Jewish Hospital

About: Jewish Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Antigen & Population. The organization has 3881 authors who have published 3414 publications receiving 123044 citations.

Keratinocyte growth factor stimulates alveolar type II cell proliferation through the extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase pathways.

Abstract: Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF or FGF-7) stimulates alveolar type II cell proliferation, but little is known about the signaling pathways involved. We investigated the role of the ERK (p42/44 mitogen activated protein [MAP] kinase) and phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI3 kinase) pathways on alveolar type II cell proliferation and differentiation. Rat type II cells were cultured on tissue culture plastic and Matrigel in the presence or absence of KGF and specific chemical inhibitors PD98059, LY294002, and rapamycin at various concentrations. Proliferation was measured by thymidine incorporation and DNA quantitation, and differentiation was measured by expression of surfactant protein A and alkaline phosphatase. We demonstrate that KGF activates distal effectors of the PI3 kinase pathway, PKB/Akt, and p70S6 kinase, as well as p42/44 MAP kinase proteins. Inhibition of these pathways with PD98059, LY294002, or rapamycin inhibited type II cell proliferation but had no significant effect on differentiation. KGF did not activate the c-Jun kinase or p38 MAP kinase pathways. We conclude that the p42/44 MAP kinase and PI3 kinase pathways are important in regulating alveolar type II cell proliferation in response to KGF.

Antibiotic Resistance of Salmonella in Europe and the United States

Abstract: Nontyphoid salmonellosis has been said to be a zoonosis; hence, antibiotic resistance in the salmonella serotypes is thought to be derived directly from resistance in the animal reservoir. This thesis seems incorrect for the following reasons: (1) Typhoid and paratyphoidal salmonellae are clearly exceptions to the rule since they are restricted to human hosts. (2) Salmonella isolates involved in food-borne outbreaks disease have not been notable in terms of their antibiotic resistance. (3) In contrast, outbreaks of nosocomial disease, transmitted from person to person and persisting for long periods, have produced and disseminated multiple resistant salmonellae, such as Salmonella wien (another serotype without an animal reservoir) in western Europe. (4) In western Europe and the United States, there are often large differences between the resistance of isolates from animals and that of isolates from humans. (5) In most reported outbreaks of disease caused by antibiotic-resistant Salmonella in humans or animals, the administration of therapeutic concentrations of antibiotics has been implicated. (6) The role of low-concentration, growth-promoting antibiotic feed supplements has been much discussed but never has been delineated or proven. In fact, these supplements probably are totally irrelevant to the development of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella. With regard to Salmonella, there is an exception to every rule; in this case the exception is Salmonella dublin, which in western Europe is a highly antibiotic-resistant serotype in cattle and appears in humans with a similar--and unusual--pattern of resistance.

Efficacy of vitamin E in the conservative treatment of Peyronie's disease: legend or reality? A controlled study of 70 cases.

Abstract: Summary The medical treatment is indicated in the development stage of Peyronie's disease (PD) for at least 1 year after diagnosis and whenever in case of penile pain. This research was conducted to demonstrate the possible effectiveness of vitamin E in PD treatment, whereas in the scientific literature this topic is much discussed. A total of 70 patients (age:26–69 years, mean: 54.1 ± 9.71) diagnosed with PD were enrolled in a conservative treatment. In addition to medical histories and physical examinations all patients underwent the following tests: International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, penile ultrasound and photographic documentation, pain evaluation by a conventional 10-point pain scale Visual analogue pain scale (VAS). All 70 patients were divided into two different treatment groups: A and B, with different combinations of drugs: A = vitamin E + verapamil (injection + iontophoresis) + blueberries + propolis + topical diclofenac; B = verapamil (injection + iontophoresis) + blueberries + propolis + topical diclofenac. All patients were treated for 6 months after which they underwent the same follow-up tests as performed prior to the treatment. Intergroup analysis revealed statistically significant differences: in the vitamin E group the effective plaque size reduction was −50.2% whereas in the control group the reduction was −35.8% (p = 0.027). In group A the improvement of curvature occurred in 96.6% of the cases whereas in the control group B this occurred in 48.4% (p = 0.0001), moreover, the mean curvature decrease was respectively −12.25° and −6.73° (p = 0.01). IIEF score was significantly improved in group A patients with comorbidities and erectile dysfunction (p = 0.025). Increase in plaque size occurred only in the control group (17.1%) (p = 0.032). We can affirm that vitamin E can help to prevent the progression of PD. This study strongly supports the recommendation that the best approach for treating PD is multimodal therapy.

Methylprednisolone versus prednisolone pharmacokinetics in relation to dose in adults.

Abstract: The disposition and plasma binding of methylprednisolone were examined in seven normal volunteers following the administration of 5, 20 and 40 mg of intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate. Methylprednisolone exhibits linear plasma protein binding averaging 77%. The mean plasma methylprednisolone clearance of 337 ml·h−1. kg−1 was independent of dose. The steroid appears to moderately distribute into tissue spaces with a mean volume of distribution of 1.41·kg−1. Methylprednisolone disposition parameters were compared with the non-transcortin bound parameters for prednisolone. The prednisolone plasma clearance based on the transcortin free-drug is similar to methylprednisolone total plasma clearance. However, the corrected volume of distribution of prednisolone is only one-half that of methylprednisolone. The disposition rate of these two steroids is thus similar, in spite of their metabolic control by different enzymatic pathways and major influence of saturable transcortin binding on prednisolone elimination.