Epidemiology of cardiovascular diseases.

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health conditions. In this article, epidemiological studies of cardiovascular diseases and, more specifically, of coronary heart disease (CHD), are reviewed to document their major public health importance, the changes in mortality during this century, and international comparisons of these trends. The major risk indicators for CHD are reviewed and found to be determined in large part by psychosocial and behavioral mechanisms. More purely psychosocial risk indicators are also reviewed for the consistency with which they predict CHD prevalence and incidence. It seems fair to assert that, although the pathogenetic mechanisms involved are biological, the contributing causes to CHD are primarily behavioral. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Inflammatory diseases of the mucous membranes. Part 2. Immunopathologic ulcerative and desquamative diseases

Bullous and desquamative diseases of the oral mucosa are not common, with the exception of ulcerative lichen planus. All produce mild to severe mucosal pain and some can be life-threatening. Recent studies have helped elucidate the pathogenesis of immunopathologic diseases, although the precise etiology for most of them remains unknown. Minor and major aphthae, lichen planus, pemphigoid, pemphigus and erythema multiforme are discussed.     

Progress in treatment and diagnosis of renal diseases. I. Primary glomerular diseases. 2. Chronic glomerulonephritis]

The formation of dinitrophenylglutathione (DNP-SG) in human colon adenocarcinoma cells was identified and quantified by an HPLC-UV method, following exposure to 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) at 10 degrees for 40 min. The rate of efflux of DNP-SG at 37 degrees likewise, was measured by monitoring the DNP-SG content in the extracellular medium. Among the polyphenols examined for their action on DNP-SG export, butein was the most potent inhibitor with an IC50 value of 15 microM. The others, in order of decreasing potencies, were quercetin, tannic acid, 2'-hydroxychalcone, 2-hydroxychalcone anIIC50 values in the micromolar range. These polyphenols did not affect the ATP or the glutathione content of the cells. Mg(2+)-ATPase extracted from the plasma membrane of the cells was activated by DNP-SG in a concentration-dependent manner, and the reaction showed saturation kinetics with K(m) and Vmax values of 110 microM and 12.3 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively. However, the six polyphenols mentioned above had negligible effects on the Mg(2+)-ATPase activity, suggesting that this was probably not the target of their inhibitory action. Probenecid, p-trifluoromethoxy-phenylhydrazone (FCCP) and chlorambucil also showed varying degrees of inhibition of the export of DNP-SG.     

Diabetes and autoimmune diseases. I

An account is given of the clinical and serological associations between diabetes and autoimmune diseases, especially those between diabetes and antihyperoglobulin, antithyroid, anti-intrinsic factor, anticorticoadrenal cell, and anti-nucleic acid autoantibodies. Body fluid antipancreas autoimmunity is examined from various standpoints relating to antipancrease cell antibodies (ICA), autoantibodies against glucagon-secreting cells (ECA) and somatostatin-secreting cells (SCA), and anti-islet cell surface antibodies (McLaren and Lernmark antibodies). Particular attention is directed to ICAs, since these have supplied the background for the recent division of type I diabetes into Ia viral and Ib autoimmune. Stress is laid on both the soundness and the problems forming part of ICAs, since their actual pathogenetic role (cytoplasmic markers?) still has to be determined, even though their persistent and significant association with autoimmune polyendocrinopathies is certain.     

Symposium on gene abnormalities in medical diseases. 4. Neurodegenerative diseases: molecular mechanisms of spinocerebellar ataxia

A case of successful delayed primary closure of an upper extremity electrical blow-out injury is described using an alternative technique. The Sure-Closure skin-stretching device was used for permanent wound closure following serial debridement to protect the radial artery which was exposed over a distance of 21 cm. This method increases the options possible to achieve wound closure. However, the potential risks of this method include potentially high compartment pressures over a prolonged time in the postoperative period which requires close monitoring of limb perfusion.     

Sexually transmitted diseases. Present problems-future prospects

The tools of molecular biology have brought us to a new level of understanding of the epidemiology and pathophysiology of sexually transmitted diseases, which has been augmented and concentrated by the challenge of HIV/AIDS. We enter the next millennium with an unprecedented knowledge of these infections, but lacking the resources and drive to apply this broadly, especially where most needed in the areas of socioeconomic deprivation. We may develop cures or vaccines for complex viral infections, but for whom? Eventually, the knowledge will flow and disseminate, but will practice change?     

Pathogenesis of neuroimmunologic diseases. Experimental models

Development of the retina, like that of other tissues, occurs via an orderly sequence of cell division and differentiation, producing the functional retina. In teleost fish, however, cell division and differentiation in the retina continue throughout the life of the animal in two distinct ways. Stem cells in a circumferential germinal zone at the periphery of the retina give rise to all retinal cell types and progenitor cells located throughout the retina in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) produce new rod photoreceptors. These processes in adult retina recapitulate in space the embryonic events responsible for forming the retina. Analysis of these events in an African cichlid fish, Haplochromis burtoni, confirmed that cone photoreceptors differentiate first, followed by rod photoreceptors. Correspondingly, at the margin of the eye, cone photoreceptors differentiate nearer to the margin than do rods. Control of photoreceptor production is not understood. Here we present the time of appearance and distribution pattern of GABA and vimentin which are candidates for the control of retinal cell division and differentiation. Antibody staining reveals that both GABA and vimentin exhibit unique patterns of expression during embryonic retinal development. Vimentin immunoreactivity is evident throughout the retina in a spoke-like pattern between developmental Days 4 and 7, as both cone and rod photoreceptors are being formed. GABA is expressed in horizontal cells between Days 5 and 7, corresponding to the onset of rod differentiation in time and in position within the retina. Moreover, the wave of GABAergic staining in the horizontal cells parallels the wave of rod differentiation across the embryonic retina of H. burtoni. Thus, GABA may play a role in the development of rod photoreceptors.     

Perfusion scintigraphy of the myocardium in cardiological diagnosis. Coronary diseases, primary myocardial diseases and rheumatic heart valve diseases

In 123 patients perfusion scintigrams were compared with the data of clinical investigation, right and left heart catheterisation and coronary arteriography. The intracoronary application of radioactive labelled human-albumin-microspheres and human-microaggregates were without any complications. The patients suffered from coronary heart diseases, primary myocardial diseases and rheumatic valvula heart diseases. There was a good correlation between the myocardial perfusion defect and the degree of coronary artery stenoses. Furthermore an excellent correlation was found between perfusion defects and levocardiographic findings: left ventricular aneurysms, akinetic or hypokinetic areas and the ejection fraction of the left ventricle. All myocardial infarctions were detected by a perfusion defect in the scintigrams. In 16 cardiacsurgery-patients large myocardial perfusion defects were found to be myocardial scars. In primary myocardial diseases perfusion scintigraphy is an effective method of detecting pathological myocardial patterns. The degree of perfusion defects correlates excellently with the levocardiographic findings. It seems that in rheumatic valvular diseases perfusion-scintigraphy is a method to discover rheumatic myocardial abnormalities--probably scar tissue. In comparison with thallium scintigrams it was shown that extensive myocardial failures (aneurysms) can be represented by both nuclear medical procedures but that perfusion scintigraphy is more sensitive and correlates more closely to the levocardiogram findings.     

Musculoskeletal system. Joint and vertebral column diseases

Owner complaints that refer to the musculoskeletal system are common in older dogs and cats. When the veterinarian is presented with these types of complaints, the differential lists include chronic intervertebral disk disease, diskospondylitis, degenerative joint disease, spondylosis with nerve root compression, joint/ ligament instability, and/or cancer. The diagnosis and management of some of these conditions is presented in detail with the general goal in mind that the older dog or cat is provided the best quality of life possible through good mobility along with being pain free.