Increased expression of H19/miR-675 is associated with a low fat-free mass index in patients with COPD.

Background: Loss of muscle mass and strength is a significant comorbidity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) that limits their quality of life and has prognostic implications but does not affect everyone equally. To identify mechanisms that may contribute to the susceptibility to a low muscle mass, we investigated microRNA (miRNA) expression, methylation status, and regeneration in quadriceps muscle from COPD patients and the effect of miRNAs on myoblast proliferation in vitro. The relationships of miRNA expression with muscle mass and strength was also determined in a group of healthy older men.

Growth differentiation factor-15 is associated with muscle mass in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and promotes muscle wasting in vivo.

Background: Loss of muscle mass is a co-morbidity common to a range of chronic diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Several systemic features of COPD including increased inflammatory signalling, oxidative stress, and hypoxia are known to increase the expression of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a protein associated with muscle wasting in other diseases. We therefore hypothesized that GDF-15 may contribute to muscle wasting in COPD.

Piecing the puzzle together: case studies of international research in health-promoting sports clubs.

This paper seeks to review the current international health-promoting sports club (HPSC) research, drawing together findings based on case studies from various countries to illustrate the status of HPSCs. In addition, future challenges for HPSC research and implementation are considered. The review includes six case studies from five countries.

Klotho and smoking--An interplay influencing the skeletal muscle function deficits that occur in COPD.

Background: Klotho is an 'anti-ageing' hormone and transmembrane protein; Klotho deficient mice develop a similar ageing phenotype to smokers including emphysema and muscle wasting. The objective of this study was to evaluate skeletal muscle and circulating Klotho protein in smokers and COPD patients and to relate Klotho levels to relevant skeletal muscle parameters. We sought to validate our findings by undertaking complimentary murine studies.

The evolution of multiagency partnerships for safety over the course of research engagement: experiences from the NoGAPS project.

Objective: Implementation of effective population-level injury prevention interventions requires broad multiagency partnerships. Different stakeholders address this from varying perspectives, and potential conflicts in priorities need to be addressed for such partnerships to be effective. The researcher-led National Guidance for Australian football Partnerships and Safety (NoGAPS) project involved the engagement and participation of seven non-academic partners, including government health promotion and safety agencies; peak sports professional and advocacy bodies and health insurance organisations.

Serum and salivary IgG and IgA antibodies to desmoglein 3 in mucosal pemphigus vulgaris.

Background: The use of saliva for the diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using desmoglein (Dsg)3 antigen has not been extensively documented, nor has the detection of serum IgA antibodies to Dsg3.

Objectives: (i) To establish whether whole saliva might provide a suitable alternative to serum for diagnosing and monitoring PV; (ii) to investigate whether anti-Dsg3 IgA antibodies can be detected in serum and saliva and (iii) to establish whether there is an association between serum or saliva anti-Dsg3 antibodies and disease severity.

Methods: Precoated Dsg3 ELISA plates were used to test serum and/or saliva for IgG and IgA antibodies.

We have the programme, what next? Planning the implementation of an injury prevention programme.

Background And Aim: The impact of any injury prevention programme is a function of the programme and its implementation. However, real world implementation of injury prevention programmes is challenging. Lower limb injuries (LLIs) are common in community Australian football (community-AF) and it is likely that many could be prevented by implementing exercise-based warm-up programmes for players.

Age-Specific Incidence Rates for Norovirus in the Community and Presenting to Primary Healthcare Facilities in the United Kingdom.

In a prospective, population-based cohort study and a study of primary-healthcare consultations, we had a rare opportunity to estimate age-specific rates of norovirus-associated infectious intestinal disease in the United Kingdom. Rates in children aged <5 years were significantly higher than those for other age groups in the community (142.6 cases per 1000 person-years [95% confidence interval {CI}, 99.

Salivary IgA and IgG antibodies to bullous pemphigoid 180 noncollagenous domain 16a as diagnostic biomarkers in mucous membrane pemphigoid.

Background: Mucous membrane pemphigoid (MMP) is an uncommon mucocutaneous immunobullous disorder. Use of saliva for diagnosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using the noncollagenous (NC) domain 16a of bullous pemphigoid antigen II (BP180) is not well described.

Objective: To establish whether whole or parotid saliva is a suitable alternative to serum for diagnosis of MMP.

Sensitivity and specificity of intrathecal fluorescein and white light excitation for detecting intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak in endoscopic skull base surgery: a prospective study.

Objective: The intraoperative detection of CSF leaks during endonasal endoscopic skull base surgery is critical to preventing postoperative CSF leaks. Intrathecal fluorescein (ITF) has been used at varying doses to aid in the detection of intraoperative CSF leaks. However, the sensitivity and specificity of ITF at certain dosages is unknown.

Replication-Coupled PCNA Unloading by the Elg1 Complex Occurs Genome-wide and Requires Okazaki Fragment Ligation.

The sliding clamp PCNA is a crucial component of the DNA replication machinery. Timely PCNA loading and unloading are central for genome integrity and must be strictly coordinated with other DNA processing steps during replication. Here, we show that the S.

Skeletal complications of eating disorders.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a psychiatric illness with profound medical consequences. Among the many adverse physical sequelae of AN, bone health is impacted by starvation and can be permanently impaired over the course of the illness. In this review of skeletal complications associated with eating disorders, we discuss the epidemiology, neuroendocrine changes, adolescent vs.

Hedgehog Signaling during Appendage Development and Regeneration.

Regulatory networks that govern embryonic development have been well defined. While a common hypothesis supports the notion that the embryonic regulatory cascades are reexpressed following injury and tissue regeneration, the mechanistic regulatory pathways that mediate the regenerative response in higher organisms remain undefined. Relative to mammals, lower vertebrates, including zebrafish and newts, have a tremendous regenerative capacity to repair and regenerate a number of organs including: appendages, retina, heart, jaw and nervous system.

Spinal Bone Texture Assessed by Trabecular Bone Score in Adolescent Girls With Anorexia Nervosa.

Context: Trabecular bone score (TBS) is a bone assessment tool that offers information beyond that afforded by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone mineral density (BMD) measurements. Adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN) are known to exhibit compromised bone density and skeletal strength.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine TBS among adolescents with AN and evaluate the correlation with anthropometric, clinical and densitometric variables.

An original phylogenetic approach identified mitochondrial haplogroup T1a1 as inversely associated with breast cancer risk in BRCA2 mutation carriers.

Introduction: Individuals carrying pathogenic mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes have a high lifetime risk of breast cancer. BRCA1 and BRCA2 are involved in DNA double-strand break repair, DNA alterations that can be caused by exposure to reactive oxygen species, a main source of which are mitochondria. Mitochondrial genome variations affect electron transport chain efficiency and reactive oxygen species production.

MiR-181a: a potential biomarker of acute muscle wasting following elective high-risk cardiothoracic surgery.

Introduction: Acute muscle wasting in the critically ill is common and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although some aetiological factors are recognised and muscle wasting can be detected early with ultrasound, it not possible currently to predict in advance of muscle loss those who will develop muscle wasting. The ability to stratify the risk of muscle wasting associated with critical illness prior to it becoming clinically apparent would provide the opportunity to predict prognosis more accurately and to intervene at an early stage.

Germline Mutations in the CDKN2B Tumor Suppressor Gene Predispose to Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Unlabelled: Familial renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is genetically heterogeneous and may be caused by mutations in multiple genes, including VHL, MET, SDHB, FH, FLCN, PTEN, and BAP1. However, most individuals with inherited RCC do not have a detectable germline mutation. To identify novel inherited RCC genes, we undertook exome resequencing studies in a familial RCC kindred and identified a CDKN2B nonsense mutation that segregated with familial RCC status.

Assessing site performance in the Altair study, a multinational clinical trial.

Background: Reviewing clinical trial site performance identifies strategies to control outcomes. Performance across 5 geographical regions (36 sites across Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and Latin America) was investigated in a study that randomised 322 HIV-infected individuals.

Methods: Regional performance was compared using descriptive analysis for time to site opening, recruitment, quality of data and laboratory samples.

Association of type and location of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations with risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Importance: Limited information about the relationship between specific mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) and cancer risk exists.

Objective: To identify mutation-specific cancer risks for carriers of BRCA1/2.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Observational study of women who were ascertained between 1937 and 2011 (median, 1999) and found to carry disease-associated BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

Key Factors Influencing Implementation of Falls Prevention Exercise Programs in the Community.

The study aim was to evaluate the implementation of group- and home-based exercise falls prevention programs delivered through community health agencies to community-dwelling older people. Interviews with program staff were guided by the Diffusion of Innovations theory. Highly consistent themes emerged for the two types of programs.

Supplemental vibrational force during orthodontic alignment: a randomized trial.

This prospective 3-arm parallel-group randomized clinical trial investigated the effect of supplemental vibrational force on rate of orthodontic tooth alignment with fixed appliances. Eighty-one subjects (40 males, 41 females; mean age, 14.1 y) undergoing first premolar extraction-based fixed appliance treatment were randomly allocated to treatment supplemented with daily use (20 min) of a removable intraoral vibrational device (AcceleDent; OrthoAccel Technologies Inc.

Using the hospital as a venue for reproductive health interventions: a survey of hospitalized adolescents.

Background And Objectives: Less than one-half of sexually active adolescents have received counseling regarding contraception and sexually transmitted disease (STD) from their health care provider. We hypothesized that hospitalized adolescents would be interested in receiving reproductive health education and/or STD testing. In addition, we assessed the opinion of female adolescents on initiation of contraception during hospitalization.