Aspirin in venous leg ulcer study (ASPiVLU): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Venous leg ulceration is a common and costly problem that is expected to worsen as the population ages. Current treatment is compression therapy; however, up to 50 % of ulcers remain unhealed after 2 years, and ulcer recurrence is common. New treatments are needed to address those wounds that are more challenging to heal.

English as a second language and outcomes of patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes: results from the CONCORDANCE registry.

Objectives: To investigate whether patients with English as their second language have similar acute coronary syndrome (ACS) outcomes to people whose first language is English.

Design: Retrospective, observational study, using admissions, treatment and follow-up data.

Participants And Setting: A total of 6304 subjects from 41 sites enrolled in the investigator-initiated CONCORDANCE ACS registry.

Adapting and testing a brief intervention to reduce maternal anxiety during pregnancy (ACORN): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: National guidelines in the UK, United States of America, Canada, and Australia have recently stressed the importance of identifying and treating antenatal anxiety and depression. However, there is little research into the most effective and acceptable ways of helping women manage their symptoms of anxiety and stress during pregnancy. Research indicates the necessity to consider the unique needs and concerns of perinatal populations to ensure treatment engagement, highlighting the need to develop specialised treatments which could be integrated within routine antenatal healthcare services.

Transgenic Disruption of Glucocorticoid Signaling in Osteoblasts Attenuates Joint Inflammation in Collagen Antibody-Induced Arthritis.

The role of endogenous glucocorticoids (GCs) in rheumatoid arthritis remains unclear. Herein, we examined the role of osteoblastic GC signaling in collagen antibody-induced arthritis. Intracellular GC signaling was abrogated exclusively in mature osteoblasts via transgenic (tg) expression of 11ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2.

Tissue-specific models of spinal muscular atrophy confirm a critical role of SMN in motor neurons from embryonic to adult stages.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive disease linked to survival motor neuron (SMN) protein deficiency. While SMN protein is expressed ubiquitously, its deficiency triggers tissue-specific hallmarks, including motor neuron death and muscle atrophy, leading to impaired motor functions and premature death. Here, using stable miR-mediated knockdown technology in zebrafish, we developed the first vertebrate system allowing transgenic spatio-temporal control of the smn1 gene.

Review of 3-year outcomes of a very-low-energy diet-based outpatient obesity treatment programme.

Obesity is a complex disorder that requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach. This review evaluated 3-year outcomes of a very-low-energy diet (VLED)-based programme at a tertiary hospital multidisciplinary weight management clinic. Medical records of all patients who agreed to undertake the VLED programme and who did not undergo bariatric surgery during the 3-year follow-up period were examined.

Clinicians' Perspectives on Managing Symptom Clusters in Advanced Cancer: A Semistructured Interview Study.

Context: Managing symptom clusters or multiple concurrent symptoms in patients with advanced cancer remains a clinical challenge. The optimal processes constituting effective management of symptom clusters remain uncertain.

Objectives: To describe the attitudes and strategies of clinicians in managing multiple co-occurring symptoms in patients with advanced cancer.

Global measures of peripheral blood-derived DNA methylation as a risk factor in the development of mature B-cell neoplasms.

Aim: To examine whether peripheral blood methylation is associated with risk of developing mature B-cell neoplasms (MBCNs).

Materials & Methods: We conducted a case-control study nested within a large prospective cohort. Peripheral blood was collected from healthy participants.

Combination of Genistein and Cisplatin with Two Designed Monofunctional Platinum Agents in Human Ovarian Tumour Models.

A great amount of research effort has been directed at platinum compounds that bind with DNA differently from cisplatin with the idea that the difference may translate into an altered spectrum of activity. Recently research has also been directed at applying combinations of platinum agents with tumour-active phytochemicals with the aim of providing a means of overcoming platinum resistance in ovarian cancer. Herein we report the synthesis of monofunctional platinum tris(3-hydroxypyridine)chloroplatinum(II) chloride (coded as LH1) and tris(imidazole)chloroplatinum(II) chloride (coded as LH2), and their activity alone and in combination with genistein and cisplatin against human ovarian A2780, cisplatin-resistant A2780(cisR) and picoplatin-resistant A2780(ZD0473R) cancer cell lines.

Use of Whole-Exome Sequencing for Diagnosis of Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy: Outcomes and Lessons Learned.

Importance: To our knowledge, the efficacy of transferring next-generation sequencing from a research setting to neuromuscular clinics has never been evaluated.

Objective: To translate whole-exome sequencing (WES) to clinical practice for the genetic diagnosis of a large cohort of patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) for whom protein-based analyses and targeted Sanger sequencing failed to identify the genetic cause of their disorder.

Design, Setting, And Participants: We performed WES on 60 families with LGMDs (100 exomes).

The X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein Inhibitor Embelin Suppresses Inflammation and Bone Erosion in Collagen Antibody Induced Arthritis Mice.

Objective: To investigate the effect of Embelin, an inhibitor of X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (XIAP), on inflammation and bone erosion in a collagen antibody induced arthritis (CAIA) in mice.

Methods: Four groups of mice (n = 6 per group) were allocated: CAIA untreated mice, CAIA treated with Prednisolone (10 mg/kg/day), CAIA treated with low dose Embelin (30 mg/kg/day), and CAIA treated with high dose Embelin (50 mg/kg/day). Joint inflammation was evaluated using clinical paw score and histological assessments.

Train High Eat Low for Osteoarthritis study (THE LO study): protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions among older adults, with the medial tibio-femoral joint being most frequently affected. The knee adduction moment is recognized as a surrogate measure of the medial tibio-femoral compartment joint load and therefore represents a valid intervention target. This article provides the rationale and methodology for THE LO study (Train High, Eat Low for Osteoarthritis), which is a randomized controlled trial that is investigating the effects of a unique, targeted lifestyle intervention in overweight/obese adults with symptomatic medial knee OA.

Cognitive behavior therapy for comorbid migraine and/or tension-type headache and major depressive disorder: An exploratory randomized controlled trial.

Numerous studies have demonstrated comorbidity between migraine and tension-type headache on the one hand, and depression on the other. Presence of depression is a negative prognostic indicator for behavioral treatment of headaches. Despite the recognised comorbidity, there is a limited research literature evaluating interventions designed for comorbid headaches and depression.

Still leaving stains on teeth-the legacy of minocycline?

Minocycline is widely used as a first-line agent for papulopustular acne, and has previously been reported as causing stains on teeth that are still forming. This article reports a case of staining to only the crowns of unerupted third molars in a girl prescribed minocycline at age 16 for papulopustular acne. We review the literature in the area of minocycline teeth staining, consider the role of minocycline as a first-line agent for papulopustular acne, and outline strategies on the prevention of minocycline teeth staining.

The long-term impact of oxaliplatin chemotherapy on rodent cognition and peripheral neuropathy.

Chemotherapy treatment is associated with cognitive dysfunction in cancer survivors after treatment completion. The duration of these impairments is unclear. Therefore this paper aims to evaluate the lasting impact of varying doses of the chemotherapy oxaliplatin (OX) on cognition and peripheral neuropathy.

Medicine-taking experiences and associated factors: comparison between Arabic-speaking and Caucasian English-speaking patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and compare medication-taking experiences and associated issues in Arabic-speaking and Caucasian English-speaking patients with Type 2 diabetes in Australia.

Methods: Various healthcare settings in metropolitan Melbourne, Australia, were purposefully selected to obtain a diverse group of participants with Type 2 diabetes. Recruitment occurred at diabetes outpatient clinics in two tertiary referral hospitals, six primary care practices and ten community centres.

Expanding the phenotype of GMPPB mutations.

Dystroglycanopathies are a heterogeneous group of diseases with a broad phenotypic spectrum ranging from severe disorders with congenital muscle weakness, eye and brain structural abnormalities and intellectual delay to adult-onset limb-girdle muscular dystrophies without mental retardation. Most frequently the disease onset is congenital or during childhood. The exception is FKRP mutations, in which adult onset is a common presentation.

Treatment of postnatal depression with cognitive behavioural therapy, sertraline and combination therapy: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: Both antidepressant medications and psychological therapy are common treatments for depression in postpartum women. Antidepressant treatment may have a number of practical disadvantages, including a preference by women to avoid medication while breastfeeding. Consequently, more information about the relative benefits of the two modalities in the perinatal period is helpful.

Synthesis of a monofunctional platinum compound and its activity alone and in combination with phytochemicals in ovarian tumor models.

Currently used platinum drugs fail to provide long-term cure for ovarian cancer mainly because of acquired drug resistance. In this study, a new monofunctional planaramineplatinum(II) complex, namely tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)monochloroplatinum(II) chloride (coded as LH3), was synthesised and investigated for its activity against human ovarian A2780, cisplatin-resistant A2780 (A2780(cisR)) and ZD0473-resistant A2780 (A2780(ZD0473R)) cancer cell lines, alone and in combination with the phytochemicals curcumin, genistein and resveratrol. Cellular levels of glutathione in A2780 and A2780(cisR) cell lines before and after treatment with LH3 and its combinations with genistein and curcumin were also determined.

Efficacy and safety of oral methazolamide in patients with type 2 diabetes: a 24-week, placebo-controlled, double-blind study.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of methazolamide as a potential therapy for type 2 diabetes.

Research Design And Methods: This double-blind, placebo-controlled study randomized 76 patients to oral methazolamide (40 mg b.i.

Benefit-risk assessment of orlistat in the treatment of obesity.

Orlistat, an inhibitor of intestinal lipase, has been available for the treatment of obesity for nearly two decades. In conjunction with a hypocaloric diet, orlistat treatment results in a placebo-subtracted reduction in body weight of around 3 kg at 1 year, and increases the likelihood of achieving clinically significant (≥5%) weight loss by around 20%. Orlistat-induced weight loss also confers modest improvements in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, glycemic parameters, and progression to diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance.

Tubular carcinoma of the breast: axillary involvement and prognostic factors.

Background: Tubular carcinoma (TC) of the breast has a very favourable prognosis. The role for axillary staging in small TC was questioned. This study investigated the frequency of axillary metastases and prognostic factors in pure TC of the breast.