Endothelial and myocyte apoptosis--role of angiotensin II.

Recent studies have assessed the role of angiotensin II in apoptosis and the effects of the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptor subtypes. A complex picture is emerging with cell-specific effects of AT1 and AT2 receptors, and differential effects dependent on pathology. In vitro studies have shown that angiotensin II mediated apoptosis in myocytes and endothelium.

Estrogen replacement therapy: determinants of persistence with treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the persistence rate for estrogen therapy and to identify its determinants.

Methods: From the Quebec health insurance database we chose a cohort of 4527 women 35 years and older who received social assistance and were new users of estrogen between January 1989 and December 1997. Incident use was defined by the absence of any dispensed prescription of estrogen in the 3 years before the index date (date of first dispensed prescription).

Dual effect of adenosine on vascular smooth muscle [(3)H]-thymidine DNA labeling: receptor-mediated modulation of DNA synthesis and inhibition of thymidine uptake.

This study examined the contribution of cAMP signaling to the modulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation by adenosine. At a concentration of 1 mM, adenosine inhibited [(3)H]-thymidine uptake, measured as the initial rate of isotope influx, by 10-fold. Diminution of [(3)H]-thymidine uptake by adenosine was independent of the presence of A(1)- and A(2)-receptor antagonists, indicating that adenosine competes with thymidine for plasma membrane transporter-binding sites.

Gastrointestinal health care resource use and costs associated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs versus acetaminophen: retrospective cohort study of an elderly population.

Objective: To estimate gastrointestinal (GI) health care resource use and direct costs associated with prescription nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in an elderly population.

Methods: Using the Government of Quebec's health insurance database, we obtained the medical, pharmaceutical, and demographic records of 73,850 senior citizens who, between 1993 and 1997, had either an NSAID or an acetaminophen prescription dispensed. The date of their first dispensed prescription for an NSAID or acetaminophen was termed their index date.

Savings in direct medical costs from the use of tobramycin solution for inhalation in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Objective: Two identical 24-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of tobramycin solution for inhalation (TOBI [PathoGenesis Corporation, Seattle, Washington]) in cystic fibrosis patients with chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were conducted in the United States. The aim of the present study was to extrapolate the US trial data to a Canadian setting, using Canadian costs to estimate the savings in direct medical costs that might result from use of a similar 24-week TOBI regimen versus usual care in 2 Canadian provinces.

Background: Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease in which persistent respiratory infection, usually due to P.

Corticotropin-releasing hormone causes antidiuresis and antinatriuresis by stimulating vasopressin and inhibiting atrial natriuretic peptide release in male rats.

In both normally hydrated and volume-expanded rats, there was a biphasic effect of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) (1-10 microgram, i.v.) on renal function.