Compressive stress-relaxation of human atherosclerotic plaque.

Knowledge of the mechanical properties of human atherosclerotic plaque is fundamental to understanding atherosclerosis and its treatment. Data are scant, however, particularly with respect to the time-dependent nature of plaque behavior. Previous experiments in our lab showed that human plaques do not exhibit the traditional preconditioning behavior common to most soft tissues.

Cocaine-induced increase in the permeability function of human vascular endothelial cell monolayers.

The effects of cocaine on endothelial cell macromolecular transport, electrical resistance, and morphology were assessed. In confluent endothelial monolayers grown on microporus filters, cocaine (0.01 to 1 mmol/L) induced a rapid concentration-dependent increase in permeability to peroxidase and low density lipoprotein.

Increased insulin-like growth factor-1 protein in human left ventricular hypertrophy.

Animal models of cardiac hypertrophy demonstrated increased expression of insulin-like-growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in the heart. To study protein expression of insulin-like-growth factor 1 in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in humans 11 hearts of autopsy cases with LVH were compared to 11 controls using immunohistochemical staining with anti-human IGF-1. LVH was defined as thickening of the left ventricular wall which ranged from 1.

Torulopsis glabrata fungemia as a complication of a clotted transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

Torulopsis glabrata fungemia developed in a patient with a clotted transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) 11 months after placement. Fungemia persisted despite treatment with amphotericin B. On autopsy, T.