Cytokines and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways in the terminal ileum of hypoxic/hyperoxic neonatal rats: benefits of probiotics supplementation.

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammation are associated with the development of inflammatory bowel diseases such as necrotizing enterocolitis. We tested the hypothesis that probiotics, prebiotics or synbiotics (a combination of pre- and probiotics) is effective for prevention of inflammatory responses to formula-feeding in the terminal ileum of neonatal rats.

Methods: Neonatal rats were exposed to hyperoxia/hypoxia during which they were either maternally-fed or hand-fed with formula supplemented with probiotics, prebiotics or synbiotics.

Long-term outcomes after autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with POEMS syndrome (osteosclerotic myeloma): a single-center experience.

The POEMS syndrome (polyradiculoneuropathy, organomegaly, multiple endocrinopathies, monoclonal protein, skin changes) is a rare disease associated with a plasma cell dyscrasia. Patients with disseminated POEMS can be treated with high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). While clinical improvement is nearly universal in these patients, the long-term outcomes after transplantation are unclear.

3-Ethyl-4-[(E)-(4-fluoro-benzyl-idene)amino]-1H-1,2,4-triazole-5(4H)-thione.

In the title compound, C(11)H(11)FN(4)S, the dihedral angle between the 1,2,4-triazole ring and the benzene ring is 25.04 (12)° and an intra-moleuclar C-H⋯S inter-action leads to an S(6) ring. In the crystal, inversion dimers linked by pairs of N-H⋯S hydrogen bonds generate R(2) (2)(8) loops.

Clinically significant anti-A(1) in a presumed ABO-identical hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient: a case report.

Background: Subgroups of the blood group A (ABO) are generally not considered ABO incompatible for hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) transplant.

Case Report: A 54-year-old female presented for HPC transplantation for acute leukemia. No HLA-matched donor was identified, so she received a peripheral blood stem cell graft from an HLA-mismatched unrelated donor.

Spontaneous subcutaneous emphysema associated with mephedrone usage.

Subcutaneous emphysema in the head and neck is a rare condition, normally caused by major underlying injury to the airway or gastrointestinal tract. We report a non-traumatic occurrence of spontaneous cervical subcutaneous emphysema in a 30-year-old man who had been snorting mephedrone. The patient made an uneventful recovery, being managed conservatively, and did not require airway support.

Benign metastasising leiomyoma after hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.

Benign metastasising leiomyomatosis is a rare condition affecting women in the reproductive age-group with a history of uterine fibroids, who have undergone treatment by myomectomy or hysterectomy. It is characterised by development of multiple, indolent, smooth muscle tumours outside the uterus, most commonly in the lungs, and manifests several years after the uterine surgery. We describe the case of a young woman, who had undergone total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for multiple fibroids and a right ovarian cyst.

Every child to thrive, belong and achieve? Time to reflect and act in New Zealand.

New Zealand continues to grapple with poor and inequitable child health and wellbeing outcomes. The associated high economic costs, the long-term impact on adult health and New Zealand's international children's rights obligations provide further grounds for action. Although there have been many different reports offering solutions and some key areas of progress, gains have been limited and there has not been sufficient clarity and agreement on wider actions.

Rehospitalization risks and outcomes in COPD patients receiving maintenance pharmacotherapy.

Objective: To determine clinical and economic outcomes following COPD-related hospitalization/emergency department (ED) care in patients receiving COPD maintenance therapy.

Methods: In this retrospective, observational study using administrative claims data, we identified COPD patients age ≥40 years who received maintenance therapy within 30 days of an initial COPD-related hospitalization or ED visit with: (1) fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination (FSC 250 mcg/50 mcg) as new therapy, or (2) an anticholinergic (AC; tiotropium or ipratropium with or without albuterol). The FSC and AC patients were matched (1:3 ratio) on various baseline characteristics using propensity scores to mitigate selection bias at baseline.

Observational study on the impact of initiating tiotropium alone versus tiotropium with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination therapy on outcomes and costs in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: This retrospective cohort study compared the risks of exacerbations and COPD-related healthcare costs between patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) initiating tiotropium (TIO) alone and patients initiating triple therapy with fluticasone-salmeterol combination (FSC) added to TIO.

Methods: Managed-care enrollees who had an index event of ≥ 1 pharmacy claim for TIO during the study period (January 1, 2003-April 30, 2008) and met other eligibility criteria were categorized into one of two cohorts depending on their medication use. Patients in the TIO+FSC cohort had combination therapy with TIO and FSC, defined as having an FSC claim on the same date as the TIO claim.

Putative sequences on Ro60 three-dimensional structure accessible for 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE) modification compared to in vitro HNE modification of Ro60 sequences.

We have previously reported accelerated acquisition of new autoreactivity upon immunization with 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-modified Ro60, as well as differential induction of lupus or Sjögren's syndrome by immunization with Ro60 containing varying amounts of HNE. Since the number of HNE molecules on Ro60 appears to be important, we hypothesized that specific sequences on Ro60 are targets for HNE-modification. Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) we have also shown intramolecular protein-protein interaction between Ro60 and Ro multiple antigenic peptides (MAPs).

Clinical and economic outcomes for patients initiating fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination therapy (250/50 mcg) versus anticholinergics in a comorbid COPD/depression population.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is frequently associated with comorbid depression and anxiety. Managing COPD symptoms and exacerbations through use of appropriate and adequate pharmacotherapy in this population may result in better COPD-related outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective, observational study used administrative claims of patients aged 40 years and older with COPD and comorbid depression/anxiety identified from January 1, 2004 through June 30, 2008.

Consumption of a high-fat diet rapidly exacerbates the development of fatty liver disease that occurs with chronically elevated glucocorticoids.

Chronically elevated glucocorticoids (GCs) and a high-fat diet (HFD) independently induce insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). GCs have been linked to increased food intake, particularly energy-dense "comfort" foods. Thus we examined the synergistic actions of GCs and HFD on hepatic disease development in a new rodent model of chronically elevated GCs.

Isolated tuberculous epididymo-orchitis: an unusual presentation of tuberculosis.

Isolated epididymo-orchitis is an unusual presentation of tuberculosis. A case of bilateral epididymitis and right-sided orchitis with scrotal involvement in a 38-year-old male patient is presented. Strong clinical suspicion of tuberculous etiology was confirmed by appropriate investigations of epididymal biopsy.

Primary tubercular psoas abscess: a rare presentation.

Primary tubercular psoas abscess is a rare clinical entity and has seldom been reported in an otherwise healthy person. Here we report an interesting case of primary tubercular psoas abscess in an immunocompetent male with no other traceable source.

A rodent model of rapid-onset diabetes induced by glucocorticoids and high-fat feeding.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are potent pharmacological agents used to treat a number of immune conditions. GCs are also naturally occurring steroid hormones (e.g.

Mitochondrial genome instability and ROS enhance intestinal tumorigenesis in APC(Min/+) mice.

Alterations in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation have long been documented in tumors. Other types of mitochondrial dysfunction, including altered reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis, also can contribute to tumorigenesis and cancer phenotypes. Furthermore, mutation and altered amounts of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been observed in cancer cells.

Morphometry and CT measurements of useful bony landmarks of skull base.

Objective: Aim of this study was to determine the distance between Henle's spine (HS) on the temporal bone to the clinically important bony landmarks on the dry skulls that will act as a guide in various surgical procedures on skull base. Distances from the head of malleus (HOM) to surgically relevant landmarks were also studied on CT images.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-nine adult preserved dry skulls were studied bilaterally.

The utility of plasma vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with POEMS syndrome.

The POEMS syndrome is associated with elevated vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels. Several studies have compared serum VEGF levels between POEMS patients and other disease entities showing higher serum VEGF in POEMS syndrome; however, it is unknown whether serum levels are reliable and reproducible given variable platelet release of VEGF. We therefore compared plasma levels of VEGF in 29 patients with POEMS syndrome with those of other disorders (n = 76).

Update on treatment rationale and options for the ageing face.

Purpose Of Review: Techniques for rejuvenation of the ageing face continue to evolve rapidly as we gain further understanding of the ageing face. This article reviews various noninvasive, nonsurgical and surgical options in light of the recent clinical research and provides some pointers for management.

Recent Findings: The ageing of facial structures depends on genetic, anatomic, chronologic, and environmental factors.

The use of robotics in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery: a systematic review.

Background: Robotic surgery has become increasingly used due to its enhancement of visualization, precision, and articulation. It eliminates many of the problems encountered with conventional minimally invasive techniques and has been shown to result in reduced blood loss and complications. The rise in endoscopic procedures in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, and associated difficulties, suggests that robotic surgery may have a role to play.

Aberrant CD8+ T-cell responses and memory differentiation upon viral infection of an ataxia-telangiectasia mouse model driven by hyper-activated Akt and mTORC1 signaling.

Immune system-related pathology is common in ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) patients and mice that lack the protein kinase, A-T mutated (ATM). However, it has not been studied how ATM influences immune responses to a viral infection. Using the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection model, we show that ATM(-/-) mice, despite having fewer naïve CD8⁺ T cells, effectively clear the virus.

Left ventricle structural remodelling in the prediabetic Goto-Kakizaki rat.

This study tested the hypothesis that experimental prediabetes can elicit structural remodelling in the left ventricle (LV). Left ventricles isolated from 8-week-old male Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats and age-matched male Wistar control rats were used to assess remodelling changes and underlying transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) activity, prohypertrophic Akt-p70S6K1 signalling and gene expression profile of the extracellular matrix (ECM) using histological, immunohistochemical, immunoblotting and quantitative gene expression analyses. Prediabetes in GK rats was confirmed by impaired glucose tolerance and modestly elevated fasting blood glucose.

COPD-related healthcare utilization and costs after discharge from a hospitalization or emergency department visit on a regimen of fluticasone propionate-salmeterol combination versus other maintenance therapies.

Objectives: To quantify healthcare use and costs associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among patients discharged from a COPD-related hospitalization or emergency department (ED) visit on a regimen of fluticasone propionate-salmeterol combination versus other inhaled maintenance therapies.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Managed care enrollees with an index hospitalization (with a primary or secondary [ie, in the second position] diagnosis of COPD) or ED visit (with a primary diagnosis of COPD) were identified for placement into study cohorts during a 60-day period following the index date.

Location of immunization and interferon-γ are central to induction of salivary gland dysfunction in Ro60 peptide immunized model of Sjögren's syndrome.

Introduction: Anti-Ro antibodies can be found in the serum of the majority of patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Immunization with a 60-kDa Ro peptide has been shown to induce SS-like symptoms in mice. The aim of this study was to investigate factors involved in salivary gland (SG) dysfunction after immunization and to test whether the induction of SS could be improved.