The New England journal of medicine
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Academic-practice plans have become increasingly important as a source of financial support for the faculty of academic centers. We describe the planning, implementation, and development of one such plan in a municipal hospital, a major affiliate of a medical school. ⋯ Its success during the eight years of its existence has resulted in growth of the faculty, the development of innovative ambulatory-care programs, and increased financial stability of the hospital. Although such problems as payment for teaching costs and academic advancement for primary-care physicians remain, it is clear that academic-practice plans can support the clinical, teaching, and research goals of academic physicians.
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Retracted Publication
Decreased myocardial taurine levels and hypertaurinuria in a kindred with mitral-valve prolapse and congestive cardiomyopathy.
In a 46-member kindred with consanguineous ancestry, eight progeny in two generations had congestive cardiomyopathy and markedly elevated urinary taurine levels (range, 411 to 536 mg per gram of creatinine [normal +/- S. D., 89 +/- 32]). Ten other family members had late or holosystolic mitral-valve prolapse, and elevated urinary taurine values (range, 215 to 265 mg). ⋯ E., 33.2 +/- 3.6). Four other family members with congestive cardiomyopathy had myocardial fibrosis at autopsy or biopsy and mean myocardial taurine levels of 9.2 +/- 2.2 mumol. We conclude that hypertaurinuria and depressed levels of taurine in the myocardium may be associated with one type of mitral-valve-prolapse syndrome and a rapidly progressive form of congestive cardiomyopathy.