[Nucleotide receptors and renal function].

Kidney plays a key role in homeostasis of human body. It has heterogenic structure and is characterized by complicated vascular beds and numbers of sympathetic nerves endings. Nucleotides receptors are involved in the regulation of blood flow, a fundamental process for renal function.

Unexpected effects of voluntary exercise training on natriuretic peptide and receptor mRNA expression in the ob/ob mouse heart.

Regular exercise is generally recommended for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Exercise reduces body weight, improves glycemic control and cardiovascular (CV) function. This study was designed to determine the impact of voluntary wheel running on the cardiac oxytocin (OT)-natriuretic peptide (NP) system and plasma CV risk factors in the ob/ob mouse, a model of insulin resistance coupled with severe obesity.

Management and treatment goals in Polish patients with type 2 diabetes of short duration: results of the ARETAEUS2-Grupa study.

Introduction:  In 2011, the Diabetes Poland updated its recommended goals in diabetes treatment, including hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and blood pressure (BP) levels. Adherence to the updated guidelines has not been systematically assessed so far.

Objectives:  The aim of the study was to assess which methods are most commonly used in the treatment of recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes and to what extent the new criteria for diabetes control are met in these patients.

Oesophageal foreign bodies in dogs.

The aim of the paper is to present own experience in diagnosis and endoscopic removal of foreign bodies from the oesophagus in dogs. The study was performed on 22 dogs of different breed and sex, aged 7 months to 17 years, with suspicion of a foreign body in the oesophagus. All the dogs were subjected to a radiography of the oesophagus and oesophagoscopy.

Application of shear wave elastography in the diagnosis of mammary gland neoplasm in dogs.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of elastography in the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant tumours of the mammary gland in dogs. The study was performed to 12 female dogs of different breeds aged 5-12 years in which tumoral lesions of the mammary gland were found in the clinical examination. In all the animals elastographic examination of the lesions was carried out and then the fine-needle aspiration biopsy was performed to determine the nature and degree of malignancy of the lesions.

High glucose increases glomerular filtration barrier permeability by activating protein kinase G type Iα subunits in a Nox4-dependent manner.

Hyperglycemia is a primary factor that disturbs podocyte function in the glomerular filtration process; this disturbance leads to the development of diabetic nephropathy, and ultimately, renal failure. Podocyte function may also be altered by biological agents that modify protein kinase activity, including the cGMP-activated protein kinase type Iα (PKGIα). We hypothesized that hyperglycemia-induced podocyte protein hyperpermeability was dependent on PKGIα activation, and that PKGIα was activated via dimerization induced by reactive oxygen species.

The anterior thalamus provides a subcortical circuit supporting memory and spatial navigation.

The anterior thalamic nuclei (ATN), a central component of Papez' circuit, are generally assumed to be key constituents of the neural circuits responsible for certain categories of learning and memory. Supporting evidence for this contention is that damage to either of two brain regions, the medial temporal lobe and the medial diencephalon, is most consistently associated with anterograde amnesia. Within these respective regions, the hippocampal formation and the ATN (anteromedial, anteroventral, and anterodorsal) are the particular structures of interest.

Birds shed RNA-viruses according to the pareto principle.

A major challenge in disease ecology is to understand the role of individual variation of infection load on disease transmission dynamics and how this influences the evolution of resistance or tolerance mechanisms. Such information will improve our capacity to understand, predict, and mitigate pathogen-associated disease in all organisms. In many host-pathogen systems, particularly macroparasites and sexually transmitted diseases, it has been found that approximately 20% of the population is responsible for approximately 80% of the transmission events.

Risk prediction models for mortality in ambulatory patients with heart failure: a systematic review.

Background: Optimal management of heart failure requires accurate assessment of prognosis. Many prognostic models are available. Our objective was to identify studies that evaluate the use of risk prediction models for mortality in ambulatory patients with heart failure and describe their performance and clinical applicability.

Evaluation of FLT-PET/CT usefulness in diagnosis and qualification for surgical treatment of gastric cancer.

Aim Of The Study: Evaluation of FLT/PET/ CT usefulness in diagnosis and qualification for surgical treatment of gastric cancer.

Material And Methods: The FLT/PET/CT test was carried out in a group of 50 gastric cancer patients. Based on the test result, a decision followed about the therapeutic procedure to be applied.

Obesity and future prostate cancer risk among men after an initial benign biopsy of the prostate.

Background: In general population studies, obesity has been associated with risk of high-grade prostate cancer, but little is known about obesity and future prostate cancer risk among men with an initial benign biopsy of the prostate; a high-risk population.

Methods: Within a cohort of 6,692 men followed up after a biopsy or transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) with benign findings, a nested case-control study was conducted of 494 prostate cancer cases and controls matched on age, race, follow-up duration, biopsy versus TURP and date of procedure. Body mass index at the time of the initial procedure was abstracted from medical records, and initial biopsy specimens were reviewed for the presence of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN).

Urine toxicology screening in an urban stroke and TIA population.

Objective: We sought to determine the rate of urine toxicology screening, differences in testing, and outcomes among patients with stroke and TIA presenting to a tertiary care emergency department.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, patients admitted with stroke or TIA to a single tertiary care stroke center between June 2005 and January 2007 were identified through a stroke database. Factors that predicted urine toxicology screening of patients and a positive test, and discharge outcomes of patients based on toxicology result were analyzed.

Neoadjuvant treatment for unresectable rectal cancer: an interim analysis of a multicentre randomized study.

Purpose: To present an interim analysis of the trial comparing two neoadjuvant therapies for unresectable rectal cancer.

Methods: Patients with fixed cT3 or cT4 or locally recurrent rectal cancer without distant metastases were randomized to either 5 × 5 Gy and 3 courses of FOLFOX4 (schedule I) or 50.4 Gy delivered in 28 fractions given simultaneously with 5-Fu, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (schedule II).

Collaborating with the enemy: function of macrophages in the development of neoplastic disease.

Due to the profile of released mediators (such as cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, etc.), neoplastic cells modulate the activity of immune system, directly affecting its components both locally and peripherally. This is reflected by the limited antineoplastic activity of the immune system (immunosuppressive effect), induction of tolerance to neoplastic antigens, and the promotion of processes associated with the proliferation of neoplastic tissue.

Systematic review and network meta-analysis of interventions for fibromyalgia: a protocol.

Background: Fibromyalgia is associated with substantial socioeconomic loss and, despite considerable research including numerous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and systematic reviews, there exists uncertainty regarding what treatments are effective. No review has evaluated all interventional studies for fibromyalgia, which limits attempts to make inferences regarding the relative effectiveness of treatments.

Methods/design: We will conduct a network meta-analysis of all RCTs evaluating therapies for fibromyalgia to determine which therapies show evidence of effectiveness, and the relative effectiveness of these treatments.

Insulin increases glomerular filtration barrier permeability through dimerization of protein kinase G type Iα subunits.

The increase in the permeability of the glomerular barrier filtration to albumin is a well-known feature of diabetic microvasculature and a negative prognostic factor for vascular complications. However, the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. We demonstrated recently that superoxide anion generation increases dimerization of protein kinase G type Iα (PKGIα) subunits, leading to podocyte dysfunction.

Feedback-based, system-level properties of vertebrate-microbial interactions.

Background: Improved characterization of infectious disease dynamics is required. To that end, three-dimensional (3D) data analysis of feedback-like processes may be considered.

Methods: To detect infectious disease data patterns, a systems biology (SB) and evolutionary biology (EB) approach was evaluated, which utilizes leukocyte data structures designed to diminish data variability and enhance discrimination.

Comprehensive phenotyping of group III and IV muscle afferents in mouse.

While much is known about the functional properties of cutaneous nociceptors, relatively little is known about the comprehensive functional properties of group III and IV muscle afferents. We have developed a mouse ex vivo forepaw muscle, median and ulnar nerve, dorsal root ganglion (DRG), spinal cord recording preparation to examine the functional response properties, neurochemical phenotypes, and spinal projections of individual muscle afferents. We found that the majority of group III and IV muscle afferents were chemosensitive (52%) while only 34% responded to mechanical stimulation and fewer (32%) responded to thermal stimuli.

Ultrasound-guided percutaneous drainage of infected pancreatic necrosis.

Background: The role of percutaneous drainage in the management of infected pancreatic necrosis remains controversial, and ultrasound-guided technique is rarely used for this indication. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of sonographically guided percutaneous catheter drainage for infected pancreatic necrosis.

Methods: The patient group consisted of 16 men and 2 women.

Methylation of the RARB gene increases prostate cancer risk in black Americans.

Purpose: Gene promoter hypermethylation may be useful as a biomarker for cancer risk in histopathologically benign prostate specimens.

Materials And Methods: We performed a nested case-control study of gene promoter methylation status for 5 genes (APC, RARB, CCND2, RASSF1 and MGMT) measured in benign biopsy specimens from 511 prostate cancer case-control pairs. We estimated the overall and race stratified risk of subsequent prostate cancer associated with methylation status.

Fine needle biopsy of abdominal organs in dogs -- indications, contraindications and performance technique.

Recent years have seen in both human and veterinary medicine the development of numerous techniques allowing for evaluation and classification of changes in individual organs and tissues. Despite introduction of such techniques into diagnostics as among others, CT, MRI, CEUS or elastography, biopsy is still considered a "golden standard" and it is a procedure performed in order to obtain a final diagnosis. There are many biopsy techniques, such as fine needle aspiration biopsy, core biopsy as well as methods of performing a procedure, e.

Endoscopic examination of the urethra and the urinary bladder in dogs -- indications, contraindications and performance technique.

This paper discusses indications, contraindications, and likely complications following the endoscopic examination of the urethra and the urinary bladder in dogs. In addition, the procedure performance techniques and evaluation of the particular sections of the lower urinary tract are presented as well as the equipment used for the urethrocystoscopy.