Obesity reduces the bioavailability of nitric oxide in juveniles.

Objective: There is growing evidence that nitric oxide (NO) is critically involved in obesity and its clinical consequences like cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes. We hypothesize that NO is already involved in the pathophysiology of juvenile obesity. We here determined the role of NO, its metabolites arginine and citrulline in obese and normal weight children.

IgG antibodies against food antigens are correlated with inflammation and intima media thickness in obese juveniles.

Objective: Systemic low grade inflammation may contribute to the development of obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic vascular disease. Food intolerance reflected by immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies may predispose to low grade inflammation and atherogenesis. We examined the relationship between IgG antibodies specific for food components, low grade inflammation and early atherosclerotic lesions in obese and normal weight juveniles.

Cytomegalovirus diagnosis in renal and bone marrow transplant recipients: the impact of molecular assays.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are a major threat in transplant recipients. In recent years, new assays for routine CMV diagnosis, based on molecular techniques, have become available.

Objective: The impact of molecular assays for CMV diagnosis in transplant recipient was evaluated.

A double-blind randomized-phase II trial comparing immunization with antiidiotype goat antibody vaccine SCV 106 versus unspecific goat antibodies in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

This article reports on the first double-blind randomized clinical study with an antiidiotype antibody vaccine in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. The study was performed to determine immunological parameters, efficacy, and tolerability of the vaccine. Forty-two patients with metastatic colorectal cancer were randomly assigned to multiple immunizations with goat IgG antiidiotype vaccine SCV 106 (n = 21) or unspecific goat IgG as controls (n = 21).

Prior cytomegalovirus infection does not predict clinical outcome after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Background: A direct association between human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection and the development of restenosis after coronary angioplasty has been suggested. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the value of HCMV serology in predicting the clinical outcome after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).

Methods And Results: 112 patients undergoing elective PTCA were included in the study.