Articles: human.
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Can J Infect Dis Med · Jan 2012
The use of antiviral drugs for influenza: Guidance for practitioners 2012/2013.
The present article addresses the use of antiviral drugs in the management of seasonal influenza illness for the 2012/2013 season. It updates the previous document published in 2011 (1). Noteworthy guidance updates since 2011 include the following: Seasonal influenza in 2012/2013 is predicted to be caused by two human influenza A and one influenza B strain, all of which are anticipated to remain generally susceptible to oseltamivir. ⋯ It is still considered that initiation of antiviral therapy more than 36 h to 48 h after onset of symptoms is beneficial in patients hospitalized with complicated influenza and severe illness. Oseltamivir continues to be recommended for the treatment of influenza in pregnant women. The use of antiviral drugs among measures to control outbreaks of influenza in closed facilities such as correctional institutions is now included in the present document.
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Organic cation transporters (OCTs) determine not only physiological processes but are also involved in the cellular uptake of anticancer agents. Based on microarray analyses in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), SLC22A1/OCT1 mRNA seems to be downregulated, but systematic protein expression data are currently missing. Moreover, the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for altered SLC22A1 expression in HCC are not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the role of DNA methylation in the transcriptional regulation of the family members SLC22A1/OCT1, SLC22A2/OCT2 and SLC22A3/OCT3 in HCC. ⋯ DNA methylation of SLC22A1 is associated with downregulation of SLC22A1 in HCC and might be a new biomarker for HCC diagnosis and prognosis. Moreover, targeting SLC22A1 methylation by demethylating agents may offer a novel strategy for anticancer therapy of HCC.
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There is growing evidence supporting the role of inflammation in early brain injury and cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are released by inflammatory cells and can mediate early brain injury via disruption of the extracellular matrix and mediate vasospasm by cleaving endothelin-1 into vasoactive fragments. We hypothesize that inflammation marked by neutrophil elevation and MMP-9 release in human SAH is associated with vasospasm and with poor clinical outcome. ⋯ Blood and CSF MMP-9 are associated with clinical outcome but not with vasospasm, suggesting that MMP-9 may mediate brain injury independent of vasospasm in SAH. Future in vitro studies are needed to investigate the role of MMP-9 in SAH-related brain injury. Larger clinical studies are needed to validate blood and CSF MMP-9 as potential biomarkers for SAH outcome.
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Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide and the third leading cause of death in the USA. A clinically useful biomarker for the diagnosis of stroke does not currently exist. Biomarkers could improve stroke care by allowing early diagnosis by non-expert clinical providers, serial monitoring of patients, and rapid assessment of severity of brain injury. ⋯ This will include the utility of neuroproteomics/neurosystems biology analysis as a novel discipline leading to the identification of novel biomarkers that can reach the pipeline of bench side. Additionally, an outline of biomarker-based management of traumatic brain injury and stroke patient assessments of therapeutic interventions has been included. Finally, comparison of current biomarker occurrence between preclinical models and biomarker data from human clinical studies for stroke has been summarized.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the role of carbohydrate-rich drink (CHO) on perioperative discomfort, hemodynamic changes, and insulin response in patients undergoing surgery with spinal anesthesia. ⋯ Preparation with CHO before spinal anesthesia is advantageous due to reducing perioperative discomfort, improving insulin response and stabilizing mean arterial pressure.