Molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoids action: implications for treatment of rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis

Intra-nasal glucocorticoids are the most effective drugs available for rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis treatment. Their effectiveness depends on many factors and not all of them have been well recognized so far. The authors present the basic information on molecular mechanisms of glucocorticoid action, direct and indirect effects of glucocorticoids on transcription of genes encoding inflammatory mediators. They focus on recently proved nongenomic mechanisms which appear quickly, from several seconds to minutes after glucocorticoid administration and discuss clinical implications resulting from this knowledge. Discovery of nongenomic glucocorticoid actions allows for better use of these drugs in clinical practice

The Classic: Bone Morphogenetic Protein

This Classic Article is a reprint of the original work by Marshall R. Urist and Basil S. Strates, Bone Morphogenetic Protein. An accompanying biographical sketch of Marshall R. Urist, MD is available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-009-1067-4; a second Classic Article is available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-009-1069-2; and a third Classic Article is available at DOI 10.1007/s11999-009-1070-9. The Classic Article is © 1971 by Sage Publications Inc. Journals and is reprinted with permission from Urist MR, Strates BS. Bone morphogenetic protein. J Dent Res. 1971;50:1392–1406

Linear Predictive Detection for Power Line Communications Impaired by Colored Noise

Robust detection algorithms capable of mitigating the effects of colored noise are of primary interest in communication systems operating on power line channels. In this paper, we present a sequence detection scheme based on linear prediction to be applied in single-carrier power line communications impaired by colored noise. The presence of colored noise and the need for statistical sufficiency requires the design of an optimal front-end stage, whereas the need for a low-complexity solution suggests a more practical suboptimal front-end. The performance of receivers employing both optimal and suboptimal front-ends has been assessed by means of minimum mean square prediction error (MMSPE) analysis and bit-error rate (BER) simulations. We show that the proposed optimal solution improves the BER performance with respect to conventional systems and makes the receiver more robust against colored noise. As case studies, we investigate the performance of the proposed receivers in a low-voltage (LV) power line channel limited by colored background noise and in a high-voltage (HV) power line channel limited by corona noise