Reduction of oscillatory pressure along the endotracheal tube is indicative for maximal respiratory compliance during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation: a mathematical model study.

We hypothesized that during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV), a reduction of peak-to-peak oscillatory pressure along the endotracheal tube is maximal when respiratory system compliance is maximal. We made a mathematical model of the endotracheal tube and the respiratory system of a neonate suffering from idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome (IRDS). The model consisted of linear viscous and inertive elements, a non-linear endotracheal tube resistance, and a non-linear compliance allowing for alveolar recruitment and overdistention.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting for identification of a core group of Neisseria gonorrhoeae transmitters in the population attending a clinic for treatment of sexually transmitted diseases in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis seems well suited for studying the epidemiology of isolates of Neisseria gonorrhoeae obtained from patients attending the Sexually Transmitted Disease Outpatient Clinic in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It shows potential to identify the core group of transmitters.

The shape of the aging human lens: curvature, equivalent refractive index and the lens paradox.

Scheimpflug slit images of the crystalline lens are distorted due to the refracting properties of the cornea and because they are obliquely viewed. We measured the aspheric curvature of the lens of 102 subjects ranging in age between 16 and 65 years and applied correction for these distortions. The procedure was validated by measuring an artificial eye and pseudophakic patients with intraocular lenses of known dimensions.

Normal expression of the 19-DEJ-1 epitope in two siblings with late-onset junctional epidermolysis bullosa.

We describe two siblings with late-onset junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) (formerly called epidermolysis junctionalis progressiva). This is a subtype of autosomal recessive JEB characterized by late onset of the symptoms, between the ages of 5 and 8 years. The symptoms are mechanobullous lesions preferentially situated on hands and feet, nail dystrophy, loss of dermatoglyphic pattern, tooth enamel abnormalities and hyperhidrosis.

Hypophosphatemia and hypomagnesemia induced by cooling in patients with severe head injury.

Object: Induced hypothermia in patients with severe head injury may prevent additional brain injury and improve outcome. However, this treatment is associated with severe side effects, including life-threatening cardiac tachyarrhythmias. The authors hypothesized that these arrhythmias might be caused by electrolyte disorders and therefore studied the effects of induced hypothermia on urine production and electrolyte levels in patients with severe head injury.

Frederine, a new and promising protector against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity.

The flavonoid 7-monohydroxyethylrutoside (monoHER) can protect against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. A drawback of monoHER therapy would be the relatively high dose needed to obtain complete protection (500 mg/kg in mice). Therefore, we synthesized a series of new compounds with improved antioxidant properties.

Allelic IGF2R repression does not correlate with expression of antisense RNA in human extraembryonic tissues.

In the mouse, expression of an antisense Igf2r RNA (Air) is correlated with Igf2r repression on the paternal allele. One of the possible models for Igf2r repression could be through promoter competition or through the action of the Air RNA, in, e.g.

The hinged-door composite septal flap as structural support and lining of nasal reconstruction by a forehead flap.

In this paper we describe four patients who underwent extensive nasal surgery for carcinoma in the nasal vestibule. Two patients underwent salvage surgery after radiotherapy, whereas the other two patients were treated with primary surgery. In all cases the nasal defect was reconstructed using a composite hinged-door septal flap for structural support and internal lining combined with a paramedian forehead flap which supplied the skin coverage.

Expression of retinoic acid receptor gamma correlates with retinoic acid sensitivity and metabolism in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines.

Retinoids, analogues of vitamin A, can reverse premalignant lesions and prevent second primary tumors in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The effects of retinoids are mediated by retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs), which act as ligand-activated transcription factors. The regulation of cell growth, differentiation and retinoid metabolism in normal, premalignant and malignant cells by retinoids is thought to be a result of their effects on gene expression.

Experimental and clinical evaluation of iterative reconstruction (OSEM) in dynamic PET: quantitative characteristics and effects on kinetic modeling.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to investigate the quantitative properties and effects of ordered-subset expectation maximization (OSEM) on kinetic modeling compared with filtered backprojection (FBP) in dynamic PET studies. Both phantom and patient studies were performed.

Methods: For phantom studies dynamic two-dimensional emission scans with 10-min frames and 20-min scan intervals were acquired over a 14-h period using an HR+ PET scanner.

Optimal quality (131)I-monoclonal antibodies on high-dose labeling in a large reaction volume and temporarily coating the antibody with IODO-GEN.

Unlabelled: A novel, facile procedure for efficient coupling of high doses of (131)I to monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) was developed with minimal chemical and radiation damage.

Methods: To diminish the radiation and chemical burden during labeling, iodination was performed in a large reaction volume and by temporarily coating the MAb with a minimal amount of IODO-GEN. The MAb was coated by injection of IODO-GEN (dissolved in acetonitrile [MeCN]) into the aqueous MAb solution, and the coating was subsequently removed by addition of ascorbic acid.

Quantification of BNP7787 (dimesna) and its metabolite mesna in human plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A sensitive and accurate assay was developed and validated to determine BNP7787 (dimesna), a new protector against cisplatin-induced toxicities, and its metabolite mesna in plasma and urine of patients. Both analytes were measured as mesna in deproteinized plasma or in urine diluted with mobile phase using high-performance liquid chromatography with an electrochemical detector provided with a wall-jet gold electrode. The assays for BNP7787 and mesna in deproteinized plasma were linear over the range of 1.

Translation and adaptation of a questionnaire to assess the group processes of rehabilitation team conferences.

Objective: To investigate the internal consistency, the domain structure and the influence of social desirability with regard to a questionnaire translated and adapted to assess the quality of rehabilitation team conferences in the Netherlands.

Study Design: A questionnaire to determine group decision-making processes was translated and adapted to rehabilitation and completed by 44 rehabilitation professionals.

Results: The internal consistency of the domains Personal participation, Negative socio-emotional behaviour, Result satisfaction and Process satisfaction was found to be satisfactory (Cronbach's alpha ranges from 0.

Modulation of both endogenous folates and thymidine enhance the therapeutic efficacy of thymidylate synthase inhibitors.

Plasma levels of folates and thymidine in mice are about 10-fold higher than in humans and may influence the therapeutic efficacy of thymidylate synthase (TS) inhibitors, such as 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and the antifolates pemetrexed (MTA) and raltitrexed (RTX). Therefore, we tested their therapeutic efficacy in various murine tumor models, grown in mice on a normal and a folate-depleted diet, with high and low thymidine kinase (TK) levels. MTA and RTX were inactive against Colon-26-10 [doubling times gained by treatment; growth delay factor (GDF), 0.

Activity of the EBNA1 promoter associated with lytic replication (Fp) in Epstein-Barr virus associated disorders.

Background/aims: In Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive cell lines that are stably infected, three different promoters are known to direct the transcription of EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1). These are located in the BamHI-C, BamHI-Q, and BamHI-F regions of the viral genome (Cp, Qp, and Fp, respectively). Fp is activated upon induction of the viral lytic cycle.

First trimester diagnosis of split hand/foot by transvaginal ultrasound.

Objective/method: First trimester high-frequency transvaginal ultrasonographic examination was performed in a 26-year-old gravida 2, para 1, diagnosed with tetramelic split hands and feet. The couple was informed about the probable 50% recurrence risk of this anomaly.

Results: At 12 weeks' gestation, high-frequency transvaginal ultrasound examination revealed a fetus with biometry consistent with gestational age.

Pubertal maturation characteristics and the rate of bone mass development longitudinally toward menarche.

To assess risks for osteoporosis and to compare bone mass in different groups of healthy children or children with diseases, it is important to have knowledge of their sexual maturation status during puberty. The aim of our study was to evaluate bone mass formation longitudinally in relation to pubertal maturation characteristics in healthy white girls. We investigated the bone mineral content (BMC) and the bone mineral density (BMD) at different skeletal sites in 151 girls with increasing pubertal stages in relation with their chronological age and with an early or late onset of puberty or menarche and with a slow or fast maturation.

Monocyte-chemoattractant-protein-1-mediated migration of human monocytes towards blasts from patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

Purpose: In the present study the possible clinical relevance of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was established.

Methods: The pattern of migration of human monocytes towards the supernatants of blasts from 15 patients with AML was studied and the role of MCP-1, produced by these blasts, was assessed.

Results: In 4 patients (group 1) the amount of monocyte migration was low and not inhibited by the addition of anti-hMCP-1.

Traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta: time to diagnosis and treatment.

Survival of patients with traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta (TRTA) depends on early surgical repair. Six cases of TRTA were treated at our institution in 7 years. Time to diagnosis was 1.

Large populations of non-clonogenic early apoptotic CD34-positive cells are present in frozen-thawed peripheral blood stem cell transplants.

Apoptosis is the common cell death pathway which is initiated by a variety of different stimuli. The recognition of early apoptotic events would markedly improve reliability and convenience of apoptosis assays. In the present study the vital stain SytoR 16 in combination with the permeability marker 7-amino actinomycin D, (7-AAD) has been used to identify an early stage of apoptosis, not detected with trypan blue or 7-AAD alone or with conventional apoptosis tests and not consistently and only partly detected by the early apoptosis marker annexin V.

Decreased smooth muscle cell/extracellular matrix ratio of media of femoral artery in patients with atherosclerosis and hyperhomocysteinemia.

The aim of this study was to determine whether the morphology of the muscular femoral artery in patients with atherosclerosis and hyperhomocysteinemia differs from that of atherosclerotic vessels from patients with normal homocysteine levels. Whole-vessel biopsies of the superficial femoral artery were taken from patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic disease with and without hyperhomocysteinemia and from patients without atherosclerosis from traumatic amputations. The morphology of these specimens was studied qualitatively by light and electron microscopy and quantitatively by light microscopy in combination with a video overlay system.

Coagulopathy following major liver resection: the effect of rBPI21 and the role of decreased synthesis of regulating proteins by the liver.

This prospective study investigated the role of reduced hepatic synthesis of regulating proteins in coagulopathy after partial hepatectomy (PH) compared with major abdominal surgery (MAS) without involvement of the liver. Furthermore, we studied the effect of rBPI21, an endotoxin-neutralizing agent, on coagulopathy after PH was studied. Compared with MAS, PH resulted in significantly elevated levels of thrombin-antithrombin-III and plasmin-alpha2-antiplasmin complexes.

HLA-G expression in trophoblast cells circulating in maternal peripheral blood during early pregnancy.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the use of circulating trophoblast cells in maternal peripheral blood for noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of numeric chromosomal aberrations.

Study Design: A combined procedure for immunocytochemical identification and deoxyribonucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization was used after a single enrichment step consisting of density gradient centrifugation. A specific HLA-G monoclonal antibody was used in combination with X and Y chromosome specific probes in deoxyribonucleic acid fluorescence in situ hybridization to confirm fetal identity of cells bearing HLA-G in the case of a male fetus.

Surgery in adults with tethered cord syndrome: outcome study with independent clinical review.

Object: The authors conducted a study to evaluate the risks and short-term benefits of surgical treatment for tethered cord syndrome (TCS) in patients older than 18 years of age.

Methods: The authors studied a series of 57 consecutive adult patients with TCS of varying origins. Patients were examined by the same neurologist in a standardized fashion before and after surgery, and most were followed for at least 2 years postoperatively.