Effect of Two Forms of Tenofovir on Duodenal Enterocytes - a Hypothesis for Different Effect of TDF and TAF on Body Weight and Plasma Lipids.

Background: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) compared to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) leads to lower body weight and plasma lipids by an unknown mechanism. We hypothesize that TDF, when absorbed, may damage enterocytes of the proximal duodenum, leading to reduced absorption of nutrients.

Methods: People living with HIV, without significant gastrointestinal symptoms, receiving TDF (n=12) or TAF (n=12) containing regimen underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopies with duodenal biopsies.

Human-Centered Design and Benefit Realization Management in Digital Health Care Solution Development: Protocol for a Systematic Review.

Background: Earlier research shows that a significant number of resources are wasted on software projects delivering less than the planned benefits. It has, however, been evidenced that adopting a human-centered design approach when designing health devices can be beneficial. This understanding from earlier research has raised our interest in investigating how human-centered design might contribute to realizing the potential benefits of health care software projects.

Switching from tenofovir alafenamide to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate improves lipid profile and protects from weight gain.

Background: Switching from tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) to tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) increases low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and body weight. Metabolic effects of the opposite TAF-to-TDF switch are unknown.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of TAF-to-TDF switch on plasma lipids, body weight, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score.

Ultrasonographic Assessment of the Normal Femoral Articular Cartilage of the Knee Joint: Comparison with 3D MRI.

Objective: Ultrasonography (US) has a promising role in evaluating the knee joint, but capability to visualize the femoral articular cartilage needs systematic evaluation. We measured the extent of this acoustic window by comparing standardized US images with the corresponding MRI views of the femoral cartilage.

Design: Ten healthy volunteers without knee pathology underwent systematic US and MRI evaluation of both knees.

Comparison of ultrasonographic, radiographic and intra-operative findings in severe hip osteoarthritis.

Aim of this study was to assess the US findings of patients with late-stage hip OA undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA), and to associate the US findings with conventional radiography (CR) and intraoperative findings. Moreover, the inter-rater reliability of hip US, and association between the US and Oxford Hip Score (OHS) were evaluated. Sixty-eight hips were included, and intraoperative findings were available on 48 hips.

Prevalence of obesity and disturbances in glucose homeostasis in HIV-infected subjects and general population - missed diagnoses of diabetes?

Objectives: Comparative data on glucose disorders using fasting blood samples between people living with HIV (PLWH) and the general population are lacking. The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence and risk factors of obesity and disturbances in glucose homeostasis between PLWH treated with modern antiretroviral therapy and the general population.

Methods: Adjusted prevalence of obesity, features of insulin resistance (triglyceride:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and alanine aminotransferase), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), diabetes mellitus (DM) and combined dysglycaemia (presence of IFG or DM) were determined using fasting blood samples among 1041 PLWH and 7047 subjects representing the general population.

Switching from Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate to Tenofovir Alafenamide Significantly Worsens the Lipid Profile in a Real-World Setting.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) has increasingly been replaced by tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) because of reduced kidney and bone toxicity with TAF. This switch has, however, caused worsening of lipid concentrations in clinical trials, but data from any real-world setting are scarce. The objective of this study was to characterize the effect of TDF to TAF switch on plasma lipid concentrations in a real-world clinic population.

Association between grayscale sonographic and clinical findings in severe knee osteoarthritis.

Purpose: To assess whether ultrasonographic (US) findings associate with clinical findings in severe knee osteoarthritis (OA). Association of US findings with side-of-knee pain and inter-reader agreement of knee US were also evaluated.

Methods: One-hundred-two patients (in total 123 knees) with severe knee OA were recruited for this cross-sectional study.

Osteoclasts secrete osteopontin into resorption lacunae during bone resorption.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a non-collagenous extracellular sialylated glycoprotein located in bone. It is believed to be one of the key components in osteoclast attachment to bone during resorption. In this study, we characterized OPN and other glycoproteins found in the resorption lacunae to confirm the role of osteoclasts in OPN secretion using electron microscopy and mass spectrometry.

Ultrasonography of the late-stage knee osteoarthritis prior to total knee arthroplasty: comparison of the ultrasonographic, radiographic and intra-operative findings.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of the ultrasonography (US) on detecting osteoarthritis of the knee, and compare US and radiographic findings to intraoperative total knee arthroplasty (TKA) findings. Fifty-seven late-stage osteoarthritic knees undergoing TKA were evaluated with US and radiography. Standard knee US assessing femoral cartilage damage, osteophytes, effusion, synovitis, and meniscal extrusion was performed.

Osteoclasts in the interface with electrospun hydroxyapatite.

Electrospinning is a method to produce lightweight, resorbable and bioinspired scaffolds for tissue engineering. Here we investigated the influence of electrospun hydroxyapatite fibers (HA) on macrophages and osteoclasts. A mouse macrophage cell line (RAW 264.

GraphoGame - a catalyst for multi-level promotion of literacy in diverse contexts.

GraphoGame (GG) is originally a technology-based intervention method for supporting children with reading difficulties. It is now known that children who face problems in reading acquisition have difficulties in learning to differentiate and manipulate speech sounds and consequently, in connecting these sounds to corresponding letters. GG was developed to provide intensive training in matching speech sounds and larger units of speech to their written counterparts.

Preparation and bioactive properties of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite thin films obtained by conversion of atomic layer deposited calcium carbonate.

Nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite thin films were fabricated on silicon and titanium by atomic layer deposition (ALD) of CaCO3 and its subsequent conversion to hydroxyapatite by diammonium hydrogen phosphate (DAP) solution. The effects of conversion process parameters to crystallinity and morphology of the films were examined. DAP concentration was found to be critical in controlling the crystal size and homogeneity of the films.

An in vitro study into the effect of zinc substituted hydroxyapatite on osteoclast number and activity.

Zinc ions have been shown to inhibit osteoclast development and proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. The same inhibiting effect has been observed in vitro when zinc was substituted into tri-calcium phosphate (TCP). Because of the solubility of TCP it is not an ideal candidate for a material to inhibit osteoclast activity in the long term.

Osteoclastogenesis is influenced by modulation of gap junctional communication with antiarrhythmic peptides.

Osteoclasts are formed by the fusion of mononuclear precursor cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. Among several putative mechanisms, gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJC) has been proposed to have a role in osteoclast fusion and bone resorption. We examined the role of GJC in osteoclastogenesis and in vitro bone resorption with mouse bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells and RAW 264.

Affecting osteoblastic responses with in vivo engineered potato pectin fragments.

Pectins, complex plant-derived polysaccharides, are novel candidates for biomaterial nanocoatings. Pectic rhamnogalacturonan-I regions (RG-I) can be enzymatically treated to so-called modified hairy regions (MHR). We surveyed the growth and differentiation of murine preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells on Petri dishes coated with RG-Is from native or genetically engineered potato tubers.

A non-coding RNA within the Rasgrf1 locus in mouse is imprinted and regulated by its homologous chromosome in trans.

Background: Rasgrf1 is imprinted in mouse, displaying paternal allele specific expression in neonatal brain. Paternal expression is accompanied by paternal-specific DNA methylation at a differentially methylated domain (DMD) within the locus. The cis-acting elements necessary for Rasgrf1 imprinting are known.

Regulation of proto-oncogenic dbl by chaperone-controlled, ubiquitin-mediated degradation.

The dbl proto-oncogene product is a prototype of a growing family of guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that stimulate the activation of small GTP-binding proteins from the Rho family. Mutations that result in the loss of proto-Dbl's amino terminus produce a variant with constitutive GEF activity and high oncogenic potential. Here, we show that proto-Dbl is a short-lived protein that is kept at low levels in cells by efficient ubiquitination and degradation.

Requirement for Akt-mediated survival in cell transformation by the dbl oncogene.

The dbl oncogene product is the founding member of a large family of oncogenic proteins that function by activating the small GTP-binding proteins Cdc42, Rac and Rho. Through its substrate GTPases, Dbl transduces proliferative signals from cell-surface receptors to diverse cellular effectors and signaling pathways. The mechanisms by which these multiple signals are integrated, as well as their relative contribution to Dbl-induced cell transformation, are presently poorly understood.

Health effects and risks of sauna bathing.

Objectives: To study physiological, therapeutic and adverse effects of sauna bathing with special reference to chronic diseases, medication and special situations (pregnancy, children).

Study Design: A literature review.

Methods: Experiments of sauna bathing were accepted if they were conducted in a heated room with sufficient heat (80 to 90 degrees C), comfortable air humidity and adequate ventilation.

Regulation of the Dbl proto-oncogene by heat shock cognate protein 70 (Hsc70).

The dbl oncogene product is the defining member of a family of onco-proteins known as Dbl guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that facilitate the activation of the small GTP-binding proteins Cdc42, Rac, and Rho. Oncogenic activation of proto-Dbl occurs through loss of the amino-terminal 497 residues, rendering the protein constitutively active. Because both onco- and proto-Dbl contain the structural elements required for GEF activity (i.

Facts and fables about sauna.

In summary, sauna baths are well tolerated and pose no risk to healthy people from infancy to old age, including healthy women in their uncomplicated pregnancy. The normal sauna bath, with moderate cool-off phases, increases the cardiac work load about as much as a brisk walk. It has been well established that the sauna bath, no matter what the cool-off type, does not pose any circulatory risk to healthy people.

Cutaneous reactions to drugs: a series of in-patients during a five-year period.

We have studied drug eruptions at a single clinic since 1956. The last 5-year series comprises in-patients with drug eruptions during the period 1986-1990. The total number of cases in this series was 135, the most common types being fixed eruption, exanthematous eruption and urticaria.