Effect of diet-induced obesity and metabolic syndrome on skeletal muscles of Ossabaw miniature swine.

Ossabaw swine fed excess kilocalorie diet develop metabolic syndrome (MS) characterized by obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, and glucose intolerance with/without dyslipidemia. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that MS would have a detrimental effect on skeletal muscle structure and cause changes in the expression of myosin heavy chains (MHCs). Adult male Ossabaw swine were fed for 24 wk high-fructose or high-fat/cholesterol/fructose diets to induce normolipidemic MS (MetS) or dyslipidemic MS (DMetS), respectively, and were compared with the lean swine on control diet.

[Autochthonous hepatitis E-virus infection as cause of acute hepatitis in Germany - a case report].

There is an increasing body of evidence that hepatitis E virus (HEV) triggers acute hepatitis not only in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and America with low sanitary standards but also in highly industrialized countries. We here report on two patients from Thuringia (Germany) with a HEV infection without a recent stay abroad. All other common causes of hepatitis were excluded.

Prevalence of nucleic acid sequences specific for human parvoviruses, hepatitis A and hepatitis E viruses in coagulation factor concentrates.

Background And Objectives: Due to their high resistance to inactivation procedures, nonenveloped viruses such as parvovirus B19, human bocavirus (HBoV), human parvovirus 4 (PARV4), hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) pose a particular threat to blood products. Virus transmission to patients treated with blood products presents an additional burden to disease. We determined the frequency and the amount of nucleic acid specific for nonenveloped viruses in recently manufactured preparations of commercial coagulation factor concentrates.

Increased expression of guanylate binding protein-1 in lesional skin of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

The large GTPase human guanylate binding protein-1 (GBP-1) is a key mediator of angiostatic effects of inflammation and is induced by interferon (IFN)-α and IFN-γ in endothelial cells (ECs). The aim of this study was to investigate whether GBP-1 is a marker of skin lesions in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Western blotting revealed that GBP-1 was in vitro induced by IFN-α and -γ in primary keratinocytes obtained from healthy controls.

Assessment of a peer review process among interns at an Australian hospital.

Purpose: This study considered how a peer review process could work in an Australian public hospital setting.

Method: Up to 229 medical personnel completed an online performance assessment of 52 Junior Medical Officers (JMOs) during the last quarter of 2008.

Results: Results indicated that the registrar was the most suitable person to assess interns, although other professionals, including interns themselves, were identified as capable of playing a role in a more holistic appraisal system.

Comparison of self-administration behavior and responsiveness to drug-paired cues in rats running an alley for intravenous heroin and cocaine.

Rationale: Evidence suggests that responsiveness to a drug-paired cue is predicted by the reinforcing magnitude of the drug during prior self-administration. It remains unclear, however, if this principle holds true when comparisons are made across drug reinforcers.

Objective: The current study was therefore devised to test the hypothesis that differences in the animals' responsiveness to a cocaine- or heroin-paired cue presented during extinction would reflect differences in the patterns of prior cocaine and heroin runway self-administration.

Bacteremia caused by a novel helicobacter species in a 28-year-old man with X-linked agammaglobulinemia.

We report on a case of bacteremia caused by a previously unknown urease-negative Helicobacter strain, IMMIB HP-28/08, isolated from blood cultures of a 28-year-old man with X-linked agammaglobulinemia. The identification of the isolate was based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In the phylogenetic tree, the isolate fell into a cluster which included Helicobacter canadensis, Helicobacter equorum, and Helicobacter pullorum.

Insurance-related and financial challenges reported by managed care enrollees with breast cancer.

Cancer survivors in the United States often encounter significant challenges in obtaining and paying for medical care. Multiple research studies have examined these issues in Medicare and Medicaid populations and the underinsured, but very little is known about insurance-related challenges encountered by cancer survivors enrolled in private insurance programs such as managed care. This secondary analysis of data explored the insurance-related and financial challenges reported by women enrolled in a managed care organization during cancer treatment and early follow-up.

Castes in the neotropical social wasp Leipomeles dorsata (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae): a window for workers achieving a new status in the colony.

Morphometric studies performed in several species of Neotropical social wasps from the tribe Epiponini showed that in some species there are marked differences between castes, while other species present highly distinct castes with differences only in ovarian development. This work analyzed females from six colonies of the social wasp Leipomeles dorsata (Fabricius) in which queens (egglayers) and workers showed differences in ovarian development and coloration. We propose that wasps with developed ovaries (egglayers) and coloration similar to those of workers are possibly intermediates that obtained the status of queens in the colony.

Exploring cancer support needs for older African-American men with prostate cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore cancer support and financial issues related to cancer care experienced by African-American men with prostate cancer and to understand whom they relied on for resource issues during diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: This is a descriptive qualitative study of 23 rural and urban 65 years old and older African-American prostate cancer survivors. Five focus groups were conducted containing African-American prostate cancer survivors who were recruited from community-based centers (e.

Evidence for a pathophysiological role of keratinocyte-derived type III interferon (IFNλ) in cutaneous lupus erythematosus.

Type I IFNs (IFNα/β) have been shown to have a central role in the pathophysiology of lupus erythematosus (LE). The recently discovered type III IFNs (IFNλ1/IL29, IFNλ2/IL28a, IFNλ3/IL28b) share several functional similarities with type I IFNs, particularly in antiviral immunity. As IFNλs act primarily on epithelial cells, we investigated whether type III IFNs might also have a role in the pathogenesis of cutaneous LE (CLE).

Deconvolution of complex G protein-coupled receptor signaling in live cells using dynamic mass redistribution measurements.

Label-free biosensor technology based on dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) of cellular constituents promises to translate GPCR signaling into complex optical 'fingerprints' in real time in living cells. Here we present a strategy to map cellular mechanisms that define label-free responses, and we compare DMR technology with traditional second-messenger assays that are currently the state of the art in GPCR drug discovery. The holistic nature of DMR measurements enabled us to (i) probe GPCR functionality along all four G-protein signaling pathways, something presently beyond reach of most other assay platforms; (ii) dissect complex GPCR signaling patterns even in primary human cells with unprecedented accuracy; (iii) define heterotrimeric G proteins as triggers for the complex optical fingerprints; and (iv) disclose previously undetected features of GPCR behavior.

Pathogenesis of cutaneous lupus erythematosus: common and different features in distinct subsets.

The term 'cutaneous lupus erythematosus' (CLE) comprises several related autoimmune skin disorders, defined as 'specific' skin manifestations of lupus erythematosus (LE). The spectrum of clinical presentation of CLE is wide, reaching from mild erythema to disseminated scarring skin lesions. There is increasing knowledge concerning the pathogenesis of LE skin lesions and it has been shown that a complex network of cutaneous cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules orchestrate and promote tissue injury observed in LE skin lesions.

Analytical performance determination and clinical validation of the novel Roche RealTime Ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set.

The emergence of a novel pandemic human strain of influenza A (H1N1/09) virus in April 2009 has demonstrated the need for well-validated diagnostic tests that are broadly applicable, rapid, sensitive, and specific. The analytical performance and clinical validity of results generated with the novel Roche RealTime Ready Influenza A/H1N1 Detection Set using the LightCycler 2.0 instrument were characterized.

Stimulation of dopamine D2/D3 but not D1 receptors in the central amygdala decreases cocaine-seeking behavior.

Alterations in dopamine output within the various subnuclei of the amygdala have previously been implicated in cocaine reinforcement, as well as cocaine-seeking behavior. To elucidate the potential for increased stimulation of D1- and D2-like receptors (D1Rs and D2Rs, respectively) specifically in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) to modulate cue- and cocaine-elicited reinstatement of cocaine-seeking behavior, we infused either the D1R agonist, SKF-38393 (0-4.0 microg/side) or the D2R agonist, 7-OH-DPAT (0-4.

Disturbed expression of the T-cell receptor/CD3 complex and associated signaling molecules in CD30+ T-cell lymphoproliferations.

Background: CD30(+) T-cell lymphoproliferations comprise a spectrum of clinically heterogeneous entities, including systemic anaplastic large cell lymphomas (ALK(-) and ALK(+)) and primary cutaneous CD30(+) T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. While all these entities are characterized by proliferation of highly atypical, anaplastic CD30(+) T cells, the expression of T-cell specific antigens in the tumor cells is not consistently detectable.

Design And Methods: We evaluated biopsies from 19 patients with primary cutaneous CD30(+) lymphoproliferative disorders, 38 with ALK(-) and 33 with ALK(+) systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

New reasons for histopathological nail-clipping examination in the diagnosis of onychomycosis.

Background: Onychomycosis is a common problem. Today, the gold standard in the diagnosis of onychomycosis is the direct microscopy and fungal culture. But direct microscopy is regarded as having a low sensitivity and fungal culture takes long time.

Systematic mutation screening of KRT5 supports the hypothesis that Galli-Galli disease is a variant of Dowling-Degos disease.

Background: Galli-Galli disease (GGD) is a rare genodermatosis. Its clinical presentation is identical to that of Dowling-Degos disease (DDD), but the presence of the histopathological feature of acantholysis in GGD is thought to distinguish the two disorders. Mutations in the keratin 5 gene (KRT5) have been identified in the majority of patients with DDD and in a small number of patients with GGD.

Lipid peroxyl radicals mediate tyrosine dimerization and nitration in membranes.

Protein tyrosine dimerization and nitration by biologically relevant oxidants usually depend on the intermediate formation of tyrosyl radical ((*)Tyr). In the case of tyrosine oxidation in proteins associated with hydrophobic biocompartments, the participation of unsaturated fatty acids in the process must be considered since they typically constitute preferential targets for the initial oxidative attack. Thus, we postulate that lipid-derived radicals mediate the one-electron oxidation of tyrosine to (*)Tyr, which can afterward react with another (*)Tyr or with nitrogen dioxide ((*)NO(2)) to yield 3,3'-dityrosine or 3-nitrotyrosine within the hydrophobic structure, respectively.

Effects of nocturnal aircraft noise on cognitive performance in the following morning: dose-response relationships in laboratory and field.

Objective: Nocturnal aircraft noise disturbs sleep and impairs recuperation. We investigated in laboratory and field studies whether noise-induced sleep fragmentation is associated with performance impairments in a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) and a memory search task.

Methods: In the laboratory, 112 participants were exposed to aircraft noise during 9 consecutive nights.