OBJECTIVE Surgical closure of a large arteriovenous (A-V) fistula in patients and animals is associated with prompt diuresis and natriuresis. However, the mechanisms underlying these changes remained largely unknown. METHODS The present study evaluated the hormonal balance between major antinatriuretic systems (plasma renin activity, PRA, and arginine vasopressin, AVP) and natriuretic systems...

BACKGROUND Full Monte Carlo (MC)-based SPECT reconstructions have a strong potential for correcting for image degrading factors, but the reconstruction times are long. The objective of this study was to develop a highly parallel Monte Carlo code for fast, ordered subset expectation maximum (OSEM) reconstructions of SPECT/CT images. The MC code was written in the Compute Unified Device Architect...

INTRODUCTION Sports injuries account for substantial morbidity and medical cost. To direct intervention, a population-based study of the causes and types of sports injuries was undertaken. METHOD An injury surveillance system was established at all trauma center hospitals that treat residents 10 to 19 years old in the District of Columbia and the Chief Medical Examiner's Office. Medical recor...

Background and objective: The use of low levels of visible or near infrared light for reducing pain, inflammation and oedema, promoting healing of wounds, deeper tissue and nerves, and preventing tissue damage has been known for almost 40 years since the invention of lasers. The HairMax LaserComb is a hand-held Class 3R lower level laser therapy device that contains a single laser module that e...

This paper presents a hardware architecture for the real time generation of images from volume data. Colour imaging in this system is achieved though the use of a set of Look Up Tables (LUTs). The LUTs are capable of a variety of colour imaging techniques for visualising volume data. The use of colour imaging in generating images from medical volume data is discussed. Image synthesis from volum...

OBJECTIVES Thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) was introduced in 2005 to treat descending thoracic aortic aneurysms. Little is known about TEVAR's nationwide effect on patient outcomes. We evaluated nationwide data regarding the short-term outcomes of TEVAR and open aortic repair (OAR) procedures performed in the United States during a 2-year period. METHODS From the Nationwide Inpa...

2006;44:421-428. 7. Roumie CL, Elasy TA, Greevy R, et al. Improving blood pressure control through provider education, provider alerts, and patient education. Ann Intern Med. 2006; 145:165-175. 8. Haynes RB, McDonald HP, Garg AX. Helping patients follow prescribed treatment. JAMA. 2002;288:2880-2883. 9. Petrilla AA, Benner JS, Battleman DS, Tierce JC, Hazard EH. Evidence-based interventions to ...

BACKGROUND Effective prevention of type 2 diabetes (T2D) requires early identification of high-risk individuals who might benefit from intervention. We sought to determine whether low serum testosterone, a novel risk factor for T2D in men, adds clinically meaningful information beyond current T2D risk models. METHODS The Men Androgen Inflammation Lifestyle Environment and Stress (MAILES) stud...

Background ANCA associated vasculitides (AAV) are a heterogeneous group of rare diseases with unknown etiology. In the most severe cases AAV can lead to end stage kidney disease or death. Since etiology and detailed pathogenesis is not known, prediction outcome at time diagnosis challenging. Thus, there an unmet need for tools identify patients highest risk organ dysfunction death apply effecti...

Background Although upper respiratory symptoms are the most frequent localization of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) [1], infiltration skull base is rare. Objectives The aim this analysis was clinical characteristic GPA patients’ involvement. Methods retrospective performed on patients diagnosed in tertiary academic referral center (Medical University Gdansk, Poland) between 1990 and 202...