Comparison of lentiviral and sleeping beauty mediated αβ T cell receptor gene transfer.

Transfer of tumour antigen-specific receptors to T cells requires efficient delivery and integration of transgenes, and currently most clinical studies are using gamma retroviral or lentiviral systems. Whilst important proof-of-principle data has been generated for both chimeric antigen receptors and αβ T cell receptors, the current platforms are costly, time-consuming and relatively inflexible. Alternative, more cost-effective, Sleeping Beauty transposon-based plasmid systems could offer a pathway to accelerated clinical testing of a more diverse repertoire of recombinant high affinity T cell receptors.

Effects of a 12-month multi-component exercise program on the body composition of postmenopausal women.

Objective: The aims of this study were to identify the effects of a 12-month exercise program on the body composition of postmenopausal women and to examine the interaction of menopause characteristics (nature and time since menopause, hormone therapy) with exercise.

Methods: A total of 158 postmenopausal Caucasian women were analyzed in this study (70 in the control and 88 in the exercise group). This subset is part of the 'Shape up during menopause' which is a program that aims to develop exercise and health promotion in postmenopausal women.

Business intelligence and information systems in hospitals--distribution and usage of BI and HIS in German hospitals.

This paper shows the results of a short survey taken place in February 2013 within German Hospitals. The present studies view is bottom-up and the interviews are done directly with the hospitals CIOs. There are some effects like the G-DRG implementation in Germany that are evident in the results.

Mechanical properties of the triceps surae: differences between football and non-football players.

We investigated the mechanical properties of the triceps surae between professional, junior, and non-football players. Fifty-nine men participated in this study. The mechanical properties of the right legs' triceps surae were measured in vivo using a free oscillation technique; no significant differences existed between the groups.

TALEN-based gene correction for epidermolysis bullosa.

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is characterized by a functional deficit of type VII collagen protein due to gene defects in the type VII collagen gene (COL7A1). Gene augmentation therapies are promising, but run the risk of insertional mutagenesis. To abrogate this risk, we explored the possibility of using engineered transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) for precise genome editing.

Taking small steps towards targets - perspectives for clinical practice in diabetes, cardiometabolic disorders and beyond.

Big changes are hard. When trying to achieve guideline targets in diabetes and cardiometabolic disorders, patients can lack commitment or suffer despondency. It is much easier to make small changes in lifestyle or treatment, which are less noticeable and easier to manage long-term.

Comprehensive ICF core set for obstructive pulmonary diseases: validation of the activities and participation component through the patient's perspective.

Purpose: This study aimed to validate the Activities and Participation component of the Comprehensive International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) Core Set for Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (OPD) from the patient's perspective.

Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted with a convenience sample of outpatients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Individual interviews were performed and analysed according to the meaning condensation procedure.

The upper limit of the cardiorespiratory training zone (40-84%HRR) is overestimated for postmenopausal women.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the heart rate reserve (HRR) at first and second ventilatory thresholds (VT's) in postmenopausal women and compare it with optimal intensity range recommended by the ACSM (40-84%HRR). An additional aim was to evaluate whether a higher aerobic power level corresponded to a higher HRR at VT's.

Methods: Fifty-eight postmenopausal women participated in this study (aged 48-69).

Gap junctional coupling in the vertebrate retina: variations on one theme?

Gap junctions connect cells in the bodies of all multicellular organisms, forming either homologous or heterologous (i.e. established between identical or different cell types, respectively) cell-to-cell contacts by utilizing identical (homotypic) or different (heterotypic) connexin protein subunits.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and functioning: implications for rehabilitation based on the ICF framework.

Purpose: This study aimed to describe the functioning of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework to inform future rehabilitation interventions.

Method: A cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of outpatients with COPD was conducted. Data were collected using the Comprehensive ICF Core Set for Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases.

[Impact of an exercise program in adiposity and muscular condition of postmenopausal women].

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of an exercise program on fat mass (FM), visceral fat area (VFA), skeletal muscle mass (SMM) and skeletal muscle mass index (SMMI) of post-menopausal women.

Methods: A sample of 169 women (56.8±6.

Development-related splicing regulates pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) receptors in the retina.

Purpose: The ubiquitous pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) has a disparate array of functions in development (e.g., proliferation and apoptosis).

Neuropeptides and diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy, a common complication of diabetes, develops in 75% of patients with type 1 and 50% of patients with type 2 diabetes, progressing to legal blindness in about 5%. In the recent years, considerable efforts have been put into finding treatments for this condition. It has been discovered that peptidergic mechanisms (neuropeptides and their analogues, activating a diverse array of signal transduction pathways through their multiple receptors) are potentially important for consideration in drug development strategies.

Electrodeposition of catalytic and magnetic gold nanoparticles on dendrimer-carbon nanotube layer-by-layer films.

Magnetic and catalytic gold nanoparticles were electrodeposited through potential pulse on dendrimer-carbon nanotube layer-by-layer (LbL) films. A plasmon absorption band at about 550 nm revealed the presence of nanoscale gold in the film. The location of the Au nanoparticles in the film was clearly observed by selecting the magnetic force microscopy mode.

[Level of physical activity in the prevention of excess visceral fat in postmenopausal women: how much is needed?].

Objective: To analyze the level of physical activity (kcal/week) needed to prevent excess visceral fat in postmenopausal women.

Subjects And Methods: The sample included 239 women with a mean age of 57.2 years.

Integration of retroviral vectors.

Retroviral vectors are unique in their ability to integrate their genome into the host genome of transduced cells. Several members of the retrovirus family show distinct pattern for preferential integration into the host genome. Despite many years of investigation, precise mechanisms of target site selection and the fundamental interplay of viral integrase and host cell proteins are still unknown.

Using community surveys to inform the planning and implementation of environmental change strategies: participatory research in 12 Washington communities.

A number of studies have demonstrated the efficacy of environmental change strategies (ECS) in effecting community-level change on attitudes and behaviors related to underage drinking (Treno and Lee in Alcohol Res Health 26:35-40, 2002; Birckmayer et al. in J Drug Educ 34(2):121-153, 2004). Primary data collection to inform the design of these strategies, however, can be resource intensive and exceed the capacity of community stakeholders.

Effect of PACAP on MAP kinases, Akt and cytokine expressions in rat retinal hypoperfusion.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is known for its potent neuroprotective effects, including the retinoprotective actions in several types of retinal injuries. We have shown earlier that PACAP treatment causes activation of protective pathways and inhibition of pro-apoptotic signaling in excitotoxic retinal lesions. The aim of the present study was to gain insight into the in vivo protective mechanism of PACAP in retinal hypoperfusion injury induced by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO).

Preconditioning with volatile anaesthetic sevoflurane in ischemic retinal lesion in rats.

Volatile anaesthetic agents have been recognized for their neuroprotective properties since the 1960s. However, little is known regarding the potential retinoprotective effects of preconditioning by anaesthetic drugs. Retinal ischemia can be modeled by permanent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO).

Associations between surrogate measures of insulin resistance and waist circumference, cardiovascular risk and the metabolic syndrome across Hispanic and non-Hispanic white populations.

Aims: We evaluated the relations between surrogate indices of insulin resistance and waist circumference, metabolic syndrome and coronary heart disease risk across Hispanic and non-Hispanic white populations.

Methods: The study was a cross-sectional analysis of participants without diabetes in the San Antonio Heart Study, Mexico City Diabetes Study and Spanish Insulin Resistance Study. We evaluated commonly used indices of insulin resistance, including homeostasis model assessment, McAuley's index, Gutt's insulin sensitivity index, Avignon's insulin sensitivity index and the Stumvoll index with and without demographics, the modified Matsuda index and the product of the triglycerides and glucose index.

Bioinformatic clonality analysis of next-generation sequencing-derived viral vector integration sites.

Clonality analysis of viral vector-transduced cell populations represents a convincing approach to dissect the physiology of tissue and organ regeneration, to monitor the fate of individual gene-corrected cells in vivo, and to assess vector biosafety. With the decoding of mammalian genomes and the introduction of next-generation sequencing technologies, the demand for automated bioinformatic analysis tools that can rapidly process and annotate vector integration sites is rising. Here, we provide a publicly accessible, graphical user interface-guided automated bioinformatic high-throughput integration site analysis pipeline.

Protective effects of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in ischemic retinal degeneration.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a pleiotropic neuropeptide, acting as a neuromodulator and neuroprotective peptide in the CNS after injuries. We have previously described that pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), another member of the same peptide family, is retinoprotective in ischemic lesions. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective potential of VIP in bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO)-induced ischemic retinal lesion.

PACAP is an endogenous protective factor-insights from PACAP-deficient mice.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a widespread neuropeptide with a diverse array of biological functions. Not surprisingly, the lack of endogenous PACAP therefore results in a variety of abnormalities. One of the important effects of PACAP is its neuroprotective and general cytoprotective role.

Effect of protocol choice on phase contrast cardiac magnetic resonance flow measurement in the ascending aorta: breath-hold and non-breath-hold.

Flow assessment with phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging (PC-MRI) protocols is an important component of a comprehensive cardiovascular MR (CMR) assessment. Breath-hold (BH) and non-breath-hold (NBH) PC-MRI protocols are widely available for this imaging modality. Because flow in the great vessels is known to vary with the respiratory cycle, we hypothesized that these 2 approaches might yield different results in the clinical assessment of forward and regurgitant flow in the ascending aorta.

Comparison of blood and saliva lactate level after maximum intensity exercise.

Several studies have described high correlation of salivary and blood lactate level during exercise. Measuring the effectiveness and intensity of training, lactate concentration in blood, and lately in saliva are used.The aim of our study was to evaluate the correlation between the concentration and timing of salivary and blood lactate level in endurance athletes and non-athletes after a maximal treadmill test, and to identify physiological and biochemical factors affecting these lactate levels.