Enhancement of sensitivity and resolution of surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometric records for serum peptides using time-series analysis techniques.

Background: Measurement of peptide/protein concentrations in biological samples for biomarker discovery commonly uses high-sensitivity mass spectrometers with a surface-processing procedure to concentrate the important peptides. These time-of-flight (TOF) instruments typically have low mass resolution and considerable electronic noise associated with their detectors. The net result is unnecessary overlapping of peaks, apparent mass jitter, and difficulty in distinguishing mass peaks from background noise.

General seroprevalence of hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infections in population.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by detection of anti-HCV and hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg) in general population of Pakistan.

Design: Observational.

Place And Duration Of Study: Community clinic of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from January 1998 to June 2004.

Trends in neonatal septicemia: emergence of non-albicans Candida.

In a prospective analysis, blood from 660 neonates admitted to neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of a teaching hospital with clinical suspicion of septicemia was cultured to look for etiological agents with particular reference to role of Candida species. Blood culture specimens from two different sites at same time were obtained to rule out possibility of a Candida isolate being a mere contaminant. Due to technical difficulties, this was possible in only 338 neonates (Group I); from remaining 322 neonates only single specimen was available (Group II).

Intravitreal injection of vascular endothelial growth factor small interfering RNA inhibits growth and leakage in a nonhuman primate, laser-induced model of choroidal neovascularization.

Purpose: To determine the safety and efficacy of small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a nonhuman primate model of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

Methods: Each animal received laser rupture of Bruch's membrane to induce CNV in both eyes. Each animal was then randomized to receive 0.

Serum protein profiles to identify head and neck cancer.

Purpose: New and more consistent biomarkers of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are needed to improve early detection of disease and to monitor successful patient management. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a new proteomic technology could correctly identify protein expression profiles for cancer in patient serum samples.

Experimental Design: Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry ProteinChip system was used to screen for differentially expressed proteins in serum from 99 patients with HNSCC and 102 normal controls.

Identification of patients with head and neck cancer using serum protein profiles.

Background: New and more consistent biomarkers of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are needed to improve early detection of disease and to monitor successful patient management.

Objective: To determine if a new proteomic technology can correctly identify protein expression profiles for cancer in patient serum samples as well as detect the presence of a known tumor marker.

Design: Direct proteomic analysis and comparison.

Dural arteriovenous malformations of the skull base.

Dural arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are interesting lesions, which can present as diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Such AVMs were initially described as located solely in the dural venous sinuses, but during the last decade researchers have discovered them in other locations such as the tentorium and foramen magnum. It is understandable that they can develop in other locations because numerous arteriovenous shunts normally occur all over the dura.

Stent-within-a-stent technique for the treatment of dissecting vertebral artery aneurysms.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage from dissecting vertebral artery aneurysms is a well-known phenomenon. With the advent of navigable intracranial stents, these aneurysms are now amenable to endovascular stent placement. However, immediate aneurysm obliteration is often not accomplished, and current covered stents have poor short-term patency rates.

Eleven years of experience with dialysis associated tuberculosis.

Background: The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in dialysis patients and to determine its clinical features and results of short-course (6 months) chemotherapy, mortality and risk factors of mortality.

Methods: The study included 48 TB patients among 330 patients on dialysis of whom 37 were on hemodialysis and 11 were on peritoneal dialysis at Security Forces Hospital in the period from October 1989 to October 2000. The diagnosis of TB was established by a combination of clinical, radiological, biochemical, microbiological and histological examinations.

Carotid endarterectomy in patients with contralateral internal carotid artery occlusion without intraoperative shunting.

Background: Controversy about the optimal method of performing a carotid endarterectomy (CEA) exists despite its widespread application and support from various randomized clinical trials. Many surgeons selectively or routinely use electroencephalography (EEG) monitoring as well as shunting when performing this operation.

Methods: We conducted this retrospective study to assess the maximum carotid clamp time without shunting or EEG monitoring during a CEA without the development of neurological deficits in an already compromised cerebral circulation.

MR imaging and in vivo proton spectroscopy of the brain in neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy.

Introduction: A number of studies have suggested the potential utility of in vivo proton MR spectroscopy for the evaluation of brain injury in the asphyxiated neonates. We present our initial experience with in vivo proton MR spectroscopy in neonates who were diagnosed as having hypoxic injury on clinical examination and the severity of the insult was graded using Sarnat staging.

Methods And Material: MR imaging and in vivo proton MR spectroscopy was performed in 16 neonates with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) to correlate the imaging and metabolite abnormality with clinical severity of the condition at the time of insult and with outcome at 2 months of age.

Repeated pregnancies in patients with primary membranous glomerulonephritis.

This retrospective study was carried out in patients with membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) and repeated pregnancies, the aim being to see how one influences the other. Patients with two or more pregnancies after MGN were included in the study. Nine patients underwent 51 pregnancies (range 2-12, mean 5.

Magnesium sulfate therapy after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Object: Vasospasm remains a significant source of neurological morbidity and mortality following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), despite advances in current medical, surgical, and endovascular therapies. Magnesium sulfate therapy has been demonstrated to be both safe and effective in preventing neurological complications in obstetrical patients with eclampsia. Evidence obtained using experimental models of brain injury, cerebral ischemia, and SAH indicate that Mg may also have a role as a neuroprotective agent.

Repeated pregnancies in patients with non-immunoglobulin a mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis.

Aim: To analyze the effect of repeated pregnancies on underlying MesGN and see the reciprocal effect on maternal and fetal outcome.

Patients And Methods: Pregnancy records of cases with histological diagnosis of MesGN were reviewed, and past medical histories recorded.

Results: Cesarean section (CS).

Historical perspective on the Department of Neurosurgery at the Henry Ford Hospital.

The Henry Ford Hospital (HFH) was founded in 1915 as a philanthropic gift from Henry Ford, the automobile magnate and inventor of the Model T. The hospital and its organizational structure represented a nonsectarian facility that would provide care for all members of society. The system was patterned after the newest and most modern medical centers at the time in Europe, Canada, and the United States, including the German Krankenhauser, the Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Mayo Clinic, and the Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston.

Language hemispheric dominance in patients with congenital lesions of eloquent brain.

Objective: In 90% of normal subjects, the left hemisphere is dominant for language function. We investigated whether congenital lesions of the left perisylvian regions altered cortical language representation in right-handed individuals.

Methods: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we studied language hemispheric dominance in five right-handed adult patients with congenitally acquired arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) originating from left hemispheric cortical language regions.

A study of serum bilirubin in neonates in relation to the maternal age.

A comparative study of neonatal serum bilirubin levels was done in neonates of different age groups of mothers. A total 122 healthy, new borns were selected for the study, born at Queen Mary's Hospital, Lucknow. Mothers were divided into two groups i.

Association of cerebral arteriovenous malformations and spontaneous occlusion of major feeding arteries: clinical and therapeutic implications.

Objective: The spontaneous occlusion of a cerebral arteriovenous malformation (AVM) occurs rarely. Occlusion of a parent artery feeding the AVM is even more rare, and its incidence is unknown. We undertook this study to determine the incidence of occlusion of a major artery feeding an AVM and to recommend a management strategy for such an AVM.

Role of interferon-alpha in the treatment of primary glomerulonephritis.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) is a naturally occurring cytokine. It was the first cytokine used with clinical benefit in the treatment of viral hepatitis and malignancies. Patients with viral hepatitis B or C may have complications with glomerulonephritis (GN).

Expression of transforming growth factor-beta complex in arteriovenous malformations.

The factors responsible for the development of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are not well known. Patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) have cutaneous vascular dysplasia and a high propensity to develop systemic and cerebral AVMs. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) complex has been implicated in HHT.

Brainstem auditory evoked response in newborns with hyperbilirubinemia.

Objective: To determine the initial Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response (BAER) abnormalities in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia and the possible reversibility of abnormal BAER after therapy.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary care hospital.