Female conduct disorder: health status in young adulthood.

Purpose: One of the risk factors for poor adult health may be adolescent antisocial behavior, especially in girls. This study was conducted to determine if negative young adult health outcomes in girls who previously had adolescent antisocial behavior could be explained by demographic factors and pre-existing health problems.

Methods: This 3-year longitudinal study recruited 93 girls, ages 15-17 years (52 with conduct disorder [CD]; 41 with no psychiatric illness [normal controls; NC]) from the community.

Thiazolidinediones increase hepatic insulin extraction in African Americans with impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. A pilot study of rosiglitazone.

Peripheral insulin levels are determined by beta-cell secretion, insulin sensitivity, and hepatic insulin extraction (HIE). We have previously shown that whereas sulfonylureas reduce insulin extraction, metformin enhances HIE. However, the effects of thiazolidinediones (TZDs) on HIE remain uncertain.

The OxyR regulon in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae.

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is a gram-negative bacterium and a common commensal organism of the upper respiratory tract in humans. NTHi causes a number of diseases, including otitis media, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchitis. During the course of colonization and infection, NTHi must withstand oxidative stress generated by insult due to multiple reactive oxygen species produced endogenously by other copathogens and by host cells.

Suppression of VEGF-mediated autocrine and paracrine interactions between prostate cancer cells and vascular endothelial cells by soy isoflavones.

Angiogenesis is an essential process involved in the development and progression of prostate cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is hypothesized to be a critical regulator of angiogenesis during prostate carcinogenesis. We have reported that dietary soy products inhibit prostate tumor progression in animal models, in association with a reduction in tumor microvessel density.

Adrenal androgen and gonadal hormone levels in adolescent girls with conduct disorder.

There are few data on the biological correlates of female antisocial behavior. This study compared adrenal androgen and gonadal hormone levels in adolescent girls with conduct disorder (CD) to girls without any psychiatric disorder (NC). We studied 87 girls, (47 CD; 36 NC), ages 15-17 years, obtaining three blood samples, drawn 20 min apart between 8 and 9 AM in the first 72 h of the onset of menstrual flow.

The non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae Sap transporter provides a mechanism of antimicrobial peptide resistance and SapD-dependent potassium acquisition.

We have shown that non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHI) resists killing by antimicrobial peptides (APs). A mutant defective in expression of the sap (sensitivity to antimicrobial peptides) gene cluster product SapA is sensitive to killing by APs and is significantly attenuated in its ability to survive in a chinchilla model of otitis media compared with the parent strain. In NTHI, SapA is believed to function as the periplasmic solute binding protein of an ABC transporter.

Metabolic syndrome in nondiabetic, obese, first-degree relatives of African American patients with type 2 diabetes: African American triglycerides-HDL-C and insulin resistance paradox.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) defines cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks. Despite higher rates of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, African Americans have lower rates of MetS when compared to Caucasians, which is paradoxical, since African Americans are more insulin resistant and have higher rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality when compared to White Americans. We hypothesized that genetic inheritance predisposes African Americans to the greater cardiovascular risk and the associated morbidity and mortality.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant with melphalan and thiotepa is safe and feasible in pediatric patients with low normalized glomerular filtration rate.

Normalized glomerular filtration rate (nGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) often precludes hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in pediatric patients. Three patients with nGFR < 60 mL/min/1.

Enteric nervous system, serotonin, and the irritable bowel syndrome.

Intestinal motility, secretion, and blood flow are controlled and integrated by the enteric nervous system (ENS). The ENS is like a "brain-in-the-gut," with many of the neurophysiologic properties of the central nervous system. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter at synapses in the microcircuits of the ENS.

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal upregulates endogenous antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in rat H9c2 myocardiac cells: protection against overt oxidative and electrophilic injury.

This study was undertaken to determine if 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) could upregulate antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in rat H9c2 myocardiac cells, and if the upregulated defenses led to cytoprotection against oxidative and electrophilic injury. Incubation of H9c2 cells with HNE at noncytotoxic concentrations resulted in significant induction of cellular catalase, glutathione (GSH), GSH S-transferase (GST), and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), as determined by enzyme activity and/or protein expression. HNE treatment caused increased mRNA expression of catalase, gamma-glutamylcysteine ligase, GST-A1, and NQO1.

Effects of h1-calponin ablation on the contractile properties of bladder versus vascular smooth muscle in mice lacking SM-B myosin.

The functional significance of smooth muscle-specific h1-calponin up-regulation in the smooth muscle contractility of SM-B null mice was studied by generating double knockout mice lacking both h1-calponin and SM-B myosin. The double knockout mice appear healthy, reproduce well and do not show any smooth muscle pathology. Loss of h1-calponin in the SM-B null mice bladder resulted in increased maximal shortening velocity (V(max)) and steady-state force generation.

Stability of cefazolin sodium in four heparinized and non-heparinized dialysate solutions at 38 degrees C.

Background: Intraperitoneal administration of antibiotics is often required in the treatment of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis. Extended use and heating may affect drug stability. The objective of our study was to determine the stability of cefazolin sodium (125 mg/L and 500 mg/L) in heparinized and non-heparinized dextrosecontaining peritoneal dialysis solution (Dianeal PD-2; Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, Illinois, USA) containing 1.

Differential response between the p53 ubiquitin-protein ligases Pirh2 and MdM2 following DNA damage in human cancer cells.

Pirh2, a recently identified ubiquitin-protein ligase, has been reported to promote p53 degradation. Pirh2 physically interacts with p53 and promotes ubiquitination of p53 independently of MDM2. Like MDM2, Pirh2 is thought to participate in an autoregulatory feedback loop that controls p53 function.

Improving safety-restraint use by children in shopping carts: evaluation of a store-based safety intervention.

Objective: Approximately 20,700 children who are < 5 years old are treated in US hospital emergency departments annually for shopping cart-related injuries. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an in-store intervention to increase the use of restraints in shopping carts by children who are < 5 years old. METHODS.

Escalator-related injuries among children in the United States, 1990-2002.

Objective: We describe the epidemiology of escalator-related injuries among children 0 to 19 years of age in the United States, with a focus on the pediatric population that is younger than 5 years.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Reported cases were used to project national estimates and rates of escalator-related injuries in the United States.

Epidemiology of lawn-mower-related injuries to children in the United States, 1990-2004.

Objective: Our objective for this study was to describe the epidemiology of lawn mower-related injuries among children in the United States.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of data from children who were 20 years and younger in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission for 1990-2004.

Results: There were an estimated 140700 lawn mower-related injuries to children who were 20 years and younger and treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States during the 15-year period of 1990-2004.

Effect of Nissen fundoplication on gastric motor and sensory functions.

Objectives: Bloating, abdominal pain, and early satiety have been reported in up to 30% of patients after Nissen fundoplication. We hypothesized that these postsurgical complications in children and young adults are linked to either the effects of surgery on gastric sensation, compliance or motor function or to preexisting physiological abnormalities.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated the effect of Nissen fundoplication on gastric sensory and motor functions in 13 children with gastroesophageal reflux.

Evaluation of the Quidel QuickVue test for detection of influenza A and B viruses in the pediatric emergency medicine setting by use of three specimen collection methods.

The Quidel QuickVue influenza test was compared to viral culture and reverse transcriptase PCR by the use of three different respiratory specimen types. Of 122 pediatric subjects enrolled, 59 had influenza virus infections: 44 were infected with influenza A virus and 15 were infected with influenza B virus. The sensitivity of the QuickVue test was 85% with nasopharyngeal swabs, 78% with nasal swabs, and 69% with nasopharyngeal washes.

Transitioning from preclinical to clinical chemopreventive assessments of lyophilized black raspberries: interim results show berries modulate markers of oxidative stress in Barrett's esophagus patients.

Increased fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with decreased risk of a number of cancers of epithelial origin, including esophageal cancer. Dietary administration of lyophilized black raspberries (LBRs) has significantly inhibited chemically induced oral, esophageal, and colon carcinogenesis in animal models. Likewise, berry extracts added to cell cultures significantly inhibited cancer-associated processes.

Nrf2 controls bone marrow stromal cell susceptibility to oxidative and electrophilic stress.

Understanding the molecular pathway(s) controlling the expression of stromal cellular antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes is of importance for developing strategies to protect against bone marrow toxicity induced by oxidants and electrophiles. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to determine the role of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in regulation of both constitutive and chemoprotectant-inducible expression of antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes in mouse bone marrow stromal cells. The constitutive expression of a series of antioxidants and phase 2 enzymes was significantly lower in stromal cells derived from Nrf2 knockout (Nrf2(-/-)) mice than those from wild-type littermates (Nrf2(+/+)).

Perirenal hemorrhage as first presentation of Wilms tumor.

Wilms tumor typically presents as an abdominal mass, though occasionally patients present with other manifestations. We report a case of a child presenting with a perirenal hemorrhage and an initially occult Wilms tumor, found only on subsequent renal arteriography. Symptoms in this patient were caused by the presence of perirenal and subcapsular hemorrhage rather than the tumor itself.