Antibodies against deamidated gliadin as new and accurate biomarkers of childhood coeliac disease.

Objectives: Assays of tissue transglutaminase antibodies (anti-tTG) represent the cornerstone of serological coeliac disease (CD) diagnostics. Assays of antibodies against native gliadin (anti-nGli) lost importance due to low validity. We investigated the performance of new assays for antibodies against deamidated gliadin (anti-dGli) in childhood CD.

Comparative safety study of three inactivated BTV-8 vaccines in sheep and cattle under field conditions.

After massive epidemics of bluetongue disease in 2006 and 2007, Germany has started a compulsory vaccination program against bluetongue virus serotype 8 (BTV-8). Since the available vaccines had not yet been registered and only limited data were available on their performance, a safety study was conducted with three different inactivated monovalent vaccines under consideration for use in Germany. A total of 1007 sheep and 893 cattle were vaccinated and subsequently compared with 638 control animals (324 sheep and 314 cattle).

Efficacy of three inactivated vaccines against bluetongue virus serotype 8 in sheep.

Bluetongue has become a major animal health issue in the European Union. The member states and Switzerland have agreed on a vaccination strategy. Three different inactivated monovalent vaccines against bluetongue virus serotype 8 were selected for the compulsory vaccination program carried out in Germany in 2008.

Late death after multiple severe trauma: when does it occur and what are the causes?

Introduction: The information about the long-term mortality and causes of death after multiple injuries is sparse. In general, most follow-up studies report on 1 year to 3 years maximum follow up. The current literature focuses on causes of death immediately after trauma or during the initial in-hospital stay.

CCL18 production is decreased in alveolar macrophages from cigarette smokers.

It is generally known that cigarette smoke alters the activation of alveolar macrophages (AM). CC Chemokine Ligand 18 (CCL18) is a marker of alternatively activated macrophages and is highly expressed in the lung. This study examines the influence of chronic cigarette smoking on the expression of CCL18 by AM.

Characterization of a 21kDa protein from Trypanosoma cruzi associated with mammalian cell invasion.

Trypanosoma cruzi genomic database was screened for hypothetical proteins that showed high probability of being secreted or membrane anchored and thus, likely involved in host-cell invasion. A sequence that codes for a 21kDa protein that showed high probability of being secreted was selected. After cloning this protein sequence, the results showed that it was a ubiquitous protein and secreted by extracellular amastigotes.

The scavenger receptor MARCO is involved in Leishmania major infection by CBA/J macrophages.

CBA/J mice are resistant to Leishmania major infection but are permissive to L. amazonensis infection. In addition, CBA/J macrophages control L.

Second-generation Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP) for the treatment of subsequent subclavian backflow type II endoleak after TEVAR.

Since its approval as an occlusive device in the peripheral vasculature in 2004, the first-generation Amplatzer Vascular Plug (AVP; AGA Medical, Golden Valley, MN, USA) has already become a therapeutic alternative to coil embolization in dedicated cases. Here, we present for the first time, a case of type II endoleak from the left subclavian artery after thoracic stent-graft placement successfully treated with a second-generation AVP.

New ELISA for detecting primary biliary cirrhosis-specific antimitochondrial antibodies.

Background: Antimitochondrial antibodies specific for primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) target the E2 subunits of 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complexes, in particular the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC)-E2. Their antigen-specific detection relies on conventional ELISA using purified PDC. More recent assays have employed a hybrid containing the 3 E2-subunits (MIT3).

[Requirements of trauma networks in Lower Saxony].

Background: The German Association of Trauma Surgery has developed a concept for the quality-assured care of severely injured patients; this concept includes the establishment of trauma networks. In this study, hospitals and emergency services in Lower Saxony were asked about their demands on the Hannover regional trauma network.

Materials And Methods: Trauma departments in Lower Saxony and adjoining federal states were asked to self-assess their level of trauma care.

[Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and liver hemorrhage following polytrauma].

Up to 3% of patients receiving unfractioned heparin develop heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). We report on a polytrauma patient who developed severe HIT with bilateral pulmonary embolism. Lepirudin treatment resulted initially in rapid improvement.

Serum CC-chemokine ligand 18 concentration predicts outcome in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Rationale: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating lung disease with a poor prognosis. There is great effort to find predictors of outcome. Conclusive data for any serum biomarker are lacking.

Insulin therapy induces changes in the inflammatory response in a murine 2-hit model.

Post-traumatic complications commonly seen on intensive care units include sepsis and associated disorders, which are accompanied by alterations in inflammatory cytokine expression patterns and in activation of neutrophils. Hyperglycaemia, often occurring after trauma and sepsis, is a further risk factor for morbidity and mortality among critically ill people. Clinical investigations have suggested that strict glycaemic control by insulin titration reduces overall mortality.

30 years of polytrauma care: An analysis of the change in strategies and results of 4849 cases treated at a single institution.

The quality and progress of treatment of 4849 multiple trauma patients treated at one institution was reviewed retrospectively. Three periods, 1975-1984 (decade I; n=1469) and 1985-1994 (decade II; n=1937) and 1995-2004 (decade III; n=1443) were compared. 65% of multiple trauma patients had cerebral injuries, 58% thoracic trauma and 81% extremity fractures (37% open injuries).

Does content affect whether users remember that Web pages were hyperlinked?

Objective: We determined whether memory for hyperlinks improved when they represented relations between the contents of the Web pages.

Background: J. S.

[Injury situation of novice drivers in road traffic--a medical and technical analysis].

Aim: Novice drivers are at high risk for crash involvement. We performed an analysis of causations, injury patterns and distributions of novice drivers in cars and on motorcycles in road traffic as a basis for proper measurements.

Method: Data of accident and hospital records of novice drivers (licence < 2 years) were analysed focusing on the following parameters: injury type, localisation and mechanism, abbreviated injury scale (AIS), maximum AIS (MAIS), delta-v, collision speed and other technical parameters and compared with those of experienced drivers.

Elevated systemic IL-18 and neopterin levels are associated with posttraumatic complications among patients with multiple injuries: a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Posttraumatic systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), sepsis and their subsequent complication, the multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), remain major complications following polytrauma. This prospective clinical study aimed at evaluating the association between these and plasma interleukin-18 (IL-18) and neopterin levels.

Methods: Inclusion in the series required an Injury Severity Score (ISS) >16, age 16-65 years, admission within 6 h of the accident and survival >48 h; 55 patients were enrolled.

Systemic effects of isolated brain injury: an experimental animal study.

Objective: Although various experimental works of neurotrauma research are performed, little attention has been paid to the concomitant systemic changes following isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI). Such investigations seem to be a prerequisite condition for evaluation of experimental drugs, which may diminish the secondary damage following TBI. We describe histopathologic findings of the lung, liver, spleen and kidney 96 hours following an experimental TBI.

Evidence for the co-circulation of dengue virus type 3 genotypes III and V in the Northern region of Brazil during the 2002-2004 epidemics.

The reintroduction of dengue virus type 3 (DENV-3) in Brazil in 2000 and its subsequent spread throughout the country was associated with genotype III viruses, the only DENV-3 genotype isolated in Brazil prior to 2002. We report here the co-circulation of two different DENV-3 genotypes in patients living in the Northern region of Brazil during the 2002-2004 epidemics. Complete genomic sequences of viral RNA were determined from these epidemics, and viruses belonging to genotypes V (Southeast Asia/South Pacific) and III were identified.

Characterization of a novel Obg-like ATPase in the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi.

We characterized a gene encoding an YchF-related protein, TcYchF, potentially associated with the protein translation machinery of Trypanosoma cruzi. YchF belongs to the translation factor-related (TRAFAC) class of P-loop NTPases. The coding region of the gene is 1185bp long and encodes a 44.

Knee injuries in restrained car drivers in German road traffic accidents.

Background: The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of knee injuries in real world car crashes in Germany. Restrained car drivers (RCD) were included in a medical and technical analysis to create a basis for preventive measures.

Methods: Technical and medical data were collected at the scene, shortly after the crash.

Expression profile of interferon stimulated genes in central nervous system of mice infected with dengue virus Type-1.

Dengue virus (DENV) infection can cause a self-limiting disease (dengue fever) or a more severe clinical presentation known as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF)/dengue shock syndrome (DSS). Furthermore, data from recent dengue epidemics in Brazil indicate that the neurological manifestations are becoming more prevalent. However, the neuropathogenesis of dengue are not well understood.

Pregnancy outcomes in women with epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published pregnancy registries and cohorts.

Purpose: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the incidence of congenital malformations (CMs) and other pregnancy outcomes as a function of in utero anti-epileptic drug (AED) exposure.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature review to identify all published registries and cohort studies of births from pregnant women with epilepsy (WWE) that reported incidence of CMs. Overall incidences were calculated using a random effects model.

Differential gene expression in Trypanosoma cruzi populations susceptible and resistant to benznidazole.

Differential gene expression in three pairs of Trypanosoma cruzi populations or clones susceptible or resistant to benznidazole (BZ) was investigated by differential display (DD) and representation of differential expression (RDE). GenBank searches of 14 genes selected by DD showed that four sequences corresponded to different hypothetical proteins and the others were very similar to T. cruzi genes encoding mucin (TcMUC), dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (TcLipDH), the hexose transporter (TcHT), or a ribosomal protein.