Gastric-juice ammonia assay for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection and the relationship of ammonia concentration to gastritis severity.

Objectives: To determine the test characteristics of gastric-juice ammonia concentration as measured by an ion-selective electrode and a rapid ammonia detection device for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection and to assess the relationship between gastric-juice ammonia concentration and the severity of gastritis.

Methods: Patients undergoing upper endoscopy had collection of gastric juice that was tested for ammonia using an ion-selective electrode and a rapid ammonia assay device that uses a pH-indicating membrane. A receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated for ammonia concentration.

Nurses' knowledge of wound irrigation and pressures generated during simulated wound irrigation.

Objective: Our objective was to describe nurses' knowledge of wound irrigation and their ability to produce appropriate irrigation pressures established by the US Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) during simulated procedures.

Subjects And Setting: A convenience sample of 28 registered nurses and licensed practical nurses from a university medical center in the Northwest United States comprised the subjects.

Methods: Participants were asked to complete a demographic data sheet and a questionnaire related to wound irrigation and to perform 2 simulated wound irrigations.

Allogeneic marrow transplantation for primary myelofibrosis and myelofibrosis secondary to polycythaemia vera or essential thrombocytosis.

Primary myelofibrosis is a clonal haemopoietic disorder, incurable with conventional therapy, and associated with a median survival of 4-5 years. Patients with polycythaemia vera and essential thrombocytosis who progress into a myelofibrotic picture also have a poor prognosis. Between 1980 and 1996, 13 patients with myelofibrosis due to one of these three myeloproliferative disorders (primary myelofibrosis [n=8], essential thrombocytosis [n=3], polycythaemia vera [n=2]) underwent allogeneic marrow transplantation in Seattle.

Chromatin structure of the lymphocyte Fc epsilon receptor gene (CD23): identification of an upstream transcriptional enhancer.

The low-affinity receptor for IgE of lymphocytes, Fc epsilonRII or CD23, is likely to play pivotal roles in normal B cell differentiation, EBV induced B cell immortalization and regulation of the IgE response to allergens and to parasitic infection. We have studied the expression of CD23 mRNA in several cell contexts. In EBV-infected Burkitt lymphoma cells, we have confirmed that high levels of expression are determined largely at the level of gene transcription by performing nuclear run-on transcription analyses and stability determinations of CD23 mRNA in actinomycin D chase experiments.

Bernard-Soulier syndrome with severe bleeding: absent platelet glycoprotein Ib alpha due to a homozygous one-base deletion.

Bernard-Soulier syndrome is a rare congenital platelet disorder that affects a surface membrane adhesion receptor, glycoprotein (GP) Ib-V-IX. Both the genetic defects and the bleeding diatheses associated with the syndrome are heterogeneous due, in part, to the complexity of the involved receptor which consists of four different members, GPs: Ib alpha-Mr 143 K (contains the von Willebrand factor-binding site), Ib beta-Mr 22 K, V-Mr 83 K and IX-Mr 20 K. We studied a kindred that includes a 40 year-old man with severe Bernard-Soulier syndrome: life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding, thrombocytopenia, giant platelets and absent ristocetin-dependent platelet aggregation.

The effect on the insulin-like growth factor system in human prostate epithelial cells of immortalization and transformation by simian virus-40 T antigen.

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system has been demonstrated to be important for proliferation and differentiation in tissues. This system has also been demonstrated to be an important regulator of the growth of normal prostate epithelium and has been implicated in the process of transformation to human epithelial prostate cancer. This study examined the function of the various components of the IGF system in benign prostate epithelium (BPE), simian virus-40 (SV40)-T antigen-immortalized prostate epithelial cells, P69SV40-T (P69), and two sublines generated from the parental line by serial passage through athymic mice: one tumorigenic (M2182) and one metastatic (M12).

Magnetic resonance neurography for cervical radiculopathy: a preliminary report.

Magnetic resonance neurography was used to directly image cervical spinal nerves in patients with clinical and radiographic evidence of cervical radiculopathy. A magnetic resonance imaging phased-array coil system was used to obtain high-resolution coronal T1-weighted spin echo, coronal/axial T2-weighted fast spin echo with fat saturation, and coronal/axial fast short tau inversion recovery weighted images of the cervical spine and spinal nerves. Three patients with neck and upper extremity pain and one asymptomatic volunteer were studied.

Ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow: correlation of magnetic resonance imaging, clinical, electrodiagnostic, and intraoperative findings.

The diagnosis of ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow has relied primarily on clinical and electrodiagnostic findings. Recently, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used in the evaluation of peripheral nerve entrapment disorders to document signal and configuration changes in nerves. We performed a prospective study on a population of 31 elbows in 27 patients with ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow.

The platelet glycoprotein Ib-V-IX system: regulation of gene expression.

Platelet glycoproteins (GPs) Ib-V-IX form the surface receptor for von Willebrand factor, and this receptor-ligand interaction mediates the shear-dependent adhesion of platelets to damaged arterial vessel walls. The receptor is a multicomponent structure consisting of four distinct polypeptides (heterodimeric GPIb: Ib alpha-Mr143k and Ib beta-Mr22k; GPV-Mr83k; GPIX-Mr20k), and each of the four cDNAs and genes has been cloned and characterized. The genes appear to have evolved from a common progenitor genomic sequence related to that encoding GPIX.

Intrathoracic granulocytic sarcomas.

Recent trends in the treatment of intrathoracic granulocytic sarcoma (IGS) call for an overview of its radiographic manifestations. Nine patients from our institution and a review of 41 from the literature provide the basis of our conclusions on the typical and atypical appearance of IGS. Of the nine patients with IGS, all had chest radiographs, five had computed tomographic (CT) scans, and one had magnetic resonance (MR) scans.

Human platelet glycoproteins V and IX: mapping of two leucine-rich glycoprotein genes to chromosome 3 and analysis of structures.

Human platelet glycoproteins Ib alpha, Ib beta, V, and IX comprise an interrelated set of molecules (the Ib-V-IX system) that together form a surface adhesion receptor for the ligand, von Willebrand factor. To complete the primary structural characterization of the genes involved in this system, we have analyzed cosmid clones for both the glycoprotein V and IX genes and used these clones to localize the two genes by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Both genes were found on the long arm of chromosome 3, but at distinct sites, the GPV gene on 3 band q29 and the GP IX gene on 3 band q21.

The genetic defect in two well-studied cases of Bernard-Soulier syndrome: a point mutation in the fifth leucine-rich repeat of platelet glycoprotein Ib alpha.

Bernard-Soulier syndrome (B-Ss) is a rare congenital bleeding disorder caused by abnormal giant platelets, thrombocytopenia, and defective glycoprotein (GP) Ib-V-IX, the adhesion receptor for von Willebrand factor (vWF). This report describes the molecular defect in two related individuals with well-established B-Ss whose platelets exhibit decreased GPIb-IX and normal GPV on their surfaces. The GPIb-V-IX genes of the two patients were analyzed by Southern blotting, hetero-duplex analysis, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification/sequencing.

Psychophysiological responses after sudden cardiac arrest during hospitalization.

A sample of 21 sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) survivors were interviewed every 48 hours during hospitalization to determine emotional, cognitive, and physiological parameters of recovery. On the average, SCA survivors were not excessively anxious, depressed, angry, or confused during hospitalization, but they did report high levels of denial and uncertainty. The two most predominant cognitive impairments at the time of hospital discharge were loss of short-term memory and construction ability.

Structural characterization and chromosomal location of the gene encoding human platelet glycoprotein Ib beta.

Human platelet glycoprotein Ib beta (GPIb beta) (M(r) 22,000) is part of the GPIb-V-IX system that constitutes the receptor for von Willebrand factor and mediates platelet adhesion in the arterial circulation. The four members of the receptor (GPs Ib alpha, Ib beta, V, and IX) share structural and functional features. Individually, GPIb beta contributes to surface expression of the receptor and participates in transmembrane signaling through phosphorylation of its intracellular domain.

Local application of calcium antagonists inhibits intimal hyperplasia after arterial injury.

The local effect of the calcium channel antagonist diltiazem and the protein kinase inhibitor 1-5-(isoquinoline sulfonyl)-5-homopiperazine HCL (HA1077) on neointimal formation after arterial injury were investigated by the use of a perivascular drug-delivery system. Bilateral carotid artery balloon injury was produced in 130 rats. In six groups of 10 rats each, diltiazem or HA1077 at three doses (low, 0.

Human platelet glycoprotein V: characterization of the polypeptide and the related Ib-V-IX receptor system of adhesive, leucine-rich glycoproteins.

Human platelet glycoprotein (GP) V (M(r) 83,300), whose primary structure is reported here, is a part of the Ib-V-IX system of surface glycoproteins (GPs Ib alpha, Ib beta, V, IX) that constitute the receptor for von Willebrand factor (vWf) and mediate the adhesion of platelets to injured vascular surfaces in the arterial circulation, a critical initiating event in hemostasis. System members share physical associations, leucine-rich glycoprotein (LRG) structures, and a congenital deficiency state, Bernard-Soulier syndrome. With PCR techniques and platelet cDNA templates, 1.

Differential loss of dopamine D2 receptor mRNA isoforms during aging in Fischer-344 rats.

Effects of aging on the expression of dopamine D2 receptor isoforms (D2-long and -short) in neostriatal subregions was examined by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Hybridization of a probe selective for the D2-long transcript was compared with signal generated by a probe recognizing both variants of D2 mRNA. Lateral quadrants of the neostriatum in old rats appeared to show declines in primarily the long transcripts.

Differential induction of neurotensin and c-fos gene expression by typical versus atypical antipsychotics.

Precise neural mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology and pharmacotherapy of psychotic disorders remain largely unknown. Present studies investigated the effects of various antipsychotic drugs on expression of the gene encoding the purported endogenous antipsychotic-like peptide neurotensin (NT) in striatal regions of the rat brain. The results demonstrate that several clinically efficacious antipsychotic drugs selectively and specifically increase expression of NT/neuromedin N (NT/N) mRNA in the shell of the nucleus accumbens, a region of the forebrain associated with limbic systems.

The quality of life following antireflux surgery.

To improve the quality of life after antireflux surgery, the patient should notice improvement or disappearance of the symptoms leading to the surgery and should not acquire any new symptoms resulting from antireflux surgery. Published accounts of antireflux surgery results vary widely. Part of this variation may be due to nonstandard methods of evaluating symptoms.

Regulation of expression of the leukocyte integrin CD11a (LFA-1) molecule during differentiation of HL-60 cells along the monocyte/macrophage pathway.

The CD11a/CD18 (LFA-1) leukocyte integrin receptor mediates homotypic and heterotypic leukocyte adhesion by binding to one of two defined ligands, ICAM-1 or 2, on the conjugate cell. In this study we investigated the molecular regulation of expression of the CD11a subunit during myeloid differentiation of HL-60 cells. Induction of monocyte/macrophage differentiation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells with PMA results in an increase in CD11a surface Ag expression and the acquisition of CD11a/CD18-mediated homotypic adherence.

Prostate cancer tumor location as predicted by digital rectal examination transferred to ultrasound and ultrasound-guided prostate needle biopsy.

The advent of transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and the Biopty instrument (Bard Urologic) has revolutionized prostate biopsy (PNB). Theoretically the systematic multiple biopsy approach offers the advantage of less sampling error with respect to presence of carcinoma, grade of carcinoma and sites of tumor within the gland. These parameters may be important in selecting the therapeutic approach and, if radical prostatectomy is contemplated, in modifying the operation as indicated based on tumor location.

Quantitative morphometric analysis of the microcirculation in prostate carcinoma.

Many neoplasms have been shown to induce capillary neovascularization and this may correlate with aggressive behavior. We investigated the phenomenon of neovascularity in benign and malignant prostatic tissue. Microvessel profiles and tissue sections were visualized by antibodies to Factor VIII and standard immunohistochemical techniques, and quantified utilizing the Optimas computerized image analysis system.