Seasonal encoding by the circadian pacemaker of the SCN.

The circadian pacemaker of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) functions as a seasonal clock through its ability to encode day length [1-6]. To investigate the mechanism by which SCN neurons code for day length, we housed mice under long (LD 16:8) and short (LD 8:16) photoperiods. Electrophysiological recordings of multiunit activity (MUA) in the SCN of freely moving mice revealed broad activity profiles in long days and compressed activity profiles in short days.

In-plane stacking disorder in polydisperse hard sphere crystals.

We demonstrate that in random-stacking hard-sphere colloidal crystals the stacking disorder not only exists in the direction perpendicular to the close-packed layers, but also extends in the lateral direction. The existence of such in-plane stacking disorder is suggested by a recent observation of lateral broadening of the Bragg scattering rods in microradian X-ray diffraction and is further confirmed here by real-space confocal microscopy in two hard-sphere colloidal systems with different relative gravity effects. Due to the in-plane stacking disorder, the hexagonal planes consist of islands with different lateral A, B, and C positions with characteristic line defects in between them.

Stabilization of peptide fibrils by hydrophobic interaction.

Hydrophobic interactions play an important role in assembly processes in aqueous environments. In case of peptide amphiphiles, hydrophobicity is combined with hydrogen bonding to yield well-defined peptide-based aggregates. Here, we report a systematic study after the role of hydrophobic interactions on both stabilization and morphology of a peptide fibrillar assembly.

Protection of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) toward fungal pathogens by strains of plant-associated Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

In this report, four Bacillus strains were tested for effects on plant fitness and disease protection of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). The strains belonged to newly discovered plant-associated Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and a recently proposed species, Bacillus endophyticus. The fungal pathogens tested represented different infection strategies and included Alternaria brassicae, Botrytis cinerea, Leptosphaeria maculans, and Verticillium longisporum.

Validation of remission criteria for schizophrenia.

Objective: Remission criteria for schizophrenia have been proposed, consisting of a time criterion and a symptomatic remission criterion. With longitudinal data of a representative patient group (N=317; median follow-up: 1,132 days), validity of the symptomatic remission criterion was investigated.

Method: In a group of 145 patients meeting the symptomatic remission criterion at baseline and a group of 172 patients not meeting it at baseline, change over time in remission status was examined in relation to change in various functional outcomes.

In practice, the theory is different: a processual analysis of breastfeeding in northeast Brazil.

'Na prática, a teoria è outra' (in practice, the theory is different) is an old Brazilian saying. This phrase summarizes well the general practice of breastfeeding in Brazil: 'Breast is best' is central in the pregnant women's future oriented 'theory' of how their infant should be fed. In the subsequent weeks after delivery, however, in the daily practicalities of feeding their infant, this theory is, to a large extent, abandoned.

Risk factors for non-sentinel lymph node metastases in patients with breast cancer. The outcome of a multi-institutional study.

Background: In this multi-institutional prospective study, we evaluated whether we could identify risk factors predictive for non-sentinel lymph node (non-SN) metastases in breast cancer patients with a positive sentinel lymph node (SN).

Methods: In this multi-institutional study, 541 eligible breast cancer patients were included prospectively.

Results: The occurrence of non-SN metastases was related to the size of the SN metastasis (P = .

The CXCR5 chemokine receptor is expressed by carcinoma cells and promotes growth of colon carcinoma in the liver.

The chemokine receptor CXCR5 is expressed by B cells and certain T cells and controls their migration into and within lymph nodes. Its ligand BCA-1/CXCL13 is present in lymph nodes and spleen and also in the liver. Surprisingly, we detected CXCR5 in several mouse and human carcinoma cell lines.

Comparison of different collection systems for sorted household waste in Sweden.

Composition and quantity per person of municipal solid waste (MSW) have been analyzed in six municipalities in southern Sweden with similar socio-economic conditions but with different collection systems. Samples of residual waste have been sorted, classified and weighed in 21 categories during 26 analyses that took place from 1998-2004. Collection data of the total waste flow, including source sorted recycling materials, in the same area have been compiled and compared.

Differences in sentinel lymph node pathology protocols lead to differences in surgical strategy in breast cancer patients.

Background: Internationally, there is no consensus on the pathology protocol to be used to examine the sentinel lymph node (SN). At present, therefore, various hospitals use different SN pathology protocols of which the effect has not been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that differences between hospitals in SN pathology protocols affect subsequent surgical treatment strategies.

Cladribine therapy in refractory celiac disease with aberrant T cells.

Background & Aims: Refractory celiac disease (RCD) may be subdivided into RCD types I and II with phenotypically normal and aberrant intraepithelial T-cell populations, respectively. In RCD II, transition into enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) is seen frequently. We have evaluated the effect of cladribine (2-CDA), a purine analogue inducing T-cell depletion, on clinical, histopathologic, and immunologic parameters, as well as the toxicity and side effects in a group of RCD II patients.

Solid-phase synthesis of C-terminally modified peptides.

In this paper, a straightforward and generic protocol is presented to label the C-terminus of a peptide with any desired moiety that is functionalized with a primary amine. Amine-functional molecules included are polymers (useful for hybrid polymers), long alkyl chains (used in peptide amphiphiles and stabilization of peptides), propargyl amine and azido propyl-amine (desirable for 'click' chemistry), dansyl amine (fluorescent labeling of peptides) and crown ethers (peptide switches/hybrids). In the first part of the procedure, the primary amine is attached to an aldehyde-functional resin via reductive amination.

Simulation of day-length encoding in the SCN: from single-cell to tissue-level organization.

The circadian pacemaker of the SCN is a heterogeneous structure containing many single-cell oscillators that display phase differences in gene expression and electrical activity rhythms. Thus far, it is unknown how single neurons contribute to the population signal measured from the SCN. The authors used single-unit electrical activity rhythms that have previously been recorded in SCN slices and investigated in simulation studies how changes in pattern shape and distribution of single neurons alter the ensemble activity rhythm of the SCN.

Safety assessment of Madin Darby canine kidney cells as vaccine substrate.

Conventional influenza vaccines are manufactured using embryonated chicken eggs, a substrate with little flexibility and vulnerable to extraneous agents. Solvay Pharmaceuticals developed a production technology based on the continuous cell line Madin Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) as vaccine cell substrate. A risk-based safety assessment of MDCK, with respect to tumorigenicity of intact cells and oncogenicity of cellular components, cellular DNA and adventitious agents, shows that this substrate is as safe as other substrates and therefore without increased risk to the vaccine recipient.

Human leukocyte antigen-DQ2 homozygosity and the development of refractory celiac disease and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma.

Background & Aims: Celiac disease (CD) is a common gluten-sensitive enteropathy associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8. The aim of this study was to determine if a particular HLA-DQ subtype predisposes to complications such as refractory CD with (RCD II) or without aberrant T cells (RCD I), and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphomas (EATL).

Methods: Molecular HLA-DQ typing was performed on 43 RCD I, 43 RCD II, and 30 EATL patients, and compared with age-matched groups of 121 patients with histologically defined uncomplicated CD and 183 healthy controls.

Measuring activity limitations in walking: development of a hierarchical scale for patients with lower-extremity disorders who live at home.

Objective: To develop a hierarchical scale that measures activity limitations in walking in patients with lower-extremity disorders who live at home.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Orthopedic workshops and outpatient clinics of secondary and tertiary care centers.

Myosin IXB variant increases the risk of celiac disease and points toward a primary intestinal barrier defect.

Celiac disease is probably the best-understood immune-related disorder. The disease presents in the small intestine and results from the interplay between multiple genes and gluten, the triggering environmental factor. Although HLA class II genes explain 40% of the heritable risk, non-HLA genes accounting for most of the familial clustering have not yet been identified.

Rapid detection of chromosomal aneuploidies in uncultured amniocytes by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA).

Objective: To test whether multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) can be used for the detection of aneuploidy of chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X, and Y in uncultured amniocytes.

Methods: We performed a prospective study based on 527 amniotic fluid samples. Chromosome copy numbers were determined by analysing the relative amount of PCR product of chromosome-specific MLPA probes.

Stent fracture after endoluminal repair of a carotid artery pseudoaneurysm.

Purpose: To present a case in which a covered stent fractured 7 months after implantation in the internal carotid artery (ICA).

Case Report: A 59-year-old man presented with a large traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the left ICA. Seven months after successful treatment with a covered Symbiot stent, clinical complaints recurred because the pseudoaneurysm recanalized due to fracture of the stent at its midsection.

Endoscopic tattoo of the colon might be standardized to locate tumors intraoperatively.

Background: Small colonic lesions which are identified during endoscopy are usually difficult to locate intra-operatively. Endoscopic tattoo of the colon seems the most efficient method, however it does fail in some cases to identify the lesion peroperatively. We studied this method to evaluate its efficacy.

Cost-effectiveness of new guidelines for adjuvant systemic therapy for patients with primary breast cancer.

Background: In this study, the potential impact of a new national guideline for adjuvant systemic therapy in breast cancer (introduced in The Netherlands in 1998) was assessed, as well as the modifications of this guideline, issued in 2001. Both the change in total number of patients eligible for adjuvant therapy, as well as the cost-effectiveness of the changed clinical management of these patients were analysed.

Patients And Methods: Percentages of patients who would be eligible for adjuvant therapy in 1994, 1998 and 2001 were estimated, based on clinical data from 127 patients, who were operated on in 1994.

Back to basics in diagnosing diabetic polyneuropathy with the tuning fork!

Objective: Several national and international scoring systems are used to diagnose diabetic polyneuropathy (PNP). The variety in these scores and the lack of data on validity and predictive value has led to a comparison and validation of the scores with clinical standards for PNP to determine the most powerful measurement for screening.

Research Design And Methods: Three matched groups were selected: 24 diabetic patients with neuropathic foot ulcers, 24 diabetic patients without PNP or ulcers, and 21 control subjects without diabetes.

The opioid fentanyl affects light input, electrical activity and Per gene expression in the hamster suprachiasmatic nuclei.

The suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) contain a major circadian pacemaker, which is regulated by photic and nonphotic stimuli. Although enkephalins are present in the SCN, their role in phase regulation of the pacemaker is largely unknown. The opioid agonist fentanyl, a homologue of morphine, is an addictive drug that induces phase shifts of circadian rhythms in hamsters.

Malignant complications of coeliac disease.

Patients with coeliac disease (CD), particularly those who are undiagnosed or do not adhere to a strict gluten free diet (GFD), are prone to develop complications. Malignant complications are the most serious and should be suspected when expected responses to GFD are not achieved or sustained. Lymphomas, mostly T-cell type, and other malignant tumours, particularly carcinoma of the small bowel, less frequently of stomach and oesophagus, are associated with CD.