Dihydroxy bile acids activate the transcription of cyclooxygenase-2.

Bile acids, endogenous promoters of gastrointestinal cancer, activate protein kinase C (PKC) and the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor. Because other activators of PKC and AP-1 induce cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), we determined the effects of bile acids on the expression of COX-2 in human esophageal adenocarcinoma cells. Treatment with the dihydroxy bile acids chenodeoxycholate and deoxycholate resulted in an approximately 10-fold increase in the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2).

Comparison of induced versus expectorated sputum for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis by acid-fast smear.

Objective: To evaluate the sensitivity of induced versus expectorated sputum for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis by acid-fast smear.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of data on patients with cultures from respiratory secretions that were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We analyzed data on the 114 patients with positive cultures during a 4-year period in an urban tertiary care academic medical center.

Dual suppression with oral contraceptives and gonadotrophin releasing-hormone agonists improves in-vitro fertilization outcome in high responder patients.

Certain patients have a tendency for high response to gonadotrophin therapy which is often not ameliorated with prior gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) suppression. As a result, these patients are frequently cancelled and often experience ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) episodes during in-vitro fertilization (IVF)-embryo transfer cycles. Patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have been noted to be particularly sensitive to exogenous gonadotrophin therapy.

Catecholamines increase monocyte TNF receptors and inhibit TNF through beta 2-adrenoreceptor activation.

Postinjury deficits in monocyte tumor necrosis factor receptors (moTNFR) activity may alter beneficial functions during an inflammatory response. Several counter-regulatory hormones elicited during inflammation may modulate tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity, but little is known about their influence on moTNFR. Also, catecholamines inhibit TNF production, but the adrenoreceptor mechanism of this effect has not been fully clarified.

En bloc esophagectomy improves survival for stage III esophageal cancer.

Objective: The role of en bloc esophagectomy in the surgical treatment of patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer is not well defined. This report attempts to elucidate its impact on survival, in comparison with less extensive resection, among patients with stage III disease.

Methods: A prospectively established database was retrospectively analyzed.

Characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus-infected children at the time of death: an experience in the 1990s.

Objective: To describe the changes in the characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related deaths in children with perinatally acquired infection.

Methods: A retrospective review of all deaths that occurred in HIV-infected children managed at The New York Hospital-Program for Children with AIDS during a 7-year period from January, 1990, to December, 1996. Differences in the characteristics at death between 15 children who died in 1990 and 10 children who died in 1996 were analyzed.

Pharmacological expression in rat hepatocytes of a gene transferred by an adenovirus vector enabled by a chimeric promoter containing multiple cyclic adenosine monophosphate response elements.

Using the adenovirus vector AdCF126(CRE8).Luc to deliver an expression cassette containing multiple cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response elements driving the luciferase reporter gene, this study is directed toward evaluating the possibility of controlling genes transferred to the liver using pharmacological agents that raise hepatocyte cAMP levels. Infection of primary rat hepatocytes with AdCF126(CRE8).

[The clinical pharmacology of new benzylisoquinoline-diester compounds, with special consideration of cisatracurium and mivacurium].

The benzylisochinoline muscle relaxants have a highly selective affinity to the motor endplate which is associated with an absence of autonomic side effects such as ganglionic and vagus block. The requirement of only low clinical doses also reduces histamine liberation. Muscle relaxants with high neuromuscular blocking potency have a slow onset.

Precordial QT dispersion and inducible ventricular tachycardia.

We compared the performance of precordial QT dispersion, late potentials on the signal-averaged electrocardiogram (ECG), and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction for identification of inducible ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 162 patients undergoing electrophysiologic study (EPS). QT(apex) dispersion in 56 patients with inducible VT (72 +/- 55 msec) was greater than that in 106 patients without inducible VT (55 +/- 36 msec, p < 0.01); dispersion was greater in both groups than in 144 normal subjects (33 +/- 19 msec).

Closing the pylorus decreases the size of large meals in the rat.

We previously reported (Davis, J. D.; Smith G.

Effect of laser wavelength and protein solder concentration on acute tissue repair using laser welding: initial results in a canine ureter model.

Successful tissue approximation can be performed using low power laser energy combined with human albumin solder. In vitro studies were undertaken to investigate the acute repair strengths achieved using different laser wavelengths. Furthermore, we evaluated the change in repair strength with that resulted from changes in protein solder concentration.

CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy following indeterminate fiberoptic bronchoscopy in solitary pulmonary nodules.

We evaluated the role of computed tomography (CT)-guided transthoracic needle biopsy (TNB) in patients with solitary pulmonary nodule and indeterminate flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB). A review of 112 patients with solitary nodules under 3 cm in size who underwent TNB was carried out. A total of 48 patients had prior FOB with negative or indeterminate results.

Derivation for relating calcification and size in small pulmonary nodules.

Pulmonary nodules less than 10 mm in length are often detected on computed tomography (CT) scans after the examination is completed. No further imaging may be possible and it would be useful to determine whether the nodule is sufficiently calcified to be considered benign. We wanted to use the relationship between the true and apparent nodule density on 10-mm CT sections to determine the true density of the nodule.

Delay of gonadotropin stimulation in patients receiving gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) therapy permits increased clinic efficiency and may enhance in vitro fertilization (IVF) pregnancy rates.

Objective: To promote an even temporal distribution of patients starting IVF cycles at our center, patients undergoing GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) suppression frequently delay the start of gonadotropin stimulation. Our objective was to analyze the effect that the delay of initiation of gonadotropin stimulation has on outcome parameters in this population.

Design: Retrospective analysis.

In situ amplification.

A major limitation of solution phase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the inability to visualize and localize amplified product within cellular and tissue specimens. In situ hybrrdization (ISH) does permit localization of specific nucleic acid sequences at the individual cell level. In conventional nonisotopic in situ (IS) detection systems, most protocols do not detect single copy genes, except for those incorporating elaborate sandwich detection techniques as described by Herrington et al.

Heart rate adjustment of exercise-induced ST-segment depression identifies men who benefit from a risk factor reduction program.

Background: Whether subjects identified as being at increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) death by heart rate adjustment of exercise-induced ST-segment depression will benefit from therapy aimed at reducing risk factors has not been examined.

Methods And Results: Exercise ECGs were performed in 11,880 men from the Usual Care (UC) and Special Intervention (SI) groups of the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial. UC men were referred to customary sources of care in the community; SI men received counseling on smoking cessation and dietary reduction of cholesterol, and stepped-care therapy for hypertension.

Expression of acidic fibroblast growth factor in Barrett's esophagus and associated esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Objective: Adenocarcinoma of the esophagus is generally attributed to the neoplastic transformation of intestinal metaplastic lesions (Barrett's esophagus). On the basis of our preliminary data that showed significant acidic fibroblast growth factor mRNA and protein expression in adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, we studied expression of fibroblast growth factor in esophageal adenocarcinoma and its precursor lesions, intestinal metaplasia, low-grade dysplasia, and high-grade dysplasia. Fibroblast growth factor belongs to a family of polypeptides that are involved in differentiation and cellular proliferation.

Collaboration between hospital social work and pastoral care to help families cope with serious illness and grief.

The authors describe an educational program for hospital chaplains based on a partnership between pastoral care and social work in a teaching hospital. The goal of the program is to train chaplains to use social work principles to maximize families' capacity to negotiate a complex health care system, to solve problems in a health crisis, and to participate constructively on the health care team. Building on the two disciplines' shared values in person-centered, process-oriented approaches to care, the program introduces chaplain trainees to social work concepts of crisis intervention and family systems theory that they can apply in their interactions with families in their hospital and congregational practice.

Relation of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia to cardiac and carotid structure.

There is a strong relation of carotid atherosclerosis to coronary artery disease and left ventricular hypertrophy. In addition, abnormalities of carotid structure are strongly associated with abnormal left ventricular geometry and structure. However, little is known regarding the relation of exercise-induced ST depression to carotid atherosclerosis, carotid, or left ventricular structure in the absence of apparent coronary disease.

Microsurgical vasovasostomy: the microdot technique of precision suture placement.

Purpose: A technique of vasovasostomy that facilitates precision suture placement is presented.

Materials And Methods: The technique involves mapping of the planned suture exit points with "microdots" placed on the cut ends of the vas deferens with a microtip marking pen. Microdots are placed at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions.

Microsurgical repair of iatrogenic injury to the vas deferens.

Purpose: We determined the incidence of iatrogenic injuries to the vas deferens at a tertiary care university infertility center and the results of surgical repair.

Materials And Methods: Records of 472 patients surgically explored for obstructive azoospermia between 1984 to 1996 were reviewed. Enrollment criteria included history of inguinal, pelvic and scrotal (other than vasectomy) surgery.

Protein turnover in compensated chronic aortic regurgitation.

We recently demonstrated dynamic alterations in protein turnover 3 days and 1 month after surgical induction of aortic regurgitation (AR). To characterize protein synthesis and degradation during the long-term plateau phase, we performed [3H]-leucine infusion 2.5 years after induction of AR in 10 New Zealand White rabbits and 12 sham-operated controls.