Hypothalamic and hippocampal transcriptome changes in App mice as a function of metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction.

The progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has a silent phase that predates characteristic cognitive decline and eventually leads to active cognitive deficits. Metabolism, diet, and obesity have been correlated to the development of AD but is poorly understood. The hypothalamus is a brain region that exerts homeostatic control on food intake and metabolism and has been noted to be impacted during the active phase of Alzheimer's disease.

Adults with cystic fibrosis: spiritual coping with lifelong disease.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic life-shortening disease requiring significant coping. Spiritual belief relates to treatment behaviors. Little is known about spirituality's role in adults diagnosed as children, nor how it compares with adults diagnosed as adults.

Vitamin D for the Immune System in Cystic Fibrosis (DISC): a double-blind, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Background: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) have increased risk of vitamin D deficiency owing to fat malabsorption and other factors. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with increased risk of pulmonary exacerbations of CF.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to examine the impact of a single high-dose bolus of vitamin D3 followed by maintenance treatment given to adults with CF during an acute pulmonary exacerbation on future recurrence of pulmonary exacerbations.

Shared Decision-Making Tool for Self-Management of Home Therapies for Patients With Cystic Fibrosis.

Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) undertake time-consuming programs of home therapies. Our objective was to develop a tool to help CF patients prioritize personal goals for some of these treatments. We describe the development and results of initial evaluation of this shared decision-making tool.

The Vitamin D for Enhancing the Immune System in Cystic Fibrosis (DISC) trial: Rationale and design of a multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of high dose bolus administration of vitamin D3 during acute pulmonary exacerbation of cystic fibrosis.

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent in children and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF). Recent studies have found an association between vitamin D status and risk of pulmonary exacerbations in children and adults with CF. The ongoing Vitamin D for enhancing the Immune System in Cystic fibrosis (DISC) study is a multi-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that will test the hypothesis of whether high dose vitamin D given as a single oral bolus of 250,000 IU to adults with CF during a pulmonary exacerbation followed by a maintenance dose of vitamin D will improve time to next pulmonary exacerbation and re-hospitalization, improve survival and lung function compared to placebo and reduce the rates of pulmonary exacerbation,.

Changes in Mineral Micronutrient Status During and After Pulmonary Exacerbation in Adults With Cystic Fibrosis.

Background: Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) may be at risk for micronutrient depletion, particularly during periods of illness and infection. The purpose of this study was to investigate serum micronutrient status over time in adults with CF initially hospitalized with a pulmonary exacerbation.

Materials And Methods: This was an ancillary study of a multicenter trial investigating the role of high-dose vitamin D supplementation in 24 adults with CF (mean age, 29.

Using spirituality after an adult CF diagnosis: cognitive reframing and adherence motivation.

Chronic illness is a significant stressor; the majority of Americans cope utilizing spirituality. Numerous studies demonstrate links between spiritual coping and health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether persons diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF) as adults use spirituality to cope and influence disease management.

Randomized trial of biofilm testing to select antibiotics for cystic fibrosis airway infection.

Rationale: In cystic fibrosis (CF), conventional antibiotic susceptibility results correlate poorly with clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that biofilm testing would more accurately reflect the susceptibilities of bacteria infecting CF airways.

Methods: A multicenter randomized pilot trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of using biofilm susceptibility testing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa sputum isolates to guide antibiotic regimens for chronic airway infections in clinically stable adolescent and adult CF patients.

A kindred of children with interstitial lung disease.

Background: Childhood interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a spectrum of diseases including many different rare lung conditions. We present a family with an unusual presentation of ILD in association with rheumatologic and immunologic abnormalities.

Methods: Eight children with a common father were evaluated for evidence of lung disease in association with rheumatologic findings.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyocyanin inactivates lung epithelial vacuolar ATPase-dependent cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator expression and localization.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is a major pathogen causing morbidity and ultimately mortality in patients afflicted with cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease. One important virulence factor, pyocyanin (PCN), is a blue, redox-active compound that is secreted in such copious amounts by PA in the CF lungs that it determines the colour of expectorated sputum. In this study, we discovered that physiological concentrations of PCN inactivate the airway epithelial vacuolar ATPase, resulting in reduced expression and trafficking of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator in cultured lung and primary nasal epithelial cells.

Review of the abdominal manifestations of cystic fibrosis in the adult patient.

Cystic fibrosis is a common inherited fatal disease. As the life expectancy of affected individuals continues to increase with advances in disease management, this disease is no longer limited to the pediatric population. Currently, 40% of patients with cystic fibrosis are adults.

Guide to bone health and disease in cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common genetic disease within the Caucasian population and leads to premature respiratory failure. Approximately 60,000 individuals are currently living with CF in North America and Europe, 40% of whom are adults. The life span of these patients has increased from approximately 2 to 32 yr of age over the last three decades.

Laboratory methods in the detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in keratitis--a 9-year study including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) during last 4 years.

Conventional methods of fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and virus isolation (VI) and molecular method of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were compared for the detection of HSV in keratitis during a 9-year period. Of 186 corneal scraping specimens, 108 were subjected to FATand VI in the pre-PCR period (initial 5 years) while 78 to FAT, VI and PCR in the PCR period (latter 4 years). HSV was detected by FAT in 44/186 (23.

Preparation of amniotic membrane for ocular surface reconstruction.

We describe the preparation and preservation of human amniotic membrane required for transplantation in the management of ocular surface diseases. Informed consent is obtained and the donor is screened to exclude risk of transmissible infections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and Treponema pallidum infections. Ideally, the media and washing solutions needed for the preparation of amniotic membrane are prepared only a week to 10 days prior to use and not stored in the freezer weeks ahead.