Pioglitazone improves fat distribution, the adipokine profile and hepatic insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic end-stage renal disease subjects on maintenance dialysis: a randomized cross-over pilot study.

Background: Fat redistribution, increased inflammation and insulin resistance are prevalent in non-diabetic subjects treated with maintenance dialysis. The aim of this study was to test whether pioglitazone, a powerful insulin sensitizer, alters body fat distribution and adipokine secretion in these subjects and whether it is associated with improved insulin sensitivity.

Trial Design: This was a double blind cross-over study with 16 weeks of pioglitazone 45 mg vs placebo involving 12 subjects.

The ShcD signaling adaptor facilitates ligand-independent phosphorylation of the EGF receptor.

Proto-oncogenic Src homology and collagen (Shc) proteins have been considered archetypal adaptors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated signaling. We report that in addition to its role as an EGFR-binding partner and Grb2 platform, ShcD acts noncanonically to promote phosphorylation of select EGFR residues. Unexpectedly, Y1068, Y1148, and Y1173 are subject to ShcD-induced, cell-autonomous hyperphosphorylation in the absence of external stimuli.

Step count is associated with lower nighttime systolic blood pressure and increased dipping.

Background: Higher nighttime blood pressure (BP) and the loss of nocturnal dipping of BP are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events. However, the determinants of the loss of nocturnal BP dipping are only beginning to be understood. We investigated whether different indicators of physical activity were associated with the loss of nocturnal dipping of BP.

Combining blockers of the renin-angiotensin system or increasing the dose of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist in proteinuric patients: a randomized triple-crossover study.

Objective: The goal of this study was to investigate whether increasing the dose of an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) provides as much benefits as combining the ARB with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) in terms of blood pressure (BP) control and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in hypertensive patients with a proteinuria.

Methods: We enrolled 20 hypertensive patients with proteinuric nephropathies and a reduced renal function in a randomized, 12-month, triple-crossover, prospective, open-label study to compare the effects of a regular dose of losartan (Los 100 mg q.d.

Effect of sodium loading/depletion on renal oxygenation in young normotensive and hypertensive men.

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of sodium intake on renal tissue oxygenation in humans. To this purpose, we measured renal hemodynamics, renal sodium handling, and renal oxygenation in normotensive (NT) and hypertensive (HT) subjects after 1 week of a high-sodium and 1 week of a low-sodium diet. Renal oxygenation was measured using blood oxygen level-dependent magnetic resonance.

Impact of vaccines given during pregnancy on the offspring of women consulting a travel clinic: a longitudinal study.

Background: Little is known on the impact of travel vaccinations during pregnancy on child outcomes, in particular on the long-term psychomotor development. The objectives of the study were (1) to estimate the rate of premature births, congenital abnormalities, and mental and physical development problems of children born from mothers who had been vaccinated during pregnancy and (2) to compare these rates with those of children whose mothers had not been vaccinated during pregnancy.

Methods: Longitudinal study including (1) retrospectively pregnant women having attended our travel clinic before (vaccinated) and (2) prospectively mothers attending our clinic (nonvaccinated).

Treatment of calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder by acetic acid iontophoresis: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess the effects of acetic acid iontophoresis on the treatment of calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder.

Design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Ambulatory academic hospital in Quebec, Canada.