A randomized comparison of intradermal and intramuscular vaccination against hepatitis B virus in incident chronic hemodialysis patients.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a threat to hemodialysis patients. Nevertheless, the vaccination rate against this virus is low, perhaps because of the low conversion rate. Although intradermal (ID) vaccination has been proven to be effective (even in patients nonresponsive to intramuscular [IM] vaccination), the duration of immunity was short.

Adaptation of post-traumatic angiogenesis in the rabbit knee by apposition of torn ligament ends.

Apposition of torn ligament ends has been shown to have a beneficial effect on healing of the medial collateral ligament; however, the mechanism underlying this improved recovery is unclear. Excessive post-traumatic angiogenesis, an inherent component of soft-tissue regeneration, may be functionally detrimental in relatively hypovascular tissues such as ligaments. The present study therefore examined the relationship between contact of transected ligament ends and vascular remodeling.

Does aspirin have a role in improving pregnancy outcome for women with the antiphospholipid syndrome? A randomized controlled trial.

Objective: This pilot investigation was undertaken to assess the efficacy of low-dose aspirin therapy for the treatment of women with antiphospholipid antibodies when recurrent miscarriage is the only sequela.

Study Design: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in the setting of the recurrent miscarriage clinic of a tertiary referral obstetric hospital. The participants were 50 women with a history of recurrent miscarriages (>/=3) and antiphospholipid antibodies.

Effect of adrenomedullin infusion on basal and stimulated aldosterone secretion in conscious sheep with cervical adrenal autotransplants.

In vivo and in vitro studies have shown conflicting effects of adrenomedullin (ADM) on the secretion of steroid hormones from the adrenal gland. While some investigators report no effect of this peptide on the output of various hormones, others have reported both stimulatory and inhibitory roles for ADM. We have shown that basal aldosterone secretion rate (ASR), in conscious sheep with cervical adrenal autotransplants, did not change when ADM was infused directly into the adrenal arterial supply.

A role for calcitonin gene-related peptide in rabbit knee joint ligament healing.

Knee joint ligament healing has been shown to be improved when the torn ligament ends remain in contact, however, the rationale for these effects is unknown. The sensory neuropeptide calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) has potent trophic and vasodilatatory properties and as such is thought to be advantageous in wound repair. In ascertaining a role for CGRP in rabbit medial collateral ligament healing, the present study examined changes in CGRP-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LI) and CGRP-mediated vasomotor responses in gap injured (non-contact), Z-plasty apposed (contact), and sham operated control medial collateral ligaments.

Late gestational changes in sympathomimetic sensitivity in primagravid rabbit ligaments.

The adrenoceptor profile of blood vessels supplying the medial collateral ligament (MCL) of virgin and primagravid (day 29 of pregnancy) rabbit knees was examined. Topical bolus administration of the alpha1-adrenoceptor agonists methoxamine and phenylephrine, and the alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist clonidine, to exposed knee joints resulted in a dose-dependent vasoconstriction of ligamentous vessels. The rank order of potency for the alpha-agonists was found to be phenylephrine > methoxamine > clonidine.

Peripheral modulation of rat knee joint afferent mechanosensitivity by nociceptin/orphanin FQ.

The peripheral effects of nociceptin were examined in normal and acutely inflamed rat knee joints by analyzing single unit recordings from articular primary afferents in response to normal and extreme rotation of the knee. Bolus close intraarterial injection of nociceptin (0.01, 1 and 100 microM) caused a sensitization of normal and inflamed knee joint afferents in response to movements in the normal working range of the joint.

Genetic and epigenetic changes in human epithelial cells immortalized by telomerase.

Exogenous expression of hTERT, the catalytic component of telomerase, is sufficient for the immortalization of human fibroblasts but insufficient for the immortalization of human foreskin keratinocytes (HFKs) and human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). These latter cell types can overcome senescence by coexpression of hTERT and human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 or by expression of hTERT and loss of p16(INK4a) expression, indicating that the retinoblastoma (Rb) pathway, along with a telomere maintenance pathway, plays a role in determining the life span of epithelial cells. In this study, we further characterize hTERT-immortalized HFKs and human adenoid epithelial cells (HAKs) for genotypic and phenotypic alterations that are associated with immortalization.

Genomic changes and HPV type in cervical carcinoma.

To identify chromosomal regions that may include the loci of abnormally expressed cellular genes and may be specifically altered depending on the histological subtype of the tumor, we studied primary cervical carcinoma using CGH and HPV genotyping. Eighty-seven percent of the primary tumors were positive for DNA of a "high-risk" HPV type (e.g.

The p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism, human papillomavirus, and invasive squamous cell cervical cancer.

A. Storey et al. [Nature (Lond.

Theatres of the psyche.

Fragments of the analytic voyage of a forty year old patient, haunted by the idea of her death since infancy when confronted with the anguish that accompanies the discovery of a potentially death dealing illness. In three years of intensive analytic work, her way of functioning psychically changed dramatically (her flight from imaginative life, total disaffectation of her emotional life, psychic deafness regarding her body and its messages..

Expression of Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane proteins leads to changes in keratinocyte cell adhesion.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has 3 latent membrane proteins (LMPs)--LMP1, LMP2a, and LMP2b--which are expressed in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Using keratinocyte cell lines expressing LMP2a and LMP2b and coexpressing LMP1/LMP2a, we grew organotypic raft cultures to analyze changes in morphology and expression of the cell adhesion molecule ICAM-1; alpha2, alpha3, alpha5, beta1, and alpha6beta4 integrins; laminin 5; E-cadherin; and desmoplakin. Cells expressing LMP2a or LMP2b were defective in their ability to mature and progress through normal squamous stratification when compared to the parental cell lines.

Dynamic measurement of bone blood perfusion with modified laser Doppler imaging.

Although the mechanisms are not clearly defined, blood flow may play an important role in moderating skeletal adaptation. Most techniques currently available to measure blood flow in bone are time-consuming and require destruction of the tissue, but laser Doppler technology offers a less invasive method. The present study assessed whether laser Doppler perfusion imaging could detect changes in perfusion in cortical bone.

TP53 tumor suppressor protein in normal human fibroblasts does not respond to 837 MHz microwave exposure.

The TP53 tumor suppressor protein (formerly known as p53) responds to a wide variety of environmental insults. To evaluate the safety of cellular telephones, TP53 responses in human fibroblast cells were studied after exposure to 837 MHz microwaves. Cells were exposed in a temperature-controlled transverse electromagnetic (TEM) chamber to a specific absorption rate (SAR) of 0.

Development of a rat head exposure system for simulating human exposure to RF fields from handheld wireless telephones.

The aim of this project was to develop an animal exposure system for the biological effect studies of radio frequency fields from handheld wireless telephones, with energy deposition in animal brains comparable to those in humans. The finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method was initially used to compute specific absorption rate (SAR) in an ellipsoidal rat model exposed with various size loop antennas at different distances from the model. A 3 x 1 cm rectangular loop produced acceptable SAR patterns.

A quarter century of in vitro research: a new look at exposure methods.

The specific absorption rate (SAR) distributions in radio frequency-exposed solutions containing suspended or plated cells in vessels used for in vitro research were calculated by the finite-difference-time-domain method, graphed in color, and statistically analyzed in terms of uniformity for application to research on safety of wireless devices. The uniformity of SAR was quantified by visual inspection of colored plots, histograms, means, standard deviations, and maximums for the cell suspensions exposed in test tubes, Petri dishes, and rectangular flasks. Exposure sources included plane waves, transverse electromagnetic (TEM) cells, and striplines used at frequencies of 837, 2450, or 3,000 MHz.

Generation and characterization of human smooth muscle cell lines derived from atherosclerotic plaque.

The study of atherogenesis in humans has been restricted by the limited availability and brief in vitro life span of plaque smooth muscle cells (SMCs). We describe plaque SMC lines with extended life spans generated by the expression of the human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 E6 and E7 genes, which has been shown to extend the life span of normal adult human aortic SMCs. Resulting cell lines (pdSMC1A and 2) demonstrated at least 10-fold increases in life span; pdSMC1A became immortal.

Neurogenic origin of articular hyperemia in early degenerative joint disease.

It has been speculated that joint instability resulting from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture could be exacerbated by changes in vasomotor activity in the remaining supporting structures. In this study, the effect of ACL transection on medial collateral ligament (MCL) basal perfusion and its responsiveness to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and sympathetic adrenergic influences was examined. Using urethan-anesthetized rabbits, we tested the effects of CGRP and its antagonist CGRP-(8-37) by topical application of these agents to the exposed knee while sympathetic influences were tested by electrically stimulating the saphenous nerve.

Both Rb/p16INK4a inactivation and telomerase activity are required to immortalize human epithelial cells.

Normal human cells undergo a limited number of divisions in culture and enter a non-dividing state called replicative senescence. Senescence is accompanied by several changes, including an increase in inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases and telomere shortening. The mechanisms by which viral oncogenes reverse these processes are not fully understood, although a general requirement for oncoproteins such as human papillomavirus E6 and E7 has suggested that the p53 and Rb pathways are targeted.

Oral cancer risk in relation to sexual history and evidence of human papillomavirus infection.

Background: Experimental models and analyses of human tumors suggest that oncogenic, sexually transmittable human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are etiologic factors in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We conducted a population-based, case-control study to determine whether the risk of this cancer is related to HPV infection and sexual history factors.

Methods: Case subjects (n = 284) were 18-65-year-old residents of three counties in western Washington State who were newly diagnosed with oral SCC from 1990 through 1995.

Natriuresis and inhibition of Na+/K(+)-ATPase: modulation of response by physiological manipulation.

1. There is considerable evidence for the existence of an endogenous inhibitor of Na+/K(+)-ATPase. The exact physiological nature and role of this postulated agent remains unclear, although it would be predicted that one of its actions would be stimulation of renal sodium excretion.

Late steps of aldosterone biosynthesis: sheep are not rats.

1. The last three steps of aldosterone biosynthesis have been demonstrated to be catalysed by a single enzyme, referred to as CYP11B (or P450(11) beta) in cow, pig, sheep and bullfrog and as CYP11B2 (or P450aldo) in rat, human, mouse and hamster. 2.

Cholinergic vasoregulation in normal and adjuvant monoarthritic rat knee joints.

The role of cholinergic nerves in joint vasomotor control was investigated in normal and chronically inflamed rat knees. Joint inflammation was induced by unilateral intraarticular injection of Freund's complete adjuvant and experiments were performed on both the ipsilateral and contralateral joints one and three weeks after treatment. Blood flow measurements of the exposed joints were obtained using a laser Doppler perfusion imager which provides relative changes in tissue perfusion.