Correlation of calcification on excised aortic valves by micro-computed tomography with severity of aortic stenosis.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The quantification of incidentally found aortic valve calcification on computed tomography (CT) is not performed routinely, as data relating to the accuracy of aortic valve calcium for estimating the severity of aortic stenosis (AS) is neither consistent nor validated. As aortic valve calcium quantification by CT is confounded by wall and coronary ostial calcification, as well as motion artifact, the ex-vivo micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) of stenotic aortic valves allows a precise measurement of the amounts of calcium present. The study aim, using excised aortic valves from patients with confirmed AS, was to determine if the amount of calcium on micro-CT correlated with the severity of AS.

Er:YAG laser debonding of porcelain veneers.

Background And Objectives: The removal of porcelain veneers using Er:YAG lasers has not been previously described in the scientific literature. This study was designed to systematically investigate the efficacy of an Er:YAG laser on veneer debonding, possibly without damage to the underlying tooth, and preservation of the veneer integrity.

Study Design/materials And Methods: The Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy was used on 10 flat veneer samples (IPS Empress Esthetic, e.

Exercise following organ transplantation: A critical part of the routine post transplant care.

There are many reasons for recommendation of regular physical activity for organ transplant recipients, including 1) Restoration of physical functioning following deconditioning experienced prior to transplant; 2) Most patients are physically inactivity, 3) The high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors that may be modified by regular physical activity; 4) Physical activity will optimize physical functioning following transplant; and 5) p; hysical activity may reduce or attenuate side effects of immunosuppression. There are many recommendations for regular physical activity as an integral part of treatment of conditions that are common to transplant recipients, including: hypertension management; hyperlipidemia; Diabetes; and elevated cardiovascular disease risk. Transplant recipients tolerate progressive exercise training well and can achieve levels of functioning similar or higher than normal individuals.

Comparison between traditional 2-dimensional cephalometry and a 3-dimensional approach on human dry skulls.

The cephalogram is the standard used by orthodontists to assess skeletal, dental, and soft tissue relationships. This approach, however, is based on 2-dimensional (2D) views used to analyze 3-dimensional (3D) objects. The purpose of this project was to evaluate and compare a 3D imaging system and traditional 2D cephalometry for accuracy in recording the anatomical truth as defined by physical measurements with a calibrated caliper.

Vascular endothelial growth factor immunoneutralization plus Paclitaxel markedly reduces tumor burden and ascites in athymic mouse model of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is characterized by rapid growth of solid intraperitoneal tumors and production of large volumes of ascites. Our previous studies of intraperitoneal ovarian carcinoma in an athymic mouse model demonstrated that a monoclonal antibody (mAb) to human vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) could prevent ascites formation. Although ascites was almost completely inhibited, tumor burden was variably reduced.

NF-kappaB binds P-TEFb to stimulate transcriptional elongation by RNA polymerase II.

To stimulate transcriptional elongation of HIV-1 genes, the transactivator Tat recruits the positive transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb) to the initiating RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). We found that the activation of transcription by RelA also depends on P-TEFb. Similar to Tat, RelA activated transcription when tethered to RNA.

The role of ecotin dimerization in protease inhibition.

Ecotin is a homodimeric protein from Escherichia coli that inhibits many serine proteases of the chymotrypsin fold, often with little effect from the character or extent of enzyme substrate specificity. This pan-specificity of inhibition is believed to derive from formation of a heterotetrameric complex with target proteases involving three types of interface: the dimerization interface, a primary substrate-like interaction, and a smaller secondary interaction between the partner ecotin subunit and the protease. A monomeric ecotin variant (mEcotin) and a single-chain ecotin dimer (scEcotin) were constructed to study the effect of a network of protein interactions on binding affinity and the role of dimerization in broad inhibitor specificity.

Intrinsic and extrinsic control of cortical development.

Recent advances in the study of cerebral cortical early development are described in this chapter. The role of the anterior neural ridge in regulating telencephalon induction in the neural plate is discussed, followed by a review of the evidence for the roles of ventral, rostral and dorsal patterning centres in regulating regionalization of the telencephalon. The patterning centres produce secreted molecules (SHH, FGF, BMP, WNT) that regulate the expression of transcription factors which control regional identity, cell type specification, proliferation and differentiation.

Dopaminergic modulation of neuronal excitability in the striatum and nucleus accumbens.

The striatum and its ventral extension, the nucleus accumbens, are involved in behaviors as diverse as motor planning, drug seeking, and learning. Invariably, these striatally mediated behaviors depend on intact dopaminergic innervation. However, the mechanisms by which dopamine modulates neuronal function in the striatum and nucleus accumbens have been difficult to elucidate.

CC-chemokine receptor 5 polymorphism and age of onset in familial multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Group.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common disease of the central nervous system characterized by myelin loss and progressive neurological dysfunction. An underlying genetic susceptibility plays a clear role in the etiology of MS, likely acting in concert with an undefined environmental exposure. Full-genome screenings in multiplex MS families have identified several susceptibility regions, supporting a polygenic model for MS.

Tumor cells utilize multiple pathways to down-modulate apoptosis. Lessons from a mouse model of islet cell carcinogenesis.

Apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death, plays a critical role in many normal and pathological (disease) processes. In normal tissues, apoptosis functions in the homeostatic maintenance of proper tissue and organ size by eliminating aged cells to offset the birth of new cells that arise by mitosis. In disease, apoptosis can affect the pathological process is two disparate ways.

The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus alters rhythms in core temperature and energy balance in a state-dependent manner.

Exposure to chronic stress facilitates activity within the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and is associated with enhanced neuronal activity in a discreet set of brain regions, including the posterior division of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (pPVTh). Because HPA function is intimately associated with systems that regulate metabolism, including core temperature and energy balance, we examined the effects of chronic stress on circadian rhythms in temperature, locomotor activity, body weight gain and food intake and adipose depot weights in rats. We also examined the potential role of the pPVTh in mediating these functions using ibotenate lesions of this nucleus.

Identification of motor pathways during tumor surgery facilitated by multichannel electromyographic recording.

Object: The goal of this study was to determine the usefulness of electromyographic (EMG) recording in locating motor pathways near the central sulcus or internal capsule during surgery.

Methods: Multichannel EMG recordings were compared with visual observation of contralateral body movement that was elicited by direct cortical or subcortical stimulation used to identify motor pathways before and during tumor resection. The EMG recordings were more sensitive than visual observation alone in identifying motor responses: in 30% of cases, responses were identified by EMG recording alone at some point during the operation and, in 9% of cases, EMG responses were the only responses observed.

Retinoids and cell growth in the cardiovascular system.

Deficiency of vitamin A and its retinoid metabolites has been associated with a number of developmental abnormalities in the cardiovascular system. Many of these effects are mimicked by targeted deletion of retinoic acid receptors in the embryo. Retinoids also display anti-growth activity in fully differentiated cardiac and vascular cells.

Early use of ACE inhibitors in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction in the United States: experience from the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 2. National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 2 participants.

This study was undertaken to examine recent trends in the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors within 24 hours of admission in patients hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to identify clinical factors associated with ACE inhibitor-prescribing patterns. Demographic, procedural, and acute medication use from 202,438 patients with AMI were collected at 1,470 US hospitals participating in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction 2 from June 1994 through June 1996. Acute ACE inhibitor use increased from 14.

Prevention of adverse events in hospitalized patients using an antimicrobial review program.

Objective: To evaluate whether an antimicrobial review system is associated with a reduction in antimicrobial-associated adverse events.

Design: All antimicrobial medication orders for patients hospitalized over a two-year period were evaluated. High-level interventions intended to prevent adverse antimicrobial events were collated.

Prostate cancer: prediction of extracapsular extension with endorectal MR imaging and three-dimensional proton MR spectroscopic imaging.

Purpose: To determine if the addition of three-dimensional (3D) proton magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopic imaging to endorectal MR imaging helps diagnose extracapsular extension (ECE) of prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Endorectal MR imaging and 3D MR spectroscopic imaging were performed in 53 patients with prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy. MR imaging studies were evaluated by two independent readers unaware of histopathologic findings.

Prostate cancer: localization with three-dimensional proton MR spectroscopic imaging--clinicopathologic study.

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of combined magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and three-dimensional (3D) proton MR spectroscopic imaging in the detection and localization of prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: MR imaging and 3D MR spectroscopic imaging examinations were performed in 53 patients with biopsy-proved prostate cancer and subsequent radical prostatectomy with step-section histopathologic examination. The prostate was divided into sextants.