A continuous spectrophotometric assay for monitoring adenosine 5'-monophosphate production.

A number of biologically important enzymes release adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP) as a product, including aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases, cyclic AMP (cAMP) phosphodiesterases, ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like ligases, DNA ligases, coenzyme A (CoA) ligases, polyA deadenylases, and ribonucleases. In contrast to the abundance of assays available for monitoring the conversion of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) to ADP, there are relatively few assays for monitoring the conversion of ATP (or cAMP) to AMP. In this article, we describe a homogeneous assay that continuously monitors the production of AMP.

Comparison of frequency of inflammatory bowel disease and noninfectious gastroenteritis among statin users versus nonusers.

Conflicting data exist regarding the effects of statin therapy on the prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases. We aimed to examine the association of statin therapy with diagnoses of inflammatory bowel diseases and noninfectious gastroenteritis. This is a retrospective study using data of a military health care system from October 1, 2003, to March 1, 2012.

Identification and characterization of mutations conferring resistance to D-amino acids in Bacillus subtilis.

Unlabelled: Bacteria produce d-amino acids for incorporation into the peptidoglycan and certain nonribosomally produced peptides. However, D-amino acids are toxic if mischarged on tRNAs or misincorporated into protein. Common strains of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis are particularly sensitive to the growth-inhibitory effects of D-tyrosine due to the absence of D-aminoacyl-tRNA deacylase, an enzyme that prevents misincorporation of D-tyrosine and other D-amino acids into nascent proteins.

The effect of surgical resident learning style preferences on American Board of Surgery In-training Examination scores.

Background: There is a growing body of literature that suggests that learners assimilate information differently, depending on their preferred learning style. The VARK model categorizes learners as visual (V), aural (A), read/write (R), kinesthetic (K), or multimodal (MM). We hypothesized that resident VARK learning style preferences and American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) performance are associated.

Interventions that affect resident performance on the American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination: a systematic review.

Objective: To systematically review the published literature on the effectiveness of interventions intended to improve residents' American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination (ABSITE) performances.

Design: A systematic review was conducted by 2 independent investigators to identify all publications that examined the effect of specific interventions on residents' ABSITE performances from 1975 to 2013.

Results: Overall, 26 published articles met study criteria.

Bisphosphonate-related osteonecrosis of the jaw.

Although there has been a growing body of literature about bisphosphonates since 1969, it was not until 2003 that treatment with this medication was associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw. Presented herein is such a case.

Surgical management of middle cerebral artery aneurysms.

Objectives: Treatment of middle cerebral artery (MCA) aneurysms remains controversial because of their morphological characteristics. The aim of our study was to analyze the morbidity, mortality, and outcome of patients who underwent clipping of MCA aneurysms and compare with that of endovascular therapy.

Patients And Methods: Patient and aneurysm characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients treated by the senior author from 1992 through 2012 were analyzed.

Using 7.5 frames per second reduces radiation exposure in lower extremity peripheral vascular interventions.

Background: Peripheral vascular interventions can be associated with significant radiation exposure to the patient and the operator.

Objective: In this study, we sought to compare the radiation dose between peripheral vascular interventions using fluoroscopy frame rate of 7.5 frames per second (fps) and those performed at the standard 15 fps and procedural outcomes.

Bilateral ultrasound-guided supraclavicular block in a patient with severe electrocution injuries of the upper extremities.

The performance of bilateral supraclavicular brachial plexus nerve blocks is controversial. We present the challenging case of a 29-year-old male who suffered bilateral high-voltage electrocution injuries to the upper extremities, resulting in severe tissue damage, sensory and motor deficits, and wounds in both axillae. This injury necessitated bilateral below-elbow amputations.

Radiological evolution of relapsing polychondritis.

Relapsing Polychondritis (RP) is a systemic condition characterized by chronic, episodic inflammation, especially of cartilaginous and proteoglycan-rich structures. The etiology of this rare autoimmune disease is unknown, and so far, there is very little data available for non-Caucasians. RP presents with a constellation of non-specific inflammation, which sometimes appear in characteristic locations.

Celiacomesenteric trunk: a rare anatomical variation with potential clinical and surgical implications.

The arterial supply of the abdominal viscera is derived via three single arteries: the celiac axis, the superior mesenteric artery, and the inferior mesenteric artery. These arteries usually originate separately from the ventral aspect of the abdominal aorta. In some cases, two or more of these arteries may originate from a common trunk.

Elbow synovium as the initial site of colon adenocarcinoma metastasis: diagnosis by arthroscopic biopsy.

An acutely painful and swollen isolated joint has a broad differential. We present the case of an elderly male with four-month progressive, painful swelling of the right elbow. After an initial workup for inflammatory arthropathies was nondiagnostic and a trial of conservative management failed to relieve his pain, a diagnostic arthroscopy was performed.

From the cell of Schwann to schwannoma--a century's fruition.

The word "schwannoma" is pervasive throughout the neurosurgical community. However, little is known about the origin of the cell of "Schwann cell," the manifestation of the tumor's nomenclature, or the prominent physicians who studied its etiopathogenesis. Schwann was a founding father of cellular theory and one of the greatest scientists of the 19th century.

Activated 5'flanking region of NANOGP8 in a self-renewal environment is associated with increased sphere formation and tumor growth of prostate cancer cells.

Introduction: NANOGP8 is a retrogene which encodes a full-length protein similar to the NANOG1 gene. The expression of NANOGP8 has been documented in several cancers and is related to cell proliferation and tumor development. However, the regulation of NANOGP8 expression has not been investigated.

Cocaine-induced postpartum coronary artery dissection: a case report and 80-year review of literature.

The incidence of cocaine-induced myocardial infarction (MI) in pregnancy is unknown. During the peripartum period, cocaine-abusing women are highly susceptible to MI caused by the effect of cocaine on a heart that is already stressed by hemodynamic changes of pregnancy. MI is an infrequent event during pregnancy and the peripartum period, with an estimated rate of 1 in 16,000 patients.

Laparoscopic resection of small bowel sarcoma.

A 45-year-old female who presented with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and anemia was found to have an 8 × 5 × 5 cm ileal tumor on CT imaging. Laparoscopic evaluation and small bowel resection was performed with clear margins with a diagnosis of low-grade leiomyosarcoma. Small intestine leiomyosarcoma is very rare, and there are no prior reports of laparoscopic resection.

Measurement of retinal blood flow rate in diabetic rats: disparity between techniques due to redistribution of flow.

Purpose: Reports of altered retinal blood flow in experimental models of type I diabetes have provided contrasting results, which leads to some confusion as to whether flow is increased or decreased. The purpose of our study was to evaluate early diabetes-induced changes in retinal blood flow in diabetic rats, using two distinctly different methods.

Methods: Diabetes was induced by injection of streptozotocin (STZ), and retinal blood flow rate was measured under anesthesia by a microsphere infusion technique, or by an index of flow based on the mean circulation time between arterioles and venules.

Cost analysis of establishing a relationship between a surgical program in the US and Vietnam.

"Twinning" refers to a constructive partnership between hospitals in developed and developing nations. Such an effort may contribute immensely to capacity building for the developing nation, but one of the reasons given for the lack of sustainability is cost. We share a detailed operating cost analysis of our recent experience with an institution in Vietnam.