Normally, sonic hedgehog (Shh) is expressed in the pancreas during fetal development and transiently after tissue injury. Although pancreatic cancers express Shh, it is not known if the protein is secreted into the blood and whether its plasma levels change with pancreatic transformation. The goal of this study was to ...

The application of paired-end next generation sequencing approaches has made it possible to systematically characterize rearrangements of the cancer genome to base-pair level. Utilizing this approach, we report the first detailed analysis of ovarian cancer rearrangements, comparing high-grade serous and clear cell cancers, and these histotypes with other solid cancers. ...

Aspirin (ASA), a major antiplatelet and cancer-preventing drug, irreversibly blocks the cyclooxygenase (COX) activity of prostaglandin H synthase-1 (PGHS-1). Considerable differences in ASA effectiveness are observed between individuals, and some of this variability may be due to PGHS-1 protein variants. Our overall aim is to determine which, if any, of ...

A short course of narrowband ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) exposures increases the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration in patients with psoriasis and healthy subjects. To compare the effects of NB-UVB and oral vitamin D substitution in healthy subjects in winter. Healthy adult hospital employees and medical students were screened for serum ...

Stem cell therapy holds great promise for treating neurodegenerative disease, but major barriers to effective therapeutic strategies remain. A complete understanding of the derived phenotype is required for predicting cell response once introduced into the host tissue. We sought to identify major axonal guidance cues present in neurons derived from ...

The nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse is a classical animal model for autoimmune type 1 diabetes (T1D), closely mimicking features of human T1D. Thus, the NOD mouse presents an opportunity to test the effectiveness of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) as a therapeutic modality for T1D. Here, we demonstrate a proof ...

The mandibular incisive canal (MIC) is the anterior extension of the mandibular canal and its presence is of interest in surgical procedures in the chin region. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of a MIC in panoramic radiographs (OPGs). One thousand forty-five OPGs were randomly chosen ...

Cover Picture: A word cloud was generated using key words from the abstracts of the CHO Cell Genomics Special Section and arranged around a chromosome spread. Top panels represent important aspects of CHOmics (left to right): transcriptomics, CHO cells; genomics; bioprocessing; microRNAs. Image courtesy of Vaibhav Jadhav, Matthias Hackl and ...

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy in the population, and the incidence of this cancer is increasing at a rapid rate. Although genetic analysis of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has identified mutations in a large percentage of patients, the genetic basis of follicular thyroid cancer (FTC) is less ...

The DNA and RNA repair protein AlkB removes alkyl groups from nucleic acids by a unique iron- and α-ketoglutarate-dependent oxidation strategy. When alkylated adenines are used as AlkB targets, earlier work suggests that the initial target of oxidation can be the alkyl carbon adjacent to N1. Such may be the ...

The innate immune response provides our first line of defence against infection. Over the course of evolution, pathogens have evolved numerous strategies to either avoid activating or to limit the effectiveness of the innate immune system. The Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) contains tegument proteins in the virion that contribute to ...

The efficient recycling of the chromophore of visual pigments, 11-cis-retinal, through the retinoid visual cycle is an essential process for maintaining normal vision. RPE65 is the isomerohydrolase in retinal pigment epithelium and generates predominantly 11-cis-retinol (11cROL) and a minor amount of 13-cis-retinol (13cROL), from all-trans-retinyl ester (atRE). We recently identified ...

Heart disease is a leading cause of death and disability in developed countries. Heart disease includes a broad range of diseases that affect the development and/or function of the cardiovascular system. Some of these diseases, such as congenital heart defects, are present at birth. Others develop over time and may ...

The causative agent of African sleeping sickness, Trypanosoma brucei , undergoes an unusual mitochondrial RNA editing process that is essential for its survival. RNA editing terminal uridylyl transferase 2 of T. brucei (TbRET2) is an indispensable component of the editosome machinery that performs this editing. TbRET2 is required to maintain ...

Ligand-gated ion channels undergo conformational changes that transfer the energy of agonist binding to channel opening. Within ionotropic glutamate receptor (iGluR) subunits, this process is initiated in their bilobate ligand binding domain (LBD) where agonist binding to lobe 1 favors closure of lobe 2 around the agonist and allows formation ...

ABSTRACT:: Cutaneous clear cell neoplasms represent a heterogenous group of several primary and metastatic tumors with diverse histogenesis. Tumors with widespread clear cell change can seem strikingly similar under the microscope resulting in diagnostic difficulties. Although most cases are idiopathic, intracytoplasmic accumulation, artifact of tissue processing, and degenerative phenomenon have ...

: Fewer than 10% of patients with colon cancer in the United States are reportedly treated with a laparoscopic colectomy despite the benefits it has over the open approach. This estimate, however, may be artificially low because of inaccurate case identification. : The aim of this study was to estimate ...

Citation information: Rudnicka AR & Owen CG. An introduction to systematic reviews and meta-analyses in health care. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 2012, 32, 174-183. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2012.00901.x ABSTRACT: Important issues in medical research are often examined in a number of studies, sometimes using different study designs. Data from such studies are often ...

GPR50, formerly known as melatonin-related receptor, is one of three subtypes of the melatonin receptor subfamily, together with the MT(1) and MT(2) receptors. By contrast to these two high-affinity receptor subtypes and despite its high identity with the melatonin receptor family, GPR50 does not bind melatonin or any other known ...

Testing for embryotoxicity in vitro is an attractive alternative to animal experimentation. The embryonic stem cell test (EST) is such a method, and it has been formally validated by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods. A number of recent studies have underscored the potential of this method. ...

Introduction:  Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has revolutionised the management of hypercapnic exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We wished to evaluate factors related to its overall success in the 'real-life' setting. Methods:  A retrospective analysis of patients receiving NIV for a hypercapnic exacerbation of COPD was performed. Demographics, laboratory data, ...

  The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the barriers and facilitators to implementation of the five overarching recommendations of the Institute of Medicine report and to consider the implications for nursing.   Data were collected through use of a semi-structured interview of purposive sample of ...

Information about adenosquamous carcinoma of the colon and rectum is scarce because of its extremely low incidence. The aim of this study was to examine the prognostic significance of a histological diagnosis of adenosquamous carcinoma in comparison with adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum. This study was retrospective in design. ...

To compare monochromatic aberrations of keratoconic eyes when uncorrected, corrected with spherically-powered RGP (rigid gas-permeable) contact lenses and corrected using simulations of customised soft contact lenses for different magnitudes of rotation (up to 15°) and translation (up to 1mm) from their ideal position. The ocular aberrations of examples of mild, ...

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Asthma Clinical Research Network (ACRN) recently completed its work after 20 years of collaboration as a multicentre clinical trial network. When formed, its stated mission was to perform multiple controlled clinical trials for treating patients with asthma by dispassionately examining new and ...

Faculty seek to teach nursing students how to link clinical and theoretical knowledge with the intent of improving patient outcomes. The author discusses an innovative 9-week concept mapping activity as a pedagogical approach to teach nursing theory in a graduate theory course. Weekly concept map building increased student engagement and ...

This study tested the direct effect of watching thin ideal children's television on body satisfaction in preadolescent girls (6-8 years old). A within-subject design was used in which girls (N = 51) were tested three times. They watched television clips in random order containing either (1) thin ideal animated characters or (2) ...

ABSTRACT:: We describe the clinical, histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings in an additional case of lipoatrophic panniculitis selectively involving the ankles in a 12-year-old boy. This idiopathic, rarely reported entity is presumed to have an autoimmune pathogenesis. Histological findings are a lipophagic lobular panniculits, that in our case featured focally ...

Despite relatively generous coverage of the over-65 population, Danish home help services receive regular criticism in the media and public opinion polls. Perhaps as a consequence, reforms of Danish home care policy for senior citizens have placed a strong emphasis on quality since the 1990s. This reform strategy represents a ...

: Anastomotic leakage is a morbid and potentially fatal complication of colorectal surgery. Determination of pre- and intraoperative risk factors may identify patients requiring increased postoperative surveillance for this major complication. : The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors associated with anastomotic leakage after colectomy with primary ...

Although a large proportion of molecules expressed in the nervous system are conserved from invertebrate to vertebrate, functional properties of such molecules are less characterized. Here, we show that highly conserved hydrolase AHO-3 acts as a novel regulator of starvation-induced thermotactic plasticity in Caenorhabditis elegans. As wild-type animals, aho-3 mutants ...

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) isoforms are important mitogens for different types of mesenchymal cells, which have important functions during the embryonal development and in the adult during wound healing and tissue homeostasis. In tumors, PDGF isoforms are often over-expressed and contribute to the growth of both normal and malignant cells. ...

It is well recognized that expression of enzymes varies during development and growth. However, an in-depth review of this acquired knowledge is needed to translate the understanding of enzyme expression and activity into the prediction of change in effects (e.g. kinetics and toxicity) of xenobiotics with age. Age-related changes in ...

Reconstruction of a 3-D face model from a single 2-D face image is fundamentally important for face recognition and animation because the 3-D face model is invariant to changes of viewpoint, illumination, background clutter, and occlusions. Given a coupled training set that contains pairs of 2-D faces and the corresponding ...

Although clinical trials often provide "best evidence" comparing the effectiveness of alternative management strategies, such evidence can be limited in duration or in the results reported, causing clinicians and policy analysts to wonder "what if?" Models of the clinical prognosis-often spanning patients' lifetimes (the "long haul")-are perhaps weaker evidence, but ...

Inhaled antibiotics, such as TOBI (a tobramycin solution), gentamicin, colistin and aztreonam lysine (Cayston) have been effectively administered with safety and efficacy in patients with cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis. In addition, inhaled antibiotics have been administered with safety and efficacy for the prevention and treatment of patients with ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis ...

Many new nursing leaders assuming deanships, assistant, or interim deanships have limited education, experience, or background to prepare them for the job. To assist new deans and those aspiring to be deans, the authors of this department, 2 deans, offer survival tips based on their personal experiences and insights. They ...

Multiple-choice questions are frequently used in high-stakes nursing assessments. Many nurse educators, however, lack the necessary knowledge and training to develop these tests. The authors discuss test development guidelines to help nurse educators produce valid and reliable multiple-choice assessments.

The value of quantitative CT (QCT) to identify chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) phenotypes is increasingly appreciated. The authors hypothesised that QCT-defined emphysema and airway abnormalities relate to St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Body-Mass Index, Airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea and Exercise Capacity Index (BODE). 1200 COPDGene subjects meeting Global Initiative ...

This study aimed to determine the predictors of discharge to acute care after inpatient rehabilitation in severely affected stroke patients. This was a retrospective study using data from the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR) between 2008 and 2009. The main outcome variable was discharge location, which included discharge ...

: Imaging modalities such as endoanal ultrasound or MRI can be useful preoperative adjuncts before the appropriate surgical intervention for perianal fistulas. : We present a systematic review of published literature comparing endoanal ultrasound with MRI for the assessment of idiopathic and Crohn's perianal fistulas. : A meta-analysis was performed ...

Willin is a FERM-domain protein, which is related to the Drosophila Expanded, a protein known to be a component of the Hippo signaling pathway. We recently showed that Willin localizes at the apical junctional complex (AJC) in epithelial cells together with Par3 and regulates the contractility of the circumferential actomyosin ...

Neural stem cells are the origins of neurons and glia and generate all the differentiated neural cells of the mammalian central nervous system via the formation of intermediate precursors. Although less frequent, neural stem cells persevere in the postnatal brain where they generate neurons and glia. Adult neurogenesis occurs throughout ...

Aims:  To assess the efficacy and safety of combination therapy with sitagliptin and low dosage sulphonylureas on glycaemic control and insulin secretion capacity in Japanese type 2 diabetes. Methods: Eighty-two subjects were sequentially recruited for the 52-week, prospective, single arm study. Sitagliptin was added on to sulphonylureas (glimepride or gliclazide) ...

  What is the comparative impact of a second pregnancy prevention program for teen mothers on those who graduate from the program compared with a sample of young mothers of similar age and social circumstances who did not participate in the program?   Fifteen program graduates and 20 nonprogram cohorts ...

PROBLEM:  Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have at least as many comorbidities as individuals with typical development may show, but sometimes with different presentations. METHODS:  The study used a school-based health survey related to children diagnosed with ASD in Tehran to determine the possibility of comorbid conditions. Ninety-one children ...

Student evaluations are relied on heavily to provide feedback for teaching improvement and professional growth. However, their use as the primary source of performance feedback may be limiting. To add another dimension to faculty evaluation, a peer-review process for both clinical and didactic teaching was implemented. The authors describe the ...

In 1916, when Annie Brainard published this paper, there was an ongoing discussion in the journal about specialization versus generalization of public health nursing (PHN) work. This discussion revolved around issues such as the size of communities (rural versus urban), population density, and cost effectiveness. For geographically large rural communities ...

: Restorative proctocolectomy with IPAA is the surgical treatment of choice in patients with ulcerative colitis who require colectomy. Pouchitis is the most common long-term complication in patients with IPAA. While immune-mediated disorders frequently coexist with IBD, they appear to be associated with an increased risk for chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis. ...

The CYP2C19*2 loss-of-function allele is associated with reduced generation of active metabolites of clopidogrel. However, meta-analyses have supported or discounted the impact of genotype on adverse cardiovascular outcomes during clopidogrel therapy, depending on studies included in the analysis. Here we review these data and conclude that evidence supports a differential ...