Communication signals between cardiac fibroblasts and cardiac myocytes.

Interspersed between cardiac myocytes, cardiac fibroblasts serve mainly as a structural support during ventricular wall thickening from embryogenesis until adulthood. Cardiac fibroblasts, however, may also serve as a source of mitogens, extracellular matrix proteins, cytokines, and growth factors that could affect the phenotype of the cardiac myocyte. The crosstalk between cardiac fibroblasts and myocytes is important during cardiac development and remodeling in response to injury.

Results from a randomized trial of salvage chemotherapy followed by lestaurtinib for patients with FLT3 mutant AML in first relapse.

In a randomized trial of therapy for FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) mutant acute myeloid leukemia in first relapse, 224 patients received chemotherapy alone or followed by 80 mg of the FLT3 inhibitor lestaurtinib twice daily. Endpoints included complete remission or complete remission with incomplete platelet recovery (CR/CRp), overall survival, safety, and tolerability. Correlative studies included pharmacokinetics and analysis of in vivo FLT3 inhibition.

Intramyocardial injection of autologous cardiospheres or cardiosphere-derived cells preserves function and minimizes adverse ventricular remodeling in pigs with heart failure post-myocardial infarction.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to test the safety and efficacy of direct injection of cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) and their 3-dimensional precursors, cardiospheres, for cellular cardiomyoplasty in a mini-pig model of heart failure after myocardial infarction.

Background: Intracoronary administration of CDCs has been demonstrated to reduce infarct size and improve hemodynamic indexes in the mini-pig model, but intramyocardial injection of CDCs or cardiospheres has not been assessed in large animals.

Methods: Autologous cardiospheres or CDCs grown from endomyocardial biopsies were injected through thoracotomy 4 weeks after anteroseptal myocardial infarction.

Production of biodiesel from Jatropha curcas L. oil catalyzed by SO₄²⁻/ZrO₂ catalyst: effect of interaction between process variables.

This study reports the conversion of Jatrophacurcas L. oil to biodiesel catalyzed by sulfated zirconia loaded on alumina catalyst using response surface methodology (RSM), specifically to study the effect of interaction between process variables on the yield of biodiesel. The transesterification process variables studied were reaction temperature, reaction duration, molar ratio of methanol to oil and catalyst loading.

Estimation of relative defect densities in InGaN laser diodes by induced absorption of photoexcited carriers.

Defects are one of the most important factors influencing the optical properties of groups III-V nitride semiconductor materials and thereby their applicability to light-emitting diodes. In this paper, we demonstrate that it is possible to estimate the presence of defects in InGaN laser diodes by performing pump-probe measurements and observing the induced absorptions. We have confirmed that the induced absorption originates from defects by performing experiments in which the pump intensity is varied.

A re-assessment of a combinatorial treatment involving Schwann cell transplants and elevation of cyclic AMP on recovery of motor function following thoracic spinal cord injury in rats.

This study was undertaken as part of the NIH "Facilities of Research-Spinal Cord Injury" project to support independent replication of published studies. Here, we repeated a study reporting that a combinatorial treatment with transplants of Schwann cells, systemic delivery of Rolipram to enhance cyclic AMP levels, and intra-spinal injections of dibutyryl cyclic AMP enhanced locomotor recovery in rats after contusion injuries at the thoracic level. We compared the following experimental groups: 1) rats that received Schwann cell transplants, systemic Rolipram, and injections of db-cyclic AMP (the combined treatment group that showed the greatest improvement in function); 2) rats that received Schwann cell transplants only and implantation of empty pumps as control; 3) rats that received Rolipram only and implantation of empty pumps as control, and 4) control rats that received no treatment other than the injection of DMEM into the spinal cord and implantation of empty pumps.

Older patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Outcomes for older patients with acute myeloid leukemia have not improved over the last three decades, with only a small proportion of patients achieving long-term disease-free survival with standard induction chemotherapy. Older patients are more likely to have comorbidities, diminished functional reserve and other age-related issues, which decrease their tolerability to chemotherapy. Furthermore, the disease is frequently associated with poor-risk features, such as unfavorable cytogenetic abnormalities, antecedent hematologic disorders and expression of the multidrug resistant P-glycoprotein, which are associated with chemoresistant disease.

The ligase PIAS1 restricts natural regulatory T cell differentiation by epigenetic repression.

CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T (T(reg)) cells are important for maintaining immune tolerance. Understanding the molecular mechanism that regulates T(reg) differentiation will facilitate the development of effective therapeutic strategies against autoimmune diseases. We report here that the SUMO E3 ligase PIAS1 restricts the differentiation of natural T(reg) cells by maintaining a repressive chromatin state of the Foxp3 promoter.

Acute subdural haematoma in the presence of an intrathecal catheter placed for the prevention of post-dural puncture headache.

A 31-year-old term primigravid woman had an intrathecal catheter placed following a dural puncture during attempted epidural analgesia during labour. After 23 hours she developed sudden loss of consciousness and an urgent brain computed tomography scan demonstrated a large left hyper-acute subdural haematoma. Craniotomy revealed active bleeding from a ruptured left temporal bridging vein.

Experiences sharing of implementing Template-based Electronic Medical Record System (TEMRS) in a Hong Kong medical organization.

This paper aims to investigate the efficacy and feasibility of Template-based Electronic Medical Record System (TEMRS) and factors for its successful implementation. A TEMRS was designed and implemented in one core clinic of a Hong Kong professional multi-disciplinary medical services provider with four core clinics located in different parts of Hong Kong. Eight doctors participated in the study.

5-Azacytidine in myelodysplastic syndromes: a clinical practice guideline.

Background: Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a clonal disorder of hematopoiesis that results in peripheral blood cytopenias and a marked propensity to progress to acute myelogenous leukemia. With 40,000-76,000 new cases per year in the USA, MDS is the commonest of the hematological malignancies and represents a significant burden of morbidity and premature death. Although supportive or palliative measures such as blood transfusion have long been the mainstay of management of MDS, disease-modifying medical therapies have recently become available.

Vitreoschisis in macular diseases.

Objectives: Vitreoschisis is a possible pathogenic mechanism in macular diseases. Thus, the vitreoretinal interface was evaluated in monkey eyes and patients with various macular diseases in search of vitreoschisis. It is hypothesised that vitreoschisis is present in macular holes (MH) and macular pucker (MP), but not in other maculopathies.

Patient safety and sociotechnical considerations for electronic handover tools in an Australian ehealth landscape.

The Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) coordinates national improvements in a range of complex health system problems including clinical handover, and has funded a range of handover improvement projects in Australia. One of these, the SafeTECH project in South Australia has developed guidelines for safe use of electronic handover tools. These guidelines were developed using evidence from three hospital case studies into the use of an electronic tool to support different types of shift-to-shift handover.

Specific mesenchymal/epithelial induction of olfactory receptor, vomeronasal, and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons.

We asked whether specific mesenchymal/epithelial (M/E) induction generates olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs), vomeronasal neurons (VRNs), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons, the major neuron classes associated with the olfactory epithelium (OE). To assess specificity of M/E-mediated neurogenesis, we compared the influence of frontonasal mesenchyme on frontonasal epithelium, which becomes the OE, with that of the forelimb bud. Despite differences in position, morphogenetic and cytogenic capacity, both mesenchymal tissues support neurogenesis, expression of several signaling molecules and neurogenic transcription factors in the frontonasal epithelium.

Resonant coherent phonon generation in single-walled carbon nanotubes through near-band-edge excitation.

We have observed large-amplitude coherent phonon oscillations of radial breathing modes (RBMs) in single-walled carbon nanotubes excited through the lowest-energy (E(11)) interband transitions. In contrast to the previously studied coherent phonons excited through higher-energy (E(22)) transitions, these RBMs show comparable intensities between (n-m) mod 3 = +1 and -1 nanotubes. We also find the novel observation of RBMs excited over an excitation range of approximately 300 meV above the E(11) transition, which we attribute to possible resonance with phonon sidebands of the lowest optical transition, arising from strong exciton-phonon coupling.

Beta1 integrin establishes endothelial cell polarity and arteriolar lumen formation via a Par3-dependent mechanism.

Maintenance of single-layered endothelium, squamous endothelial cell shape, and formation of a patent vascular lumen all require defined endothelial cell polarity. Loss of beta1 integrin (Itgb1) in nascent endothelium leads to disruption of arterial endothelial cell polarity and lumen formation. The loss of polarity is manifested as cuboidal-shaped endothelial cells with dysregulated levels and mislocalization of normally polarized cell-cell adhesion molecules, as well as decreased expression of the polarity gene Par3 (pard3).

Validation of the activity inventory of the Chedoke-McMaster stroke assessment and the clinical outcome variables scale to evaluate mobility in geriatric clients.

Objective: To evaluate the construct validity of the Activity Inventory of the Chedoke-McMaster Stroke Assessment and the Clinical Outcome Variables Scale (COVS), 2 measures of functional mobility.

Design: A retrospective longitudinal study of 24 inpatients (mean age 83 years (standard deviation 7)) on a geriatric rehabilitation unit.

Participants: The primary reasons for admission were deconditioning (n=9) and hip fracture (n=7).

Neuropathology of the olfactory mucosa in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a complex heterogeneous inflammatory disease that affects the nasal cavity, but the pathological examination of the olfactory mucosa (OM) in this disease has been limited.

Methods: Nasal biopsy specimens were obtained from 20 control subjects and 50 CRS patients in conjunction with clinical assessments. Histopathology of these nasal biopsy specimens was performed and immunohistochemistry was used to characterize nonneuronal, neuronal, and inflammatory cells in the OM.

Improved survival using an intensive, pediatric-based chemotherapy regimen in adults with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

All patients with newly diagnosed T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and treated over a 17-year period at a single institution were retrospectively analyzed. From 1990 to 2000, 40 patients were treated with a variety of adult-based ALL regimens. From 2000 to 2007, a pediatric-based protocol, DFCI (Dana Farber Cancer Institute), was used as the standard regimen for all patients (n = 32).

Mediastinal lymphadenopathy detected with an integrated positron emission tomographic/computed tomographic scan: a differential diagnosis to consider before minimally invasive staging.

Integrated positron emission tomography combined with plain computed tomography is commonly employed as the diagnostic tool for patients presenting with lung opacities. This technology is non-invasive and does not put the patient at risk of contrast reaction. We report a case of a man who presented with fever, septicaemia, and a left apical lung opacity on chest radiography.

ATM regulates a RASSF1A-dependent DNA damage response.

Hypermethylation of CpG islands in the RASSF1 promoter is one of the most frequent events identified in human cancer. The epigenetic-driven loss of RASSF1A protein expression is observed more often in tumors of higher grade and correlates with a decreased responsiveness to DNA-damaging therapy. Ras association domain-containing family 1A (RASSF1A) promotes apoptosis by signaling through the MST2 and LATS1 kinases, leading to stabilization of the YAP1/p73 transcriptional complex.

Validation of a simple camera navigation trainer.

Background: One laparoscopic skill that is rarely addressed is proper use of the 30-degree laparoscope. Lack of knowledge and training with an angled laparoscope can result in less than optimal visualization. The purpose of this study is to validate a simple and efficient camera navigation trainer.

Human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase UGT2A2: cDNA construction, expression, and functional characterization in comparison with UGT2A1 and UGT2A3.

Objectives: Characterize the expression and glucuronidation activities of the human uridine 5'-diphospho (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2A2.

Method: UGT2A1 was cloned from nasal mucosa mRNA. Synthetic cDNA for UGT2A2 was constructed assuming exon sharing between UGT2A1 and UGT2A2 (Mackenzie et al.