Photoengineering of tissue repair in skeletal and cardiac muscles

This review discusses the application of He-Ne laser irradiation to injured muscles at optimal power densities and optimal timing, which was found to significantly enhance (twofold) muscle regeneration in rats and, even more, in the cold-blooded toads. Multiple and frequent (daily) application of the laser in the toad model was found to be less effective than irradiation on alternate days. It was found that in the ischemia/reperfusion type of injury in the skeletal leg muscles (3 h of ischemia), infrared Ga-Al-As laser irradiation reduced muscle degeneration, increased the cytoprotective heat shock proteins (HSP-70i) content, and produced a twofold increase in total antioxidants. In vitro studies on myogenic satellite cells (SC) revealed that phototherapy restored their proliferation. Phototherapy induced mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK) phosphorylation in these cells, probably by specific receptor phosphorylation. Cell cycle entry and the accumulation of satellite cells around isolated single myofibers cultured in vitro was also stimulated by phototherapy. Phototherapy also had beneficial effects on mouse, rat, dog and pig ischemic heart models. In these models, it was found that phototherapy markedly and significantly reduced (50-70%) the scar tissue formed after induction of myocardial infarction (MI). The phototherapeutic effect was associated with reduction of ventricular dilatation, preservation of mitochondria and elevation of HSP- 70i and ATP in the infarcted zone. It is concluded that phototherapy using the correct parameters and timing has a markedly beneficial effect on repair processes after injury or ischemia in skeletal and heart muscles. This phenomenon may have clinical applications.     

Modulations of VEGF and iNOS in the rat heart by low level laser therapy are associated with cardioprotection and enhanced angiogenesis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It has been shown previously that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) significantly reduces infarct size following induction of myocardial infarction in rats and dogs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of LLLT on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). STUDY DESIGN AND MATERIAL AND METHODS: Myocardial infarction was induced by occlusion of the left descending artery in 87 rats. LLLT was applied to intact and post-infarction. VEGF, iNOS, and angiogenesis were determined. RESULTS: Both the laser-irradiated rat hearts post-infarction and intact hearts demonstrated a significant increase in VEGF and iNOS expression compared to non-laser-irradiated hearts. LLLT also caused a significant elevation in angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that VEGF and iNOS expression in the infarcted rat heart is markedly upregulated by LLLT and is associated with enhanced angiogenesis and cardioprotection.     

Polyamine biosynthesis is required for survival of sympathetic neurons after axonal injury

Treatment of adult rats with specific inhibitors of polyamine synthesizing enzymes prevented the early increase in ornithine decar☐ylase activity and polyamine content in the superior cervical ganglion after the postganglionic nerve was cut. Moreover, after axotomy, this treatment led to a marked diminution of the chromatolytic response with a marked neuronal cell death. We conclude that after axonal injury an early increase in polyamine biosynthesis, probably within parent sympathetic neurons, is an obligatory step in the progression of the axon reaction.     

Oral microflora in infants delivered vaginally and by caesarean section

BACKGROUND. Early in life, vaginally delivered infants exhibit a different composition of the gut flora compared with infants delivered by caesarean section (C-section); however, it is unclear whether this also applies to the oral cavity. AIM. To investigate and compare the oral microbial profile between infants delivered vaginally and by C-section. DESIGN. This is a cross-sectional case-control study. Eighty-four infants delivered either vaginally (n = 42) or by C-section (n = 42) were randomly selected from the 2009 birth cohort at the County Hospital in Halmstad, Sweden. Medically compromised and premature children (<32 weeks) were excluded. The mean age was 8.25 months (range 6-10 months), and parents were asked to complete a questionnaire on socioeconomic factors, lifestyle, and hygiene habits. Saliva was collected and analysed using checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization. RESULTS. A higher prevalence of salivary Streptococcus salivarius, Lactobacillus curvata, Lactobacillus salivarius, and Lactobacuillus casei was detected in infants delivered vaginally (P < 0.05). The caries-associated bacteria Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus were detected in 63% and 59% of all children, respectively. CONCLUSION. A significantly higher prevalence of certain strains of health-related streptococci and lactobacilli was found in vaginally delivered infants compared with infants delivered by C-section. The possible long-term effects on oral health need to be further investigated.     

Quality of Evidence to Compare Outcomes of Open and Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy

Robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) has gained widespread acceptance in the treatment of prostate cancer. While it increasingly is becoming the surgical approach of choice in many centers, limited data exist directly comparing it to radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). This review examines the evidence comparing RALP to RRP. The outcomes evaluated are arranged into perioperative, oncologic, and functional outcomes. Of the 21 publications meeting our selection criteria, Level II, III, and IV evidence were found in 9, 1, and 11 articles, respectively. Overall, RALP was associated with lower blood loss, transfusion rates, length of stay, and higher cost when compared to RRP. Definitive conclusions regarding complications and oncologic and functional outcomes are not yet possible, and will require longer-term follow-up and well-designed randomized controlled trials.     

Overrepresentation of rare variants in a specific ethnic group may confuse interpretation of association analyses

Rare sequence variants may be important in understanding the biology of common diseases, but clearly establishing their association with disease is often difficult. Association studies of such variants are becoming increasingly common as large-scale sequence analysis of candidate genes has become feasible. A recent report suggested SLITRK1 (Slit and Trk-like 1) as a candidate gene for Tourette Syndrome (TS). The statistical evidence for this suggestion came from association analyses of a rare 3'-UTR variant, var321, which was observed in two patients but not observed in more than 2000 controls. We genotyped 307 Costa Rican and 515 Ashkenazi individuals (TS probands and their parents) and observed var321 in five independent Ashkenazi parents, two of whom did not transmit this variant to their affected child. Furthermore, we identified var321 in one subject from an Ashkenazi control sample. Our findings do not support the previously reported association and suggest that var321 is overrepresented among Ashkenazi Jews compared with other populations of European origin. The results further suggest that overrepresentation of rare variants in a specific ethnic group may complicate the interpretation of association analyses of such variants, highlighting the particular importance of precisely matching case and control populations for association analyses of rare variants.     

Quantitative flow cytometry of ZAP-70 levels in chronic lymphocytic leukemia using molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochrome

BACKGROUND: ZAP-70 has emerged as a potential pivotal prognostic marker for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which could replace immunoglobulin heavy chain mutation status. Although several flow cytometry assays have been described for assessing ZAP-70 in CLL, certain technical and scientific issues remain unsolved, which have prevented results of this crucial test from being reported, even in the best routine flow cytometry laboratories. In this report, we aimed to solve some of these issues by providing a computerized quantitative flow cytometric assay for ZAP-70 within the entire CLL population, which would be easy to perform and enable standardization between laboratories. METHODS: Intracellular ZAP-70 levels in CLL and normal B cells were assessed by molecules of equivalent soluble fluorochrome (MESF), employing Quantum FITC MESF calibration beads to establish a standard curve relating channel value to fluorescence intensity in MESF units and the QuickCal v. 2.2 program (www.bangslabs.com) and clinical relevance of the data was determined. RESULTS: The average ZAP-70 expression value in the CD19(+)/CD5(+) cells from 35 CLL patients was 103,701 MESF when compared with 12,621 MESF in B cells from 20 normal blood samples. "Low" and "high" ZAP-70 CLL subgroups were defined. Patients with "high ZAP-70 MESF" CLL had a shorter time to disease progression (P = 0.0005) and a more advanced clinical stage (P = 0.0018) when compared with patients in the "low ZAP-70 MESF" CLL subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: This quantitative analysis method can be employed to obtain a more specific and highly accurate assessment of ZAP-70 levels in CLL cells. The method can easily be standardized, in any routine flow laboratory, thereby improving reproducibility and reliability of ZAP-70 analysis.