Real-time ultrasound elastography - a new tool for diagnosing thyroid nodules.

Introduction: Real-time elastography (RTE) is a non-invasive ultrasound method of estimation of tissue stiffness by measuring the degree of local tissue displacements after a small compression. Recent data has shown its ability to differentiate benign from malignant tumours. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of RTE in the diagnosis of malignant and benign thyroid nodules.

Disturbed expression of splicing factors in renal cancer affects alternative splicing of apoptosis regulators, oncogenes, and tumor suppressors.

Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most common type of renal cancer. One of the processes disturbed in this cancer type is alternative splicing, although phenomena underlying these disturbances remain unknown. Alternative splicing consists of selective removal of introns and joining of residual exons of the primary transcript, to produce mRNA molecules of different sequence.

Chromogranin A (CgA)--the influence of various factors in vivo and in vitro, and existing disorders on it's concentration in blood.

Chromogranin A (CgA) is regarded as a major, nonspecific neuroendocrine tumour (NET) marker. The results of CgA blood concentration, however, may actually be influenced by various factors or coexisting pathological conditions. Among the factors causing a substantial increase of the blood CgA concentration are: treatment with proton-pump inhibitors or H₂-receptor blockers, chronic atrophic gastritis (type A), impaired renal function, prostate cancer and BPH, and rheumatoid arthritis with high level of RF IgM.

The differences in chromogranin A (CgA) concentrations measured in serum and in plasma by IRMA and ELISA methods.

Introduction: Chromogranin A (CgA) is regarded as a major, nonspecific marker of neuroendocrine tumors (NET). Its estimation appears helpful for diagnostic purposes and is particularly useful for monitoring the treatment of NET. It must be kept in mind, however, that various factors, drugs, or coexisting diseases may influence the outcome of CgA measurement in blood.

Untranslated regions of thyroid hormone receptor beta 1 mRNA are impaired in human clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Thyroid hormone receptor β1 (TRβ1) is a hormone-dependent transcription factor activated by 3,5,3'-l-triiodothyronine (T3). TRβ1 functions as a tumor suppressor and disturbances of the THRB gene are frequent findings in cancer. Translational control mediated by untranslated regions (UTRs) regulates cell proliferation, metabolism and responses to cellular stress, processes that are involved in carcinogenesis.

Renal carcinoma infiltrating inferior vena cava and combined valvular heart disease--one-stage uro-cardiological procedure: a case report.

Standard treatment of patients with coexisting cardiac and non-cardiac diseases includes two separate operations. We report a case of 55-year-old man with combined valvular heart disease and renal carcinoma infiltrating inferior caval vein, who underwent one-stage cardio-urologic procedure. In the first step, mitral and tricuspid valvuloplasty were performed by cardiac surgeons.

Constructing a standard climacteric scale.

Issues relating to the design of scales and their psychometric properties are discussed in the context of constructing a standard measure of core climacteric symptoms. Seven factor analytic studies of climacteric symptoms are examined to determine whether or not there is sufficient consensus across studies to permit agreement on the symptom content and the structure of such a scale. It is argued that these factor analytic studies do indeed contain sufficient consensus on the basis of which a standard climacteric scale can be constructed.

Tilt-induced changes in haemodynamic parameters in patients with cardiac resynchronisation therapy - a pilot study.

Background: Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) has become a standard care in selected patients with advanced chronic heart failure (CHF). In order to achieve an adequate clinical response, CRT parameters have to be optimised following implantation. This procedure is usually performed on a patient in a supine position; however, measurement of haemodynamic parameters in an upright position may be clinically important.

Thyroid hormone - triiodothyronine - has contrary effect on proliferation of human proximal tubules cell line (HK2) and renal cancer cell lines (Caki-2, Caki-1) - role of E2F4, E2F5 and p107, p130.

Background: Triiodothyronine regulates proliferation acting as stimulator or inhibitor. E2F4 and E2F5 in complexes with pocket proteins p107 or p130 stop cells in G1, repressing transcription of genes important for cell cycle progression. p107 and p130 inhibits activity of cyclin/cdk2 complexes.

Amorous squeezing of the augmented breast may result in late capsular hematoma formation: A report of two cases (and a review of English-language literature on late hematoma formation in the augmented breast).

Late hematoma formation is a rare complication of augmentation mammaplasty. Late hematoma formation related to excessive or vigorous squeezing of the breast during sexual activity has not been described. We present 2 such cases and review the English-language literature on all causes of late hematoma formation after breast augmentation reported thus far.

Long-term outcome after an early invasive versus selective invasive treatment strategy in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome and elevated cardiac troponin T (the ICTUS trial): a follow-up study.

Background: The ICTUS trial was a study that compared an early invasive with a selective invasive treatment strategy in patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndrome (nSTE-ACS). The study reported no difference between the strategies for frequency of death, myocardial infarction, or rehospitalisation after 1 year. We did a follow-up study to assess the effects of these treatment strategies after 4 years.

Contraception usage over the age of 40 in Polish female population aged 45 - 54.

Objective: Analysis of particular contraception method usage over the age of 40 as declared by Polish women aged 45-54 according to their education level and place of residence.

Method: The research was conducted with help of a standardized questionnaire in a Polish nationwide representative sample of women aged 45-54 years (n = 1083) in April 2004.

Results: 28% of sexually active women over 40 years old did not use any contraception methods.

Are general practitioners' assessments of housing applicants' health accurate?

Public sector housing is often allocated on the basis of the 'vulnerability' of applicants. As part of assessing vulnerability, housing departments request assessments from applicants' general practitioners (GPs). GP assessments submitted over 3 years to a local authority housing department were analysed.

The Cinderella section: room for improvement in the documentation and implementation of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983.

A questionnaire sent to all 43 police forces in England and Wales confirmed that there was a lack of understanding of the documentation issued by central government detailing section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. A survey of forensic physicians in England and Wales reveal that doctors providing medical care in police stations had insufficient knowledge of the Act.

Systematic review of published multi-practice audits from British general practice.

Background: Audit has been a major part of attempts to improve patient care in Britain, with substantial resources devoted to it since the 1990 National Health Service reforms. Systematic reviews have considered audit to be of variable, but often moderate, effectiveness. However, these have included few studies from British primary care, and as quality improvement activities may be context specific, it is hard to judge how effective audit has been here.

Access by the unaccompanied under-16-year-old adolescent to general practice without parental consent.

Background: The views of primary health care providers concerning their willingness to consult with under-16-year-old adolescent patients without the presence of a parent or guardian are not well documented. Many young people believe they have to be aged over 16 years to see their general practitioner (GP) alone. Confidentiality is a major concern for young people.

Dysphonia: medical treatment and a medical voice hygiene advice approach. A prospective randomised pilot study.

For many years all patients with dysphonia referred to in the literature as resulting from non-organic (functional) voice disorders were sent to speech therapy. Medical diagnoses were not taken into account. In our earlier Cochrane review on vocal cord nodules we discovered that evidence-based research in the area of benign voice disorders with dysphonia, and with or without slight benign swellings including nodules on the vocal cords, was lacking at that time.

Clinical evaluation of Double Strength Isotrexin versus Benzamycin in the topical treatment of mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

Background: Topical retinoid therapy has been shown to be an effective means of treating both the inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions of acne vulgaris.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of the test product, a gel containing isotretinoin 0.1% w/w and erythromycin 4.

Randomized controlled trial of general practitioner tutor visit or mailing to encourage general practice-based education.

Objectives: Evaluation of a general practitioner tutor visit, or mailing, with regard to the amount of practice-based education occurring in general practices.

Design: An initial survey of all practices in the Mersey Deanery was undertaken. General practices which replied were randomly allocated to receive a GP tutor visit (n=38), to receive a mailing (n=38) or to a control group (n=36).

Intraorbital bamboo foreign body in a chronic stage: case report.

A case of intra-orbital bamboo foreign body in a chronic stage is presented. This case seems to confirm the importance of radiological examination, including three-dimensional computed tomography to choose the optimal surgical approach to remove the foreign body.

Rapid structural characterisation of a murine monoclonal IgA alpha chain: heterogeneity in the oligosaccharide structures at a specific site in samples produced in different bioreactor systems.

A murine hybridoma cell line which secretes a monoclonal IgA antibody, directed against the LPS antigen of Vibrio cholerae, was grown in either a continuous stirred tank reactor, a fluidised bed reactor or a hollow fibre reactor. Different methods were used for the structural characterisation of the IgA alpha chains. A classical approach consisted of Edman sequencing and mass determination of peptides separated by reversed phase HPLC.

Recent advances in antidepressant drug therapy.

Many new antidepressants are available for use. The acute effects of administration are mainly manifested as side-effects, whereas the chronic effects take 2-3 weeks to set in and are responsible for therapeutic action. Such changes may include formation and release of neurotransmitters, changes in pre-synaptic uptake, and changes in receptor density and sensitivity.

Constructing a standard climacteric scale.

Issues relating to the design of scales and their psychometric properties are discussed in the context of constructing a standard measure of core climacteric symptoms. Seven factor analytic studies of climacteric symptoms are examined to determine whether or not there is sufficient consensus across studies to permit agreement on the symptom content and the structure of such a scale. It is argued that these factor analytic studies do indeed contain sufficient consensus on the basis of which a standard climacteric scale can be constructed.