Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Inflammation, Coagulation And Cardiovascular Disease In Hiv-Infected Individuals, Daniel A. Duprez, Jacqueline Neuhaus, Lewis H. Kuller, Russell Tracy, Waldo Belloso, Stephane De Wit, Fraser Drummond, H. Clifford Lane, Bruno Ledergerber, Jens Lundgren, Daniel Nixon, Nicholas I. Paton, Ronald J. Prineas

Internal Medicine Publications

Background

The SMART study was a trial of intermittent use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) (drug conservation [DC]) versus continuous use of ART (viral suppression [VS]) as a strategy to reduce toxicities, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. We studied the predictive value of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and D-dimer with CVD morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected patients who were enrolled in SMART beyond other measured CVD risk factors.

Methods

A blood sample was available in 5098 participants who were enrolled in the SMART study for the measurement of IL-6, hsCRP and D-dimer. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CI …

Metabolomic Profiling To Identify Predictors Of Response To Vitamin E For Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (Nash), Jianfeng Cheng, Andrew Joyce, Katherine Yates, Bradley Aouizerat, Arun J. Sanyal

Internal Medicine Publications

Vitamin E was recently shown to improve hepatic histology in a randomized controlled trial of pioglitazone or vitamin E for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (PIVENS). The current study utilized samples collected in the PIVENS trial to identify: (1) baseline metabolomic profiles that could identify who would respond to vitamin E treatment and (2) end of treatment metabolomic profiles reflective of histologic improvement. A comprehensive analysis of metabolomics profiles (n = 547) quantified by mass spectrometry was performed in vitamin E responders (n = 16), vitamin E non-responders (n = 15), and placebo responders (n = 15). At baseline, phenyl-propionic acid (Odds ratio: …

Anti-Inflammatory And Cardioprotective Effects Of Tadalafil In Diabetic Mice, Amit Varma, Anindita Das, Nicholas N. Hoke, David E. Durrant, Fadi N. Salloum, Rakesh C. Kukreja

Internal Medicine Publications

Background

Insulin resistance impairs nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and obesity promotes a state of chronic inflammation and damages the vascular endothelium. Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors restore NO signaling and may reduce circulating inflammatory markers, and improve metabolic parameters through a number of mechanisms. We hypothesized that daily administration of the PDE-5 inhibitor, tadalafil (TAD) will attenuate inflammation, improve fasting plasma glucose and triglyceride levels, body weight, and reduce infarct size after ischemia/reperfusion injury in obese, diabetic mice.

Methods

Twenty leptin receptor null (db/db) mice underwent treatment with TAD (1 mg/Kg) or 10% DMSO for 28 days. Body weight and fasting …

Catheter Related Bloodstream Infection (Cr-Bsi) In Icu Patients: Making The Decision To Remove Or Not To Remove The Central Venous Catheter, Rodrigo O. Deliberato, Alexandre R. Marra, Thiago D. Correa, Marines D. V. Martino, Luci Correa, Oscar Fernando Pavao Dos Santos, Michael B. Edmond

Internal Medicine Publications

Background

Approximately 150 million central venous catheters (CVC) are used each year in the United States. Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSI) are one of the most important complications of the central venous catheters (CVCs). Our objective was to compare the in-hospital mortality when the catheter is removed or not removed in patients with CR-BSI.

Methods

We reviewed all episodes of CR-BSI that occurred in our intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2000 to December 2008. The standard method was defined as a patient with a CVC and at least one positive blood culture obtained from a peripheral vein and a positive …

Acrolein Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress And Causes Airspace Enlargement, Yoshiaki Kitaguchi, Laimute Taraseviciene-Stewart, Masayuki Hanaoka, Ramesh Natarajan, Donatas Kraskauskas, Norbert F. Voelkel

Internal Medicine Publications

Background

Given the relative abundance and toxic potential of acrolein in inhaled cigarette smoke, it is surprising how little is known about the pulmonary and systemic effects of acrolein. Here we test the hypothesis whether systemic administration of acrolein could cause endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and lung cell apoptosis, leading to the enlargement of the alveolar air spaces in rats.

Methods

Acute and chronic effects of intraperitoneally administered acrolein were tested. Mean alveolar airspace area was measured by using light microscopy and imaging system software. TUNEL staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC) for active caspase 3 and Western blot analysis for active …

Copper Deficiency Induced Emphysema Is Associated With Focal Adhesion Kinase Inactivation, Shiro Mizuno, Masanori Yasuo, Harm J. Bogaard, Donatas Kraskauskas, Aysar A. Alhussini, Jose Gomez-Arroyo, Daniela Farkas, Laszlo Farkas, Norbert F. Voelkel

Internal Medicine Publications

Background

Copper is an important regulator of hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) dependent vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, and is also required for the activity of lysyl oxidase (LOX) to effect matrix protein cross-linking. Cell detachment from the extracellular matrix can induce apoptosis (anoikis) via inactivation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK).

Methodology

To examine the molecular mechanisms whereby copper depletion causes the destruction of the normal alveolar architecture via anoikis, Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a copper deficient diet for 6 weeks while being treated with the copper chelator, tetrathiomolybdate. Other groups of rats were treated with the …