Duodenum inversum: a rare cause of nausea and epigastric pain.

Duodenum inversum is a rare congenital anomaly of unknown aetiology characterised by the proximal duodenum travelling posteriorly and superiorly prior to crossing midline. Clinical presentations include epigastric pain, nausea, and abdominal distension. It can be associated with duodenitis, acute pancreatitis, peptic ulcer disease and functional biliary obstruction.

RhoA/ROCK signaling contributes to sex differences in the activation of human platelets.

Studies of sex-dependent differences in platelet aggregation and glycoprotein (GP)IIb/IIIa activation have demonstrated that platelets from females are more sensitive to agonists than those from males. To date, there is little understanding of these differences at a molecular level. Here, sex differences in reactivity of platelets from 86 women and 86 men were investigated.

Riboflavin and ultraviolet light treatment of platelets triggers p38MAPK signaling: inhibition significantly improves in vitro platelet quality after pathogen reduction treatment.

Background: Pathogen reduction technologies (PRTs) significantly reduce the risk of transmission of infectious agents in platelet (PLT) concentrates; however, in vitro studies reveal a negative impact on PLT quality after PRT treatment including effects on PLT aggregation, integrin αIIbβ3 conformation, and actin dynamics. Clinically, the interval between transfusions is shortened.

Study Design And Methods: Seeking to understand the biochemical mechanisms underlying these observed effects, we analyzed signal transduction in PLT concentrates after riboflavin and ultraviolet light (UV; Mirasol) treatment and subsequent storage focusing on the phosphorylation levels of selected protein kinases.

Riboflavin and ultraviolet light treatment potentiates vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein Ser-239 phosphorylation in platelet concentrates during storage.

Background: Pathogen reduction technologies (PRTs) were developed to improve the safety of platelet concentrates (PCs) for transfusion purposes; however, several studies report a negative impact on the in vitro and in vivo platelet (PLT) quality. Therefore, analyses of the underlying molecular processes triggered by PRT treatments are necessary to understand their effects on PLT function.

Study Design And Methods: In two separate two-arm studies PCs prepared in plasma for storage either by the leukoreduced buffy coat (BC-PCs) or by the leukoreduced apheresis (AP-PCs) method were treated with or without riboflavin and ultraviolet (UV) light (Mirasol; 6.