Multiomics analyses reveal a critical role of selenium in controlling T cell differentiation in Crohn’s disease

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Appearance of recurrent dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in postoperative MRI follow-up

Purpose: To analyze the appearance of recurrent dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) in postoperative MRI follow-up and to assess the occurrence of postoperative soft tissue changes detected in MRI.Methods: A total of 464 MRI follow-up scans of 32 patients with histologically proven diagnosis of DFSP were analyzed. MR imaging was performed using a 1.5T MRI system. Recurrent DFSP was examined for signal intensity, contrast behavior, appearance, and extent in MRI.Results: The mean age of the patients was 44,5±17,1 years. Recurrences of DFSP occurred 26±23.3 months after primary tumor resection in the mean (Min.: 9, Max.: 60). In 25% of the patients (n = 8), recurrences of DFSP were detected. Recurrent DFSP most often showed a nodular and homogeneous configuration with well-defined borders and marked contrast enhancement, and a hyperintense signal in PD-weighted and turbo inversion recovery magnitude sequences. All recurrences were well detected in the follow-up MRIs regardless of the performed plastic surgery procedure. Lateral and depth margins had no significant impact on the local recurrence rate. In all, 88% of the patients developed subcutaneous tissue edema (p < 0.01), followed by muscle edema (34%, p = 0.02), and postoperative seroma (22%).Conclusion: Recurrent DFSP mainly appear uniform and clearly delimitable on MRI as nodular, homogeneous, and well-defined lesions with marked contrast enhancement. Therefore, MRI is a valuable tool for postsurgical follow-up. Nearly all patients develop subcutaneous edema after the resection of DFSP.     

Effect of vitamin D on musculoskeletal pain and headache: A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial among adult ethnic minorities in Norway

Immigrants from South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa living in Northern Europe frequently have low vitamin D levels and more pain compared to the native Western population. The aim of this study was to examine whether daily vitamin D₃ (25 μg/d or 10 μg/d) supplementation for 16 weeks would improve musculoskeletal pain or headache compared to placebo. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial recruited 251 participants aged 18 to 50 years, and 215 (86%) attended the follow-up visit. The pain measures were occurrence, anatomical localization, and degree of musculoskeletal pain, as measured by visual analogue scale (VAS) score during the past 2 weeks. Headache was measured with VAS and the Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) questionnaire. At baseline, females reported more pain sites (4.7) than males (3.4), and only 7% reported no pain in the past 2 weeks. During the past 4 weeks, 63% reported headache with a high mean HIT-6 score of 60 (SD 7). At follow-up, vitamin D level, measured as serum 25(OH)D₃, increased from 27 nmol/L to 52 nmol/L and from 27 nmol/L to 43 nmol/L in the 25-μg and 10-μg supplementation groups, respectively, whereas serum 25(OH)D₃ did not change in the placebo group. Pain scores and headache scores were improved at follow-up compared with baseline. The use of vitamin D supplements, however, showed no significant effect on the occurrence, anatomical localization, and degree of pain or headache compared to placebo.     

Temperament and one-year outcome of gastric bypass for severe obesity

BackgroundThe role of temperament traits in shaping the outcome of gastric bypass for severe obesity has not been established yet. This study evaluated whether temperament traits influence weight loss 1 year after gastric bypass, controlling for the potential confounding effect of Axis I and II disorders.MethodsForty-nine patients with severe obesity (body mass index = 46.4±6.7) undergoing gastric bypass completed a thorough psychiatric evaluation before surgery, including structured interviews, rating scales, and questionnaire assessing the presence and severity of co-morbid Axis I and II disorders. Temperament was evaluated with the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI). Weight loss 1 year after surgery was calculated as percent total weight loss (%TWL). Predictors of weight loss were investigated with multivariate linear hierarchical regression.ResultsAfter accounting for psychiatric covariates, higher TCI persistence scores independently predicted 1-year outcome of gastric bypass and explained 40% of the variance in %TWL. Patients with low persistence scores showed a significantly lesser weight loss than patients with high scores.ConclusionTemperament traits denoting the ability to persevere in one’s goals in spite of immediate frustration (persistence) are associated with greater weight loss 1 year after gastric bypass. These data suggest the utility of preoperatively assessing and reinforcing such capacity to optimize surgical outcome. Future research will clarify the behavioral mechanisms mediating this relationship as well as the influence of temperament on weight maintenance.     

Prevalence of overweight and obesity among nurses in Scotland: A cross-sectional study using the Scottish Health Survey

BackgroundIncreasing prevalence of overweight and obesity represents a global pandemic. As the largest occupational group in international healthcare systems nurses are at the forefront of health promotion to address this pandemic. However, nurses own health behaviours are known to influence the extent to which they engage in health promotion and the public's confidence in advice offered. Estimating the prevalence of overweight and obesity among nurses is therefore important. However, to date, prevalence estimates have been based on non-representative samples and internationally no studies have compared prevalence of overweight and obesity among nurses to other healthcare professionals using representative data.ObjectivesTo estimate overweight and obesity prevalence among nurses in Scotland, and compare to other healthcare professionals and those working in non-heath related occupations.DesignCross-sectional study using a nationally representative sample of five aggregated annual rounds (2008–2012) of the Scottish Health Survey.SettingScotland.Participants13,483 adults aged 17–65 indicating they had worked in the past 4 weeks, classified in four occupational groups: nurses (n = 411), other healthcare professionals (n = 320), unqualified care staff (n = 685), and individuals employed in non-health related occupations (n = 12,067).Main outcome measuresPrevalence of overweight and obesity defined as Body Mass Index ≥ 25.0.MethodsEstimates of overweight and obesity prevalence in each occupational group were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI). A logistic regression model was then built to compare the odds of being overweight or obese with not being overweight or obese for nurses in comparison to the other occupational categories. Data were analysed using SAS 9.1.3.Results69.1% (95% CI 64.6, 73.6) of Scottish nurses were overweight or obese. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was higher in nurses than other healthcare professionals (51.3%, CI 45.8, 56.7), unqualified care staff (68.5%, CI 65.0, 72.0) and those in non-health related occupations (68.9%, CI 68.1, 69.7). A logistic regression model adjusted for socio-demographic composition indicated that, compared to nurses, the odds of being overweight or obese was statistically significantly lower for other healthcare professionals (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.45, CI 0.33, 0.61) and those in non-health related occupations (OR 0.78, CI 0.62, 0.97).ConclusionsPrevalence of overweight and obesity among Scottish nurses is worryingly high, and significantly higher than those in other healthcare professionals and non-health related occupations. High prevalence of overweight and obesity potentially harms nurses’ own health and hampers the effectiveness of nurses’ health promotion role. Interventions are therefore urgently required to address overweight and obesity among the Scottish nursing workforce.     

天麻素对大鼠骨骼肌细胞化学损伤的保护

背景:现代药理学研究表明,天麻的主要成分天麻素可以恢复大脑皮质兴奋与抑制过程间的平衡失调,产生镇静、安眠和镇痛等中枢抑制作用。目的:观察天麻素对L6大鼠成肌细胞化学损伤的保护作用。方法:用H2O2建立L6大鼠成肌细胞的化学损伤模型。DMEM培养液制备不同浓度的天麻素(1.562500,0.781250,0.390625g/L)预处理保护组的L6大鼠成肌细胞24h,然后用0.1mmol/LH2O2孵育80min,同时设置增殖组(用不同浓度的天麻素预处理,但不经H2O2处理),模型组(仅用H2O2处理),阳性对照组(仅有L6细胞悬液),阴性对照组(只有DMEM培养液),对照组既不用天麻素预处理,也不用H2O2孵育。结果与结论:MTT检测显示,增殖组和保护组L6大鼠成肌细胞存活率明显高于模型组;DAPI荧光标记细胞核为蓝色,模型组细胞荧光度较弱,且数目显著少于保护组;苏木精-伊红染色显示保护组的细胞核形状较规则,细胞轮廓较清晰,而模型组破损细胞较多;Bax和Bcl-2免疫荧光细胞化学结果表明,模型组促凋亡基因bax表达明显高于保护组,而抑制凋亡基因bcl-2的表达量完全相反;流式细胞仪检测显示保护组的凋亡率显著低于模型组(P<0.05)。提示天麻素对保护大鼠骨骼肌细胞化学损伤有显著效果。