A lateral flow-based ultra-sensitive p24 HIV assay utilizing fluorescent microparticles.

The current demand for HIV diagnostic tests in resource-limited settings is not being fully addressed by the currently available nucleic acid test or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay-based p24 antigen assays. This is primarily due to their high cost, their requirement for controlled laboratory conditions and/or personnel, or the relatively long turn-around time for test results. Self performing lateral flow assays address all of these issues but to date have not reached the level of analytical sensitivity for HIV p24 demonstrated by current generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technology.

Effect of immersion in sodium hypochlorite on torque and fatigue resistance of nickel-titanium instruments.

This study investigated the effect of immersion in sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) on torque and fatigue resistance of two nickel-titanium files. Size 25 .04 ProFile and RaCe files were immersed in 5.

Efficacy of prophylactic warfarin for prevention of thalidomide-related deep venous thrombosis.

Background: Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common complication of thalidomide treatment. There is little information to guide clinicians in selecting effective preventive treatments and physician practice varies. We sought to determine whether prophylactic anticoagulation with warfarin prevents DVT related to thalidomide treatment.

The Basal phosphorylation sites of endothelial nitric oxide synthase at serine (Ser)1177, Ser116, and threonine (Thr)495 in rat molar epithelial rests of Malassez.

Background: The epithelial rests of Malassez (ERM) are derived from the Hertwig's epithelial root sheath during tooth development. The ERM contain endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), but the existence of phosphorylation site/s of eNOS in the ERM is unclear.

Methods: Rat molars with periodontium were perfusion- and post-fixed, decalcified, and frozen-sectioned.

Alcohol abuse predicts progression of disease and death in patients with lung cancer.

Background: Few studies have examined long-term outcomes in alcohol-abusing patients with lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of alcohol abuse on the prognosis of patients with lung cancer.

Methods: The study was composed of 114 consecutive patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer treated at a Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Localization of the NO-cGMP signaling pathway molecules, NOS III-phosphorylation sites, ERK1/2, and Akt/PKB in osteoclasts.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) mediates different cellular functions by activating soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) that converts guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP) to cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP). Membrane-bound GCs produce cGMP in response to natriuretic peptides in osteoblasts, but neither the NO-target enzyme sGC, nor the phosphorylation sites of NOS III, nor their regulation by extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and Akt/protein kinase B (Akt/PKB) in osteoclasts have been established.

Methods: Rat molars with periodontium were perfusion- and post-fixed, decalcified, and frozen-sectioned.

Sweet's syndrome associated with sargramostim (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor) treatment.

Sweet's syndrome is an acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis that is a known complication of the administration of filgrastim, a drug that causes increased neutrophil proliferation and differentiation. This complication has not previously been reported during treatment with sargramostim, a hematopoietic cytokine with activity that overlaps filgrastim. We report a case of Sweet's syndrome in association with sargramostim treatment following chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia.

Diagnosis of malignant ascites in prostate cancer by measurement of prostate specific antigen.

We were confronted with a case of ascites in a man with known cirrhosis and advanced prostate cancer. Initial studies of ascitic fluid suggested cirrhosis as the cause of ascites. However, a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) study of ascitic fluid strongly suggested that the ascites was caused by prostate cancer.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylated at Ser116 is localized in nerve fibers of the rat glandulae palatinae.

It is known that total endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is localized in peripheral nerve fibers, but the existence of the phosphorylation site/s of eNOS in peripheral nerve fibers is unknown. In the perfusion-fixed and decalcified sections of rat palates, eNOS and eNOS phosphorylated at Ser(116) were identified in the nerve fibers of the glandulae palatinae. The localization of eNOS phosphorylated at Ser(1177) and Thr(495) in nerve fibers was undetectable.

ProTaper NT system.

This article reviews the design and clinical use of the ProTaper NT file system.

Nickel-titanium: options and challenges.

The introduction of nickel-titanium (NiTi) as material for endodontic instruments about 15 years ago opened many new perspectives. Many dentists and scientists see a benefit in using NiFi files. Initial problems such as frequent fractures and the uncertainty of the best way to use them have been solved.

NO-cGMP signaling molecules in the rat epithelial rests of Malassez.

The epithelial rests of Malassez (ERM) are derived from the disintegrating epithelial root sheath of Hertwig that guides root formation during tooth development. Low concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) produced by NO-synthase I (NOS I) and NOS III activate intracellular soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) to produce intracellular cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (cGMP), which triggers rapid cellular responses such as cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and apoptosis under physiological conditions. The presence of NOS I-III, sGC (alpha2- and beta1-subunits) and cGMP in the ERM was investigated by immunohistochemistry.

Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor is a chemoattractant cytokine for human neutrophils: involvement of the ribosomal p70 S6 kinase signaling pathway.

GM-CSF stimulates proliferation of myeloid precursors in bone marrow and primes mature leukocytes for enhanced functionality. We demonstrate that GM-CSF is a powerful chemotactic and chemokinetic agent for human neutrophils. GM-CSF-induced chemotaxis is time dependent and is specifically neutralized with Abs directed to either the ligand itself or its receptor.

Localization of the neuropeptide galanin in nerve fibers and epithelial keratinocytes of the rat molar gingiva.

Knowledge of the histochemical substrates of cellular and neurovascular connections in the gingiva is essential in order to understand the initial mechanisms of inflammation in the periodontium. Since the localization of the neuroendocrine peptide galanin in the gingiva is still unclear, we used immunohistochemical, in situ hybridization and immunoblot techniques to assess the localization of galanin in the gingiva of rat molars. Galanin-immunoreactive nerve fibers were located around blood vessels in the lamina propria, beneath the epithelium, in the epithelial-proprial junction and in the basal layer of the epithelium.

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance microscopy demonstrating human dental anatomy.

Objective: Magnetic resonance imaging has become a common diagnostic tool in medical practice. It is a common view that solid-state material lacking a sufficient amount of unpaired nuclear spins, in particular proton spins, is impossible to depict with clinically used magnetic resonance devices. Characteristically rapid dephasing, caused by relatively short spin-spin relaxation (T(2) time) also leads to broad resonance lines.