Vaccine Oka variants and sequence variability in vaccine-related skin lesions.

As with most live attenuated viral vaccines, varicella vaccine comprises a mixture of variant strains. Knowledge about the pathogenic potential of individual strains in the varicella vaccine is limited. Vaccination against chickenpox causes a usually modified varicella-like rash in a small percentage of healthy children, and vaccine virus reactivates on rare occasions to cause herpes zoster (HZ).

Use and limitations of varicella-zoster virus-specific serological testing to evaluate breakthrough disease in vaccinees and to screen for susceptibility to varicella.

A plethora of tests for determining the presence of antibodies to varicella-zoster virus (VZV) have been developed over the years, with a wide range of performance standards. There is general agreement that the presence of VZV antibodies in serum indicates immunity to varicella and protection from chickenpox, although the role of specific antibody in mediating protection remains unclear. Both antibodies and cellular immunity probably interact to mediate immunity to the virus.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine reduces the organ injury/dysfunction and inflammation caused by endotoxemia in the rat.

Objective: Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) has been reported to activate a variety of G-protein coupled receptors, including S1P(1-5), G2A, GPR4, and OGR1 (GPR68). Interestingly, other structurally related lysophospholipid agonists of these receptors have been shown to exhibit immunomodulatory properties both in vitro and in vivo. These include prevention of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced monocyte adhesion to aortic endothelium in mice (sphingosine-1-phosphate via S1P(1-5) receptors) and reduction of organ injury and/or mortality in animal models of sepsis and endotoxemia (lysophosphatidylcholine via G2A).

Pediatric Cushing's syndrome: clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment.

Cushing's syndrome (CS) results from prolonged exposure to supraphysiological levels of circulating glucocorticoids, endogenously or exogenously derived. Although rare in childhood, CS remains a difficult condition to diagnose and treat. A multidisciplinary approach and close collaboration with adult colleagues is adopted at most large centres that manage pediatric CS patients.

Familial glucocorticoid deficiency: advances in the molecular understanding of ACTH action.

Familial glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD), otherwise known as hereditary unresponsiveness to ACTH, is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by glucocorticoid deficiency in the absence of mineralocorticoid deficiency. Mutations of the ACTH receptor, also known as the melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R), account for approximately 25% of FGD cases. More recently a second gene, MRAP (melanocortin-2 receptor accessory protein), was identified and found to account for a further 15-20%.

Consistency of labial finish line preparation for metal ceramic crowns: an investigation of a new bur.

Purpose: Previous studies have reported on the difficulties inherent in preparing the labial aspect of teeth for metal ceramic crowns with consistency and also the implications for the definitive restoration of underprepared and overangled finish lines. In this study, a bur designed to prepare a 1.2-mm deep chamfer was tested and compared with two other bur kits.

Muramyl dipeptide enhances the response to endotoxin to cause multiple organ injury in the anesthetized rat.

Nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD) proteins recognize peptidoglycan fragments, resulting in up-regulation of transcription factors, and may enhance the inflammatory response to infection. Specifically, NOD2 has been shown to sense muramyl dipeptide (MDP), which is released during bacterial cell growth and replication. Activation of NOD2 by MDP enhances the inflammatory response caused by LPS (endotoxin).

Erythropoietin and carbamylated erythropoietin are neuroprotective following spinal cord hemisection in the rat.

The cytokine erythropoietin (EPO) has been shown to be neuroprotective in a variety of models of central and peripheral nervous system injury. Derivatives of EPO that lack its erythropoietic effects have recently been developed, and the initial reports suggest that they have a neuroprotective potential comparable to that of EPO. One such derivative is carbamylated EPO (CEPO).

Unilateral laparoscopic ovarian diathermy in infertile women with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome.

We evaluated the efficacy of unilateral versus bilateral laparoscopic ovarian diathermy in infertile women with clomiphene citrate-resistant polycystic ovary syndrome. Recall follow-up 18 to 48 months after laparoscopic ovarian diathermy showed that unilateral ovarian diathermy was as effective and long lasting as bilateral ovarian diathermy in the resumption of menstruation and pregnancy rates.

Long-term anterior pituitary function in patients with paediatric Cushing's disease treated with pituitary radiotherapy.

Background/objective: Pituitary radiotherapy (RT) is an effective second-line treatment for paediatric Cushing's disease (CD). Although the short-term effects of pituitary RT are well documented, there are less data on possible long-term sequelae. We report the long-term anterior pituitary function in a cohort of paediatric CD patients treated with pituitary RT.

Inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase 3beta in sepsis.

The serine-threonine protein kinase glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3 is involved in the regulation of many cell functions, but its role in the regulation of the inflammatory response is unknown. Here we investigate the effects of GSK-3beta inhibition on organ injury/dysfunction caused by endotoxaemia or severe inflammation in the rat. Rats received either intravenous Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (6 mg/kg) or LPS (1mg/kg) plus Staphylococcus aureus peptidoglycan (PepG) (0.

The role of cycloxygenase-2 in the rodent kidney following ischaemia/reperfusion injury in vivo.

The role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the pathophysiology of renal ischaemia/reperfusion injury is still not fully understood. In order to elucidate the role of COX-2 in ischaemia/reperfusion injury of the kidney, we have evaluated the effects of ischaemia/reperfusion on renal dysfunction and injury in (i) rats treated with either vehicle or the selective COX-2 inhibitor parecoxib, and (ii) wild-type mice or mice in which the gene for COX-2 has been deleted (COX-2 knock-out mice or COX-2(-/-)). Rats were subjected to bilateral renal ischaemia (45 min) and reperfusion (6 h), and received parecoxib (20 mg/kg, i.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3beta as a target for the therapy of shock and inflammation.

After the discovery that glycogen synthase kinase (GSK) 3beta plays a fundamental role in the regulation of the activity of nuclear factor kappaB, a number of studies have investigated the effects of this protein kinase in the regulation of the inflammatory process. The GSK-3beta inhibition, using genetically modified cells and chemically different pharmacological inhibitors, affects the regulation of various inflammatory mediators in vitro and in vivo. Insulin, an endogenous inhibitor of GSK-3 in the pathway leading to the regulation of glycogen synthase activity, has recently been clinically used in the therapy for septic shock.

Nitrite-derived nitric oxide protects the rat kidney against ischemia/reperfusion injury in vivo: role for xanthine oxidoreductase.

In normal conditions, nitric oxide (NO) is oxidized to the anion nitrite, but in hypoxia, this nitrite may be reduced back to NO by the nitrite reductase action of deoxygenated hemoglobin, acidic disproportionation, or xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR). Herein, is investigated the effects of topical sodium nitrite administration in a rat model of renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Rats were subjected to 60 min of bilateral renal ischemia and 6 h of reperfusion in the absence or presence of sodium nitrite (30 nmol) administered topically 1 min before reperfusion.

Lysophosphatidic acid reduces the organ injury caused by endotoxemia-a role for G-protein-coupled receptors and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma.

Exogenous lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) has been shown to beneficial in renal ischemia/reperfusion injury, wound healing and colitis. LPA acts via specific G-protein-coupled receptors and also peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma). However, activation of PPAR-gamma is dependent on the presence of an unsaturated acyl chain.

PPARalpha activation reverses adverse effects induced by high-saturated-fat feeding on pancreatic beta-cell function in late pregnancy.

We examined whether the additional demand for insulin secretion imposed by dietary saturated fat-induced insulin resistance during pregnancy is accommodated at late pregnancy, already characterized by insulin resistance. We also assessed whether effects of dietary saturated fat are influenced by PPARalpha activation or substitution of 7% of dietary fatty acids (FAs) with long-chain omega-3 FA, manipulations that improve insulin action in the nonpregnant state. Glucose tolerance at day 19 of pregnancy in the rat was impaired by high-saturated-fat feeding throughout pregnancy.

Diet, obesity and diabetes: a current update.

The prevalence of obesity has been increasing at a rapid rate over the last few decades. Although the primary defect can be attributed to an imbalance of energy intake over energy expenditure, the regulation of energy balance is now recognized to be complex. Adipose-tissue factors play a central role in the control of energy balance and whole-body fuel homoeostasis.

Lipoproteins in inflammation and sepsis. I. Basic science.

Background: High-density lipoproteins (HDL) have been shown to bind and neutralize lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and are regarded as possible therapeutic agents for sepsis and conditions associated with local or systemic inflammation. However, in recent years, a multitude of possible immunomodulatory properties other than LPS neutralization have become evident.

Discussion: This review highlights the advances in the understanding of how HDL is protective in both in vitro and in vivo inflammatory settings, including the ability of HDL to modulate adhesion molecule expression, upregulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase and counteract oxidative stress.

Specialist dermatology clinics for organ transplant recipients significantly improve compliance with photoprotection and levels of skin cancer awareness.

Background: Organ transplant recipients (OTRs) have 100-fold increased risk of developing squamous cell carcinomas. Cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation is the main risk factor and there is evidence that lack of dermatological surveillance may be responsible for poor levels of knowledge and photoprotection among OTRs.

Objectives: This study evaluated whether routine consultation in a specialist OTR dermatology clinic improves understanding of skin cancer risk and compliance with photoprotection measures.

Bacterial infections of the gut (excluding enteric fever).

Bacterial enteric infections are still a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and many challenges lie ahead in understanding and managing these conditions. Clostridium difficile remains the most important nosocomial infection. Antibiotic resistance makes the treatment of shigella infections increasingly difficult.

Fluid and electrolyte transport in the small intestine.

The small intestine is in a dynamic state of secretion and absorption, the sum of which results in net absorption. Secretion is principally the result of chloride and bicarbonate extrusion through apical chloride channels after the activation of the second messengers cAMP, cGMP, and calcium. In addition to the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator, several other candidate chloride channels have been identified and proposed to play a role in intestinal secretion, including the calcium-dependent chloride channel hCLCA1.

Transforming growth factor-beta: an important cytokine in the mucosal immune response.

Cytokines are important mediators in the intestine regulating both oral tolerance and mucosal inflammation. Central to this immune-regulatory role is the cytokine transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). Oral tolerance and inflammatory responses in the gut are regulated through the balance of the Th1, Th2, and Th3 lymphocyte responses--a balance influenced strongly by TGF-beta.

Water and electrolyte absorption and secretion in the small intestine.

The use of gene-knockout mice permits an increased insight into the role of specific transport proteins and membrane receptors in epithelial water and electrolyte transport. Data on the secondary coupling of water transport to Na-glucose cotransport and the mechanism of action of a number of prosecretory and proabsorptive enteric neurotransmitters are reviewed. Nitric oxide and some experimental treatments with therapeutic potential for cholera toxin-induced water and electrolyte secretion are discussed.