Detection of hepatitis C virus RNA in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections with digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probes.

Although recent studies have analyzed Hepatitis C (HCV) infections in liver tissue by in situ hybridization (ISH), many of these studies have been of limited diagnostic utility because of the low copy numbers of HCV in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue and failure to correlate the ISH analysis with other methods of detecting HCV. Thirty six cases of liver biopsies from patients with known HCV antibody status including 20 cases of serum HCV positive and 16 cases of serum HCV negative were analyzed. All cases showed histologic features suggestion of HCV infection.

Comparison of nicotine patch alone versus nicotine nasal spray alone versus a combination for treating smokers: a minimal intervention, randomized multicenter trial in a nonspecialized setting.

This multicenter, randomized, open-label clinical trial was conducted to determine whether the combined use of nicotine patch therapy and a nicotine nasal spray would improve smoking abstinence rates compared to either treatment alone, without behavioral counseling. Data were collected at 15 regional cancer control oncology centers within the North Central Cancer Treatment Group. Of the 1384 smokers randomized to the study, 20% were abstinent from smoking at 6 weeks and 8% were abstinent at 6 months.

Intracardiac echocardiography.

This article describes currently available intracardiac ultrasound (ICE) technology contrasting it with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) highlighting their differences. Clinical applications in the electrophysiologic and cardiac catheterization laboratory are discussed and current limitations addressed. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is possible because lower frequency transducers (in contrast to higher frequency IVUS devices) have been miniaturized and mounted onto catheters capable of percutaneous insertion into the heart.

Neurophysiologic and vascular studies in erythromelalgia: a retrospective analysis.

Erythromelaigia is a poorly understood clinical syndrome characterized by painful, hot, red extremities. We assessed the frequency and types of abnormalities observed during tests of vascular, peripheral neurophysiologic, and autonomic function in patients with erythromelalgia.Methods Of" 163 charts of patients fulfilling the clinical diagnosis of erythromelalgia.

Histopathology of postpercutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty remodeling in human coronary arteries.

Background: We studied the histomorphometric correlates of long-term successful coronary balloon angioplasty (percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty [PTCA]). Restenosis after PTCA may occur secondary to the failure of compensatory arterial enlargement or post-PTCA arterial constriction. The histopathology of this process in human subjects remains poorly defined.

Clinicopathologic correlation of hypocomplementemic and normocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis.

Background: Urticarial vasculitis is characterized by persistent urticarial lesions with histologic evidence of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis (HUV) is a distinct clinical entity in a subset of patients with urticarial vasculitis.

Objective: We examined presentation of urticarial vasculitis and factors predictive of connective tissue disease.

Carcinoma in Situ of the Bladder.

Central to the earlier detection and effective treatment of bladder cancer is the understanding of the basic principle that in situ cancer, evolving from epithelial atypia or hyperplasia, is the early phase in the development of invasive bladder cancer. While it may be asymptomatic, irritative bladder symptoms such as frequency, urgency, and dysuria irrespective of bacteriuria are usually evident and should be evaluated with exfoliative urinary cytology to detect the presence of this cancer. Properly collected and skillfully interpreted cytologic examination of the urine is probably the most accurate screening test for this and other important varieties of bladder cancer.