The relationship between default mode network connectivity and social functioning in individuals at familial high-risk for schizophrenia.

Unaffected first-degree relatives of individuals with schizophrenia (i.e., those at familial high-risk [FHR]), demonstrate social dysfunction qualitatively similar though less severe than that of their affected relatives.

Neural disruption to theory of mind predicts daily social functioning in individuals at familial high-risk for schizophrenia.

Theory-of-mind (ToM) ability is foundational for successful social relationships, and dependent on a neurocognitive system, which includes temporoparietal junction and medial prefrontal cortex. Schizophrenia is associated with ToM impairments, and initial studies demonstrate similar, though more subtle deficits, in unaffected first-degree relatives, indicating that ToM deficits are a potential biomarker for the disorder. Importantly, the social consequences of ToM deficits could create an additional vulnerability factor for individuals at familial high risk (FHR).

Circulating pro-surfactant protein B as a risk biomarker for lung cancer.

Background: Our prior studies of lung cancer suggested that a novel biomarker (pro-surfactant protein B or pro-SFTPB) might serve as a predictive marker for this disease. We aimed to determine the potential use of pro-SFTPB for distinguishing lung cancer cases from matched controls as a risk marker.

Methods: Study subjects were drawn from the longitudinal Physicians' Health Study (PHS).

Inverse association between cancer and Alzheimer's disease: results from the Framingham Heart Study.

Objectives: To relate cancer since entry into the Framingham Heart Study with the risk of incident Alzheimer's disease and to estimate the risk of incident cancer among participants with and without Alzheimer's disease.

Design: Community based prospective cohort study; nested age and sex matched case-control study.

Setting: Framingham Heart Study, USA.

Electric stimulation with sinusoids and white noise for neural prostheses.

We are investigating the use of novel stimulus waveforms in neural prostheses to determine whether they can provide more precise control over the temporal and spatial pattern of elicited activity as compared to conventional pulsatile stimulation. To study this, we measured the response of retinal ganglion cells to both sinusoidal and white noise waveforms. The use of cell-attached and whole cell patch clamp recordings allowed the responses to be observed without significant obstruction from the stimulus artifact.

Abnormal inhibitory processes in semantic networks in schizophrenia.

Abnormal language in schizophrenia has been regarded as a hallmark of this disorder. Language abnormalities include loose and unusual associations, tangentiality, and inability to maintain a topic. Recent theories of language dysfunction have invoked working memory abnormalities, as well as abnormal processes within semantic memory in schizophrenia.

Fractional resurfacing.

Fractional resurfacing produces a distinctive thermal damage pattern by creating discrete columns of thermal damage referred to as microthermal treatment zones. It characteristically spares the tissue surrounding each microthermal treatment zone leading to fast epidermal repair. Fractional resurfacing has been successfully used in treating a variety of skin conditions including melasma, dyschromia, lentigenes, wrinkles, and acne scars with minimal downtime.

A cross-lagged analysis of the relationship between symptoms of PTSD and retrospective reports of exposure.

As part of a larger longitudinal investigation, 522 U.S. peacekeepers who served in Somalia were administered a comprehensive psychosocial questionnaire.

Methods for measuring type I collagen synthesis in vitro.

The excess accumulation of type I collagen within tissues leads to organ dysfunction and occurs as a result of an imbalance between synthesis and degradation. This chapter outlines several methods to assess the in vitro production of type I collagen that are employed in our laboratory. We describe Western immunoblotting of intact alpha1(I) collagen using antibodies directed to alpha1(I) collagen amino and carboxyl propeptides.

Anemia, tumor hypoxemia, and the cancer patient.

Purpose: To review the impact of anemia/tumor hypoxemia on the quality of life and survival in cancer patients, and to assess the problems associated with the correction of this difficulty.

Methods: MEDLINE searches were performed to find relevant literature regarding anemia and/or tumor hypoxia in cancer patients. Articles were evaluated in order to assess the epidemiology, adverse patient effects, anemia correction guidelines, and mechanisms of hypoxia-induced cancer cell growth and/or therapeutic resistance.

Hemorrhagic complications during long-term postoperative warfarin administration in patients undergoing lower extremity arterial bypass surgery.

Lower extremity bypass procedures restore function and prevent amputation in many patients with severe peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The regular postoperative use of aspirin offers the dual benefit of extending bypass patency and patient survival. Previous trials of adjunctive oral anticoagulant therapy with warfarin have infrequently combined warfarin with aspirin.

Vertebral artery dissection following intravascular catheter placement: a case report and review of the literature.

Vertebral artery dissections (VAD) are known to occur as a result of mechanical manipulations of the cervical region, traumatic injury, iatrogenic injury and are also known to arise spontaneously. We report a case of vertebral artery dissection following vertebral artery cannulation during a central line placement and review the literature. The patient underwent intravascular catheter placement that subsequently demonstrated arterial blood.

Recent advances in the management of multiple myeloma.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a B-cell malignancy that comprises 10% of all hematopoietic cancers. Even with aggressive chemotherapeutic regimens, the emergence of chemotherapy-resistant disease remains a notable therapeutic challenge, and there is no cure. The recent advances in understanding the mechanisms critical for MM cell growth and survival in its microenvironment have provided novel therapeutic targets to improve patient outcomes.

The relationship between self-disclosure and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder in peacekeepers deployed to Somalia.

The challenges of peacekeeping place individuals at risk for the development of significant psychological distress (e.g., B.

Retinoic acid does not affect alveolar septation in adult FVB mice with elastase-induced emphysema.

Background: Administration of ALL-TRANS retinoic acid (ATRA) to adult Sprague-Dawley rats with emphysema induced by porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) reversed the emphysema perhaps by inducing new alveolar formation.

Objective: A study was conducted to determine whether ATRA can induce new alveolar septa and reverse the airspace enlargement caused in adult mice by PPE treatment.

Methods: 48 FVB mice were divided into 6 groups.

Help-seeking behaviors of blacks and whites dying from coronary heart disease.

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether blacks and whites with life-threatening cardiac events differ in likelihood of help seeking, types of help sought, or likelihood of reaching the hospital before death.

Design: Death certificates were used to identify all coronary heart disease-related deaths occurring in 1988-89 among 45- to 74-year-old, black and white, non-institutionalized residents of three contiguous inner-city districts in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. An informant was interviewed about the decedent's health status, access to care and pre-mortal help-seeking behaviors.

Gut-enriched Krüppel-like factor regulates colonic cell growth through APC/beta-catenin pathway.

Studies on colorectal carcinogenesis have suggested a critical role of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene in the development of colorectal cancer. Gut-enriched Krüppel-like factor (GKLF) is a zinc-finger transcription protein with high expression in the colonic epithelium. Our previous studies have shown that GKLF transcript was significantly decreased in colon cancer tissue and suggested that it might play a role in the tumorigenesis of the colon.