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Prenatal stress (PS) can lead to impaired spatial learning and memory in offspring. Imperatorin (IMP) is a naturally occurring furanocoumarin with many pharmacological properties. However, the effects of IMP on cognitive impairment induced by PS and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. We investigated the protective effect of IMP treatment after PS on learning and memory deficits in female offspring at postnatal 60 days. After treating prenatally-stressed offspring with IMP (15 and 30 mg/kg) for 28 days, we found that IMP increased body weight and ameliorated spatial learning and memory and working memory deficits in female offspring rats. Meanwhile, hippocampal Glu and serum corticosterone levels in prenatally-stressed offspring were significantly decreased after IMP administration. Additionally, IMP treatment significantly increased BDNF, TrkB, CaMKII, and CREB mRNA expression in the hippocampus of offspring rats. Furthermore, PS-mediated induction of RKIP protein and mRNA expression and glucocorticoid receptor protein expression in the hippocampus of offspring rats were significantly decreased by IMP treatment, and the protein expression of BDNF and TrkB and relative levels of p-EKR/ERK, p-CaMKIIα/CaMKIIα, and p-CREB/CREB were remarkably increased after IMP treatment. Taken together, IMP can ameliorate PS-induced learning and memory deficits through BDNF/TrkB and ERK/CaMKIIα/CREB signaling pathway and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Background: Pediatric intraspinal space-occupying lesions are relatively uncommon. However, these lesions can result in neurological disabilities due to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. The main goal of the present study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological features and treatment options of pediatric intraspinal space-occupying lesions in order to improve the clinical recognition and management. Methods: Clinical data of 27 children with intraspinal space-occupying lesions who underwent surgery treatment in a tertiary-care hospital between 2010 and 2018 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results: Of these 27 patients, 14 (51.85%) were girls and 13 (48.15%) were boys. The most common age group affected was 10~14 years (62.96%, 9 girls and 8 boys in this age group). The mean age was 10.11 years old. Pain and weakness were the most common clinical symptoms. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) identified intramedullary (10 cases, 37.04%), intradural extramedullary (10 cases, 37.04%) and extradural (7 cases, 25.92%) lesions, respectively. The majority of the lesions were intraspinal tumors (23 cases, 85.19%). The histological diagnosis of tumors included embryonic residual tumors (6 cases, 22.22%), ependymoma (5 cases, 18.52%), primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) (3 cases, 11.11%), schwannomas (2 cases, 7.4%), ganglioneuroma (1 case, 3.7%), Ewing’s sarc (1 case, 3.7%), B-cell non Hodgkin lymphoma (1 case, 3.7%), Hodgkin lymphoma (1 case, 3.7%), chondrosarcoma (1 case, 3.7%), ganglioglioma (1 case, 3.7%), and glioma (1 case, 3.7%). Conclusions: The incidence of pediatric intraspinal space-occupying lesions is low, and the clinical manifestation is lack of specificity. The prognosis for children with malignant tumors is poor and surgical resection is still the primary treatment option.

BACKGROUND Glomerulonephritis commonly causes kidney failure. Immunosuppressant treatment may be diabetogenic, but data on hyperglycaemia in glomerulonephritis treated with usual clinical care are scant. AIM To assess the epidemiology, risk factors and outcomes for new-onset diabetes among patients with glomerular disease (NODAG). METHODS A single-centre retrospective cohort of nondiabetic adults diagnosed with glomerulonephritis between January 2011 and July 2015. Clinical, laboratory and pharmacotherapy data were retrieved from electronic medical records. Using modified American Diabetes Association criteria, the primary outcome of NODAG was present if fasting venous glucose was ≥7 mmol/L for at least two readings, HbA1c was ≥6.5% or if patient required antidiabetic medications. Secondary outcomes were end-stage renal disease, cardiovascular disease and death. RESULTS NODAG occurred in 48 patients (10.7%); 22 required antidiabetic medication at median 6.2 (interquartile range 1.7, 20.0) months after glomerulonephritis diagnosis. Patients with NODAG had higher prebiopsy fasting glucose, greater proteinuria and lower fasting high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Methylprednisolone and cyclophosphamide were more commonly used among patients with NODAG. In multivariate logistic regression, greater proteinuria (odds ratio 1.08 (95% confidence interval 1.01, 1.16), P = 0.02) and methylprednisolone use (odds ratio 4.02 (95% confidence interval 1.76, 9.18), P = 0.001) were significantly associated with NODAG, independent of the triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio as a surrogate measure of insulin resistance. Median follow up was 39.6 (26.9, 57.2) months. Secondary outcomes were not significantly different in patients with and without NODAG. CONCLUSION Proteinuria and methylprednisolone were associated with incident diabetes among patients with glomerular disease treated with usual care. At-risk patients should be appropriately counselled and monitored for hyperglycaemia.

Background Connexin 43 (Cx43) plays a central role in the inflammatory response and wound healing. Targeting Cx43 expression reduces inflammation in a variety of injuries. The expression pattern of Cx43 has not been described for many inflammatory skin diseases. Objectives To describe the expression patterns of Cx43 in eczema, psoriasis, Steven‐Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis. Methods Archival skin biopsies from patients with eczema, psoriasis, and Steven‐Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrosis were identified and examined, with sister sections stained for Cx43 and imaged by confocal microscopy. All samples were compared to age and site‐matched normal skin controls. Results Epidermal Cx43 is reduced in acute eczema, absent in regions of spongiosis, and is highly elevated in subacute and chronic eczema. In plaque psoriasis, Cx43 is overexpressed in areas with psoriasiform hyperplasia with a fish‐scale‐like appearance but is lost in regions surrounding neutrophil microabscesses. Cx43 staining is strong in the neutrophils within these microabscesses. In SJS/TEN, Cx43 expression is elevated in areas bordering normal tissue but is rapidly lost in areas of keratinocyte necrosis. Conclusions Dynamic changes in Cx43 levels are seen in inflammatory skin diseases and may represent future potential therapeutic targets., Connexin 43 (Cx43) plays a central role in the inflammatory response and wound healing. Targeting Cx43 expression reduces inflammation in a variety of injuries. Here we examine the changes in Cx43 protein levels in the epidermis in eczema, psoriasis, Steven‐Johnson Syndrome/Toxic Epidermal necrolysis.

Background: This study aimed to describe biomarkers using the comprehensive index of biomarker (CIB) based on consistency rate in both case control (Youden index, Yen) and cohort study (Crc) to determine the efficacy of a biomarker. Methods: The CIB is the geometric mean of Yen and Crc. The simulated data were generated to observe CIB features of sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for biomarkersResults: CIB was found to be related to the CRC values ROC analysis. The higher Spe could indicate better diagnostic power and the higher Sen could indicate better joint action for biomarkers with the same Yen. Although Yen is the common index used to evaluate the effectiveness of a biomarker, unfortunately, the Yen value was significantly larger than CIB value under the moderate Spe, showing overestimation.Conclusion: The CIB with combination of consistency in both case control and cohort study could be more reasonable. The CIB could provide a better understanding of the power of a biomarker and would be better at evaluating biomarkers from new systems or concepts.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine correlations between lumbar kinematics, functional disability and fear avoidance beliefs among adults with nonspecific chronic low back pain (LBP). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between March and December 2014. A total of 32 adults diagnosed with nonspecific chronic LBP were recruited from outpatients attending either an orthopaedic clinic at a university hospital or a private physiotherapy clinic in Malaysia. Lumbar kinematics were measured using sensors attached at the first lumbar (L1) and second sacral (S2) vertebrae levels. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ) were used to assess degree of functional disability and fear avoidance beliefs, respectively. Results: For maximum range of motion, positive correlations were observed between ODI scores and right lateral flexion and right rotation ( P = 0.01 each), although there was a negative correlation with left rotation ( P = 0.03). With maximum angular velocity, ODI scores were positively correlated with right and left lateral flexion L1 ( P = 0.01 and

BACKGROUND Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infectious disease. Inflammatory reaction and prognosis assessment in adult CAP patients are useful for CAP site of care decisions. Most CAP patients were diagnosed in an out-patient or emergency department, so a simple, cheap and rapidly available measurement to assess inflammatory reaction and prognosis has the prospect of broad application. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of plasma D-Dimer in assessment of inflammatory reaction and prognosis in adult CAP patients. METHODS A retrospective study was conducted. All adult patients with a primary diagnosis of CAP were included and were evaluated by peripheral plasma D-Dimer test. All of the measurement data were analyzed with paired t-test and the enumeration data were analyzed with χ2 test. Correlative factor analysis was performed between D-Dimer levels and serum inflammatory markers (WBC, hs-CRP, PCT) and prognostic indexes (ICU admission and 30-day mortality). Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of D-Dimer in predicting ICU admission and/or 30-day mortality. RESULTS One hundred fifty patients were included. Compared with non-D-Dimer elevated group, serum inflammatory markers (WBC, hs-CRP, PCT) and prognostic indexes (ICU admission and 30-day mortality) were elevated in the D-Dimer elevated group (p < 0.05). D-Dimer had positive correlation with serum inflammatory markers (WBC, hs-CRP, PCT), the rates of ICU admission and 30-day mortality, and scores of CURB-65. The AUC of ROC curve of D-Dimer was 0.880 (95% CI 0.823 to 0.936), the sensitivity was 80.4% and specificity was 79.8%, D-Dimer levels are superior to hs-CRP and PCT in predicting 30-day mortality and/or ICU admission according to AUCs of the ROC curves. CONCLUSIONS Elevated plasma D-Dimer in adult CAP patients is associated with an increased inflammatory reaction and ICU admission and 30-day mortality. It can be a simple, cheap, and rapidly available measurement to assess inflammatory reaction and prognosis in adult CAP patients.

pstrongemBackground/em/strong: Scoring systems including CURB-65 and Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) and novel or traditional biomarkers including procalcitonin (PCT) and c-reactive protein (CRP) are very significant for understanding the severity and prognosis in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients, while prognostic items are useful for CAP prognostication and point-of-care decisions. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of peripheral blood routine items in predicting ICU admission and 30-day mortality in CAP patients./ppstrongemMethods/em/strong: A retrospective study was conducted. All adult patients with a primary diagnosis of CAP were included and peripheral blood routine tests were evaluated. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to explore association of risk factors with 30-day mortality among CAP patients. Receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of peripheral blood routine items and compared with CURB-65 scores in predicting ICU admission and/or 30-day mortality./ppstrongemResults/em/strong: One hundred fifty patients were included and compared with non-ICU admission patients. There was a statistically significant difference in age, co-existing illness, RDW, WBC, and CURB-65 scores ranking in ICU admission patients (p0.05). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found RDW, WBC, and CURB-65 ≥ 3 scores increased the risk of 30-day mortality by 4.01, 1.65, and 3.43 times, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) of ROC curves of RDW combined with WBC and CURB-65 was 0.786 (95% CI 0.701 to 0.876) and 0.836 (95% CI 0.764 to 0.908), respectively and the sensitivity was 84.0% and 60.0%, respectively, and the specificity 66.7% and 93.7%, respectively./ppstrongemConclusions/em/strong: Elevated RDW and WBC increased mortality in adult CAP patients, RDW combined with WBC had a better sensitivity than CURB-65 scores in predicting ICU admission and/or mortality in CAP patients./p.

Background. Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a subjective and distressing symptom, and its associated factors in developing countries remain ambiguous. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with CRF among cancer patients in China. Methods. This study was designed as a cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with CRF among cancer patients in eastern China, regardless of their diagnoses. Data were collected by using a questionnaire survey (including demographic information and brief fatigue inventory) after informed written consent was obtained. A chi-square test was used to analyze the correlations between single categorical factors and CRF, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations of potential risk factors with the presence of CRF. Results. Out of a total population of 1,938 cancer patients, 1,749 had completed the study questionnaire; 52.07% (n = 904) reported clinically significant fatigue (score ≥4 on Brief Fatigue Inventory). Four hundred twenty-seven (48.47%) patients younger than age 58 years (the median age) and 475 (55.69%) patients age 58 years or older reported clinically significant fatigue. In multivariate analysis, higher sleep quality (p < .01) was negatively associated with CRF, whereas never engaging in physical exercise (p < .01) and higher clinical stage of cancer (p < .01) were positively associated factors that could increase the odds of CRF. Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that effective management of the two changeable contributing factors of CRF may reduce CRF and thus could be used as references for CRF management.

Thoracolumbar fractures are among the most common type of traumatic spine fractures. Surgical treatment is necessary if stability or neurological function is impaired.1 Restoration of the vertebral column stability and decompression of the spinal canal are the main goals of surgical treatment.2 Posterior short-segment fixation has the advantage of using a less extensive approach with less blood loss and complications without compromising the quality of stabilization, and spares healthy mobile segments in fusion, and thus preserves mobility.3 Traditional short-segment fixation (TSSF) is a widely used technique in the treatment of unstable thoracolumbar fractures. It not only provides distraction and compression forces that facilitate 3-dimensional correction and firm fixation, but it also preserves motion segments.4 It can offer several advantages: immediate stability, restoration of the vertebral height and deformity angle, and prevention of late neurological injury.5 However, TSSF has been associated with a high rate of failure.6 The latter is usually associated with implant failure and loss of reduction of kyphosis. Posterior fixation including the fractured vertebra (PFFV) is a novel idea used to overcome the shortcomings of TSSF. The technique avoids the suspension effect and quadrilateral effect, dispensing the internal fixing load and reducing the correction degree losses and internal fixation fractures, and it shows good efficacy in clinical application.7 However, there are still only a few randomized controlled studies7 and the relevant theory requires further investigation. The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical effectiveness of PFFV and TSSF in the treatment of thoracolumbar fracture.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a novel class of eukaryotic transcripts. They are thought to act as a critical regulator of protein-coding gene expression. Herein, we identified and characterized 13 putative lncRNAs from the expressed sequence tags from secondary hair follicle of Cashmere goat. Furthermore, we investigated their transcriptional pattern in secondary hair follicle of Liaoning Cashmere goat during telogen and anagen phases. Also, we generated intracellular regulatory networks of upregulated lncRNAs at anagen in Wnt signaling pathway based on bioinformatics analysis. The relative expression of six putative lncRNAs (lncRNA-599618, -599556, -599554, -599547, -599531, and -599509) at the anagen phase is significantly higher than that at telogen. Compared with anagen, the relative expression of four putative lncRNAs (lncRNA-599528, -599518, -599511, and -599497) was found to be significantly upregulated at telogen phase. The network generated showed that a rich and complex regulatory relationship of the putative lncRNAs and related miRNAs with their target genes in Wnt signaling pathway. Our results from the present study provided a foundation for further elucidating the functional and regulatory mechanisms of these putative lncRNAs in the development of secondary hair follicle and cashmere fiber growth of Cashmere goat.

Background Previous studies showed improvement in heart function by injecting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) after AMI. Emerging evidence suggested that both the number and function of BMSCs decline with ageing. We designed a randomized, controlled trial to further investigate the safety and efficacy of this treatment. Methods Patients with ST-elevation AMI undergoing successful reperfusion treatment within 12hours were randomly assigned to receive an intracoronary infusion of BMSCs (n=21) or standard medical treatment (n=22) (the numbers of patients were limited because of the complication of coronary artery obstruction). Results There is a closely positive correlation of the number and function of BMSCs vs. the cardiac function reflected by LVEF at baseline (r=0.679, P=0.001) and at 12-month follow-up (r=0.477, P=0.039). Six months after cell administration, myocardial viability within the infarct area by 18-FDG SPECT was improved in both groups compared with baseline, but no significant difference in the BMSCs compared with control groups (4.0±0.4% 95%CI 3.1–4.9 vs. 3.2±0.5% 95%CI 2.1–4.3, P=0.237). 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT demonstrated that myocardial perfusion within the infarct area in the BMSCs did not differ from the control group (4.4±0.5% 95%CI 3.2–5.5 vs. 3.9±0.6% 95%CI 2.6–5.2, P=0.594). Similarly, LVEF after 12 and 24months follow-up did not show any difference between the two groups. In the BMSCs group, one patient suffered a serious complication of coronary artery occlusion during the BMSCs injection procedure. Conclusions The clinical benefits of intracoronary injection of autologous BMSCs in acute STEMI patients need further investigation and reevaluation.

Severe liver failure causes coagulopathy and high bleeding risk. Albumin dialysis with Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System (MARS) (Gambro, Lund, Sweden) is useful for treatment. However, anticoagulation during its use is of uncertain value. We omitted heparin-saline priming and intradialytic heparin and examined its effects. Albumin dialysis was performed in critically ill patients with intermittent circuit saline flushes (2664 ± 2420 mL per treatment). A total of 12 patients (M : F = 10:2; age 49 ± 9 years) were thus treated: 6 for fulminant hepatic failure and 6 for acute-on-chronic liver failure. The overall hospitalization duration was 31 ± 30 days. A total of 44 treatment sessions were performed (average 8 ± 7 sessions per patient). Prescribed versus achieved MARS duration were 13 ± 3 versus 11 ± 4 h, P

The use of adult stem cells is limited by the quality and quantity of host stem cells. It has been demonstrated that Wharton’s jelly–derived mesenchymal stem cells (WJMSCs), a primitive stromal population, could integrate into ischemic cardiac tissues and significantly improve heart function. In this randomized, controlled trial, our aim was to assess the safety and efficacy of intracoronary WJMSCs in patients with ST-elevation acute myocardial infarction (AMI). In a multicenter trial, 116 patients with acute ST-elevation MI were randomly assigned to receive an intracoronary infusion of WJMSCs or placebo into the infarct artery at five to seven days after successful reperfusion therapy. The primary endpoint of safety: the incidence of adverse events (AEs) within 18 months, was monitored and quantified. The endpoint of efficacy: the absolute changes in myocardial viability and perfusion of the infarcted region from baseline to four months, global left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from baseline to 18 months were measured using F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography (F-18-FDG-PET) and 99mTc-sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography (99mTc-SPECT), and two-dimensional echocardiography, respectively. During 18 months follow-up, AEs rates and laboratory tests including tumor, immune, and hematologic indexes were not different between the two groups. The absolute increase in the myocardial viability (PET) and perfusion within the infarcted territory (SPECT) was significantly greater in the WJMSC group [6.9 ± 0.6 % (95 %CI, 5.7 to 8.2)] and [7.1 ± 0.8 % (95 %CI, 5.4 to 8.8) than in the placebo group [3.3 ± 0.7 % (95 %CI, 1.8 to 4.7), P

This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab and Bortezomib in relapsed or refractory indolent B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Treatments consisted of rituximab 375 mg/m(2), i.v. on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 of cycle 1 and on day one of cycles 2-5, bortezomib 1.6 mg/m(2), given by intravenous injection (3-s to 5-s bolus) on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 of a maximum of five cycles. The primary end points were the overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included response rate (ORR; CR) and toxicities. From January 2008 to December 2010, 60 successive patients at Tianjin cancer hospital lymphoma department were enrolled in this study. All patients were recurrent or refractory indolent B cell NHL, including follicular lymphoma grades 1-2 (n = 35), small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic leukemia (LL/CLL; n = 16) and marginal zone lymphoma (n = 9). The median follow-up time was 30 months (range 12-48). The overall response rate was 70.0 %, with a CR/CRu rate of 31.7 %. The 2-year OS and PFS of all patients were 75.0 and 41.0 %, respectively. Grade 3-4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 10 and 3.3 % of patients, respectively. Higher IPI and refractory disease were independently associated with worse survival and PFS. RB chemotherapy in patients with refractory or relapsed indolent B cell NHL was effective with low toxicity.

To the Editor: We read with great interest the recent paper1 on renal biopsy findings among Indigenous Australians, a nationwide survey involving 1026 biopsies in which the authors compared the biopsy pattern among the Indigenous population living in remote/very remote (R/VR) areas with those living in the city and the non-Indigenous Australians. Referring to the prevalence of primary glomerulonephritis (GN), it was reported that IgA nephritis was well represented among all Indigenous biopsies though lower proportion among the R/VR aborigines. Substantial numbers of Indigenous people had diffuse proliferative GN, including higher proportion of post-infectious GN. The proportions of membranous GN were lower in the R/RV biopsies. This biopsy pattern of Indigenous Australians is reminiscent of the biopsy patterns of many countries in the 1980s. It is in marked contrast to the present day patterns in which the prevalence of diffuse proliferative GN, including post-infectious GN, is low and the prevalence of membranous GN is high.2 We have reported the biopsy prevalence in Singapore over three decades from the 1970s to 2000s where diffuse proliferative GN had decreased from 32 to 7% and membranous GN has increased from 3 to 11%. Australia and the rest of the developed world have reported similar findings nationwide. We would suggest that the pattern of primary GN among the Indigenous biopsies is a reflection of the socioeconomic conditions prevailing among the R/VR Aborigines compared with those living in the city. This is a trend reflecting the degree of development of the R/VR population in less developed housing facilities with exposure to parasitic, bacterial, and other infective agents predisposing to mesangial proliferative GN, consistent with the hygiene hypothesis.3

The aim of this study was to compare coronary artery plaque burden, composition, distribution, and the degree of coronary artery stenosis in diabetic and nondiabetic patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). The study group consisted of 594 patients with known or suspected CAD, including 122 diabetics, who underwent multidetector computed tomographic coronary angiography and traditional invasive coronary artery angiography. Coronary artery calcium scores were compared in different age subgroups. Noncalcified plaque, calcified plaque, and mixed plaque were analyzed by coronary segment on computed tomographic coronary angiography, as well as the degree of coronary stenosis on coronary artery angiography. Obstructive vessels were compared between the 2 groups. Total coronary artery calcium score was higher in patients with diabetes compared to those without (378.4 ± 613.0 vs 226.0 ± 408.4, p = 0.003). The percentage of patients with coronary artery calcium scores >400 among diabetics (22.1%) was higher than among nondiabetics (14.2%) (p = 0.032). Diabetics had a higher percentage of coronary segments with noncalcified plaque, calcified plaque, and mixed plaque than nondiabetics (35.3% vs 26.2%, p

To the Editor: We read with great interest the article by Kim-Mitsuyama and the commentary by Briasoulis and Bakris in the recent issue of Kidney International.1, 2 Both the authors and the commentators have attributed the more optimal blood pressure (BP) control in the chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on combination therapy with angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and calcium channel blocker (CCB) as the main factor contributing to the prevention of cardiovascular events compared with those on high-dose ARB. In patients without CKD, the incidence of primary events was the same in both groups, suggesting that decreased eGFR was the independent risk factor for cardiovascular events.

To the Editor: We have read the report of the ISN Global Outreach Programme,1 which confirms that, for the less developed countries compared with the more developed ones, chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) and not diabetic nephropathy (DiabNx) is still the leading cause of end-stage renal failure (ESRF).

The effects of a diet enriched in olive oil on fatty acid composition and prostaglandin synthesis in mouse lung and spleen was determined and compared with the animals on the diets supplemented with lard. The animals on the olive oil enriched diet contained enhanced levels of oleic acid (18:1 n-9) in the phospholipid classes of lung and spleen. This reciprocally replaced arachidonic acid (20:4 n-6) from the phospholipids. Prostaglandin synthesis in lung and spleen of mice on olive oil enriched diet were comparable to those obtained in animals on a diet enriched in lard. The studies demonstrated that 18:1 n-9 from olive oil diet can displace 20:4 n-6 from membrane lipids but does not affect prostaglandin synthesis by lung or spleen tissue.

Peritoneal macrophages from mice fed diets containing 10% menhaden oil incorporated significant amounts of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) into cellular lipids, and this lowered arachidonic acid in these lipid classes compared to those from mice fed diets containing 10% coconut oil. The n-3 PUFA-enriched macrophages secreted significantly smaller amounts of prostaglandin E, thromboxane B and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha when stimulated with opsonized zymosan or phorbol myristate acetate. These studies demonstrated that menhaden oil-enriched diets influence fatty acid composition and prostaglandin synthesis in macrophages.

Congenital cytomegalovirus is the most frequent, yet under-recognised, infectious cause of newborn malformation in developed countries. Despite its clinical and public health importance, questions remain regarding the best diagnostic methods for identifying maternal and neonatal infection, and regarding optimal prevention and therapeutic strategies for infected mothers and neonates. The absence of guidelines impairs global efforts to decrease the effect of congenital cytomegalovirus. Data in the literature suggest that congenital cytomegalovirus infection remains a research priority, but data are yet to be translated into clinical practice. An informal International Congenital Cytomegalovirus Recommendations Group was convened in 2015 to address these questions and to provide recommendations for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. On the basis of consensus discussions and a review of the literature, we do not support universal screening of mothers and the routine use of cytomegalovirus immunoglobulin for prophylaxis or treatment of infected mothers. However, treatment guidelines for infected neonates were recommended. Consideration must be given to universal neonatal screening for cytomegalovirus to facilitate early detection and intervention for sensorineural hearing loss and developmental delay, where appropriate. The group agreed that education and prevention strategies for mothers were beneficial, and that recommendations will need continual updating as further data become available.