Rush University Medical Center

About: Rush University Medical Center is a healthcare organization based out in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 13915 authors who have published 29027 publications receiving 1379216 citations. The organization is also known as: Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center.

A comparison of rectal diazepam gel and placebo for acute repetitive seizures.

Abstract: Background Acute repetitive seizures are readily recognizable episodes involving increased seizure frequency. Urgent treatment is often required. Rectal diazepam gel is a promising therapy. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of home-based treatment for acute repetitive seizures. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either rectal diazepam gel, at doses ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 mg per kilogram of body weight on the basis of age, or placebo. Children received one dose at the onset of acute repetitive seizures and a second dose four hours later. Adults received three doses — one dose at onset, and two more doses 4 and 12 hours after onset. Treatment was administered by a care giver, such as a parent, who had received special training. The number of seizures after the first dose was counted for 12 hours in children and for 24 hours in adults. Results Of 125 study patients (64 assigned to diazepam and 61 to placebo) with a history of acute repetitive s...

Effect of Alcohol on miR-212 Expression in Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Its Potential Role in Alcoholic Liver Disease

Abstract: Background and Aims: Alcohol-induced gut leakiness is a key factor in alcoholic liver disease (ALD); it allows endotoxin to enter the circulation and initiate liver damage. Zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) protein is a major component of tight junctions that regulates intestinal permeability. microRNAs (miRNAs) are recently discovered regulatory molecules that inhibit expression of their target genes. The aims of our study were: (i) to investigate the effect of alcohol on miRNA-212 (miR-212) and on expression of its predicted target gene, ZO-1, (ii) to study the potential role of miR-212 in the pathophysiology of ALD in man. Methods: Using a TaqMan miRNA assay system, we measured miR-212 expression levels in colon biopsy samples from patients with ALD and in Caco-2 cells (a human intestinal epithelial cell line) treated with or without EtOH. We measured ZO-1 protein levels using western blots. ZO-1 mRNA was assayed using real-time PCR. Intestinal barrier integrity was measured using fluorescein sulfonic acid clearance and immunofluorescent staining for ZO-1. Results: Ethanol increased miR-212 expression, decreased ZO-1 protein levels, disrupted tight junctions, and increased the permeability of monolayers of Caco-2 cells. An miR-212 over-expression is correlated with hyperpermeability of the monolayer barrier. miR-212 levels were higher in colon biopsy samples in patients with ALD than in healthy controls; ZO-1 protein levels were lower. Conclusion: These data suggest a novel mechanism for alcohol-induced gut leakiness, one in which EtOH induces miR-212 over-expression which causes gut leakiness by down-regulating ZO-1 translation. This mechanism is a potential therapeutic target for leaky gut in patients with or at risk for ALD.

Female Genital-Tract HIV Load Correlates Inversely with Lactobacillus Species but Positively with Bacterial Vaginosis and Mycoplasma hominis

Abstract: Background Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition We examined the association between BV and BV-associated bacteria and expression of HIV in the female genital tract Methods HIV RNA, lactobacilli, Gardnerella vaginalis, and Mycoplasma hominis in cervicovaginal lavage (CVL) samples were quantified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) Gynecologic evaluation included Nugent score assessment, Amsel criteria assessment, detection of other genital-tract infections, and dysplasia grading CD4 cell count, plasma HIV RNA level, and antiretroviral history were obtained Results A total of 203 CVL samples from women with Nugent scores of 7-10 (BV group) and 203 samples from women with Nugent scores of 0-3 (no-BV group) were matched by plasma HIV RNA level and analyzed After controlling for plasma HIV RNA level and Nugent score in univariate analyses, we found that G vaginalis and M hominis bacterial counts, Candida vaginitis, and herpes simplex virus (HSV) were positively associated with CVL HIV RNA levels In multivariate analysis, only lactobacilli bacterial counts (P = 006; inverse association), M hominis bacterial counts (P = 0001; positive association), Candida vaginitis (P = 007), and HSV (P = 03) were significantly associated with CVL HIV RNA levels Conclusion Bacteria associated with BV increase genital-tract HIV RNA levels Quantitative bacterial counts for lactobacilli and M hominis are better correlates of CVL HIV RNA than are Nugent score or Amsel criteria Since plasma virus and CD4 cell levels did not differ between the BV and no-BV groups, these data suggest that the bacterial flora associated with BV influence genital-tract HIV shedding