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Solid Evidence (solid + evidence)
Selected AbstractsDetection of Enterohepatic and Gastric Helicobacter Species in Fecal Specimens of Children with Crohn's DiseaseHELICOBACTER, Issue 4 2008Si Ming Man Abstract Background: Although there is compelling evidence to support the role of bacteria in Crohn's disease (CD), there is currently no solid evidence to support the role of any one specific bacterial causative agent. Recent studies have suggested that members of the Helicobacteraceae may play a role in the development of CD. The aim of this study was to further investigate the presence of members of the Helicobacteraceae in children with and without CD. Materials and methods: Fecal specimens from 29 children with CD, 11 healthy, normal controls, and 26 symptomatic controls with non-inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathology were obtained for DNA extraction and subjected to Helicobacteraceae -specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All PCR-positive samples were sequenced. The association between the presence of members of the Helicobacteraceae and each study group was statistically analysed using the Fisher's exact test. Results: Based on Helicobacteraceae -specific PCR analysis, 59% (17 of 29) of the children with CD were positive, which was significantly higher than that in asymptomatic healthy children [9% (1 of 11); p = .01] and that in symptomatic children with non-IBD pathology [0% (0/26); p < .0001]. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of positive samples revealed the presence of both enterohepatic Helicobacter species and Helicobacter pylori in fecal specimens. Conclusions: For the first time, enterohepatic and gastric Helicobacter species have been identified in fecal specimens from children diagnosed with CD using PCR. Our data suggest that Helicobacter species may have a pathogenic role in the development of CD in a considerable proportion of children. [source] Fluid regimens for colostomy irrigation: a systematic reviewINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EVIDENCE BASED HEALTHCARE, Issue 3 2008Lucylynn Lizarondo Abstract Background, Various techniques for managing faecal evacuation have been proposed; however, colostomy irrigation is favoured as it leads to better patient outcomes. Alternative fluid regimens for colostomy irrigation have been suggested to achieve effective evacuation. Aim, The objective of this review was to summarise the best available evidence on the most effective fluid regimen for colostomy irrigation. Search strategy, Trials were identified by electronic searches of CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, Current Contents, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE. Unpublished articles and references lists from included studies were also searched. Selection criteria, Randomised controlled trials and before-and-after studies investigating any fluid regimen for colostomy irrigation were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes measured included fluid inflow time, total wash-out time, haemodynamic changes during irrigation, cramps, leakage episodes, quality of life and level of satisfaction. Data collection and analysis, Trial selection, quality appraisal and data extraction were carried out independently by two reviewers. Differences in opinion were resolved by discussion. Main results, The systematic literature search strategy identified two cross-over trials that compared water with another fluid regimen. Owing to the differences in irrigating solutions used, the results were not pooled for analysis. Both the polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution and glyceryl trinitrate performed significantly better than water. Conclusion, There is some evidence to support the effectiveness of fluid regimens other than water, such as polyethylene glycol electrolyte and glyceryl trinitrate, for colostomy irrigation. Further well-designed clinical trials are required to establish solid evidence on the effectiveness of other irrigating solutions that might enhance colonic irrigation. [source] Morphological and Molecular Data Reveal the Presence of the Invasive Artemia franciscana in Margherita di Savoia Salterns (Italy)INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF HYDROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Graziella Mura Abstract Introduced populations of the American invasive Artemiafranciscana have been reported in Mediterranean countries except for Italy. A recent sampling at Margherita di Savoia revealed the presence of mating pairs in a saltwork known to host only parthenogens. An integrated approach, based on scanning electron microscopy of four morphological traits, discriminant analysis of 13 morphometric characters and 16S rRNA PCR-RFLP profiles of eight endonucleases was implemented for the identification of the invader. Patterns of variability in all assayed markers provided congruent and solid evidence that the allochthonous species is A. franciscana. Native parthenogens are still predominant (,98.4%) in this Italian site but they can be rapidly outcompeted by A. franciscana, as it occurred in similar cases throughout Europe and elsewhere. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Methylene blue-mediated photodynamic therapy induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in HeLa CellJOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2008Yan Lu Abstract Methylene blue (MB), a widely studied reagent, is investigated in this work for its usage in photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT has been proved to be highly effective in the treatment of different types of cancers. Previous studies showed MB has both high affinity for mitochondria and high photodynamic efficiency. To elucidate the effects of MB in PDT, we analyzed PDT-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells by introducing different doses of MB into the culture media. Our data showed that MB-mediated PDT triggered intense apoptotic cell death through a series of steps, beginning with photochemical generation of reactive oxygen species. The release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase-3 indicated that MB-PDT-mediated apoptosis in HeLa cells was executed by the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway. Importantly, proteomic studies confirmed that expression levels of several mitochondrial proteins were altered in MB-PDT-induced apoptosis, including TRAP1, mitochondrial elongation factor Tu and peroxiredoxin 3 isoform b. Western blot data showed that phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and PKA were reduced in MB-PDT treated cells, indicating several signal molecules participating in this apoptotic cascade. Moreover, MB-PDT induced an increase in the strength of interaction between Bcl-xL and dephosphorylated Bad. This led to loss of the pro-survival function of Bcl-xL and resulted in mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. This study provides solid evidence of a strong induction by MB-PDT of a mitochondria-dependent apoptosis cascade in HeLa cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 1451,1460, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Supply's Growing Status and Influence: A Sixteen-Year PerspectiveJOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2006P. Fraser Johnson SUMMARY The recent completion of a major survey of large North American supply organizations in 2003 permits a longitudinal perspective on supply roles and responsibilities over a 16-year period. The latest survey complements two earlier studies in 1987 and 1995. All three surveys counted at least 280 responding large North American supply organizations, thereby providing a valuable opportunity to examine trends and changes over time. Major areas of investigation for respondents in both the manufacturing and services sectors include supply organizational structure, supply chain responsibilities, and chief purchasing officer (CPO) reporting line, title and background. This research provides solid evidence that in both manufacturing and services, today's CPOs have greater responsibilities, report higher in the organization and carry more significant titles than their predecessors. The conclusion is that, at least in large North American companies, supply has grown substantially in corporate status and influence since 1987, a particularly welcome discovery. [source] A transcriptomic analysis of land-use impacts on the oyster, Crassostrea virginica, in the South Atlantic bightMOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 11 2009ROBERT W. CHAPMAN Abstract Increasing utilization and human population density in the coastal zone is widely believed to place increasing stresses on the resident biota, but confirmation of this belief is somewhat lacking. While we have solid evidence that highly disturbed estuarine systems have dramatic changes in the resident biota (black and white if you will), we lack tools that distinguish the shades of grey. In part, this lack of ability to distinguish shades of grey stems from the analytical tools that have been applied to studies of estuarine systems, and perhaps more important, is the insensitivity of the biological end points that we have used to assess these impacts. In this study, we will present data on the phenotypic adjustments as measured by transcriptomic signatures of a resilient organism (oysters) to land-use practices in the surrounding watershed using advanced machine-learning algorithms. We will demonstrate that such an approach can reveal subtle and meaningful shifts in oyster gene expression in response to land use. Further, the data show that gill tissues are far more responsive and provide superior discrimination of land-use classes than hepatopancreas and that transcripts encoding proteins involved in energy production, protein synthesis and basic metabolism are more robust indicators of land use than classic biomarkers such as metallothioneins, GST and cytochrome P-450. [source] Redefining Type 2 diabetes: ,Diabesity' or ,Obesity Dependent Diabetes Mellitus'?OBESITY REVIEWS, Issue 2 2000A. Astrup Summary Type 2 diabetes is considered by diabetes physicians as a complex and heterogeneous disease with a poorly understood aetiology, apart from the fact that there is a strong genetic propensity that becomes overt when exposed to a typical Western lifestyle. Our clinical targets are now moving from controlling the disease to preventing it. Do we need to await more research on the aetiology and pathophysiology before establishing a preventive strategy? No, the pathophysiology may be poorly understood, but there is now solid evidence that type 2 diabetes is a disease of fatness. New, controlled, clinical trials show that as little as 5% weight loss is sufficient to prevent most obese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance developing type 2 diabetes. Since type 2 diabetes is obesity dependent, and obesity is the main aetiogical cause of type 2 diabetes, we propose the term ,diabesity' should be adopted. [source] Acrosome Biosynthesis in Spermatocytes and Spermatids Revealed by HPA Lectin CytochemistryTHE ANATOMICAL RECORD : ADVANCES IN INTEGRATIVE ANATOMY AND EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2008Galder Valbuena Abstract The origin of the acrosome is controversial, because of both its lysosomal nature and at the moment of its appearance, which seems to be species-specific. Considering the amazing organization shown by the acrosome of some urodele amphibians, HPA-colloidal gold cytochemistry was used to analyze the biogenesis of the acrosome in the urodele Pleurodeles waltl at electron microscopy level. The results showed that HPA-labeling is useful to label the acrosome and its precursor vesicles and, consequently, HPA-histochemistry could be used as a marker of acrosomal content. Labeling of the Golgi apparatus and precursor vesicles was seen in primary spermatocytes and round (stage I) spermatids, thus contributing solid evidence for the beginning of acrosome biogenesis before meiosis. In both primary spermatocytes and round spermatids, an enigmatic vesicle, probably related to the biosynthesis of the neck piece or the tail, was also labeled. Labeling in elongating spermatids (stage II,IV), showed a homogeneous distribution of colloidal gold particles in the acrosomal cap, but the perforatorium was not positive to the lectin. However, in mature (stage V,VI) spermatids, a regional distribution of labeling in the acrosome was seen, with the apical knob showing a stronger labeling than the lateral barb, and the lateral barb showing a stronger labeling than the principal piece of the acrosomal cap. This regional distribution of the labeling suggests that the acrosome develops several domains with different glycoconjugate compositions. Anat Rec, 291:1097-1105, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Perspectives on cancer immuno-epidemiologyCANCER SCIENCE, Issue 12 2004Kei Nakachi Estimating human cancer risk based on host-environment interaction is one task of epidemiology, and it has provided indispensable knowledge for prevention of cancer. The recent development of gene-engineered mice has also provided solid evidence about the relationship between cancer development and immunity. The aim of this review is to discuss the possible contribution of epidemiology to understanding the role of immunity in host defense against cancer, and also to assess the involvement of inflammation in the occurrence of selected cancers. Here we look at the concepts of cancer immunosurveillance and infection-inflammation-cancer, and include a brief introduction to recent studies in humans and experimental animal models. It has been postulated for many years that the immune system has the ability to recognize and eliminate nascent transformed cells in the body (so-called cancer immunosurveillance hypothesis), and this idea has recently obtained strong support from animal experiments. In humans, follow-up studies among immunosuppressed transplant recipients revealed a remarkably increased risk of not only selected malignancies, but also cancers with no known viral etiology. On the other hand, a prospective cohort study among the general population revealed that individuals with low natural cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood lymphocytes had an increased risk of cancer development. More studies are warranted to allow the construction of a model for the interaction between host immunity, aging, and the environment. The host immune system is also involved in inflammatory responses to pathogen infection: insufficient immune function of the host, or repeated infection, may result in persistent inflammation, where growth/ survival factors continuously act on initiated cells. The combined use of biomarkers will be necessary to define low-grade persistent inflammation in future cohort studies; and, in addition to these phenotype marker-based cohort studies, one plausible future direction will be a genomic approach that can be undertaken within cohort studies, looking at the genetic background underlying individual variations in phenotype markers. [source] The ORION guidelines: raising research standards for the control of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens and healthcare-associated infectionCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 11 2007M. J. StruelensArticle first published online: 7 SEP 200 Abstract The ORION (Outbreak Reports and Intervention studies Of Nosocomial Infection) guidelines were recently published with the aim of raising methodological standards and the clarity of reporting of intervention studies in hospital infection control. The guidelines provide advice on use of appropriate statistical analysis techniques and the measures necessary to prevent bias, with the aim of ensuring complete transparency in reports of such interventions, their epidemiological context and potential confounders. CMI authors and reviewers should consider these helpful proposals when designing, reporting and assessing intervention and outbreak studies. Use of these guidelines should contribute to the construction of a solid evidence base for control of antimicrobial resistance and healthcare-associated infection. [source] | |||||||||||||