Recombinant human transgenic antithrombin in cardiac surgery: a dose-finding study.

Background: Acquired antithrombin III (AT) deficiency may render heparin less effective during cardiac surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The authors examined the pharmacodynamics and optimal dose of recombinant human AT (rh-AT) needed to maintain normal AT activity during CPB, optimize the anticoagulant response to heparin, and attenuate excessive activation of the hemostatic system in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: Thirty-six patients scheduled to undergo elective primary coronary artery bypass grafting and who had received heparin for 12 h or more before surgery were enrolled in the study.

Stimulation of 5-HT(2) receptors in prefrontal pyramidal neurons inhibits Ca(v)1.2 L type Ca(2+) currents via a PLCbeta/IP3/calcineurin signaling cascade.

There is growing evidence linking alterations in serotonergic signaling in the prefrontal cortex to the etiology of schizophrenia. Prefrontal pyramidal neurons are richly innervated by serotonergic fibers and express high levels of serotonergic 5-HT(2)-class receptors. It is unclear, however, how activation of these receptors modulates cellular activity.

Development of a questionnaire to examine confidence of occupational therapy students during fieldwork experiences.

This paper describes the development of an instrument designed to examine the level of confidence of occupational therapy students during their fieldwork experiences. Confidence in this context refers to Bandura's concept of self-efficacy in Social Cognitive Theory. As this subject has received little formal study, no appropriate tool was found to measure confidence in students.

Phylogenetics of the Monogenea--evidence from a medley of molecules.

Nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences of Monogenea from both complete small and partial large (D1-D2) subunits were determined and added to previously published sequences in order to best estimate the molecular phylogeny of the group. A total of 35 ssrDNA, 100 D1 lsrDNA and 51 D2 lsrDNA monogenean sequences were used, representing a total of 27 families. From these sequences different data sets were assembled and analysed to make the best use of all available molecular phylogenetic information from the taxa.

Caryophyllidean tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Eucestoda) from freshwater fishes in Japan.

The following caryophyllidean tapeworms were found in freshwater fishes from Japan (species reported from Japan for the first time marked with an asterisk): family Caryophyllaeidae: Paracaryophyllaeus gotoi (Motomura, 1927) from Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Cantor); Archigetes sieboldi Leuckart, 1878 from Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck et Schlegel) and Sarcocheilichthys variegatus microoculus Mori (new hosts); family Lytocestidae: *Caryophyllaeides ergensi Scholz, 1990 from Tribolodon hakuensis (Günther), T. ezoe Okada et Ikeda, Hemibarbus barbus (Temminck et Schlegel) and Chaenogobius sp. (new hosts); Khawia japonensis (Yamaguti, 1934) from Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus; K.

Breed risk of pyometra in insured dogs in Sweden.

An animal insurance database containing data on over 200,000 dogs was used to study the occurrence of pyometra with respect to breed and age during 1995 and 1996 in Swedish bitches <10 years of age. A total of 1,803 females in 1995 and 1,754 females in 1996 had claims submitted because of pyometra. Thirty breeds with at least 800 bitches insured each year were studied using univariate and multivariate methods.

Early-age neutering of dogs and cats in the United States (a review).

Prepubertal gonadectomy, often referred to as early-age neutering, has increased in popularity in the United States. The procedure is often used at animal care and control facilities, where puppies and kittens are neutered as early as 7 weeks of age or before adoption. Although the anaesthetic and surgical procedures appear to be safe, studies continue to evaluate the long-term effects on health and behaviour.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Background: Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a developing alternative to axillary dissection and may prove to be accurate in the detection of micrometastases in lymph nodes of breast cancer patients. Limited studies exist in the use of SLNB after neoadjuvant therapy. This study was undertaken to determine the accuracy of SLNB after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Natural attenuation/phytoremediation in the vadose zone of a former industrial sludge basin.

The natural attenuation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the vadose zone of a naturally revegetated former industrial sludge basin (0.45 ha) was examined. This was accomplished by comparing the concentration of 16 PAH contaminants present in sludge collected below the root zone of plants with contaminants present at 3 shallower depths within the root zone.

Microtubule-associated protein-2: a new sensitive and specific marker for pulmonary carcinoid tumor and small cell carcinoma.

Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) are a major component of cytoskeleton family proteins associated with microtubule assembly. MAP-2 has been shown to be specifically expressed in neuronally differentiated cells. Pulmonary neuroendocrine carcinomas such as carcinoid tumors and small cell carcinomas are derived from neuroendocrine cells.

Interrelationships and evolution of the tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda).

Interrelationships of the tapeworms (Platyhelminthes: Cestoda) were examined by use of small (SSU) and large (LSU) subunit ribosomal DNA sequences and morphological characters. Fifty new complete SSU sequences were added to 21 sequences previously determined, and 71 new LSU (D1-D3) sequences were determined for the complementary set of taxa representing each of the major lineages of cestodes as currently understood. New sequences were determined for three amphilinidean taxa, but were removed from both alignments due to their excessively high degree of divergence from other cestode sequences.

Gender, age, breed and distribution of morbidity and mortality in insured dogs in Sweden during 1995 and 1996.

More than 200,000 dogs insured by one Swedish company at the beginning of either 1995 or 1996 were included in a retrospective, cross-sectional study. They could be covered for veterinary care at any age, but were eligible for life insurance only up to 10 years of age. Accessions for veterinary care that exceeded the deductible cost were used to calculate the risk of morbidity.

Two new species of Litobothrium Dailey, 1969 (Cestoda: Litobothriidea) from thresher sharks in the Gulf of California, Mexico, with redescriptions of two species in the genus.

As part of a survey of the metazoan parasites of elasmobranchs of the Gulf of California, Mexico, the spiral intestines of 10 pelagic thresher sharks Alopias pelagicus and one bigeye thresher shark A. superciliosus were examined for tapeworms. Eight of the A.

Increased bone density in sclerosteosis is due to the deficiency of a novel secreted protein (SOST).

Sclerosteosis is a progressive sclerosing bone dysplasia with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Radiologically, it is characterized by a generalized hyperostosis and sclerosis leading to a markedly thickened and sclerotic skull, with mandible, ribs, clavicles and all long bones also being affected. Due to narrowing of the foramina of the cranial nerves, facial nerve palsy, hearing loss and atrophy of the optic nerves can occur.

Structural analysis and mutation detection strategy for the human LAMC3 gene.

Laminins are heterotrimeric extracellular matrix molecules, present in a wide range of basement membranes within human tissues. They consist of a combination of different alpha, beta, and gamma subunits. Three different gamma subunits have been described to date.

A novel member of the netrin family, beta-netrin, shares homology with the beta chain of laminin: identification, expression, and functional characterization.

The netrins are a family of laminin-related molecules. Here, we characterize a new member of the family, beta-netrin. beta-Netrin is homologous to the NH(2) terminus of laminin chain short arms; it contains a laminin-like domain VI and 3.

Fine-needle aspiration cytology of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma of the renal capsule (capsuloma).

We report on the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) findings of a low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma arising from the renal capsule in a 70-yr-old male. Cytologic examination revealed a spindle-cell and myxoid lesion characterized by microtissue fragments of delicate spindle-shaped cells and thin-walled capillary-type channels enmeshed in metachromatically staining myxoid material, best appreciated in Diff-Quik-stained smears. The spindle cells had slightly elongated, bland, oval to tapered nuclei.

Characterization of signal properties in atherosclerotic plaque components by intravascular MRI.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is capable of distinguishing between atherosclerotic plaque components solely on the basis of biochemical differences. However, to date, the majority of plaque characterization has been performed by using high-field strength units or special coils, which are not clinically applicable. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to evaluate MRI properties in histologically verified plaque components in excised human carotid endarterectomy specimens with the use of a 5F catheter-based imaging coil, standard acquisition software, and a clinical scanner operating at 0.

Age pattern of mortality in eight breeds of insured dogs in Sweden.

The objective of this study was to use several methods to describe the age patterns for risk of death in selected breeds of dogs insured for life in a Swedish animal-insurance company in 1996. Data on eight breeds were analyzed for age at death (including euthanasia). If dogs left the insurance for reasons other than death, they were regarded as censored.

Gender, age and breed pattern of diagnoses for veterinary care in insured dogs in Sweden during 1996.

More than 200,000 dogs insured for veterinary care by one Swedish company at the beginning of 1996 were included in a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data from receipts for visits to veterinarians that were part of reimbursed veterinary care events, whose cost exceeded the deductible cost, were used to calculate the risk of cause-specific morbidity, both in total and stratified by gender, age and breed. Diagnoses were described by organic system, for example, cardiovascular, and by disease process, for example, neoplastic The most commonly affected system was the integument followed by the gastrointestinal and genital systems.