Recent reports in Science and Medicine for April 2003

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April 30

  1. Intermittent fasting and dietary supplementation with 2-deoxy- D-glucose improve functional and metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in rats : Published Online April 22, 2003 FASEB Journal Express Article 10.1096/fj.02-0996fje
  2. Eyewitness: Hong Kong Sars doctor Intensive care consultant Dr Tom Buckley, in Hong Kong, told the BBC about his experiences.
  3. Treatment with isotretinoin inhibits lipofuscin accumulation in a mouse model of recessive Stargardt's macular degeneration. Radu RA, et al. *Published online before print April 1, 2003, 10.1073/pnas.0737855100; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , Vol. 100, Issue 8, 4742-4747, April 15, 2003.
  4. Translational control of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression by arginine can explain the arginine paradox. Lee J, et al. Published online before print March 24, 2003, 10.1073/pnas.0735876100; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , Vol. 100, Issue 8, 4843-4848, April 15, 2003.

April 29

  1. Overweight, Obesity, and Mortality from Cancer in a Prospectively Studied Cohort of U.S. Adults. Calle EE, et al. N Engl Med 2003; 348:1625-1638.
  2. In Vivo V H-targeted Apoptotic Supraclonal B Cell Deletion by a Staphylococcal Toxin Goodyear CS and Silverman GJ. J Exp Med. Published online 28 April 2003 as 10.1084/jem.20020552.
  3. Journal of Canadian Medical Association Special Reports on SARS and SARS in Canada

April 28

  1. Prevalence and Clinical Outcomes of Patients With Multiple Potential Causes of Syncope. Chen LY, et al. . Mayo Clin Proc 2003; 8:414-420.
  2. What makes the body absorb too much iron?:European Molecular Biology Laboratory Link and PDF of Source article: Regulatory defects in liver and intestine implicate abnormal hepcidin and Dcytb expression in mouse hemochromatosis. Muckenthaler M, et al.Nature Genetics, 21 April 2003, dx.doi.org/doi:10.1038/Ng1152.

April 25

  1. Triggering the Interferon Antiviral Response Through an IKK-Related Pathway. Sonia Sharma Published online April 17, 2003 (Science Express Reports )
  2. Editorials: Severe acute respiratory syndrome revisited BMJ 2003;326:831-832 ( 19 April )
  3. Outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: case report Chan-Yeung and Yu. BMJ 2003;326:850-852 ( 19 April )
  4. Hypertensive diseases of pregnancy and risk of hypertension and stroke in later life: results from cohort study Wilson BJ, et al. BMJ 2003;326:845 ( 19 April )
  5. Behavioural counselling to increase consumption of fruit and vegetables in low income adults: randomised trial. Steptoe A, et al. BMJ 2003;326:855 ( 19 April )
  6. Improving the quality of health care: Methods for incorporating patients' views in health care. Wensing and Elwyn. BMJ 2003;326:877-879 ( 19 April )
  7. Effectiveness of anticholinergic drugs compared with placebo in the treatment of overactive bladder: systematic review. Herbison P, et al.BMJ 2003;326:841 ( 19 April )

April 24

  1. Effects of Comprehensive Lifestyle Modification on Blood Pressure Control: Main Results of the PREMIER Clinical Trial.Writing Group of the PREMIER Collaborative Research Group. JAMA.  2003;289:2083-2093.
  2. New CDC Initiative Seeks to Increase Voluntary HIV Testing and Enhance Prevention For Persons Living with H IV (CDC site) (MMWR article: Advancing HIV Prevention: New Strategies for a Changing Epidemic --- United States, 2003 )
  3. Dutch bird flu claims first human victim.  NewScientist.com news service. 16:08 22 April 03
  4. NeuroD-betacellulin gene therapy induces islet neogenesis in the liver and reverses diabetes in mice. Kojima H, et al. Nature: Medicine Published online: 21 April 2003, doi:10.1038/nm867 (ScienceDaily news release: Baylor Researchers Show Way To Diabetes Cure With Gene Therapy).
  5. Geographic diversity and temporal trends of antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae in the United States. McCormick AW, et al.Nature Medicine April 2003 Volume 9 Number 4 pp 424 - 430
  6. Is resistance futile? McGeer & Low. Nature Medcine: April 2003 Volume 9 Number 4 pp 390 - 392
  7. Salk Researchers Find Receptor That Controls Obesity (Eurekalert press release) [original Cell article not available on-line]

April 23

  1. Effect of acute and chronic administration of the GABA Bagonist baclofen on 24 hour pH metry and symptoms in control subjects and in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Ciccaglione A F and Marzio L. Gut 2003; 52 :464-470 (Medscape article: Baclofen May Be a Viable Alternative Treatment for GERD)
  2. Plasma ghrelin following cure of Helicobacter pylori Nwokolo CW, et al. Gut 2003; 52 :637-640
  3. Reduction in Levels of 24S-Hydroxycholesterol by Statin Treatment in Patients With Alzheimer Disease. Vega GL, et al. Arch Neurol. 2003;60:510-515.
    (ScienceDaily report: Cholesterol-lowering Drugs Shown To Decrease Predictor Of Alzheimer's Disease)
  4. Transendocardial, Autologous Bone Marrow Cell Transplantation for Severe, Chronic Ischemic Heart Failure. Perin EC, et al. Circulation 2003: published online before print April 21, 2003, 10.1161/01.CIR.0000070596.30552.8B.

April 22

This week's Annals of Internal Medicine has several articles of interest:

  1. Serum Ferritin Level Predicts Advanced Hepatic Fibrosis among U.S. Patients with Phenotypic Hemochromatosis Morrison ED. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:627–633.
  2. Survival Benefit of Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-Infected Persons in Different CD4 +Cell Strata. Palella FJ, et al.  Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:620–626.
  3. Quadriceps Strength and Osteoarthritis Progression in Malaligned and Lax Knees. Sharma L, et al.Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:613–619.
  4. Multivariable Analysis: A Primer for Readers of Medical Research. Katz MH. ACADEMIA AND CLINIC Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:644–650.
  5. Chemotherapy Use among Medicare Beneficiaries at the End of Life. Emanuel EJ, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:639–643

April 21

  1. Regulation of Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 by the Hepatitis C Virus Serine Protease. Foy E, et al. Published online April 17 2003; 10.1126/science.1082604 (Science Express Reports ) [ScienceDaily news release: Key To Hepatitis Virus Persistence Found ]
  2. The sentinel lymph node: More than just another blue lymph node. EDITORIAL Wagner and Sondak.Published Online: 1 Apr 2003: Cancer 2003;97:1821-1823
  3. Preoperative ultrasonographic identification of the sentinel lymph node in patients with malignant melanoma. Kahle B, et al.Cancer 2003; 97: 1947-1954. Published Online: 1 Apr 2003
  4. Adult stem cells tackle multiple sclerosis (New Scientist news relearse) Nature (contents summary) Injection of adult neurospheres induces recovery in a chronic model of multiple sclerosis.Pluchino, S. et al . Nature ,422, 688 -694 , (2003).
  5. Cancer-related changes in prostate DNA as men age and early identification of metastasis in primary prostate tumors. Malins DC, et al. Published online: April 17, 2003: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA , 10.1073/pnas.0931396100

April 18

  1. The Epidemiology of Sepsis in the United States from 1979 through 2000. Martin GS, et al.N Engl J Med 2003: 348:1546-1554
  2. Adverse Drug Events in Ambulatory Care. Ganhi TK, et al. N Engl J Med. 2003; 348:1556-1564
  3. Adverse Outpatient Drug Events — A Problem and an Opportunity. Tierney WM, et a. N Engl J Med 2003;348:1587-1589.

April 17

  1. SARS virus is mutating, fear doctors (NewScientist.com news service)
  2. Electrolyte Disorders Following Oral Sodium Phosphate Administration for Bowel Cleansing in Elderly Patients Beloosesky Y, et al. Arch Intern Med.  2003;163:803-808.
  3. Alendronate Prevents Loss of Bone Density Associated With Discontinuation of Hormone Replacement Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial Ascott-EvansBH, et al. Arch Intern Med.  2003;163:789-794.
  4. Chemokine receptor mutant CX3CR1-M280 has impaired adhesive function and correlates with protection from cardiovascular disease in humans McDermott DH, et al. J. Clin. Invest. 2003 111: 1241-1250.
  5. The fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 is a key mediator of atherogenesis M. I. Cybulsky and R. A. Hegele J. Clin. Invest., April 15, 2003; 111(8): 1118 - 1120.
  6. Mitochondrial targeting and a novel transmembrane arrest of Alzheimer's amyloid precursor protein impairs mitochondrial function in neuronal cells. Anandatheerthavarada HK, et al. J Cell Biol 2003; 161: 41-54.

April 16

  1. The association of cardiovascular disease with the long-term incidence of age-related maculopathy: The Beaver Dam eye study Klein R, et al Ophthalmology 2003 110: 636-643.
  2. Associations of visual function with physical outcomes and limitations 5 years later in an older population: The Beaver Dam eye study Klein BEK, et al Ophthalmology 2003 110: 644-650.
    Screening elderly patients in an outpatient ophthalmology clinic for dementia, depression, and functional impairment LeeAG, et al. Ophthalmology 2003 110: 651-657.
  3. The Life Course of Severe Obesity: Does Childhood Overweight Matter? Ferraro KF, et al. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci 2003 58: S110-S119.
  4. A central body fat distribution is related to renal function impairment, even in lean subjects Pinto-Sietsma SJ, et al. Am J Kidney Dis 2003; 41: 733
  5. ARF after open-heart surgery: Influence of gender and race    Am J Kidney Dis 2003; 41: 742 (Medscape news article: Women at Increased Risk of Acute Renal Failure After Open-Heart Surgery)

April 15

  1. Killer Flu Breakthrough: Genome Sciences Centre Sequences SARS Associated Corona Virus (ScienceDaily press release; New Scientist news))
  2. Early online publication :  COMMENTARY: Guideline on management of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). William Ho Lancet 2003; Published online April 8, 2003.
  3. LRP: Role in Vascular Wall Integrity and Protection from Atherosclerosis Boucher P, et al., Science 2003; 300: 329-332. (ScienceDaily news release: Researchers Find Protein Mechanism For Potential Atherosclerosis Development )
  4. From Knowing to Controlling: A Path from Genomics to Drugs Using Small Molecule Probes. Strausberg and Schreiber. Science 2003: 300: 294-295.

April 14

  1. HIPAA Regulations — A New Era of Medical-Record Privacy? George J. Annas, J.D., M.P.H. N Engl J Med 2003; 348:1486-1490
  2. An Association between Atherosclerosis and Venous Thrombosis. Prandoni P, et al. N Engl J Med. 2003; 348:1435-1441
  3. Long-Term, Low-Intensity Warfarin Therapy for the Prevention of Recurrent Venous Thromboembolism.Ridker PM, et al. N Engl J Med 2003; 348:1425-1434.
  4. Interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibodies in renal transplantation: meta-analysis of randomised trials. Adu D, et al. BMJ 2003;326:789

11 April

  1. New England Journal of Medicine: EARLY RELEASE: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Posted April 10, 2003
  2. Experimental Therapeutics: Long-Term Survival of Dogs with Advanced Malignant Melanoma after DNA Vaccination with Xenogeneic Human Tyrosinase: A Phase I Trial. Bergman PJ, et al.Clinical Cancer Research Vol. 9, 1284-1290, April 2003 (ScienceDaily news release)
  3. Combat leaves soldiers 'drunk' with fatigue. April 03 Exclusive from New Scientist Print Edition
  4. 3 U.S. Health Care Workers May Have SARS: Officials Say Three U.S. Health Care Workers May Likely Have Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (ABC News)

10 April

  1. Screening for Statin-Related Toxicity: The Yield of Transaminase and Creatine Kinase Measurements in a Primary Care Setting. Smith CC, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:688-692.
  2. Differential Effects of Lipid-Lowering Therapies on Stroke Prevention: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials. Corvol JC, et al. Arch Intern Med.  2003;163:669-676.
  3. Apoptosis--the Calcium Connection. Demaurex and Distelhorst CELL BIOLOGY: Science 2003 300: 65-67 . (pdf available if interested)

9 April

  1. JAMA.  2003;289:1739. Theme Issue: OBESITY RESEARCH includes:
  2. Coronavirus as a possible cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome Peiris J S M , et al. .Early online publication: Lancet Volume 361, Number 9364     05 April 2003

8 April

  1. Neural mechanisms of empathy in humans: A relay from neural systems for imitation to limbic areas Carr L, et al. Published online before print April 7, 2003: PNAS 10.1073/pnas.0935845100.
  2. Biologic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 antibody blockade in previously vaccinated metastatic melanoma and ovarian carcinoma patients. Hodi FS, et al. PNAS published April 7, 2003, 10.1073/pnas.0830997100
  3. Scientists Identify Protein Channel That Mediates Body's Ability To Feel Frigid Temperatures (ScienceDaily and link to Cell)
  4. Soluble Dimeric Prion Protein Binds PrP Sc In Vivo and Antagonizes Prion Disease Meier P, et al.Cell, Vol 113, 49-60 .

7 April

  1. Prevention of coronary and stroke events with atorvastatin in hypertensive patients who have average or lower-than-average cholesterol concentrations, in the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial--Lipid Lowering Arm (ASCOT-LLA): a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Sever PS, et al . Lancet 2003; 361: 1149-58. Published online April 2, 2003
  2. Comparison of T-cell-based assay with tuberculin skin test for diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in a school tuberculosis outbreak. Ewer K, et al. Lancet 2003; 361: 1168-73
  3. ASA Scientific Statement: Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Ischemic Stroke: A Scientific Statement From the Stroke Council of the American Stroke Association. Adams,HP, et al. Stroke 2003 34: 1056 - 1083
  4. Aortic Stiffness Is an Independent Predictor of Fatal Stroke in Essential Hypertension. Laurent S, et al.Stroke published April 3, 2003,1161/01.STR.0000065428.03209.64

4April

  1. SARS Update "Killer pneumonia virus linked to birds" (NewScientist.com news service)
  2. Blood Lead, Blood Pressure, and Hypertension in Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women. Nash D, et al. JAMA.  2003;289:1523-1532. (See also "Blood lead and chronic kidney disease int general United States population: Results from NHANES III". Muntner P, et al. Kidney Intnl 2003; 63:1044-1050.)
  3. Drug-Drug Interactions Among Elderly Patients Hospitalized for Drug Toxicity. Juurlink DN, et al JAMA.  2003;289:1652-1658
  4. Infection with Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Containing the vanA Resistance Gene. Chang S, et al. N Engl J Med 2003;348:1342-1347.
  5. Influenza Vaccination and Reduction in Hospitalizations for Cardiac Disease and Stroke among the Elderly. Nichol KL, et al.N Engl J Med 2003;48:1322-1332

3 April

  1. Nature Medicine news release: Triple hope for Parkinson's: Brain catheter feeds beleaguered cells; taking iron out protects them.
  2. Understanding and Responding to Adverse Events C. N Engl J Med 2003;348:1051-1056
  3. Interesting links for a break from the routine: Medscape imaging case (preregistration required) with nifty volume-rendered 3D computed tomographic angiogram (CTA) study and nutrition notes from ACS Meeting "Evidence That Cranberry Juice May Help Fight Heart Disease"
  4. Assessment and management of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in adults. Weiss and Murray. CMAJ;2003; 168: (6)
  5. T lymphocytes isolated from patients with advanced colorectal cancer are suitable for gene immunotherapy approaches. Sheen AJ, et al.British Journal of Cancer (2003) 88, 1119 -1127 (pre-registration required)
  6. Identity of killer pneumonia bug confirmed (press release NewScientist.com news service). Also SARS links from New Scientist.
     

2 April

This week's Annals of Internal Medicine has several articles of note:

  1. Changing Use of Antibiotics in Community-Based Outpatient Practice, 1991–1999. Steinman MA, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:525–533. and editorial.
  2. Treatment of Hypertension in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Blood Pressure Goals, Choice of Agents, and Setting Priorities in Diabetes Care Vijan S, et al Ann Intern Med 2003; 138: 593–602
  3. Cardiovascular Outcomes in the Irbesartan Diabetic Nephropathy Trial of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Overt Nephropathy. Berl T, et al, Ann Intern Med 2003;138:542–549
  4. The Evidence Base for Tight Blood Pressure Control in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Snow V, et al. Ann Intern Med. 2003;138:587–592.
  5. West Nile Virus Can Cause Polio-like Symptoms (News release from Meeting of the American Academy Of Neurology)

1 April

  1. FDA - MedWatch: 2003 Safety Alert - Serevent (salmeterol xinafoate)
  2. Early Release: Eplerenone, a Selective Aldosterone Blocker, in Patients with Left Ventricular Dysfunction after Myocardial Infarction. Pitt B, et al Published at www.nejm.org March 31, 2003 (10.1056/NEJMoa030207) See editorial too.
  3. Smoking and the Risk of Hemorrhagic Stroke in Men. Kurth T, et al. (Stroke 2003, 10.1161/01.STR.0000065200.93070.32) Published online before print March 27, 2003
  4. Identification of genotype-selective antitumor agents using synthetic lethal chemical screening in engineered human tumor cells.Dolm S, et a. Cancer Cell;2003: 3, 285-296, registration required) or read press release Screening Technique Streamlines Search for Anticancer Drugs .
  5. Differentiation of human bone marrow-derived cells into buccal epithelial cells in vivo: a molecular analytical study. Tran SD, et al, Lancet 2003; 361: 1084-88. and comment in Nature "Excess DNA prompts stem-cell rethink".
  6. Obesity and Systemic Oxidative Stress: Clinical Correlates of Oxidative Stress in The Framingham Study Keaney JF, et al. (Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2003;23:434.) Published online before print January 30, 2003, 10.1161/01.ATV.0000058402.34138.11.