Effect of pyloroplasty on clinical outcomes following esophagectomy.

Introduction: The role of concurrent pyloroplasty with esophagectomy is unclear. Available literature on the impact of pyloroplasty during esophagectomy on complications and weight loss is varied. Data on the need for further pyloric intervention are scarce.

Risk factors for and treatment of anastomotic strictures after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy.

Introduction: Anastomotic strictures following esophagectomy occur frequently and impact on nutrition and quality of life. Although strictures are often attributed to ischemia and anastomotic leaks, the role of anastomosis size and pyloroplasty is not well evaluated. Our study aims to assess the rate of and risk factors for anastomotic stricture following esophagectomy, and the impact of treatment with regular endoscopic balloon dilatations.

The neoadjuvant rectal score and a novel magnetic resonance imaging based neoadjuvant rectal score are stage independent predictors of long-term outcome in locally advanced rectal cancer.

Aim: Neoadjuvant rectal (NAR) score is an early surrogate for longer-term outcomes in rectal cancer undergoing radiotherapy and resection. In an era of increasing organ preservation, resection specimens are not always available to calculate the NAR score. Post-treatment magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) re-staging of regression is subjective, limiting reproducibility.

Social Behaviour in Zoo Bachelor Groups: A Case Study of Related South American Fur Seals.

Appropriate management of social groups is one of the greatest challenges that face zoos and aquaria worldwide. To facilitate breeding programmes, particularly in polygynous species, there is a need to house surplus males in bachelor groups, yet for pinnipeds, the social impact of this management strategy is unknown. The aim of this research was to enhance understanding of sociality in South American fur seals (SAFSs), with a particular focus on social dynamics in a related bachelor group, and consider implications for evidence-based management of this species in zoos.

High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography in children with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Bone health in children with osteogenesis imperfecta is monitored using radiographs and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, which have limitations. High-resolution peripheral quantitative CT can non-invasively derive bone microarchitectural data. Children with severe osteogenesis imperfecta have fragile deformed bones, and positioning for this scan can be difficult.

Diagnostic accuracy of DXA compared to conventional spine radiographs for the detection of vertebral fractures in children.

Objectives: In children, radiography is performed to diagnose vertebral fractures and dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to assess bone density. In adults, DXA assesses both. We aimed to establish whether DXA can replace spine radiographs in assessment of paediatric vertebral fractures.

Diagnosis of vertebral fractures in children: is a simplified algorithm-based qualitative technique reliable?

Background: Identification of osteoporotic vertebral fractures allows treatment opportunity reducing future risk. There is no agreed standardised method for diagnosing paediatric vertebral fractures.

Objective: To evaluate the precision of a modified adult algorithm-based qualitative (ABQ) technique, applicable to children with primary or secondary osteoporosis.

Short communication: Bovine-derived proteins activate STAT3 in human skeletal muscle in vitro.

Bovine milk contains biologically active peptides that may modulate growth and development within humans. In this study, targeted bovine-derived proteins were evaluated for their effects on signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) phosphorylation in human skeletal muscle cells. Following an acute exposure, bovine-derived acidic fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) activated STAT3 in differentiating myotubes.

Acute involution in the tammar wallaby: identification of genes and putative novel milk proteins implicated in mammary gland function.

Marsupials provide a suitable alternative model to studying mammary gland involution. They have evolved a different reproductive strategy from eutherians, giving birth to an altricial young and secreting milk that changes in composition during lactation. In this study, we used a marsupial-specific EST microarray to identify 47 up-regulated genes during mammary gland involution in the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii).

Eruptive xanthomas as a cutaneous manifestation of hypertriglyceridemia: a case report.

A 28-year-old veteran presented to the Wilford Hall dermatology clinic in San Antonio, Texas, with a six-month history of a rash that his primary care physician diagnosed as molluscum contagiosum. The rash consisted of clusters of 3 to 6mm yellowish papules with erythematous borders that concentrated on the extensor surfaces of his extremities, lower back, and buttocks. A biopsy determined that the patient had a case of eruptive xanthoma.

Acute portal vein thrombosis: an important mimic of malignancy on FDG PET/CT.

The authors report a case of portal vein thrombosis, with no underlying malignant cause identified, which was initially detected by fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (FDG PET/CT) and subsequently confirmed by both contrast enhanced CT and MRI. The multimodality imaging findings are outlined, the potential clinical implications discussed and note made of the possible FDG PET/CT mimics of this disorder.

Developmental changes of gene expression after spinal cord injury in neonatal opossums.

Changes in gene expression have been measured 24h after injury to mammalian spinal cords that can and cannot regenerate. In opossums there is a critical period of development when regeneration stops being possible: at 9 days postnatal cervical spinal cords regenerate, at 12 days they do not. By the use of marsupial cDNA microarrays, we detected 158 genes that respond differentially to injury at the two ages critical for regeneration.

Characterization of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) whey acidic protein gene: new insights into the function of the protein.

Whey acidic protein (WAP) belongs to a family of four disulfide core (4-DSC) proteins rich in cysteine residues and is the principal whey protein found in milk of a number of mammalian species. Eutherian WAPs have two 4-DSC domains, whereas marsupial WAPs are characterized by the presence of an additional domain at the amino terminus. Structural and expression differences between marsupial and eutherian WAPs have presented challenges to identifying physiological functions of the WAP protein.

Cross-fostering of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) pouch young accelerates fore-stomach maturation.

There are two phases of fore-stomach development during the first 200 days of pouch life in tammar wallaby. For the first 170 days, the mucosa displays an immature gastric glandular phenotype that changes to a cardia glandular phenotype, which remains for the rest of the animal's life. During this 200-day period after birth, the pouch young (PY) is dependent on maternal milk, which progressively changes in composition.

Molecular analysis of tammar (Macropus eugenii) mammary epithelial cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide and lipoteichoic acid.

The immunological function of the metatherian mammary gland plays a crucial part in neonatal survival of the marsupial young. Marsupial pouch young do not develop adult like immune responses until just prior to leaving the pouch. The immune components of the maternal milk secretions are important during this vulnerable early post-partum period.

Changes in milk protein composition during acute involution at different phases of tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) lactation.

This study exploited the unusual lactation cycle of the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) to characterise milk composition during acute involution, a time when the mammary gland is subjected to increased risk of infection. In early-lactation, tammar milk contains elevated levels of complex oligosaccharides and low protein and lipid content. Later in lactation, protein and lipid concentrations increase significantly, whereas carbohydrate content is reduced dramatically and changes to monosaccharides.

A population of mammary epithelial cells do not require hormones or growth factors to survive.

Hormonal stimulation of mammary explants mimics many of the biochemical changes observed during lactogenesis. Previous studies using eutherian species conclude that mammary explants require addition of exogenous macromolecules to remain hormone responsive in culture. The present study examines the survival of mammary explants from the wallaby and mouse using milk protein gene expression as a functional marker of lactation and cell viability.

Identification, characterization and expression of cathelicidin in the pouch young of tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii).

Antimicrobial peptides, such as cathelicidin, are an evolutionarily old defense system. However they have more complex actions than just simply their antimicrobial effects, including immunoregulation and interaction with the adaptive immune system. In this study we have characterized several novel cathelicidin-like peptides from the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii).

A novel transcript from the KLKP1 gene is androgen regulated, down-regulated during prostate cancer progression and encodes the first non-serine protease identified from the human kallikrein gene locus.

Background: The kallikrein-related (KLK) serine protease, prostate specific antigen is the current marker for prostate cancer (PCa). Other members of the KLK family are also emerging as potential adjunct biomarkers for this disease. Our aim was to identify and characterize novel KLK-related genes with potential as PCa bio-markers.

Lactation transcriptomics in the Australian marsupial, Macropus eugenii: transcript sequencing and quantification.

Background: Lactation is an important aspect of mammalian biology and, amongst mammals, marsupials show one of the most complex lactation cycles. Marsupials, such as the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) give birth to a relatively immature newborn and progressive changes in milk composition and milk production regulate early stage development of the young.

Results: In order to investigate gene expression in the marsupial mammary gland during lactation, a comprehensive set of cDNA libraries was derived from lactating tissues throughout the lactation cycle of the tammar wallaby.