Insights into the resistance and resilience of the soil microbial community.

Soil is increasingly under environmental pressures that alter its capacity to fulfil essential ecosystem services. To maintain these crucial soil functions, it is important to know how soil microorganisms respond to disturbance or environmental change. Here, we summarize the recent progress in understanding the resistance and resilience (stability) of soil microbial communities and discuss the underlying mechanisms of soil biological stability together with the factors affecting it.

Current UK management of locally recurrent rectal cancer.

Aim: The study aimed to determine current UK practice in the management of locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC).

Method: An electronic based survey was sent to UK based Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland members to establish current management in this patient group. A total of 188 questionnaires were sent out to consultant surgeons in a total of 105 colorectal units.

Surgery for recurrent rectal cancer: higher and wider?

Aim: There has been a steady increase in the number of centres that carry out resection of locally recurrent rectal cancer (LRRC). The aim of this review was to highlight the present management and suggest technical strategies that may improve survival and quality of life.

Method: The review identified relevant studies from an electronic search of MEDLINE and PubMed databases between 1980 and 2011.

Autonomic symptoms are common and are associated with overall symptom burden and disease activity in primary Sjogren's syndrome.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of autonomic dysfunction (dysautonomia) among patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (PSS) and the relationships between dysautonomia and other clinical features of PSS.

Methods: Multicentre, prospective, cross-sectional study of a UK cohort of 317 patients with clinically well-characterised PSS. Symptoms of autonomic dysfunction were assessed using a validated instrument, the Composite Autonomic Symptom Scale (COMPASS).

Differentiation potential of CD14+ monocytes into myofibroblasts in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Background: Circulating monocytes are a highly plastic and functionally heterogeneic cell type with an activated phenotype in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). CD14(+) monocytes have the potential to differentiate into extra-cellular matrix (ECM) producing cells, possibly participating in fibrogenesis.

Aim: To study the effect of GM-CSF, IL-4 and endothelin -1 (ET-1) alone or in combination on monocyte differentiation into myofibroblasts.

An atypical presentation of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a common type of cancer in developed countries and is an important public health problem. Patients with colorectal cancer presents in a variety of ways in different settings. Most commonly, they present in the outpatient settings with changes in bowel habits, rectal bleeding and iron deficiency anaemia.

Giant sigmoid diverticulitis mimicking acute appendicitis.

Giant colonic diverticula are a rare manifestation of diverticular disease and there are fewer than 150 cases described in the literature. They may have an acute or chronic presentation or may remain asymptomatic and be found incidentally. As the majority (over 80%) of giant diverticula are located in the sigmoid colon, they usually present with left-sided symptoms but due to the variable location of the sigmoid loop, right-sided symptoms are possible.

Regulation of the SREBP transcription factors by mTORC1.

In recent years several reports have linked mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1) to lipogenesis via the SREBPs (sterol-regulatory-element-binding proteins). SREBPs regulate the expression of genes encoding enzymes required for fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. Lipid metabolism is perturbed in some diseases and SREBP target genes, such as FASN (fatty acid synthase), have been shown to be up-regulated in some cancers.

The use of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 to define active disease and minimal clinically meaningful change based on data from a large cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Objectives: To examine SLEDAI-2000 cut-off scores for definition of active SLE and to determine the sensitivity to change of SLEDAI-2000 for the assessment of SLE disease activity and minimal clinically meaningful changes in score.

Methods: Data from two multi-centre studies were used in the analysis: in a cross-sectional and a longitudinal fashion. At every assessment, data were collected on SLEDAI-2000 and treatment.

Genetic ablation of S6-kinase does not prevent processing of SREBP1.

The SREBP family of transcription factors regulates the expression of genes involved in fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis. The activation of SREBP transcription factors requires proteolytic cleavage of the inactive precursor and nuclear translocation of the mature form of the protein. It has been shown that nuclear accumulation of the mature form of SREBP1 is induced in response to activation of the serine/threonine kinase Akt, an important effector of the Ras/PI3-kinase signalling pathway.

The LupusQoL and associations with demographics and clinical measurements in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Having developed and validated a disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measure for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the LupusQoL, we determined its relationship to demographic and clinical measurements in a group of patients with SLE.

Methods: A group of 322 outpatients completed the LupusQoL. Demographic (age, sex, marital status, ethnicity) and clinical variables (disease duration, disease activity, damage) were recorded.

United Kingdom Primary Sjogren's Syndrome Registry--a united effort to tackle an orphan rheumatic disease.

Primary SS (pSS) is a multi-system autoimmune disease with a prevalence and health economic impact that are comparable with RA. However, pSS research has been relatively poorly supported. The creation of a large cohort of clinically well-characterized pSS patients will provide a catalyst and valuable resources to promote high-quality pSS research.

Plant treatment, pollutant load, and soil type effects in rhizosphere ecology of trace element polluted soils.

Re-vegetation of trace element contaminated soils can alter the pH and chelating capacity in the rhizosphere, increasing the mobility of pollutants, which, in turn, may impact on rhizosphere ecology. In this study a short-term pot experiment was carried out in order to investigate the multi-factorial effects of: buffering capacity (sandy-loam and loam soils); pollutant load (0%, 1.3%, and 4% of pyrite sludge), and the presence/absence of plant (Lolium perenne L.

Numerical scoring for the BILAG-2004 index.

Objective: To develop an additive numerical scoring scheme for the BILAG-2004 index.

Methods: SLE patients were recruited into this multi-centre cross-sectional study. At every assessment, data were collected on disease activity and therapy.

The BILAG multi-centre open randomized controlled trial comparing ciclosporin vs azathioprine in patients with severe SLE.

Objective: To determine whether low-dose ciclosporin was a more effective corticosteroid-sparing agent than AZA in patients with SLE.

Methods: Patients with SLE requiring a change or initiation of a corticosteroid-sparing agent and who were taking > or =15 mg of prednisolone/day were randomized to receive either ciclosporin or AZA during this 12-month open-label multi-centre trial. There were strict guidelines for the reduction of prednisolone.

Risk factors for clinical coronary heart disease in systemic lupus erythematosus: the lupus and atherosclerosis evaluation of risk (LASER) study.

Objective: Accelerated atherosclerosis and premature coronary heart disease (CHD) are recognized complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but the exact etiology remains unclear and is likely to be multifactorial. We hypothesized that SLE patients with CHD have increased exposure to traditional risk factors as well as differing disease phenotype and therapy-related factors compared to SLE patients free of CHD. Our aim was to examine risk factors for development of clinical CHD in SLE in the clinical setting.

The treatment of patients with mycotoxin-induced disease.

Twenty-eight incapacitated individuals (average 43 years old, 7 males, 21 females, range 12-70) exposed to molds and mycotoxins were studied and treated with a protocol of cleaning up or changing their environment to be mold free. Injections of the optimum dose of antigens were given as part of the treatment protocol as was oral and intravenous (i.v.

Numerical scoring for the Classic BILAG index.

Objective: To develop an additive numerical scoring scheme for the Classic BILAG index.

Methods: SLE patients were recruited into this multi-centre cross-sectional study. At every assessment, data were collected on disease activity and therapy.

The BILAG-2004 index is sensitive to change for assessment of SLE disease activity.

Objective: To determine if the BILAG-2004 index is sensitive to change for assessment of SLE disease activity.

Methods: This was a prospective multi-centre longitudinal study of SLE patients. At every assessment, data were collected on disease activity (BILAG-2004 index) and treatment.

A new player in the orchestra of cell growth: SREBP activity is regulated by mTORC1 and contributes to the regulation of cell and organ size.

Cell growth requires co-ordinated regulation of processes that provide metabolites for the synthesis of macromolecules such as proteins and membrane lipids. In recent years, a lot of emphasis has been placed on the activation of protein synthesis by mTORC1 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1). The contribution of anabolic pathways other than protein synthesis has only been considered recently.

Neurofibromatosis 2 leads to higher incidence of strabismological and neuro-ophthalmological disorders.

Purpose: Ophthalmic features of neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) include juvenile cataract, retinal hamartomas and tumours of the cranial nerves. We hypothesize that these tumours lead to strabismological and neuro-ophthalmological symptoms, including palsies of cranial nerves III, IV and VI, nystagmus and gaze palsies.

Methods: We carried out a retrospective review of 73 patients with known genotype.