Methods We analyzed spinal fMRI data from healthy subjects during

Methods We analyzed spinal fMRI data from healthy subjects during a proprioceptive and a tactile stimulation by using two model-based approaches, i.e., CC analysis between the stimulus shape and the time

course of every voxel, and the GLM. Moreover, we applied independent component analysis, a model-free approach which decomposes the data in a set of source signals.

Results All methods were able to detect cervical cord areas of activity corresponding to the expected regions of neuronal activations. Model-based approaches (CC and GLM) revealed JIB04 purchase similar patterns of activity. ICA could identify a component correlated to fMRI stimulation, although with a lower statistical threshold than model-based approaches, and many components, consistent across subjects, which are likely to be secondary

AZD4547 to noise present in the data.

Conclusions Model-based approaches seem to be more robust for estimating task-related activity, whereas ICA seems to be useful for eliminating noise components from the data. Combined use of ICA and GLM might improve the reliability of spinal fMRI results.”
“Remembering where things are – object-location memory – is essential for daily-life functioning. Functionally, it can be decomposed into at least three distinct processing mechanisms: (a) object processing, (b) spatial-location processing and (c) object to location binding. A neurocognitive model is sketched, which posits a mostly bilateral ventral cortical network supporting object-identity

memory, a left fronto-parietal circuit for categorical position processing and working memory aspects, and a right fronto-parietal circuit for coordinate position processing and working memory. Medial temporal lobes and in particular the hippocampus appear essential for object-location binding. It is speculated that categorical object-location binding and episodic memory binding in general depend more on the left-sided areas, whereas coordinate object-location processing and navigation in large scale space involve the right-sided counterparts. this website The various object-location memory components differ in the extent to which they are automatized or require central effort. While automatic routines protect against brain damage, neural deficits might potentially also lead to a shift upon the automatic-effortful continuum. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The objective of this review is to examine and evaluate recent findings on cognitive functioning (in particular imagery processes) in individuals with congenital visual impairments, including total blindness, low-vision and monocular vision. As one might expect, the performance of blind individuals in many behaviours and tasks requiring imagery can be inferior to that of sighted subjects; however, surprisingly often this is not the case.

In immunocytochemical studies, double-labeled experiments using a

In immunocytochemical studies, double-labeled experiments using antibodies against Thy 1.1 and alpha a nAChR subunits demonstrated that both large and small RGCs contained alpha a nAChR subunits. The data presented in this study support the hypothesis that ACh and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists provide neuroprotection against this website glutamate-induced excitotoxicity in adult rat RGCs through activation of alpha 7 nAChR subunits. These studies lay the groundwork required for analyzing the effect of specific alpha 7 nAChR agonists using in vivo models of excitotoxicity. Understanding the type of ACh receptors involved

in neuroprotection in the rat retina could ultimately lead to therapeutic treatment for any CNS disease that involves excitotoxicity. (C) 2013 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Emotion dysregulation is a hallmark feature of borderline personality disorder (BPD) and is associated with a dysfunction of prefrontal (PFC)-limbic systems The purpose of the present study was to examine PFC function in BPD during the experience and suppression of sadness. Subjects were females

with BPD (N = 9) and age-, gender-, and IQ-matched non-psychiatric comparison subjects (N = 8) Evoked hemodynamic oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) was examined in PFC using functional near-Infrared spectroscopy while subjects viewed neutral or sad images and were PD-1/PD-L1 Inhibitor 3 instructed to either maintain or suppress their emotional reactions No group differences in behavioral ratings of sadness suppression or mean levels of evoked oxy-Hb were observed BPD and control subjects, however, recruited homologous regions of lateral PFC during emotional suppression, with right lateral PFC activation for BPD subjects

associated with difficulty suppressing these sadness, whereas an inverse relationship was observed in left lateral PFC for healthy controls. Exploratory analyses revealed that the slope of the rise in oxy-Hb in medial PFC during transient sadness was positive and steep for healthy controls. Conversely. BPD subjects showed a negative and shallow slope, which was associated with severity of clinical symptoms These results suggest that BPD subjects may show abnormal evoked oxy-Hb in medial PFC during transient sadness, with recruitment of right lateral PFC in BPD associated with reported difficulty in suppressing emotion This abnormal cortical response, possibly in tandem with subcortical-limbic regions, may underlie symptoms of emotion dysregulation in BPD. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved”
“The parapyramidal (ppy) region targets primarily the intermediolateral cell column and is probably involved in breathing and thermoregulation. In the present study, we tested whether ppy serotonergic neurons respond to activation of central and peripheral chemoreceptors.

in the present study, an expression plasmid for chimeric VSV-G, c

in the present study, an expression plasmid for chimeric VSV-G, consisting of a ZZ fragment derived from Staphylococcal protein A fused to the N-terminus of VSV-G (ZZ-VSV-G), was constructed to produce viral vectors capable of antibody-de pendent gene transduction. Gammaretroviral (based on mouse stem cell virus, MSCV) and lentiviral (based on human immunodeficiency virus type 1, HIV-1) vectors pseudotyped with ZZ-VSV-G were produced without the loss of antibody-binding activity. The production of infectious viral particles was promoted by the addition of an expression plasmid for native VSV-G and Paclitaxel order antibody-dependent gene transduction was achieved using plates coated with antibodies.

This system may be useful for the genetic transduction of cells expressing specific proteins on their surface, and for screening of antibodies specific for cell surface receptors. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“A one-step real-time RT-PCR assay (rRT-PCR) was developed for efficient detection of Duck hepatitis virus type1 (DHV-1). A pair of specific primers was designed against the conserved region in the 3D gene that encodes the RNA dependent RNA polymerase with a single conserved TaqMan (TM) probe. The

detection limit of this assay was 10 viral genomic copies per reaction and it was highly specific to DHV-1. The rRT-PCR assay was used to determine the distribution and concentration of DHV-1 virulent strain in duck embryos as well as the DHV-1 attenuated vaccine strain in chicken embryos. The results revealed that the copy numbers of DHV-1 reached a peak in duck embryos and chicken embryos selleck products at 28-40 h, 44-56 h postinoculation respectively. The comparative tests for ducklings infected artificially and clinical samples between neutralization test and rRT-PCR showed that the positive results of infected samples were the same, while the rRT-PCR method was more sensitive than neutralization test for detection of clinical samples. The rapid, sensitive and specific rRT-PCR assay will be a powerful tool for detection of suspected cases of DHV-1, distribution

pattern of DHV-1 in vivo and molecular epidemiological screening. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Objective: Determine the molecular mechanism(s) behind tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha)-induced Dapagliflozin loss of auditory hair cells and the ability of dexamethasone base (DXMb) to protect against TNF alpha ototoxicity.

Methods: Hair cell counts: Three-day-old rat organ of Corti explants were cultured under three different conditions: 1) untreated-control; 2) TNF alpha (2 mu g/ml); and 3) TNF alpha (2 mu g/ml)+DXMb (70 mu g/ml) for 4 days, fixed, and stained with FITC-phalloidin. Hair cells were counted in the basal and middle turns. Gene expression: total RNA was extracted from the three different groups of explants at 0, 12, 24 and 48 h.

The thermal effects are also included and the material properties

The thermal effects are also included and the material properties are assumed to be temperature-dependent. A singular perturbation technique is employed to determine the buckling pressure and postbuckling equilibrium paths. The small scale parameter e(o)a is estimated by matching the buckling pressure of MTs measured from the experiments with the numerical results obtained from the nonlocal shear deformable

shell model. The numerical results show that buckling pressure and postbuckling behavior of MTs are very sensitive to the small scale parameter eoa. The results reveal that the 13_3 microtubule has a stable postbuckling path, whereas the 13_2 microtubule has an unstable postbuckling behavior due to the presence eFT-508 solubility dmso of skew angles. click here (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“:BACKGROUND: Distal filter protection allows for continuous cerebral perfusion during carotid artery stenting (CAS), although a higher risk of debris migrating into the cerebral arteries compared with other protection systems has been reported.

OBJECTIVE: To improve the extent of debris capture, we used routine aspiration of blood located proximal to the filter in the

internal carotid artery blood column before retrieval of the filter device.

METHODS: Of 71 CAS procedures with distal filter protection, routine aspiration was performed in 41 procedures. The size and number of debris particles in each aspirated blood sample were measured under a stereoscopic microscope Tobramycin in 30 consecutive procedures with routine aspiration. Occurrence of periprocedural neurological events was compared between 41 procedures with routine aspiration and the other 30 without routine aspiration.

RESULTS: In the aspirated blood, debris particles >= 500 mu m and >= 1000 mu m in the longest diameter were observed in 30 (100%) and 28 (93.3%) procedures, respectively. The number of particles >= 1000 mu m was significantly larger in the second through fourth blood aspirates

vs the first aspirate (P < .05). Occurrence of periprocedural neurological events was significantly less frequent in the routine aspiration group (0 of 41 procedures) than in the conventional method group (7 of 30 procedures) (P < .05).

CONCLUSION: The use of routine aspiration during CAS with distal filter protection possibly reduced periprocedural neurological events by increasing the proportion of debris captured. To improve the capture of debris particles, at least 4 repeated aspirations are advisable during each CAS procedure.”
“In hardwoods such as Eucalyptus spp., xylem (wood) is a heterogeneous tissue consisting of multiple cell types. As such, xylem development involves multiple complex interactions.

Linear calibration curves for Paraoxon and Dichlorvos

det

Linear calibration curves for Paraoxon and Dichlorvos

determination have been obtained. The detection limits resulted to be 0.86 ppb and 4.2 ppb for Paraoxon and Dichlorvos, respectively, while the extension of the linear range was up 23 ppb for the former pesticide and up to 33 ppb for the latter. Because the inhibited enzyme can be reactivated when immediately treated with an oxime, the biosensor reactivation has been studied when 1,1′-trimethylene bis 4-formylpyridinium MI-503 ic50 bromide dioxime (TMB-4) and pyridine 2-aldoxime methiodide (2-PAM) were used. TMB-4 resulted more effective.

The comparison with the behavior of similar AChE based biosensors is also presented.”
“Purpose: We compared the learning curve and outcomes in children undergoing robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty during the initiation of a robotic surgery program compared to the benchmark of open pyeloplasty.

Materials and Methods: The records of our first consecutive 33 children Q-VD-Oph purchase undergoing robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty from 2006 to 2009 were retrospectively reviewed and compared to those of age and gender matched children who underwent open repair done by senior faculty

surgeons before the initiation of our robotic surgery program. We compared operative time, complications, postoperative pain, length of stay and surgical success for 2 surgeons who adopted the robotic approach at an academic teaching institution.

Results: We found no significant differences in length of stay, pain score or surgical success at a median followup of 16 months. The number of complications was similar and they tended to be early and technical in the robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty group. Overall average operative time was 90 minutes longer (38%) for robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (p < 0.004). When evaluated

chronologically, there was evidence of a learning curve. After 15 to 20 robotic cases overall operative times for robotic assisted Rutecarpine laparoscopic cases was consistently within 1 SD of our average open pyeloplasty time with no significant difference in overall operative time (p = 0.23). Of the decrease in overall operative time 70% was due to decreased pyeloplasty time rather than peripheral time.

Conclusions: There was similar safety and efficacy with robotic assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty, although complications tended to be technical and early in our initial experience. Operative time decreased with experience and after 15 to 20 cases it was similar to that of open pyeloplasty with similar outcomes and surgical success.”
“Little is known about how the auditory cortex adapts to artificial input as provided by a cochlear implant (CI). We report the case of a 71-year-old profoundly deaf man, who has successfully used a unilateral Cl for 4 years.

The present study investigated the transcription-dependent change

The present study investigated the transcription-dependent changes of Arc in response to the activation of group I mGluR by (RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) in cultured cortical neurons. The increase in Arc mRNA did not require de nova protein synthesis, indicating that Arc is an immediate early gene upon DHPG stimulation. We further examined the major pathways involved in group I mGluR signaling, and found that DHPG-induced Arc up-regulation depended on CaMK, PLC, and ERK1/2 activity. Moreover, the activity of NMDA receptors, GSK2118436 mouse but not L-type voltage gated calcium channels (L-VGCC), was required for Arc transcription. Interestingly, blocking CaMK, PLC, and NMDAR, but not L-VGCC, suppressed

DHPG-stimulated ERK1/2 activation. These data suggest the central role of ERK1/2 in group I mGluR-mediated Arc transcription. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“A real-time RT-PCR method was developed AZD9291 concentration for the detection of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV). The VP5 gene of IBDV was chosen as the target binding region for a specific TaqMan probe.

The results showed that viral genomic copy number could be quantified accurately ranging from 10(8) copies/mu L to 10(1) copies/mu L. No positive signal was detected for other avian pathogens in the specificity test. This assay was highly sensitive and could detect as little as 30 copies of viral RNA. Both the coefficients of variation (CVs) of inter- and intra-assay reproducibility were less than 2%. Growth curves of the IBDV Gt strain in chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF)and DF-1 cells were evaluated by the real-time RT-PCR. The data showed that the cytopathic effects found of the virus in CEF and DF-1 cells were similar. However, higher viral titers were detected in

the DF-1 cell line. This study indicated that the real-time RT-PCR approach provided a powerful diagnostic tool with high sensitivity and specificity for the identification and quantitation of IBDV. The DF-1 cell line may be a more suitable continuous cell line for the propagation of IBDV compared to CEF (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Myelin contains many axonal outgrowth inhibitory components which contribute to regeneration failure after neuronal injury in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). In an attempt to develop small molecular agents to promote axonal outgrowth, we screened a compound library purified from traditional Chinese herbs, and found a small molecular compound polygalasaponin G (PS-G), extracted from Polygala japonica, which has a potent neurotrophic activity on PC12 cells and cultured cortical neurons. We reported, to our knowledge for the first time, that PS-G could promote neurite outgrowth of neurons cultured on the myelin substrates and inhibit the activation of RhoA. Thus, our results could represent a therapeutic approach to improve axon regeneration after CNS injuries.

This phenomenon should be considered in the generation of antibod

This phenomenon should be considered in the generation of antibodies and controls for Thy-1 bioassays. Furthermore, the changes in Thy-1 conformation with delipidation, beyond affecting antibody affinity, likely affect the ligand affinity and biological function of soluble vs released membrane-associated forms. Laboratory Investigation (2013) 93, 365-374; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2012.178; published online 28 January 2013″
“Rationale Delta-opioid agonists enhance the antinociceptive efficacy of methadone and other mu-opioid agonists. However, relatively little is known about the degree to which delta agonists

might enhance the abuse-related effects of mu agonists.

Objective This study used a behavioral economic approach to examine effects of the delta agonist SNC80 [(+)-4-[(alpha R)-alpha-((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]- N,N-diethylbenzamide] PLX4032 ic50 on the reinforcing effects of methadone in a drug self-administration assay. Interactions between SNC80 and cocaine selleck chemicals llc were also examined for comparison.

Methods Rhesus monkeys (n=4), surgically implanted with indwelling intravenous catheters,

were tested in two phases. In phase 1, drug self-administration dose-effect curves for methadone (0.0032-0.1 mg/kg/injection (inj)) and cocaine (0.0032-0.32 mg/kg/inj) alone were determined under a fixed-ratio 10 (FR 10) schedule of reinforcement. In phase 2, FR values were increased every 3 days (FR 1-FR 1800) during availability of methadone alone (0.032 mg/kg/inj) and in combination with varying proportions of SNC80 (0.1:1, 0.3:1, and 0.9:1 SNC80/methadone) or of cocaine alone (0.032 mg/kg/inj) and in combination with varying proportions of SNC80 (0.33:1, 1: 1, and 3: 1 SNC80/cocaine). Demand curves related drug intake to FR price, and measures of reinforcement were derived.

Results Methadone and cocaine alone Flavopiridol (Alvocidib) each functioned as a reinforcer. SNC80 did not alter measures of reinforcement for either methadone or cocaine.

Conclusions

SNC80 at proportions previously shown to enhance methadone-induced antinociception did not enhance the abuse-related effects of methadone. These results support the proposition that delta agonists may selectively enhance mu agonist analgesic effects without enhancing mu agonist abuse liability.”
“Purpose: Idiopathic calcium oxalate kidney stones form while attached to Randall plaques, the subepithelial deposits on renal papillary surfaces. Plaque formation and growth mechanisms are poorly understood. Plaque formation else-where in the body is triggered by reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress. This review explores possible reactive oxygen species involvement in plaque formation and calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis.

An alternative treatment, submaximal angioplasty without stenting

An alternative treatment, submaximal angioplasty without stenting, performed concurrently with SAMMPRIS, may offer revascularization

benefits with a lower incidence of stenting-related risks.

OBJECTIVE: To present the results of a consecutive case series of primary submaximal angioplasty procedures performed for symptomatic severe atherosclerotic intracranial stenosis refractory to medical treatment.

METHODS: A database review identified primary submaximal angioplasty procedures performed in 41 patients for the treatment of >70% intracranial stenosis associated with an acute, symptomatic ischemic event in the distribution of the diseased vessel. For results analysis, 30-day events were reported as a percentage of patients treated. One-year periprocedural and ischemic event-free survival was reported as a

percentage of all patients treated and displayed graphically with selleck a Kaplan-Meier survival curve.

RESULTS: Three events in 41 patients included 1 intraprocedural vessel perforation, 1 reperfusion hemorrhage <24 hours postoperatively, and 1 transient ischemic selleck chemicals llc attack 3 months postprocedurally (30-day event rate, 2 of 41, 4.9%). Median clinical follow-up duration after submaximal angioplasty was 19 months, with >= 1 year of follow-up available for 32 patients. One-year perioperative and ischemic event-free survival was high (29 of 32 patients, 91%).

CONCLUSION: In this series, periprocedural safety of submaximal angioplasty

in the setting of acute, symptomatic atherosclerotic Benzatropine intracranial stenosis was demonstrated. Although direct comparison is impossible because many patients were ineligible for stenting procedures, the complication profile compares favorably with rates of identically defined event-free survival for patients randomized to the medical (88%) and surgical (77%) arms of SAMMPRIS despite the absence of aggressive medical management.”
“A small fraction of HIV-infected individuals (<1%), referred to as elite controllers (EC), are able to maintain undetectable viral loads indefinitely without treatment. The role of the maturational phenotype of T cells in the control of HIV infection in these individuals is not well described. We compared the maturational and functional phenotypes of Gag-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells from EC, who maintain undetectable viral loads without treatment; relative controllers (RC), who maintain viral loads of <1,000 copies/ml without treatment; and noncontrollers (NC), who fail to control viral replication. EC maintained higher frequencies of HIV-specific CD4 T cells, less mature polyfunctional Gag-specific CD4 T cells (CD27(+) CD57(-) CD45RO(+)), and Gag-specific polyfunctional CD4 T cells than those observed in NC.

2%; P = 04) and limb threat

2%; P = .04) and limb threat Mocetinostat research buy (2.1% vs 2.6%; P < .01). In-hospital amputation rates were significantly higher for patients who had PTA (7%) than BPG (3.9%, odds ratio [OR], 1.67 [1.49-1.85]; P < .01) or patients who underwent ABF (3.0%; OR, 2.32 [1.79,

3.03]; P < .01).

Conclusion: PTA has altered the treatment paradigm for lower limb ischemia with an increase in costs and procedures. It is unclear if this represents an increase in patients or number of treatments per patient. Although mortality is slightly lower with PTA for all indications, amputation rates for limb-threat patients appear higher, as does the average cost. Longitudinal studies are necessary to determine the appropriateness of PTA in both claudication and limb-threat patients. The mortality benefit with PTA may be ultimately lost, selleck and average costs elevated, if multiple interventions are performed on the same patients. (J Vasc Surg 2011;54:1021-31.)”
“Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is the most common cause of anatomic failure in retinal detachment surgery. To understand the molecular mechanisms, vitreous proteomes of patients with PVR were investigated by two-dimensional-nano-liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Vitreous

samples of moderate PVR (grade B), and severe PVR (grade C or D) were aspirated during pars plana vitrectomy before infusion. In the current study, 129, 97 and 137 proteins were identified in vitreous Phloretin of normal control,

moderate and severe PVR, respectively. In PVR vitreous samples, complement components, serine proteinase inhibitors, and extracellular proteins were up-regulated or appeared, while normal cytoskeleton and metabolism proteins were down-regulated or disappeared. It was noteworthy that the proteins involved in transcription and translation regulation increased in vitreous with PVR. Among 102 PVR-specific proteins, kininogen 1 was specifically detected in both vitreous and the corresponding serum. Therefore, it can be concluded that PVR is a complicated pathology process with great amount of proteins involved in metabolism dysfunction, immune reactions, and cytoskeleton remolding. Kininogen 1 may be a candidate biomarker of PVR. Further investigations of these special proteins will provide additional targets for treatment or prevention of ocular proliferative diseases.”
“BACKGROUND: Carotid plaque characteristics influence future risk of stroke considerably. However, the severity of stenosis does not accurately reflect plaque burden in patients with expansive arterial remodeling.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the therapeutic outcome of symptomatic carotid low-grade stenosis with vulnerable plaque based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characterization.

METHODS: We studied 25 (male, n = 23; age, 74.2 +/- 5.6 years) of 29 consecutive patients with symptomatic carotid low-grade stenosis (<50%) and both high-signal plaque and expansive remodeling on T1-weighted MRIs.

We also find that pioglitazone reduces infarction volume in a tra

We also find that pioglitazone reduces infarction volume in a transient, but not a permanent MCAO model suggesting that reperfusion plays an important role in TZD mediated neuroprotection. Since PPAR gamma agonists reduce inflammation and oxidative BAY 1895344 ic50 stress,

both of which are exacerbated by reperfusion, we hypothesized that TZDs would be most effective if administered prior to reperfusion. We administered TZDs 3 h after MCAO and found that infarction volume and neurologic function are significantly improved in animals reperfused at 3 h and 15 min (after TZD treatment), but not in animals reperfused at 2 h (before TZD treatment) when assessed either 24 h or 3 weeks after MCAO. While TZDs reduce intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) expression to a similar extent regardless of the time of reperfusion, leukocyte entry into brain parenchyma is more dramatically reduced when reperfusion is delayed until after drug treatment.

The finding that delaying reperfusion until after TZD treatment is beneficial despite a longer period of ischemia, is dramatic given the widely held view that duration of ischemia is the most important determinate of injury. (C) 2010 IBRO. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: We evaluated the role of loss of heterozygosity on the interferon-alpha locus to predict the response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin therapy in patients with nonmuscle AMG510 research buy invasive bladder cancer.

Materials and Methods: A total of 117 consecutive patients were selected, including 77 with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer and 40 Pyruvate dehydrogenase lipoamide kinase isozyme 1 controls. Loss of heterozygosity on the interferon-alpha locus (chromosome 9p21) was assessed in blood and urine samples before transurethral resection. All patients underwent transurethral resection and then 6 weekly bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillations. Those with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer were assigned to groups

1 and 2 with and without loss of heterozygosity on the interferon-alpha locus, respectively.

Results: Of the 77 patients with nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer 39 (50.6%) had loss of heterozygosity on the interferon-alpha locus (group 1) and 38 (49.4%) had no alteration (group 2). Only 1 of 40 controls showed loss of heterozygosity on the interferon-alpha locus. At the end of followup 13 patients in group 1 and 27 in group 2 were alive without recurrence. We noted a significant difference between loss of heterozygosity on interferon-alpha and followup status (dF 01, LR 11.252, p = 0.003). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant difference in recurrence probability (response to bacillus Calmette-Guerin) and loss of heterozygosity on interferon-alpha (p < 0.0001). On multivariate analysis loss of heterozygosity (HR 4.09, 95% CI 2.59-6.28, p = 0.002), grade (grade 3 HR 3.31, 95% CI 1.38-3.35, p = 0.03) and the number of lesions (3 or greater HR 2.31, 95% CI 1.38-3.25, p = 0.03) were independent predictors of the bacillus Calmette-Guerin response.