Several neurodegenerative diseases are linked to defects in brain cholesterol metabolism. The brain comprises only ~6% of total body weight but contains 25% of cholesterol in the body. Unlike phospholipids, which are synthesized in both cell bodies and axons of neurons, cholesterol synthesis is restricted to cell bodies. Thus, efficient mechanisms exist for delivery of cholesterol to axons for ...

BACKGROUND Concurrent extrahepatic autoimmune disease (CEHAID) associated with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) have been incorporated into the diagnostic criteria stipulated by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG). Large comprehensive cohort data on the extrahepatic autoimmunity in AIH remain scanty. AIM To systematically assess features and clinical impact of CEHAID on AIH. METH...

0. A., and Swyer, P. R., (1970). Archives of Disease in Childhood, 45, 624. Mechanical ventilation in respiratory distress syndrome: a controlled trial. A controlled study of mechanical ventilation has been performed in infants with respiratory distress syndrome. 168 infants in respiratory failure were ventilated and 53 similar infants were not. Artificial mechanical ventilation improved surviv...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The role of intracranial hemodynamics in the pathophysiology and risk stratification of brain AVMs remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of Spetzler-Martin grade, clinical history, and risk factors on vascular flow and tissue perfusion in cerebral AVMs. MATERIALS AND METHODS 4D flow and perfusion MR imaging was performed in 17 ...

Recent studies suggest that abnormal melatonin functions may be implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. Since there is evidence that the presence of pineal calcification (PC) may relate, among other factors, to disturbances in melatonin secretion, I investigated in 23 chronic institutionalized schizophrenic patients the relationship of PC size on CT scan to the mode of onset of schi...

Contemporary understanding of the brain indicates that a reciprocal relationship exists between mind and body. Biological functioning adjusts to the consequences of our behavior and our behavior is influenced by our biology. This is the case with the stress responsivity system. The stress hormone cortisol follows a biologically-predetermined daily cycle of secretion (controlled by circadian rhy...

This study evaluated the significance of circulating bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a solid tumor with rich neovasculature. Eighty patients with HCC were recruited for the study, and 16 patients with liver cirrhosis and 14 healthy subjects were also included for comparison. Blood samples were taken before treatment. Total...

BACKGROUND Interferon is approved for adjuvant treatment of patients with stage IIB/III melanoma. The identification of predictive markers that would permit selection of patients would be beneficial. Specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II antigens have previously shown an association with response to therapy or overall survival of patients with metastatic melanoma. METHODS A to...