Biliary acute pancreatitis in mice is mediated by the G-protein-coupled cell surface bile acid receptor Gpbar1.

Background & Aims: The mechanisms by which reflux of bile acids into the pancreas induces pancreatitis are unknown. We reasoned that key events responsible for this phenomenon might be mediated by Gpbar1, a recently identified and widely expressed G-protein-coupled, cell surface bile acid receptor.

Methods: Acute pancreatitis was induced in wild-type and Gpbar1(-/-) mice by either retrograde ductal infusion of taurolithocholic acid-3-sulfate (TLCS) or supramaximal secretagogue stimulation with caerulein.

Diffusion tensor imaging, white matter lesions, the corpus callosum, and gait in the elderly.

Background And Purpose: Gait impairment is common in the elderly, especially those with stroke and white matter hyperintensities on conventional brain MRI. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) is more sensitive to white matter damage than conventional MRI. The relationship between DTI measures and gait has not been previously evaluated.

Public health consequences of chronic kidney disease.

With its rising incidence and prevalence, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health concern, both in the United States and worldwide. Recent worldwide initiatives have attempted to garner attention for CKD by emphasizing that the condition is "common, harmful, and treatable." In the United States, as many as 26 million adults may have CKD, an increase from approximately 10% of the US adult population between 1988 and 1994 to >13% just one decade later.

Manifestations of cutaneous sarcoidosis: a case report of an African American woman.

Cutaneous sarcoidosis is challenging to diagnose due to its many nonspecific manifestations. In this report we describe a case of cutaneous sarcoidosis in a patient presenting with multiple lesions. Diagnosis of the disease involves not only clinical and pathologic findings but also multiple exclusions.

Ezetimibe, and the combination of ezetimibe/simvastatin, and risk of cancer: A post-marketing analysis.

Background: In the recently reported Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis (SEAS) trial, the combination of ezetimibe/simvastatin (E/S) was associated with a significantly increased risk of cancer compared to placebo, causing widespread public concern.

Objective: We examined the rates of cancer adverse event reports filed with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of patients on ezetimibe or E/S, and compared these to reports with other potent cholesterol-lowering drugs.

Methods: We tabulated all adverse event reports listing "cancer" or "malignancy" filed with the FDA (July 2004 to March 2008) of patients taking ezetimibe or E/S, and compared those to reports of patients taking simvastatin, atorvastatin, or rosuvastatin.

Pediatric psoriasis: updates in biologic therapies.

Psoriasis is not a rare disease in the pediatric population. Early recognition and treatment is necessary to improve the physical and psychological symptoms of psoriasis and minimize its adverse effects on future health. In moderate-to-severe cases, treatment is challenging.

Extended-release niacin reduces LDL particle number without changing total LDL cholesterol in patients with stable CAD.

Background: The importance of the number of circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol particles, in addition to total LDL level, has been increasingly recognized. The effects of extended-release niacin (ERN) on LDL particle numbers have not been studied.

Objective: To evaluate ERN's effects on LDL particle numbers.

Statins, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and risk of cancer.

Objectives: We sought to assess whether statin-mediated reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are associated with an increased risk of cancer.

Background: We recently reported an inverse association between on-treatment LDL-C levels and incident cancer in statin-treated patients enrolled in large randomized controlled trials, raising concern that LDL-C lowering by statins may increase cancer risk. However, meta-analyses suggest a neutral overall effect of statins on incident cancer.

Acupuncture for pain relief in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review.

Objective: To systematically review the efficacy of acupuncture on pain relief in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: We performed a comprehensive search of 12 western and Chinese databases and reference lists through March 2008. We included randomized controlled trials with pain as an end point, measured by tender joint count (TJC) or a pain scale.

Functional mineralocorticoid receptors in human vascular endothelial cells regulate intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and promote leukocyte adhesion.

In clinical trials, aldosterone antagonists decrease cardiovascular mortality and ischemia by unknown mechanisms. The steroid hormone aldosterone acts by binding to the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), a ligand-activated transcription factor. In humans, aldosterone causes MR-dependent endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction and in animal models, aldosterone increases vascular macrophage infiltration and atherosclerosis.