Epidemiologic study by DNA typing of a Candida albicans outbreak in heroin addicts.

The epidemiology of an outbreak of Candida endophthalmitis in heroin addicts was studied by DNA typing. Although one biotype was prevalent, the 13 isolates of Candida albicans from seven of the patients were placed into six separate groups by DNA type. Thus, the outbreak of candidiasis was not, as had been concluded from biotyping, due to a C. albicans strain of common origin.     

Glomerular podocytes and adhesive interaction with glomerular basement membrane

Normal podocyte function requires attachment to the underlying glomerular basement membrane. Alteration or disruption of podocyte attachment occurs in many forms of glomerular injury, leading to the development of proteinuria and eventually progressive glomerulosclerosis. The inability of podocytes to proliferate and thereby recover denuded glomerular basement membrane areas may be central to the pathogenesis of certain forms of glomerular diseases.     

Cell cycle regulatory proteins in glomerular disease

Evidence is accumulating that directly responsible for the rate of progression of glomerular disease are specific positive (cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases) and negative (cyclin-kinase inhibitors) cell cycle regulatory proteins. The challenge for nephrologists is to determine which ones are expressed in renal disease and their precise role in glomerular cell proliferation, hypertrophy and differentiation. Ultimately the goal is to find ever more appropriate therapeutic strategies to arrest or prevent progressive renal disease.     

Vascular endothelial growth factor accelerates renal recovery in experimental thrombotic microangiopathy

BACKGROUND: Renal microvascular injury characterizes thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). The possibility that angiogenic growth factors may accelerate recovery in TMA has not been studied. METHODS: TMA was induced in rats by the selective right renal artery perfusion of antiglomerular endothelial cell IgG (30 mg/kg). Twenty-four hours later, rats received vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF121, 100 microg/kg/day) or vehicle (control) daily until day 14. To evaluate renal function, the unperfused left kidney was removed at day 14, and rats were sacrificed at day 17. RESULTS: The induction of TMA was associated with loss of glomerular and peritubular capillary endothelial cells and decreased arteriolar density at day 1. Some spontaneous capillary recovery was present by day 17; however, repair was incomplete, and severe tubulointerstitial damage occurred. The lack of complete microvascular recovery was associated with reduced VEGF immunostaining in the outer medulla. VEGF-treated rats had more glomeruli with intact endothelium, less glomerular ischemia (collapsed glomeruli), and greater peritubular capillary density with less peritubular capillary loss. This was associated with less tubulointerstitial fibrosis, less cortical atrophy, and improved renal function. CONCLUSIONS: VEGF accelerates renal recovery in this experimental model of TMA. These studies suggest that angiogenic growth factors may provide a new therapeutic strategy for diseases associated with endothelial cell injury.     

Differential Diagnosis of Headaches

The clinical practitioner is faced daily with myriad pain complaints. Headache is a most common complaint, with pain arising from odontogenic, neurologic, and myogenic sources. The practitioner needs to be familiar with various headache symptoms in order to make an accurate diagnosis of each patient's problems.

This article presents three categories that represent the most common types of headache pain. The most common symptoms for each type are discussed, and suggestions for treatment are offered.