Adult vampire bats produce contact calls when isolated: acoustic variation by species, population, colony, and individual.

Background: Bat pups produce individually distinct isolation calls to facilitate maternal recognition. Increasing evidence suggests that, in group-living bat species, adults often use similar calls to maintain contact. We investigated if isolated adults from all three species of the highly cooperative vampire bats (Phyllostomidae: Desmodontinae) would produce vocally distinct contact calls when physically isolated.

Extending coalescent theory to autotetraploids.

We develop coalescent models for autotetraploid species with tetrasomic inheritance. We show that the ancestral genetic process in a large population without recombination may be approximated using Kingman's standard coalescent, with a coalescent effective population size 4N. Numerical results suggest that this approximation is accurate for population sizes on the order of hundreds of individuals.

Characteristics and outcomes of sentinel node-positive breast cancer patients after total mastectomy without axillary-specific treatment.

Purpose: Regional failure rates are low in patients with a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) who undergo breast-conserving therapy without axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). The applicability of these findings to total mastectomy (TM) patients is not established. Our aims were to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of SLNB-positive TM patients who did not receive axillary-specific treatment and to compare them to similar patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (BCS).

Effect of temperature and pH on the solubility of caseins: environmental influences on the dissociation of α(S)- and β-casein.

Selective precipitation is a common method for the isolation of β-casein, using the different calcium sensitivities of the individual caseins and the selective solubility of β-casein at a low temperature. In previous studies, it has been indicated that the β-casein yield depends on the physicochemical characteristics of the casein raw material used for fractionation. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the solubility of α(S)- and β-casein in solutions of micellar casein, sodium caseinate, and calcium caseinate as a function of pH and temperature.

Scapular kinematics and subacromial-impingement syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Context: The literature does not present a consistent pattern of altered scapular kinematics in patients with shoulder-impingement syndrome (SIS).

Objectives: To perform meta-analyses of published comparative studies to determine the consistent differences in scapular kinematics between subjects with SIS and controls. In addition, the purpose was to analyze factors of the data-collection methods to explain the inconsistencies in reported kinematics.

Interleukin-7 links T lymphocyte and intestinal epithelial cell homeostasis.

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a major survival factor for mature T cells. Therefore, the degree of IL-7 availability determines the size of the peripheral T cell pool and regulates T cell homeostasis. Here we provide evidence that IL-7 also regulates the homeostasis of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC), colon function and the composition of the commensal microflora.

Using rapid indicators for Enterococcus to assess the risk of illness after exposure to urban runoff contaminated marine water.

Background: Traditional fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) measurement is too slow (>18 h) for timely swimmer warnings.

Objectives: Assess relationship of rapid indicator methods (qPCR) to illness at a marine beach impacted by urban runoff.

Methods: We measured baseline and two-week health in 9525 individuals visiting Doheny Beach 2007-08.

Dickkopf-3, an immune modulator in peripheral CD8 T-cell tolerance.

In healthy individuals, T cells react against incoming pathogens, but remain tolerant to self-antigens, thereby preventing autoimmune reactions. CD4 regulatory T cells are major contributors in induction and maintenance of peripheral tolerance, but a regulatory role has been also reported for several subsets of CD8 T cells. To determine the molecular basis of peripheral CD8 T-cell tolerance, we exploited a double transgenic mouse model in which CD8 T cells are neonatally tolerized following interaction with a parenchymal self-antigen.

Reporting diarrhoea through a vernacular term in Quechua-speaking settings of rural Bolivia.

Field studies often use caregiver-reported diarrhoea and related symptoms to measure child morbidity. There are various vernacular terms to define diarrhoea that vary across the local cultural contexts. The relationship between vernacular definitions of diarrhoea and symptoms-based definitions is not well-documented.

Epidemiological methods in diarrhoea studies--an update.

Background: Diarrhoea remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality but is difficult to measure in epidemiological studies. Challenges include the diagnosis based on self-reported symptoms, the logistical burden of intensive surveillance and the variability of diarrhoea in space, time and person.

Methods: We review current practices in sampling procedures to measure diarrhoea, and provide guidance for diarrhoea measurement across a range of study goals.

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among college football linemen.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Canadian amateur football players.

Methods: University football players from Saskatchewan were invited to participate in this study. Each subject underwent screening for blood pressure using a BpTRU monitor, and serum cholesterol and fasting blood glucose using a Cholestech LDX analyzer.

Fatigue's effect on eversion force sense in individuals with and without functional ankle instability.

Context: Force sense (FS), the proprioceptive ability to detect muscle-force generation, has been shown to be impaired in individuals with functional ankle instability (FAI). Fatigue can also impair FS in healthy individuals, but it is unknown how fatigue affects FS in individuals with FAI.

Objective: To assess the effect of fatigue on ankle-eversion force-sense error in individuals with and without FAI.

Balance assessments for predicting functional ankle instability and stable ankles.

A number of instrumented and non-instrumented measures are used to detect balance deficits associated with functional ankle instability (FAI). Determining outcome measures that detect balance deficits associated with FAI might assist clinicians in identifying impairments that may otherwise go undetected with less responsive balance measures. Thus, our objective was to determine the balance measure that best predicted ankle group membership (FAI or stable ankle).

[Treatment and healthcare costs of fibromyalgia syndrome in Germany: analysis of the data of the Barmer health insurance (BEK) from 2008-2009].

Background: The data available on the types of treatment delivered and healthcare costs of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) patients in Germany are currently not representative.

Material And Methods: The data from all 6,897,846 insured persons of the German statutory health insurance company Barmer Ersatzkasse (BEK) before the fusion with the Gmünder Ersatzkasse (GEK) were analyzed if more than 2 billing cases with the diagnosis M79.7 were found (FMS cases) in the 8 consecutive quarter years of 2007-2008.

Postoperative impedance-pH testing is unreliable after Nissen fundoplication with or without giant hiatal hernia repair.

Introduction: Combined 24-h multichannel intralumenal impedance-pH monitoring (MII-pH) is gaining popularity as a diagnostic tool for gastroesophageal reflux. Since the surgical reduction of hiatal hernias and creation of a fundoplication anatomically restores the gastroesophageal reflux barrier, one would assume that it effectively stops all reflux regardless of composition. Our aim is to evaluate the results of routine MII-pH testing in successful Nissen fundoplication patients.

Very small calcifications are detected and scored in the coronary arteries from small voxel MDCT images using a new automated/calibrated scoring method with statistical and patient specific plaque definitions.

A negative (zero) Agatston coronary calcium score (CCS) by current methods confers a very low risk for hard coronary events during the next years. However, controversy remains on how to use a negative score since some hard events still occur. We report on a new method with improved detection sensitivity for very small calcifications with the potential to more confidently rule out early atherosclerotic disease.

Simulation methods to estimate design power: an overview for applied research.

Background: Estimating the required sample size and statistical power for a study is an integral part of study design. For standard designs, power equations provide an efficient solution to the problem, but they are unavailable for many complex study designs that arise in practice. For such complex study designs, computer simulation is a useful alternative for estimating study power.

A novel function of junctional adhesion molecule-C in mediating melanoma cell metastasis.

Hematogenous dissemination of melanoma is a life-threatening complication of this malignant tumor. Here, we identified junctional adhesion molecule-C (JAM-C) as a novel player in melanoma metastasis to the lung. JAM-C expression was identified in human and murine melanoma cell lines, in human malignant melanoma, as well as in metastatic melanoma including melanoma lung metastasis.

A natural orifice transrectal approach for oncologic resection of the rectosigmoid: an experimental study and comparison with conventional laparoscopy.

Background: A transrectal (TR) approach for natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) makes sense for colorectal surgery because the colotomy can be incorporated into subsequent anastomosis. Because cancer is a primary indication for left-sided colon resection, oncologic standards will have to be met by a NOTES procedure. This study aimed to assess whether pure TR rectosigmoidectomy can be performed with strict adherence to oncologic principles compared with a conventional laparoscopically assisted approach (LAP).

Factors associated with compliance among users of solar water disinfection in rural Bolivia.

Background: Diarrhoea is the second leading cause of childhood mortality, with an estimated 1.3 million deaths per year. Promotion of Solar Water Disinfection (SODIS) has been suggested as a strategy for reducing the global burden of diarrhoea by improving the microbiological quality of drinking water.

Deficiency of gelatinase B/MMP-9 aggravates lpr-induced lymphoproliferation and lupus-like systemic autoimmune disease.

Gelatinase B/matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a key enzyme involved in inflammatory, hematological, vascular and neoplastic diseases. In previous studies, we explored the intracellular substrate set or 'degradome' of MMP-9 and found many systemic autoantigens as novel intracellular gelatinase B substrates. Little is known, however, about the functional role of MMP-9 in the development of systemic autoimmunity in vivo.

Deficiency of liver sinusoidal scavenger receptors stabilin-1 and -2 in mice causes glomerulofibrotic nephropathy via impaired hepatic clearance of noxious blood factors.

Tissue homeostasis and remodeling are processes that involve high turnover of biological macromolecules. Many of the waste molecules that are by-products or degradation intermediates of biological macromolecule turnover enter the circulation and are subsequently cleared by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSEC). Besides the mannose receptor, stabilin-1 and stabilin-2 are the major scavenger receptors expressed by LSEC.

Mapping hospice patients' perception and verbal communication of end-of-life needs: an exploratory mixed methods inquiry.

Background: Comprehensive "Total Pain" assessments of patients' end-of-life needs are critical for providing improved patient-clinician communication, assessing needs, and offering high quality palliative care. However, patients' needs-based research methodologies and findings remain highly diverse with their lack of consensus preventing optimum needs assessments and care planning. Mixed-methods is an underused yet robust "patient-based" approach for reported lived experiences to map both the incidence and prevalence of what patients perceive as important end of life needs.

Functional ankle instability and health-related quality of life.

Context: To our knowledge, no authors have assessed health-related quality of life (HR-QOL) in participants with functional ankle instability (FAI). Furthermore, the relationships between measures of ankle functional limitation and HR-QOL are unknown.

Objective: To use the Short Form-36v2 Health Survey (SF-36) to compare HR-QOL in participants with or without FAI and to determine whether HR-QOL was related to functional limitation.