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This page shows you the most recent publications within this specialty of the MedWorm directory. This is page number 31.

Primary progressive multiple sclerosis developing in the context of young onset Parkinson's disease
We report a patient with young onset Parkinson’s disease (PD) and a heterozygous point mutation in parkin (c.1000C>T; p.Arg334Cys). After 8 years he developed pyramidal signs and reinvestigation demonstrated MRI and laboratory findings supportive of a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) with a primary progressive (PP) clinical course. This is a previously un-described association of young onset PD with PPMS. Imaging clearly dates the occurrence of each disease as chronologically separate phenomena. There is not currently evidence for shared causation or pathogenesis between the two neurological disorders but we w...
Source: Multiple Sclerosis - January 9, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Sadnicka, A., Sheerin, U.-M., Kaplan, C., Molloy, S., Muraro, P. A. Tags: Case Study Source Type: research

Sleep estimation using BodyMedia's SenseWear™ armband in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Conclusion: The current data suggest that BSA is a reliable method for determining sleep in patients with OSA when compared against the gold standard test (PSG). BSA can be a useful tool in determining sleep in patients with OSA and can be combined with portable sleep studies to determine TST.
Source: Annals of Thoracic Medicine - January 9, 2013 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Munir M SharifAhmed S BaHammam Source Type: research

Oncogenic osteomalacia: loss of hypophosphatemia might be the key to avoid misdiagnosis
We present the case of a 42-year-old man with a long-term history of undiagnosed progressive muscle weakness. His laboratory results mainly showed low serum phosphate. Surgical removal of a nasal hemangiopericytoma that had been diagnosed five years earlier, brought him to a symptom-free condition. Even though knowing the underlying etiology would explain his osteomalacia, the patient sought medical help from countless physicians for five consecutive years, and only after adequate treatment a rewarding outcome was achieved. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metab. 2012;56(8):570-3A osteomalacia oncogênica é um diagnóstico clínico de...
Source: Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia e Metabologia - January 8, 2013 Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research

Type IA isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) consistent with compound heterozygous deletions of 6.7 and 7.6 Kb at the GH1 gene locus
The objective of this study was to characterize the molecular defect in a girl presenting IGHD. The patient was born at 41 weeks of gestation from non-consanguineous parents. Clinical and biochemical evaluation included anthropometric measurements, evaluation of pituitary function, IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels. Molecular characterization was performed by PCR amplification of GH1 gene and SmaI digestion of two homologous fragments flanking the gene, using genomic DNA from the patient and her parents as templates. At 1.8 years of age the patient presented severe growth retardation (height 61.2 cm, -7.4 SDS), truncal obesity, fro...
Source: Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia e Metabologia - January 8, 2013 Category: Endocrinology Source Type: research

Concentrated solar power with thermal energy storage can help utilities' bottom line, study shows
The storage capacity of concentrating solar power can add significant value to a utility company's optimal mix of energy sources, a new report by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory suggests.
Source: ScienceDaily Headlines - January 8, 2013 Category: Science Source Type: news

Fossils in Western Australia could hold clues for life on Earth ... and beyond
Traces of bacteria found in archaeologically productive Pilbara region may date from 3.5bn years agoScientists analysing Australian rocks have discovered traces of bacteria that lived a record-breaking 3.49bn years ago, a mere 1bn years after Earth formed.If the find withstands the scrutiny that inevitably faces claims of fossils this old, it could move scientists one step closer to understanding the first chapters of life on Earth. The discovery could also spur the search for ancient life on other planets.These traces of bacteria "are the oldest fossils ever described. Those are our oldest ancestors," said Nora Noffke, a ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - January 8, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Devin Powell Tags: Evolution Biology Archaeology Microbiology Geology Features Fossils Guardian Weekly Science Source Type: news

HPA update on seasonal norovirus activity: 8 January 2013
Latest figures from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show there have been 4,140 laboratory confirmed cases of norovirus this season (from week 27 to week 52 2012). The latest figures are 63 per cent higher than the number of cases reported at this point last year, when there were 2,535 cases.
Source: Health Protection Agency - January 8, 2013 Category: UK Health Source Type: news

Unlocking Secrets Of Protein
Scientists are using an instrument at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's High Flux Isotope Reactor to discover how a key binding protein protects our DNA double helix. This special Replication Protein, or RPA, is critical to keeping our hereditary information intact, which allows geneticists to track diseases that may be passed from one generation to another. RPA keeps the single DNA strands untangled and also prevents attacks by enzymes that can break up the DNA and render the code indecipherable...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 8, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Genetics Source Type: news

Steroids That Only Nature Could Make On A Large Scale - Until Now
Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) have achieved a feat in synthetic chemistry by inventing a scalable method to make complex natural compounds known as "polyhydroxylated steroids." These compounds, used in heart-failure medications and other drugs, have been notoriously problematic to synthesize in the laboratory...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 8, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry Source Type: news

Kleinman Receives Research to Prevent Blindness Career Development Award
Dr. Mark Kleinman, assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, has received a Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) Career Development Award. RPB Career Development Awards help recruit young doctors and scientists to eye research and support promising junior ophthalmology faculty. The $250,000 grant will be released over a period of four years beginning this January and will fund studies on the role of epigenetic regulation of inflammatory gene expression in age-related macular degeneration, a blinding disease that affects between 30 and 50 mil...
Source: UK College of Medicine News - January 8, 2013 Category: Universities & Medical Training Tags: 7H000 research Source Type: news

Pharmacology of myopia and potential role for intrinsic retinal circadian rhythms.
Abstract Despite the high prevalence and public health impact of refractive errors, the mechanisms responsible for ametropias are poorly understood. Much evidence now supports the concept that the retina is central to the mechanism(s) regulating emmetropization and underlying refractive errors. Using a variety of pharmacologic methods and well-defined experimental eye growth models in laboratory animals, many retinal neurotransmitters and neuromodulators have been implicated in this process. Nonetheless, an accepted framework for understanding the molecular and/or cellular pathways that govern postnatal eye develop...
Source: Experimental Eye Research - January 8, 2013 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Stone RA, Pardue MT, Iuvone PM, Khurana TS Tags: Exp Eye Res Source Type: research

[Anticoagulation of older patients: What is new?]
Abstract Vitamin-K antagonists (VKA) are the current standard for oral anticoagulation. However, they carry several problems in older patients: frequent bleeding complications, complex management, risk of interactions with multiple drugs. Two new classes of oral anticoagulants (NOA) are now available: direct thrombin inhibitors (dabigatran); and direct factor Xa inhibitors (rivaroxaban, apixaban) and others. Their management is easier: quickly effective after administration, they are given at fixed doses and do not need regular laboratory monitoring. Several randomized trials have shown that NOA are non-inferior to...
Source: Presse Medicale - January 8, 2013 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Lafuente-Lafuente C, Pautas E, Belmin J Tags: Presse Med Source Type: research

Gene therapy for retinal disease.
Abstract Gene therapy strategies for the treatment of inherited retinal diseases have made major advances in recent years. This review focuses on adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector approaches to treat retinal degeneration and, thus, prevent or delay the onset of blindness. Data from human clinical trials of gene therapy for retinal disease show encouraging signs of safety and efficacy from AAV vectors. Recent progress in enhancing cell-specific targeting and transduction efficiency of the various retinal layers plus the use of AAV-delivered growth factors to augment the therapeutic effect and limit cell death sugg...
Source: Translational Research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine - January 8, 2013 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: McClements ME, Maclaren RE Tags: Transl Res Source Type: research

Gnathia aureamaculosa, a likely definitive host of Haemogregarina balistapi and potential vector for Haemogregarina bigemina between fishes of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.
Abstract Investigations to determine whether juvenile gnathiid isopods are vectors of haemogregarines between coral reef fishes were undertaken at Lizard Island, Australia. Haemogregarina balistapi parasitaemias in triggerfish, Rhinecanthus aculeatus, decreased under gnathiid-free, laboratory conditions, compared with those in tagged R. aculeatus returned to the reef. Gnathia aureamaculosa juveniles were common ectoparasites of reef R. aculeatus and laboratory reared specimens of this gnathiid were fed on R. aculeatus infected with H. balistapi. Subsequent squashes of this gnathiid contained haemogregarine gamonts ...
Source: International Journal for Parasitology - January 8, 2013 Category: Parasitology Authors: Curtis LM, Grutter AS, Smit NJ, Davies AJ Tags: Int J Parasitol Source Type: research

Quantification of 31 illicit and medicinal drugs and metabolites in whole blood by fully automated solid-phase extraction and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
Abstract An efficient method for analyzing illegal and medicinal drugs in whole blood using fully automated sample preparation and short ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) run time is presented. A selection of 31 drugs, including amphetamines, cocaine, opioids, and benzodiazepines, was used. In order to increase the efficiency of routine analysis, a robotic system based on automated liquid handling and capable of handling all unit operation for sample preparation was built on a Freedom Evo 200 platform with several add-ons from Tecan and third-party vendors. Solid-phase ex...
Source: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry - January 8, 2013 Category: Chemistry Authors: Bjørk MK, Simonsen KW, Andersen DW, Dalsgaard PW, Sigurðardóttir SR, Linnet K, Rasmussen BS Tags: Anal Bioanal Chem Source Type: research

Effects of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) on the avoidance response, survival, growth and reproduction of earthworms (Eisenia fetida).
Abstract The effects of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) on avoidance response, survival, growth, and reproduction of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were investigated under laboratory conditions using natural and artificial soils as substrate. Results showed that no significant avoidance response was observed when earthworms were exposed to 0.1-1000mg/kg of BDE-209 for 48h. After 28-days exposure, no significant effects on survival and growth of adult earthworms was induced by 0.1-1000mg/kg of BDE-209 indicating the Lowest Observed Effect Level (LOEL) of BDE-209 on their survival and body weight was more than 1000mg/...
Source: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety - January 8, 2013 Category: Environmental Health Authors: Xie X, Qian Y, Wu Y, Yin J, Zhai J Tags: Ecotoxicol Environ Saf Source Type: research

Psychophysiological Responses to Stress Following Alcohol Intake in Social Drinkers Who Are at Risk of Hazardous Drinking.
We examined whether social drinkers whose drinking behavior poses a risk for harmful consequences exhibit altered psychobiological responses to stress following moderate alcohol intake. At risk (n=17) and low risk drinkers (n=27), as identified by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, completed two laboratory stress sessions, one in which they consumed a drink with alcohol and one without alcohol. Subjective and physiological measures were obtained throughout the study. Reported stimulation following alcohol consumption and sedation post-stress on alcohol day were greater than the no alcohol day in at risk drinker...
Source: Biological Psychology - January 8, 2013 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Nakajima M, Al'absi M, Kumar S, Wittmers L, Scott MS Tags: Biol Psychol Source Type: research

List of Reviewers
Source: Clinical and Laboratory Haematology - January 8, 2013 Category: Hematology Tags: List of Reviewers Source Type: research

Transoral robotic total laryngectomy
Conclusions:TORS total laryngectomy is feasible and can be taught to other surgeons. Potential benefits of this approach are present for patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy and include improved wound healing and functional results. This procedure further extends the applications of robotic head and neck surgery. Laryngoscope, 2012
Source: The Laryngoscope - January 8, 2013 Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Richard V. Smith, Bradley A. Schiff, Catherine Sarta, Stéphane Hans, Daniel Brasnu Tags: Head and Neck Source Type: research

Nobel laureate James Watson publishes novel hypothesis on curing late-stage cancers
(Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) In a new paper he regards "among my most important work since the double helix," Nobelist James Watson sets forth a novel hypothesis regarding the role of oxidants and antioxidants in cancers that are currently incurable, notably in late-stage metastatic cancers.
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - January 8, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news

Temocillin and Meropenem to discriminate resistance mechanisms leading to decreased carbapenem susceptibility with focus on OXA‐48 in Enterobacteriaceae
Abstract A temocillin MIC ≥ 128mg/L combined with the results of meropenem double disc synergy testing was used to (i) discriminate carbapenemase production from other resistance mechanisms leading to decreased carbapenem susceptibility and to (ii) differentiate Ambler classes in carbapenemase producing enterobacteriaceae (CPE). The suggested test algorithm discriminated all ESBL/AmpC from CPE isolates, which could further be divided correctly into Ambler classes A and B enzymes as well as OXA‐48 in all cases. The algorithm is simple to implement as part of the daily routine in a standard microbiology laboratory with l...
Source: Clinical Microbiology and Infection - January 8, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Rainer Hartl, Sarah Widhalm, Heidrun Kerschner, Petra Apfalter Tags: Research Note ‐ online only Source Type: research

NREL to help convert methane to liquid diesel
(DOE/National Renewable Energy Laboratory) The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory will help develop microbes that convert methane found in natural gas into liquid diesel fuel, a novel approach that if successful could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lower dependence on foreign oil.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - January 8, 2013 Category: Biology Source Type: news

Peliosis hepatis mimicking hepatic malignancy: A case report
In this study, we would like to report a case of peliosis hepatis which was misdiagnosed as a malignant tumor. An asymptomatic 41‐year‐old female was admitted to our hospital due to hepatic space occupying lesion which was discovered via ultrasound during health examination 10 days before the admission. She had no history of liver disease, and denied alcohol or drug abuse. Physical examinations revealed no icteric performance of skin and sclera, abdominal mass, hepatosplenomegaly or enlarged superficial lymph nodes. Laboratory examinations excluded abnormal liver function or the presence of viral hepatitis including he...
Source: Chinese Journal of Digestive Diseases - January 8, 2013 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Zi Wei Wang, Chao Yang Huang Tags: Case Report Source Type: research

RCT: Once-daily dolutegravir versus raltegravir in antiretroviral-naive adults with HIV-1 infection: 48 week results from SPRING-2 study
Source: Lancet Area: News The Lancet has featured the results of the SPRING-2 phase III study evaluating a new once-daily HIV integrase inhibitor dolutegravir, in comparison with raltegravir as initial treatment for adults with HIV-1. The 96-week, double-blind, active-controlled, non-inferiority study involved 822 patients aged ?18 years with HIV-1 infection and HIV-1 RNA concentrations of 1000 copies per mL or greater, who were randomised to receive dolutegravir 50 mg once daily (n=411) or raltegravir 400 mg twice daily (n=411). The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with HIV-1 RNA less than 5...
Source: NeLM - News - January 8, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

Mortality and cardiovascular events in online haemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) compared with high-flux dialysis: results from the Turkish OL-HDF Study
Conclusions The composite of all-cause mortality and nonfatal cardiovascular event rate was not different in the OL-HDF and in the high-flux HD groups. In a post hoc analysis, OL-HDF treatment with substitution volumes over 17.4 L was associated with better cardiovascular and overall survival.
Source: Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation - January 8, 2013 Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Ok, E., Asci, G., Toz, H., Ok, E. S., Kircelli, F., Yilmaz, M., Hur, E., Demirci, M. S., Demirci, C., Duman, S., Basci, A., Adam, S. M., Isik, I. O., Zengin, M., Suleymanlar, G., Yilmaz, M. E., Ozkahya, M., On behalf of the 'Turkish Online Haemodiafiltrat Tags: Intra- and Extracorporeal Treatments of Kidney Failure Source Type: research

Patient-level pooled analysis of adjudicated gastrointestinal outcomes in celecoxib clinical trials: meta-analysis of 51,000 patients enrolled in 52 randomized trials
Conclusions: When compared with nsNSAIDs, celecoxib is associated with a significantly lower risk of all clinically significant GI events throughout the entire GI tract. This pooled analysis of 52 RCTs significantly advances the understanding of the upper and lower GI safety profile of celecoxib and its potential benefits to patients.
Source: Arthritis Research and Therapy - January 8, 2013 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Andrew MooreGeoffrey MakinsonChunming Li Source Type: research

Micromorphological changes in cardiac tissue of drug‐related deaths with emphasis on chronic illicit opioid abuse
ConclusionsThere is a long‐term risk of cardiac dysfunction following chronic illicit drug abuse with opioids as a principal component. Regular cardiological examination of patients receiving substitution treatment with morphine is strongly recommended.
Source: Addiction - January 8, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: Monika H. Seltenhammer, Katharina Marchart, Pia Paula, Nicole Kordina, Nikolaus Klupp, Barbara Schneider, Christine Fitzl, Daniele U. Risser Tags: Research Report Source Type: research

Effect of Serelaxin on Cardiac, Renal, and Hepatic Biomarkers in the Relaxin in Acute Heart Failure (RELAX-AHF) Development Program Correlation With Outcomes
ConclusionsEarly administration of serelaxin was associated with a reduction of 180-day mortality, and this occurred with fewer signs of organ damage and more rapid relief of congestion during the first days after admission.
Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions - January 7, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Alternative Approach to Improving Survival of Patients With Out-of-Hospital Primary Cardiac Arrest
Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a common cause of death. In spite of recurring updates of guidelines, the survival of patients with OHCA was essentially unchanged from the mid 1970s to the mid 2000s, averaging 7.6% for all OHCA and 17.7% for OHCA due to ventricular fibrillation. In the past, changes in one's approach to resuscitation had to await the semi-decennial publications of guidelines. Following approved guidelines (at times based on consensus), survival rates of patients with OHCA were extremely variable, with only a few areas having good results. An alternative approach to improving survival is to use con...
Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Interventions - January 7, 2013 Category: Cardiology Source Type: research

Laboratory Analysis of Stardust
Analytical ChemistryDOI: 10.1021/ac303052p
Source: Analytical Chemistry - January 7, 2013 Category: Chemistry Authors: Ernst Zinner Source Type: research

Vomiting Robot Helps Researchers Study Norovirus
In an effort to find out how far the extremely contagious norovirus germs travel when a person with the sickness throws up, researchers have invented a vomiting robot. "Vomiting Larry" was created at the Health and Safety Laboratory in Britain. The reason he was developed was to help scientists understand the range of contamination norovirus has during episodes of projectile vomiting that is experienced by its sufferers. Norovirus causes serious projectile vomiting as well as diarrhea for up to 62 hours. After exposure to the virus, the symptoms start 12 to 48 hours later...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 7, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Source Type: news

Murderers beware: 'virtual autopsies' could revolutionise investigations
According to inventors of system, Virtopsies allow detection of injuries often undetectable in traditional methodsStand aside Dr Quincy, you may no longer be required: the inventor of a state-of-the-art computer-assisted autopsy system that is increasingly being used in European hospitals has claimed the technique could eventually mean there is no such thing as a "perfect murder".The method, called "Virtopsy", is now being used at selected forensic medical institutes in Europe, having been pioneered by a group of scientists at the University of Zurich. Instead of reaching for the scalpel and making the Y-shaped incision in...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - January 7, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Kate Connolly Tags: The Guardian Switzerland Medical research Police UK news Crime Editorial Science Source Type: news

Effect of the Oxidizer Composition on the CO and NOx Emissions from a Laboratory Combustor Operating under Oxy-Fuel Conditions
Energy & FuelsDOI: 10.1021/ef302079v
Source: Energy and Fuels - January 7, 2013 Category: Chemistry Authors: M. Alves, C. Rosa and M. Costa Source Type: research

Incident hypertension in older women and men with or at risk for HIV infection
ConclusionsHIV infection was not associated with incident HTN in older men or women. This study provides additional evidence supporting a causal relationship between immune function and incident HTN, which warrants further study.
Source: HIV Medicine - January 7, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: SH Factor, Y Lo, E Schoenbaum, RS Klein Tags: Original Research Source Type: research

New Solutions for Unstructured Data May Help With Clinical Laboratory and Anatomic Pathology Data
Existing unstructured anatomic pathology reports would directly benefit from novel word disambiguation approach under development at MIT Unstructured medical laboratory data is widely recognized to be one significant hurdle on the path toward the universal electronic health record (EHR). This is particularly true for anatomic pathology reports. Despite advances in synoptic reporting, to date, few [...]
Source: Dark Daily - January 7, 2013 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: admin Tags: Digital Pathology Instruments & Equipment Laboratory Instruments & Laboratory Equipment Laboratory Management and Operations Laboratory News Laboratory Pathology anatomic pathology Anna Rumshisky clinical laboratory EHR Electronic Medi Source Type: news

Fatness in older women 'may not be their fault'
Conclusion This mouse- and laboratory-based study has found that the enzyme Aldh1 plays a key role in fat formation. In females, oestrogen seems to repress the expression of one form of Aldh1, called Aldh1a3. A high-fat diet increases Aldh1a1. A high-fat diet seems to have different effects on females and males, and appears to signal the deposition of visceral fat around the organs and activate genes sensitive to retinoic acid – which is produced by Aldh1 enzymes – in females. The researchers have used this finding to suggest that fat deposition in women might change while they age, due to the decrease in oestroge...
Source: NHS News Feed - January 7, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Illumina to buy prenatal test developer Verinata Health for up to $450 million
Illumina Inc. will buy prenatal test company Verinata Health Inc. for $350 million and up to $100 million in milestone payments through 2015, the companies said Sunday. The deal signals another move by a manufacturer of laboratory-based gene-sequencing tools into diagnostics, one step away from consumers. Illumina (NASDAQ: ILMN) will gain control of Redwood City-based Verinata’s Verifi non-invasive prenatal test that identifies fetal chromosomal abnormalities, such as those found in Down syndrome. In…
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines - January 7, 2013 Category: Biotechnology Authors: Ron Leuty Source Type: research

Scientists Discover How Deadly Skin Cancer Spreads Into Other Parts Of The Body
After recently announcing success in eliminating melanoma metastasis in laboratory experiments, scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center have made another important discovery in understanding the process by which the gene mda-9/syntenin contributes to metastasis in melanoma (the spread of skin cancer) and possibly a variety of other cancers. Published in the journal Cancer Research, the study demonstrated that mda-9/syntenin is a key regulator of angiogenesis, the process responsible for the formation of new blood vessels in tumors...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 7, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Melanoma / Skin Cancer Source Type: news

Single Institutional Cost Analysis of 325 Robotic, Laparoscopic, and Open Partial Nephrectomies
Objective: To compare costs associated with partial nephrectomy (PN) using robotic, laparoscopic (LPN), and open (OPN) approaches.Methods: An Investigational Review Board-approved prospectively maintained database was reviewed for 325 patients who underwent PN at our institution from January 2009 to December 2010. Costs for each surgical technique were itemized, including hospitalization, operating room (OR), anesthesia, medication, laboratory and pathology, professional fees, and blood bank. Continuous variables were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon tests, and categoric variables were analyzed with χ2 and Fisher...
Source: Urology - January 7, 2013 Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Humberto Laydner, Wahib Isac, Riccardo Autorino, Ahmad Kassab, Rachid Yakoubi, Shahab Hillyer, Ali Khalifeh, Steven C. Campbell, Amr Fergany, Matthew Simmons, Jihad H. Kaouk Tags: Health Outcomes Research Source Type: research

The Head, Neck, and Systemic Manifestations of Levamisole-Adulterated Cocaine Use
The objective of this review is to increase awareness of these manifestations among oral and maxillofacial surgeons. LAC exposure through inhalation, nasal insufflation, or injection can induce cutaneous vasculopathy and hematologic abnormalities such as neutropenia or agranulocytosis. Unlike other vasculopathies involving the skin, LAC-induced vascular injury frequently manifests with purpuric and necrotic lesions that involve the face and ears. Oral manifestations have also been reported but are not yet well characterized. The aforementioned hematologic manifestations are not uncommon, and patients exposed to LAC are pot...
Source: Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery - January 7, 2013 Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Kelly R. Magliocca, Neysa Alice Coker, Sareeta R. Parker Tags: Anesthesia/Facial Pain Source Type: research

The Role of Laboratory Testing in the Evaluation of Headache
Blood tests have a minor role in headache management and that role is limited to a few secondary headache conditions. In headache, as with any symptom, laboratory tests should be chosen based on solid clues derived from the targeted history and physical examination. A shotgun approach to blood tests that includes rare diseases or those with low local prevalence frequently yields false-positive results, which exposes the patient to the expense, anxiety, and risk inherent in misdiagnosis. Keep it simple and do not forget about spinal fluid.
Source: Medical Clinics of North America - January 7, 2013 Category: Primary Care Authors: Charles D. Donohoe Source Type: research

Intravenous ceftriaxone, followed by 12 or three months of oral treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in Whipple's disease
Conclusion: This study indicates that ceftriaxone followed by three months of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is highly efficacious in the treatment of Whipple's disease.Trial registration: ISRCTN45658456
Source: Journal of Infection - January 7, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Gerhard E. Feurle, Verena Moos, Hendrik Bläker, Christoph Loddenkemper, Annette Moter, Andrea Stroux, Thomas Marth, Thomas Schneider Tags: Bacteria and Bacterial Diseases Source Type: research

3D engineered cardiac tissue models of human heart disease: Learning more from our mice
Abstract: Mouse engineered cardiac tissue constructs (mECTs) are a new tool available to study human forms of genetic heart disease within the laboratory. The cultured strips of cardiac cells generate physiologic calcium transients and twitch force, and respond to electrical pacing and adrenergic stimulation. The mECT can be made using cells from existing mouse models of cardiac disease, providing a robust readout of contractile performance and allowing a rapid assessment of genotype–phenotype correlations and responses to therapies. mECT represents an efficient and economical extension to the existing tools for studying...
Source: Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine - January 7, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: J. Carter Ralphe, Willem J. de Lange Tags: Review Articles Source Type: research

Investigating mechanisms of myopia in mice.
Abstract Genetic and environmental factors have been shown to control visually-guided eye growth and influence myopia development. However, investigations into the intersection of these two factors in controlling refractive development have been limited by the lack of a genetically modifiable animal model. Technological advances have now made it possible to assess refractive state and ocular biometry in the small mouse eye and therefore to exploit the many genetic mouse mutants to investigate mechanisms of visually-guided eye growth. This review considers the benefits and challenges of studying refractive developme...
Source: Experimental Eye Research - January 7, 2013 Category: Opthalmology Authors: Pardue MT, Stone RA, Iuvone PM Tags: Exp Eye Res Source Type: research

Clinical and Radiological Predictors of Outcome for Murray Valley Encephalitis.
Abstract A review of the laboratory-confirmed cases of Murray Valley encephalitis (MVE) from Western Australia between 2009 and 2011 was conducted to describe the clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of the disease. The nine encephalitis patients presented with altered mental state and seizures, tremor, weakness, or paralysis. All patients developed a raised C-reactive protein, whereas most developed acute liver injury, neutrophilia, and thrombocytosis. All patients with encephalitis developed cerebral peduncle involvement on early magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The absence of thalamic MRI hyperintens...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - January 7, 2013 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Speers DJ, Flexman J, Blyth CC, Rooban N, Raby E, Ramaseshan G, Benson S, Smith DW Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research

Fragmented oxidation products define barrier disruptive endothelial cell response to OxPAPC.
Abstract Excessive concentrations of oxidized phospholipids (OxPL), the products of 1-palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (PAPC) oxidation have been detected in atherosclerosis, septic inflammation, and ALI and have been shown to induce vascular barrier dysfunction. In contrast, oxidized PAPC (OxPAPC) at low concentrations exhibit potent barrier protective effects. The nature of such biphasic effects remains unclear. We tested the hypothesis that barrier-disruptive effects of high OxPAPC doses on endothelial cell (EC) monolayer are defined by fragmented products of PAPC oxidation (lysophosphat...
Source: Translational Research : the journal of laboratory and clinical medicine - January 7, 2013 Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Birukova AA, Starosta V, Tian X, Higginbotham K, Koroniak L, Berliner JA, Birukov KG Tags: Transl Res Source Type: research

Growth-Phase Dependent Variation in Photosynthetic Activity and Cellular Protein Expression Profile in the Harmful Raphidophyte Chattonella antiqua.
This study investigated temporal variations in the potential maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (F(v)/F(m) ratio) and growth-phase dependent cellular protein expressions of Chattonella antiqua under laboratory conditions. Despite the culture conditions, significant positive correlations between the F(v)/F(m) ratio and daily growth rate were observed. Threshold F(v)/F(m) ratios associated with positive cell growth were calculated to be >0.44, >0.44, and >0.37, and those associated with active cell growth (growth rate >0.5 div. d(-1)) were >0.58, >0.60, and >0.49 under control culture, low nutrient ...
Source: Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry - January 7, 2013 Category: Biochemistry Authors: Qiu X, Shimasaki Y, Tsuyama M, Yamada T, Kuwahara R, Kawaguchi M, Honda M, Gunjikake H, Tasmin R, Shimizu M, Sato Y, Kato-Unoki Y, Nakashima T, Matsubara T, Yamasaki Y, Ichinose H, Wariishi H, Honjo T, Oshima Y Tags: Biosci Biotechnol Biochem Source Type: research

Characterization of the liver-draining lymph nodes in mice and their role in mounting regional immunity to HBV.
In this study, we found that the portal and celiac LNs adjacent to mouse liver were stained with Evans blue within 5-8 min. Enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)-positive cells from the liver also drained into the two aforementioned LNs. These data indicate that the portal and celiac LNs drain the mouse liver. Lymphadenectomy of the identified liver-draining LNs resulted in hepatitis B virus (HBV) persistence in immunocompetent mice compared with the sham group. In addition, the frequencies of CD8(+) T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) increased significantly in the liver-draining LNs after hydrodynamic injection of HB...
Source: Asian Journal of Andrology - January 7, 2013 Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Zheng M, Yu J, Tian Z Tags: Asian J Androl Source Type: research

The evolving role of HER2 evaluation for diagnosis and clinical decision making for breast and gastric adenocarcinoma.
Abstract Clinical laboratory testing for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) in patients with newly diagnosed breast and gastric cancer is critically important for therapeutic decisions about adjuvant treatment. The HER2 pathway is a major molecular driver of disease progression in a subset of these solid tumors and the results of HER2 testing determine which patients are likely to respond to an expanding variety of therapies that target this important biologic pathway. Given the significant clinical impact of these test results on patient management and adjuvant treatment decisions, standardization of ...
Source: Biotechnic and Histochemistry - January 7, 2013 Category: Research Authors: Hicks D, Whitney-Miller C Tags: Biotech Histochem Source Type: research