Serum ferritin level changes in children with sickle cell disease on chronic blood transfusion are nonlinear and are associated with iron load and liver injury.

Chronic blood transfusion is increasingly indicated in patients with sickle cell disease. Measuring resulting iron overload remains a challenge. Children without viral hepatitis enrolled in 2 trials for stroke prevention were examined for iron overload (STOP and STOP2; n = 271).

Solar simulated ultraviolet radiation damages murine neonatal skin and alters Langerhans cell development, but does not induce inflammation.

Development of melanoma has been linked to excessive childhood exposure to sunlight. As neonates have a relatively underdeveloped immune system, it is likely that the immune system reacts differently to the exposure, leading to alterations in this development. This study was designed to assess changes in development of the skin immune system following neonatal irradiation.

A histological and immunohistochemical analysis of lymphoid tissues of the Tasmanian devil.

Tasmanian devil lymphoid tissues (thymus, spleen, and lymph node) from seven animals, including pouch young, juvenile, and adult devils, were investigated using histological and immunohistochemical techniques. Antibodies against the conserved intracytoplasmic portion of CD3 and CD79b (T- and B-cell markers, respectively) and MHC II were used to label immune cells. The thymus from the juvenile devils and the pouch young had CD3+ cells that were primarily located in the medulla of the organ.

The humoral immune response of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) against horse red blood cells.

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is under threat of extinction due to a fatal infectious neoplastic disease, named Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Tumours are transferred as allografts between animals and no effective immune response or host resistance to the disease has been detected, raising interest in the immune function of the species. To investigate whether Tasmanian devils had a competent humoral immune response, four devils were immunised with horse red blood cells (HRBC) either intraperitoneally or subcutaneously.

Does auditory rhythmical cueing improve gait in people with Parkinson's disease and cognitive impairment? A feasibility study.

Gait and balance problems resulting from Parkinson's disease (PD) are more common in people with PD and dementia (PDD), yet, it is unknown whether the benefits of cueing therapy for mobility generalize to them. We aimed to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of auditory cues to improve gait in PD and cognitive impairment (PD-CI). Nine participants with PD-CI walked with and without auditory cues using two different strategies: (1) Cue with temporal instruction to "step in time to the beat," (2) Cue with spatiotemporal instruction to "take a big step in time to the beat.

Growth inhibitory and differentiation effects of chloroquine and its analogue on human leukemic cells potentiate fetal hemoglobin production by targeting the polyamine pathway.

Elevated arginase activity has been implicated in several pathological conditions in sickle cell disease (SCD) and other inflammatory disorders. Recently, we showed that chloroquine (CQ), an anti-malarial and anti-rheumatoid drug, displays a competitive mode of inhibition on sickle erythrocyte arginase. However, the effects of CQ and its analogue, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on erythroid differentiation leading to induced fetal hemoglobin (Hb F) production is unknown.

Preparation of gene gun bullets and biolistic transfection of neurons in slice culture.

Biolistic transfection is a physical means of transfecting cells by bombarding tissue with high velocity DNA coated particles. We provide a detailed protocol for biolistic transfection of rat hippocampal slices, from the initial preparation of DNA coated bullets to the final shooting of the organotypic slice cultures using a gene gun. Gene gun transfection is an efficient and easy means of transfecting neurons and is especially useful for fluorescently labeling a small subset of cells in tissue slice.

Vitamin D3 deficiency enhances contact hypersensitivity in male but not in female mice.

To ascertain the influence of vitamin D3 and its metabolites on the function of the skin immune system and the induction of the contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response, a population of vitamin D3-deficient BALB/c mice was established, through dietary vitamin D3 restriction and limitation of exposure to UVB irradiation. Vitamin D3 normal female mice had higher CHS responses than their male counterparts, and dietary vitamin D3 deficiency significantly increased the CHS responses in male, but not in female, mice. This change in the vitamin D3-deficient male mice was not due to an alteration in skin dendritic cell function including antigen carriage, migration or costimulatory molecule expression.

Mitogen-induced responses in lymphocytes from platypus, the Tasmanian devil and the eastern barred bandicoot.

Objective: As the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisi) and the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunni) are currently at risk of serious population decline or extinction from fatal diseases in Tasmania, the goal of the present study was to describe the normal immune response of these species to challenge using the lymphocyte proliferation assay, to give a solid basis for further studies.

Methods: For this preliminary study, we performed lymphocyte proliferation assays on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the three species. We used the common mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM).

A colorimetric microplate assay method for high-throughput analysis of arginase activity in vitro.

Several analytical methods have been developed for the determination of arginase (l-arginine amidinohydrolase) activity in physiological samples. These methods are limited by the considerable effort and time required to obtain reliable and reproducible measurements. Here we describe a simple high-throughput colorimetric assay for the determination of arginase activity based on the ornithine-ninhydrin reaction.

Efforts of the United States' National Marrow Donor Program and Registry to improve utilization and representation of minority donors.

Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation is often used as a therapy for patients with certain blood, metabolic or immune system disorders. The United States' National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) works to facilitate such life-saving transplants by coordinating the donor search and match process. However, concern exists that the NMDP Registry is underutilized and under-representative of racial and ethnic minorities.

Cysteine-iron promotes arginase activity by driving the Fenton reaction.

Impairment of nitric oxide bioavailability secondary to increased arginase activity and overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is thought to be a major cause of vascular complications in sickle cell disease (SCD). However, the role of ROS in the induction of arginase activity is unknown. This study investigated whether the mechanism of arginase activation involves the ROS produced during oxidative stress.

Strong correlation between serum aspergillus galactomannan index and outcome of aspergillosis in patients with hematological cancer: clinical and research implications.

Background: Galactomannan is an Aspergillus-specific polysaccharide released during aspergillosis and is detected by the quantitative serum galactomannan index (GMI) test. Preclinical and preliminary clinical reports have suggested a good correlation between GMI and aspergillosis outcome.

Methods: We reviewed the literature to assess the strength of correlation between GMI and aspergillosis outcome using the kappa correlation coefficient.

Change in residents' perceptions of teaching: following a one day "Residents as Teachers" (RasT) workshop.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the perceptions and attitudes of resident physicians toward teaching before and after participation in a mandatory "Residents as Teachers" (RasT) workshop in four domains: (1) setting goals and expectations, (2) use of clinical microskills in teaching, (3) evaluation and feedback, and (4) enthusiasm and preparedness toward teaching.

Methods: Pre- and postintervention questionnaires were utilized. Data were analyzed for all respondents.

Repetitive-sequence-based PCR using the DiversiLab system for identification of Aspergillus species.

Repetitive-sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) using the DiversiLab system was investigated for identification of Aspergillus. Ninety-five clinical isolates, identified by conventional methods, and five ATCC strains were tested. Sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.

Effect of UV radiation on the neonatal skin immune system- implications for melanoma.

The neonatal immune environment and the events that occur during this time have profound effects for the adult period. While protective immune responses can develop, the neonatal immune system, particularly the skin immune system (SIS), tends to promote tolerance. With this information we undertook a number of studies to identify unique aspects of skin during the neonatal period.

Effect of repeated administration of oxytocin during diestrus on duration of function of corpora lutea in mares.

Objective: To determine whether IM administration of exogenous oxytocin twice daily on days 7 to 14 after ovulation blocks luteolysis and causes prolonged function of corpora lutea (CL) in mares.

Design: Prospective study.

Animals: 12 mares.

Spectral editing of organic mixtures into pure components using NMR spectroscopy and ultraviscous solvents.

A general technique is described that permits the extraction of a complete 1H NMR spectrum for components in organosoluble mixtures. The approach should find a wide range of applications considering that pure component spectra can be generated without the need for physical separation. This technique is especially significant for synthetic organic chemistry and the pharmaceutical industry due to the potential to isolate a product spectrum even in the presence of overlapping starting materials, byproducts, or degradation products.

Quadriceps tendon rupture through a superolateral bipartite patella.

We report a case of a quadriceps tendon rupture through a bipartite patella. Although quadriceps tendon ruptures and patella fractures are common, rupture through a bipartite patella fragment is rare. This case was managed similar to a quadriceps rupture with an excellent result.

Assessment of cellular immune responses of healthy and diseased Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii).

The Tasmanian devil (TD) (Sarcophilus harrisii) is under threat from devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), a cancer that is transmitted between devils by direct cell implantation. As no devil is known to have rejected the tumour allograft, an understanding of the immune status of this species is essential to help explain the unique infectious nature of this cancer. We analysed differential white blood cell counts, the phagocytic response of neutrophils as well as mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation.

Transmission of a fatal clonal tumor by biting occurs due to depleted MHC diversity in a threatened carnivorous marsupial.

A fatal transmissible tumor spread between individuals by biting has emerged in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), a carnivorous marsupial. Here we provide genetic evidence establishing that the tumor is clonal and therefore foreign to host devils. Thus, the disease is highly unusual because it is not just a tumor but also a tissue graft, passed between individuals without invoking an immune response.

In vitro evidence of the inhibitory capacity of chloroquine on arginase activity in sickle erythrocytes.

Increased levels of erythrocyte arginase activity are believed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of sickle cell disease (SCD). Because increased arginase activity has been implicated in the exacerbation of pulmonary hypertension in SCD, this enzyme is considered an important therapeutic target for identifying new drugs to treat and manage SCD and other inflammatory disorders. Although chloroquine (CQ) is prescribed as an anti-malarial and anti-rheumatoid drug, the mechanism of its anti-inflammatory activity is largely unknown.