Reaction of complement factors and proteasomes in experimental encephalitis.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) encephalitis causes a deleterious inflammation and elevated intracranial pressure. As a step towards examining the origin of the inflammation, we here report the response of circulating proteasomes and complement factors in blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in rats infected with HSV-1. Infection was via the nasal route, with 1.

[Better regulatory framework needed for medical devices].

We summarize an HTA report regarding patient values of drug-eluting stents and balloons for treatment of atherosclerotic disease in the lower extremities. We found 17 randomized controlled trials, 4 cohort studies and 13 case series. The total number of studied patients was substantial (about 3,000) but there was a strong heterogeneity regarding site of lesion, symptom pattern, device, drug used and outcome measures, making the analysis difficult and based on relatively small subgroups.

Immunogenicity of virosomal adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccination in allogeneic stem cell transplant recipients.

Background: Influenza vaccination is generally recommended to hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. However, the seasonal subunit vaccination response is frequently suboptimal, and alternate more efficient vaccination systems must be examined. We compared the immunogenicity of an adjuvanted virosomal influenza and subunit vaccine in HSCT recipients.

Methods and incentives for the early diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis.

Introduction: The concept of interstitial cystitis (IC) has changed dramatically during the last decades, eventually representing a symptom complex with varying contents. To include all patients with bladder pain, the umbrella term 'bladder pain syndrome' (BPS) has been suggested, incorporating the classic presentation of IC as a separate phenotype. This change of concepts has not been uncontroversial.

Low-dose vasopressin increases glomerular filtration rate, but impairs renal oxygenation in post-cardiac surgery patients.

Background: The beneficial effects of vasopressin on diuresis and creatinine clearance have been demonstrated when used as an additional/alternative therapy in catecholamine-dependent vasodilatory shock. A detailed analysis of the effects of vasopressin on renal perfusion, glomerular filtration, excretory function and oxygenation in man is, however, lacking. The objective of this pharmacodynamic study was to evaluate the effects of low to moderate doses of vasopressin on renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR), renal oxygen consumption (RVO2) and renal oxygen extraction (RO2Ex) in post-cardiac surgery patients.

High prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with clinical unstable angina and known coronary artery disease.

Objectives: Esophageal disease may mimic acute anginal pain. However, the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux in the acute setting of patients with clinically unstable angina (UA) pectoris is not known. The aim of this study was to determine the co-existence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and gastroesophageal reflux in UA, and to study the feasibility of esophageal investigation in the chest pain unit.

Current status of HIFU and cryotherapy in prostate cancer--a review.

Objectives: To evaluate the current status of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and cryosurgery as the primary treatment option in patients with prostate cancer.

Method: A MedLine search using specified search terms was done on February 28, 2005. This search rendered 150 papers related to HIFU and 566 papers related to cryosurgery.

Prostate cancer screening decreases the absolute risk of being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer--results from a prospective, population-based randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: Randomized controlled trials are currently conducted to assess whether the mortality from prostate cancer is reduced by early detection with the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) measurements in serum. To be effective, such a program should be able to reduce the absolute number of men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer (for which no cure is available). The aim of the present report is to evaluate whether PSA-based screening reduces the risk of being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

ESC Study Group of Sports Cardiology: recommendations for participation in leisure-time physical activity and competitive sports for patients with ischaemic heart disease.

Background: Evidence for the proper management of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in the general population is well established, but recommendations for physical activity and competitive sports in these patients are scarce. The aim of the present paper was to provide such recommendations to complement existing ESC and international guidelines on rehabilitation and primary/secondary prevention.

Design And Methods: Due to the lack of studies in this field, the current recommendations are the result of consensus among experts.

Individualized screening interval for prostate cancer based on prostate-specific antigen level: results of a prospective, randomized, population-based study.

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the future cumulative risk of prostate cancer in relation to levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in blood and to determine whether this information could be used to individualize the PSA testing interval.

Methods: The study included 5855 of 9972 men (aged 50-66 years) who accepted an invitation to participate in a prospective, randomized study of early detection for prostate cancer. We used a protocol based on biennial PSA measurements starting from 1995 and 1996.

Prostate biopsy and anaesthesia: an overview.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of different methods for decreasing pain and discomfort in men undergoing transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsies and to propose a clinical standard useful for pain relief.

Material And Methods: A MEDLINE search using the search terms "anaesthesia" and "prostate biopsy" was performed in November 2004. The search yielded 198 papers, 45 of which were found to relate to the subject and were in the English language.

Survival in prostate carcinoma--outcomes from a prospective, population-based cohort of 8887 men with up to 15 years of follow-up: results from three countries in the population-based National Prostate Cancer Registry of Sweden.

Background: To decide on screening strategies and curative treatments for prostate carcinoma, it is necessary to determine the incidence and survival in a population that is not screened.

Methods: The 15-year projected survival data were analyzed from a prospective, complete, population-based registry of 8887 patients with newly diagnosed prostate carcinoma from 1987 to 1999.

Results: The median patient age at diagnosis was 75 years (range, 40-96 years), and 12% of patients were diagnosed before the age 65 years.

CSF levels of neurofilament is a valuable predictor of long-term outcome after cardiac arrest.

Aims: Prognostication of brain damage after cardiac arrest mainly relies on clinical observations. Recently, it has been shown that biochemical markers of brain damage measured in serum aid in this process. In the present study, we wanted to test the usefulness of CSF determinations of a neuronal protein, the neurofilament protein (NFL).

Cumulative prostate cancer risk assessment with the aid of the free-to-total prostate specific antigen ratio.

Objective: To evaluate the cumulative risk of having a prostate cancer diagnosis in a repeated screening situation in relation to the free-to-total prostate specific antigen ratio (F/T-PSA).

Patients And Methods: The present study includes 1385 men (aged 50-70 years) who underwent prostate biopsy for the first time in the screening program that started in 1995. In case of a benign finding, the men have been followed biennially and new biopsies performed in case of persistently elevated PSA.

Free-to-total prostate-specific antigen ratio as a predictor of non-organ-confined prostate cancer (stage pT3).

Objective: To evaluate whether the free-to-total prostate-specific antigen (F/T-PSA) ratio can be used to differentiate between stage pT2 and pT3 prostate cancer.

Material And Methods: A total of 176 consecutive patients from the Göteborg Screening Study (median T-PSA 4.2 ng/ml) who underwent radical prostatectomy (without neoadjuvant hormonal therapy) were included in the study.

Intestinal nitric oxide output during reduced mucosal blood flow in healthy volunteers.

Objective: Nitric oxide regulates epithelial permeability and other properties of the intestinal mucosal barrier. It previously has been shown in animals that intestinal mucosal nitric oxide production is impaired during gut hypoperfusion. The study was performed to confirm the presence of intestinal mucosal nitric oxide production in humans and to investigate the effect of gut hypoperfusion due to moderate arterial hypotension on intestinal nitric oxide concentrations.

Citation classics in anaesthesia and pain journals: a literature review in the era of the internet.

Background: The number of citations an article receives reflects its scientific impact. The introduction of internet-based resources to search and access articles has made it possible to review even whole scientific areas. This study identifies the top 50 most-cited articles over the last 25 years in specialty journals dedicated to anaesthesia and pain, respectively.

Prognostic factors and survival in node-positive (N1) prostate cancer-a prospective study based on data from a Swedish population-based cohort.

Objective: At presentation of prostate cancer, patients with proven lymph node metastasis (N1) are comparatively rare. It is difficult to give prognostic information based on the present literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of known risk factors in patients with pelvic node involvement and without distant metastasis.

A clinical evaluation of the hearing disability and handicap scale in men with noise induced hearing loss.

During the last 30 years several hearing disability and handicap questionnaires have been designed and used for clinical purposes. The present study includes a review of the most frequently used scales. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Hearing Disability and Handicap Scale (HDHS), which is a shortened and modified version of the Hearing Measurement Scale.