Clinical burden, treatment, and disease control in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: Real-world evidence.

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is an unpredictable inflammatory skin condition with substantial clinical burden that affects 0.23-0.78% of the United States population.

Therapeutic plasma exchange in paediatric nephrology in Ireland.

Background: Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is utilised in the management of a limited number of paediatric renal conditions. Despite its widespread acceptance and advancements in the practice of apheresis, there remains a paucity of data pertaining to paediatrics. We present a large retrospective review of our cohort of paediatric patients undergoing TPE for renal indications, outlining their outcomes and complications.

Neurological involvement in children with hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Our objective was to establish the rate of neurological involvement in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) and describe the clinical presentation, management and outcome. A retrospective chart review of children aged ≤ 16 years with STEC-HUS in Children's Health Ireland from 2005 to 2018 was conducted. Laboratory confirmation of STEC infection was required for inclusion.

Long-term outcome of transplant ureterostomy in children: A National Review.

Background: CAKUT are the most common cause of end-stage renal failure in children (Pediatr Nephrol. 24, 2009, 1719). Many children with CAKUT have poor urinary drainage which can compromise post-transplant outcome.

Sunshine is an Important Determinant of Vitamin D Status Even Among High-dose Supplement Users: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial in Crohn's Disease Patients.

Sunshine is considered to be the most important source of vitamin D. Due to an increased risk of skin cancer, sun avoidance is advised, but this directly contributes to the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency. The simple solution is to advise vitamin D supplementation.

Outcomes of a National Cohort of Children with Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis.

Aim: All Irish children with ulcerative colitis (UC) attend the National Centre for Paediatric Gastroenterology at Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin. The aim of this study was to determine the outcomes of children with acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASC) and the impact of infliximab on these outcomes following its introduction for this indication in 2011.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of all patients admitted with ASC between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2015 was undertaken.

A bioenergetics assay for studying the effects of environmental stressors on mitochondrial function in vivo in zebrafish larvae.

Mitochondria, an integral component of cellular energy metabolism and other key functions, are extremely vulnerable to damage by environmental stressors. Although methods to measure mitochondrial function in vitro exist, sensitive, medium- to high-throughput assays that assess respiration within physiologically-relevant whole organisms are needed to identify drugs and/or chemicals that disrupt mitochondrial function, particularly at sensitive early developmental stages. Consequently, we have developed and optimized an assay to measure mitochondrial bioenergetics in zebrafish larvae using the XF24 Extracellular Flux Analyzer.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on intestinal permeability, cathelicidin and disease markers in Crohn's disease: Results from a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled study.

Background: Vitamin D (vitD) supplementation may prolong remission in Crohn's disease (CD); however, the clinical efficacy and mechanisms are unclear.

Aim: To determine changes in intestinal permeability (IP), antimicrobial peptide (AMP) concentrations and disease markers in CD, in response to vitD supplementation.

Methods: In a double-blind randomised placebo-controlled study, we assigned 27 CD patients in remission to 2000 IU/day vitD or placebo for 3 mos.

Abamectin induces rapid and reversible hypoactivity within early zebrafish embryos.

During early zebrafish embryogenesis, spontaneous tail contractions represent the first sign of locomotion and result from innervation of primary motoneuron axons to target axial muscles. Based on a high-content screen, we previously demonstrated that exposure of zebrafish embryos to abamectin--an avermectin insecticide--from 5-25 hours post-fertilization (hpf) abolished spontaneous activity in the absence of effects on survival and gross morphology. Therefore, the objective of this study was to begin investigating the mechanism of abamectin-induced hypoactivity in zebrafish.

Triphenyl phosphate-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish: potential role of the retinoic acid receptor.

Using zebrafish as a model, we previously reported that developmental exposure to triphenyl phosphate (TPP) - a high-production volume organophosphate-based flame retardant - results in dioxin-like cardiac looping impairments that are independent of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Using a pharmacologic approach, the objective of this study was to investigate the potential role of retinoic acid receptor (RAR) - a nuclear receptor that regulates vertebrate heart morphogenesis - in mediating TPP-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish. We first revealed that static exposure of zebrafish from 5-72h post-fertilization (hpf) to TPP in the presence of non-toxic concentrations of an RAR antagonist (BMS493) significantly enhanced TPP-induced toxicity (relative to TPP alone), even though identical non-toxic BMS493 concentrations mitigated retinoic acid (RA)-induced toxicity.

Optimal vitamin D levels in Crohn's disease: a review.

Vitamin D deficiency is common among patients with Crohn's disease. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) is the best measure of an individual's vitamin D status and current cut-off ranges for sufficiency are debatable. Several factors contribute to vitamin D deficiency in Crohn's disease.

High-content screening in zebrafish embryos identifies butafenacil as a potent inducer of anemia.

Using transgenic zebrafish (fli1:egfp) that stably express enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) within vascular endothelial cells, we recently developed and optimized a 384-well high-content screening (HCS) assay that enables us to screen and identify chemicals affecting cardiovascular development and function at non-teratogenic concentrations. Within this assay, automated image acquisition procedures and custom image analysis protocols are used to quantify body length, heart rate, circulation, pericardial area, and intersegmental vessel area within individual live embryos exposed from 5 to 72 hours post-fertilization. After ranking developmental toxicity data generated from the U.

High-content screening assay for identification of chemicals impacting spontaneous activity in zebrafish embryos.

Although cell-based assays exist, rapid and cost-efficient high-content screening (HCS) assays within intact organisms are needed to support prioritization for developmental neurotoxicity testing in rodents. During zebrafish embryogenesis, spontaneous tail contractions occur from late-segmentation (∼19 h postfertilization, hpf) through early pharyngula (∼29 hpf) and represent the first sign of locomotion. Using transgenic zebrafish (fli1:egfp) that stably express eGFP beginning at ∼14 hpf, we have developed and optimized a 384-well-based HCS assay that quantifies spontaneous activity within single zebrafish embryos after exposure to test chemicals in a concentration-response format.

High-content screening assay for identification of chemicals impacting cardiovascular function in zebrafish embryos.

Targeted assays are needed to better evaluate effects of chemicals on organogenesis and begin classification of chemicals by toxicologically relevant modes-of-action. Using transgenic zebrafish (fli1:egfp) that stably express eGFP within vascular endothelial cells, we have developed and optimized a 384-well-based high-content screening (HCS) assay that enables us to screen and identify chemicals affecting cardiovascular function at sublethal, nonteratogenic concentrations. Following static exposure of one embryo per well from 5 to 72 h postfertilization (hpf), automated image acquisition procedures and custom image analysis protocols are used to quantify body length, circulation, heart rate, pericardial area (a biomarker for cardiac looping defects), and intersegmental vessel area within freshly hatched live embryos.

Discrete nanoparticles induce loss of Legionella pneumophila biofilms from surfaces.

Nanoparticles (NPs) have been shown to induce dispersal events in microbial biofilms but the mechanism of the dispersal is unknown. Biofilms contaminate many man-made aquatic systems such as cooling towers, spas and dental lines. Within these biofilms, Legionella pneumophila is a primary pathogen, leading to these environments serving as sources for disease outbreaks.

Inverse relationship between physical activity and arterial stiffness in adults with hypertension.

Background: Physical activity has beneficial effects on arterial stiffness among healthy adults. There is a lack of data on this relationship in adults with hypertension. The majority of studies which have examined physical activity and arterial stiffness have used subjective measures of activity.

Altered host cell-bacteria interaction due to nanoparticle interaction with a bacterial biofilm.

Nanoparticle (NP) use in everyday applications creates the potential for NPs to enter the environment where, in aquatic systems, they are likely to settle on substrates and interact with microbial communities. Legionella pneumophila biofilms are found as part of microbial communities in both natural and man-made environments, especially in man-made cooling systems. The bacterium is the causative agent of Legionnaires' disease.

High prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults with Crohn's disease: associations with disease and lifestyle factors.

Background And Aims: Obesity and overweight are major public health issues. Although traditionally associated with weight loss, there is now evidence that increasing Body Mass Index (BMI) and overweight are emerging features of Crohn's disease (CD) and may be associated with more severe disease course. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity in patients with CD compared with matched healthy controls and to identify disease-specific and generic factors associated with current BMI in this group.

Vitamin D: new roles and therapeutic potential in inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses 2 independent but related entities: ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease. Crohn's disease is characterised by transmural patchy inflammation which can involve any portion of the gastrointestinal tract. UC is characterised by superficial inflammation that begins in the rectum and extends proximally along the colon.

Morphological responses of Legionella pneumophila biofilm to nanoparticle exposure.

Legionella pneumophila is a pathogenic bacterium that forms biofilms in natural and anthropogenic habitats. This feature not only facilitates colonization but also limits the effectiveness of biocides. L.