Positive MRI contrast enhancement in THP-1 cells with Gd2O3 nanoparticles.

There is a demand for more efficient and tissue-specific MRI contrast agents and recent developments involve the design of substances useful as molecular markers and magnetic tracers. In this study, nanoparticles of gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) have been investigated for cell labeling and capacity to generate a positive contrast. THP-1, a monocytic cell line that is phagocytic, was used and results were compared with relaxivity of particles in cell culture medium (RPMI 1640).

Decreased numbers of FoxP3-positive and TLR-2-positive cells in intestinal mucosa are associated with improvement in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease following selective leukocyte apheresis.

Background: Impaired immunological tolerance to commensal enteric flora is considered one possible pathogenic mechanism of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Given that regulatory T cells and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-positive cells are key actors in mucosal immune regulation, we aimed to identify the dynamics of these actors in the intestinal mucosa in relation to clinical improvement following selective leukapheresis treatment.

Methods: Ten patients with active IBD despite treatment with corticosteroids, immunomodulators, or anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy were assessed by immunohistochemical staining of colorectal mucosal biopsies obtained before and after five sessions (week 7) of granulocyte and monocyte adsorption apheresis (GCAP).

Heuristic evaluation performed by usability-educated clinicians: education and attitudes.

Heuristic evaluation is a usability testing method aiming to improve the user interface design. Traditionally, a panel of experts in usability and human factor issues evaluate and judge the compliance of computer software according to recognized usability principles, the heuristics. In this paper, we investigate clinicians' attitudes towards learning and performing a heuristic evaluation and present the procedure of educating the healthcare staff and their accomplishment of the evaluation.

Monitoring fondaparinux with the Sonoclot.

Fondaparinux is a new anticoagulant that interacts with antithrombin III and activated coagulation factor X resulting in an inhibition of the coagulation system. It has been successful in doses of 2.5 mg for thromboprophylaxis as well as in higher therapeutic doses of 5-7.

The BH3-only protein Puma plays an essential role in cytokine deprivation induced apoptosis of mast cells.

Mast cells play critical roles in the regulation of inflammation. One characteristic feature of mast cells is their relatively long lifespan in vivo. Members of the Bcl-2 protein family are regulators of cell survival and apoptosis, where the BH3-only proteins are critical proapoptotic proteins.

Enhanced H-reflex with resistance training is related to increased rate of force development.

Parallel increases in strength and rate of force development (RFD) are well-known outcomes from the initial phase of resistance training. However, it is unknown whether neural adaptations with training contribute to improvements of both factors. The aim of this study was to examine whether changes in H-reflex amplitude with resistance training can explain the gain in strength or rather be associated with RFD.

High synovial expression of the inhibitory FcgammaRIIb in rheumatoid arthritis.

Activating Fc gamma receptors (FcgammaRs) have been identified as having important roles in the inflammatory joint reaction in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and murine models of arthritis. However, the role of the inhibitory FcgammaRIIb in the regulation of the synovial inflammation in RA is less known. Here we have investigated synovial tissue from RA patients using a novel monoclonal antibody (GB3) specific for the FcgammaRIIb isoform.

Radioimmunotherapy with astatine-211 using chimeric monoclonal antibody U36 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: In advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), there is a need for an adjuvant treatment. We aim to evaluate the biodistribution and therapeutic effect of radioimmunotherapy using the alpha emitting, astatine-211-labeled, chimeric monoclonal antibody U36 (U36) on the HNSCC cell line UT-SCC7 in vivo.

Study Design: Xenograft tumors were inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice.

Influence of diazepam on clinically designed FMRI.

The authors investigated the effect of diazepam on clinically relevant measures from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) examinations. Twenty volunteers were scanned twice. Using a double-blind randomized study design, the volunteers received placebo on one occasion, and on the other, 5 mg of diazepam.

Diffusion-direction-dependent imaging: a novel MRI approach for peripheral nerve imaging.

A novel magnetic resonance imaging approach, called diffusion-direction-dependent imaging (DDI), is introduced. Due to inherent anisotropic diffusion properties, peripheral nerves can be visualized on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The largest signal attenuation on DTI correlates with the direction of a nerve fiber, and the least signal attenuation correlates with the direction perpendicular to the nerve fiber.

Clinical impact of positron emission tomography (PET) with (18F)fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) in head and neck tumours.

Conclusion: PET plays an important role in staging, on suspicion of recurrence and for detection of occult primary tumours in the head and neck.

Objective: Since 1998 we have used positron emission tomography (PET) with (18F)fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to assess selected patients. This procedure has often helped in making decisions on staging and treatment.

Pharmacological characterization and CNS effects of a novel highly selective alpha2C-adrenoceptor antagonist JP-1302.

Background And Purpose: Pharmacological validation of novel functions for the alpha2A-, alpha2B-, and alpha2C-adrenoceptor (AR) subtypes has been hampered by the limited specificity and subtype-selectivity of available ligands. The current study describes a novel highly selective alpha2C-adrenoceptor antagonist, JP-1302 (acridin-9-yl-[4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)-phenyl]amine).

Experimental Approach: Standard in vitro binding and antagonism assays were employed to demonstrate the alpha2C-AR specificity of JP-1302.

TOWARD A MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY FOR PEROMYSCUS: EVIDENCE FROM MITOCHONDRIAL CYTOCHROME-b SEQUENCES.

One hundred DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome-b gene of 44 species of deer mice (Peromyscus (sensu stricto), 1 of Habromys, 1 of Isthmomys, 2 of Megadontomys, and the monotypic genera Neotomodon, Osgoodomys, and Podomys were used to develop a molecular phylogeny for Peromyscus. Phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference) were conducted to evaluate alternative hypotheses concerning taxonomic arrangements (sensu stricto versus sensu lato) of the genus. In all analyses, monophyletic clades were obtained that corresponded to species groups proposed by previous authors; however, relationships among species groups generally were poorly resolved.

Ethanol impairs coagulation and fibrinolysis in whole blood: a study performed with rotational thromboelastometry.

The objective was to study the effects of ethanol on coagulation and fibrinolysis in whole blood. Blood samples from healthy volunteers were analyzed before and after in-vitro addition of ethanol in order to achieve ethanol concentrations of 0, 1, 2 and 4 per thousand, respectively (0, 22, 44 and 88 mmol/l). Coagulation and fibrinolysis were then assessed using rotational thromboelastometry.

Structure-activity relationship of quinoline derivatives as potent and selective alpha(2C)-adrenoceptor antagonists.

Starting from two acridine compounds identified in a high-throughput screening campaign (1 and 2, Table 1), a series of 4-aminoquinolines was synthesized and tested for their properties on the human alpha(2)-adrenoceptor subtypes (alpha(2A), alpha(2B), and alpha(2C)). A number of compounds with good antagonist potencies against the alpha(2C)-adrenoceptor and excellent subtype selectivities over the other two subtypes were discovered. For example, (R)-{4-[4-(3,4-dimethylpiperazin-1-yl)phenylamino]quinolin-3-yl}methanol 6j had an antagonist potency of 8.

Acidosis impairs the coagulation: A thromboelastographic study.

Background: Coagulopathy is a contributor to and predictor of death in bleeding patients. Acidosis is known to be a predictor of worse outcome in trauma patients and to be a coexisting factor in coagulopathic patients, but it has not been studied if it is a causal factor in the development of coagulopathy.

Methods: We have adjusted the pH level in blood samples from healthy volunteers to different levels between 7.

Effects of the somatostatin receptor subtype 4 selective agonist J-2156 on sensory neuropeptide release and inflammatory reactions in rodents.

Background And Purpose: Substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) released from capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves induce local neurogenic inflammation; somatostatin exerts systemic anti-inflammatory actions presumably via sst4/sst1 receptors. This study investigates the effects of a high affinity, sst4-selective, synthetic agonist, J-2156, on sensory neuropeptide release in vitro and inflammatory processes in vivo.

Experimental Approach: Electrically-induced SP, CGRP and somatostatin release from isolated rat tracheae was measured with radioimmunoassay.

Foot orthoses for the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Background: The literature suggests mechanical interventions such as foot orthoses and night splints are effective in reducing pain from plantar fasciitis. There is, however, a lack of controlled trials. We studied the effects of foot orthoses and night splints, alone or combined, in a prospective, randomized trial with 1-year followup.

High proton relaxivity for gadolinium oxide nanoparticles.

Objective: Nanosized materials of gadolinium oxide can provide high-contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The objective of the present study was to investigate proton relaxation enhancement by ultrasmall (5 to 10 nm) Gd(2)O(3) nanocrystals.

Materials And Methods: Gd(2)O(3) nanocrystals were synthesized by a colloidal method and capped with diethylene glycol (DEG).

Relatives' opinions of IT support, perceptions of irritations and life satisfaction in dementia care.

We studied relatives' opinions of IT support at a residential home for persons with dementia. We also investigated the relatives' perceptions of irritations and life satisfaction before and after increased IT support. This was accomplished using an experimental group (n = 14) and a control group (n = 8) of subjects in dementia care.

Increased lactate levels impair the coagulation system--a potential contributing factor to progressive hemorrhage after traumatic brain injury.

Progressive intracerebral contusions are a major problem in the management of patients with severe traumatic brain injury that is also linked to worse outcome. Microdialysis studies have revealed that lactate levels are very high inside contusions, corresponding to significant acidosis. The current study was performed in an effort to investigate whether the lactate accumulation inside cerebral contusions may be a contributing factor to the prolonged bleeding inside contusions.

Analgesic effects of the somatostatin sst4 receptor selective agonist J-2156 in acute and chronic pain models.

Somatostatin released from capsaicin-sensitive afferents exerts systemic anti-nociceptive actions, presumably via somatostatin receptor subtype 4 (sst4). In the present study, the antinociceptive effects of a novel somatostatin sst4 receptor selective peptidomimetic compound, J-2156 (1-100 microg/kg i.p.