Robotic low anterior resection with complete splenic flexure mobilization and defunctioning left-sided loop colostomy: a case series.

A defunctioning stoma is used to alleviate the consequences of anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection for rectal cancer. A loop ileostomy is often preferred but may lead to dehydration and kidney injury. Here, we present a case series for an alternative: the left-sided loop colostomy.

A 10-Week Block of Combined High-Intensity Endurance and Strength Training Produced Similar Changes in Dynamic Strength, Body Composition, and Serum Hormones in Women and Men.

To examine the potential sex differences in adaptations to combined endurance and strength training in recreationally endurance trained (eumenorrheic) women ( = 9) and men ( = 10). Isometric (ISOM) and dynamic bilateral leg press (1RM), countermovement jump (CMJ), running performance (3,000 m time trial), lean mass and body fat % (LEAN and FAT% determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry) as well as serum testosterone and cortisol (TES and COR, respectively, measured using hormone-specific immunoassay kits) were examined before a control period and pre, mid, and post a supervised 10-week combined high-intensity interval endurance training (4 × 4 min intervals and 3 × 3 × 100 m repeated sprints) and mixed maximal and explosive strength training. No more than 2 weeks separated training and testing for either women or men and all women were tested in the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle to minimize the possible influence of menstrual cycle phase on performance measures.

A role for E2-2 at the DN3 stage of early thymopoiesis.

Roles for the E-proteins E2A and HEB during T lymphocyte development have been well established. Based on our previous observations of counter selection against T cells lacking E2-2, it seemed reasonable to assume that there would be a function also for E2-2 in thymocyte development. Aiming at assigning such a role for E2-2, we analyzed the expression of E2-2, E2A, HEB as well as Id mRNA during T cell development.

High macrophage infiltration along the tumor front correlates with improved survival in colon cancer.

Purpose: The role of macrophages in tumorigenesis is complex because they can both prevent and promote tumor development.

Experimental Design: Four hundred forty-six colorectal cancer specimens were stained with the pan-monocyte/macrophage marker CD68, and average infiltration along the tumor front was semiquantitatively evaluated using a four-grade scale. Each section was similarly scored for the presence of CD68 hotspots.

E2-2 regulates the expansion of pro-B cells and follicular versus marginal zone decisions.

The E-proteins E2A, HeLa E-box binding protein, and E2-2 constitute a class of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors that differentially affect B cell development. E2A is by far the most investigated and appears to operate at several levels during B cell ontogeny. Less is known concerning the role of the other E-proteins.

SMAD4/DPC4 expression and prognosis in human colorectal cancer.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in Western countries. One major event during CRC development is loss of genetic material on chromosome 18, on which the smad4/dpc4 gene is located. SMAD4 is an important mediator of intracellular signaling in the TGF-beta pathway.

Dmu expression causes enrichment of MZ B cells, but is non permissive for B cell maturation in Rag2-/- mice even if combined with Bcl-2.

Rearrangements in reading frame 2 promote the expression of a truncated heavy chain, the Dmu protein. Dmu can assemble into a pre-B cell receptor like complex that appears to induce a subset of signals elicited by full length mu, but cannot promote the pro-B to pre-B cell transition of Rag-/- B cells. In order to determine if this could stem from an impaired survival signal not properly induced by the Dmu protein, we introduced Bcl-2 into Dmu-transgenic, Rag2-/- mice.

Interleukin-2-inducible T cell kinase regulates mast cell degranulation and acute allergic responses.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) is thought to positively regulate mast cell activation, implying a role in allergic responses. We have compared acute and late phase allergic airway reactions in mice lacking either Btk or interleukin-2-inducible T cell kinase (Itk), another Tec kinase expressed in mast cells. Btk(-/-) mice showed minor protection against allergic symptoms when challenged with allergen via the airways.

Reduced formation of phosphatidic acid upon B-cell receptor triggering of mouse B-lymphocytes lacking Bruton's tyrosine kinase.

Btk deficient (BtkM) mouse B-lymphocytes do not proliferate when stimulated with anti-immunoglobulin (anti-Ig) antibodies. In order to characterize the molecular basis of this unresponsiveness we have compared early signal transduction pathways triggered by ligating the B cell antigen receptor (BCR) of purified resting B cells from normal C57BL/6 (wild-type) and BtkM mice on C57BL/6 background. BCR-induced signalling events that occur during the first few minutes of activation, such as bulk tyrosine phosphorylations, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, PI3-kinase dependent PKB/Akt kinase phosphorylation/activation and PLCgamma2 tyrosine phosphorylation are comparable in wild type and BtkM B cells.

Bruton's tyrosine-kinase-deficient murine B lymphocytes fail to enter S phase when stimulated with anti-immunoglobulin plus interleukin-4.

One of the earliest recognized defects of B cells carrying the xid mutation in the gene encoding for Bruton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) was their inability to proliferate in response to anti-immunoglobulin plus interleukin (IL)-4 stimulation. Previous attempts to define the stage at which this proliferative block occurred using xid B cells provided dissimilar results. We decided to reinvestigate this question using B cells from C57BL/6-Btk-protein-deficient (BtkM) mice.

Randomized comparison of aztreonam and cefuroxime in gram-negative upper urinary tract infections.

In order to evaluate the efficacy and safety of aztreonam in hospitalized patients with upper urinary tract infections (UTI), a comparative clinical study with cefuroxime was performed. 62/60% (aztreonam/cefuroxime) of the patients had a complicating factor, mostly obstructive uropathy. I.

Outbreak of giardiasis: effect of a new antiflagellate drug, tinidazole.

We describe here an intensive outbreak of mostly symptomatic (90%) Giardia lamblia infestation in a Swedish student group visiting the U.S.S.