Direct stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is emerging as a potential new approach for the treatment of renal disorders. sGC catalyzes the formation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), deficiency of which is implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, new classes of drugs - sGC stimulators and activators - are being investigated in preclinical mod...

T cell clones raised against a synthetic peptide, identical to the third hypervariable region of the DR3 BI chain, were tested for secondary proliferative responses against a panel of PBLs. All seven DR3 DPw3+ stimulators could induce proliferation. DR3- DPw3+ PBLs were recognized when the synthetic peptide was added to the cultures. Inhibition studies with mAbs showed that in both cases the HL...

• We have developed a facility that enables scientists to investigate a wide range of sound-processing schemes for human subjects with cochlear implants. This digital signal processing (DSP) facility-named the Programmable Interactive System for Cochlear Implant Electrode Stimulation (PISCES)-was designed, built, and tested at Lincoln Laboratory and then installed at the Cochlear Implant Resear...

BACKGROUND Chronic bilateral subthalamic deep brain stimulation (STN-DBS) is known to improve motor function in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). However, the possible effects of STN-DBS on neuropsychological functions have been studied less. OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of STN-DBS on neuropsychological functions in PD. DESIGN Before-after trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifteen c...

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare, idiopathic disorder characterized by a failure of automatic respiration. Abnormalities such as seizure disorder, failure to thrive, and Hirschsprung disease have been associated with CCHS. In this report, the authors discuss the use of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) to treat a medically refractory seizure disorder in a child who had p...

The hemopoietic activity of the human placenta was studied in vitrc under various conditions in order to assess the optimal conditions of protein synthesis and colony stimulating factor (CSF) production by this tissue. The hemopoietic activity of placental tissue was assayed by the semi -solid agar medium technique. In order to obtain maximum hemopoietic activity, various stimulators were exami...

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have been shown to reduce mortality in high-risk patients. Despite several advances in programming ICDs, inappropriate shocks persist and continue to be psychologically and physically disturbing. External electromagnetic interference from electrocautery, welding, acupunctures, low-output transcutaneous electric nerve stimulators, and electronic mus...