Sarcoidosis after treatment with interferon-alpha: a case series and review of the literature.

Recombinant interferon-alpha (rINF-alpha) is an immunomodulator used in the treatment of various conditions, including viral infections and malignancies. The use of rINF-alpha has been associated with the development of sarcoidosis in recent case reports. In this series, we report the incidence of sarcoidosis in recipients of rINF-alpha for hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection at our institution.

Inducible co-stimulator null MRL-Faslpr mice: uncoupling of autoantibodies and T cell responses in lupus.

MRL/MpJ-Tnfrsf6lpr (MRL-Faslpr) mice develop a spontaneous T cell-dependent autoimmune disease that shares features with human lupus, including fatal nephritis, systemic pathology, and autoantibodies (autoAb). The inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) is upregulated on activated T cells and modulates T cell-mediated responses. To investigate whether ICOS has an essential role in regulating autoimmune lupus nephritis and the systemic illness in MRL-Faslpr mice, ICOS null (-/-) MRL Faslpr and ICOS intact (+/+) MRL-Faslpr strains (wild-type [WT]) were generated and compared.

Phosphoinositide binding by the disabled-1 PTB domain is necessary for membrane localization and Reelin signal transduction.

Disabled-1 (Dab1) is an essential adaptor protein that functions in the Reelin signaling pathway and is required for the regulation of neuronal migration during embryonic development. Dab1 interacts with NPXY motifs in the cytoplasmic tails of the lipoprotein receptors ApoER2 and very low density lipoprotein receptor through an amino-terminal phosphotyrosine binding (PTB) domain. Binding of Reelin to these receptors leads to tyrosine phosphorylation of Dab1 and the initiation of a signaling cascade that results in remodeling of the cytoskeleton.

Dietary factors and the risk of incident kidney stones in younger women: Nurses' Health Study II.

Background: In older women and men, greater intakes of dietary calcium, potassium, and total fluid reduce the risk of kidney stone formation, while supplemental calcium, sodium, animal protein, and sucrose may increase the risk. Recently, phytate has been suggested to play a role in stone formation. To our knowledge, no prospective information on the role of dietary factors and risk of kidney stone formation is available in younger women.

Upstream short sequence repeats regulate expression of the alpha C protein of group B Streptococcus.

Group B streptococci (GBS) express a family of repeat-containing surface proteins, the prototype of which is the alpha C protein expressed in type Ia/C strain A909. We have isolated a series of mutant GBS strains by mouse-passage of A909 that do not produce normal levels of the alpha C protein. Polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of the gene encoding the alpha C protein, bca, from four mutant strains revealed the presence of a full-length gene in each strain.

Focused ultrasound (HIFU) induces localized enhancement of reporter gene expression in rabbit carotid artery.

The development of accurate, safe, and efficient gene delivery remains a major challenge towards the realization of gene therapeutic prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated the ability of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), a form of mechanical wave transmission, to act as a noninvasive tool for the enhancement of in vivo gene transfer into rabbit carotid arteries. Segments of the common carotid arteries of New Zealand white rabbits were isolated and infused with plasmid DNA encoding the reporter beta-galactosidase either with or without the addition of ultrasound contrast agent consisting of small (approximately 2-5 microm) gas-filled human albumin microspheres to augment cavitation.

Frequency of use of acetaminophen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and aspirin in US women.

Purpose: To determine the frequency of use of the three main classes of over-the-counter analgesics: acetaminophen, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and aspirin in two large US female cohorts.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of the frequency of analgesic use and the characteristics of users in female participants in the Nurses Health Study I (n = 86,985) and the Nurses Health Study II (n = 93,002) who were between the ages of 33 and 77 years. Information on frequency of current analgesic use was assessed by mailed questionnaire.

Intraoperative magnetic resonance: the future of surgery.

Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) is a new development in medicine that bridges the specialties of surgery and radiology. Deficiencies in the visualization of anatomical architecture and the perception of tumour boundaries in conventional open surgery have led to the integration of imaging within surgery. The superior soft tissue and multiplanar imaging features of magnetic resonance (MR) make this imaging modality superior to that of alternatives.

Twenty-four-hour urine chemistries and the risk of kidney stones among women and men.

Background: Results of a 24-hour urine collection are integral to the selection of the most appropriate intervention to prevent kidney stone recurrence. However, the currently accepted definitions of normal urine values are not firmly supported by the literature. In addition, little information is available about the relationship between risk of stone formation and the levels of urinary factors.

Epidemiology of interstitial cystitis: a population based study.

Purpose: Interstitial cystitis is a chronic and debilitating syndrome but surprisingly little is known about its epidemiology. This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of interstitial cystitis among women in the United States.

Materials And Methods: Female participants in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) I and II (184,583) were asked by mailed questionnaires whether they had ever been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis.

Changes in magnesium content and subcellular distribution during retinoic acid-induced differentiation of HL60 cells.

Magnesium (Mg) is required for cellular proliferation; however, the differences in subcellular regulation of Mg between proliferating and differentiated cells has not been determined. We used electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) to investigate the subcellular distribution of Mg in HL60 cells (a promyelocytic leukemia cell line) before and after retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation. Most intracellular Mg is bound to ATP and the Mg-ATP complex regulates several metabolic enzymes.

Beverage use and risk for kidney stones in women.

Background: An increase in fluid intake is routinely recommended for patients who have had kidney stones to decrease the likelihood of recurrence. However, data on the effect of particular beverages on stone formation in women are limited.

Objective: To examine the association between the intake of 17 beverages and risk for kidney stones in women.

Age-specific incidence rates of venous thromboembolism among heterozygous carriers of factor V Leiden mutation.

Background: Previous reports suggest that younger carriers of the factor V Leiden mutation are at greater risk for venous thromboembolism than are older carriers. However, available data on thromboembolic risk are limited.

Objective: To determine age-specific incidence rates of venous thromboembolism associated with the factor V Leiden mutation.

Intrinsic fibrinolytic capacity and systemic inflammation: novel risk factors for arterial thrombotic disease.

Traditional risk factors, e.g. hyperlipidemia, cigarette consumption, blood pressure, family history, and diabetes, predict < 50% of all future cardiovascular events.

Obstetric outcome of Bangladeshi women in east London.

Objective: To study the obstetric outcome of women of Bangladeshi origin in comparison with the white caucasian population in East London.

Design: A retrospective study of 16718 pregnancies over a five year period (1987-1991).

Setting: An East London teaching hospital district.

Plasminogen activator inhibitor type 2 prevents programmed cell death of human macrophages infected with Mycobacterium avium, serovar 4.

Although Mycobacterium avium is usually nonpathogenic in healthy individuals, in vitro infection of macrophages (M phi) from the majority of healthy donors induces death of the cells 2 wk after infection; this effect is in contrast to noninfected M phi, which survive for months in culture. We demonstrate here that treatment of normal M phi with indomethacin further shortens the life of these cells to 48 h after infection with M. avium.

The impact of gender on the results of arterial bypass with in situ greater saphenous vein.

Background: This 10-year review of in situ saphenous vein bypass surgery was undertaken to assess the impact of gender on infrainguinal arterial reconstruction.

Patients And Methods: From March 1983 to March 1993, the results of 244 in situ saphenous vein bypasses performed in women were compared with 338 performed in men. Women were older than men (70.

Primary cutaneous sarcomas showing rhabdomyoblastic differentiation.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare soft tissue neoplasm most commonly encountered in childhood and adolescence which has a predilection for the head and neck area, the genito-urinary tract and the extremities. Primary cutaneous presentation is extremely unusual and has been rarely reported in the literature. Herein, we describe two cases of rhabdomyosarcoma arising in the dermis of a 9-year-old girl and an 86-year-old man.