CTRP9 Mediates Protective Effects in Cardiomyocytes via AMPK- and Adiponectin Receptor-Mediated Induction of Anti-Oxidant Response.

The C1q/tumor necrosis factor-alpha-related protein 9 (CTRP9) has been reported to exert cardioprotective effects, but its role in the right ventricle (RV) remains unclear. To investigate the role of CTRP9 in RV hypertrophy and failure, we performed pulmonary artery banding in weanling rats to induce compensatory RV hypertrophy seven weeks after surgery and RV failure 22 weeks after surgery. CTRP9 expression, signal transduction and mechanisms involved in protective CTRP9 effects were analyzed in rat and human RV tissue and cardiac cells.

Why do patients receive care from a short-term medical mission? Survey study from rural Guatemala.

Background: Hospital de la Familia was established to serve the indigent population in the western highlands of Guatemala and has a full-time staff of Guatemalan primary care providers supplemented by short-term missions of surgical specialists. The reasons for patients seeking surgical care in this setting, as opposed to more consistent care from local institutions, are unclear. We sought to better understand motivations of patients seeking mission-based surgical care.

[Narcolepsy in childhood and adolescence: symptoms, diagnosis, and therapy. A case report].

Narcolepsy is a rare, multifactorial disease of the hypothalamus characterized by its leading symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy. Sleep-EEG and a HLA-DR-genotype serve to secure the diagnosis. We report here on a 14-year-old girl suffering from anxieties, depression, school refusal, social withdrawal as well as very frequent attacks of sleep during the day and cataplexy.

Gating of somatosensory perception following movement.

Tactile stimuli were applied to the right index finger at selected times following rapid movements of the thumb. The probability of detecting a stimulus was found to be impaired for at least 250 ms after completion of a voluntary movement. This finding complements previous work showing that somatosensory evoked potentials are reduced for a comparable period following movement.

Bacteroides meningitis complicating chronic mastoiditis.

A 70-year-old man with a history of chronic middle and external ear suppuration presenting with acute meningitis due to is described. Anaerobic organisms including species were cultured from the affected external auditory meatus. Administration of metronidazole led to complete clinical recovery and a cholesteatoma was subsequently surgically evacuated.

The influence of lung volume on gas transfer in scoliosis.

Single-breath carbon monoxide transfer factor (DLCO) and diffusion coefficient (KCO) have been compared with vital capacity and total lung capacity in 119 subjects with scoliosis, 74 with idiopathic scoliosis, 32 with congenital osteogenic scoliosis and 13 with paralytic scoliosis. In each group mean values of DLCO were below, and for KCO above, predicted values. Furthermore, in each group, DLCO was correlated with lung volume and KCO inversely correlated with lung volume.

Serum, saliva, and sputum levels of metronidazole in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

We have evaluated the absorption and the penetration of metronidazole into the bronchial secretions and saliva in acute infective exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Seventeen patients were given 400 mg orally three times daily for seven days and "steady state" levels were measured in serum, saliva, and sputum on the last day of treatment. Mean levels in the three biological fluids were not significantly different.

Pregnancy in thoracic scoliosis.

We present information about 118 pregnancies in 64 patients with thoracic scoliosis, two-thirds of whom had curves in excess of 60 degrees. Although increased breathlessness was experienced in 17% of pregnancies, no serious cardiorespiratory problems were encountered. Increased black pain occurred in 21% of pregnancies.

Pulmonary and pleural involvement in angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy.

A patient with angio-immunoblastic lymphadenopathy is described in whom involvement of the lungs and pleura by characteristic immunoblasts was demonstrated. The literature on pleural and pulmonary involvement in this rare and only recently recognized condition is reviewed.

Comparison of serial electrocardiographic and vectorcardiographic changes during recovery from status asthmaticus.

Serial electrocardiographs (ECG) and vectorcardiographs (VCG) have been performed on 10 patients admitted to hospital in status asthmaticus on 12 separate occasions. The VCG was more efficient than the ECG in the detection of right atrial and ventricular enlargement. Both investigations were equally reliable in recording changes in frontal plane P wave axis.

Dual tracer single breath studies of gas transport in the lung.

We studied the ratio of the expired He and SF6 concentrations (He/SF6) after 1 litre inspirations of a gas mixture containing 5% of He and SF6. Five subjects aged 49 to 60 yrs. performed the maneuvers with both inspiration and expiration at 0.

Sarcoidosis and selective IgA deficiency.

Two patients are described in whom selective deficiency of IgA coexisted with a clinical condition compatible with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. The literature on the rare association of the two conditions is reviewed. Any such association is probably coincidental.

Reversible electrocardiographic changes in severe acute asthma.

Previous reports have documented the occurrence of reversible electrocardiographic changes including right axis deviation, P pulmonale, right bundle-branch block, and ST-segment and T-wave abnormalities in patients with acute attacks of asthma. In a further systematic study, the electrocardiographs of 63 patients admitted with severe acute asthma have been evaluated. The most consistent change was an abnormally vertical P-wave axis in 78% of the patients.

Influence of diaphragmatic contraction and expiratory flow on the pattern of lung emptying.

Transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi) and expiratory flow (V) were monitored during vital capacity single breath N2 washouts in 7 seated subjects. Transient increases in V were produced (1) actively, by subjects increasing mouth pressure while expiring through a constant resistance of (2) passively, by the operator transiently decreasing the resistance. Voluntary contraction of the diaphragm (increased Pdi) was achieved when abdominal muscles were tensed while maintaining V constant.

Influence of bronchomotor tone on ventilation distribution and airway closure in asymptomatic asthma.

Simultaneous washouts of nitrogen (N2) and helium (He) boluses were performed in 9 seated symptom-free asthmatic patients. Recent work has indicated a correlation between the height of Phase IV (deltaIV) of a vital capacity washout and the end-inspiratory vertical concentration gradient of the gas in the lung. The deltaIV for both He and N2 washouts increased by a factor of 2 and 1.