Vitamin D intake to attain a desired serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration.

Background: Indirect evidence suggests that optimal vitamin D status is achieved with a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration >75 nmol/L.

Objective: We aimed to determine the intake of vitamin D(3) needed to raise serum 25(OH)D to >75 nmol/L.

Design: The design was a 6-mo, prospective, randomized, double-blinded, double-dummy, placebo-controlled study of vitamin D(3) supplementation.

Susceptibility of Culex pipiens complex to some insecticides in Qatar.

Insecticides susceptibility tests were conducted on Culex pipiens larvae from both Doha and Al-Rayan. The insecticides used were chloropyrifos, propetamphos (Organophosphorous), cyphenothrin, cyfluthrin (Synthetic) and etofenprox. Larvae in Al-Rayan district were more susceptible to all insecticides than in Doha.

Effect of warfarin anticoagulant rodenticide on the blood cell counts of Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus.

The effect of the warfarin LD50 on the counts of the blood cells of Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus and roof rat, Rattus rattus from Giza and Qualyobia Governorates was investigated in the laboratory. Warfarin toxication caused significantly different blood cell counts in treated rats compared to control ones. Warfarin significantly decreased the total erythrocytic count and increased the total leucocytic count of treated rats.

Ectoparasites of commensal rodents in Talkha Center, Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt.

The ecto-parasites infesting commensally rodents were collected from the different localities in Talkha Center (Dakahlia Governorate) from April 2006 to March 2007. The seasonal abundance of rodent number and rat index was 52 (0.58) in spring, 27 (0.

An unusual case of complete ptosis and failure of elevation due to severe facial trauma.

The authors describe the case of 49-year-old female teacher who had sustained severe facial lacerations following a minor fall on the kerb. The severe shearing force by which the flap was ripped off the forehead caused complete ptosis and complete failure of elevation of the left eye, which was presumed to be due to mechanical damage to the superior rectus and levator complex. The management by a multidisciplinary approach and clinical course of the patient are described with documentary photographs.

Anatomic variations of the pelvic floor nerves adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament: a female cadaver study.

Our objective was to document variations in the topography of pelvic floor nerves (PFN) and describe a nerve-free zone adjacent to the sacrospinous ligament (SSL). Pelvic floor dissections were performed on 15 female cadavers. The course of the PFN was described in relation to the ischial spine (IS) and the SSL.

Efficiency of three anti-coagulant rodenticides on commensal rodents.

Susceptibiliy level to bromadilone, difencoum and coumtertraly anticoagulants were studied in different species of Norway rat Rattus norvegicus and roof rat Rattus rattus trapped from El-Qualyobia Governorate in which the anticoagulant rodenticides were used to control rodents for long periods in some rural regions at Qualyobia. Complete mortality was showed for both species and sex within a standard feeding period (6 days) indicated to be susceptible to the three anticoagulant rodenticides. The bait eaten and corresponding active ingredient showed a noticeable more intake for R.

Innervation of the levator ani muscles: description of the nerve branches to the pubococcygeus, iliococcygeus, and puborectalis muscles.

We described the innervation of the levator ani muscles (LAM) in human female cadavers. Detailed pelvic dissections of the pubococcygeus (PCM), iliococcygeus (ICM), and puborectalis muscles (PRM) were performed on 17 formaldehyde-fixed cadavers. The pudendal nerve and the sacral nerves entering the pelvis were traced thoroughly, and nerve branches innervating the LAM were documented.

Rupture of a tuboovarian abscess into the anterior abdominal wall: a case report.

Background: Rupture of a tuboovarian abscess is a life-threatening emergency. The current standard of care is surgery to manage the onset of peritonitis and sepsis.

Case: A 34-year-old woman presented with gradually worsening abdominal pain over several weeks.

Detection of mutant BRAF alleles in the plasma of patients with metastatic melanoma.

Mutations in the BRAF oncogene at amino acid 600 have been reported in 40 to 70% of human metastatic melanoma tissues, and the critical role of BRAF in the biology of melanoma has been established. Sampling the blood compartment to detect the mutational status of a solid tumor represents a highly innovative advance in cancer medicine, and such an approach could have advantages over tissue-based techniques. We report the development of a fluorescence-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect mutant BRAF alleles in plasma.

Genital sensation and sexual function in women bicyclists and runners: are your feet safer than your seat?

Introduction: Bicycling is associated with neurological impairment and impotence in men. Similar deficits have not been confirmed in women.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of bicycling on genital sensation and sexual function in women.

Loss of neutral endopeptidase and activation of protein kinase B (Akt) is associated with prostate cancer progression.

Background: Neutral endopeptidase (NEP) is a cell-surface peptidase that can regulate the activation of Akt kinase through catalytic-dependent and independent mechanisms. NEP expression is absent in approximately 50% of prostate cancers. The authors investigated whether NEP loss in vivo would result in Akt phosphorylation and potentially contribute to prostate cancer progression by examining the interaction of NEP, Akt, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) in a prostate xenograft model and in clinical specimens from patients with prostate cancer.

Incisional bladder hernia and refractory urinary urgency after pelvic surgery: a case report.

Background: Isolated incisional herniation of the bladder is very rare following pelvic surgery and may present as suprapubic discomfort. We report a case of incisional bladder hernia following pelvic surgery presenting as refractory urinary urgency.

Case: A 70-year-old woman, para 2, presented with a long history of suprapubic tenderness and refractory urinary urgency following reconstructive pelvic surgery.

Effects of menopause and hormone replacement therapy on serum levels of coenzyme Q10 and other lipid-soluble antioxidants.

The present study examines the influence of menopause and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on serum levels of coenzyme Q(10) and other lipid-soluble antioxidants in normal women. Serum levels of coenzyme Q(10), alpha-tocopherol, gamma-tocopherol, beta-carotene and lycopene in 50 premenopausal women (not using oral contraceptives), 33 healthy postmenopausal and 15 postmenopausal women on HRT ("Prempo"; combination of 0.625 mg conjugated estrogen and 2.

The role of the fibrocyte in intimal hyperplasia.

Background: Experimental animal studies have shown that the intimal hyperplasia (IH) responsible for occlusion after successful revascularization procedures may be partially caused by a bone marrow-derived cell that migrates to the site of vascular injury. Concurrent studies have demonstrated an extensive role in wound healing for the circulating fibrocyte.

Objectives: We aimed to trace the path of the circulating cell that contributes to IH and determine if it is the fibrocyte.

Effects of menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use on serum levels of lipid-soluble antioxidants.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of menstrual cycle and oral contraceptive use on serum levels of lipid-soluble antioxidants.

Study Design: In this cross-section study, nonfasting blood samples were collected twice from 10 healthy premenopausal women during the follicular phase (between days 8 and 11) and the luteal phase (between days 18 and 22) of their same menstrual cycle. In addition, blood samples from 15 premenopausal women who used oral contraceptive for at least 6 months and 40 women who did not use oral contraceptive were collected randomly at any day of the menstrual cycle.

Change in size of lesions over 3 weeks after radiofrequency ablation of left ventricle.

Introduction: The initial success or failure of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) does not always reflect the long-term outcome that can lead to complications such as late atrioventricular block or recurrence of accessory pathways. We hypothesize that these occurrences may be due to a change in lesion size over time.

Methods And Results: Intramural RFAs were performed on five greyhounds at thoracotomy using an epicardial approach into the left ventricular (LV) wall.

Serum levels of shed Her2/neu protein in men with prostate cancer correlate with disease progression.

Purpose: We determined the association between serum levels of shed Her-2/neu protein and disease progression in men with prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Serum from 279 patients enrolled in a prospective serum bank and database at New York University Medical Center was analyzed using the Food and Drug Administration approved Immuno-1 Her-2/neu assay. Patients were classified by the Prostate-Specific Antigen Working Group model into 5 groups, namely group 1-no evidence of cancer in 60, group 2-clinically localized disease in 67, group 3-prostate specific antigen increasing after therapy and no clinical metastases in 77, group 4-clinical metastases and castration sensitivity in 42, and group 5-clinical metastases and castration resistance in 33.

Evidence for host-driven selection of the HIV type 1 vpr gene in vivo during HIV disease progression in a transfusion-acquired cohort.

An epidemiologically linked HIV-1-infected cohort, in which a nonprogressor donor infected two recipients who progressed to AIDS, was examined. Sequence analysis, over time, of HIV-1 vpr gene quasispecies from uncultured peripheral blood cells revealed an insertion of arginine at position 90 altering a highly conserved C-terminal motif, believed to play a role in Vpr nuclear targeting. Full genome analysis from each patient showed no gene defects in other gene regions, implying that the mutational selection was unique to the vpr gene.