We performed this study to investigate the possible association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism and the focal bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in Korea. One hundred and fifty-seven RA patients were enrolled and two control groups were selected. The focal bone erosion score was assessed by modified Sharp's method. Genotyping of VDR polymorphisms was performed...

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is known to exhibit antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antithrombogenic effects and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Key events in the development of cardiovascular disease are hypertrophy and hyperplasia according to vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. In this study, we investigated whether EGCG can interfere with PDGF-bb stimulated proliferat...

We used an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay to measure creatine kinase (CK; EC 2.7.3.2) BB in the sera of 58 cancer patients. A pre-incubation step with an anti-CK-M antibody-coated bead removed M chain components, and CK-BB was quantified with use of an anti-CK-B antibody-coated tube. No cross reactivity was observed with mitochondrial CK or CK-MM; CK-MB cross reacted slightly (1.6%). Macro...

OBJECTIVE Previously, 4 mo of a blueberry-enriched (BB) antioxidant diet prevented impaired object recognition memory in aging rats. Experiment 1 determined whether 1- and 2-mo BB diets would have a similar effect and whether the benefits would disappear promptly after terminating the diets. Experiment 2 determined whether a 1-mo BB diet could subsequently reverse existing object memory impairm...

BACKGROUND The brain is rich in creatine kinase-BB isoenzyme activity (CK-BB), which is not normally present in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Results of previous studies have shown that CK-BB can be detected in the CSF of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), but whether CK-BB levels correlate with patients' neurologic outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationship...

BACKGROUND Beta-blocker use in elective noncardiac surgery has been associated with a reduction in mortality and cardiovascular complications. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often associated with a hyperadrenergic state. We hypothesized that adrenergic blockade would confer improved survival among TBI patients. METHODS Retrospective review of the Trauma Registry of the American College of Su...

This document provides a detailed description of IPv6 deployment and integration methods and scenarios in today’s Service Provider (SP) Broadband (BB) networks in coexistence with deployed IPv4 services. Cable/HFC, BB Ethernet, xDSL, and WLAN are the main BB technologies that are currently deployed, and discussed in this document. The emerging Broadband Power Line Communications (PLC/BPL) acces...

Purpose Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB is known to have neuroprotective effects against various neurodegenerative disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine whether PDGF-BB can be neuroprotective against light-induced photoreceptor damage in mice. Methods Mice were exposed to 8000-lux luminance for 3 hours to induce phototoxicity. Two hours before light exposure, the expe...

Tumor cells and associated stromal cells secrete matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), contributing to invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Batimastat (BB-94) is a broad-spectrum MMP inhibitor that causes resolution of ascites and/or tumor growth delay in animal models of breast, ovarian, and colorectal cancer. We recruited 18 patients with cytologically positive malignant pleural effusions into...