When to measure lipid profile after stroke?

Background: Although acute decreases in total cholesterol (TC) are well documented in myocardial infarction, previous stroke studies have produced conflicting results. The timing of lipid estimation in ischemic stroke is becoming important with recent trial results indicating the benefits of statins. We therefore aimed to determine the optimal time for lipid measurements after stroke.

African dust clouds are associated with increased paediatric asthma accident and emergency admissions on the Caribbean island of Trinidad.

A retrospective ecological study of paediatric asthma patients who attended the Accident and Emergency (A and E) department of the Paediatric Priority Care Facility at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in relation to Saharan dust visibility and other climatic variables for the period 23 May 2001 to 13 May 2002 was undertaken to determine if there is an association between paediatric A and E asthma visits and Saharan dust cloud cover. A Poisson regression model was used to determine the statistical relationship between acute paediatric asthma A and E visits and Saharan dust cover with and without other variables such as climatic parameters and month. During the study period, there were 2,655 A and E visits for acute asthma.

Synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of [Ag(phendio)2]ClO4 (phendio = 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione) and its effects on fungal and mammalian cells.

The Cu(II) and Ag(I) complexes, [Cu(phendio)3](ClO4)2 x 4H2O and [Ag(phendio)2]ClO4 (phendio = 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione), are prepared in good yield by reacting phendio with the appropriate metal perchlorate salt. The X-ray crystal structure of the Ag(I) complex shows it to have a pseudo tetrahedral structure. 'Metal-free' phendio and the Cu(II) and Ag(I) phendio complexes strongly inhibit the growth of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans, and are more active than their 1,10-phenanthroline analogues.

Characterization of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins in some cultivars of Ribes, Aronia, and Sambucus and their antioxidant capacity.

Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins were characterized by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS coupled with a diode array and/or fluorescent detector in seven cultivars of Ribes nigrum (black currant) and Ribes rubrum (red currant, Red Lake), six cultivars of Ribes grossularia (gooseberries), Aronia melanocarpa(chokeberry), and Sambucus nigra (elderberry). Thirty-one different anthocyanins were detected in these berries, but not every anthocyanin was observed in each berry. A number of minor anthocyanins were identified from these berries for the first time.

Systematic recovery and analysis of full-ORF human cDNA clones.

The Mammalian Gene Collection (MGC) consortium (http://mgc.nci.nih.

Evolution of duplicated growth hormone genes in autotetraploid salmonid fishes.

A defining character of the piscine family Salmonidae is autotetraploidy resulting from a genome-doubling event some 25-100 million years ago. Initially, duplicated genes may have undergone concerted evolution and tetrasomic inheritance. Homeologous chromosomes eventually diverged and the resulting reduction in recombination and gene conversion between paralogous genes allowed the re-establishment of disomic inheritance.

Inflammation of rat dorsal root ganglia below a mid-thoracic spinal transection.

Macrophages and T-lymphocytes invade the spinal cord in and around a lesion and spinal microglia are converted into macrophages. After spinal transection at T8 in rats, T-lymphocyte and major histocompatibility complex II+ (MHC II+) macrophage numbers were increased within dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) below the lesion. Inflammation was greater in DRGs closer to the site of transection.

A 1463 gene cattle-human comparative map with anchor points defined by human genome sequence coordinates.

A second-generation 5000 rad radiation hybrid (RH) map of the cattle genome was constructed primarily using cattle ESTs that were targeted to gaps in the existing cattle-human comparative map, as well as to sparsely populated map intervals. A total of 870 targeted markers were added, bringing the number of markers mapped on the RH(5000) panel to 1913. Of these, 1463 have significant BLASTN hits (E < e(-5)) against the human genome sequence.

A randomised controlled trial of morphine versus phenobarbitone for neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Background: The incidence of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) has increased 10-fold over the last decade in Glasgow. In the Princess Royal Maternity Hospital, it now accounts for 17% of special care baby unit (SCBU) admissions.

Objective: To compare opiate replacement therapy (morphine sulphate) with the present standard treatment (phenobarbitone) for management of NAS.

Structure activity studies of ring E analogues of methyllycaconitine. Part 2: Synthesis of antagonists to the alpha3beta4* nicotinic acetylcholine receptors through modifications to the ester.

The development of novel agents for the differentiation of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) is important for the treatment of a variety of pathological conditions. We have prepared and evaluated a number of simpler analogues of the norditerpeniod alkaloid methyllycaconitine (MLA) in an effort to understand molecular determinants of nAChR*small molecule interactions. We have previously reported the synthesis and evaluation of a series of ring E analogues of MLA.

The use of online control: a developmental perspective.

To date very little research has addressed the abilities of young participants to respond to a change in visual information provided during movement execution. This study attempted to determine the ability of 45 participants (5, 7, 9 years) to respond to a change in visual information during a discrete rapid aiming movement. A perturbation paradigm where the target size changed after movement onset was used.

Student nurses' perceptions of alternative and allopathic medicine.

This exploratory study of student nurses is based on the results of the responses to one question on an open-ended questionnaire: How would you define the relationship between alternative medicine and allopathic (conventional) medicine? A specific goal of the study was to find out how the surveyed respondents conceptualized the relationship between allopathic and alternative medicine. Three themes were identified: (a) "They are not at all alike," (b) "The two can or should be used together," and (c) "Those who practice alternative medicine and those who practice allopathic do not get along very well." The discussion suggests some reasons for these perceptions and considers some implications for future health care.

The bovine 5' AMPK gene family: mapping and single nucleotide polymorphism detection.

The 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family is an ancient stress response system whose primary function is regulation of cellular ATP. Activation of AMPK, which is instigated by environmental and nutritional stresses, initiates energy-conserving measures that protect the cell by inhibition and phosphorylation of key enzymes in energy-consuming biochemical pathways. The seven genes that comprise the bovine AMPK family were mapped in cattle by using a radiation hybrid panel.

Insect attack and wounding induce traumatic resin duct development and gene expression of (-)-pinene synthase in Sitka spruce.

Conifers possess inducible terpenoid defense systems. These systems are associated with the formation of traumatic resin ducts (TRD) and are underpinned by enhanced gene expression and activity of terpene synthases (TPS), enzymes responsible for oleoresin formation. We first determined that Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis [Bong.

Pulmonary involvement in a case of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is primarily a disease of children and adolescents. Although most patients experience spontaneous regression at a later age, some patients continue to be affected throughout their lives. We report the case of a 35-year-old woman with a 33-year history of juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis who developed pulmonary dissemination with malignant transformation.

Position-space renormalization-group approach for driven diffusive systems applied to the asymmetric exclusion model.

This paper introduces a position-space renormalization-group approach for nonequilibrium systems and applies the method to a driven stochastic one-dimensional gas with open boundaries. The dynamics are characterized by three parameters: the probability alpha that a particle will flow into the chain to the leftmost site, the probability beta that a particle will flow out from the rightmost site, and the probability p that a particle will jump to the right if the site to the right is empty. The renormalization-group procedure is conducted within the space of these transition probabilities, which are relevant to the system's dynamics.

EKG arrhythmia recognition: a third-year clerkship teaching experience.

Background And Objectives: This report describes a curricular experience designed to improve EKG arrhythmia recognition skills in third-year medical students in a required family medicine clerkship.

Intervention: An innovative 1-hour seminar that teaches a systematic approach to EKG arrhythmia recognition was added to the family medicine clerkship. Students were tested on ability to identify arrhythmias at the end of the clerkship.

Muscarinic M3-receptors mediate cholinergic synergism of mitogenesis in airway smooth muscle.

Muscarinic receptor agonists have been considered to act synergistically in combination with growth facors on airway smooth muscle growth. Characterization of the proliferative responses and of the receptor subtype(s) involved has not yet been studied. Therefore, we investigated mitogenesis induced by stimulation of muscarinic receptors, alone and in combination with stimulation by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).

Modulation by caspases of tumor necrosis factor-stimulated c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation but not nuclear factor-kappaB signaling.

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) is capable of activating many downstream signaling molecules via its two receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2. TNF can stimulate the proinflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) as well as the stress induced kinase c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) through mechanisms that are not fully delineated. NF-kappaB becomes activated mainly through TNFR1 while JNK can be stimulated by either TNF receptor subtype.

Morphine for the relief of breathlessness in patients with chronic heart failure--a pilot study.

Background: Chronic heart failure (CHF) patients can experience significant breathlessness despite maximum medication for their heart failure. Morphine has long been used to relieve symptoms in acute failure, but there is little evidence about this potentially useful palliative therapy in CHF.

Aims: To determine the efficacy of morphine for the relief of breathlessness in patients with CHF.