Association of mortality and phase angle measured by different bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices.

Purpose: A high phase angle measured by the Nutriguard bioelectrical impedance analysis device is associated with a reduced mortality risk in older people. This retrospective study aims to analyze whether this association persists with the other devices that have been used in our hospital.

Methods: This study encompasses all people 65 yrs and older who underwent a phase angle measurement between 1990 and 2011 at the Geneva University Hospitals, with the RJL-101 (RJL Systems), Xitron 4000B (Xitron Technologies), Eugedia (Eugédia-Spengler) and Bio-Z (Spengler).

Synthetic Glycoforms Reveal Carbohydrate-Dependent Bioactivity of Human Saposin D.

The main glycoforms of the hydrophobic lysosomal glycoprotein saposin D (SapD) were synthesized by native chemical ligation. An approach for the challenging solid-phase synthesis of the fragments was developed. Three SapD glycoforms were obtained following a general and robust refolding and purification protocol.

Amylmetacresol/2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol, hexylresorcinol, or carrageenan lozenges as active treatments for sore throat.

Up to 80% of sore throats are caused by viruses. Several over the counter products are available which provide symptomatic, not causal relief. For such lozenges, containing the antiseptics and local anesthetics amylmetacresol (AMC) and 2,4-dichlorobenzyl alcohol (DCBA) or hexylresorcinol (HR), recently an additional virucidal effect was published.

Prevalence of low muscle mass according to body mass index in older adults.

Objective: Low muscle mass has been associated with increased morbi-mortality and should be identified for optimizing preventive and therapeutic strategies. This study evaluates the prevalence of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)-derived low muscle mass in older persons using definitions found through a systematic literature search and determines the link between body mass index (BMI) and low muscle mass.

Methods: We performed a systematic search of trials involving ≥100 persons that derived low muscle mass from BIA and reported cut-offs for low muscle mass normalized for body height or weight.

Size Does Not Make the Difference: 3D/4D Transperineal Sonographic Measurements of the Female Urethra in the Assessment of Urinary Incontinence Subtypes.

The objective was to evaluate the usefulness of transperineal ultrasound in the assessment of the urethral length and urethral lumen by 3D/4D transperineal sonography to discriminate between female patients with subtypes of urinary incontinence. A total of 150 female patients underwent an examination because of urinary incontinence. 41 patients were diagnosed with urgency urinary incontinence (OAB), 67 patients were diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and 42 patients were in the control group (CTRL).

Feasibility and acceptance of exercise recommendations (10,000 steps a day) within routine German health check (Check-Up 35/GOÄ29)-study protocol.

Background: Benefits of exercise to prevent non-communicable diseases are well-documented. Limited data exists to promote physical activity in healthy but sedentary and/or overweight people. Brief interventions within routine German health checks may be an effective way to reach these patients.

Metabolic Syndrome in Children and Adolescents.

Background: Juvenile obesity is associated with multiple cardiometabolic comorbidities, which may culminate in the metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods: Based on a narrative review, the current knowledge of prevalence and the underlying metabolic principles regarding juvenile obesity and MetS are summarized to compile up-to-date information. In addition, the role of lifestyle as well as positive and negative influencing factors are focused on.

Bioimpedance-Derived Phase Angle and Mortality Among Older People.

Background: Phase angle measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) may be a marker of health state.

Objective: This historical cohort study of prospectively collected BIA measurements aims to investigate the link between phase angle and mortality in older people and evaluate whether a phase angle cutoff can be defined.

Design: We included all adults aged ≥65 years who underwent a BIA measurement by the Nutriguard device at the Geneva University Hospitals.

Persistent Organic Pollutants in sediment and fish in the River Thames Catchment (UK).

Some organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) have been banned from production and use in the UK for >30years but due to their toxicity and persistence are still of concern. However, due to their hydrophobicity they are present at very low concentrations and are difficult to measure in water, and so other matrices need to be sampled in order to best assess contamination. This study measured concentrations of ΣICES 7 PCBs (PCB congeners 28, 52, 101, 118, 138, 153 and 180) and Σ6 PBDEs (PBDE congeners 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154) and HCB in both bed-sediments and wild roach (a common pelagic fish) in the Thames Basin.

Tomographic Ultrasound Imaging to Control the Placement of Tension-Free Transobturator Tape in Female Urinary Stress Incontinence.

Purpose. The objective was to evaluate, by means of tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI), the reliability of a novel approach for determining the position of the implanted tension-free transobturator tape (TOT). Furthermore, we analyzed the association between the position of the tape at rest and the subjective cure in stress incontinent women.

Cognate HLA absence in trans diminishes human NK cell education.

NK cells are innate lymphocytes with protective functions against viral infections and tumor formation. Human NK cells carry inhibitory killer cell Ig-like receptors (KIRs), which recognize distinct HLAs. NK cells with KIRs for self-HLA molecules acquire superior cytotoxicity against HLA- tumor cells during education for improved missing-self recognition.

Malnutrition in Very Old Hospitalized Patients: A New Etiologic Factor of Anemia?

Background: Anemia and malnutrition are highly prevalent, frequently concomitant and associated with negative outcomes and mortality in the elderly.

Objectives: To evaluate the association between these two entities, and test the hypothesis that protein-energy deficit could be etiology of anemia.

Design: Prospective case-control study.

Xenograft models for undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma not otherwise specified are essential for preclinical testing of therapeutic agents.

Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma not otherwise specified belongs to the heterogeneous group of soft tissue tumors. It is preferentially located in the upper and lower extremities of the body, and surgical resection remains the only curative treatment. Preclinical animal models are crucial to improve the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.

Lysosomal Dysfunction Caused by Cellular Accumulation of Silica Nanoparticles.

Nanoparticles (NPs) are widely used as components of drugs or cosmetics and hold great promise for biomedicine, yet their effects on cell physiology remain poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that clathrin-independent dynamin 2-mediated caveolar uptake of surface-functionalized silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) impairs cell viability due to lysosomal dysfunction. We show that internalized SiNPs accumulate in lysosomes resulting in inhibition of autophagy-mediated protein turnover and impaired degradation of internalized epidermal growth factor, whereas endosomal recycling proceeds unperturbed.

Impact of body composition changes on risk of all-cause mortality in older adults.

Purpose: This study evaluates the relationship between body mass index (BMI), fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) changes and mortality in persons ≥65 years.

Methods: Adults ≥65 years with at least two body composition measurements (BCM) between 1990 and 2011 were included. We excluded persons who died within one month of the second BCM and who had two single BCM in a one-month timeframe.

Targeting clotting proteins in cancer therapy - progress and challenges.

Cancer-associated thrombosis remains a significant complication in the clinical management of cancer and interactions of the hemostatic system with cancer biology continue to be elucidated. Here, we review recent progress in our understanding of tissue factor (TF) regulation and procoagulant activation, TF signaling in cancer and immune cells, and the expanding roles of the coagulation system in stem cell niches and the tumor microenvironment. The extravascular functions of coagulant and anti-coagulant pathways have significant implications not only for tumor progression, but also for the selection of appropriate target specific anticoagulants in the therapy of cancer patients.

[Motor Skills of Extremely Obese Children and Adolescents Based on the Multicentre Longitudinal Obesity Database (APV)].

Background: Obese children and adolescents often exhibit progressively declining motor skills. To support young obese patients adequately, it is necessary to assess their individual physical and motor abilities, taking the degree of obesity into account.

Patients: A total of 5 924 children and adolescents (mean age: 12.

Analysis of the expression of SDF-1 splicing variants in human colorectal cancer and normal mucosa tissues.

C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), also termed stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is a small protein 8-14 kDa in length that is expressed as six isoforms, consisting of SDF-1α, SDF-1β, SDF-1γ, SDF-1δ, SDF-1ε and SDF-1θ. All six isoforms are encoded by the single CXCL12 gene on chromosome 10. This gene regulates leukocyte trafficking and is variably expressed in a number of normal and cancer tissues.

Effects of thermoresponsivity and softness on skin penetration and cellular uptake of polyglycerol-based nanogels.

Nanogels are water soluble cross-linked polymer networks with nanometer size dimensions that can be designed to incorporate different types of compounds and are promising carrier systems for drugs and biological molecules. In this study, the interactions of thermoresponsive nanogels (tNGs) with the human skin barrier and underlying epidermis cells were investigated with the aim of using such macromolecules to improve dermal and transdermal drug delivery. The investigated tNGs were made of acrylated dendritic polyglycerol, as water soluble cross-linker, and of oligo ethylene glycol methacrylate (OEGMA) as subunit conferring thermoresponsive properties.

Regulation of long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells by EPCR/PAR1 signaling.

The common developmental origin of endothelial and hematopoietic cells is manifested by coexpression of several cell surface receptors. Adult murine bone marrow (BM) long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (LT-HSCs), endowed with the highest repopulation and self-renewal potential, express endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR), which is used as a marker to isolate them. EPCR/protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) signaling in endothelial cells has anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory roles, while thrombin/PAR1 signaling induces coagulation and inflammation.

Controlling the Interaction and Non-Close-Packed Arrangement of Nanoparticles on Large Areas.

In light of the importance of nanostructured surfaces for a variety of technological applications, the quest for simple and reliable preparation methods of ordered, nanometer ranged structures is ongoing. Herein, a versatile method to prepare ordered, non-close-packed arrangements of nanoparticles on centimeter sized surfaces by self-assembly is described using monodisperse (118-162 nm Ø), amino-functionalized silica nanoparticles as an exploratory example. It is shown that the arrangement of the particles is governed by the interplay between the electrostatic repulsion between the particles and the interaction between particles and surfaces.

Adipokine-myokine-hepatokine compartment-system in mothers and children: An explorative study.

Objective: Maternal lifestyle during pregnancy has an effect of gestational development and neonatal outcome. Overweight gravidas and gravidas with excessive weight gain have an increased risk of gestational complications and neonatal metabolic disorder. The underlying mechanisms are still under discussion, but the hormonally active fat mass and its biomarkers, adipocytokines, may play a key role by potentially having a direct impact on the metabolic homeostasis of the system in concert with other biomarkers like hepatokines and myokines.