Effect of candesartan on the expression of sclera-choroidal intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in hypercholesterolemic models

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the effect of blocking the angiotensin II AT-1 receptor by the systemic administration of candesartan on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the sclera and choroid of hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

METHODS:

New Zealand rabbits were divided into 3 groups, as follows: GI, which was fed a rabbit standard diet; GII, which was fed a hypercholesterolemic diet; and GIII, which received hypercholesterolemic diet plus candesartan. Samples of the rabbits'' sclera and choroid were then studied by hematoxylin-eosin staining and histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression.

RESULTS:

Histological analysis of hematoxylin- and eosin-stained sclera and choroid revealed that macrophages were rarely present in GI, and GII had significantly increased macrophage numbers compared to GIII. Moreover, in GII, the sclera and choroid morphometry showed a significant increase in thickness in comparison to GI and GIII. GIII presented a significant increase in thickness in relation to GI. Sclera and choroid immunohistochemical analysis for intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression revealed a significant increase in immunoreactivity in GII in relation to GI and GIII. GIII showed a significant increase in immunoreactivity in relation to GI.

CONCLUSION:

Candesartan reduced the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and consequently macrophage accumulation in the sclera and choroid of hypercholesterolemic rabbits.     

Design of a website on nutrition and physical activity for adolescents: results from formative research

Background

Teens do not meet guidelines for healthy eating and physical activity. The Internet may be an effective method for delivering programs that help them adopt healthy behaviors.

Objective

To collect information to design content and structure for a teen-friendly website promoting healthy eating and physical activity behaviors.

Methods

Qualitative research, encompassing both focus group and interview techniques, were used to design the website. Participants were 12-17 year olds in Houston, Texas, and West Lafayette, Indiana.

Results

A total of 133 participants took part in 26 focus groups while 15 participated in one-on-one interviews to provide guidance for the development of teen-friendly content and structure for an online behavior change program promoting healthy eating and physical activity to 12-17 year olds. The youth made suggestions to overcome common barriers to healthy eating and physical activity. Their feedback was used to develop “Teen Choice: Food & Fitness,” a 12-week online behavior change program, populated by 4 cartoon character role models.

Conclusions

It is critical that members of the target audience be included in formative research to develop behavior change programs that are relevant, appealing, and address their needs and interests.     

Expression of programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 in the tumor microenvironments of primary gastrointestinal diffuse large B cell lymphomas

Background

Gastrointestinal diffuse large B cell lymphoma (GI DLBCL) is the most common gastrointestinal lymphoma. However, there has not been a comprehensive investigation into the expression patterns of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1(PD-L1) in GI DLBCL tissues.

Growth of very low birth weight infants fed with milk from a human milk bank selected according to the caloric and protein value

OBJECTIVE:

To describe growth and clinical evolution of very low birth weight infants fed during hospital stay with milk from a human milk bank according to the caloric-protein value.

METHOD:

Forty very low birth weight infants were included: 10 were fed milk from their own mothers (GI), and 30 (GII) were fed human milk bank > 700 cal/L and 2 g/dL of protein. Growth curves were adjusted using nonlinear regression to the measured growth parameters.

RESULTS:

full enteral diet was reached in 6.3 days by GI and in 10.8 by GII; a weight of 2 kg was reached in 7.3 weeks for GI and in 7.8 for GII. In GI, 3/10 (33.3%) and in GII, 7/30 (23.3%) developed sepsis. Necrotizing enterocolitis did not occur in GI, but in 3/30 (10.0%) in GII. GI presented with urinary calcium > 4 mg/L in 1/10 (10.0%), urinary phosphorus (P_u) <1 mg/L in 10/10 (100%), and Ca/Cr >0.6 ratio in 1/10 (10.0%) of the cases; in GII, no children presented alterations of the urinary calcium or the Ca and Cr ratio, and P_u was <1 mg/L in 19/30 (63.3%). In terms of growth the 50^th percentile for GI was a weight gain of 12.1 g/day (GI) vs. 15.8 g/day (GII), a length gain of 0.75 cm/week (GI) vs. 1.02 cm/week (GII), and a head circumference gain of 0.74 cm/week (GI) vs. 0.76 cm/week (GII).

CONCLUSIONS:

Human milk bank allowed a satisfactory growth and good clinical evolution for very low birth weight infants.     

Introducing evidence based medicine to the journal club, using a structured pre and post test: a cohort study

Background  

Journal Club at a University-based residency program was restructured to introduce, reinforce and evaluate residents understanding of the concepts of Evidence Based Medicine.     

Case-oriented computer-based-training in radiology: concept, implementation and evaluation

Background  

Providing high-quality clinical cases is important for teaching radiology. We developed, implemented and evaluated a program for a university hospital to support this task.     

From design to implementation - The Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation (JADE) program: A descriptive report of an electronic web-based diabetes management program

Background  

The Joint Asia Diabetes Evaluation (JADE) Program is a web-based program incorporating a comprehensive risk engine, care protocols, and clinical decision support to improve ambulatory diabetes care.     

Taking a Risk Perception Approach to Improving Beach Swimming Safety

Background  

Beach swimming is generally associated with a healthy lifestyle, yet the risk of drowning is universally significant.     

Western medical ethics taught to junior medical students can cross cultural and linguistic boundaries

Background  

Little is known about teaching medical ethics across cultural and linguistic boundaries. This study examined two successive cohorts of first year medical students in a six year undergraduate MBBS program.     

Effects of a Non-Face-to-Face Behavioral Weight-Control Program Among Japanese Overweight Males: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background  

Weight control has been major health issue in the prevention of lifestyle-related diseases especially among middle-aged working males in Japan. The computerized behavioral program is expected as an effective and feasible intervention tool.     

Real time curriculum map for internal medicine residency

Background  

To manage the voluminous formal curriculum content in a limited amount of structured teaching time, we describe the development and evaluation of a curriculum map for academic half days (AHD) in a core internal medicine residency program.     

Vibration Response Imaging: evaluation of rater agreement in healthy subjects and subjects with pneumonia

Background  

We evaluated pulmonologists variability in the interpretation of Vibration response imaging (VRI) obtained from healthy subjects and patients hospitalized for community acquired pneumonia.     

Food assistance is associated with improved body mass index,food security and attendance at clinic in an HIV program in central Haiti: a prospective observational cohort study

Background  

Few data are available to guide programmatic solutions to the overlapping problems of undernutrition and HIV infection. We evaluated the impact of food assistance on patient outcomes in a comprehensive HIV program in central Haiti in a prospective observational cohort study.     

A forced titration study of the antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of Ambrotose AO supplement

Background  

Oxidative stress plays a role in acute and chronic inflammatory disease and antioxidant supplementation has demonstrated beneficial effects in the treatment of these conditions. This study was designed to determine the optimal dose of an antioxidant supplement in healthy volunteers to inform a Phase 3 clinical trial.     

Using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire to teach medical students developmental assessment: a descriptive analysis

Background  

After a survey of medical graduates' skills found a lack of confidence in developmental assessment, a program was introduced with the broad aims of increasing medical student confidence and respect for the parents' role in childhood developmental assessment. Research has shown that parents' concerns are as accurate as quality screening tests in assessing development, so the program utilised the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, a parent completed, child development assessment tool.     

On two equations about brain volume, cranial capacity and age

Aim  

We decided to study the relationship between brain volume and cranial capacity and the relationship between brain volume and age on a series of CT from healthy adults.     

Evaluation of an interactive case simulation system in dermatology and venereology for medical students

Background  

Most of the many computer resources used in clinical teaching of dermatology and venereology for medical undergraduates are information-oriented and focus mostly on finding a "correct" multiple-choice alternative or free-text answer. We wanted to create an interactive computer program, which facilitates not only factual recall but also clinical reasoning.