Combined estrogen and ghrelin administration restores number of blood vessels and collagen type I/III ratio in the urethral and anal canal submucosa of old ovariectomized rats

We compare the effects of estrogen and/or ghrelin on vascular counts and collagen I/III ratio of urethral and anal canal submucosa in old vs young-adult ovariectomized rats. Ovariectomized Fisher 344 rats (18 and 3 months old, n = 24 x 2) received 42 daily intraperitoneal 17-ss estradiol (10 microg/kg), ghrelin (2 microg/kg), both, or vehicle (n = 6 x 4 per group). Blood vessel counts and collagen I/III ratio were measured, respectively, by light microscopy and Western blot analysis with immunohistochemistry of ghrelin receptors. Estrogen significantly increased urethral and anal vascular counts and collagen I/III ratio in young-adult rats. In old rats, only combined estrogen/ghrelin administration significantly increased both variables. This was not observed with estrogen or ghrelin separately. Ghrelin receptors were immunostained in urethral and anal submucosa of all samples. Combined estrogen/ghrelin administration restored postovariectomy urethral and anal canal submucosal vessel number and collagen I/III ratio in old rats suggesting independent ageing effect.     

Comparison of manipulation and stabilization exercises in patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction patients: A randomized clinical trial

Background

Manual therapy and exercise therapy are two common treatments for low back pain. Although their effects have been discussed in several studies, the superiority of one over the other for patients with sacroiliac joint dysfunction is still unclear.

Microglia promote colonization of brain tissue by breast cancer cells in a Wnt‐dependent way

Although there is increasing evidence that blood‐derived macrophages support tumor progression, it is still unclear whether specialized resident macrophages, such as brain microglia, also play a prominent role in metastasis formation. Here, we show that microglia enhance invasion and colonization of brain tissue by breast cancer cells, serving both as active transporters and guiding rails. This is antagonized by inactivation of microglia as well as by the Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf‐2. Proinvasive microglia demonstrate altered morphology, but neither upregulation of M2‐like cytokines nor differential gene expression. Bacterial lipopolysacharide shifts tumor‐educated microglia into a classical M1 phenotype, reduces their proinvasive function, and unmasks inflammatory and Wnt signaling as the most strongly regulated pathways. Histological findings in human brain metastases underline the significance of these results. In conclusion, microglia are critical for the successful colonization of the brain by epithelial cancer cells, suggesting inhibition of proinvasive microglia as a promising antimetastatic strategy. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Haptoglobin gene polymorphism in type 2 diabetic patients with and without nephropathy: An Egyptian study

BACKGROUND: The development and progression of diabetic microvascular complications including nephropathy are related to the degree of glycemic control and oxidative stress and may be influenced by genetic factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between haptoglobin (Hp) gene polymorphism and the occurrence of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and to find a possible link between Hp phenotypes and the inflammatory parameters; serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin- 6 (IL-6), and Hp. METHODS: The study included 60 normotensive type 2 diabetic patients (>5 years duration) categorized into three equal groups (normo-, micro-, and macroalbuminuric), according to urinary albumin excretion (UAE). In addition, 20 age- and sex-matched individuals were selected to serve as a control group. Serum CRP, IL-6, and Hp concentrations were measured and Hp phenotyping was conducted using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: The frequency of Hp phenotype 1-1 (Hp 1-1) in diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria was 7/20 (35%) as compared with 1/20 (5%) in diabetics with macroalbuminuria (p=0.02). However, the frequency of Hp 2-2 was greater in diabetics with macroalbuminuria (12/20, 60%) than in those with normoalbuminuria or controls (5/20, 25%; p=0.03). Patients with diabetic nephropathy (micro- or macroalbuminuria) had higher levels of serum CRP, IL-6, and Hp than those without nephropathy (normoalbuminuria). Serum Hp levels in type 2 diabetics were higher in Hp phenotype 2-2 than in Hp 1-1; however, serum CRP and IL-6 levels did not differ significantly between Hp phenotype groups. Moreover, there were significant positive correlations between UAE and serum levels of CRP, IL-6, and Hp in diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Hp phenotype 2-2 is considered to be a major susceptibility gene for the development of nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients. In addition, the significant association between inflammatory parameters and UAE indicates that inflammation may be a pathogenic mechanism of renal injury in type 2 diabetics. Moreover, serum IL-6 and Hp may be good prognostic factors for the development of nephropathy in the course of diabetes mellitus. Future research on the use of anti-inflammatory therapy may result in a new approach to the treatment and prevention of diabetic nephropathy.     

Reducing lower extremity amputations due to diabetes: the application of diabetic-foot protocol in Chiang Mai University Hospital

The aim of this study was to determine whether intensive treatment and education strategies for diabetic patients with ulcers help in preventing leg amputation. From August 2005 to March 2007, a diabetic-foot protocol using a multidisciplinary approach was applied at our hospital. All the subjects were educated regarding diabetic-foot disease and its complications and prevention. This report compares the amputation rate in patients receiving the protocol care from August 2005 to March 2007 with those who had standard care from August 2003 to July 2005. Seventy-three and 110 diabetic-foot ulcer patients received protocol and standard foot care, respectively. The incidence of major amputations in the protocol and standard care groups was 4.1% and 13.6%, respectively (P= .03). Our protocol was associated with improved diabetic-foot care outcomes. It can be used by any hospital to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes.     

Testicular tumours in children: a single-institutional experience

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of testicular and paratesticular tumours in children, as such tumours are rare, and historically yolk sac tumour has been described as the most common lesion in children, but recent reports suggest that benign testicular lesions might be more common. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed retrospectively the records of children treated for testicular tumours from 1998 to 2005. The patients' age, clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, treatment methods, histopathological findings, and outcome were recorded. Patients aged>144 months and those with non-primary metastatic lesions were excluded. RESULTS: In all, 11 patients met our criteria, with a mean age of 37 months (range 9 days to 144 months). Pathological analysis revealed teratoma in four patients, yolk sac tumour in two, epidermoid cysts in two, extrarenal nephroblastomatosis in one, and paratesticular rhabdomyosarcomas in two. The most common clinical presentation was a painless testicular mass. Depending on the clinical presentation and pathology, scrotal ultrasonography, tumour markers (alpha-fetoprotein and beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin), and/or staging computed tomography (CT) were obtained in eight patients. All patients had a radical orchidectomy. Three patients had elevated tumour markers that normalized after orchidectomy. CT revealed extensive mediastinal adenopathy in one patient with rhabdomyosarcoma. Chemotherapy was administered to both patients with rhabdomyosarcoma. CONCLUSION: Although there were few patients, most of the lesions were benign tumours, with the most common histological subtype being teratoma. As both malignant and paratesticular lesions occurred at a significant frequency, we would continue to advocate an initial radical inguinal approach at which time testis-sparing could be considered if the preoperative evaluation was favourable, and frozen-section analysis at the time of surgery confirms a benign lesion.     

Staphylococcus aureus triggered reactive arthritis.

OBJECTIVES--To report two patients who developed reactive arthritis in association with Staphylococcus aureus infection. METHODS--A review of the case notes of two patients. RESULTS--Two adult female patients have developed sterile arthritis in association with Staph aureus infection. The first patient has had two episodes of arthritis; the first followed olecranon bursitis, the second followed infection of a central venous catheter used for dialysis. The second patient developed sterile arthritis while being treated for pyomyositis. Both patients had a self limited arthritis and were HLA-B27 negative. CONCLUSION--Reactive arthritis may rarely follow Staph aureus infection. HLA-B27 negativity may be associated with a self limited arthritis in these cases.     

Enhanced Erbium-Doped Ceria Nanostructure Coating to Improve Solar Cell Performance

This paper discusses the effect of adding reduced erbium-doped ceria nanoparticles (REDC NPs) as a coating on silicon solar cells. Reduced ceria nanoparticles doped with erbium have the advantages of both improving conductivity and optical conversion of solar cells. Oxygen vacancies in ceria nanoparticles reduce Ce⁴⁺ to Ce³⁺ which follow the rule of improving conductivity of solar cells through the hopping mechanism. The existence of Ce³⁺ helps in the down-conversion from 430 nm excitation to 530 nm emission. The erbium dopant forms energy levels inside the low-phonon ceria host to up-convert the 780 nm excitations into green and red emissions. When coating reduced erbium-doped ceria nanoparticles on the back side of a solar cell, a promising improvement in the solar cell efficiency has been observed from 15% to 16.5% due to the mutual impact of improved electric conductivity and multi-optical conversions. Finally, the impact of the added coater on the electric field distribution inside the solar cell has been studied.