BACKGROUND Incomplete reporting is a frequent waste in research. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a writing aid tool (WAT) based on the CONSORT statement and its extension for non-pharmacologic treatments on the completeness of reporting of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS We performed a 'split-manuscript' RCT with blinded outcome assessment. Participants were masters and doc...

Purpose. It has been confirmed that inflammatory cytokines are involved in the progression of pterygium. Histamine can enhance proliferation and migration of many cells. Therefore, we intend to investigate the proliferative and migratory effects of histamine on primary culture of human pterygium fibroblasts (HPFs). Methods. Pterygium and conjunctiva samples were obtained from surgery, and tolui...

1 Blue Brain Project, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Geneva, Switzerland, 2 Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, Centre de Recherche de l’Hôpital du Sacré-Cœur de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada, 3 Département de Psychiatrie, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada, 4 Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, Centre de Recherche de...

Itch is immensely frustrating. Most studies focus on the cause of itch. In this issue of Neuron, Kardon et al. (2014) find that itch can be modulated by inhibitory neurons that produce dynorphin, an endogenous agonist of κ-opioid receptors.

The O-arylation of 1,2-aminoalcohols using functionalized triarylbismuth reagents is reported. The reaction can be performed using substoichiometric amounts of copper acetate and operates under mild conditions. Good functional group tolerance is observed, giving access to a range of β-aryloxyamines. The effect provided by the amino group in the arylation reaction is investigated.

Clostridium ultunense strain Esp belongs to the functional group of syntrophic acetate-oxidizing bacteria (SAOB), which have been identified as key organisms for efficient biogas production from protein-rich materials. Genome analysis and comparative genomics might aid us to define physiological features that are essential for maintaining this particular syntrophic lifestyle.