An international study of the prevalence of substance use in patients with delusional infestation

To the Editor: Delusional infestation (DI) is a disorder characterised by the belief of being infested with living organisms or objects.1 Insects and worms are the most common concerns. Objects, such as fibers or threads, are increasingly reported by patients. DI can be primary or secondary to mental illness, physical illness, prescribed medication, and misuse of substances such as amphetamines, cannabis, codeine, cocaine, or opiates. Dermatologists are usually the specialists to whom a patient with DI is referred because patients believe that they have primarily a skin diseas

Long-term culture of genome-stable bipotent stem cells from adult human liver.

Despite the enormous replication potential of the human liver, there are currently no culture systems available that sustain hepatocyte replication and/or function in vitro. We have shown previously that single mouse Lgr5+ liver stem cells can be expanded as epithelial organoids in vitro and can be differentiated into functional hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. We now describe conditions allowing long-term expansion of adult bile duct-derived bipotent progenitor cells from human liver. The expanded cells are highly stable at the chromosome and structural level, while single base changes occur at very low rates. The cells can readily be converted into functional hepatocytes in vitro and upon transplantation in vivo. Organoids from α1-antitrypsin deficiency and Alagille syndrome patients mirror the in vivo pathology. Clonal long-term expansion of primary adult liver stem cells opens up experimental avenues for disease modeling, toxicology studies, regenerative medicine, and gene therapy.This work was supported by grants to MH (EU/236954) and to HC (The United European Gastroenterology Federation (UEGF) Research Prize 2010, EU/232814-StemCellMark and NWO/116002008). MH is supported by The Wellcome Trust Sir Henry Dale fellowship. The Rspo cell line was kindly provided by Dr. Calvin Kuo.This is the final published version. It first appeared at http://www.cell.com/abstract/S0092-8674%2814%2901566-9

Cardiovascular Function During Supine Rest in Endurance Trained Males with New Zealand Blackcurrant: A Dose-Response Study

Purpose Blackcurrant contains anthocyanins that could alter cardiovascular function and reduce cardiovascular disease risk. We examined dose responses of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract on cardiovascular function during supine rest. Methods Fifteen endurance trained male cyclists (age: 38±12 years, height: 178±5 cm, body mass: 76±10 kg, V?O2max: 56±8 mL?kg-1?min-1, mean±SD) were randomly assigned using a counterbalanced Latin square design to complete four conditions, a control of no NZBC, or one of three doses (300, 600 or 900 mg?day-1) of NZBC extract (CurraNZTM) for seven-days with a fourteen-day washout. Cardiovascular function (i.e. blood pressure, heart rate, ejection time, cardiac output, stroke volume and total peripheral resistance) during supine rest was examined (Portapres® Model 2). Results Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate and ejection time were unchanged by NZBC. A dose effect (P<0.05) was observed for cardiac output, stroke volume and total peripheral resistance. A trend for a dose effect was observed for mean arterial blood pressure. Cardiac output increased by 0.6±0.6 L·min-1 (15%) and 1.0±1.0 L·min-1 (28%) and stroke volume by 5±8 mL (7%) and 6±17 mL (18%) between control and 600, and 900 mg?day-1, respectively. Total peripheral resistance decreased by 4±3 mmHg·L-1·min-1 (20%) and 5±9 mmHg·L-1·min-1 (20%) for 600, and 900 mg?day-1. Conclusion Seven-days intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract demonstrated dose-dependent changes on some cardiovascular parameters during supine rest in endurance-trained male cyclists

Long-term culture of genome-stable bipotent stem cells from adult human liver

Despite the enormous replication potential of the human liver, there are currently no culture systems available that sustain hepatocyte replication and/or function in vitro. We have shown previously that single mouse Lgr5+ liver stem cells can be expanded as epithelial organoids in vitro and can be differentiated into functional hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. We now describe conditions allowing long-term expansion of adult bile duct-derived bipotent progenitor cells from human liver. The expanded cells are highly stable at the chromosome and structural level, while single base changes occur at very low rates. The cells can readily be converted into functional hepatocytes in vitro and upon transplantation in vivo. Organoids from α1-antitrypsin deficiency and Alagille syndrome patients mirror the in vivo pathology. Clonal long-term expansion of primary adult liver stem cells opens up experimental avenues for disease modeling, toxicology studies, regenerative medicine, and gene therapy