Viscous topical is more effective than nebulized steroid therapy for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

We performed a randomized trial to compare nebulized and viscous topical corticosteroid treatments for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Subjects with incident EoE (n = 25) received budesonide 1 mg twice daily, either nebulized and then swallowed (NEB) or as an oral viscous slurry (OVB), for 8 weeks. Baseline eosinophil counts for the NEB and OVB groups were 101 and 83 (P = .

Prucalopride for the treatment of women with chronic constipation in whom standard laxative regimens have failed to provide adequate relief.

This paper presents a summary of the evidence review group (ERG) report into the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of prucalopride for the treatment of women with chronic constipation in whom standard laxative regimens have failed to provide adequate relief. The ERG report is based on the manufacturer's submission (MS) to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence as part of the single technology appraisal process. In the submission, quality-of-life data [Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life (PAC-QOL) and Patient Assessment of Constipation Symptoms (PAC-SYM) questionnaires] from trials of prucalopride were extrapolated to EQ-5D (European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions) data and used to inform effectiveness in an economic model.

Calculation of longitudinal polarizability and second hyperpolarizability of polyacetylene with the coupled perturbed Hartree-Fock/Kohn-Sham scheme: where it is shown how finite oligomer chains tend to the infinite periodic polymer.

The longitudinal polarizability, α(xx), and second hyperpolarizability, γ(xxxx), of polyacetylene are evaluated by using the coupled perturbed Hartree-Fock/Kohn-Sham (HF/KS) scheme as implemented in the periodic CRYSTAL code and a split valence type basis set. Four different density functionals, namely local density approximation (LDA) (pure local), Perdew-Becke-Ernzerhof (PBE) (gradient corrected), PBE0, and B3LYP (hybrid), and the Hartree-Fock Hamiltonian are compared. It is shown that very tight computational conditions must be used to obtain well converged results, especially for γ(xxxx), that is, very sensitive to the number of k(->) points in reciprocal space when the band gap is small (as for LDA and PBE), and to the extension of summations of the exact exchange series (HF and hybrids).

A chemical analog of curcumin as an improved inhibitor of amyloid Abeta oligomerization.

Amyloid-like plaques are characteristic lesions defining the neuropathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The size and density of these plaques are closely associated with cognitive decline. To combat this disease, the few therapies that are available rely on drugs that increase neurotransmission; however, this approach has had limited success as it has simply slowed an imminent decline and failed to target the root cause of AD.

Review: Experimental models for Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Several different cell culture systems and laboratory animal models have been used over the years to study Barrett's esophagus (BE) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Most of the existing models have key differences with the human esophagus and complex pathogenesis of disease. None of the models offers an ideal system for the complex study of environmental exposure, genetic risk, and prevention strategies.

Simultaneous multianalyte immunoassay measurement of five serum tumor markers in the detection of colorectal cancer.

Several serum tumor markers (STMs) have been proposed for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC), but their detection should be combined to increase accuracy. The measurement of a serum biomarker panel may improve the diagnostic value of single STM and a multianalyte immunoassay approach can shorten assay time and lower sample consumption. The aim of this study was to determine whether the simultaneous multianalyte immunoassay is useful for early detection of CRC.

Proteomic analysis of ripening tomato fruit infected by Botrytis cinerea.

Botrytis cinerea, a model necrotrophic fungal pathogen that causes gray mold as it infects different organs on more than 200 plant species, is a significant contributor to postharvest rot in fresh fruit and vegetables, including tomatoes. By describing host and pathogen proteomes simultaneously in infected tissues, the plant proteins that provide resistance and allow susceptibility and the pathogen proteins that promote colonization and facilitate quiescence can be identified. This study characterizes fruit and fungal proteins solubilized in the B.

Mitochondrial membrane complex that contains proteins necessary for tRNA import in Trypanosoma brucei.

The mitochondrial genome of Trypanosoma brucei does not contain genes encoding tRNAs; instead this protozoan parasite must import nuclear-encoded tRNAs from the cytosol for mitochondrial translation. Previously, it has been shown that mitochondrial tRNA import requires ATP hydrolysis and a proteinaceous mitochondrial membrane component. However, little is known about the mitochondrial membrane proteins involved in tRNA binding and translocation into the mitochondrion.

Recommendations for mass spectrometry data quality metrics for open access data (corollary to the Amsterdam principles).

Policies supporting the rapid and open sharing of proteomic data are being implemented by the leading journals in the field. The proteomics community is taking steps to ensure that data are made publicly accessible and are of high quality, a challenging task that requires the development and deployment of methods for measuring and documenting data quality metrics. On September 18, 2010, the U.

Catalytic mechanism of Sep-tRNA:Cys-tRNA synthase: sulfur transfer is mediated by disulfide and persulfide.

Sep-tRNA:Cys-tRNA synthase (SepCysS) catalyzes the sulfhydrylation of tRNA-bound O-phosphoserine (Sep) to form cysteinyl-tRNA(Cys) (Cys-tRNA(Cys)) in methanogens that lack the canonical cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CysRS). A crystal structure of the Archaeoglobus fulgidus SepCysS apoenzyme provides information on the binding of the pyridoxal phosphate cofactor as well as on amino acid residues that may be involved in substrate binding. However, the mechanism of sulfur transfer to form cysteine was not known.

Galacturonosyltransferase (GAUT)1 and GAUT7 are the core of a plant cell wall pectin biosynthetic homogalacturonan:galacturonosyltransferase complex.

Plant cell wall pectic polysaccharides are arguably the most complex carbohydrates in nature. Progress in understanding pectin synthesis has been slow due to its complex structure and difficulties in purifying and expressing the low-abundance, Golgi membrane-bound pectin biosynthetic enzymes. Arabidopsis galacturonosyltransferase (GAUT) 1 is an α-1,4-galacturonosyltransferase (GalAT) that synthesizes homogalacturonan (HG), the most abundant pectic polysaccharide.

Identification and localization of Myxococcus xanthus porins and lipoproteins.

Myxococcus xanthus DK1622 contains inner (IM) and outer membranes (OM) separated by a peptidoglycan layer. Integral membrane, β-barrel proteins are found exclusively in the OM where they form pores allowing the passage of nutrients, waste products and signals. One porin, Oar, is required for intercellular communication of the C-signal.

Recommendations for mass spectrometry data quality metrics for open access data (corollary to the Amsterdam principles).

Policies supporting the rapid and open sharing of proteomic data are being implemented by the leading journals in the field. The proteomics community is taking steps to ensure that data are made publicly accessible and are of high quality, a challenging task that requires the development and deployment of methods for measuring and documenting data quality metrics. On September 18, 2010, the U.

Recommendations for mass spectrometry data quality metrics for open access data (corollary to the Amsterdam Principles).

Policies supporting the rapid and open sharing of proteomic data are being implemented by the leading journals in the field. The proteomics community is taking steps to ensure that data are made publicly accessible and are of high quality, a challenging task that requires the development and deployment of methods for measuring and documenting data quality metrics. On September 18, 2010, the U.

Recommendations for mass spectrometry data quality metrics for open access data (corollary to the Amsterdam Principles).

Policies supporting the rapid and open sharing of proteomic data are being implemented by the leading journals in the field. The proteomics community is taking steps to ensure that data are made publicly accessible and are of high quality, a challenging task that requires the development and deployment of methods for measuring and documenting data quality metrics. On September 18, 2010, the United States National Cancer Institute convened the "International Workshop on Proteomic Data Quality Metrics" in Sydney, Australia, to identify and address issues facing the development and use of such methods for open access proteomics data.

Splenomegaly as risk factor of liver cirrhosis. A retrospective cohort study of 2,525 patients who underwent laparoscopy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the meaning of laparoscopic splenomegaly and its relationship with the severity and evolution of liver cirrhosis. Medical records of 2,525 consecutive patients with chronic liver diseases who underwent laparoscopy and video-guided hepatic biopsy were reviewed. There were 1,610 (63.

Molecular mechanisms of Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus (BE) is defined as the metaplastic conversion of esophageal squamous epithelium to intestinalized columnar epithelium. As a premalignant lesion of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), BE develops as a result of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Many studies have been conducted to understand the molecular mechanisms of this disease.

Esophageal disease: updated information on inflammation.

The following on esophageal disease provides updated information the mucosal defense against acid and acid-pepsin injury; the roles of platelet activating factor, mast cells, proinflammatory cytokines, and chemokines in inflammation; differences and similarities in erosive and nonerosive esophagitis; acid and vanilloid receptors in esophageal mucosa; and bile acid receptors in esophageal epithelium.

Barrett's esophagus: natural history.

The following on the natural history of Barrett's esophagus (BE) includes commentary on histological sequences of the development of Barrett mucosa; the transformation of esophageal cells from squamous to columnar phenotype; the stages of natural history of dysplasia; the difficulties of predicting progression of dysplasia to adenocarcinoma; the preferable biopsy protocols; the role of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastric atrophy in the risk of BE; the value of decrease of proton pump inhibitor efficacy following eradication of H. pylori; the place of antireflux surgery in the natural history of BE; the newest procedures for the endoscopic detection of early neoplasia; and the essential importance of a good understanding of the natural history for the best management of high-grade dysplasia.

Barrett's esophagus: histology and immunohistology.

The following on histology and immunohistology of Barrett's esophagus (BE) includes commentaries on the various difficulties remaining in reaching a consensus on the definition of BE; the difficulties in the characterization of intestinal and cardiac mucosa, and in the role of submucosal glands in the development of BE; the importance of a new monoclonal antibody to recognize esophageal intestinal mucosa; the importance of pseudo goblet cells; the best techniques for the endoscopic detection of Barrett's epithelium; and the biomarkers for identification of patients predisposed to the development of BE.

Amiodarone impairs trafficking through late endosomes inducing a Niemann-Pick C-like phenotype.

Patients treated with amiodarone accumulate lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA), also known as bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate, in airway secretions and develop in different tissues vacuoles and inclusion bodies thought to originate from endosomes. To clarify the origin of these changes, we studied in vitro the effects of amiodarone on endosomal activities like transferrin recycling, Shiga toxin processing, ESCRT-dependent lentivirus budding, fluid phase endocytosis, proteolysis and exosome secretion. Furthermore, since the accumulation of LBPA might point to a broader disturbance in lipid homeostasis, we studied the effect of amiodarone on the distribution of LBPA, unesterified cholesterol, sphingomyelin and glycosphyngolipids.

Markers of tyrosine kinase activity in eosinophilic esophagitis: a pilot study of the FIP1L1-PDGFRα fusion gene, pERK 1/2, and pSTAT5.

The pathogenesis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is incompletely understood. In certain eosinophilic diseases, activation of tyrosine kinase after fusion of the Fip1-like-1 and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-α genes (F-P fusion gene) mediates eosinophilia via downstream effectors such as extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT5). This mechanism has not been examined in EoE.

Hybrid resection of duodenal tumors.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to review our experience with the hand-assisted laparoscopic management of duodenal tumors with no or low malignant potential and to compare this approach with published case reports of purely laparoscopic local duodenal resection.

Patients And Methods: Eight cases of hand-assisted laparoscopic local duodenal resection performed from 2000 to 2008 were retrospectively reviewed. Hand-assistance was utilized for complete duodenal mobilization, and local duodenal resection was accomplished extracorporeally through the hand-access incision.

The first and second static electronic hyperpolarizabilities of zigzag boron nitride nanotubes. An ab initio approach through the coupled perturbed Kohn-Sham scheme.

The coupled perturbed Kohn-Sham (CPKS) computational scheme for the evaluation of electric susceptibility tensors in periodic systems, recently implemented in the CRYSTAL code, has been extended to third-order. It is, then, used to obtain static electronic hyperpolarizabilities of zigzag BN nanotubes for the first time. This procedure, which is fully analytic in all key steps, requires a double self-consistent treatment for taking into account the first- and second-order response of the system to the applied field.