BACKGROUND Even though inflammation is a traditional tool for the induction of hyperalgesia in many tissues, recent observations suggest that not all inflammatory processes produce this change. Tolerance to colorectal distension (CRD) is reduced in patients with acute ulcerative colitis but is increased in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease. This suggests that the nature of the in...

Porcine surfactant protein D (pSP-D) displays distinctively strong, broad-range inhibitory activity against influenza A virus (IAV). N-Linked glycosylation of the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) of pSP-D contributes to the high affinity of this collectin for IAV. To investigate the role of the N-linked glycan further, HEK293E protein expression was used to produce recombinant pSP-D (RpSP-...

OBJECTIVE To search for, review and synthesise studies of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of weight management schemes for the under fives. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE [Ovid], MEDLINE In-Process [Ovid], EMBASE [Ovid], CAB [Ovid], Health Management Information Consortium [Ovid], The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, Science Citation Index Expand...

The clinical utility of a molecular test rises proportional to a favorable regulatory risk/benefit assessment, and clinical utility is the driver of payer coverage decisions. Although a great deal has been written about clinical utility, debates still center on its 'definition.' We argue that the definition (an impact on clinical outcomes) is self-evident, and improved communications should foc...

PURPOSE To investigate the efficacy of targeted exome sequencing for mutational screening of Japanese patients with cone dystrophy (CD) or cone-rod dystrophy (CRD). METHODS DNA samples from 43 Japanese patients with CD or CRD were sequenced using an exome-sequencing panel targeting all 193 known inherited eye disease genes and next-generation sequencing methodologies. Subsequently, candidate ...

BACKGROUND/AIMS We investigated the electromyography (EMG) findings and demographic, clinical, and laboratory features that may predict the development of malignancy in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). METHODS In total, 61 patients, 36 with dermatomyositis and 25 with polymyositis, were included. Patients were divided into those with and without malignancies, and comparis...

OBSERVATION Outbreak situations require in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) to identify those who are infected and to track the infectious agent in the population. However, such IVDs are typically not available and must be developed. In addition, the process of IVD development, assessment, and implementation are very time and resource intensive. Recognising the extraordinary public health need for IVDs...

Activation of cannabinoid receptors (CB(1), CB(2) and GPR(55)) produces analgesic effects in several experimental pain models, including visceral pain arising from the gastrointestinal tract. We assessed the role of CB(1), CB(2), and GPR(55) receptors and the endogenous cannabinoid system on basal pain responses and acute mechanical hyperalgesia during colorectal distension (CRD) in rodents. Th...