Serious cardiac arrhythmias after stroke: incidence, time course, and predictors--a systematic, prospective analysis.

Background And Purpose: Patients with acute cerebrovascular events are susceptible to serious cardiac arrhythmias, but data on the time course and the determinants of their onset are scarce.

Methods: The prospective Stroke-Arrhythmia-Monitoring-Database (SAMBA) assessed cardiac arrhythmias with need for urgent evaluation and treatment in 501 acute neurovascular patients during the first 72 hours after admission to a monitored stroke unit. Arrhythmias were systematically detected by structured processing of telemetric data.

A novel chip-based parallel transfection assay to evaluate paracrine cell interactions.

The speed of gene function analyses in mammalian cells was significantly increased by the introduction of cell chip technology (reversely transfected cell microarray). However, the presently available technique is restricted to the analysis of autocrine effects of genes in the transfected cells. This limits the power of this method, as many genes are involved in heterotypic signaling both in physiologic and pathologic processes.

A structured reading algorithm improves telemetric detection of atrial fibrillation after acute ischemic stroke.

Background And Purpose: Anticoagulation is a highly effective secondary prevention in patients with cardioembolic stroke and atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF). However, the condition remains underdiagnosed, because paroxysmal AF may be missed by diagnostic tests in the acute phase. In this study, the sensitivity of AF detection was assessed for serial electrocardiographic recordings and continuous stroke unit telemetric monitoring with or without a structured algorithm to analyze telemetric data (SEA-AF).

Leucite-reinforced glass ceramic inlays luted with self-adhesive resin cement: a 2-year in vivo study.

Objectives: Aim of the present prospective controlled clinical study was to compare the clinical performances of two different cementation procedures to lute IPS Empress inlays and onlays.

Methods: Eighty-three IPS Empress restorations (70 class-II inlays, 13 onlays/47 premolars, 36 molars) were placed in 30 patients (19 females/11 males, mean age=39 years). Two cementation procedures were tested: group 1: forty-three restorations were luted with a self-adhesive resin cement (RelyX Unicem, RX, 3M ESPE); group 2: forty restorations were luted with an etch-and-rinse multistep adhesive (Syntac Classic, Ivoclar-Vivadent) and Variolink II low (SV, Ivoclar-Vivadent).

Isolation of endothelial cells from human tumors.

Antiangiogenic drugs have been used successfully for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) and several other tumor types. Until recently, viable tumor endothelial cells (TEC) and normal endothelial cells of uninvolved colon tissue (NEC) from the same patient have not been available to optimize treatment strategies in vitro. Here, we describe a protocol for the isolation of TEC and NEC.

Standardized antipyretic treatment in stroke: a pilot study.

Background: Fever after acute cerebral injury is associated with unfavorable functional outcome and increased mortality, but there is controversy about the optimal antipyretic treatment. This study investigated an institutional standard operating procedure (SOP) for fever treatment in stroke patients including a sequence of pharmacologic and physical interventions.

Methods: A 4-step antipyretic SOP was established for patients with acute cerebral ischemia or hemorrhage and a body temperature ≥37.

Intracellular trafficking of guanylate-binding proteins is regulated by heterodimerization in a hierarchical manner.

Guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) belong to the dynamin family of large GTPases and represent the major IFN-γ-induced proteins. Here we systematically investigated the mechanisms regulating the subcellular localization of GBPs. Three GBPs (GBP-1, GBP-2 and GBP-5) carry a C-terminal CaaX-prenylation signal, which is typical for small GTPases of the Ras family, and increases the membrane affinity of proteins.

Increased expression of guanylate binding protein-1 in lesional skin of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

The large GTPase human guanylate binding protein-1 (GBP-1) is a key mediator of angiostatic effects of inflammation and is induced by interferon (IFN)-α and IFN-γ in endothelial cells (ECs). The aim of this study was to investigate whether GBP-1 is a marker of skin lesions in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Western blotting revealed that GBP-1 was in vitro induced by IFN-α and -γ in primary keratinocytes obtained from healthy controls.

Reverse transfected cell microarrays in infectious disease research.

Several human pathogenic viruses encode large genomes with often more than 100 genes. Viral pathogenicity is determined by carefully orchestrated co-operative activities of several different viral genes which trigger the phenotypic functions of the infected cells. Systematic analyses of these complex interactions require high-throughput transfection technology.

Role of guanylate binding protein-1 in vascular defects associated with chronic inflammatory diseases.

Rheumatic autoimmune disorders are characterized by a sustained pro-inflammatory microenvironment associated with impaired function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and concomitant vascular defects. Guanylate binding protein-1 (GBP-1) is a marker and intracellular regulator of the inhibition of proliferation, migration and invasion of endothelial cells induced by several pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, GBP-1 is actively secreted by endothelial cells.

Operator vs. material influence on clinical outcome of bonded ceramic inlays.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to clinically evaluate the suitability of Definite Multibond and Definite ormocer resin composite for luting of Cergogold glass ceramic inlays in a two-center trial involving two dentists.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients received 98 Cergogold inlays with at least one inlay luted with Definite Multibond/Definite (n=45) and at least one inlay luted with Syntac/Variolink Ultra (n=53) in a split mouth design. Treatments were carried out in two private practices by two operators (Operator A: n=38; Operator B: n=60).

IPS Empress inlays luted with a self-adhesive resin cement after 1 year.

Purpose: To prospectively compare the clinical performance of two different resin composites for luting IPS Empress inlays and onlays.

Methods: 83 IPS Empress restorations were placed in 30 subjects. All restorations were inserted under rubber dam.

Liver fibrogenesis due to cholestasis is associated with increased Smad7 expression and Smad3 signaling.

Background/aims: Profibrogenic TGF-beta signaling in hepatic stellate cells is modulated during transdifferentiation. Strategies to abrogate TGF-beta effects provide promising antifibrotic results, however, in vivo data regarding Smad activation during fibrogenesis are scarce.

Methods: Here, liver fibrosis was assessed subsequent to bile duct ligation by determining liver enzymes in serum and collagen deposition in liver tissue.

Vacuum application increases therapeutic safety and allows intensified local radiation treatment of malignant soft-tissue tumors.

Purpose: In order to simplify and improve outcome of radiation therapy and final defect coverage in patients suffering from invasive soft-tissue tumors, brachytherapy and application of V.A.C.