Diagnostic performance of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration for cystic and non-cystic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

 Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (P-NENs) are rare tumors with malignant potential. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) has been shown to be superior to other imaging methods in preoperative localization and diagnosis of P-NENs. The objective of this study was to describe the EUS features of non-metastatic cystic and non-cystic P-NENs seen at a referral center and to evaluate the performance of EUS-FNA in diagnosis of P-NENs.

Worldwide pacemaker and defibrillator reuse: Systematic review and meta-analysis of contemporary trials.

Background: Patients go without pacemaker, defibrillator, and cardiac resynchronization therapies (devices) each year due to the prohibitive costs of devices.

Objective: We sought to examine data available from studies regarding contemporary risks of reused devices in comparison with new devices.

Methods: We searched online indexing sites to identify recent studies.

Predictive model for distal junctional kyphosis after cervical deformity surgery.

Background Context: Distal junctional kyphosis (DJK) is a primary concern of surgeons correcting cervical deformity. Identifying patients and procedures at higher risk of developing this condition is paramount in improving patient selection and care.

Purpose: The present study aimed to develop a risk index for DJK development in the first year after surgery.

Pharmacogenetic Associations with ADME Variants and Virologic Response to an Initial HAART Regimen in HIV-Infected Women.

Background: Clinical response to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) varies among different populations. A portion of this variability may be due to variation in genes involved in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of HAART.

Design: To identify genetic factors involved in virologic responses to HAART, 13 genes in ADME pathways were analyzed in a cohort of HIV-infected women on HAART.

Pharmacokinetics and safety of vitamin E δ-tocotrienol after single and multiple doses in healthy subjects with measurement of vitamin E metabolites.

Purpose: Vitamin E delta-tocotrienol (VEDT) has demonstrated chemopreventive and antineoplastic activity in preclinical models. The aim of our study was to determine the safety and pharmacokinetics of VEDT and its metabolites after single- and multiple-dose administrations in healthy subjects.

Methods: Thirty-six subjects received from 100 to 1600 mg of oral VEDT as a single dose or twice daily for 14 consecutive days.

Cell-surface markers for colon adenoma and adenocarcinoma.

Early detection of colorectal cancer (CRC) is crucial for effective treatment. Among CRC screening techniques, optical colonoscopy is widely considered the gold standard. However, it is a costly and invasive procedure with a low rate of compliance.

Insulin, carbohydrate restriction, metabolic syndrome and cancer.

We propose that dietary carbohydrate restriction, particularly ketogenic diets, may provide benefit as a therapeutic or preventive strategy in cancer, alone or as an adjunct to pharmacology. The argument derives from several points of evidence: There is a close association between cancer and both diabetes and obesity. Extensive evidence shows that low carbohydrate diets are the most effective dietary treatment of Type 2 diabetes and dietary adjunct in Type 1.

Genome-wide survival analysis of age at onset of alcohol dependence in extended high-risk COGA families.

Background: The age at onset of alcohol dependence (AD) is a critical moderator of genetic associations for alcohol dependence. The present study evaluated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can influence the age at onset of AD in large high-risk families from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA).

Methods: Genomewide SNP genotyping was performed in 1788 regular drinkers from 118 large European American families densely affected with alcoholism.

Why does Oncotype DX recurrence score reduce adjuvant chemotherapy use?

The Oncotype DX recurrence score (RS) reduces breast cancer adjuvant treatment utilization, but the reasons for this effect are not straightforward. We performed a retrospective chart review of 89 consecutive node-negative breast cancer patients for whom RS was ordered to facilitate adjuvant treatment decisions. By subtracting the relapse rate predicted by RS from that calculated using the Adjuvant! Online (AOL) web-based instrument, a "prognostic delta" (P∆) was determined, reflecting the difference between prognoses predicted by these two indices.

The vasoactive intestinal peptide gene is a key modulator of pulmonary vascular remodeling and inflammation.

Pulmonary vascular remodeling and inflammation often coexist in clinical and experimentally induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). In some instances, the pulmonary hypertension may be the primary, or at least the initial, problem, while inflammatory or autoimmune responses appear to initiate or dominate the picture in other cases. Based on studies in a model of PAH resulting from targeted deletion of the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) gene, we propose that, at least in this experimental model, but possibly also in other situations, both vascular remodeling and inflammation may be mediated by one and the same mechanism: uncontrolled activation of calcineurin-NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) signaling.

A novel point-of-care assay for the monitoring of low-molecular weight heparins in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Background: We designed a study to compare the novel point-of-care assay Hemonox clotting time (Hemonox-CT) with the activated clotting time (ACT) and anti-Xa activity to monitor the anticoagulation effects of enoxaparin and dalteparin during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: A total of 90 patients undergoing cardiac catheterization were assigned to intravenous (IV) enoxaparin 0.5 mg/kg, dalteparin 50 international units/kg or unfractionated heparin (UFH) 50 units/kg.

Gender differences in prodynorphin but not proenkephalin mRNA expression in the striatum of adolescent rats exposed to prenatal cocaine.

The objective of this study was to determine if prenatal cocaine affects the levels of prodynorphin and proenkephalin mRNA in male and female adolescent rats. Pregnant dams received cocaine or vehicle from gestational days 8-22 and upon delivery, the pups were fostered. At postnatal days 42-44, pups were killed and brains removed and frozen.

Clues to VIP function from knockout mice.

We have taken advantage of the availability of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) knockout (KO) mice to examine the possible influence of deletion of the VIP gene on: (a) airway reactivity and airway inflammation, as indicators of bronchial asthma; (b) mortality from endotoxemia, a model of septic shock; and (c) the pulmonary circulation. VIP KO mice showed: (a) airway hyperresponsiveness to the cholinergic agonist methacholine, as well as peribronchial and perivascular inflammation; (b) a greater susceptibility to death from endotoxemia; and (c) evidence suggestive of pulmonary hypertension.

Assessing phytophotodermatitis: boy with erythema and blisters on both hands.

Phytophotodermatitis (PPD) is a phototoxic reaction which occurs when the skin comes in contact with a photosensitizer and is subsequently exposed to radiation. PPD is often seen in people handling furocoumarin-containing products, such as agricultural workers, bartenders, florists, and gardeners. It may also be seen in beachgoers, athletes, and children.

Prenatal cocaine dampened behavioral responses to methylphenidate in male and female adolescent rats.

Clinical and animal data point toward deficits in attention and arousal after prenatal cocaine exposure. Since methylphenidate (MPD) is widely used to treat attention disorders, we wanted to determine whether prenatal cocaine (PC) exposure affects the behavioral response to MPD in young rats of both sexes. Pregnant dams received 60 mg/kg of cocaine or vehicle from gestational days 8-22 by intragastric intubations.

Bacterial transcription elongation factors: new insights into molecular mechanism of action.

Like transcription initiation, the elongation and termination stages of transcription cycle serve as important targets for regulatory factors in prokaryotic cells. In this review, we discuss the recent progress in structural and biochemical studies of three evolutionarily conserved elongation factors, GreA, NusA and Mfd. These factors affect RNA polymerase (RNAP) processivity by modulating transcription pausing, arrest, termination or anti-termination.

Safety and pharmacokinetics of ascending single doses of sirolimus (Rapamune, rapamycin) in pediatric patients with stable chronic renal failure undergoing dialysis.

Sirolimus (Rapamune, rapamycin) has been shown to be an effective and safe immunosuppressive drug in adult kidney transplant patients when administered concomitantly with cyclosporine (CsA) and steroids. This study reports on a phase 1 assessment of the drug's tolerance, safety, and pharmacokinetic parameters in pediatric patients. The safety and pharmacokinetic profiles of ascending single doses of sirolimus oral solution were investigated in 32 clinically stable pediatric patients on chronic hemodialysis (n = 26) or peritoneal dialysis (n = 6).

A functional MRI study of visual oddball: evidence for frontoparietal dysfunction in subjects at risk for alcoholism.

Attending to rare stimuli interspersed among repetitive frequent stimuli produces a positive scalp potential at 300 to 600 ms after the target stimulus onset; this potential is known as the P300 wave. Although there is clear evidence of low visual P300 in subjects at high risk (HR) for developing alcoholism, the functional neuroanatomical correlates have not been studied. Functional and high-resolution anatomical magnetic resonance images were collected during the performance of a visual oddball task, from six control (low risk-LR) subjects with high P300s and eight HR subjects with low P300s.

Obesity as a risk factor for antipsychotic noncompliance.

Objective: Weight gain is a common side effect of antipsychotic medications and is of particular concern with most of the newer "atypical" antipsychotics. It is, therefore, increasingly important to understand the impact of obesity and perceived weight problems on compliance with these medications.

Methods: A survey of treatment and health issues was mailed to local chapters of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) and National Mental Health Association (NMHA), who distributed them to people with schizophrenia.

Treatment of pediatric sinusitis.

The successful management of RS in children relies on careful diagnosis, recognition of causative factors, and judicious yet adequate antibiotic usage. Refractory cases will require surgical therapy, with adenoidectomy as the first-line intervention and ESS reserved for those cases refractory to adenoidectomy. This overall approach will improve quality of life and prevent complications in children with RS.

RNA polymerase holoenzyme: structure, function and biological implications.

The past three years have marked the breakthrough in our understanding of the structural and functional organization of RNA polymerase. The latest major advance was the high-resolution structures of bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme and the holoenzyme in complex with promoter DNA. Together with an array of genetic, biochemical and biophysical data accumulated to date, the structures provide a comprehensive view of dynamic interactions between the major components of transcription machinery during the early stages of the transcription cycle.