The benefit of oral iron therapy (OIT) and factors predictive of OIT response are not established in hemodialysis (HD) patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). We examined the values of hepcidin-25, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and ferritin as predictors of OIT response. Oral ferrous fumarate (50 mg/day, 8 weeks) was given to 51 HD patients with IDA (hemoglobin (Hb) < 12 g/dL, ferritin < 1...

To develop improved strategies for gene transfer to hematopoietic cells, we have explored targeted gene transfer using molecular conjugate vectors (MCVs). MCVs are constructed by condensing plasmid DNA containing the gene of interest with polylysine (PL), PL linked to a replication-incompetent adenovirus (endosomolytic agent), and PL linked to streptavidin for targeting with biotinylated ligand...

BACKGROUND The coronary sinus (CS) has a myocardial coat (CSMC) with extensive connections to the left and right atria. We postulated that some posteroseptal and left posterior accessory pathways (CSAPs) result from connections between a cuff of CSMC extending along the middle cardiac vein (MCV) or posterior coronary vein (PCV) and the ventricle. The purpose of the present study was to use CS a...

Background—The coronary sinus (CS) has a myocardial coat (CSMC) with extensive connections to the left and right atria. We postulated that some posteroseptal and left posterior accessory pathways (CSAPs) result from connections between a cuff of CSMC extending along the middle cardiac vein (MCV) or posterior coronary vein (PCV) and the ventricle. The purpose of the present study was to use CS a...

Sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) across the cervicovaginal mucosa in women is influenced by many factors including the microbiota and the presence of underlying inflammation. It is important that potential HIV preventative agents do not alter the mucosal environment in a way that enhances HIV acquisition. We examined the impact of a "live" microbicide on the va...

We present a new technique for comparing models using a median form of cross-validation and least median of squares estimation (MCV-LMS). Rather than minimizing the sums of squares of residual errors, we minimize the median of the squared residual errors. We compare this with a robustified form of cross-validation using the Huber loss function and robust coefficient estimators (HCV). Through ex...

OBJECTIVE To determine the most effective outbreak control strategy for school-based measles outbreaks as the proportion of children with two doses of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) increases. SETTING A school-based measles outbreak during 1996 involving 63 cases in Juneau, Alaska (population 29 288), where systematic revaccination with MCV was not implemented. DESIGN A retrospective eval...

In clinical practice, the finding of an elevated mean corpuscular volume (MCV), macrocytic anaemia or specific neurological symptoms is often the reason to test for vitamin B12 (B12) deficiency. Use of the MCV as a test for the detection or exclusion of B12 deficiency is only justified if the diagnostic accuracy is sufficiently high. However, the sensitivity and specificity are not well known. ...

Responding to regional advancements in combating measles, the World Health Organization in May 2008 called for an assessment of the feasibility of measles eradication, including whether sufficient vaccine supply exists. Interviews with international health officials and vaccine-makers provided data for a detailed model of worldwide demand and supply for measles-containing vaccine (MCV). The stu...

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV) is the etiological agent of Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), a rare and highly lethal human skin cancer. A natural component of skin flora, MCV becomes tumorigenic only after integration into the host DNA together with specific mutations to the viral genome. Research on MCV large T (LT) and small T (sT) antigens, the only viral products expressed in MCC, shows that th...