Glycemia, lipidemia and systolic left ventricular function evaluated by myocardial strain rate: a tissue Doppler echocardiographic study.

Recent studies have indicated that hyperglycemia and insulin resistance are significantly correlated to left ventricular (LV) long-axis function, and it seems that optimized glycemic control is significantly related to improved LV function. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between glucose metabolism, lipid levels and LV long-axis function in normal subjects. The study population consisted of 20 unselected male patients, free of medication and without history of cardiac disease.

Pharmacokinetic characterization of a pig model of ciclosporin A nephrotoxicity following intravenous administration.

Background: Recently, we investigated pharmacokinetics and acute nephrotoxicity of oral ciclosporin A (CsA) in pigs. We found that pigs require higher oral CsA doses to obtain comparable area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) levels to renal transplant patients. The purpose of this study was to examine pharmacokinetics and possible acute renal effects of intravenous CsA in order to further characterize the pig as a model of CsA nephrotoxicity.

Diastolic dysfunction after an acute myocardial infarction in patients with antecedent hypertension.

Objective: We sought to assess changes in the left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with antecedent hypertension and an acute myocardial infarction.

Methods: A group of 38 patients with antecedent hypertension and acute myocardial infarction were compared with an age-matched nonhypertensive control group. There was a 30-day follow-up.

Outcome of site-specific fascia repair for rectocele.

Background: This article presents the anatomic and functional outcome of site-specific fascia repair for rectocele performed under local anesthesia. Methods. In this case series, 51 consecutive patients underwent site-specific rectocele repair under local anesthesia.

Ultrasound and MRI before and after radical hysterectomy: does the operation affect the pelvic floor muscles?

Purpose: To evaluate pelvic floor muscles and bladder neck mobility before and after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound.

Methods: A prospective follow-up study of 22 patients studied with MRI and ultrasound preoperatively, three and 12 months after radical hysterectomy was carried out.

Results: Bladder neck mobility was decreased three months postoperatively, but one year after the operation, it had almost attained the preoperative level.

Acute demyelinizating encephalomyelitis (ADEM) as initial presentation of primary HIV infection.

The authors report a patient with sexual exposure, clinical symptoms, MRI, virological and CSF findings suggestive of acute demyelinizating encephalomyelitis (ADEM) as initial presentation of primary HIV infection. The aetiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of ADEM is reviewed, and the sparse existing literature on ADEM and HIV infection is discussed.

Ultrasound measurement of joint cartilage thickness in large and small joints in healthy children: a clinical pilot study assessing observer variability.

Background: Loss of joint cartilage is a feature of destructive disease in JIA. The cartilage of most joints can be visualized with ultrasonography (US). Our present study focuses on discriminant validity of US in children.

Transesophageal tissue Doppler echocardiography for evaluation of myocardial function during aortic valve replacement.

Objective: Tissue Doppler imaging is an evolving ultrasound technology that, compared with traditional echocardiography, promises reduced subjectivity in the assessment of myocardial performance and contributes new information on myocardial function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of transesophageal tissue Doppler imaging in the setting of aortic valve replacement.

Design: Feasibility study.

No beneficial effects of coronary thrombectomy on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with acute S-T elevation myocardial infarction: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the effect of acute coronary thrombectomy, as adjunctive treatment to primary percutaneous coronary intervention, on the systolic and diastolic left ventricular function, in patients with acute S-T elevation myocardial infarction.

Methods: In a prospective randomized study, patients with acute S-T elevation myocardial infarction were randomized to treatment with primary percutaneous coronary intervention with or without thrombectomy. Outcome measures were left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction in addition to systolic long-axis function, estimated from the tissue Doppler systolic velocities of the mitral ring.

Urodynamic and ultrasound characteristics of incontinence after radical hysterectomy.

Aims: To test whether symptoms of urinary incontinence after radical hysterectomy could be objectified with urodynamics and ultrasound.

Methods: This case-control study comprised 100 women who underwent radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer without post-operative radiotherapy. Fifty women reporting urinary incontinence were matched with 50 women reporting continence.

Unusual balloon rupture during direct stenting with a TaxusExpress stent in a venous graft complicated by vessel rupture: a device-related fatal event.

A 70-year-old male with a prior coronary artery bypass operation presented with increasing episodes of chest pain. Coronary angiography revealed severe disease of the left anterior descending artery (LAD), CX, and RCA. A left internal mammary artery to LAD was patent.

Renal effects of long-term ciclosporin A treatment in a large animal model.

Background: Most experimental studies of chronic ciclosporin A (CsA) nephrotoxicity have been performed in rodents; however, the pig possesses several advantages. The aim of this study was to investigate renal functional and structural changes during CsA treatment with 20 mg/kg/day for 6 months in a pig model.

Methods: Gottingen minipigs were randomized to oral CsA treatment or as controls.

Commonly used reference genes are actively regulated in in vitro stimulated lymphocytes.

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) studies of urine sediments have demonstrated an increased expression of cytotoxin genes during episodes of acute rejection of renal allografts. To compensate for differences in initial sample size and cDNA preparation, standard Q-PCR experiments involve normalization to a reference gene. Although stable expression of reference genes is a prerequisite for any Q-PCR analysis, commonly used reference genes have demonstrated a varying expression across tissues and various stimuli.

Subclinical coronary and aortic atherosclerosis detected by magnetic resonance imaging in type 1 diabetes with and without diabetic nephropathy.

Background: Patients with type 1 diabetes and nephropathy maintain an excess cardiovascular mortality compared with diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria. We sought to evaluate coronary and aortic atherosclerosis in a cohort of asymptomatic type 1 diabetic patients with and without diabetic nephropathy using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods And Results: In a cross-sectional study, 136 subjects with long-standing type 1 diabetes without symptoms or history of cardiovascular disease, including 63 patients (46%) with nephropathy and 73 patients with normoalbuminuria, underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging.

Adaptation of nonrevascularized human hibernating and chronically stunned myocardium to long-term chronic myocardial ischemia.

It is unknown whether human chronically ischemic dysfunctional myocardium degenerates over time or adapts to chronic ischemia. We studied whether perfusion, metabolism, and contractile function and reserve can be preserved in nonrevascularized human chronically stunned and hibernating myocardium. We studied 16 event-free, medically treated patients with ejection fractions of 31 +/- 2% and chronically stunned or hibernating myocardium in 56 +/- 5% of the left ventricle on technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography/fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography.

Cysteine 138 mutation in HIV-1 Nef from patients with delayed disease progression.

Background: The nef gene from HIV-1 has been shown to be an important pathogenic factor when considering development of AIDS. Detection of nef variants with an effect on immune modulation is important to understand HIV-1 pathogenesis and has possible impact on treatment strategies.

Methods: The nef gene of HIV-1 isolates from patients in a long-term non-progressor (LTNP) cohort and a slow-progressor (SP) cohort (n = 11) was analysed and compared with isolates from a control patient group of progressors (n = 18).

Telmisartan attenuates chronic ciclosporin A nephrotoxicity in a pig model.

Background: We have previously demonstrated renal enlargement in pigs treated with ciclosporin A (CsA) 10 mg/kg/day orally for 6 months. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of oral CsA (10 mg/kg/day) for 12 months on kidney structure and function and the potential renoprotective role of angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blocker telmisartan on chronic CsA nephrotoxicity in pigs.

Methods: Fourteen Göttingen minipigs aged 12-14 months were included: pigs received either CsA 10 mg/kg/day (n = 7) or CsA 10 mg/kg/day + telmisartan 40 mg/day (n = 7) orally for 12 months.

Two neisseria meningitidis strains with different ability to stimulate toll-like receptor 4 through the MyD88-independent pathway.

Neisseria meningitidis causes acute severe diseases, including sepsis and meningitis, and more benign manifestations such as chronic meningococcemia or colonization of the upper respiratory tract. The inflammatory response, which contributes to the pathogenesis of meningococcal disease, is initiated by pattern recognition receptors, among which Toll-like receptors (TLR)s have been ascribed a particularly important role. We have previously demonstrated that N.

A novel splice mutation in the TP53 gene associated with Leydig cell tumor and primitive neuroectodermal tumor.

A 20-month-old boy presented with precocious puberty due to a Leydig cell tumor, and at the age of 6 years with a primitive neuroectodermal brain-tumor (PNET). A novel splice site mutation of the TP53-gene, likely to be associated with a nonfunctional protein, was found in the proband, his father and younger sister, but only the proband has so far developed malignancy. The clinical phenotype in the boy is suggestive of Li-Fraumeni syndrome, but the family does not strictly conform to the canonical definition.

Plasma holotranscobalamin compared with plasma cobalamins for assessment of vitamin B12 absorption; optimisation of a non-radioactive vitamin B12 absorption test (CobaSorb).

Background: A recently developed non-radioactive vitamin B(12) absorption test (CobaSorb) was further explored to identify the best marker for reflection of vitamin B(12) absorption and to determine the duration of the test.

Methods: Seventy-eight healthy individuals (age 21-81 years) were given three oral doses of 9 microg vitamin B(12) per day for 5 successive days. Non-fasting blood samples were collected on days 1 to 5 before administration of vitamin B(12) and on day 8.

Aseptic meningitis caused by reactivation of varicella-zoster virus in two immunocompetent patients.

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) may be a more frequent causative factor of aseptic meningitis than previously anticipated. Here we present 2 cases of reactivation of VZV in immunocompetent individuals, resulting in meningitis and affection of multiple cranial nerves, and discuss the incidence, clinical spectrum, pathogenesis, diagnostics and options for treatment.

A review of anti-D treatment of childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Treatment of childhood idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is still an area of controversy. We reviewed the literature on anti-D treatment. Most studies used intravenous anti-D.

Psychosocial impact of Chlamydia trachomatis testing in general practice.

Background: Urogenital Chlamydia trachomatis infections are widespread, and each year many tests are performed in general practice.

Aim: First, to quantify the magnitude of stigmatization, problems related to partner, and anxiety of infertility among men and women tested for C. trachomatis in general practice.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adolescents between 10 and 19 years of age in Denmark--secondary publication.

Introduction: Data seem to indicate that young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have a better survival when treated with pediatric protocols compared with adult ALL protocols. The purpose of the study was to report the clinical characteristics and outcome of all children and young adults 10-19 years of age diagnosed with ALL in Denmark between 1992 and 2001.

Material: The study includes 99 patients 10-19 years of age with ALL in Denmark during a ten year period found in the complete NOPHO (Nordic Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology) registry and through the Danish Cancer Registry and local pathology databases.

Live Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Neisseria meningitidis activate the inflammatory response through Toll-like receptors 2, 4, and 9 in species-specific patterns.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition receptors (PRR) that recognize molecular structures on pathogens and activate host defenses. Although much is known about specific bacterial components that activate TLRs, few studies have addressed the question of which TLRs are involved in immune activation by live bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that live Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and Neisseria meningitidis, the three principal causes of bacterial meningitis, use distinct sets of TLRs to trigger the inflammatory response.