The effects of microvesicles on endothelial progenitor cells are compromised in type 2 diabetic patients via downregulation of the miR-126/VEGFR2 pathway.

Our previous study showed that circulating microvesicles (cMVs) of diabetic mice have negative effects on the function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Whether this is true in diabetic patients deserves further study. In this study, the effects of cMVs and EPC-derived MVs (EPC-MVs) on EPC migration, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in healthy controls, well-controlled, and uncontrolled diabetic patients were investigated.

Effects of cocaine-positive urine screens on serum thyrotropin levels in patients admitted to an inpatient mental health unit.

Objective: To assess the effect of a positive urine screen for cocaine on thyrotropin (TSH, also thyroid-stimulating hormone) concentrations.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients admitted to the mental health unit at an academic inpatient setting with a diagnosis of cocaine dependence or cocaine intoxication were routinely screened with urine drug toxicology tests and TSH concentrations. TSH concentrations from patients who tested positive for cocaine on urine toxicology were compared with patients having negative cocaine screenings.

Radiation dose to the fetus from [(18)F]-FDG administration during the second trimester of pregnancy.

The authors estimated the fetal radiation dose from [(18)F]-FDG in a rare case of a woman who underwent a PET/CT scan during the second trimester of pregnancy. The patient, a 27-y-old female with a paraganglioma, received 181.3 MBq [(18)F]-FDG.

Bacterial contamination of paper currency.

One-dollar bills were collected from the general community in western Ohio to survey for bacterial contamination. Pathogenic or potentially pathogenic organisms were isolated from 94% of the bills. These results suggest a high rate of bacterial contamination of one-dollar bills.