Journal of investigative medicine : the official publication of the American Federation for Clinical Research
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To investigate polymorphisms of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their relationship to clinical features. ⋯ Our data suggested a trend of association between VEGF gene polymorphisms and RA, and patients who carried the haplotype GA of rs2010963 and rs833070 were more susceptible to RA. Our study was performed in a small population, and further studies in other populations are needed to confirm these results.
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Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a cytokine involved in different physiologic and pathophysiologic processes, and circulating levels of IL-6 differ greatly between individuals, but the results have not always been concordant among diverse populations. The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of the 3 polymorphisms (-174G/C, -597G/A, and -634C/G) in the IL-6 gene promoter region and their effects on inflammatory markers in normal Han Chinese population. ⋯ IL-6 -174G/C and -597G/A are rare, but -634C/G is common in Han Chinese population, and the -634G allele is associated with circulating levels of IL-6 and C-reactive protein.
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Right ventricular dysfunction and N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) are established determinants of prognosis in acute pulmonary embolism (PE). The aim of the study was to investigate the prognostic value of C-reactive protein (CRP) in PE. ⋯ C-reactive protein is associated with right ventricular dysfunction, which is a predictor of prognosis in PE and may become a promising biomarker for risk stratification of PE, although CRP is not found superior to NT-proBNP.
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Despite the clinical regression that typifies the initial response of advanced prostate cancer to gonadal testosterone depletion, tumors eventually progress. However, evidence supports the concept that signaling via the androgen receptor (AR) is important in progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Steroid hormones are synthesized from cholesterol in a series of tightly regulated steps involving the cleavage of carbon-carbon bonds, the introduction of functional groups derived from activated molecular oxygen, and the oxidation and reduction of carbon-carbon and carbon-oxygen bonds. ⋯ Finally, a number of mechanisms have been reported by which the AR is activated independent of ligand. Recent observations have suggested that AR forms with constitutive activity occur in CRPC, stimulating transcription without a requirement for ligand. This overview outlines a broad view of how the mechanisms by which the AR may be activated, whether by alternate pathways of androgen synthesis or the production of alternate forms of the AR, with an emphasis on what aspects must be accounted for when using model systems to explore the biology of human prostate cancer.
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Percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy (PDT) is a well-established procedure in intensive care medicine. Several reports confirm a low acute and long-term complication rate. However, dilatational tracheotomy is still often postponed even in patients that are under ventilator support for more than 2 weeks. We present a retrospective study analyzing the subjective long-term results after percutaneous tracheotomy performed at our medical intensive care unit between 2002 and 2008. ⋯ Percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy is an easily performed, cost-saving method for long-term ventilated patients with a low rate of acute and long-term complications even in old and multimorbid internal medicine patients.