Signal transduction mechanism(s) involved in prostacyclin production elicited by acetylcholine in coronary endothelial cells of rabbit heart.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which acetylcholine (ACh) promotes prostacyclin (PGI2) production in cultured coronary endothelial cells (CEC) of the rabbit heart. ACh-induced production of PGI2, measured as immunoreactive 6-keto-PGF1alpha, was enhanced by increasing the extracellular calcium (Ca++) concentration and reduced by Ca++ depletion. The receptor-operated Ca++ channel blocker SK&F96365, but not the voltage-dependent Ca++ channel blockers verapamil or nifedipine, attenuated ACh-induced 6-keto-PGF1alpha production and the associated rise in cytosolic Ca++.

Colonoscopy for diagnosis and treatment of severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Routine outcomes and cost analysis.

Approximately 10% to 15% of patients seen by gastroenterologists have severe, ongoing hematochezia, which most physicians assume is from a lower gastrointestinal (LGI) source. This article discusses current colonoscopic diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe LGI bleeding. The authors present their approach to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with severe hematochezia.

Warm-sensitive afferent splanchnic C-fiber units in vitro.

Receptive fields of 41 slowly conducting sensory fibers were located using a thermal (warm) search stimulus in an in vitro splanchnic nerve-mesentery preparation. Warm-sensitive receptive fields were punctate and were densest in the region surrounding the prevertebral ganglia, an area with prominent deposits of brown adipose tissue, where the abdominal aorta branches into the major trunks supplying the abdominal viscera. Impulse activity was recorded while applying a warm stimulus to identified receptive fields (RFs).

Analysis of the secretory phospholipase A2 that mediates prostaglandin production in mast cells.

Prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) synthesis in activated mast cells occurs in two phases, an early phase that is dependent on prostaglandin synthase 1 and a delayed phase that is dependent on activation-induced prostaglandin synthase 2 gene expression. Early phase PGD2 synthesis in activated mast cells also requires the activity of a secretory phospholipase A2 (PLA2). It has been thought that the secretory PLA2 expressed in mast cells is group IIa PLA2, encoded by the Pla2 g2a gene.

Relapse revisited.

Rather little is known about the changes in orthodontic treatment results exceeding a decade after treatment. The purpose of this study was to quantify changes in tooth relationships in a series of cases (n = 36) at 6 years and again at 15 years after treatment. The rate of change decreased with time, supporting the contention that most "relapse" occurs soon after treatment; continued change generally cannot be distinguished from normal aging processes that occur, regardless of whether a person had been treated orthodontically.

Diagnosis and repair of a Morgagni hernia with video-assisted thoracic surgery.

Foramen of Morgagni hernias have traditionally been repaired by either an abdominal or a transthoracic approach. We describe a case in which a Morgagni hernia that presented as a gradually enlarging right anterior pericardiophrenic mass was both diagnosed and repaired using video-assisted thoracic surgery. The procedure went without incident, and the patient had an uneventful postoperative course.

Endoscopic-assisted clipping of cerebral aneurysms.

Our experience suggests that, with current technology, it is possible to visualize, dissect, and clip cerebral aneurysm using only the endoscope for visualization. Each of the endoscopes requires little or no brain retraction and could be introduced through a bur hole. The penscope would need the largest opening (1.

[In the footsteps of Pinel at the Salpêtrière, concerning some unedited documents].

In 1802, the government transferred the treatment of all indigent mentally ill women in the Paris region to Salpêtrière Hospice where Philippe Pinel was physician-in-chief. Four newly identified folio registers in the Paris hospital archives document how Pinel applied what he called "traitement moral" to the women under his care. He elaborated a method of supervised living and encouragement to work.

Intraluminal peptide YY induces colonic absorption in vivo.

Introduction: Peptide YY (PYY) is a 36 amino acid hormone released into the circulation and lumen of the intestine after a meal. Previous studies have shown that exogenous administration of intravenous PYY stimulates water and electrolyte absorption in both the small and large intestines. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of intraluminal administration of PYY on colonic absorption of electrolytes and water.

Prostaglandin synthase-1 and prostaglandin synthase-2 are coupled to distinct phospholipases for the generation of prostaglandin D2 in activated mast cells.

Aggregation of IgE cell surface receptors on MMC-34 cells, a murine mast cell line, induces the synthesis and secretion of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2). Synthesis and secretion of PGD2 in activated MMC-34 cells occurs in two stages, an early phase that is complete within 30 min after activation and a late phase that reaches a maximum about 6 h after activation. The early and late phases of PGD2 generation are mediated by prostaglandin synthase 1 (PGS1) and prostaglandin synthase 2 (PGS2), respectively.

Myeloperoxidase isoform activities released by human neutrophils in response to dental and periodontal bacteria.

Myeloperoxidase is an enzyme released by polymorphonuclear leukocytes which has been used, experimentally, as an indicator of periodontal disease activity when measured in gingival crevicular fluid. There are three myeloperoxidase isoforms: MPO I, MPO II and MPO III. We examined the activities of myeloperoxidase isoforms released by neutrophils in response to serum-opsonized Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Haemophilus aphrophilus, Eikenella corrodens, Capnocytophaga sputigena and Streptococcus sanguis.

Coccidioidomycosis in liver transplant patients.

Eight (0.59%) of 1,347 patients who underwent liver transplantation at the UCLA Medical Center (Los Angeles) developed coccidioidomycosis. Whereas only one case occurred during the first 8 years and 10 months of the UCLA Liver Transplant Program (February 1984 to December 1992), seven cases occurred within the following 23-month period (December 1992 to November 1994).

Assessment of intraaxial and extraaxial brain lesions with digitized computed tomographic images versus film: ROC analysis.

Rationale And Objectives: The authors evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of viewing computed tomographic (CT) scans as film versus soft-copy images at a workstation.

Methods: Receiver operating characteristic analysis of the interpretation of 202 CT scans (103 were normal, 99 were abnormal) by five neuroradiologists was performed. Abnormal images contained high- or low-attenuation intraaxial lesions or extraaxial fluid (subdural, subarachnoid, or epidural hemorrhage).

Resolution of chronic anal fissures after treatment of contiguous internal hemorrhoids with direct current probe.

Purposes: (1) to prospectively evaluate efficacy and safety of direct current (DC) probe treatment of chronic anal fissures associated with internal hemorrhoids, and (2) to estimate direct and indirect costs of anoscopic treatment versus surgery.

Methods: Ten patients with chronic fissures of 11 mm (mean length) had symptoms for 5 months (mean) in spite of medical management; all had internal hemorrhoidal disease. DC coagulation was applied to two or three contiguous internal hemorrhoids per outpatient session.

Clinical review 86: Euthyroid sick syndrome: is it a misnomer?

Alterations in thyroid function tests are very common in patients with NTI. Multiple, complex, and incompletely understood mechanisms are involved in these abnormalities. Knowledge of these abnormalities is necessary to avoid errors in the diagnosis of thyroid disease.

Protegrin structure and activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Protegrin 1 (PG-1) is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide that contains 18 amino acid residues (RG GRLCYCRRRFCVCVGR) and has two intramolecular cystine disulfide bonds. To determine the minimal structure responsible for protegrin-mediated activity against Neisseria gonorrhoeae, we synthesized 15 protegrin variants and tested them against two well-characterized gonococcal strains. The MICs of PG-1 were 0.

Presteady-state currents of the rabbit Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1).

The rabbit Na+/glucose cotransporter (SGLT1) exhibits a presteady-state current after step changes in membrane voltage in the absence of sugar. These currents reflect voltage-dependent processes involved in cotransport, and provide insight on the partial reactions of the transport cycle. SGLT1 presteady-state currents were studied as a function of external Na+, membrane voltage Vm, phlorizin and temperature.

Laparoscopic aortobifemoral bypass: a case report.

In the past six years, laparoscopic surgery has gained widespread acceptance by both surgeon and patient. When compared to open surgical approaches, laparoscopic techniques for abdominal procedures lessen postoperative pain and morbidity, improve cosmesis, reduce hospital stay, facilitate early rehabilitation and return to normal activities. The application of laparoscopic techniques to intra-abdominal vascular procedures can be expected to provide similar benefits over conventional surgery.

Self-care responses to illness of patients with various cancer diagnoses.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between self-care responses and variables concerning health status, disease and treatment, socioeconomic resources, demographic characteristics, and health beliefs in a heterogeneous sample of 227 cancer patients referred to home care. Data were collected prior to discharge from the hospital using the OARS Functional Assessment Questionnaire, the Karnofsky Performance Status, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, and the Preference for Participation in Care Tool. The results indicated that the variables related to health status, disease and treatment were highly correlated with self-care behavior (SCB), and to a lower extent to self-care preference (SCP).

Dopamine D3 receptors in rat juxtaglomerular cells.

D2-like receptors in the kidney have been suggested to be important in the regulation of renin release but the D2-like subtype(s) expressed in juxtaglomerular (JG) cells is not known. Therefore, we determined which of the D2-like family of dopamine receptors is located in primary cultures of rat juxtaglomerular (JG) cells. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) identified D3 and D4 but not D2Long mRNA in JG cells (n = 3).