Closure of mesenteric defects is associated with a higher incidence of small bowel obstruction due to adhesions after laparoscopic antecolic Roux-en-y gastric bypass: A retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: Small bowel obstruction (SBO) is a frequent complication after laparoscopic Roux-en-y gastric bypass (LRYGB).

Objectives: We wanted to evaluate the effect of closure of the mesenteric defects on the incidence of SBO and postoperative complications after LRYGB. Furthermore, we wanted to identify possible risk factors for SBO.

Totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair using a self-expanding nitinol framed hernia repair device: A prospective case series.

Background: The use of a self-expanding nitinol framed prosthesis (ReboundHRD) for totally extraperitoneal laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (TEP-IHR) could solve issues of mesh shrinkage and associated pain. We prospectively evaluated the use of the ReboundHRD mesh for TEP-IHR.

Materials And Methods: All patients who underwent a TEP-IHR using the ReboundHRD Large mesh from April 2014 till May 2015, were included.

Routine serum creatinine measurements: how well do we perform?

Background: The first aim of the study was to investigate the accuracy and intra-laboratory variation of serum creatinine measurements in clinical laboratories in Flanders. The second purpose was to check the effect of this variation in serum creatinine concentration results on the calculated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the impact on classification of patients into a chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage.

Methods: 26 routine instruments were included, representing 13 different types of analyzers from 6 manufacturers and covering all current methodologies (Jaffe, compensated Jaffe, enzymatic liquid and dry chemistry methods).

A simple height-independent equation for estimating glomerular filtration rate in children.

Background: The chronic kidney disease (CKD) classification system for children is similar to the CKD classification system for adults, using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) combined with fixed cut-off values of 60, 30, and 15 ml/min/1.73 m(2) for CKD stages III, IV, and V, respectively. To estimate GFR in children, eGFR-equations are used that require serum creatinine (Scr), but also height information, which is normally not available in clinical laboratory databases.

Local elongation of endothelial cell-anchored von Willebrand factor strings precedes ADAMTS13 protein-mediated proteolysis.

Platelet-decorated von Willebrand factor (VWF) strings anchored to the endothelial surface are rapidly cleaved by ADAMTS13. Individual VWF string characteristics such as number, location, and auxiliary features of the ADAMTS13 cleavage sites were explored here using imaging and computing software. By following changes in VWF string length, we demonstrated that VWF strings are cleaved multiple times, successively shortening string length in the function of time and generating fragments ranging in size from 5 to over 100 μm.

Apparent heterogeneity in the pIII-peptide fusion protein in single-phage clones isolated from peptide libraries.

Ligand homogeneity is an important issue in affinity chromatography. Using phages expressing peptides on the pIII protein, a heterogeneity in the binding of monoclonal phages was observed during affinity chromatography on supermacroporous cryogels. Fractions with different apparent binding affinities could be separated by stepwise elution.

The labeling of cationic iron oxide nanoparticle-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells using targeted magnetoliposomes.

The in vitro labeling of cultured cells with nanomaterials is a frequent practice but the efficiency, specificity and cytotoxicity of labeling specific cell types using targeted nanoparticles has only rarely been investigated. In the present work, functionalized anionic lipid-coated iron oxide cores (magnetoliposomes (MLs)) bearing galactose moieties were used for the specific labeling of asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 (ASGPR-1)-expressing HepG2 cells. The optimal number of galactose moieties per particle (± 26) was determined and uptake efficiency was compared with galactose-lacking anionic and cationic MLs.

PEGylated lipids impede the lateral diffusion of adsorbed proteins at the surface of (magneto)liposomes.

Protein binding to nanoparticles is a crucial issue in biomedicine, as it triggers their clearance from the bloodstream after intravenous injection. Many techniques are available for measuring strong protein binding interactions, but weak dynamic interactions are more difficult to assess. To tackle the latter problem, in the present work, cytochrome c was chosen as a representative model of a water-soluble protein and the adsorbing particulates were either small unilamellar phospholipid vesicles or 14 nm diameter solid superparamagnetic iron oxide cores onto which a phospholipid bilayer was strongly chemisorbed (so-called magnetoliposomes).

Inactivation of ADAMTS13 by plasmin as a potential cause of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Background: ADAMTS13 deficiency causes accumulation of unusually large von Willebrand factor molecules, which cross-link platelets in the circulation or on the endothelial surface. This process of intravascular agglutination leads to the microangiopathy thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Most TTP patients have acquired anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies that inhibit enzyme function and/or clear it from the circulation.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura directly linked with ADAMTS13 inhibition in the baboon (Papio ursinus).

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is the prototypical microangiopathy characterized by disseminated microthromboses, hemolytic anemia, and ultimately organ dysfunction. A link with deficiency of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13) has been demonstrated, but additional genetic and/or environmental triggers are thought to be required to incite acute illness. Here we report that 4 days of ADAMTS13 functional inhibition is sufficient to induce TTP in the baboon (Papio ursinus), in the absence of inciting triggers because injections with an inhibitory monoclonal antibody (mAb) consistently (n = 6) induced severe thrombocytopenia (< 12 × 10(9)/L), microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and a rapid rise in serum lactate dehydrogenase.

New insights in glomerular filtration rate formulas and chronic kidney disease classification.

Background: The MDRD Study equation is the most popular equation for estimating the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from serum creatinine (Scr), age, sex and race. Many articles deal with ethnic factors, correcting the MDRD Study equation for different populations, with more or less success. The new CKD-EPI equation introduced the concept of a population-normalized Scr in the eGFR equation for white men (Scr/0.

Mutation of the H-bond acceptor S119 in the ADAMTS13 metalloprotease domain reduces secretion and substrate turnover in a patient with congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is caused by mutations in a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS13) resulting in defective processing of von Willebrand factor (VWF) that causes intravascular platelet aggregation culminating in thrombocytopenia with shistocytic anemia. In this study the functional and structural role of a recently identified ADAMTS13 metalloprotease domain mutation S119F was investigated. Secretion from heterologous cells was hampered but not completely eliminated.

The role of nanoparticle concentration-dependent induction of cellular stress in the internalization of non-toxic cationic magnetoliposomes.

Magnetoliposomes (MLs), built up of ultrasmall iron oxide cores each individually surrounded by a lipid bilayer, have emerged as highly biocompatible nanoparticles and promising tools in many biomedical applications. To improve cell uptake, cationic amphiphiles are inserted into the ML coat, but this often induces cytotoxic effects. In the present work, we synthesized and tested a cationic peptide-lipid conjugate (dipalmitoylphosphatidylethanolamine-succinyl-tetralysine [DPPE-succ-(Lys)4]) which is entirely composed of biodegradable moieties and specifically designed to exert minimal cytotoxic effects.

Disruption of the behavioral satiety sequence by simmondsin.

Simmondsin, a cyanoglycoside from jojoba meal, reduces food intake after oral administration. To diagnose if it acts by inducing satiation or by creating abnormal physiological effects, an observational study was undertaken to investigate the effects of simmondsin on feeding and other behaviors. Particular attention was paid to the behavioral sequence associated with satiety (BSS).

Addressing the problem of cationic lipid-mediated toxicity: the magnetoliposome model.

The high biocompatibility and versatile nature of liposomes made these particles keystone components in many hot-topic research areas. For transfection and cell labelling purposes, synthetic cationic lipids are often added, but in most studies, little attention has been paid to their cytotoxic effects. In the present work, cationic magnetoliposomes (MLs), i.

Are eGFR equations better than IDMS-traceable serum creatinine in classifying chronic kidney disease?

Objective: In 2002, a uniform definition of chronic kidney disease (CKD) became widely accepted. The level of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is the pivot for staging the disease. Because GFR is not readily measured in routine clinical practice, statistical models such as the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation have been proposed for estimating GFR.

The novel S527F mutation in the integrin beta3 chain induces a high affinity alphaIIbbeta3 receptor by hindering adoption of the bent conformation.

Three heterozygous mutations were identified in the genes encoding platelet integrin receptor alphaIIbbeta3 in a patient with an ill defined platelet disorder: one in the beta3 gene (S527F) and two in the alphaIIb gene (R512W and L841M). Five stable Chinese hamster ovary cell lines were constructed expressing recombinant alphaIIbbeta3 receptors bearing the individual R512W, L841M, or S527F mutation; both the R512W and L841M mutations; or all three mutations. All receptors were expressed on the cell surface, and mutations R512W and L841M had no effect on integrin function.

Establishing age/sex related serum creatinine reference intervals from hospital laboratory data based on different statistical methods.

Background: This is a retrospective study on a large hospital database to establish age- and sex-related mean values and reference ranges for serum creatinine (Scr), obtained with an IDMS-traceable, enzymatic method, in a Caucasian population.

Methods: The database was filtered for unique entries to reduce the presence of correlated and pathological data. Three different statistical methods, a non-parametric method, the Bhattacharya procedure and a non-linear fit of the cumulative Gaussian distribution were used to estimate the serum creatinine-age dependency for men and women, from birth till 100 years of age.

Specific heating power of fatty acid and phospholipid stabilized magnetic fluids in an alternating magnetic field.

Magnetic fluids (MFs) with a similar narrow size distribution of the iron oxide core were stabilized with lauric acid (MF 1), oleate (MF 2) or, after dialysis in the presence of liposomes, with phospholipid molecules (MF 3 and MF 4, respectively). The hydrodynamic sizes of the MF 1 and MF 3 were half those found for MF 2 and MF 4. The MFs were exposed to inductive heating in an alternating magnetic field at a frequency of 200 kHz and a maximum magnetic field strength of 3.

Macroporous monolithic gels, cryogels, with immobilized phages from phage-display library as a new platform for fast development of affinity adsorbent capable of target capture from crude feeds.

Selected phage clones expressing a peptide with high binding affinity for recombinant human lactoferrin or von Willebrand factor (vWF) were covalently coupled to macroporous poly(dimethylacrylamide) monolithic column. Large pore size (10-100 microm) of macroporous poly(dimethylacrylamide) makes it possible to couple long (1 microm) phage particles as ligands without any risk of blocking the monolithic column. The macroporous monolithic columns were successfully used for the direct affinity capture of target proteins from particulate containing feeds like milk containing casein micelles and fat globules (1-10 microm in size) or even whole blood containing blood cells (up to 20 microm in size).

Multi-mode nonlinear resonance ultrasound spectroscopy for defect imaging: an analytical approach for the one-dimensional case.

A nonlinear version of the resonance ultrasound spectroscopy (RUS) theory is presented as an extension of the RUS formalism to the treatment of microdamage characterized by nonlinear constitutive equations. General analytical equations are derived for the one-dimensional case, describing the excitation amplitude dependent shift in the resonance frequency and the generation of harmonics resulting from the interaction between bar modes due to the presence of either localized or volumetrically distributed nonlinearity. Solutions are obtained for classical cubic nonlinearity, as well as for the more interesting case of hysteresis nonlinearity.

Surface functionalization of magnetoliposomes in view of improving iron oxide-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents: anchoring of gadolinium ions to a lipophilic chelate.

Small unilamellar phospholipid vesicles containing the phosphatidylethanolamine-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (PE-DTPA) conjugate as one of the building stones were constructed. The ability of these colloids to complex gadolinium(III) ions at the surface of both the inner and outer bilayer shells was verified using a colorimetric method with Arsenazo III as a dye indicator. On incubation of these functionalized vesicles with magnetoliposomes (MLs, nanometer-sized magnetite cores encapsulated in a phospholipid bilayer), PE-DTPA percolates into the ML coat.

Fluorescence contributions of the individual Trp residues in goat alpha-lactalbumin.

Goat alpha-lactalbumin (GLA) contains four tryptophan (Trp) residues. In order to obtain information on the fluorescence contribution of the individual Trp residues in native GLA, we recorded the fluorescence spectra of four GLA mutants, W26F, W60F, W104F, and W118F, in each of which a single Trp residue was replaced with phenylalanine (Phe). Comparison of the fluorescence spectra of the four mutants with that of wild-type GLA indicated that, in native GLA, three Trp residues (Trp60, Trp104, and Trp118) are strongly quenched and account for the partial indirect quenching of Trp26.

Lentiviral vectors mediate efficient and stable gene transfer in adult neural stem cells in vivo.

Modulation of adult neurogenesis may offer new therapeutic strategies for various brain disorders. In the adult mammalian brain the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle is a region of continuous neurogenesis. Lentiviral vectors stably integrate into dividing and nondividing cells, in contrast to retroviral vectors, which integrate only into dividing cells.

Selectivity of tryptophan residues in mediating photolysis of disulfide bridges in goat alpha-lactalbumin.

Goat alpha-lactalbumin (GLA) contains four tryptophan (Trp) residues and four disulfide bonds. Illumination with near-UV light results in the cleavage of disulfide bridges and in the formation of free thiols. To obtain information about the reaction products, the illuminated protein was carbamidomethylated and digested with trypsin and the peptides were analyzed by mass spectrometry.