Impaired intestinal afferent nerve satiety signalling and vagal afferent excitability in diet induced obesity in the mouse.

Gastrointestinal vagal afferents transmit satiety signals to the brain via both chemical and mechanical mechanisms. There is indirect evidence that these signals may be attenuated in obesity. We hypothesized that responses to satiety mediators and distension of the gut would be attenuated after induction of diet induced obesity.

Highly accurate prediction of food challenge outcome using routinely available clinical data.

Background: Serum specific IgE or skin prick tests are less useful at levels below accepted decision points.

Objectives: We sought to develop and validate a model to predict food challenge outcome by using routinely collected data in a diverse sample of children considered suitable for food challenge.

Methods: The proto-algorithm was generated by using a limited data set from 1 service (phase 1).

The transfer of touch DNA from hands to glass, fabric and wood.

The transfer of DNA from hands to objects by holding or touching has been examined in the past. The main purpose of this study was to examine the variation in the amount of DNA transferred from hands to glass, fabric and wood. The study involved 300 volunteers (100 for glass, 100 for fabric and 100 for wood) 50% of which were male and 50% female.

Analysis of high-throughput ELISA microarray data.

Our research group develops analytical methods and software for the high-throughput analysis of quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) microarrays. ELISA microarrays differ from DNA microarrays in several fundamental aspects and most algorithms for analysis of DNA microarray data are not applicable to ELISA microarrays. In this review, we provide an overview of the steps involved in ELISA microarray data analysis and how the statistically sound algorithms we have developed provide an integrated software suite to address the needs of each data-processing step.

Influence of swimming speed on inter-arm coordination in competitive unilateral arm amputee front crawl swimmers.

This study examined the effect of swimming speed on inter-arm coordination and the inter-relationships between swimming speed, inter-arm coordination, and other stroke parameters, in a group of competitive unilateral arm amputee front crawl swimmers. Thirteen highly-trained swimmers were filmed underwater during a series of 25-m front crawl trials of increasing speed. Arm coordination for both arms was quantified using an adapted version of the Index of Coordination.

Patterns of movement for youth within an integrated continuum of residential services.

This study examined patterns of movement for youth receiving services within a continuum of intensive and restrictive residentially-based programs. Data were collected for 701 completed episodes of care within a three-program residential continuum of care over a 5 year period, and examined time within program, movement between programs, in-program disruptive behavior, and discharge status. Results showed that most youth either remained in a stable placement in the least restrictive of the programs, or followed a pattern of placements that systematically moved them from more restrictive to less restrictive settings.

Longitudinal validity and responsiveness of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire - Parent Form in children 0-12 years following positive and negative food challenges.

Background: There are no published studies of longitudinal health-related quality of life (HRQL) assessments of food-allergic children using a disease-specific measure.

Objective: This study assessed the longitudinal measurement properties of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire - Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF) in a sample of children undergoing food challenge.

Methods: Parents of children 0-12 years completed the FAQLQ-PF and the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM) pre-challenge and at 2 and 6 months post food challenge.

An internal calibration method for protein-array studies.

Nuisance factors in a protein-array study add obfuscating variation to spot intensity measurements, diminishing the accuracy and precision of protein concentration predictions. The effects of nuisance factors may be reduced by design of experiments, and by estimating and then subtracting nuisance effects. Estimated nuisance effects also inform about the quality of the study and suggest refinements for future studies.

Relationships between the front crawl stroke parameters of competitive unilateral arm amputee swimmers, with selected anthropometric characteristics.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between swimming speed (SS), stroke length (SL), and stroke frequency (SF) for competitive single-arm amputee front crawl swimmers and assess their relationships with anthropometric characteristics. Thirteen highly trained swimmers (3 male, 10 female) were filmed underwater from a lateral view during seven increasingly faster 25-m front crawl trials. Increases in SS (above 75% of maximum SS) were achieved by a 5% increase in SF, which coincided with a 2% decrease in SL.

The inhibitory role of acetylcholine and muscarinic receptors in bladder afferent activity.

Background: The main treatment for overactive bladder (OAB) is the use of anticholinergic drugs initially believed to inhibit the effect of parasympathetic acetylcholine (ACh) on the detrusor; however, there is now evidence to suggest that anticholinergic drugs could interact with sensory pathways.

Objective: Investigate the role of muscarinic receptors and ACh in modulating bladder afferent sensitivity in the mouse.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Bladder and surrounding tissue were removed from wild-type male mice, placed in a recording chamber, and continually perfused with fresh oxygenated Krebs solution at 35 degrees C.

An analysis pipeline for the inference of protein-protein interaction networks.

We present a platform for the reconstruction of protein-protein interaction networks inferred from Mass Spectrometry (MS) bait-prey data. The Software Environment for Biological Network Inference (SEBINI), an environment for the deployment of network inference algorithms that use high-throughput data, forms the platform core. Among the many algorithms available in SEBINI is the Bayesian Estimator of Probabilities of Protein-Protein Associations (BEPro3) algorithm, which is used to infer interaction networks from such MS affinity isolation data.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 inhibits voltage-gated potassium currents in mouse nodose ganglion neurons.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a major hormone known to regulate glucose homeostasis and gut function, and is an important satiety mediator. These actions are at least in part mediated via an action on vagal afferent neurons. However, the mechanism by which GLP-1 activates vagal afferents remains unknown.

Recent progress in graphene-related nanotechnologies.

Currently there is great interest in graphene-based devices and applications. The main advantages of graphene include excellent conductive and mechanical properties. The applications of graphene cover a wide range of possibilities, from next-generation transistors to light-weight, high-strength composite materials.

ProMAT calibrator: A tool for reducing experimental bias in antibody microarrays.

Our research group has been developing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) microarray technology for the rapid and quantitative evaluation of biomarker panels. Studies using antibody microarrays are susceptible to systematic bias from the various steps in the experimental process, and these biases can mask biologically significant differences. For this reason, we have developed a calibration system that can identify and reduce systematic bias due to processing factors.

Multiple metals predict prolactin and thyrotropin (TSH) levels in men.

Exposure to a number of metals can affect neuroendocrine and thyroid signaling, which can result in adverse effects on development, behavior, metabolism, reproduction, and other functions. The present study assessed the relationship between metal concentrations in blood and serum prolactin (PRL) and thyrotropin (TSH) levels, markers of dopaminergic, and thyroid function, respectively, among men participating in a study of environmental influences on male reproductive health. Blood samples from 219 men were analyzed for concentrations of 11 metals and serum levels of PRL and TSH.

Molar incisor hypomineralisation: clinical management of the young patient.

Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) is a common developmental condition resulting in enamel defects in first permanent molars and permanent incisors. It presents at eruption of these teeth. Early diagnosis is essential since rapid breakdown of tooth structure may occur, giving rise to acute symptoms and complicated treatment.

Measuring and benchmarking safety culture: application of the safety attitudes questionnaire to an acute medical admissions unit.

Objectives: To assess the safety culture in an acute medical admissions unit (AMAU) of a teaching hospital in order to benchmark results against international data and guide a unit-based, integrated, risk management strategy.

Methods: The safety attitudes questionnaire (SAQ), a validated instrument for the measurement of safety culture was applied to an AMAU. All AMAU healthcare staff (n = 92) were surveyed: doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants (HCAs) and allied healthcare professionals (AHPs).

A cost-effectiveness comparison of embryo donation with oocyte donation.

Objective: To compare the cost-effectiveness of embryo donation (ED) to that of oocyte donation (OD).

Design: Calculation of cost-effectiveness ratios (costs per outcome achieved) using data derived from clinical practices.

Setting: In vitro fertilization centers and embryo donation programs.

Prediction of neurological outcome using bispectral index monitoring in patients with severe ischemic-hypoxic brain injury undergoing emergency surgery.

Background: Predicting outcome from ischemic-hypoxic brain injury can be difficult in patients rushed to the operating room for time-critical emergency surgery. The authors chose to evaluate the prognostic ability of bispectral index (BIS) in this setting.

Methods: Twenty-five critically ill, unconscious patients with ischemic-hypoxic brain injury undergoing emergency surgery were prospectively studied.

ELISA-BASE: an integrated bioinformatics tool for analyzing and tracking ELISA microarray data.

Summary: ELISA-BASE is an open source database for capturing, organizing and analyzing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) microarray data. ELISA-BASE is an extension of the BioArray Software Environment (BASE) database system.

Availability: http://www.

Negative effects of serum p,p'-DDE on sperm parameters and modification by genetic polymorphisms.

Objective: Effects of ambient exposure to DDT and its metabolites (DDE-DDT) on human sperm parameters and the role of genetic polymorphisms in modifying the association were investigated.

Methods: Demographics, medical history data, blood and semen samples were obtained from the first 336 male partners of couples presenting to 2 infertility clinics. Serum was analyzed for organochlorines (OC) and DNA for polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 and CYP1A1.