Differential expression of genes controlling lymphocyte differentiation and migration in two distinct endotypes of type 1 diabetes.

Aims: Morphological studies of pancreas samples obtained from young people with recent-onset type 1 diabetes have revealed distinct patterns of immune cell infiltration of the pancreatic islets suggestive of two age-associated type 1 diabetes endotypes that differ by inflammatory responses and rates of disease progression. The objective of this study was to investigate whether these proposed disease endotypes are associated with pathological differences in immune cell activation and cytokine secretion by applying multiplexed gene expression analysis to pancreatic tissue from recent-onset type 1 diabetes cases.

Methods: RNA was extracted from samples of fixed, paraffin-embedded pancreas tissue from type 1 diabetes cases characterised by endotype and from controls without diabetes.

The Impact of Face-to-Face Pharmacist Transitional Care Management Visits on Medication-Related Problems.

Studies are needed to evaluate medication-related problems (MRPs) to assess the effect of a pharmacist on managing medications postdischarge. To assess the ability of pharmacist-led medication review and reconciliation to reduce the number of MRPs found in transitional care medicine (TCM) visits, leading to medication optimization. This study involved a retrospective chart review of standard TCM procedure at a family/internal medicine clinic and a prospective, team-based TCM visit in the same clinic.

Effect of Prophylactic Extended-Infusion Carboplatin on Incidence of Hypersensitivity Reactions in Patients with Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Peritoneal Carcinomas.

Study Objective: To determine whether extended-infusion carboplatin, initiated at approximately the eighth cumulative carboplatin cycle and prior to development of carboplatin hypersensitivity, reduces the incidence of carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions in patients with ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancer.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Large integrated health system.

Identification of Tetraspanin-7 as a Target of Autoantibodies in Type 1 Diabetes.

The presence of autoantibodies to multiple-islet autoantigens confers high risk for the development of type 1 diabetes. Four major autoantigens are established (insulin, glutamate decarboxylase, IA2, and zinc transporter-8), but the molecular identity of a fifth, a 38-kDa membrane glycoprotein (Glima), is unknown. Glima antibodies have been detectable only by immunoprecipitation from extracts of radiolabeled islet or neuronal cells.

Hybrid (CT/MRI based) vs. MRI only based image-guided brachytherapy in cervical cancer: Dosimetry comparisons and clinical outcome.

Purpose: Limited access to MRI has restricted implementation of MRI-based image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) in line with GEC-ESTRO guidelines in many centers. This work reports our experience using an alternative CT/MRI based (hybrid) approach for IGBT, dosimetry comparisons, and its impact on long-term clinical outcome and major toxicity.

Methods And Materials: Seventy-six patients diagnosed with locally advanced cervical cancer between May 2008 and May 2012 treated with IGBT were analyzed.

Activation of the hip adductor muscles varies during a simulated weight-bearing task.

Objective: To investigate the pattern of muscle activation of the individual hip adductor muscles using a standardised simulated unilateral weight-bearing task.

Design: A repeated measures design.

Setting: Laboratory.

Influence of HLA-DR and -DQ alleles on autoantibody recognition of distinct epitopes within the juxtamembrane domain of the IA-2 autoantigen in type 1 diabetes.

Aims/hypothesis: Insulinoma-associated protein 2 (IA-2) is a major target of autoimmunity in type 1 diabetes. When first detected, IA-2-autoantibodies commonly bind epitopes in the juxtamembrane (JM) domain of IA-2 and antibody responses subsequently spread to the tyrosine phosphatase domain. Definition of structures of epitopes in the JM domain, and genetic requirements for autoimmunity to these epitopes, is important for our understanding of initiation and progression of autoimmunity.

Low Back Pain in Microgravity and Bed Rest Studies.

Background: The prevalence of low back pain (LBP) for astronauts in space (68%) is higher than the 1-mo prevalence for the general population on Earth (39%). It is unclear whether differences occur between healthy subjects and astronauts with a history of LBP. Knowledge of this issue is important to assess whether a history of LBP could have an operational impact.

HLA-DR4-associated T and B cell responses to specific determinants on the IA-2 autoantigen in type 1 diabetes.

Autoantibodies to IA-2 in type 1 diabetes are associated with HLA-DR4, suggesting influences of HLA-DR4-restricted T cells on IA-2-specific B cell responses. The aim of this study was to investigate possible T-B cell collaboration by determining whether autoantibodies to IA-2 epitopes are associated with T cell responses to IA-2 peptides presented by DR4. T cells secreting the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-10 in response to seven peptides known to elicit T cell responses in type 1 diabetes were quantified by cytokine ELISPOT in HLA-typed patients characterized for Abs to IA-2 epitopes.

Assessment of uterus position as a surrogate for high-risk clinical target volume with respect to the applicator position for multiple fractions of brachytherapy in cervical cancer.

Aim: Hybrid magnetic resonance imaging/computerized tomography (MRI/CT) planning for high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy in cervical cancer with MR/CT fusion for the first fraction followed by CT for fraction 2 and 3 is used at our center. The aim of this study is to evaluate the position of applicator intrauterine tube (IU) in relation to uterine serosa with each fraction of intracavitary high-dose-rate brachytherapy.

Methods: Position of the applicator relative to uterus was measured from tip of the applicator (IU) to the top of uterus in the plane of IU and perpendicular to IU in anterior, posterior, left and right directions at the tip of IU, mid-point of the IU and 1 cm from the surface of vaginal ring.

Failure to detect anti-idiotypic antibodies in the autoimmune response to IA-2 in Type 1 diabetes.

The concept that immune responses to self antigens are regulated by anti-idiotypic networks has attracted renewed interest following reports of circulating factors within IgG fractions of serum that impair detection of autoantibodies with autoantigen. Thus, preclearance of sera with bead-immobilised monoclonal autoantibodies to the Type 1 diabetes autoantigen GAD65, or prebinding of serum antibodies to protein A Sepharose prior to addition of antigen, increases immunoreactivity detected in serum samples consistent with the trapping on the beads of anti-idiotypic antibodies that block antibody binding to the autoantigen. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-idiotypic antibodies to another major target of autoantibodies in Type 1 diabetes, IA-2.

Resistive vibration exercise during bed-rest reduces motor control changes in the lumbo-pelvic musculature.

To understand the effects of a resistive vibration exercise (RVE) countermeasure on changes in lumbo-pelvic muscle motor control during prolonged bed-rest, 20 male subjects took part in the Berlin Bed-Rest Study (in 2003-2005) and were randomised to a RVE group or an inactive control group. Surface electromyographic signals recorded from five superficial lumbo-pelvic muscles during a repetitive knee movement task. The task, which required stabilisation of the lumbo-pelvic region, was performed at multiple movement speeds and at multiple time points during and after bed-rest.

Countermeasures against lumbar spine deconditioning in prolonged bed rest: resistive exercise with and without whole body vibration.

To evaluate the effect of short-duration, high-load resistive exercise, with and without whole body vibration on lumbar muscle size, intervertebral disk and spinal morphology changes, and low back pain (LBP) incidence during prolonged bed rest, 24 subjects underwent 60 days of head-down tilt bed rest and performed either resistive vibration exercise (n = 7), resistive exercise only (n = 8), or no exercise (n = 9; 2nd Berlin Bed-Rest Study). Discal and spinal shape was measured from sagittal plane magnetic resonance images. Cross-sectional areas (CSAs) of the multifidus, erector spinae, quadratus lumborum, and psoas were measured on para-axial magnetic resonance images.

Muscle atrophy and changes in spinal morphology: is the lumbar spine vulnerable after prolonged bed-rest?

Study Design: prospective longitudinal study.

Objective: to evaluate the effect of bed-rest on the lumbar musculature and soft-tissues.

Summary Of Background Data: earlier work has suggested that the risk of low back injury is higher after overnight bed-rest or spaceflight.

The effects of rehabilitation on the muscles of the trunk following prolonged bed rest.

Microgravity and inactivity due to prolonged bed rest have been shown to result in atrophy of spinal extensor muscles such as the multifidus, and either no atrophy or hypertrophy of flexor muscles such as the abdominal group and psoas muscle. These effects are long-lasting after bed rest and the potential effects of rehabilitation are unknown. This two-group intervention study aimed to investigate the effects of two rehabilitation programs on the recovery of lumbo-pelvic musculature following prolonged bed rest.

Effect of prolonged bed rest on the anterior hip muscles.

Prolonged bed rest and inactivity is known to cause muscular atrophy with previous research indicating that muscles involved in joint stabilisation are more susceptible. The anterior hip muscles are important for hip joint function and stability but little is known about the effects of prolonged inactivity on their function. This study investigated the effect of prolonged bed rest on the size of the anterior hip muscles and their pattern of recovery.

The association between degenerative hip joint pathology and size of the gluteus medius, gluteus minimus and piriformis muscles.

This study aimed to investigate changes in the deep abductor muscles, gluteus medius (GMED), piriformis (PIRI), and gluteus minimus (GMIN), occurring in association with differing stages of unilateral degenerative hip joint pathology (mild: n=6, and advanced: n=6). Muscle volume assessed via magnetic resonance imaging was compared for each muscle between sides, and between groups (mild, advanced, control (n=12)). GMED and PIRI muscle volume was smaller around the affected hip in subjects with advanced pathology (p<0.

Differential atrophy of the lower-limb musculature during prolonged bed-rest.

Patients with medical, orthopaedic and surgical conditions are often assigned to bed-rest and/or immobilised in orthopaedic devices. Although such conditions lead to muscle atrophy, no studies have yet considered differential atrophy of the lower-limb musculature during inactivity to enable the development of rehabilitative exercise programmes. Bed-rest is a model used to simulate the effects of spaceflight and physical inactivity.

Influence of prolonged bed-rest on spectral and temporal electromyographic motor control characteristics of the superficial lumbo-pelvic musculature.

Little is known about the motor control of the lumbo-pelvic musculature in microgravity and its simulation (bed-rest). Analysis of spectral and temporal electromyographic variables can provide information on motor control relevant for normal function. This study examined the effect of 56-days of bed-rest with 1-year follow-up in 10 male subjects on the median frequency and the activation timing in surface electromyographic recordings from five superficial lumbo-pelvic muscles during a repetitive knee movement task.

The association between degenerative hip joint pathology and size of the gluteus maximus and tensor fascia lata muscles.

The aim of this study was to obtain, using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), muscle volume measurements for the gluteus maximus (upper: UGM and lower: LGM portions) and tensor fascia lata (TFL) muscles in both healthy subjects (n=12) and those with unilateral osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip (mild: n=6, and advanced: n=6). While control group subjects were symmetrical between sides for the muscles measured, subjects with hip joint pathology showed asymmetry in GM muscle volume dependent on stage of pathology. The LGM demonstrated atrophy around the affected hip in subjects with advanced pathology (p<0.

Altered response of the anterolateral abdominal muscles to simulated weight-bearing in subjects with low back pain.

An important aspect of neuromuscular control at the lumbo-pelvic region is stabilization. Subjects with low back pain (LBP) have been shown to exhibit impairments in motor control of key muscles which contribute to stabilization of the lumbo-pelvic region. However, a test of automatic recruitment that relates to function has been lacking.

Somatostatin secreted by islet delta-cells fulfills multiple roles as a paracrine regulator of islet function.

Objective: Somatostatin (SST) is secreted by islet delta-cells and by extraislet neuroendocrine cells. SST receptors have been identified on alpha- and beta-cells, and exogenous SST inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion, consistent with a role for SST in regulating alpha- and beta-cell function. However, the specific intraislet function of delta-cell SST remains uncertain.

Pelvic floor muscle activity in different sitting postures in continent and incontinent women.

Objective: To determine whether resting activity of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) and abdominal muscles varied in different sitting postures in parous women with and without stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Design: PFM and abdominal muscle activity was recorded in 3 sitting postures: slump supported, upright unsupported, and very tall unsupported. Spinal curves were measured in slump supported and upright unsupported.