Inpatient HbA1c testing: a prospective observational study.

Objective: To use admission inpatient glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) testing to help investigate the prevalence of unrecognized diabetes, the cumulative prevalence of unrecognized and known diabetes, and the prevalence of poor glycemic control in both. Moreover, we aimed to determine the 6-month outcomes for these patients. Finally, we aimed to assess the independent association of diabetes with these outcomes.

Dietary intakes of expeditioners during prolonged sunlight deprivation in polar enviroments do not support bone health.

Background: Early Antarctic expeditions were plagued by nutrient deficiencies, due to lack of fresh food and reliance on preserved foods. Modern Antarctic expeditioners also require provisions to be shipped in, but improved knowledge and storage options ensure foods are nutritionally sound. Despite this, nutritional imbalances are observed.

50 years forward: mechanisms of hyperglycaemia-driven diabetic complications.

The advent of insulin treatment in 1923 meant fewer diabetes deaths from acute metabolic deterioration and sepsis and a progressive increase in the burden of disease caused by end-organ damage. These diabetic complications are the major cause of morbidity and premature mortality among diabetic subjects. Over the last 50 years it has become apparent that diabetic complications in disparate tissues may result from a combination of common pathological processes.

A variant of KCC2 from patients with febrile seizures impairs neuronal Cl- extrusion and dendritic spine formation.

Genetic variation in SLC12A5 which encodes KCC2, the neuron-specific cation-chloride cotransporter that is essential for hyperpolarizing GABAergic signaling and formation of cortical dendritic spines, has not been reported in human disease. Screening of SLC12A5 revealed a co-segregating variant (KCC2-R952H) in an Australian family with febrile seizures. We show that KCC2-R952H reduces neuronal Cl(-) extrusion and has a compromised ability to induce dendritic spines in vivo and in vitro.

Consuming two additional serves of dairy food a day significantly improves energy and nutrient intakes in ambulatory aged care residents: a feasibility study.

Objectives: [corrected] Low-level aged-care residents are at risk of malnutrition. Oral supplements and fortified foods used to treat malnutrition in the elderly require special preparation and administration by staff. Therefore we aimed to determine if increasing dairy food intake in residents by two serves per day would improve energy and nutrient intakes and prevent malnutrition in residents.

Patients presenting with severe hypotonic hyponatremia: etiological factors, assessment, and outcomes.

Background: Although hospital-acquired hyponatremia is well described, severe community-acquired hyponatremia has been studied less extensively.

Aim: To assess characteristics and outcomes of patients admitted with severe hypotonic hyponatremia (SHH) (defined as serum sodium ≤ 120 mmol/L).

Methods: All patients with serum sodium of ≤ 120 mmol/L who were admitted to 2 large teaching hospitals from January 2000 to August 2007 were identified, and data were obtained from medical records.

The C-terminal flanking peptide (CTFP) of progastrin inhibits apoptosis via a PI3-kinase-dependent pathway.

Progastrin is processed to a number of peptides including glycine-extended gastrin, amidated gastrin and the C-terminal flanking peptide (CTFP). Progastrin and gastrin-gly are pro-proliferative and anti-apoptotic in gastric and colorectal cancer cell lines. The CTFP is a major form of progastrin in the stomach and colon and stimulates proliferation.