9 research outputs found
Corelease of Bioactive VEGF and HGF from Viscous Liquid Poly(5-ethylene ketal ε-caprolactone- co
The oesophageal string test: a novel, minimally invasive method measures mucosal inflammation in eosinophilic oesophagitis
Objective Eosinophil predominant inflammation
characterises histological features of eosinophilic
oesophagitis (EoE). Endoscopy with biopsy is currently
the only method to assess oesophageal mucosal
inflammation in EoE. We hypothesised that
measurements of luminal eosinophil-derived proteins
would correlate with oesophageal mucosal inflammation
in children with EoE.
Design The Enterotest diagnostic device was used to
develop an oesophageal string test (EST) as a minimally
invasive clinical device. EST samples and oesophageal
mucosal biopsies were obtained from children
undergoing upper endoscopy for clinically defined
indications. Eosinophil-derived proteins including
eosinophil secondary granule proteins (major basic
protein-1, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, eosinophil
cationic protein, eosinophil peroxidase) and Charcot–
Leyden crystal protein/galectin-10 were measured by
ELISA in luminal effluents eluted from ESTs and extracts
of mucosal biopsies.
Results ESTs were performed in 41 children with active
EoE (n=14), EoE in remission (n=8), gastro-oesophageal
reflux disease (n=4) and controls with normal
oesophagus (n=15). EST measurement of eosinophilderived protein biomarkers significantly distinguished
between children with active EoE, treated EoE in
remission, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and normal
oesophagus. Levels of luminal eosinophil-derived
proteins in EST samples significantly correlated with peak
and mean oesophageal eosinophils/high power field
(HPF), eosinophil peroxidase indices and levels of the
same eosinophil-derived proteins in extracts of
oesophageal biopsies.
Conclusions The presence of eosinophil-derived
proteins in luminal secretions is reflective of mucosal
inflammation in children with EoE. The EST is a novel,
minimally invasive device for measuring oesophageal
eosinophilic inflammation in children with EoE
The oesophageal string test: a novel, minimally invasive method measures mucosal inflammation in eosinophilic oesophagitis
Political Decentralization and Technological Innovation: Testing the Innovative Advantages of Decentralized States
Are politically decentralized states better at fostering long-run technological innovation than centralized states? Societies with decentralized governments are widely seen as agile, competitive, and well structured to adapt to innovation's gale of creative destruction. Meanwhile, centralized states, even when democratic, have come to be viewed as rigid and thus hostile to the risks, costs, and change associated with new technology, or prone to cling too long to foolhardy or outdated technological projects. Therefore government decentralization is often perceived as a necessary institutional foundation for encouraging long-run technological innovation. However, in this article, I analyze data on international patent activity, scientific publications, and high-technology exports, and show that there exists little evidence for an aggregate relationship between government structure and technological innovation. Copyright 2007 by The Policy Studies Organization.