Induction and role of NO synthase in hypotensive hepatic failure.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the physiological and pathophysiological control of the vascular system. NO is synthesized by isoforms of the enzyme NO synthase (NOS). Hepatic failure is complicated by hypotension, low systemic vascular resistance, and resistance to vasoconstrictor drugs.

HLA-C genes and susceptibility to type 1 autoimmune hepatitis.

Susceptibility to autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is associated with the HLA A1-B8-DR3 haplotype, DR4 antigen, and, more specifically, the HLA DRB3*0101, DRB1*0301, and DRB1*0401 alleles. Few investigators, however, have examined the HLA C locus in AIH, which warrants detailed study in view of its recently described roles in immunoregulation. Eighty-seven adult, white patients with well-characterized type 1 AIH and 100 controls were studied.

The effect of 15-HPETE on airway responsiveness and pulmonary cell recruitment in rabbits.

1. In the present study we have investigated the effect of 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HPETE) and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) on airway responsiveness to inhaled histamine in rabbits in vivo. 2.

Molecular cloning and expression of 56-58 KD antigen associated with transplant coronary artery disease.

High circulating levels of anti-endothelial antibodies have been reported in patients with accelerated transplant coronary artery disease (TxCAD); however, the nature or characteristics of the antigen to which these antibodies bind in vivo remain unclear. To identify the antigen, a human endothelial cell cDNA expression library was constructed in lambdaZAP and immuno-screened with serum containing a high titre of anti-endothelial antibodies. Nucleotide sequence of cloned cDNA inserts and GenBank database searches revealed a 94% identity in a 35 bp overlap to the human vimentin gene.

Direct preparation of cyclodextrin monophosphates.

Aqueous solutions of cyclodextrins and inorganic metaphosphate at pH 4, upon drying and subsequent warming, produce mixtures of isomeric monophosphate esters which are amenable to separation by anion-exchange chromatography. The products are characterised by enzymatic, mass, and NMR spectroscopic analysis. The methodology provides a route to these derivatives by a single reaction.

Casemix for inpatient care of elderly people: rehabilitation and post-acute care. Casemix for the Elderly Inpatient Working Group.

Background: defining contracts for the care of elderly people on the basis of the number of episodes is inappropriate as it fails to take account of the wide variation in their physical disability and rehabilitation needs. Resource use on a day-to-day basis can be estimated for patients using the Resource Utilization Groups version III (RUG-III) casemix system. For practical use, RUG-III assessments cannot be made daily and so assessments at different time intervals were evaluated in order to give an indication of resource use for an inpatient stay.

Changes in growth hormone, insulin, insulinlike growth factors (IGFs), and IGF-binding protein-1 in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by severe physical and mental fatigue of central origin. Similar clinical features may occur in disorders of the hypothalamopituitary axis. The aim of the study was to determine whether patients with CFS have abnormalities of the growth hormone/insulinlike growth factor (GH-IGF) axis basally or following hypothalamic stimulation with insulin-induced hypoglycemia.

Family anxiety in advanced cancer: a multicentre prospective study in Ireland.

Six home care services in Southern Ireland collected data on a total of 757 patients over a 6-month period. Patient and family well-being were measured using the staff-rated Support Team Assessment Schedule and Karnofsky Index. Five hundred and eight patients died while in care, 75% of whom died at home.

Prevention of fungal infections in hematology patients.

Endogenous infections such as candidiasis can be minimized by oral fluconazole prophylaxis, although oral or intravenous amphotericin, or itraconazole, are suitable for certain patients. Exogenous fungal infections most commonly are transmitted by the airborne route, but the benefits of high-efficiency particulate air-filtered room air probably are diminishing as broad-spectrum prophylaxis against Aspergillus species and other fungi improves. However, high-risk environmental sources such as construction work always must be avoided near neutropenic patients.

Early arrested development and coronal resorption of an impacted maxillary canine: report of case.

Coronal resorption of maxillary canines is a possible complication of long standing impaction. Degeneration of the enamel epithelium allows the connective tissues to come into direct contact with enamel. Irregular replacement of the pericoronal tissues and resorbed enamel by bone characterizes the histological picture.

The isoform-specific expression of the tri-iodothyronine receptor in osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

Hyperthyroidism is associated with an increase in both osteoblast and osteoclast activity. We have previously shown that, in vitro, osteoclasts do not respond directly to tri-iodothyronine to increase bone resorption but that the effect is mediated by another bone cell, probably the osteoblast. To investigate this issue further we have studied the isoform-specific expression of thyroid receptor (TR) protein in human osteoclasts derived from an osteoclastoma (giant cell tumour of bone) and the expression of TR mRNA and protein in the osteoblastic cell lines MG 63 and UMR 106.

Quadriceps strength and fatigue assessed by magnetic stimulation of the femoral nerve in man.

There is no nonvolitional method of assessing quadriceps strength which both supramaximally activates the muscle and is acceptable to subjects. In 10 normal subjects and 10 patients with suspected muscle weakness we used magnetic stimulation of the femoral nerve to elicit an isometric twitch and measured twitch tension (TwQ), surface electromyogram in addition to the maximum voluntary contraction force (MVC). Supramaximality was achieved in all subjects at a mean of 83% of maximum stimulator output.

Strengths and weaknesses of screening programmes for oral malignancies and potentially malignant lesions.

Screening for oral cancer is in an early stage of development. No randomized controlled trials have been undertaken to determine the impact of screening on mortality or even on interim outcomes such as incidence or down-staging. Until such data are available, mass screening for oral cancer is not recommended as public health policy.

Noninvasive ventilation in the management of decompensated COPD.

Decompensated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is likely to remain a common medical emergency for the foreseeable future. Decompensation occurs when the capacity of the respiratory muscle pump is less than the load placed upon it. Even with optimal medical therapy, the mortality rate remains high.

Possible co-existence of RAS activation and monosomy 7 in the leukaemic transformation of myelodysplastic syndromes.

The frequency of RAS activation was studied in 48 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), in order to address the question of whether patients possessing monosomy 7 or other alterations of chromosome 7 have a higher incidence of RAS activation than those lacking chromosome 7 abnormalities. Samples were screened for oncogenic point mutation by DNA amplification followed by oligonucleotide hybridization analysis at codons 12, 13 and 61 of N-RAS and codons 12 and 13 of K-RAS. Two additional samples were considered to have activated RAS due to additional karyotypic abnormalities t(5;12) or loss of both copies of chromosome 17 and hence, the neurofibromatosis (NF1) loci.

Exhaustive treadmill exercise does not reduce twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure in patients with COPD.

Reduced diaphragm contractility has been described in normal subjects after whole body endurance exercise, and it indicates low frequency fatigue (LFF); it is unknown whether LFF is of clinical importance. We therefore studied the effect of treadmill exercise to exhaustion on diaphragm contractility in six patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (mean FEV1, 0.71, 27% predicted).

The influence of brain acetaldehyde on oxidative status, dopamine metabolism and visual discrimination task.

The toxic effect of acetaldehyde on brain oxidative capacity and dopamine metabolism has been investigated in rat brains after a single intraperitoneal injection of acetaldehyde (5 mmol/kg) and the results compared with those from chronically ethanol fed rats. Acetaldehyde was present in rat brain 120 hr after a single dose of acetaldehyde, confirming that it is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Brain catalase increased significantly after acetaldehyde or chronic ethanol administration although there were no other significant changes in the total brain activity of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase or glutathione reductase.

Smuggling and cross border shopping of tobacco in Europe.

Governments have recently become concerned about cross border shopping and smuggling because it can decrease tax revenue. The tobacco industry predicted that, with the removal of border controls in the European Union, price differences between neighbouring countries would lead to a diversion of tobacco trade, legally and illegally, to countries with cheaper cigarettes. According to them this diversion would be through increased cross border shopping for personal consumption or through increased smuggling of cheap cigarettes from countries with low tax to countries with high tax, where cigarettes are more expensive.

Lung volume and pulmonary blood flow measurements following exogenous surfactant.

Unlabelled: Lung function in eight infants with clinical and radiological features of surfactant deficiency treated with exogenous porcine surfactant was studied before and at 15 min, 2h and 6h after the intratracheal administration of porcine surfactant. We measured alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference, dynamic lung compliance, lung volume and effective pulmonary blood flow in all infants. The alveolar-arterial oxygen tension difference fell from a mean (SD) 43.

Inhibition of serum-induced proliferation of bovine tracheal smooth muscle cells in culture by heparin and related glycosaminoglycans.

1. The effect of heparin and related glycosaminoglycans on bovine airway smooth muscle proliferation has been investigated. 2.