17 research outputs found
Synthesis of branched and linear 1,4-linked galactan oligosaccharides
Strategic naphthylidine protection allows for the rapid assembly of linear and branched 1,4-galactans.</p
Analysis of early mesothelial cell responses to Staphylococcus epidermidis isolated from patients with peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis
The major complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the development of peritonitis, an infection within the abdominal cavity, primarily caused by bacteria. PD peritonitis is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and health care costs. Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most frequently isolated cause of PD-associated peritonitis. Mesothelial cells are integral to the host response to peritonitis, and subsequent clinical outcomes, yet the effects of infection on mesothelial cells are not well characterised. We systematically investigated the early mesothelial cell response to clinical and reference isolates of S. epidermidis using primary mesothelial cells and the mesothelial cell line Met-5A. Using an unbiased whole genome microarray, followed by a targeted panel of genes known to be involved in the human antibacterial response, we identified 38 differentially regulated genes (adj. p-value < 0.05) representing 35 canonical pathways after 1 hour exposure to S. epidermidis. The top 3 canonical pathways were TNFR2 signaling, IL-17A signaling, and TNFR1 signaling (adj. pvalues of 0.0012, 0.0012 and 0.0019, respectively). Subsequent qPCR validation confirmed significant differences in gene expression in a number of genes not previously described in mesothelial cell responses to infection, with heterogeneity observed between clinical isolates of S. epidermidis, and between Met-5A and primary mesothelial cells. Heterogeneity between different S. epidermidis isolates suggests that specific virulence factors may play critical roles in influencing outcomes from peritonitis. This study provides new insights into early mesothelial cell responses to infection with S. epidermidis, and confirms the importance of validating findings in primary mesothelial cells
Long-term results after surgical treatment of renal hyperparathyroidism when fewer than four glands are identified at operation
SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe
Evaluation of surgical treatment of renal hyperparathyroidism by measuring intact parathormone blood levels on first postoperative day
Intact parathormone (inPTH) has a short half-life. Its blood level on the first day after total parathyroidectomy and subcutaneous parathyroid implantation (PTX + G) should therefore allow an early diagnosis of missed residual parathyroid tissue. We tested this hypothesis in 72 uremic patients who were followed for 6 to 110 months after operation. Nine were reoperated for recurrence of the disease. Graft removal was successful in four patients who had post-PTX inPTH levels of 16 pg/ml or lower. In five patients, an overlooked parathyroid gland had to be resected. All of them had elevated post-PTX inPTH blood levels ranging from 72 to 791 pg/ml (upper normal limit 55 pg/ml). Three of these patients had presented with hypocalcemia after PTX. We conclude that the inPTH blood concentration on the first day after PTX allows more precise evaluation of the efficacy of the surgical procedure than the postoperative evolution of blood calcium levels. It is also useful for localizing the source of excessive PTH secretion (graft or overlooked gland) when the disease recurs.SCOPUS: cp.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe
Greffe sous-cutanée de tissu parathyroïdien après parathyroïdectomie totale
SCOPUS: cp.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe