Elevated expression of fractalkine (CX3CL1) and fractalkine receptor (CX3CR1) in the dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: implications in multiple sclerosis-induced neuropathic pain.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system (CNS) disease resulting from a targeted autoimmune-mediated attack on myelin proteins in the CNS. The release of Th1 inflammatory mediators in the CNS activates macrophages, antibodies, and microglia resulting in myelin damage and the induction of neuropathic pain (NPP). Molecular signaling through fractalkine (CX3CL1), a nociceptive chemokine, via its receptor (CX3CR1) is thought to be associated with MS-induced NPP.

Changes in sensory activity of ocular surface sensory nerves during allergic keratoconjunctivitis.

Peripheral neural mechanisms underlying the sensations of irritation, discomfort, and itch accompanying the eye allergic response have not been hitherto analyzed. We explored this question recording the changes in the electrical activity of corneoconjunctival sensory nerve fibers of the guinea pig after an ocular allergic challenge. Sensitization was produced by i.

Exploring the role of nerve growth factor in multiple sclerosis: implications in myelin repair.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease resulting from targeted destruction of central nervous system (CNS) myelin. MS is suggested to be an autoimmune disease involving the pathogenic activation of CD4(+) T cells by a foreign antigen in the peripheral blood. The activated CD4(+) T cells liberate inflammatory cytokines that facilitate the breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) promoting their passage into the CNS.

The continuum of maternal sepsis severity: incidence and risk factors in a population-based cohort study.

Objective: To investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with uncomplicated maternal sepsis and progression to severe sepsis in a large population-based birth cohort.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study used linked hospital discharge and vital statistics records data for 1,622,474 live births in California during 2005-2007. Demographic and clinical factors were adjusted using multivariable logistic regression with robust standard errors.

A multi-country study of intussusception in children under 2 years of age in Latin America: analysis of prospective surveillance data.

Background: Intussusception (IS) is a form of acute intestinal obstruction that occurs mainly in infants and is usually of unknown cause. An association between IS and the first licensed rotavirus vaccine, a reassortant-tetravalent, rhesus-based rotavirus vaccine (RRV-TV), led to the withdrawal of the vaccine. New rotavirus vaccines have now been developed and extensively studied for their potential association with IS.

A basic dynamic transmission model of Staphylococcus aureus in the US population.

We present a basic mathematical model of Staphylococcus aureus transmission in the USA based on natural history of infection and nationally representative data. We employed a Susceptible-Colonized-Infected-Recovered-Susceptible compartmental modelling framework with two different phenotypes of S. aureus: methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant (MRSA).

Spatial accessibility to vaccination sites in a campaign against rabies in São Paulo city, Brazil.

It is estimated that the city of São Paulo has over 2.5 million dogs and 560 thousand cats. These populations are irregularly distributed throughout the territory, making it difficult to appropriately allocate health services focused on these species.

Insulin-receptor substrate-2 (irs-2) is required for maintaining glucokinase and glucokinase regulatory protein expression in mouse liver.

Insulin receptor substrate (IRS) proteins play important roles in hepatic nutrient homeostasis. Since glucokinase (GK) and glucokinase regulatory protein (GKRP) function as key glucose sensors, we have investigated the expression of GK and GKRP in liver of Irs-2 deficient mice and Irs2(-/-) mice where Irs2 was reintroduced specifically into pancreatic β-cells [RIP-Irs-2/IRS-2(-/-)]. We observed that liver GK activity was significantly lower (p<0.

Sepsis and maternal mortality.

Purpose Of Review: Despite global progress towards reducing maternal mortality, sepsis remains a leading cause of preventable maternal death. This review focuses on current measurement challenges, trends, causes and efforts to curb maternal death from sepsis in high and low-income countries.

Recent Findings: Under-reporting using routine registration data, compounded by misclassification and unreported deaths, results in significant underestimation of the burden of maternal death from sepsis.

HCN1 and HCN2 in Rat DRG neurons: levels in nociceptors and non-nociceptors, NT3-dependence and influence of CFA-induced skin inflammation on HCN2 and NT3 expression.

I(h), which influences neuronal excitability, has recently been measured in vivo in sensory neuron subtypes in dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). However, expression levels of HCN (hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated) channel proteins that underlie I(h) were unknown. We therefore examined immunostaining of the most abundant isoforms in DRGs, HCN1 and HCN2 in these neuron subtypes.

[Integral Care Guide for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Depressive Episodes and Recurrent Depressive Disorder in Adults. Integral Attention of Adults with a Diagnosis of Depressive Episodes and Recurrent Depressive Disorder: Part III: Treatment of Resistant Depression and Psychotic Depression, Occupational Therapy and Day Hospital Treatment].

Introduction: This article presents recommendations based on the evidence gathered to answer a series of clinical questions concerning the depressive episode and the recurrent depressive disorder. Emphasis was given to general treatment issues of resistant depression and psychotic depression, occupational therapy and day hospital treatment so as to grant diagnosed adult patients the health care parameters based on the best and more updated evidence available and achieve minimum quality standards.

Methodology: A practical clinical guide was elaborated according to standards of the Methodological Guide of the Ministry of Social Protection.

[Integral Care Guide for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Depressive Episodes and Recurrent Depressive Disorder in Adults. Integral Attention of Adults with a Diagnosis of Depressive Episodes and Recurrent Depressive Disorder: Part II: General Aspects of Treatment, Management of the Acute Phase, Continuation and Maintenance of Patients with a Depression Diagnosis].

Introduction: This article presents recommendations based on evidence gathered to answer a series of clinical questions concerning the depressive episode and the recurrent depressive disorder, with emphasis on general treatment aspects, treatment in the acute phase and management of the continuation/maintenance, all intended to grant health care parameters based on the best and more updated available evidence for achieving minimum quality standards with adult patients thus diagnosed.

Methodology: A practical clinical guide was elaborated according to standards of the Methodological Guide of the Ministry of Social Protection. Recommendation from NICE90 and CANMAT guides were adopted and updated so as to answer the questions posed while de novo questions were developed.

Epidemiology, clinical presentation, and patterns of drug resistance of Salmonella Typhi in Karachi, Pakistan.

Introduction: Enteric fever remains a major public health problem in Asia. Planning appropriate preventive measures such as immunization requires a clear understanding of disease burden. We conducted a community-based surveillance for Salmonella Typhi infection in children in Karachi, Pakistan.

Molecular characterization of Staphylococcus aureus in the United States 2004-2008 reveals the rapid expansion of USA300 among inpatients and outpatients.

To assess the clonal structure of Staphylococcus aureus in the United States, we performed a molecular epidemiological study of 1,055 S. aureus isolates from a nationally representative clinical isolate collection from 2004-2008. Resistant and susceptible isolates were typed with multilocus sequence typing, tested for the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), and serotyped.

Expression and properties of hyperpolarization-activated current in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons with known sensory function.

The hyperpolarization-activated current (I(h)) has been implicated in nociception/pain, but its expression levels in nociceptors remained unknown. We recorded I(h) magnitude and properties by voltage clamp from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons in vivo, after classifying them as nociceptive or low-threshold-mechanoreceptors (LTMs) and as having C-, Aδ- or Aα/β-conduction velocities (CVs). For both nociceptors andLTMs, I(h) amplitude and I(h) density (at -100 mV) were significantly positively correlated with CV.

Effectiveness of a comprehensive hand hygiene program for reduction of infection rates in a long-term care facility.

Background: Alcohol-based hand rubs play a key role in reducing the transmission of pathogens in acute care settings, especially as part of a comprehensive hand hygiene program. However, their use in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) has been virtually unstudied.

Methods: Infection data, including those meeting McGeer et al and the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority's surveillance definitions, for lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) and skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs), as well as hospitalization data were collected in a 174-bed LTCF for 22 months (May 2009 to February 2011).

Effectiveness of Vi capsular polysaccharide typhoid vaccine among children: a cluster randomized trial in Karachi, Pakistan.

Background: Typhoid fever is endemic in Karachi, with an incidence among children ranging from 170 to 450 per 100,000 child-years. Vaccination strategies are important for prevention, and the Vi capsular polysaccharide (ViCPS) vaccine has been shown to be effective in reducing the burden of typhoid fever.

Methods: A cluster randomized trial was conducted in three low socioeconomic urban squatter settlements in Karachi, Pakistan between 2002 and 2007.

[Association of Schizophrenia and its Clinical Implications with the NOS1AP Gene in the Colombian Population].

Introduction: The nitric oxide synthase 1 adaptor protein (NOS1AP) gene is possibly implicated in schizophrenia etiopathogenesis.

Objective: To determine the association of NOS1AP gene variants with schizophrenia and the relationship of variants with the clinical dimensions of the disorder in the Colombian population.

Methodology: It is a case-control study with 255 subjects per group.

Leak K⁺ channel mRNAs in dorsal root ganglia: relation to inflammation and spontaneous pain behaviour.

Two pore domain potassium (K2P) channels (KCNKx.x) cause K⁺ leak currents and are major contributors to resting membrane potential. Their roles in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons normally, and in pathological pain models, are poorly understood.

Maternal sepsis: a Scottish population-based case-control study.

Objective: To describe the risk of maternal sepsis associated with obesity and other understudied risk factors such as operative vaginal delivery.

Design: Population-based, case-control study.

Setting: North NHS region of Scotland.

BILATERAL LUXATIO ERECTA, A CASE REPORT.

Inferior shoulder dislocation (luxactio erecta) is a rare lesion affecting approximately 0.5% of dislocations of this joint. The vast majority of these cases occur unilaterally.

A cytotoxic humanized anti-ganglioside antibody produced in a murine cell line defective of N-glycolylated-glycoconjugates.

Gangliosides containing the N-glycolyl (NGc) form of sialic acid are tumor-associated antigens and promising candidates for cancer therapy. We previously generated the murine 14F7 monoclonal antibody (mAb), specific for the N-glycolyl-GM3 ganglioside (NGcGM3), which induced an oncosis-like type of cell death on malignant cell lines expressing this antigen and recognized breast carcinoma by immunoscintigraphy in cancer patients. As humanization is expected to enhance its use for human cancer therapy, herein we describe the design and generation of two humanized versions of the 14F7 mAb by disrupting potential human T cell epitopes on its variable region.

The Innovative Socio-economic Interventions Against Tuberculosis (ISIAT) project: an operational assessment.

Setting: Tuberculosis (TB) affected households in impoverished shantytowns, Lima, Peru.

Objective: To evaluate socio-economic interventions for strengthening TB control by improving uptake of TB care and prevention services.

Design: Barriers to TB control were characterised by interviews with TB-affected families.