Predictive factors for successful peripheral blood stem cell mobilization and collection in children.

Factors affecting the success of peripheral blood stem cell collection (SCC) in children are not well characterized. We reviewed 218 stem cell collections among 199 pediatric donors, of which 35 were from healthy sibling donors and 164 were for autologous collections. Successful SCC, defined as a CD34 cell count of ≥2 × 10 /kg of recipient weight per intended transplant, occurred in 188 of 199 donors (94%).

Polycarbonate bottle use and urinary bisphenol A concentrations.

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a high-production-volume chemical commonly used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic. Low-level concentrations of BPA in animals and possibly in humans may cause endocrine disruption. Whether ingestion of food or beverages from polycarbonate containers increases BPA concentrations in humans has not been studied.

Pregnancy outcomes following placement of elective, urgent and emergent cerclage.

Objective: To describe pregnancy outcomes following elective (history-indicated), urgent (ultrasound-indicated) or emergent (physical-exam indicated) cerclage placement.

Materials And Methods: Study design was retrospective chart review. Women with singleton gestation and cervical cerclage were categorised into: elective, urgent and emergent group.

Exercise reverses chronic stress-induced Bax oligomer formation in the cerebral cortex.

Chronic stress may lead to neuronal atrophy and functional impairments within the CNS, and increasing evidence indicates that exercise can protect the brain from these changes. Bax is a key protein of the B-cell lymphoma (Bcl) family that complexes within the mitochondrial membrane and forms pores to initiate cellular apoptosis. Herein, we measured cortical Bax levels following chronic and acute stress via immunoblotting.