Obese adolescents exhibit a constant ratio of GH isoforms after whole body vibration and maximal voluntary contractions.

BACKGROUND: Growth hormone (GH) is a heterogeneous protein composed of several molecular isoforms, the most abundant ones being the 22 kDa- and 20 kDa-GH. Exercise-induced secretion of GH isoforms has been extensively investigated in normal-weight individuals due to antidoping purposes, particularly recombinant human GH (rhGH) abuse. On the other hand, the evaluation of exercise-induced responses in GH isoforms has never been performed in obese subjects. METHODS: The acute effects of whole body vibration (WBV) or maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) alone and the combination of MVC with WBV (MVC + WBV) on circulating levels of 22 kDa- and 20 kDa-GH were evaluated in 8 obese male adolescents [mean age ± SD: 17.1 ± 3.3 yrs.; weight: 107.4 ± 17.8 kg; body mass index (BMI): 36.5 ± 6.6 kg/m2; BMI standard deviation score (SDS): 3.1 ± 0.6]. RESULTS: MVC (alone or combined with WBV) significantly stimulated 22 kDa- and 20 kDa-GH secretion, while WBV alone was ineffective. In particular, 22 kDa- and 20 kDa-GH peaks were significantly higher after MVC + WBV and MVC than WBV. In addition, 22 kDa-GH (but not 20 kDa-GH) peak was significantly higher after MVC + WBV than MVC. Importantly, the ratio of circulating levels of 22 kDa- to 20 kDa-GH was constant throughout the time window of evaluation after exercise and similar among the three different protocols of exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study confirm the ability of MVC, alone and in combination with WBV, to stimulate both 22 kDa- and 20 kDa-GH secretion in obese patients, these responses being related to the exercise workload. Since the ratio of 22 kDa- to 20 kDa-GH is constant after exercise and independent from the protocols of exercise as in normal-weight subjects, hyposomatotropism in obesity does not seem to depend on an unbalance of circulating GH isoforms. Since the present study was carried out in a small cohort of obese sedentary adolescents, these preliminary results should be confirmed in further future studies enrolling overweight/obese subjects with a wider age range.

A suite-level review of the neutron powder diffraction instruments at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The suite of neutron powder diffractometers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) utilizes the distinct characteristics of the Spallation Neutron Source and High Flux Isotope Reactor to enable the measurements of powder samples over an unparalleled regime at a single laboratory. Full refinements over large Q ranges, total scattering methods, fast measurements under changing conditions, and a wide array of sample environments are available. This article provides a brief overview of each powder instrument at ORNL and details the complementarity across the suite. Future directions for the powder suite, including upgrades and new instruments, are also discussed.

GH responses to whole body vibration alone or in combination with maximal voluntary contractions in obese male adolescents.

BACKGROUND: The anabolic, lipolytic and anti-inflammatory effects of exercise-stimulated GH secretion could be usefully exploited in the multidisciplinary rehabilitative programs of obese patients, who are reported to suffer from hyposomatotropism. To date, evaluation of GH responses to whole body vibration (WBV) in combination with maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) has been performed in normal-weight subjects, but not obese patients. Thus, aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of WBV and MVC, alone and combined, on GH responsiveness in obese subjects. METHODS: The acute effects of WBV or MVC alone and the combination of MVC with WBV (MVC + WBV) on serum GH, cortisol and IGF-I and blood lactate (LA) levels were evaluated in 8 obese male adolescents [mean age ±â€¯SD: 17.1 ±â€¯3.3 yrs.; weight: 107.4 ±â€¯17.8 kg; body mass index (BMI): 36.5 ±â€¯6.6 kg/m2; BMI standard deviation score (SDS): 3.1 ±â€¯0.6]. RESULTS: WBV and MVC (alone or combined) significantly stimulated GH secretion. In particular, GH peaks and net areas under the curve (nAUCs) were significantly higher after MVC + WBV and MVC than WBV, without any difference between MVC + WBV and MVC groups; anyway, an additive effect on GH levels immediately after the execution of MVC + WBV test was found in comparison with MVC test. LA peaks significantly increased after each exercise (vs. basal condition), being significantly higher after MVC + WBV and MVC than WBV, without any difference between MVC + WBV and MVC groups. Peak LA values were significantly correlated with GH peaks and nAUCs. In contrast to the unchanged IGF-I levels, MVC + WBV and MVC (but not WBV) significantly stimulated cortisol secretion. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study confirm the ability of MVC and WBV to stimulate GH secretion in obese patients. Rehabilitative programs combining different types of exercise eliciting a potent GH response seem to be important to counteract the hyposomatotropism of obese patients. Due to its limited stress upon joints without provoking an excessive fatigue, WBV could be usefully employed in the initial stages of a weight loss program alone or in combination with more potent GH releasing stimuli, such as MVC.

Magnetism and multiferroicity of an isosceles triangular lattice antiferromagnet Sr3NiNb2O9.

Various experimental measurements were performed to complete the phase diagram of a weakly distorted triangular lattice system, Sr3NiNb2O9 with Ni(2+) , spin-1 magnetic ions. This compound possesses an isosceles triangular lattice with two shorter bonds and one longer bond. It shows a two-step magnetic phase transition at [Formula: see text] K and [Formula: see text] K at zero magnetic field, characteristic of an easy-axis anisotropy. In the magnetization curves, a series of magnetic phase transitions was observed such as an up-up-down phase at [Formula: see text] T with 1/3 of the saturation magnetization (M sat) and an oblique phase at [Formula: see text] T with [Formula: see text]/3 M sat. Intriguingly, the magnetic phase transition below T N2 is in tandem with the ferroelectricity, which demonstrates multiferroic behaviors. Moreover, the multiferroic phase persists in all magnetically ordered phases regardless of the spin structure. The comparison between the phase diagrams of Sr3NiNb2O9 and its sister compound with an equilateral triangular lattice antiferromagnet Ba3NiNb2O9 (Hwang et al 2012 Phys. Rev. Lett. 109 257205), illustrates how a small imbalance among exchange interactions change the magnetic ground states of the TLAFs.

Tuning the magnetic exchange via a control of orbital hybridization in Cr(2)(Te(1-x)W(x))O(6).

We report the complex magnetic phase diagram and electronic structure of Cr_{2}(Te_{1-x}W_{x})O_{6} systems. While compounds with different x values possess the same crystal structure, they display different magnetic structures below and above x_{c}=0.7, where both the transition temperature T_{N} and sublattice magnetization (M_{s}) reach a minimum. Unlike many known cases where magnetic interactions are controlled either by injection of charge carriers or by structural distortion induced via chemical doping, in the present case it is achieved by tuning the orbital hybridization between Cr 3d and O 2p orbitals through W 5d states. The result is supported by ab initio electronic structure calculations. Through this concept, we introduce a new approach to tune magnetic and electronic properties via chemical doping.

Robust T cell responses to aspergillosis in chronic granulomatous disease: implications for immunotherapy.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients are highly susceptible to invasive aspergillosis and might benefit from aspergillus-specific T cell immunotherapy, which has shown promise in treating those with known T cell defects such as haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. But whether such T cell defects contribute to increased risks for aspergillus infection in CGD is unclear. Hence, we set out to characterize the aspergillus-specific T cell response in CGD. In murine CGD models and in patients with CGD we showed that the CD4(+) T cell responses to aspergillus were unimpaired: aspergillus-specific T cell frequencies were even elevated in CGD mice (P < 0·01) and humans (P = 0·02), compared to their healthy counterparts. CD4-depleted murine models suggested that the role of T cells might be redundant because resistance to aspergillus infection was conserved in CD4(+) T cell-depleted mice, similar to wild-type animals. In contrast, mice depleted of neutrophils alone or neutrophils and CD4(+) T cells developed clinical and pathological evidence of pulmonary aspergillosis and increased mortality (P < 0·05 compared to non-depleted animals). Our findings that T cells in CGD have a robust aspergillus CD4(+) T cell response suggest that CD4(+) T cell-based immunotherapy for this disease is unlikely to be beneficial.

Successive magnetic phase transitions and multiferroicity in the spin-one triangular-lattice antiferromagnet Ba3NiNb2O9.

We report the magnetic and electric properties of Ba3NiNb2O9, which is a quasi-two-dimensional spin-one triangular-lattice antiferromagnet with trigonal structure. At low T and with increasing magnetic field, the system evolves from a 120 degree magnetic ordering phase (A phase) to an up-up-down (uud) phase (B phase) with a change of slope at 1/3 of the saturation magnetization, and then to an "oblique" phase (C phase). Accordingly, the ferroelectricity switches on at each phase boundary with appearance of spontaneous polarization. Therefore, Ba3NiNb2O9 is a unique triangular-lattice antiferromagnet exhibiting both uud phase and multiferroicity.

Impact of respiratory infections by influenza viruses A and B in pediatrics patients from Federal University of Paraná, Brazil.

The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of influenza virus on pediatric hospitalized patients. We retrospectively reviewed records of children with laboratory diagnoses, by cell culture and/or indirect immunofluorescence assay, of influenza virus seen in a period of 6 years. A total of 1,033 samples were analyzed, 45 (4.3%) of them being reactive to influenza virus. Thirty-one samples were positive to influenza A virus and 14 to influenza B. The frequency of hospitalization in intensive care and medical emergency was found to be high. Three (8.6%) patients died, two of them due to respiratory failure. Low frequency of influenza virus infection was observed in the study. The data suggest the need of more efficient epidemiological surveillance measures in order to obtain reliable information to better assess the impact of the virus on our region and determine the need of preventive measures, such as immunization.

Impact of respiratory infections by influenza viruses A and B in pediatrics patients from Federal University of Paraná, Brazil

The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of influenza virus on pediatric hospitalized patients. We retrospectively reviewed records of children with laboratory diagnoses, by cell culture and/or indirect immunofluorescence assay, of influenza virus seen in a period of 6 years. A total of 1,033 samples were analyzed, 45 (4.3 percent) of them being reactive to influenza virus. Thirty-one samples were positive to influenza A virus and 14 to influenza B. The frequency of hospitalization in intensive care and medical emergency was found to be high. Three (8.6 percent) patients died, two of them due to respiratory failure. Low frequency of influenza virus infection was observed in the study. The data suggest the need of more efficient epidemiological surveillance measures in order to obtain reliable information to better assess the impact of the virus on our region and determine the need of preventive measures, such as immunization.

Lactational response of cows fed condensed corn distillers solubles.

Fifteen Holstein cows (6 multiparous and 9 primiparous) in early lactation were used in a replicated 3 x 3 Latin square design with 5-wk periods to evaluate the use of condensed corn distillers solubles (CCDS) in the total mixed ration. Diets were control (0%), low (5%), or high (10% of dry matter) CCDS. All diets contained alfalfa hay, corn silage, rolled corn, and a concentrate supplement formulated to yield isonitrogenous diets. Condensed corn distillers solubles replaced a portion of the rolled corn and soybean meal in the control diet. Data were collected from wk 3 to 5 of each 5-wk period. Dry matter intakes (23.4, 24.4, and 22.5 kg/d for control, low, and high CCDS, respectively) were similar for CCDS and control and tended to be greater for low than for high CCDS. Milk yields (34.1, 35.5, and 35.8 kg/d) were greater for added CCDS vs. control, with no additional benefit found by feeding a high over a low amount of CCDS. Milk fat percentage decreased slightly, whereas protein and lactose production increased when cows were fed CCDS. Medium-chain fatty acids in milk fat were decreased and long-chain fatty acids increased by feeding CCDS, and similar changes were found comparing high with low level of CCDS. Unsaturated fatty acids in milk fat tended to be higher for diets containing CCDS compared with control and were higher for high compared with low inclusion. Ruminal ammonia and serum urea nitrogen concentrations were lower when cows were fed CCDS. This study indicated that it is advantageous to feed CCDS at 5% of dry matter; however, some beneficial changes in milk fatty acid composition were achieved by doubling that amount.

Case report: Trichoderma longibrachiatum infections in a pediatric patient with peritoneal dialysis

A case report of an intrahospitalary Trichoderma longibrachiatum peritonitis in a female 13-year-old pediatric patient who had been previously diagnosed a terminal chronic renal insufficiency while being under peritoneal dialysis is presented. Nowadays literature recognizes certain members of the genus Trichoderma to be opportunistic pathogens of increasing occurrence in immunocompromised patients. The above girl received a satisfactory Amphoterin B treatment yet she died due to an hypertensive emergency appearing secondarily to her basic pathology.

Developmental milestones of vertically HIV infected and seroreverters children: follow up of 83 children.

The aim of the study was to detect neurological abnormalities in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected children. This was achieved by a prospective evaluation, from November/1995 to April/2000, of 43 HIV infected children (group I) and 40 HIV seroreverters children (group II) through neurological exam and neurodevelopmental tests: Denver Developmental Screening Test (DDST) and Clinical Adaptive Test/Clinical Linguistic and Auditory Milestone Scale (CAT/CLAMS). A control group (III), of 67 children, were evaluated by CAT/CLAMS. Hyperactivity, irritability and hypotonia were the findings on neurological examination, without statistical differences between group I and II. On CAT/CLAMS, the group I developmental quotient (DQ) was significantly lower than the other groups. The same occurred in DDST, with group I presenting significantly more failures than group II. Nineteen HIV children of group I had brain computed tomographic scan, with abnormalities in three of them (basal ganglia calcification, white matter hypodensity and asymmetry of lateral ventricles). We conclude that in HIV infected children a neurodevelopment delay occur early in the disease, and it can be detected by screening tests.

[Cerebral arterial aneurysm in a child with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome: case report]. / Aneurisma de artéria cerebral em criança com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida: relato de caso.

Cerebral aneurysmal arteriopathy of the circle of Willis is an uncommon manifestation of acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and up to now only 15 cases have been published in the literature. For this reason we add our experience of this rare case, and review the most important aspects related to this entity. The patient is a 6 year old male with perinatal transmitted AIDS, tetraparethic, developed symptoms characterized by episodes of dystonic postures. The computed tomography of the brain showed aneurismal arteriopathy of the circle of Willis. He had a previous normal examination. The review of the literature shows the pathological abnormalities of the affected vessels are mainly medial fibrosis, with destruction of the internal elastic lamina and intimal hyperplasia. The etiology for the vasculitis is unknown. Varicela zoster virus, as well as HIV by itself, can be related to the physiopathology of the vasculitis. On conclusion, it can be said that although uncommon, such complications are of great importance by the fact that the patients with vascular aneurismal arteriopathy are in high risk for vascular accidents, and once a diagnosis was made, death occurs in less than 6 months, according to the literature.

Evidence of idiotypic modulation in the immune response to gp43, the major antigenic component of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in both mice and humans.

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis endemic in Latin America, with a high prevalence in Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela. The aetiologic agent of disease is a thermal dimorphic fungus, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. A glycoprotein of 43,000 D (gp43) is the major antigen of P. brasiliensis. Antibodies directed to this antigen are detected in the sera of all patients with PCM. Gp43 binds to laminin, thus participating in adhesion, invasion and pathogenesis of the fungus. As the role of antibodies in PCM is not fully understood, we decided to investigate the outcome of mice immunization with three distinct anti-gp43 MoAbs (17c, 8a and 24a) coupled with keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH). Results show not only the expected presence of anti-Id (AB2) antibodies in the sera of these animals but also a spontaneous and increasing amount of anti-anti-Id (AB3) antibodies after the third course of immunization. Hybridomas producing both AB2 and AB3 MoAbs were obtained using spleen cells from mice immunized with MoAb 17c. AB3 MoAbs were also obtained with spleen cells of mice immunized with MoAbs 8a and 24a. It was also shown that human PCM patients' sera with high titres of anti-gp43 antibodies generate anti-Id antibodies. These data suggest that the immune response to P. brasiliensis can be spontaneously modulated by the idiotypic network.

Preliminary report on the Mount Sinai Hospital Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Project.

BACKGROUND: Although the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is unknown, there is increasing evidence that genetic predisposition plays a major etiologic role. To provide the framework for gene identification using a positional cloning approach, ascertainment of families with multiple affected members and careful documentation of pedigrees are essential. OBJECTIVE: To report the initial findings of the IBD Genetics Project of the Mount Sinai Hospital IBD Research Unit. METHODS: All records of patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease followed at the Mount Sinai Hospital IBD Unit were reviewed. A questionnaire was sent to all patients to ascertain those with a family history of IBD. Patients with a presumed family history were contacted by a research assistant, and after confirmation of diagnosis, relevant clinical information, pedigrees, and consent to contact family members were obtained. Blood for DNA and cell line preparation were collected from affected and nonaffected family members. RESULTS: Of 2,504 patients registered in the IBD database, 231 (9.2 percent) were found to have an affected family member: 96 of 964 (10 percent) with Crohn's disease (CD) and 135 of 1,540 (8.8 percent) with ulcerative colitis (UC). A mean of 2.4 family members were affected. In families in which the proband had CD, 82.3 percent had only two affected family members, 78.1 percent had only family members affected with CD, and 82.3 percent had only first-degree family members affected. In families in which the proband had UC, 70.4 percent had only two affected family members, 71.1 percent had only family members affected with UC, and 65.2 percent had only first-degree family members affected. In the 231 families, there were 103 sibling pairs: 46 percent with CD, 28 percent with UC, and 26 percent with CD/UC. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that approximately 10 percent of IBD patients have affected family members, with the rate being similar in UC and CD. Future research is directed to genome scanning and linkage analysis in this cohort of patients.

Intradural cervical chordoma without bone involvement. Case report.

The authors report a unique case of cervical chordoma in a 37-year-old woman without radiological evidence of bone involvement that was found to be totally intradural at surgery. Chordomas that are entirely extrasseous and intradural are extremely rare and in most of the cases described are located near the clivus. This is the first reported case of an intraspinal intradural chordoma.

Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.

A patient with AIDS, who exhibited periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges, is described. The possible implications are discussed.