An HIV-1 clade C DNA prime, NYVAC boost vaccine regimen induces reliable, polyfunctional, and long-lasting T cell responses.

The EuroVacc 02 phase I trial has evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of a prime-boost regimen comprising recombinant DNA and the poxvirus vector NYVAC, both expressing a common immunogen consisting of Env, Gag, Pol, and Nef polypeptide domain from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 clade C isolate, CN54. 40 volunteers were randomized to receive DNA C or nothing on day 0 and at week 4, followed by NYVAC C at weeks 20 and 24. The primary immunogenicity endpoints were measured at weeks 26 and 28 by the quantification of T cell responses using the interferon gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assay.

Global adiposity rather than abnormal regional fat distribution characterizes women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Context: Obesity-related predisposition to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) could reflect overall adiposity and/or regional accumulation of abdominal visceral fat.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare distributions of visceral, abdominal sc, and gluteofemoral sc adipose tissue in PCOS cases vs. control women.

Effectiveness of various exposure metrics in defining dose-response relationships for mink (Mustela vison) exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls.

We conducted a quantitative analysis of published results from more than 50 tests of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) effects on mink reproduction, which provided a basis for evaluating how well different methods of measuring and assessing PCB concentrations can approximate a toxicologically relevant dose for this endpoint. Several dose metrics were identified for comparison. Dietary dose metrics included the daily intake of total PCBs and the daily intake of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin toxicity equivalence concentrations (TECs), calculated using World Health Organization toxicity equivalence factors (TEFs).

The genomic landscapes of human breast and colorectal cancers.

Human cancer is caused by the accumulation of mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. To catalog the genetic changes that occur during tumorigenesis, we isolated DNA from 11 breast and 11 colorectal tumors and determined the sequences of the genes in the Reference Sequence database in these samples. Based on analysis of exons representing 20,857 transcripts from 18,191 genes, we conclude that the genomic landscapes of breast and colorectal cancers are composed of a handful of commonly mutated gene "mountains" and a much larger number of gene "hills" that are mutated at low frequency.

Disparate genetic influences on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and type 2 diabetes revealed by a lack of association between common variants within the TCF7L2 gene and PCOS.

Aims/hypothesis: Common variants of the gene encoding transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) have a powerful effect on individual risk of type 2 diabetes (per allele odds ratio approximately 1.35). Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and type 2 diabetes are familial conditions sharing common features.

Cognition and self-control: cognitive control of painful sensory input.

Eighty Ss were first tested for base-level response to a pain-producing stimulus and then were re-tested on the same pain stimulus after receiving 1 of 8 experimental treatments. The 8 treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design: presence or absence of hypnotic induction procedure; presence or absence of instructions for anesthesia; and presence or absence of demands for honest reports. Neither the hypnotic-induction procedure nor the demands for honesty affected the Ss'reports of the degree of pain experienced.

Metabolic characteristics of women with polycystic ovaries and oligo-amenorrhoea but normal androgen levels: implications for the management of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Objective: Application of the newly introduced Rotterdam criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) generates four phenotypic subgroups, defined by the presence/absence of three diagnostic elements: polycystic ovarian (PCO) morphology (P); hyperandrogenism (H); and oligo-amenorrhoea (O). Whilst PCOS is associated with adverse metabolic features, the strength of the association within individual subgroups is not established. We characterized the metabolic and endocrine profiles of PCOS women who are oligomenorrhoeic but normoandrogenaemic, and compared these to other PCOS women and controls.

Metabolic syndrome in polycystic ovary syndrome.

Both metabolic syndrome (MS) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are common among women. The exact prevalence of MS in women with PCOS is dependent upon the diagnostic criteria used for each. However, the frequent co-occurrence of both MS and PCOS in women is suggestive of a common aetiology.

Relationship between E23K (an established type II diabetes-susceptibility variant within KCNJ11), polycystic ovary syndrome and androgen levels.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is strongly associated with hyperinsulinaemia and type II diabetes (T2D). Sequence variation within KCNJ11 (encoding Kir6.2, the beta-cell inwardly rectifying potassium channel) is implicated in the pathogenesis of neonatal diabetes, hyperinsulinaemia of infancy and multifactorial T2D.

The effect of enzymatically degradable IPN coatings on peri-implant bone formation and implant fixation.

Short-term osseointegration of orthopedic implants is critical for the long-term stability of the implant-bone interface. To improve initial implant stability, one strategy under consideration involves the presentation of adhesion ligands on the implant surface to stimulate bone regeneration in the peri-implant region. To assess the relative effects of implant surface chemistry and topography on osseointegration within the rat femoral ablation implant model, a nonfouling, enzymatically degradable interpenetrating polymer network (edIPN) of poly(AAm-co-EG/AAc) amenable to presenting the cell signaling domain Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD), was developed.

An evaluation of cause-effect relationships between polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations and sediment toxicity to benthic invertebrates.

Cause-effect sediment-quality benchmarks for the protection of benthic invertebrates are needed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to support predictive risk assessments and retrospective evaluations of the causes of observed sediment toxicity. An in-depth evaluation of PCB aquatic toxicity and organic carbon partitioning was conducted to predict sediment effect concentrations using the equilibrium partitioning (EqP) approach. This evaluation was limited to invertebrate toxicity data, because PCBs may exert toxicity to invertebrates and fish via different toxicological mechanisms.

Peri-implant bone formation and implant integration strength of peptide-modified p(AAM-co-EG/AAC) interpenetrating polymer network-coated titanium implants.

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of poly (acrylamide-co-ethylene glycol/acrylic acid) functionalized with an -Arg-Gly-Asp- (RGD) containing 15 amino acid peptides, derived from rat bone sialoprotein (bsp-RGD(15), were grafted to titanium implants in an effort to modulate bone formation in the peri-implant region in the rat femoral ablation model. Bone-implant contact (BIC) and bone formation within the medullary canal were determined using microcomputed tomography at 2 and 4 weeks postimplantation. BIC for bsp-RGD(15)-IPN implants was enhanced relative to hydroxyapatite tricalcium phosphate (HA-TCP) coated implants, but was similar to all other groups.

The consensus coding sequences of human breast and colorectal cancers.

The elucidation of the human genome sequence has made it possible to identify genetic alterations in cancers in unprecedented detail. To begin a systematic analysis of such alterations, we determined the sequence of well-annotated human protein-coding genes in two common tumor types. Analysis of 13,023 genes in 11 breast and 11 colorectal cancers revealed that individual tumors accumulate an average of approximately 90 mutant genes but that only a subset of these contribute to the neoplastic process.

Obesity and polycystic ovary syndrome.

The aetiology of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is complex and multifactorial. There is much evidence, however, to suggest that adipose tissue plays an important role in the development and maintenance of PCOS pathology. There is a close correlation between adiposity and symptom severity in women with PCOS, and even modest reductions in weight generally translate into significant improvements in menstrual regularity, fertility and hyperandrogenic features.

An analysis of the risk of hip dislocation with a contemporary total joint registry.

Dislocation rates after total hip arthroplasty in a community setting have not been well documented. We used a community based joint registry to evaluate hip dislocations that occurred within 1 year after total hip arthroplasty. We evaluated patient, implant, and technical factors associated with dislocation, including primary versus revision surgery, femoral head size (28 mm versus > or = 32 mm), operative time, surgeon volume, surgical approach, age, gender, diagnosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification, and body mass index (BMI).

In vitro characterization of peptide-modified p(AAm-co-EG/AAc) IPN-coated titanium implants.

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of poly(acrylamide-co-ethylene glycol/acrylic acid) [p(AAm-co-EG/AAc)] functionalized with an -Arg-Gly-Asp- containing peptide derived from rat bone sialoprotein [bsp-RGD(15)] were grafted to titanium implants in an effort to modulate osteoblast behavior in vitro. Surface characterization data were consistent with the presence of an IPN, and ligand density measurements established that the range of peptide density on the modified implants spanned three orders of magnitude (0.01-20 pmol/cm2).

Testicular infarction in a 12-year-old boy with Wegener's granulomatosis.

We present the case of a 12-year-old boy with testicular infarction secondary to Wegener's granulomatosis. Scrotal exploration revealed no evidence of testicular torsion. The testis was left in place, and, after systemic therapy, partial reperfusion was present.

Vitamin E deficiency induces liver nuclear factor-kappaB DNA-binding activity and changes in related genes.

The biological functions of vitamin E have been classically attributed to its property as a potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation in cellular membranes. However, in 1991, Azzi's group first described that alpha-tocopherol inhibits smooth muscle cell proliferation in a protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent way, demonstrating a non-antioxidant cell signalling function for vitamin E. More recently, the capacity of alpha-tocopherol to modulate gene expression with the implication of different transcription factors, beyond its antioxidant properties, has also been established.

Role of GSH in the modulation of NOS-2 expression in the weaned mammary gland.

GSH delivery to the lactating mammary gland is essential for the maintenance of lactation as its decrease leads to apoptosis and involution of the mammary gland. In fact, it has already been demonstrated that some of the changes in gene expression found in the lactating mammary gland after forced weaning are reproduced in rats treated with buthionine sulphoximine to deplete GSH levels. An oligonucleotide microarray experiment would give us a better knowledge of the mRNA expression patterns during lactation and after weaning and the possible functions of GSH in the modulation of these events.

Ligand density characterization of peptide-modified biomaterials.

A simple fluorescence based characterization method was developed to assess ligand density on peptide-modified biomaterials. The method exploits the exquisite sensitivity of proteolysis for the purpose of liberating a fluorescently labeled probe fragment from an immobilized peptide. The released fragment can then be detected in solution using high-throughput fluorometry.

Post-fire surface water quality: comparison of fire retardant versus wildfire-related effects.

An understanding of the environmental effects of the use of wildland fire retardant is needed to provide informed decision-making regarding forest management. We compiled data from all post-fire surface water monitoring programs where the fire retardant constituents ammonia, phosphorus, and cyanide were measured, and data were available in the public domain. For streams near four major wildfires, we evaluated whether these chemicals originated primarily from fire or from retardant use.

Resorbable extracellular matrix grafts in urologic reconstruction.

Purpose: There is an increasingly large body of literature concerning tissue-engineering products that may be used in urology. Some of these are quite complex (such as multilayer patient-specific cell-seeded implants) yet the most simple and successful products to date are also the most uncomplicated: resorbable acellular extra-cellular matrices (ECMs) harvested from animals. ECMs have been used in a variety of difficult urologic reconstruction problems, and this review is intended to summarize this complex literature for the practicing urologist.