What top-down task sets do for us: an ERP study on the benefits of advance preparation in visual search.

When target-defining features are specified in advance, attentional target selection in visual search is controlled by preparatory top-down task sets. We used ERP measures to study voluntary target selection in the absence of such feature-specific task sets, and to compare it to selection that is guided by advance knowledge about target features. Visual search arrays contained two different color singleton digits, and participants had to select one of these as target and report its parity.

The N170 component and its links to configural face processing: a rapid neural adaptation study.

A neural adaptation paradigm where adaptor and test stimuli were presented in rapid succession was employed to investigate links between the face-sensitive N170 component and configural face processing. In Experiment 1, schematic adaptor stimuli preceded naturalistic images of upright faces, inverted faces, or isolated eyes. Relative to a baseline condition with schematic house adaptors, upright and inverted schematic faces adapted the N170 to subsequent naturalistic faces, demonstrating that this component is associated with neural processes involved in the analysis of first-order relational face configuration.

Distinctive ERK and p38 signaling in remote and infarcted myocardium during post-MI remodeling in the mouse.

Global activation of MAP kinases has been reported in both human and experimental heart failure. Chronic remodeling of the surviving ventricular wall after myocardial infarction (MI) involves both myocyte loss and fibrosis; we hypothesized that this cardiomyopathy involves differential shifts in pro- and anti-apoptotic MAP kinase signaling in cardiac myocyte (CM) and non-myocyte. Cardiomyopathy after coronary artery ligation in mice was characterized by echocardiography, ex vivo Langendorff preparation, histologic analysis and measurements of apoptosis.

Response profile of the face-sensitive N170 component: a rapid adaptation study.

To study the response profile of the face-selective N170 component, an adaptation procedure was employed where adaptor and test stimuli were presented in rapid succession. Test stimuli came from 4 different face categories (upright, inverted, and eyeless faces and eyes-only images). The same face stimuli, as well as upright and inverted houses, served as adaptors.

Surgical ventricular reconstruction in mice: elucidating potential targets for combined molecular/surgical intervention.

Objectives: We hypothesize that persistent alterations in molecular signaling may drive recurrent pathologic remodeling even after the reduction of mechanical stress achieved via surgical ventricular reconstruction. We developed a murine model of surgical ventricular reconstruction that would facilitate molecular analysis of the postreconstruction myocardium and allow future exploitation of genetic models.

Methods: C57/B6 mice underwent coronary artery ligation.

Burnt-out diabetes: impact of chronic kidney disease progression on the natural course of diabetes mellitus.

Many individuals with diabetic nephropathy, the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States, progress to stage 5 of CKD and undergo maintenance dialysis treatment. Recent data indicate that in up to one third of diabetic dialysis patients with a presumptive diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy, glycemic control improves spontaneously with the progression of CKD, loss of residual renal function, and the initiation of dialysis therapy, leading to normal-to-low hemoglobin A1c (<6%) and glucose levels, requiring cessation of insulin or other anti-diabetic medications. Potential contributors to this so-called "burnt-out diabetes" include decreased renal and hepatic insulin clearance, a decline in renal gluconeogenesis, deficient catecholamine release, diminished food intake (because of anorexia or diabetic gastroparesis), protein-energy wasting (with resultant loss of weight and body fat), and the hypoglycemic effects of dialysis treatment.

Endoventricular patch plasty for dyskinetic anteroapical left ventricular aneurysm increases systolic circumferential shortening in sheep.

Objective: Endoventricular patch plasty (Dor procedure) has gained favor as a surgical treatment for heart failure associated with large anteroapical myocardial infarction. We tested the hypotheses that the Dor procedure increases systolic circumferential shortening and longitudinal shortening in noninfarcted left ventricular regions in sheep.

Methods: In 6 male Dorsett sheep, the left anterior descending coronary artery and its second diagonal branch were ligated 40% of the distance from the apex to the base.

Identification and collection of quality indicators for perinatal care.

We describe the development of a database of quality indicators and outcomes for perinatal care as part of a multi-institutional collaborative quality improvement project, Neonatal Intensive Care Quality 2002. Important principles of developing such a database are also discussed including eligibility criteria that identify high-risk patients without burdening data collectors, clinically important and well-defined measures, development of systems within each hospital to ensure identification of all eligible patients, use of data collectors with knowledge of perinatal care, appropriate design of paper and electronic data-collection tools, multiple pilot tests, and periodic feedback of data to participating hospitals.

Efficacy and safety of sildenafil in men with serotonergic antidepressant-associated erectile dysfunction: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of short-term treatment with sildenafil citrate in men with serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI)-associated erectile dysfunction (ED).

Method: Men (aged>or=18 years) with major depressive disorder (MDD; DSM-IV criteria) in remission and taking SRIs who experienced SRI-associated ED were enrolled in this multicenter, 6-week, randomized, flexible-dose, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The primary study measures were questions 3 (Q3: frequency of penetration) and 4 (Q4: frequency of maintained erections after penetration) of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire.

Left ventricular volume and function after endoventricular patch plasty for dyskinetic anteroapical left ventricular aneurysm in sheep.

Objective: Endoventricular patch plasty (the Dor procedure) has gained favor as a surgical treatment for heart failure associated with large anteroapical myocardial infarction. We tested the hypothesis that the Dor procedure reduces left ventricular volume, increases end-systolic elastance, decreases diastolic compliance, and maintains left ventricular function.

Methods: In 6 male Dorsett sheep, the left anterior descending coronary artery and its second diagonal branch were ligated 40% of the distance from apex to base.

An innovative phase I clinical study demonstrates inhibition of FLT3 phosphorylation by SU11248 in acute myeloid leukemia patients.

Purpose: Obtaining direct and rapid proof of molecular activity in early clinical trials is critical for optimal clinical development of novel targeted therapies. SU11248 is an oral multitargeted kinase inhibitor with selectivity for fms-related tyrosine kinase 3/Flk2 (FLT3), platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha/beta, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1/2, and KIT receptor tyrosine kinases. FLT3 is a promising candidate for targeted therapy in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), because activating mutations occur in up to 30% of patients.

Expression profiling of blood samples from an SU5416 Phase III metastatic colorectal cancer clinical trial: a novel strategy for biomarker identification.

Background: Microarray-based gene expression profiling is a powerful approach for the identification of molecular biomarkers of disease, particularly in human cancers. Utility of this approach to measure responses to therapy is less well established, in part due to challenges in obtaining serial biopsies. Identification of suitable surrogate tissues will help minimize limitations imposed by those challenges.