Radiographic evaluation of scoliosis: self-assessment module.

Objective: The educational objectives for this self-assessment module are for the participant to exercise, self-assess, and improve his or her understanding of evaluation of scoliosis using radiography.

Conclusion: The solutions to the questions in this activity review the imaging characteristics of radiologic evaluation of scoliosis.

Osteoporosis: What a clinician expects to learn from a patient's bone density examination.

Osteoporosis has lately become recognized as an important disease on two accounts. On one hand, demographic change has resulted in a greatly increased and increasing burden of morbidity and mortality due to osteoporotic fracturing. On the other hand, lifestyle changes and preventive measures have become recognized as important factors in prevention of both osteoporosis and osteoporotic fractures, while several effective drug treatments have recently become available to treat osteoporosis by increasing bone density and reducing fracture incidence.

Effects of endplate removal on the structural properties of the lower lumbar vertebral bodies.

Study Design: A biomechanical investigation using indentation tests in human cadaveric lumbar vertebrae.

Objectives: To determine the effect of endplate removal on the structural properties across the lower lumbar vertebral bodies (L3-L5).

Summary Of Background Data: The structural properties of the vertebral endplates exhibit substantial regional variation.

The tumour suppressor p33ING1 does not regulate migration and angiogenesis in melanoma cells.

The tumour suppressor ING1 shares many biological functions with p53, such as cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, apoptosis, and chemosensitivity. Since p53 inhibits invasion and angiogenesis of melanoma cells, we sought to investigate if p33ING1 (one of ING1 isoforms) is also involved in these biological processes. We first overexpressed p33ING1 in melanoma cells and assessed the protein levels in MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9.

The tumour suppressor p33ING1 does not enhance camptothecin-induced cell death in melanoma cells.

The tumour suppressor ING1 shares many biological functions with p53, such as cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, apoptosis, and chemosensitivity. Previous findings indicate that the isoform p24ING1 is capable of enhancing chemosensitivity in human fibroblasts. To investigate if the p33ING1 isoform is also involved in chemosensitivity, we overexpressed p33ING1 in melanoma cells and assessed for cell death after treatment with camptothecin.

Mapping the structural properties of the lumbosacral vertebral endplates.

Study Design: A biomechanical investigation using indentation tests in a human cadaveric model to seek variation in the structural properties across the lower lumbar and sacral endplates.

Objectives: To determine 1) if there are regional differences in endplate strength and 2) whether any differences identified are affected by spinal level (lumbar spine vs. sacrum) or endplate (superior vs.

Laminar distribution of cholinergic- and serotonergic-dependent plasticity within kitten visual cortex.

Both cholinergic and serotonergic modulatory projections to mammalian striate cortex have been demonstrated to be involved in the regulation of postnatal plasticity, and a striking alteration in the number and intracortical distribution of cholinergic and serotonergic receptors takes place during the critical period for cortical plasticity. As well, agonists of cholinergic and serotonergic receptors have been demonstrated to facilitate induction of long-term synaptic plasticity in visual cortical slices supporting their involvement in the control of activity-dependent plasticity. We recorded field potentials from layers 4 and 2/3 in visual cortex slices of 60--80 day old kittens after white matter stimulation, before and after a period of high frequency stimulation (HFS), in the absence or presence of either cholinergic or serotonergic agonists.

Defective NK cell activation in X-linked lymphoproliferative disease.

X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP) is characterized by a selective immune deficiency to EBV. The molecular basis of XLP has been attributed to mutations of signaling lymphocytic activation molecule-associated protein, an intracellular molecule known to associate with the lymphocyte-activating surface receptors SLAM and 2B4. We have identified a single nucleotide mutation in SLAM-associated protein that affects the NK cell function of males carrying the mutated gene.

Thrombin-stimulated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity in platelets is associated with activation of PYK2 tyrosine kinase: activation of both enzymes is aggregation independent.

In this study, we investigated the activation of a new member of the focal adhesion kinase family of tyrosine kinases, the proline-rich tyrosine kinase, or PYK2, in platelets. We show that PYK2 is tyrosine phosphorylated and its activity is increased during early stages of platelet aggregation. This activation coincided with increased association of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase and PYK2, as determined by both anti-PI 3-kinase and anti-PYK2 immunoprecipitates.

Effects of astrocytes on neuronal attachment and survival shown in a serum-free co-culture system.

In order to study the neurosupportive effects of glial cells, we optimized a glial-neuron non-contact co-culture method. Astrocyte conditioned medium (ACM) and an astrocyte feeder layer were used to promote neuronal attachment and neuronal survival respectively. Neuron-enriched cultures were prepared from cortices of E-18 day rat embryos.

Bronchiectasis: accuracy of high-resolution CT in the differentiation of specific diseases.

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine whether various causes of bronchiectasis can be differentiated by the pattern and distribution of abnormalities seen on high-resolution CT.

Materials And Methods: The retrospective study included 82 consecutive patients who had a specific diagnosis of bronchiectasis proven by appropriate clinical and laboratory criteria. All patients underwent high-resolution CT scanning (1- to 1.

Primary pulmonary Hodgkin's disease: CT findings in three patients.

The computed tomography (CT) findings in three patients with primary pulmonary Hodgkin's disease are reported. Two patients had unilateral upper lobe cavitated masses and one patient had bilateral lower lobe nodules.

Ceramide and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) induce cAMP response element binding protein phosphorylation via distinct signaling pathways while having opposite effects on myeloid cell survival.

The role of ceramide as a second messenger is a subject of great interest, particularly since it is implicated in signaling in response to inflammatory cytokines. Ceramide induces apoptosis in both cytokine-dependent MC/9 cells and factor-independent U937 cells. Elevation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels inhibits apoptosis induced by ceramide and several other treatments.

Psoriatic plaques exhibit red autofluorescence that is due to protoporphyrin IX.

In evaluating the autofluorescence properties of normal and diseased skin we discovered that psoriatic plaques can emit a distinct red fluorescence when illuminated with UVA or blue light. Using a macrospectrofluorometer equipped with a 442 nm excitation laser, a sharp in vivo fluorescence emission peak around 635 nm could be demonstrated within the plaques of 34 of 75 (45%) patients with psoriasis. This peak was absent from normal appearing skin of psoriatic patients and also from the skin of 66 patients with other dermatologic diseases.

Development and implementation of asthma guidelines.

In recent years there has been concern regarding asthma management, with a number of studies identifying poor management. In addition, prevalence, and until relatively recently mortality, have been increasing in patients with asthma. In parallel with these developments has been the publication of a large number of asthma guidelines.

Technical report: Cystic air spaces in the lung: change in size on expiratory high-resolution CT in 23 patients.

Purpose: To determine the presence of change in size of air-filled cysts in the lung on expiration by comparison between inspiratory and expiratory high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans.

Materials And Methods: Inspiratory and expiratory high-resolution (1-mm collimation) CT scans were obtained in 23 patients with lung cysts due to a variety of lung diseases. The 23 patients had a total of 27 types of cystic lesions including bullae (n=7), honeycomb cysts due to fibrosing alveolitis (n=11), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM, n=2), cystic adenomatoid malformation (n=1), and bronchiectasis (n=6).

Long-term elution of antibiotics from bone-cement: an in vivo study using the prosthesis of antibiotic-loaded acrylic cement (PROSTALAC) system.

A prospective study of 49 patients undergoing a modified 2-stage exchange arthroplasty for infected total hip and knee arthroplasties using the prosthesis of antibiotic-loaded acrylic cement (PROSTALAC) system with a variety of doses of tobramycin and vancomycin was performed. The intra-articular concentrations of tobramycin and vancomycin were measured at the time of removal of the PROSTALAC temporary spacer and reimplantation of a definitive joint arthroplasty prosthesis, at a mean 118 days following initial implantation. The 95% confidence interval of the intra-articular concentration of tobramycin (4.

Invasive aspergillosis in the immunocompromised host: utility of computed tomography and bronchoalveolar lavage.

Objective: Bronchoalveolar lavage is performed almost routinely in immunocompromised patients with suspected pneumonia, but it has a low yield in the diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether computed tomography (CT) is helpful in determining the likelihood of a positive bronchoalveolar lavage by allowing distinction of patients with angioinvasive aspergillosis from those with Aspergillus bronchopneumonia.

Methods And Results: A retrospective study was performed including consecutive immunocompromised patients with suspected pneumonia who underwent CT scanning of the chest and bronchoalveolar lavage and who had definite diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis.

A rare cause of dyspnea and arterial hypoxemia.

Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a rare pattern of dyspnea with arterial hypoxemia. Platypnea is defined as dyspnea induced by upright posture, and it is relieved by the recumbent position. Orthodeoxia refers to arterial desaturation resulting from assuming an erect or upright position.

An open study to assess the efficacy and safety of topical 3% diclofenac in a 2.5% hyaluronic acid gel for the treatment of actinic keratoses.

Background: Actinic keratoses are potential precursors of invasive squamous cell carcinoma; therefore, treatment is often recommended. Current topical treatments may cause considerable discomfort, pain, or skin irritation. This study was established to explore the role, if any, of topical 3% diclofenac in 2.

Airway obstruction in asthmatic and healthy individuals: inspiratory and expiratory thin-section CT findings.

Purpose: To determine differences in computed tomographic (CT) findings in asthmatic and healthy individuals and to correlate the findings with severity of airway obstruction.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-nine asthmatic patients and 14 healthy subjects were prospectively evaluated with thin-section CT. Inspiratory CT scans were subjectively evaluated for presence of bronchial wall thickening, bronchial dilatation, and mosaic lung attenuation; expiratory scans were subjectively evaluated for presence of air trapping.

The diagnosis and significance of bacteriuria in people with spinal cord injury.

Quantitative urine cultures are used to identify individuals in whom urine in the bladder is not sterile, that is, those who have bacteriuria. In people with spinal cord injury the criteria which best distinguish specimen contamination from bacteriuria have been established, and are lower than the traditional ≥1055 CFU/ml criterion. Bacteriuria mayor may not be symptomatic, and the benefits of treatment mayor may not outweigh the risks.