Androgen Glucuronidation in Mice: When, Where, and How.

Glucuronidation, catalyzed by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase UGT2B enzymes, is a major inactivating and elimination pathway for androgen hormones in humans. Whether Ugt2b enzymes from mice are also reactive with these hormones have never been investigated. The present study aimed at evaluating the capability of murine tissues and Ugt2b enzymes to glucuronidated androgens.

Quality of life metrics in LVAD patients after hemocompatibility-related adverse events.

Background: Hemocompatibility-related adverse events (HRAE) negatively influence survival. However, no study has examined the impact of these events on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and functional outcomes following continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation (CF-LVAD). We assessed the impact of HRAE events on HRQOL and hypothesized that HRAE's adversely impact HRQOL and functional outcomes.

Driveline damage and repair in continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices: A systematic review.

With mounting time on continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) support, patients occasionally sustain damage to the device driveline. Outcomes associated with external and internal driveline damage and repair are currently not well documented. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of driveline damage and its repair.

[Do general practitioners want to manage chronic hepatitis C and take part in hepatitis C health networks? A national survey].

Objectives: To assess information that general practitioners had on hepatitis C and on the hepatitis C network in hospitals and private practice.

Methodology: A national telephone survey of 604 general practitioners was conducted between March 18 and 23, 1998.

Results: Screening and management of hepatitis C was important for 89% and 97% of general practitioners.

Naive human CD4+ T cells are a major source of lymphotoxin alpha.

It is generally accepted that immunologically naive T cells display a very restricted cytokine production profile consisting mainly of IL-2, which is used as an autocrine growth factor. Here we report that activated naive CD4+ T cells, of neonatal or adult origin, express very high levels of soluble lymphotoxin (LT) alpha (LTalpha3), as determined by ELISA, RNase protection assay, and intracytoplasmic staining. Besides LTalpha3 and IL-2, these cells also produce high levels of TNF-alpha together with significant amounts of IFN-gamma and IL-13.

[Congenital and acquired neutropenia in children].

Neutropenia is a common feature in pediatric pratice. Besides the particular etiological aspects in the newborn, neutropenia in a child may be acquired, part of a more complex genetic disease, or an isolated inborn disorder. Primary acquired neutropenia, also called benign chronic neutropenia, is the most frequent cause of chronic neutropenia in children.