GFAP serves as a structural element of tunneling nanotubes between glioblastoma cells and could play a role in the intercellular transfer of mitochondria.

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are long F-actin-positive plasma membrane bridges connecting distant cells, allowing the intercellular transfer of cellular cargoes, and are found to be involved in glioblastoma (GBM) intercellular crosstalk. Glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) is a key intermediate filament protein of glial cells involved in cytoskeleton remodeling and linked to GBM progression. Whether GFAP plays a role in TNT structure and function in GBM is unknown. Here, analyzing F-actin and GFAP localization by laser-scan confocal microscopy followed by 3D reconstruction (3D-LSCM) and mitochondria dynamic by live-cell time-lapse fluorescence microscopy, we show the presence of GFAP in TNTs containing functional mitochondria connecting distant human GBM cells. Taking advantage of super-resolution 3D-LSCM, we show the presence of GFAP-positive TNT-like structures in resected human GBM as well. Using H2O2 or the pro-apoptotic toxin staurosporine (STS), we show that GFAP-positive TNTs strongly increase during oxidative stress and apoptosis in the GBM cell line. Culturing GBM cells with STS-treated GBM cells, we show that STS triggers the formation of GFAP-positive TNTs between them. Finally, we provide evidence that mitochondria co-localize with GFAP at the tip of close-ended GFAP-positive TNTs and inside receiving STS-GBM cells. Summarizing, here we found that GFAP is a structural component of TNTs generated by GBM cells, that GFAP-positive TNTs are upregulated in response to oxidative stress and pro-apoptotic stress, and that GFAP interacts with mitochondria during the intercellular transfer. These findings contribute to elucidate the molecular structure of TNTs generated by GBM cells, highlighting the structural role of GFAP in TNTs and suggesting a functional role of this intermediate filament component in the intercellular mitochondria transfer between GBM cells in response to pro-apoptotic stimuli.

Regulatory network analysis of Paneth cell and goblet cell enriched gut organoids using transcriptomics approaches.

The epithelial lining of the small intestine consists of multiple cell types, including Paneth cells and goblet cells, that work in cohort to maintain gut health. 3D in vitro cultures of human primary epithelial cells, called organoids, have become a key model to study the functions of Paneth cells and goblet cells in normal and diseased conditions. Advances in these models include the ability to skew differentiation to particular lineages, providing a useful tool to study cell type specific function/dysfunction in the context of the epithelium. Here, we use comprehensive profiling of mRNA, microRNA and long non-coding RNA expression to confirm that Paneth cell and goblet cell enrichment of murine small intestinal organoids (enteroids) establishes a physiologically accurate model. We employ network analysis to infer the regulatory landscape altered by skewing differentiation, and using knowledge of cell type specific markers, we predict key regulators of cell type specific functions: Cebpa, Jun, Nr1d1 and Rxra specific to Paneth cells, Gfi1b and Myc specific for goblet cells and Ets1, Nr3c1 and Vdr shared between them. Links identified between these regulators and cellular phenotypes of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) suggest that global regulatory rewiring during or after differentiation of Paneth cells and goblet cells could contribute to IBD aetiology. Future application of cell type enriched enteroids combined with the presented computational workflow can be used to disentangle multifactorial mechanisms of these cell types and propose regulators whose pharmacological targeting could be advantageous in treating IBD patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.

Transplantation of Human Neural Progenitor Cells (NPC) into Putamina of Parkinsonian Patients: A Case Series Study, Safety and Efficacy Four Years after Surgery.

Individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) suffer from motor and mental disturbances due to degeneration of dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neuronal systems. Although they provide temporary symptom relief, current treatments fail to control motor and non-motor alterations or to arrest disease progression. Aiming to explore safety and possible motor and neuropsychological benefits of a novel strategy to improve the PD condition, a case series study was designed for brain grafting of human neural progenitor cells (NPCs) to a group of eight patients with moderate PD. A NPC line, expressing Oct-4 and Sox-2, was manufactured and characterized. Using stereotactic surgery, NPC suspensions were bilaterally injected into patients' dorsal putamina. Cyclosporine A was given for 10 days prior to surgery and continued for 1 month thereafter. Neurological, neuropsychological, and brain imaging evaluations were performed pre-operatively, 1, 2, and 4 years post-surgery. Seven of eight patients have completed 4-year follow-up. The procedure proved to be safe, with no immune responses against the transplant, and no adverse effects. One year after cell grafting, all but one of the seven patients completing the study showed various degrees of motor improvement, and five of them showed better response to medication. PET imaging showed a trend toward enhanced midbrain dopaminergic activity. By their 4-year evaluation, improvements somewhat decreased but remained better than at baseline. Neuropsychological changes were minor, if at all. The intervention appears to be safe. At 4 years post-transplantation we report that undifferentiated NPCs can be delivered safely by stereotaxis to both putamina of patients with PD without causing adverse effects. In 6/7 patients in OFF condition improvement in UPDRS III was observed. PET functional scans suggest enhanced putaminal dopaminergic neurotransmission that could correlate with improved motor function, and better response to L-DOPA. Patients' neuropsychological scores were unaffected by grafting. Trial Registration: Fetal derived stem cells for Parkinson's disease https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN39104513Reg#ISRCTN39104513.

Anemia, hiponatremia, hipoalbuminemia y déficit de vitamina K como factores de riesgo para osteoporosis / Anemia, hyponatremia, hypoalbuminemia and vitamin k deficit as risk factors for osteoporosis

La Osteoporosis es un síndrome altamente prevalente en la población mayor, tanto la que ha sufrido fracturas como la que no. Aunque con frecuencia se le relaciona con la menopausia, existen varios otros elementos involucrados en su génesis. Estos frecuentemente coexisten en diversa proporción y son, por lo general, oligosintomáticos o generan signosintomatología muy inespecífica. Esto hace que su diagnóstico y tratamiento se retrase u omita, aumentando el riesgo de caídas y fracturas, y dificultando los procesos de consolidación ósea. Aunque su nivel de evidencia es aún diverso, frecuentemente son hallados cuando se implementa su búsqueda en pacientes mayores fracturados. Por lo que, con independencia de si su relación con la osteoporosis es o no significativa, conviene buscarlos y manejarlos por el riesgo que constituyen por sí mismos. En esta revisión nos referiremos a cuatro de estas condiciones: Hipoalbuminemia, hiponatremia, anemia y deficiencia de vitamina K.

Osteoporosis is very prevalent in the aged and is seen in both those who have suffered fractures and those who have not. Frequently related to the menopause, there are other elements involved in its pathogenesis. These frequently co-exist and are, generally, oligo-symptomatic or have non-specific symptomatology. This causes delays or omissions in their diagnosis and treatment, thereby increasing the risk of falls and fractures and interfering with bone consolidation. Although their evidence levels are diverse, these factors are frequently to be found once directly looked for in the aged fracture patient. Therefore, even though their relation to the osteoporosis may not be significant, it is best to test for them and treat them for the risk they present. In this review we look at four of these conditions: hypoalbuminemia, hyponatremia, anemia and vitamin K deficiency

Natural and synthetic avenanthramides activate caspases 2, 8, 3 and downregulate hTERT, MDR1 and COX-2 genes in CaCo-2 and Hep3B cancer cells.

Avenanthramides (AVNs) are natural polyphenols obtained from oat sprouts and can also be chemically synthetized. The aim of the present study was to assess the anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of individual synthetized AVNs (s-2c, s-2p, s-2f) and a natural AVN mixture (n-MIX) on CaCo-2 and Hep3B cancer cells. In CaCo-2, the AVN s-2c was found to be the most cytotoxic followed by the n-MIX. In Hep3B cells, a marked cytotoxic effect was found but no significant difference was observed between the synthesized AVNs and the n-MIX. In both CaCo-2 and Hep3B cells, natural and synthetic AVNs activated caspases 8 and 3, and the n-MIX and the AVN s-2c were also able to activate caspase 2. Both synthetic and natural AVNs downregulated pro-survival genes hTERT, COX-2 and MDR1, inhibited the activity of pro-inflammatory COX-2 enzyme and reduced prostaglandin E2 levels, showing the potent chemopreventive effects of these oat-derived phytochemicals. Synthetic AVN s-2c was found to have the highest chemical antioxidant capacity, as indicated by ORAC, DPPH and ABTS values, whereas all AVNs and n-MIX were shown to have similar intracellular antioxidant activity, evaluated by means of the DCFH-DA assay. As AVNs have high bioavailability in humans, results of this study suggest that oat-based foods, fortified with AVNs, could be an alternative to produce functional foods with anticancer, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects for health benefits.

Betacyanins enhance vitexin-2-O-xyloside mediated inhibition of proliferation of T24 bladder cancer cells.

Betacyanins (BC) were purified from beetroot (Beta vulgaris var. rubra L.) and tested, alone or in combination with vitexin-2-O-xyloside (XVX) from Beta vulgaris var. cicla L., for their ability to reduce the proliferation rate in T24 bladder cancer cells. Combination of BC and XVX exhibited a synergistic effect concerning the inhibition of proliferation in T24 cancer cells at 24 and 48 h but not after 72 h of incubation. The induction of apoptosis was evidenced by means of fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, as well as through the increase in caspase 3 and 8 activities. Using RTqPCR experiments, it was shown that the combination of XVX + BC was able to enhance the expression levels of pro-apoptotic BAX and downregulate anti-apoptotic BIRC5 (survivin), as well as pro-survival CTNNB1 (ß-catenin). The most evident effect of BC was the increase of the activity of caspase 8, leading to induction of extrinsic apoptosis. Moreover, XVX, BC and their combination showed no cytotoxic effect on normal human skin NCTC 2544 keratinocytes. These results demonstrated the efficacy and the mechanisms of the action of BC and XVX, extracted from edible plants, and suggested that a diet or a nutrition supplement, enriched with these bioactive molecules, could be used in the prevention of human bladder cancer.

Fortalezas y dificultades para el ajuste emocional en niños aymara desde la perspectiva de los menores, padres y profesores / Strengths and difficulties in emotional adjustment of Aymara children from the perspective of children, parents and teachers

Objective: To describe capabilities and difficulties in emotional adjustment experienced by children living in the Chilean Aymara city of Arica. Patients and Method: 610 students between 5th and 8th grade, in addition to their parents and teachers were surveyed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), comparing Aymara children to those without indigenous heritage. 25 items divided into five scales were evaluated: Emotional, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, relationship problems with peers and prosocial behaviors, classifying the respondents into three levels, Normal, Border and Abnormal. Results: There were no significant differences among the groups studied, where discrepancies in almost all cases show a slight effect (d ≥ -0.2-). Also, no relevant effects were observed regarding the type of assessor on the assessment of each dimension. Despite this, it was observed that Aymara children showed lower scores than their peers in "behavioral problems" according to their teachers, but this difference was also mild (partial η2> 0.01). Conclusions: Aymara Children showed similar strengths and difficulties than non-Aymara students in situations that require emotional adjustment.

Objetivo: Describir capacidades y dificultades en el ajuste emocional experimentadas por niños aymara residentes en la ciudad chilena de Arica. Pacientes y M étodo: Se encuestó a 610 alumnos de 5° a 8° año de Enseñanza General Básica de la ciudad de Arica, además de sus padres y profesores, mediante el Cuestionario de Capacidades y Dificultades (SDQ), comparando a niños aymara con aquellos sin ascendencia indígena. Se evaluaron 25 ítems divididos en 5 escalas: emocional, problemas de comportamiento, hiperactividad, problemas de relación con pares y conductas prosociales, clasificando a los encuestados en tres niveles, Normal, Límite o Anormal. Resultados: No hubo diferencias poblacionales relevantes en las dimensiones del SDQ entre grupos estudiados, donde las discrepancias en prácticamente todos los casos muestran un efecto leve (d ≥ -0,2-). Tampoco se observaron efectos poblacionales relevantes respecto del tipo de evaluador sobre la valoración de cada dimensión. Pese a esto, cabe señalar que niños aymara mostraron una menor puntuación que sus pares en "problemas de comportamiento" según sus profesores, pero dicha interacción poblacional también fue leve (η² parcial > 0,01). Conclusiones: Niños aymara mostraron fortalezas y dificultades similares a las de sus pares no aymara ante situaciones que requieren ajuste emocional.

Involvement of abscisic acid in the response of Medicago sativa plants in symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti to salinity.

Legumes are classified as salt-sensitive crops with their productivity particularly affected by salinity. Abcisic acid (ABA) plays an important role in the response to environmental stresses as signal molecule which led us to study its role in the response of nitrogen fixation and antioxidant metabolism in root nodules of Medicago sativa under salt stress conditions. Adult plants inoculated with Sinorhizobium meliloti were treated with 1 µM and 10 µM ABA two days before 200 mM salt addition. Exogenous ABA together with the salt treatment provoked a strong induction of the ABA content in the nodular tissue which alleviated the inhibition induced by salinity in the plant growth and nitrogen fixation. Antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) were induced by ABA pre-treatments under salt stress conditions which together with the reduction of the lipid peroxidation, suggest a role for ABA as signal molecule in the activation of the nodular antioxidant metabolism. Interaction between ABA and polyamines (PAs), described as anti-stress molecules, was studied being detected an induction of the common polyamines spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) levels by ABA under salt stress conditions. In conclusion, ABA pre-treatment improved the nitrogen fixation capacity under salt stress conditions by the induction of the nodular antioxidant defenses which may be mediated by the common PAs Spd and Spm that seems to be involved in the anti-stress response induced by ABA.

History of cholelithiasis and cancer risk in a network of case-control studies.

BACKGROUND: We analyzed the relationship between cholelithiasis and cancer risk in a network of case-control studies conducted in Italy and Switzerland in 1982-2009. METHODS: The analyses included 1997 oropharyngeal, 917 esophageal, 999 gastric, 23 small intestinal, 3726 colorectal, 684 liver, 688 pancreatic, 1240 laryngeal, 6447 breast, 1458 endometrial, 2002 ovarian, 1582 prostate, 1125 renal cell, 741 bladder cancers, and 21 284 controls. The odds ratios (ORs) were estimated by multiple logistic regression models. RESULTS: The ORs for subjects with history of cholelithiasis compared with those without were significantly elevated for small intestinal (OR=3.96), prostate (OR=1.36), and kidney cancers (OR=1.57). These positive associations were observed ≥10 years after diagnosis of cholelithiasis and were consistent across strata of age, sex, and body mass index. No relation was found with the other selected cancers. A meta-analysis including this and three other studies on the relation of cholelithiasis with small intestinal cancer gave a pooled relative risk of 2.35 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.82-3.03]. CONCLUSION: In subjects with cholelithiasis, we showed an appreciably increased risk of small intestinal cancer and suggested a moderate increased risk of prostate and kidney cancers. We found no material association with the other cancers considered.

A probable cluster headache case from a textbook of 1726: Francisco Suarez de Rivera's description.

BACKGROUND: Few descriptions of cluster and cluster-like headache made before the 19th century have been reported. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a previously unreported early description of a probable cluster headache case made by Francisco Suárez de Rivera (1686-c.1751), one of the main physicians of the Spanish Age of Enlightenment, writer of almost 40 textbooks about medicine, surgery, pharmacology, and therapeutics. DISCUSSION: The depiction here reported of a woman with probable cluster headache is possibly one of the earliest known and, to our knowledge, the first in Hispanic literature. We also review other descriptions of cluster and cluster-like headache from the same time period.

Fermi gamma-ray imaging of a radio galaxy.

The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope has detected the gamma-ray glow emanating from the giant radio lobes of the radio galaxy Centaurus A. The resolved gamma-ray image shows the lobes clearly separated from the central active source. In contrast to all other active galaxies detected so far in high-energy gamma-rays, the lobe flux constitutes a considerable portion (greater than one-half) of the total source emission. The gamma-ray emission from the lobes is interpreted as inverse Compton-scattered relic radiation from the cosmic microwave background, with additional contribution at higher energies from the infrared-to-optical extragalactic background light. These measurements provide gamma-ray constraints on the magnetic field and particle energy content in radio galaxy lobes, as well as a promising method to probe the cosmic relic photon fields.

Alterations of energy metabolism and glutathione levels of HL-60 cells induced by methacrylates present in composite resins.

OBJECTIVES: Methacrylic compounds such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and bisphenol A glycerolate (1 glycerol/phenol) dimethacrylate (Bis-GMA) are largely present in auto- or photopolymerizable composite resins. Since the polymerization reaction is never complete, these molecules are released into the oral cavity tissues and biological fluids where they could cause local adverse effects. The aim of this work was to verify the hypothesis that the biological effects of HEMA, TEGDMA and Bis-GMA - at a non-cytotoxic concentration - depend on the interaction with mitochondria and exert consequent alterations of energy metabolism, GSH levels and the related pathways in human promyelocytic cell line (HL-60). METHODS: The biological effects of methacrylic monomers were determined by analyzing the following parameters: GSH concentration, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity, oxygen and glucose consumption and lactate production along with cell differentiation and proliferation. RESULTS: All monomers induced both cellular differentiation and decrease in oxygen consumption. Cells treated with TEGDMA and Bis-GMA showed a significant enhancement of glucose consumption and lactate production. TEGDMA and HEMA induced GSH depletion stimulating G6PDH and GR activity. CONCLUSIONS: All the monomers under study affect the metabolism of HL-60 cells and show differentiating activity. Since alterations in cellular metabolism occurred at compound concentrations well below cytotoxic levels, the changes in energy metabolism and glutathione redox balance could be considered as potential mechanisms for inducing clinical and sub-clinical adverse effects and thus providing useful parameters when testing biocompatibility of dental materials.

Physiological strains induce differentiation in human osteoblasts cultured on orthopaedic biomaterial.

We have developed an in vitro mechanical stretching model of osteoblastic cells cultured on metallic biomaterials in order to study the effects of mechanical strain on osteointegration of orthopaedic implants. Titanium alloy discs coated with alumina or hydroxyapatite were used as substrates. Three Dynacell devices were especially designed to apply cyclic strains on rigid biomaterials. The regimen (600 mu epsilon strains, 0.25Hz) was defined on the basis of physiological data and estimated deformation on hip stem prostheses. The performances of these apparatus were reproducible and provided controlled deformations. Human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63, human osteoblasts obtained from primary cultures and ROS 17/2.8 rat osteosarcoma cells were used as cell models. Cell behaviour was assessed in terms of growth and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity by in situ assays for two regimens: 15-min deformations repeated three times a day to mimic rehabilitation exercises and 24-h continuous deformations. We demonstrated that continuous deformation did not affect the growth and ALP activity of MG-63 cells, in contrast with sequential deformations which had no effect on cell number, but which stimulated ALP activity after 5 days of stretching. This sequential regimen can also modify the behaviour of human bone-derived cells resulting in increased proliferation after 5 days and stimulation of ALP activity after 15 days. ROS 17/2.8 rat osteosarcoma cells submitted to sequential deformations responded faster than other cell lines by increasing their ALP activity only after 1 day of stretching. Like MG-63 cells, proliferation of the ROS 17/2.8 rat osteosarcoma cell line was not affected by sequential deformations. This study suggests that short, repeated deformations defined to mimic rehabilitation exercises recommended after prostheses implantation are more likely to exert beneficial effects on implanted bone than continuous strains.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of the hxk-1 Gene from the white truffle Tuber borchii vittad.: A first step toward understanding sugar metabolism.

Recent biochemical investigations of Tuber borchii Vittad. mycelium have demonstrated the presence of three distinct forms of hexokinase (HK(M1), HK(M2), and HKM3). In the investigation described here, a gene coding for hexokinase (hxk-1) from T. borchii was isolated and characterized. The hxk-1 gene is characterized by an ORF of 1494 nucleotides and codes for a polypeptide of 497 aa. The gene was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant protein was kinetically characterized. The K(cat) value for fructose is in agreement with the data reported for the hexokinase of Yarrowia lipolytica, the Km for ATP is not dependent on the sugar used, and the enzyme is not inhibited by trehalose 6-phosphate or glucose 6-phosphate. The biochemical characteristics confirm that this enzyme is a hexokinase, as suggested by the Pileup results, and it corresponds to the HKM1 isoform. This work represents the first characterization of the key enzyme of the glycolytic pathway and the related gene in a Tuber species.

One-step purification of a fully active hexahistidine-tagged human hexokinase type I overexpressed in Escherichia coli.

The conversion of glucose into glucose 6-phosphate (Glc 6-P)1 traps glucose in a chemical state in which it cannot leave the cell and hence commits glucose to metabolism. In human tissues there are at least three hexokinase isoenzymes responsible for hexose phosphorylation. These enzymes are constituted by a single polypeptide chain with a molecular weight of approximately 100 kDa. Among these isoenzymes, hexokinase type I is the most widely expressed in mammalian tissues and shows reversion of Glc 6-P inhibition by physiological levels of inorganic phosphate. In this work the hexokinase I from human brain was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, as a hexahistidine-tagged protein with the tag extending the C-terminal end. An average of 900 U per liter of culture was obtained. The expressed protein was one-step purified by metal chelate affinity chromatography performed in NTA-agarose column charged with Ni(2+) ions. In order to stabilize the enzymatic activity 0.5 M ammonium sulfate was added to elution buffer. The specific activity of purified hexokinase I was 67.8 U/mg. The recombinant enzyme shows kinetic properties in agreement with those described for the native enzyme, and thus it can be used for biophysical and biochemical investigation.

Management and outcome of liver recipients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The possibility of development of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease by patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy is well known. However, elective treatment and outcome remain controversial. We reviewed the management and outcome of our patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease. METHODOLOGY: Records of 457 patients who underwent orthotopic liver transplantation from 1986 to 1997 were analyzed. Patients who developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease were reviewed retrospectively. Incidence, clinical presentation, risk factors and outcomes were examined with special emphasis on ductopenic rejection and hilum involvement. RESULTS: Eleven patients developed a post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (2.4%). These were B-cell non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Epstein-Barr virus-associated in all cases. Five patients (45.5%) received monoclonal antibodies or antithymocyte globulin. Seven patients (63.6%) developed a lymphoproliferative disease before 9 months post-transplant and 4 recipients (36.4%) after 20 months. No late lymphomas regressed after withdrawal from immunosuppression. Six patients (54.5%) were treated with chemotherapy. Eight patients (72.7%) had a tumoral remission. Five patients (45.5%) developed chronic rejection after immunosuppressant discontinuation. Four of them died as a consequence of ductopenic rejection and retransplantation was required in another; 2 died due to graft hilum infiltration. Five patients (45.5%) are alive after a follow-up of 36.5 +/- 32 months (range: 4-77 months). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease require a close follow-up in order to promptly treat conditions that could lead to death. In our series, these were more closely associated with a failing transplanted organ than with the lymphoma itself.

Recipient factors as determinants of mortality after adult liver transplantation.

The factors that can influence the outcome of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) are numerous. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of recipient preoperative factors on patient mortality. Between April 1986 and April 1998 a total of 600 OLTs were performed in our institution. We retrospectively reviewed our first 203 consecutive primary adult OLTs with at least 4 years of follow-up. A case-control comparison was performed between survivors and nonsurvivors, and differences in recipient variables were studied for their correlation with patient mortality. A logistic regression analysis was also performed. Mortality was significantly increased among those with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) (66.6%, p = 0.003), primary cancer (63.1%, p = 0.018), females (46.1%, p = 0. 043), encephalopathy grade IV (72.7%, p = 0.012), recipients under respiratory support (69.2%, p = 0.031), and ABO-incompatible transplants (80%, p = 0.05). FHF, primary cancer, and female gender were the only variables that had a significant association with mortality in the logistic regression analysis. A higher incidence of prolonged respiratory support, bacterial and fungal infections, pneumonia, and chronic rejection contributed to the lower outcome observed in females. These results stress the need for continuous evaluation of the selection criteria of candidates for OLT suffering from primary cancer and FHF. The impact of recipient gender on mortality warrants further analysis but suggests that in the future more attention must be paid to the influence of this factor on the final outcome of OLT.

Clinical efficacy of low power laser therapy in osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Of the various physical interventions used to relieve the symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA), a common degenerative joint disease causing considerable pain and disability, low power laser therapy has been reported to be extremely successful in Russia and Eastern Europe. METHOD: Although the overall number of studies was small, this literature review and analysis highlights the relevant controlled clinical trials and related basic research in English-language publications. This review indicates that, despite their shortcomings, the six studies analysed did report post-treatment improvements in a variety of osteoarthritic problems, including pain, mobility, tenderness and function, with few adverse effects. Possible mechanisms documented for the observed results included peripheral nerve stimulation, resolution of inflammation, enhanced chondrocyte proliferation and increased matrix synthesis. CONCLUSION: Not all studies were affirmative and few detailed how reliable their measurements were. Clearly, much more work is needed in this area.