Cutoffs and Characteristics of Abnormal Bowel Dilatation in Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome.

Objectives: Although excessive intestinal dilatation associates with worsened outcomes in pediatric short bowel syndrome (SBS), little is known about the natural history and definition of pathological dilatation. We addressed fore-, mid-, and hind-gut dilatation in children with SBS, who had not undergone autologous intestinal reconstructive (AIR) surgery, in relation to controls.

Methods: SBS children without history of AIR surgery (n = 59) and age-matched controls without any disclosed intestinal pathology (n = 140) were included.

Molecular allergy diagnostics in predicting oral cow's milk challenge outcome in Finnish children.

Oral food challenges (OFC) are required to diagnose food allergies but are resource-intensive. To reduce the need for OFCs, we sought to determine serum specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) cutoff levels for cow's milk and its major allergens predicting oral milk challenge outcomes in children with suspected cow's milk allergy. A total of 135 Finnish children (median age, 1.

Anti-COX-2 autoantibody is a novel biomarker of immune aplastic anemia.

In immune aplastic anemia (IAA), severe pancytopenia results from the immune-mediated destruction of hematopoietic stem cells. Several autoantibodies have been reported, but no clinically applicable autoantibody tests are available for IAA. We screened autoantibodies using a microarray containing >9000 proteins and validated the findings in a large international cohort of IAA patients (n = 405) and controls (n = 815).

Urokinase plasminogen activator mediates changes in human astrocytes modeling fragile X syndrome.

The function of astrocytes intertwines with the extracellular matrix, whose neuron and glial cell-derived components shape neuronal plasticity. Astrocyte abnormalities have been reported in the brain of the mouse model for fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability, and a monogenic cause of autism spectrum disorder. We compared human FXS and control astrocytes generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells and we found increased expression of urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), which modulates degradation of extracellular matrix.

Peri-apneic hemodynamic reactions in obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Little is known on acute peri-apneic hemodynamic alterations due to apneas. We assessed these rapid changes and how duration of apnea might contribute to them.

Healthcare costs doubled when children had urinary tract infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing bacteria.

Aim: The impact of the emergence of antimicrobial resistant organisms has rarely been studied in children, including the healthcare costs of urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria. We evaluated the effect of ESBL on UTI healthcare costs and risk factors for paediatric UTIs.

Methods: This retrospective case-control study covered 2005-2014 and focused on children below 16 years of age treated in a University hospital: 22 children with UTIs caused by ESBL-producing bacteria and 56 ESBL-negative UTI controls.

Depth of invasion, tumor budding, and worst pattern of invasion: prognostic indicators in early-stage oral tongue cancer.

Background: Oral (mobile) tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is characterized by a highly variable prognosis in early-stage disease (T1/T2 N0M0). The ability to classify early oral tongue SCCs into low-risk and high-risk categories would represent a major advancement in their management.

Methods: Depth of invasion, tumor budding, histologic risk-assessment score (HRS), and cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) density were studied in 233 cases of T1/T2 N0M0 oral tongue SCC managed in 5 university hospitals in Finland.

MRI follow-up after free tendon graft reconstruction of the thumb ulnar collateral ligament.

Objective: Our aim was to analyse whether MRI is useful in the follow-up of reconstruction of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the thumb, to describe normal postoperative findings, and to evaluate different MR sequences.

Material And Methods: Our study material consists of 10 patients who, because of a chronic rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb, had been operatively treated using a free tendon graft. The patients were, in addition to the clinical examination and radiographs, also imaged using MRI both pre- and postoperatively.

Ultrasound guidance for puncture and injection in the radiocarpal joint.

Background: The use of intra-articular contrast agent has been shown to increase the diagnostic accuracy of wrist magnetic resonance (MR) in patients with suspected trauma of the wrist ligaments. Traditionally, the contrast agent has been applied under fluoroscopic guidance.

Purpose: To present a method based on ultrasound guidance for the injection of intra-articular contrast agent in wrist MR.

Differences in product information of biopharmaceuticals in the EU and the USA: implications for product development.

The Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) and the Package Insert (PI) approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) were examined for 32 biopharmaceutical products. The aim was to identify differences in the product information since such information may have an impact on the planning of global clinical development programmes. The EU SPC contained more detailed instructions to the prescriber, including the positioning of the product with regard to the stage of the disease and to other therapies.

Regulation of biogenerics: a survey of viewpoints.

Background And Objectives: 'Biogenerics' regulation has brought about a heated debate within the EU as the first biopharmaceuticals are going off patent. This study aims to examine the opportunities and challenges offered by biogenerics by surveying the viewpoints of experts in regulatory agencies and in companies developing novel biopharmaceuticals and biogenerics.

Methods: Oral interviews were conducted in 2002 and 2003 with experts including representatives of the European Generic Medicines Association (EGA) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) in Brussels, three innovator biotech companies, and five other experts in Finland.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in dysplasia of the stomach and in intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma.

Purpose: Cyclooxygenase (Cox) is the key enzyme in conversion of arachidonic acid to prostanoids. Two Cox genes have been cloned, and expression of Cox-2 mRNA and protein has been shown to be elevated in several human malignancies and in animal models of carcinogenesis. The purpose of this study was to investigate Cox-2 protein expression in human gastric dysplasias and adenocarcinomas.

DNA copy number profiling in esophageal Barrett adenocarcinoma: comparison with gastric adenocarcinoma and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

We screened 18 specimens of Barrett adenocarcinoma for genetic alterations using comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) to analyze DNA copy number changes. The most common gains were at 20q (56%) and 17q (39%). High-level amplifications were observed in the same chromosomes.

Expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in human transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder.

Recent studies suggest that expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is elevated in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder and that inhibition of Cox-2 activity suppresses bladder cancer in experimental animal models. We have investigated the expression of Cox-2 protein in human TCCs (n = 85), in in situ carcinomas (Tis) of the urinary bladder (n = 17), and in nonneoplastic urinary bladder samples (n = 16) using immunohistochemistry. Cox-2 immunoreactivity was detected in 66% (67 of 102) of the carcinomas, whereas only 25% (4 of 16) of the nonneoplastic samples were positive (P: < 0.

Graphical user interface for the analysis of noise induced hearing loss.

We have developed a Windows-based computer program which will help the user to collect data needed for calculation models of noise induced hearing loss (NIHL). The program has a graphical user interface and it includes several methods to calculate NIHL. We have tried to make our system to cover all the factors concerning NIHL and also to take into account other possible reasons of hearing loss.

Neuroanatomy of morphine-modulating peptides.

Antisera against two mammalian peptides related to the molluscan cardioexcitatory peptide Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH2 were used to locate immunoreactive neurons in the rat brain, nerve fibres and terminals in the spinal cord, sympathetic ganglion cells and adrenal chromaffin cells. Immunoreactivity for the newly characterised octa- and octadecapeptide was detected in nerve cell bodies in the hypothalamic area, including parts of the dorsomedial, periventricular and paraventricular nuclei, and in the nucleus tractus solitarii. Nerve terminals in the superficial laminae of the spinal cord were also immunoreactive for these peptides, while the sensory ganglia were nonreactive.