MRI and CFS oligoclonal bands after autologus hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in MS

To analyze the MRI and CSF oligoclonal bands (OB) changes in patients with MS who underwent an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). Background: AHSCT is evaluated as an alternative therapy in severe MS. In previous series of AHSCT for MS, data on MRI or OB outcome were limited or not provided. Methods: five patients with a median Kurtzke's EDSS score of 6.5, more than two attacks, and confirmed worsening of the EDSS in the previous year received an AHSCT. Hematopoietic stem cells were mobilized with cyclophosphamide (3 g/m2) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (5 microg/kg/d). The graft was T cell depleted by positive CD 34+ selection. Conditioning regimen included BCNU (300 mg/m(2)), cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg in 3 days), and antithymocyte globulin (60 mg/kg in 4 days). MRI scans were scheduled at baseline and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and OB analysis at baseline and 3 and 12 months post-AHSCT. Results: four patients had a stable or improved EDSS after a median follow-up of 18 months (range, 12 to 24 months). The fifth patient's condition deteriorated during AHSCT. She partially improved and remained stable after month 3 after AHSCT. The baseline CSF OB persisted 1 year after AHSCT. MRI studies after AHSCT showed no enhanced T1 lesions and no new or enlarging T2 lesions. The median percentage change of T2 lesion load was -11.8% (range, -26.6 to -4.0%). All patients had a decrease of corpus callosum area at 1 year (median, 12.4%; range, 7.8% to 20.5%) that did not progress in the two patients evaluated at 2 years after AHSCT. Conclusions: although the persistence of CSF OB suggests the lymphocytes were not eliminated from the CNS, the follow-up MRI studies showed no enhanced T1 brain lesions and a reduction in the T2 lesion load that correlated with the clinical stabilization of MS after AHSCT

GPR56/ADGRG1 Inhibits Mesenchymal Differentiation and Radioresistance in Glioblastoma

A mesenchymal transition occurs both during the natural evolution of glioblastoma (GBM) and in response to therapy. Here, we report that the adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR56/ADGRG1, inhibits GBM mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance. GPR56 is enriched in proneural and classical GBMs and is lost during their transition toward a mesenchymal subtype. GPR56 loss of function promotes mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance of glioma initiating cells both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, a low GPR56-associated signature is prognostic of a poor outcome in GBM patients even within non-G-CIMP GBMs. Mechanistically, we reveal GPR56 as an inhibitor of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, thereby providing the rationale by which this receptor prevents mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance. A pan-cancer analysis suggests that GPR56 might be an inhibitor of the mesenchymal transition across multiple tumor types beyond GBM

GPR56/ADGRG1 inhibits mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance in glioblastoma

A mesenchymal transition occurs both during the natural evolution of glioblastoma (GBM) and in response to therapy. Here, we report that the adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR56/ADGRG1, inhibits GBM mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance. GPR56 is enriched in proneural and classical GBMs and is lost during their transition toward a mesenchymal subtype. GPR56 loss of function promotes mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance of glioma initiating cells both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, a low GPR56-associated signature is prognostic of a poor outcome in GBM patients even within non-G-CIMP GBMs. Mechanistically, we reveal GPR56 as an inhibitor of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, thereby providing the rationale by which this receptor prevents mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance. A pan-cancer analysis suggests that GPR56 might be an inhibitor of the mesenchymal transition across multiple tumor types beyond GBM

Breastfeeding behavior is not associated with health literacy: evidence from the German KUNO-Kids birth cohort study

Purpose Despite the health benefits of full breastfeeding for both infants and mothers, less than 50% of mothers in Germany practice this method for at least 4 months after childbirth. Because of the growing importance of health literacy to improve public health, we investigated the role of maternal health literacy in breastfeeding behavior. Methods We analyzed the data of 1172 mother–child dyads of the KUNO-Kids health study of the University Children’s and Maternity Hospital Regensburg. Maternal health literacy was assessed with the HLS-EU-Q47 questionnaire (sub-index health care) up to 48 h after childbirth. Outcome was analyzed 6 months after childbirth and categorized into full breastfeeding for less than 4 months or for at least 4 months. The association between breastfeeding and maternal health literacy was calculated with univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results 38.8% of mothers showed inadequate or limited health literacy. 75.9% of mothers had fully breastfed their child for at least 4 months. Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that health literacy and full breastfeeding for at least 4 months were not associated (OR = 0.995 [CI 0.977–1.015], p = 0.60). After adjusting for all potentially confounding variables with a significant association (p ≤ 0.05) on both health literacy and breastfeeding, the multivariable model showed no association between health literacy and breastfeeding (OR = 0.984 [CI 0.963–1.007], p = 0.170). Conclusion Surprisingly, we found no association between health literacy and breastfeeding behavior in our study. Therefore, future research with comparable measurements of health literacy and breastfeeding is required to validate this result and to identify reasons for early breastfeeding cessation

A facile method to determine the absolute structure of achiral molecules: Supramolecular-tilt structures

Achiral compounds 4-methoxy-4-(p-methoxyphenyl)cyclohexanoneethylene ketal (2), 4-hydroxy-4-(p-methoxy phenyl)cyclohexanoneethylene ketal (3), and 3,5-dimethyl-4-nitropyrazole (4) crystallized in chiral structures and the samples showed an enantiomeric excess. We have determined the absolute structures of these compounds by using X-ray diffraction with copper radiation at low temperatures. Moreover, we have also established the prevalent absolute structures in these samples, by comparing their calculated and solid-state vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra. The consistency of this method was confirmed by using (R,R)-2,8-diiodo-4,10-dimethyl-6 H,12H-5,11-methano- dibenzo[b,f][1,5]diazocine, Tröger′s base, (R,R)-1, as a chiral compound of known absolute configuration. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.The authors are grateful to the CICYT FEDER Spanish Project (MAT2009-1463-C03-01, MAT2011-27978-C02-01, and CTQ2010-16122) and to the Governments of Aragón and Madrid (Project MADRISOLAR2, reference S2009/PPQ-1533) for funding.Peer Reviewe

Breastfeeding behavior is not associated with health literacy: evidence from the German KUNO-Kids birth cohort study

Purpose!#!Despite the health benefits of full breastfeeding for both infants and mothers, less than 50% of mothers in Germany practice this method for at least 4 months after childbirth. Because of the growing importance of health literacy to improve public health, we investigated the role of maternal health literacy in breastfeeding behavior.!##!Methods!#!We analyzed the data of 1172 mother-child dyads of the KUNO-Kids health study of the University Children's and Maternity Hospital Regensburg. Maternal health literacy was assessed with the HLS-EU-Q47 questionnaire (sub-index health care) up to 48 h after childbirth. Outcome was analyzed 6 months after childbirth and categorized into full breastfeeding for less than 4 months or for at least 4 months. The association between breastfeeding and maternal health literacy was calculated with univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.!##!Results!#!38.8% of mothers showed inadequate or limited health literacy. 75.9% of mothers had fully breastfed their child for at least 4 months. Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that health literacy and full breastfeeding for at least 4 months were not associated (OR = 0.995 [CI 0.977-1.015], p = 0.60). After adjusting for all potentially confounding variables with a significant association (p ≤ 0.05) on both health literacy and breastfeeding, the multivariable model showed no association between health literacy and breastfeeding (OR = 0.984 [CI 0.963-1.007], p = 0.170).!##!Conclusion!#!Surprisingly, we found no association between health literacy and breastfeeding behavior in our study. Therefore, future research with comparable measurements of health literacy and breastfeeding is required to validate this result and to identify reasons for early breastfeeding cessation

GPR56/ADGRG1 inhibits mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance in glioblastoma

A mesenchymal transition occurs both during the natural evolution of glioblastoma (GBM) and in response to therapy. Here, we report that the adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR56/ADGRG1, inhibits GBM mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance. GPR56 is enriched in proneural and classical GBMs and is lost during their transition toward a mesenchymal subtype. GPR56 loss of function promotes mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance of glioma initiating cells both in vitro and in vivo. Accordingly, a low GPR56-associated signature is prognostic of a poor outcome in GBM patients even within non-G-CIMP GBMs. Mechanistically, we reveal GPR56 as an inhibitor of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway, thereby providing the rationale by which this receptor prevents mesenchymal differentiation and radioresistance. A pan-cancer analysis suggests that GPR56 might be an inhibitor of the mesenchymal transition across multiple tumor types beyond GBM