Orally administered recombinant human interleukin-11 is protective in experimental neutropenic sepsis.

Recombinant human interleukin (IL)-11 is a multifunctional cytokine with hematopoietic, immunomodulatory, and epithelial cell protective activities. IL-11alpha receptors are expressed on the luminal surface of intestinal epithelial cells. It was hypothesized that orally administered IL-11 would prevent mucosal damage and protect against microbial invasion in a neutropenic rat model of gram-negative sepsis.

Additive effects of human recombinant interleukin-11 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in experimental gram-negative sepsis.

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) is widely used to promote granulocyte recovery from a variety of pathologic states. Recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11) has recently become available clinically as a platelet restorative agent after myelosuppressive chemotherapy. Preclinical data has shown that rhIL-11 limits mucosal injury after chemotherapy and attenuates the proinflammatory cytokine response.

Cholesterol testing and management: a national comparison of family physicians, general internists, and cardiologists.

Background: We wanted to compare the frequency of cholesterol testing and treatment of hypercholesterolemia in patients cared for by family physicians, general internists, and cardiologists.

Methods: This study was a continuous cross-sectional survey of 1991 ambulatory office visits using a national probability sample of US physicians' office practices (National Ambulatory Care Survey). The physicians surveyed self-reported their specialty as family practice, internal medicine, or cardiology.