BACKGROUND Prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the startle response refers to a reduction in the response to a strong stimulus (pulse) if preceded shortly by a weak stimulus (prepulse). Disrupted PPI is thought to reflect abnormalities in the inhibitory control of information processing. Reduced PPI has been reported in mania, although it is not clear whether it represents a trait feature of bipolar d...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous polidocanol injection (PPI) in treating cystic thyroid nodules. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 158 cystic or predominantly cystic thyroid nodules (>80% cystic component) in 143 patients were evaluated. 114 patients with compressive symptoms or aesthetic complaints were offered PPI. 44 individuals without compressive symptoms and ...

The phenomenon of premature chromosome condensation (PCC) was used to compare the bone marrow proliferation characteristics of 163 patients with various forms of leukemia prior to the initiation of new therapy. The proliferative potential index (PPI, or fraction of G1 cells in late G1 phase) and the fraction of cells in S phase was determined and compared to the type of disease and the bone mar...

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) is a compelling endophenotype (biological markers) for mental disorders including schizophrenia. In a previous study, we identified Fabp7, a fatty acid binding protein 7 as one of the genes controlling PPI in mice and showed that this gene was associated with schizophrenia. We also demonstrated that disrupting Fabp7 dampened hippocampal neurogenesis. In this study, we ...

Physiologic levels of extracellular PPi, which suppresses hydroxyapatite crystal growth, must be maintained by articular chondrocytes and resident cells in many othee tissues in order to prevent pathologic calcification. However, extracellular PPi rises in articular cartilage in direct association with aging. Matrix supersaturation with PPi stimulates chondrocalcinosis manifesting as calcium py...

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a major cause of dysphagia and food impaction. Recognition and diagnosis of EoE have been increasing rapidly, but the role of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the diagnosis of EoE and treatment of esophageal eosinophilia remains controversial. Initial diagnostic algorithms for EoE relied on a PPI trial to distinguish EoE from gastroesopha-geal reflux disease, ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Patient and public involvement (PPI) is seen as a way of helping to shape health policy and ensure a patient-focused health-care system. While evidence indicates that PPI can improve health-care decision making, it also consumes monetary and non-monetary resources. Given the financial climate, it is important to start thinking about the costs and benefits of PPI and ho...

By using oligonucleotide primers derived from regions highly conserved in prokaryotic and eukaryotic phosphofructokinase sequences, a genomic DNA fragment was amplified and used to isolate cDNA and genomic clones coding for PPi-dependent phosphofructokinase (PPi-PFK) of Entamoeba histolytica. The open reading frame consists of 1308 bp and the corresponding protein has a calculated molecular mas...

Although case reports link proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) use and hypomagnesemia, no large-scale studies have been conducted. Here we examined the serum magnesium concentration and the likelihood of hypomagnesemia (<1.6 mg/dl) with a history of PPI or histamine-2 receptor antagonist used to reduce gastric acid, or use of neither among 11,490 consecutive adult admissions to an intensive care unit o...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Proton pump inhibitor-responsive esophageal eosinophilia (PPI-REE) is a newly recognized form of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) that responds to PPI therapy. It remains unclear whether PPI-REE represents a subphenotype of gastroesophageal reflux disease, a subphenotype of EoE, or its own distinct entity. The aim was to evaluate the clinicopathologic features of PPI-REE. METHOD...