Effects of the DPP-4 inhibitor, linagliptin, in diet-induced obese rats: a comparison in naive and exenatide-treated animals.

Background: To assess the chronic effect of the DPP-4 inhibitor, linagliptin, alone, in combination with exenatide, and during exenatide withdrawal, in diet-induced obese (DIO) rats.

Methods: Female Wistar rats were exposed to a cafeteria diet to induce obesity. Animals were then dosed with vehicle or linagliptin (3 mg/kg PO) orally once-daily for a 28 day period.

Tender point sensitivity, range of motion, and perceived disability in subjects with neck pain.

Study Design: Descriptive analysis of impairment and disability measures in subjects with neck pain.

Objectives: To identify discrete tender points and overall pressure sensitivity and assess relationships among palpation tenderness, active cervical range of motion, visual analog scale pain scores, and Sickness Impact Profile disability scores.

Background: Palpation tenderness and cervical range of motion are used to evaluate patients with neck pain, but their ability to predict patient-perceived pain and disability is unknown.

Improved detection of infective endocarditis with transesophageal echocardiography.

The incremental advantage of transesophageal echocardiography was determined by comparing results of paired transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic examinations performed in 61 patients for evaluation of suspected infective endocarditis. According to clinical and pathologic data, 31 of 61 (51%) patients had finding that were positive for infective endocarditis. Studies were graded as positive or negative for vegetations and were also graded for image quality.