Comparative Assessment of Oral Mesenchymal Stem Cells Isolated from Healthy and Diseased Tissues.

The aim of the present study was to isolate human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from palatal connective and periodontal granulation tissues and to comparatively evaluate their properties. MSCs were isolated using the explant culture method. Adherence to plastic, specific antigen makeup, multipotent differentiation potential, functionality, and ultrastructural characteristics were investigated.

Microwave frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) produce widespread neuropsychiatric effects including depression.

Non-thermal microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) act via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation. Calcium channel blockers block EMF effects and several types of additional evidence confirm this mechanism. Low intensity microwave EMFs have been proposed to produce neuropsychiatric effects, sometimes called microwave syndrome, and the focus of this review is whether these are indeed well documented and consistent with the known mechanism(s) of action of such EMFs.

Pain from intra-articular NGF or joint injury in the rat requires contributions from peptidergic joint afferents.

Non-physiological stretch of the cervical facet joint's capsular ligament induces persistent behavioral hypersensitivity and spinal neuronal hyperexcitability via an intra-articular NGF-dependent mechanism. Although that ligament is innervated by nociceptors, it is unknown if a subpopulation is exclusively responsible for the behavioral and spinal neuronal responses to intra-articular NGF and/or facet joint injury. This study ablated joint afferents using the neurotoxin saporin targeted to neurons involved in either peptidergic ([Sar(9),Met (O2)(11)]-substance P-saporin (SSP-Sap)) or non-peptidergic (isolectin B4-saporin (IB4-Sap)) signaling to investigate the contributions of those neuronal populations to facet-mediated pain.

Best bang for your buck: GPU nodes for GROMACS biomolecular simulations.

The molecular dynamics simulation package GROMACS runs efficiently on a wide variety of hardware from commodity workstations to high performance computing clusters. Hardware features are well-exploited with a combination of single instruction multiple data, multithreading, and message passing interface (MPI)-based single program multiple data/multiple program multiple data parallelism while graphics processing units (GPUs) can be used as accelerators to compute interactions off-loaded from the CPU. Here, we evaluate which hardware produces trajectories with GROMACS 4.

Targeted Therapy for Patients with BRAF-Mutant Lung Cancer: Results from the European EURAF Cohort.

Introduction: Approximately 2% of lung adenocarcinomas have BRAF (v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B) mutations, including V600E and other types. Vemurafenib, dabrafenib, and sorafenib as BRAF inhibitors are currently tested in clinical trials, but access for patients is limited. The aim of this study was to document the clinical course of patients treated outside of clinical trials.

Ultrastructural evaluation of mesenchymal stem cells from inflamed periodontium in different in vitro conditions.

This research aimed to observe the behavior of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from periodontal granulation tissue (gt) when manipulated ex vivo to induce three-dimensional (3D) spheroid (aggregates) formation as well as when seeded on two bone scaffolds of animal origin. Periodontal gt was chosen as a MSC source because of its availability, considering that it is eliminated as a waste material during conventional surgical therapies. 3D aggregates of cells were generated; they were grown for 3 and 7 days, respectively, and then prepared for transmission electron microscopic analysis.

New developments in the pathogenesis of obesity-induced hypertension.

Obesity is a disorder that develops from the interaction between genotype and environment involving social, behavioral, cultural, and physiological factors. Obesity increases the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders, chronic kidney and pulmonary disease. Although obesity is clearly associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension, many obese individuals may not develop hypertension.

Conditional U1 Gene Silencing in Toxoplasma gondii.

The functional characterisation of essential genes in apicomplexan parasites, such as Toxoplasma gondii or Plasmodium falciparum, relies on conditional mutagenesis systems. Here we present a novel strategy based on U1 snRNP-mediated gene silencing. U1 snRNP is critical in pre-mRNA splicing by defining the exon-intron boundaries.

A Phase II, double-blind, randomized, parallel group, dose-finding study of the safety and tolerability of darexaban compared with warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: the oral factor Xa inhibitor for prophylaxis of stroke in atrial fibrillation study 2 (OPAL-2).

Background: Darexaban (YM150) is a novel oral anticoagulant that directly inhibits factor Xa.

Objectives: To investigate the optimal daily dose regimen of YM150 in subjects with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).

Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, parallel-group, dose-confirmation study (NCT00938730), patients with NVAF were randomized to darexaban 15 mg bid, 30 mg qd, 30 mg bid, 60 mg qd, 60 mg bid or 120 mg qd, or warfarin qd.

Tracing CD34+ Stromal Fibroblasts in Palatal Mucosa and Periodontal Granulation Tissue as a Possible Cell Reservoir for Periodontal Regeneration.

The aim of the present research was to trace CD34+ stromal fibroblastic cells (CD34+ SFCs) in the palatal connective tissue harvested for muco-gingival surgical procedures and in granulation tissues from periodontal pockets using immunohistochemical and transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical analysis targeted the presence of three antigens: CD31, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and CD34. In the palate, CD31 staining revealed a colored inner ring of the vessels representing the endothelium, α-SMA+ was located in the medial layer of the vasculature, and CD34 was intensely expressed by endothelial cells and artery adventitial cells (considered to be CD34+ SFCs).

Multicenter Phase II Study Evaluating Two Cycles of Docetaxel, Cisplatin and Cetuximab as Induction Regimen Prior to Surgery in Chemotherapy-Naive Patients with NSCLC Stage IB-IIIA (INN06-Study).

Background: Different strategies for neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with early stage NSCLC have already been evaluated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of a chemoimmunotherapy when limited to two cycles.

Methods: Between 01/2007 and 03/2010 41 patients with primarily resectable NSCLC stage IB to IIIA were included.

Psychophysical measurements of itch and nociceptive sensations in an experimental model of allergic contact dermatitis.

Unlabelled: Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is a common condition that can significantly affect the quality of life. Contact with allergens results in delayed hypersensitivity reactions involving T lymphocytes, with associated skin inflammation and spontaneous itch and nociceptive sensations. However, psychophysical studies of these sensations are lacking.

Two dose-ranging studies with PF-04937319, a systemic partial activator of glucokinase, as add-on therapy to metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Aim: To assess the efficacy and safety of a range of doses of a systemic, partial, glucokinase activator, PF-04937319, as add-on therapy to metformin, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: Patients were randomized to once-daily PF-04937319 doses of 10, 50, 100 mg, or matching placebo (Study B1621002); or PF-04937319 doses of 3, 20, 50, 100 mg, or matching placebo (Study B1621007). Titrated glimepiride (Study B1621002) or sitagliptin (Study B1621007) were included in a double-dummy manner.

Scientific evidence contradicts findings and assumptions of Canadian Safety Panel 6: microwaves act through voltage-gated calcium channel activation to induce biological impacts at non-thermal levels, supporting a paradigm shift for microwave/lower frequency electromagnetic field action.

This review considers a paradigm shift on microwave electromagnetic field (EMF) action from only thermal effects to action via voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) activation. Microwave/lower frequency EMFs were shown in two dozen studies to act via VGCC activation because all effects studied were blocked by calcium channel blockers. This mode of action was further supported by hundreds of studies showing microwave changes in calcium fluxes and intracellular calcium [Ca2+]i signaling.

[End stage renal disease and ventricular arrhythmia. Hemodialysis and hemodiafiltration differently affect ventricular repolarization].

Various factors (hypertension [27%], diabetes mellitus [40%]) and their cardiovascular complications play an important role in the genesis of end stage renal disease. Furthermore, primary kidney diseases (glomerulonephritis, tubulointerstitial nephritis, obstructive uropathy, analgesic nephropathy, polycystic kidney disease, autoimmune diseases) have an unfavorable effect on the cardiovascular outcome of this particular population. Increased susceptibility for arrhythmias may be caused by intermittent volume overload, metabolic disturbance, renal anemia, structural and electrophysiological changes of the myocardium, inflammatory mechanisms that may worsen the mortality statistics of these patients.

Nrf2, a master regulator of detoxification and also antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other cytoprotective mechanisms, is raised by health promoting factors.

The transcription factor Nrf2, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2, activates the transcription of over 500 genes in the human genome, most of which have cytoprotective functions. Nrf2 produces cytoprotection by detoxification mechanisms leading to increased detoxification and excretion of both organic xenobiotics and toxic metals; its action via over two dozen genes increases highly coordinated antioxidant activities; it produces major anti-inflammatory changes; it stimulates mitochondrial biogenesis and otherwise improves mitochondrial function; and it stimulates autophagy, removing toxic protein aggregates and dysfunctional organelles. Health-promoting nutrients and other factors act, at least in part by raising Nrf2 including: many phenolic antioxidants; gamma- and delta-tocopherols and tocotrienols; long chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA; many carotenoids of which lycopene may be the most active; isothiocyanates from cruciferous vegetables; sulfur compounds from allium vegetables; terpenoids.

Basal metabolic rate in women with PCOS compared to eumenorrheic controls.

Objective: PCOS is associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Efforts have focused on whether an abnormal energy homeostasis contributes to the development of obesity in these patients. There are conflicting results in the literature regarding whether women with PCOS have an altered basal metabolic rate (BMR), thereby leading to difficulties in weight loss.

Management of ingested foreign bodies in children: a clinical report of the NASPGHAN Endoscopy Committee.

Foreign body ingestions in children are some of the most challenging clinical scenarios facing pediatric gastroenterologists. Determining the indications and timing for intervention requires assessment of patient size, type of object ingested, location, clinical symptoms, time since ingestion, and myriad other factors. Often the easiest and least anxiety-producing decision is the one to proceed to endoscopic removal, instead of observation alone.

The next-generation ALK inhibitors.

Purpose Of Review: Crizotinib now is accepted as the standard first-line treatment of ALK-rearranged lung adenocarcinomas. To overcome the problem of crizotinib resistance, second-generation ALK inhibitors are in development. The aim of this review is to give an overview on the mechanisms behind crizotinib resistance and on the preclinical background and clinical development of these compounds.

Young Age at Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes Is Associated with the Development of Celiac Disease-Associated Antibodies in Children Living in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to establish the prevalence of positive antibodies to endomysium (EMA) and tissue transglutaminase (tTG) in children with type 1 diabetes living in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL), and to examine clinical features associated with positive antibodies.

Methods: Patients were recruited from the pediatric diabetes clinic. One hundred sixty-seven children with type 1 diabetes from the 280 children followed at the clinic were prospectively screened for celiac disease using EMA and tTG.

Impact of Pre-Procedure Interventions on No-Show Rate in Pediatric Endoscopy.

Pediatric endoscopy has evolved into an indispensable tool in the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinal diseases in children. However, there is limited literature focusing on quality improvement initiatives in pediatric endoscopy. The primary goal of this project was to reduce the no-show rate in the pediatric endoscopy unit.

[Treatment of patients with radioiodine refractory, differentiated thyroid carcinoma. A Consensus Statement].

There is no clear standard therapy for patients with radioactive iodine (131I)-refractory locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid cancer. The therapeutic options for this indication have expanded with the recently approved multiple kinase inhibitor sorafenib. Recommendations for the definition and the management of iodine refractory patients were worked up by an interdisciplinary expert panel, consisting of endocrine surgeons, medical oncologists and nuclear medicine specialists.

Non-invasive pulse wave analysis for monitoring the cardiovascular effects of CO2 pneumoperitoneum during laparoscopic cholecystectomy--a prospective case-series study.

Background: Peritoneal insufflation results in hemodynamic changes during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The aim of the present work is to test whether non-invasive applanation tonometry is suitable for reflecting these hemodynamic alterations.

Methods: 41 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomies were monitored using the SphygmoCor pulse wave analysing system.

Exome-wide rare variant analysis identifies TUBA4A mutations associated with familial ALS.

Exome sequencing is an effective strategy for identifying human disease genes. However, this methodology is difficult in late-onset diseases where limited availability of DNA from informative family members prohibits comprehensive segregation analysis. To overcome this limitation, we performed an exome-wide rare variant burden analysis of 363 index cases with familial ALS (FALS).