The New England journal of medicine
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Retracted Publication
The influence of resection and aneuploidy on mortality in oral leukoplakia.
Although the standard treatment of oral leukoplakia ranges from watchful waiting to complete resection, the value of these approaches is unknown. ⋯ Complete resection of aneuploid leukoplakia does not reduce the high risk of aggressive carcinoma and death from oral cancer.
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C-reactive protein is an inflammatory marker believed to be of value in the prediction of coronary events. We report data from a large study of C-reactive protein and other circulating inflammatory markers, as well as updated meta-analyses, to evaluate their relevance to the prediction of coronary heart disease. ⋯ C-reactive protein is a relatively moderate predictor of coronary heart disease. Recommendations regarding its use in predicting the likelihood of coronary heart disease may need to be reviewed.
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Pulmonary surfactant forms a lipid-rich monolayer that coats the airways of the lung and is essential for proper inflation and function of the lung. Surfactant is produced by alveolar type II cells, stored intracellularly in organelles known as lamellar bodies, and secreted by exocytosis. The gene for ATP-binding cassette transporter A3 (ABCA3) is expressed in alveolar type II cells, and the protein is localized to lamellar bodies, suggesting that it has an important role in surfactant metabolism. ⋯ Mutation of the ABCA3 gene causes fatal surfactant deficiency in newborns. ABCA3 is critical for the proper formation of lamellar bodies and surfactant function and may also be important for lung function in other pulmonary diseases. Since it is closely related to ABCA1 and ABCA4, proteins that transport phospholipids in macrophages and photoreceptor cells, it may have a role in surfactant phospholipid metabolism.