: Larger doses of fructose and saturated fat have been associated with oxidative stress and development of hypertension. The effects of modest amounts of fructose and saturated fatty acids on oxidative stress are unknown.

Methods: To increase knowledge on this question, 10-wk-old spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar rats were fed for 8 wk with a control diet or an experimental diet enriched with fructose (18%) and saturated fatty acids (11%; FS diet).

Numerical simulation of the anisotropic elastic field generated by a misfit dislocations along a NiSi2/Si/(001)GaAs heterotwin interface.

The purpose of this work is the numerical resolution, in the case of anisotropic elasticity, of the problem of a misfit dislocation located between an infinite substrate and two-layer composite. This case is obtained where the period of a network of misfit dislocations is taken as much greater than the thickness of the two foils. As a result, in the vicinity of the dislocation, the limiting boundary conditions will be close to those of Volterra translation dislocation.

Fish protein improves blood pressure but alters HDL2 and HDL3 composition and tissue lipoprotein lipase activities in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The two-month effects of dietary fish protein and casein on VLDL, HDL(2) and HDL(3) compositions and hepatic lipase (HTGL) and tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activities were examined in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) at 4 wk of age. After 2 mo of experiment, the fish protein diet induced lower blood pressure (-14 %) as compared to casein. Liver triacylglycerol and total cholesterol concentrations were 1.

Changes in serum lipoprotein lipids and their fatty acid compositions and lipid peroxidation in growing rats fed soybean protein versus casein with or without cholesterol.

Objective: We compared the effects of diets based on soybean protein and casein supplemented or not supplemented with 0.1% cholesterol on plasma lipoprotein lipid amounts and their fatty acid compositions, lecithin:cholesterol acyl-transferase activity, and lipid peroxidation.

Methods: The composition and concentration of lipid and apolipoprotein in different lipoprotein classes, plasma LCAT activity, and lipid peroxidation were determined in rats fed 20% highly purified soybean protein or casein with or without 0.