Expression of oncogenic HRAS causes defects in control of cell size in NIH 3T3 cells.

Severe defects in control of cell size are closely associated with cancer. However, the mechanisms that drive cell size defects in cancer remain unknown and it is unclear whether they are a direct consequence of signals from primary oncogenic drivers or a secondary consequence of mutations that accumulate during evolution of cancer cells. Here, we report that expression of oncogenic HRAS is sufficient to cause cell size defects in NIH 3T3 cells, which suggests that the cell size defects of cancer cells are a direct consequence of primary oncogenic drivers.

Reversing Cardiac Hypertrophy at the Source Using a Cardiac Targeting Peptide Linked to miRNA106a: Targeting Genes That Cause Cardiac Hypertrophy.

Causes and treatments for heart failure (HF) have been investigated for over a century culminating in data that have led to numerous pharmacological and surgical therapies. Unfortunately, to date, even with the most current treatments, HF remains a progressive disease with no therapies targeting the cardiomyocytes directly. Technological advances within the past two to three years have brought about new paradigms for treating many diseases that previously had been extremely difficult to resolve.

Cardiac inducing colonies halt fibroblast activation and induce cardiac/endothelial cells to move and expand via paracrine signaling.

Myocardial fibrosis (MF), a common event that develops after myocardial infarction, initially is a reparative process but eventually leads to heart failure and sudden cardiac arrest. In MF, the infarct area is replaced by a collagenous-based scar induced by "excessive" collagen deposition from activated cardiac fibroblasts. The scar prevents ventricular wall thinning; however, over time it expands to noninfarcted myocardium.

One, two and three-dimensional ultrasound measurements of carotid atherosclerosis before and after cardiac rehabilitation: preliminary results of a randomized controlled trial.

Background: It is still not known how patients who are post-transient ischemic attack (TIA) or post-stroke might benefit from prospectively planned comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CCR). In this pilot evaluation of a larger ongoing randomized-controlled-trial, we evaluated ultrasound (US) measurements of carotid atherosclerosis in subjects following TIA or mild non-disabling stroke and their relationship with risk factors before and after 6-months of CCR.

Methods: Carotid ultrasound (US) measurements of one-dimensional intima-media-thickness (IMT), two-dimensional total-plaque-area (TPA), three-dimensional total-plaque-volume (TPV) and vessel-wall-volume (VWV) were acquired before and after 6-months CCR for 39 subjects who had previously experienced a TIA and provided written informed consent to participate in this randomized controlled trial.

Satisfaction with palliative care after stroke: a prospective cohort study.

Background And Purpose: The determinants of satisfaction for families of acute stroke patients receiving palliative care have not been extensively studied. We surveyed families to determine how they perceived palliative care after stroke.

Methods: Families of patients palliated after ischemic stroke, intracerebral, or subarachnoid hemorrhage were approached.

Delays in carotid endarterectomy: the process is the problem.

Background: Current recommendations for carotid endarterectomy (CEA) for symptomatic carotid stenosis state benefit is greatest when performed within two weeks of symptoms. However, only a minority of cases are operated on within this guideline, and no systematic examinations of reasons for these delays exist.

Methods: All CEA cases performed at our institution by vascular surgery for symptomatic carotid stenosis after neurologist referral in 2008-2009 were reviewed.

Dabigatran versus rivaroxaban for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in atrial fibrillation in Canada. Comparative efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

Canadian patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in whom anticoagulation is appropriate have two new choices for anticoagulation for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism--dabigatran etexilate (dabigatran) and rivaroxaban. Based on the RE-LY and ROCKET AF trial results, we investigated the cost-effectiveness of dabigatran (twice daily dosing of 150 mg or 110 mg based on patient age) versus rivaroxaban from a Canadian payer perspective. A formal indirect treatment comparison (ITC) of dabigatran versus rivaroxaban was performed, using dabigatran clinical event rates from RE-LY for the safety-on-treatment population, adjusted to the ROCKET AF population.

Wait times among patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis requiring carotid endarterectomy for stroke prevention.

Background: Current Canadian and international guidelines suggest patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) or nondisabling stroke and ipsilateral internal carotid artery stenosis of 50% to 99% should be offered carotid endarterectomy (CEA) ≤ 2 weeks of the incident TIA or stroke. The objective of the study was to identify whether these goals are being met and the factors that most influence wait times.

Methods: Patients who underwent CEA at the Ottawa Hospital for symptomatic carotid artery stenosis from 2008 to 2010 were identified.

National survey of Canadian neurologists' current practice for transient ischemic attack and the need for a clinical decision rule.

Background And Purpose: Four percent to 10% of patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) have a stroke or die within 1 week of their diagnosis. This national survey examined Canadian neurologists' current practice for managing TIA, the need for a clinical decision rule to identify high-risk patients, and the required sensitivity of such a rule.

Methods: We surveyed 650 neurologists registered in a national physician directory.

Use of intravenous immunoglobulin for treatment of neurologic conditions: a systematic review.

Background: Given the increasing use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for various neurologic conditions and uncertainty pertaining to its benefits and harms, a systematic review was conducted of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating IVIG for all neurologic indications for which there was at least one published trial.

Study Design And Methods: For this systematic review, a systematic search strategy was applied to MEDLINE (1966-June 2003) and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials (June 2003) to identify potentially eligible RCTs comparing IVIG to placebo or an active control. All dosage regimens were considered.