MRTF-A controls myofibroblastic differentiation of human multipotent stromal cells and their tumour-supporting function in xenograft models.

Tumour growth and metastatic colonization is strongly influenced by the tumour stroma, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are a possible source of CAF following myofibroblastic differentiation, and we have previously shown that MSC support tumour growth. Triggered by tumour cell-derived factors like transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), myofibroblastic MSC differentiation is associated with the increased expression of markers including alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA).

Acute kidney injury is associated with microvascular myocardial damage following myocardial infarction.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention. However, the pathophysiology of AKI in this setting is complex and goes beyond the administration of contrast media. Studies assessing the impact of infarct characteristics on AKI are currently lacking.

Peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) (Pegasys) for the treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Compared with conventional interferon alfa, peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) has improved pharmacokinetics, provides sustained therapeutic plasma levels, and can be administered once weekly. In randomised, multinational trials, peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) 180 microg once weekly was significantly more effective than three times weekly interferon alfa-2a in patients with chronic hepatitis C, including patients with cirrhosis. Peginterferon alfa-2a (40KD) and ribavirin 1000/1200 mg/day for 48 weeks produced significantly higher sustained responses than three times weekly interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin 1000/1200 mg/day in patients with chronic hepatitis C including those with HCV genotype 1, genotypes 2/3 and those with high or low viral loads at baseline.

In vivo and in vitro permeability in coeliac disease.

Background: An increased permeability to sugars is found in the intestine of untreated patients with coeliac disease after oral ingestion.

Aim: To test whether in vitro permeability resembles in vivo permeability tests and whether an in vitro gliadin gluten challenge could be performed by an in vitro permeability test.

Methods: We measured in vivo (urinary excretion after sucrose-lactulose-mannitol ingestion) and in vitro permeability (by mini-Ussing chambers) in 25 healthy controls, 12 relatives of coeliac disease patients, 19 treated, eight partly treated and 16 untreated patients with coeliac disease.

Diagnostic duodenal bulb biopsy in celiac disease.

Background And Study Aims: Duodenal or jejunal biopsies are needed to establish the diagnosis of celiac disease. It is widely advocated that these biopsies be taken from the distal duodenum.

Patients And Methods: After finding two index cases with diagnostic biopsies taken from the duodenal bulb, we retrospectively analyzed biopsies from the descending duodenum and the duodenal bulb of 51 patients with suspected or diagnosed celiac disease.

In vitro production of endomysial antibodies in cultured duodenal mucosa from patients with celiac disease.

Objective: Endomysial antibodies (EMAs) had been found recently after in vitro gluten challenge of duodenal mucosa from treated celiac patients. This was a promising result for diagnosis of potential/latent celiac disease. Therefore, we tested the usefulness of the production of EMAs of in vitro-challenged mucosa for diagnosis of celiac disease and determined the location of EMA production.

Nasal challenge with histamine decreases nonspecific bronchial reactivity in workers exposed to respiratory irritants.

Background: A link ("naso-bronchial reflex") between nasal and bronchial reactivity seems to exist. The effect of nonspecific nasal challenge (standing for the exposure to irritative stimuli at the workplace) on lung function indices and nonspecific bronchial reactivity is not known.

Methods: In 80 healthy workers (age: 36.

Recombinant Bet v 1, the major birch pollen allergen, induces hypersensitivity reactions equal to those induced by natural Bet v 1 in the airways of patients allergic to tree pollen.

Background: Atopic allergens produced by recombinant DNA methods are promising tools for diagnosis and therapy of Type I allergy. To evaluate the immunologic properties of these molecules, it is necessary to compare them with natural allergens in vitro and in vivo.

Objective: The study was carried out to determine whether the potency of recombinant Bet v 1 (rBet v 1) is comparable to that of natural Bet v 1 (nBet v 1) in inducing allergic reactions in the nose and bronchi.

Lymphocytic gastritis and gastric permeability in patients with celiac disease.

Background & Aims: Lymphocytic gastritis is associated with celiac disease. Gastric permeability can now be assessed by a sucrose test, and intestinal permeability measured by a lactulose/mannitol test is increased in untreated celiac patients. The aim of this study was to prospectively compare gastric and intestinal permeability with histological changes of the stomach and small bowel in patients with celiac disease.

Effect of lead on blood pressure in occupationally nonexposed men.

To determine if low-level exposure to lead has an effect on arterial blood pressure, demographic and clinical data of a group of 507 males without any occupational exposure to lead were analyzed in a retrospective study. The following variables were included in the analysis: age, height, weight, nicotine consumption, alcohol intake, blood lead, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and erythrocyte count. The effects of the variables age, weight, height, alcohol intake, nicotine consumption, and blood lead on blood pressure were investigated by stepwise linear regression analysis.

How to confirm occupational asthma.

A methodological overview is provided on the important question of how to confirm occupational asthma in routine work. Recent knowledge gained in immunology and occupational allergy has been utilized, supplemented by an overview of recent publications on the diagnosis and pathophysiology of occupational asthma. The aim of the paper is to facilitate decision making for an investigator dealing with individual cases of occupational asthma.