HUVEC respond to radiation by inducing the expression of pro-angiogenic microRNAs.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a class of small non-coding RNAs that control gene expression by targeting mRNAs and triggering either repression of translation or RNA degradation. They have been shown to be involved in a variety of biological processes such as development, differentiation and cell cycle control, but little is known about their involvement in the response to irradiation. We showed here that in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) some miRNAs previously shown to have a crucial role in vascular biology are transiently modulated in response to a clinically relevant dose of ionizing radiation.

Low-dose ionizing radiation stimulates transcription and production of endothelin by human vein endothelial cells.

A transient increase of EDN1 mRNA accumulation is observed in human vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) after a low dose of ionizing radiation. The kinetics of this mRNA accumulation parallels that of other AP1-regulated transcripts, showing a sharp peak 2 h after irradiation. This accumulation is followed by a net increase of endothelin 1 and big endothelin 1 in the cytoplasm that reaches a peak 4 h after irradiation.

Advanced course for doctors as Departmental IT Network Administrators in anesthesia and intensive care units.

The design and administration of a departmental computer network (Local Area Network) in anesthesiology and intensive care offer the opportunity to manage clinical information and control the work-flow. To improve the local network, after basic design, intelligence is necessary to maintain its efficiency. For this reason the role of a medical administrator of the network is fundamental because he is a qualified figure who recognizes the most important characteristics that a network must have, knows the users of the system, represents a valid consultant for the technician that has to build the network, and is able to face possible breakdowns.

Some notes on medical English.

Writing medical papers is a challenge in any language, but writing in a foreign language such as English can be especially difficult. This paper provides some suggestions on how to overcome common problems in preparing medical papers and presentations, for writers whose native language isn't English. Stylistic and grammatical peculiarities of the English language are considered, as well as Americanizations of Latin terminology, scientific ("international") notation, variations in usage between Britain and the U.

Transcriptional response of human umbilical vein endothelial cells to low doses of ionizing radiation.

We used cDNA microarray hybridization technology to monitor the transcriptional response of Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial (HUVEC) cells to x-rays doses ranging from 2 to 200 cGy. An early time window from irradiation (4h) was selected in order to minimize the effects of the cell cycle blockage eventually induced at high doses of irradiation. Three different gene-clustering algorithms have been used to group the 4134 monitored ORF based on their transcriptional response in function of the irradiation dose.

How to develop a low cost, in-house distance learning center for continuing medical education. Part II.

The first part of this paper discussed the advantages and communication tools needed to create a Distance Learning Center for continuing medical education by using an Intranet or the Internet. This part continues with an explanation of the hardware, software (largely free) and human resources needed for videoconferencing as well as the costs. Suitable even for small hospitals Distance Learning Centers can be of higher quality than traditional methods of continuing medical education.

How to develop a low cost, in-house distance learning center for continuing medical education. Part I.

Continuing medical education is essential to improve the quality of health care. Residential courses are expensive for small hospitals but videoconferencing is an economical alternative. Models of distance learning centers are described along with an explanation of INTERNET basics and the use of INTERNET protocol for local area networks (INTRANET).