Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

About: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine is a education organization based out in Springfield, Illinois, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 3747 authors who have published 5977 publications receiving 209115 citations. The organization is also known as: SIU School of Medicine.

Mechanism of cisplatin ototoxicity: antioxidant system.

Abstract: The dose and duration limiting toxic effects of cisplatin are ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. While several studies have attempted to shed some light on the causes of nephrotoxicity, the reasons for ototoxicity induced by cisplatin are poorly understood. Therefore, this investigation was undertaken to delineate the potential mechanisms underlying cisplatin ototoxicity. The role of glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and malondialdehyde levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities [superoxide dismutase, catalase, GSH peroxidase, and GSH reductase] were examined in cochlear toxicity following an acute dose of cisplatin. Male Wistar rats were treated with various doses of cisplatin. Pretreatment auditory brain stem evoked responses (ABR) were performed and then post-treatment ABRs and endocochlear potentials were also performed after three days. Acute cochlear toxicity (ototoxicity) was evidenced as elevated hearing thresholds and prolonged wave I latencies in response to various stimuli (clicks and tone bursts at 2, 8, 16 and 32 kHz) on ABRs. The endocochlear potentials were reduced (50% control) in cisplatin-treated rats as compared to control animals. The rats were sacrificed and cochleae isolated. The GSH, GSSG and malondialdehyde levels, and antioxidant enzyme activities were determined. Cisplatin ototoxicity correlated with a decrease in cochlear GSH [0.45 +/- 0.012 nmol/mg] after cisplatin administration compared to 0.95-012 nmol/mg in control cochleae (P < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase, catalase activities and malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased in the cochleae of cisplatin injected rats. Cochlear GSH-peroxidase and GSH reductase activity significantly decreased after cisplatin administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Conceptualization and measurement of celebrity worship.

Abstract: Celebrity worship has been conceptualized as having pathological and nonpathological forms. To avoid problems associated with item-level factor analysis, 'top-down purification' was used to test the validity of this conceptualization. The respondents (N = 249) completed items modelled after existing celebrity worship questionnaires. A subset of 17 unidimensional and Rasch scalable items was discovered (the local reliability ranged from.71 to.96), which showed no biases related to age and gender. This subset was dubbed the Celebrity Worship Scale (CWS). The items also showed no celebrity bias, indicating that CWS applies equally to acting, music, sports, and 'other' celebrities. The Rasch nature of the items defines celebrity worship as consisting of three qualitatively different stages. Low worship involves individualistic behaviours such as watching and reading about a celebrity. At slightly higher levels, celebrity worship takes on a social character. Lastly, the highest levels are characterized by a mixture of empathy with the celebrity's successes and failures, over-identification with the celebrity, compulsive behaviours, as well as obsession with details of the celebrity's life. Based on these findings, the authors propose a model of celebrity worship based on psychological absorption (leading to delusions of actual relationships with celebrities) and addiction (fostering the need for progressively stronger involvement to feel connected with the celebrity).

Incidentally discovered adrenal masses.

Abstract: It is becoming increasingly common to discover adrenal masses incidentally on radiologic imaging studies Adrenal masses are also occasionally found unexpectedly during operation Herein, we review 10 cases of incidentally discovered adrenal masses which illustrate the experience with the treatment of these lesions in the past 8 years A management plan based on this experience and a review of previously published data are discussed

Cisplatin ototoxicity and protection: clinical and experimental studies.

Abstract: Cisplatin is a chemotherapeutic agent that is widely used to treat a variety of malignant tumors. Serious dose-limiting side effects like ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity and neurotoxicity occur with the use of this agent. This review summarizes recent important clinical and experimental investigations of cisplatin ototoxicity. It also discusses the utility of protective agents employed in patients and in experimental animals. The future strategies for limiting cisplatin ototoxicity will need to avoid interference with the therapeutic effect of cisplatin in order to enhance the quality of life of patients receiving this important anti-tumor agent.