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Joyce S Ramos,1,2 Lance C Dalleck,2,3 Rebecca C Stennett,1 Gregore I Mielke,1 Shelley E Keating,1 Lydia Murray,4 Sumaira Z Hasnain,4,5 Robert G Fassett,1 Michael McGuckin,4,6 Ilaria Croci,1,7 Jeff S Coombes1 1Centre for Research on Exercise, Physical Activity and Health, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 2Caring Futures Institute and SHAPE Research Centre, Exercise Science and Clinical Exercise Physiology, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; 3Recreation, Exercise, and Sport Science Department, Western State Colorado University, Gunnison, Colorado, USA; 4Immunopathology Group, Mater Research Institute - The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 5Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 6Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; 7K.G. Jebsen Center of Exercise in Medicine, Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Sor Trondelag, NorwayCorrespondence: Joyce S Ramos Email joyce.ramos@flinders.edu.auIntroduction: IL-22 may have a role in the alleviation of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) via protection of pancreatic beta and endothelial cells from oxidative and lipid-induced damage. We aimed to investigate the effects of moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and different volumes of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on changes in circulating IL-22.Methods: This was a sub-study of the “Exercise in the prevention of Metabolic Syndrome” (EX-MET) a multi-center, randomized trial. This study used data collected at the Brisbane site. Thirty-nine individuals with MetS were randomized to one of three 16-wk interventions: 1) MICT (n=10, 30min at 60– 70% HR peak, 5x/wk); 2) 4HIIT (n=13, 4x4min at 85– 95% HR peak, interspersed with 3min of active recovery at 50– 70% HR peak, 3x/wk); or 3) 1HIIT (n=16, 1x4min at 85– 95% HR peak, 3x/wk). Serum IL-22 concentration was measured following a 12-hr fast via an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, before and after the intervention. MetS severity, insulin resistance (IR), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were also measured via MetS z-score, HOMA-IR, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and indirect calorimetry (maximal exercise test), respectively.Results: The median (IQR) IL-22% changes from pre- to post-intervention in the MICT, 4HIIT, and 1HIIT groups were − 17% (− 43.0% to 31.3%), +16.5% (− 18.9% to 154.9%), and +15.9% (− 28.7% to 46.1%), respectively. Although there were no significant between-group differences in IL-22 concentration change, there was a medium-to-large group × time interaction effect [F(2,35)=2.08, p=0.14, η2=0.14].Conclusion: Although there was no statistically significant between-group difference in IL-22 change, the study suggests that different exercise intensities may have opposing effects on IL-22 concentration in individuals with MetS.Keywords: high-intensity interval training, IL-22, inflammation, cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, cytokine

Superconductivity and spin-orbit (SO) interaction have been two separate emerging fields until very recently that the correlation between them seemed to be observed. However, previous experiments concerning SO coupling are performed far beyond the superconducting state and thus a direct demonstration of how SO coupling affects superconductivity remains elusive. Here we investigate the SO coupling in the critical region of superconducting transition on Al nanofilms, in which the strength of disorder and spin relaxation by SO coupling are changed by varying the film thickness. At temperatures T sufficiently above the superconducting critical temperature Tc, clear signature of SO coupling reveals itself in showing a magneto-resistivity peak. When Tc, the resistivity peak can still be observed; however, its line-shape is now affected by the onset of the quasi two-dimensional superconductivity. By studying such magneto-resistivity peaks under different strength of spin relaxation, we highlight the important effects of SO interaction on superconductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Multi-modal hand hygiene programmes that include patient empowerment are promoted as a necessary component of hand hygiene compliance. However, the question still remains, do we have enough information to determine if, and under what conditions, patients will be able to play an immediate role in healthcare workers’ hand hygiene behaviour? Aim: To review the current literature on patient willingness to be empowered, barriers to empowerment, and hand hygiene programmes that include patient empowerment and hand hygiene improvement. Methods: A Medline (Ovid) search of all English-language papers for 1997–2007 and 2008–2012 was conducted using the following keywords alone and in various combinations: ‘patient participation’, ‘involvement’, ‘empowerment’, ‘education’, ‘decision-making’, ‘professional–patient relations’, ‘behavioural change’, ‘culture of safety’, ‘social marketing’, ‘consumer awareness’, ‘leadership’, ‘institutional climate’, ‘hand hygiene’ and ‘patient reminders’. The 1997–2007 review was conducted as part of the World Health Organization's Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care, and updated with the 2008–2012 review. Findings: Several studies show that, in principle, patients are willing to be empowered. However, there is variation in the actual number of patients that practice empowerment for hand hygiene, ranging from 5% to 80%. The actual performance of patient empowerment can be increased when a patient is given explicit permission by a healthcare worker. Conclusion: There is ongoing support from patients that they are willing to be empowered. There is a need to develop programmes that empower both healthcare workers and patients so that they become more comfortable in their roles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The generation of antitumour immunity depends on the nature of dendritic cell (DC)-tumour interactions. These have been studied mostly by using in vitro-derived DC which may not reflect the natural biology of DC in vivo. In breast cancer, only one report has compared blood DC at different stages and no longitudinal evaluation has been performed. Here we conducted three cross-sectional and one one-year longitudinal assessments of blood DC in patients with early (stage I/II, n=137) and advanced (stage IV, n=36) disease compared to healthy controls (n=66). Patients with advanced disease exhibit markedly reduced blood DC counts at diagnosis. Patients with early disease show minimally reduced counts at diagnosis but a prolonged period (1 year) of marked DC suppression after tumour resection. While differing in frequency, DC from both patients with early and advanced disease exhibit reduced expression of CD86 and HLA-DR and decreased immunostimulatory capacities. Finally, by comparing a range of clinically available maturation stimuli, we demonstrate that conditioning with soluble CD40L induces the highest level of maturation and improved T-cell priming. We conclude that although circulating DC are compromised by loco-regional and systemic breast cancer, they respond vigorously to ex vivo conditioning, thus enhancing their immunostimulatory capacity and potential for immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mandatory reporting and disclosure of health care-acquired infections have resulted in controversy over the perceived notion that consumers will not understand how to interpret data and that such information may negatively influence utilization of hospitals. The objective was to determine consumers' attitudes about health care-acquired infections, hand hygiene practices, and patient empowerment. A telephone survey based on a random digit dialing sample of all households in the United States was conducted. Consumers were asked about choosing a hospital, hand hygiene practices, and health care-acquired infections. Some 94% of respondents rated environmental cleanliness as very important. Hospital infection rates would influence decision making for 93% of consumers. Four in 5 consumers said they would ask their health care worker to wash and sanitize his or her hands. Our findings strongly suggest that (1) consumers will use infection data in selecting and/or leaving a hospital system and (2) consumers are ready to be empowered with information to ensure a positive outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytokines are important for breast cell function, both as trophic hormones and as mediators of host defense mechanisms against breast cancer. Recently, inducible feedback suppressors of cytokine signalling (SOCS/JAB/SSI) have been identified, which decrease cell sensitivity to cytokines. We examined the expression of SOCS genes in 17 breast carcinomas and 10 breast cancer lines, in comparison with normal tissue and breast lines. We report elevated expression of SOCS-1-3 and CIS immunoreactive proteins within in situ ductal carcinomas and infiltrating ductal carcinomas relative to normal breast tissue. Significantly increased expression of SOCS-1-3 and CIS transcripts was also shown by quantitative in situ hybridisation within both tumour tissue and reactive stroma. CIS transcript expression was elevated in all 10 cancer lines, but not in control lines. However, there was no consistent elevation of other SOCS transcripts. CIS protein was shown by immunoblot to be present in all cancer lines at increased levels, mainly as the 47 kDa ubiquitinylated form. A potential proliferative role for CIS overexpression is supported by reports that CIS activates ERK kinases, and by strong induction in transient reporter assays with an ERK-responsive promoter. The in vivo elevation of SOCS gene expression may be part of the host/tumour response or a response to autocrine/paracrine GH and prolactin. However, increased CIS expression in breast cancer lines appears to be a specific lesion, and could simultaneously shut down STAT 5 signalling by trophic hormones, confer resistance to host cytokines and increase proliferation through ERK kinases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the coach development programs for improving coaching practice based on the RE-AIM Framework.

The serum markers CA125, CASA and TPS were compared, with particular reference to the clinical applications of these tumor markers in the management of patients with ovarian cancer (discrimination of benign and malignant disease; indicating prognosis; predicting preclinical recurrence), (i) Using recommended cut-off points, CASA (4 U ml-1 and TPS (80 U l-1 showed similar sensitivities in ovarian carcinoma (56% and 57% respectively), though these were lower than with CA125 (85%  35 U ml-1). The combined use of CA125 with either CASA or TPS at higher cut-off points excluding benign disease (CA125> 345 U ml-1; CASA> 6 U ml-1; TPS> 359 U l-1) improved the discrimination of ovarian cancer from benign adnexal masses (100% positive predictive value with 65% of ovarian cancers detected with CA125-CASA, 61% with CA125-TPS vs 46% with CA125 alone). The combined preoperative use of these markers may therefore assist the general gynecologist in avoiding potentially difficult oncologic surgery. (ii) TPS was the best preoperative indicator of prognosis, possibly due to its association with cell proliferation, while CASA was superior as a postoperative prechemotherapeutic prognostic indicator, possibly due to it being a more accurate indicator of residual disease than the other markers, or the surgeons' assessment. Similarly, CASA gave the best differentiation of patients with minimal residual disease (<1 cm) into those with a good or poor prognosis, (iii) CA125 and CASA each detected preclinical recurrence after surgery and adjuvant therapy in seven of 11 patients (mean lead times 4.6 and 3.1 months respectively) while TPS detected four of these patients (mean lead time 2.4 months). The combined use of CA125 with either assay led to the preclinical detection of eight of 11 patients, with the mean lead time increased to 5.3 months with the CA125-CASA combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum levels of the tumor associated antigens CA125, CASA, OSA and MSA were determined preoperatively in a non-consecutive series of patients with: invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (OC, n = 87), ovarian tumors of low malignant potential (LMP, n = 9), benign adnexal masses (BAM, n = 48) and other peritoneal and pelvic malignancies (n = 48). In addition, serum levels of CASA, OSA, and MSA were determined in 3477 asymptomatic well women. Ninety-eight percent of the asymptomatic women had CASA levels < 6.0 U ml-1, OSA levels < 5.5 U ml-1 and MSA levels < 80.0 U ml-1. Serum CA125 levels were> 35 U ml-1 in 89% of OC, in 44% of LMP, and in 23% of BAM. Serum CASA levels were> 6.0 U ml-1 in 58% of OC, in 0% of LMP, and in 0% of BAM. Serum OSA levels were> 5.5 U ml-1 in 61% of OC in 0% of LMP and in 4% of BAM. Serum MSA levels were> 80.0 U ml-1 in 56% of OC, in 11% of LMP, and in 10% of BAM. When cut-off levels were set to exclude all patients with BAM, the best discrimination from OC using a single assay was achieved using CASA (58%). However, a combination of CASA and CA125 gave positive levels in 69% of OC at levels which precluded BAM. All markers were also elevated in some colon cancers, cervical cancers, uterine cancers and other peritoneal malignancies. A combination of CA125 and CASA levels, obtained preoperatively may assist the general gynecologist in avoiding potentially difficult oncologic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS--To examine the expression of the MUC2 epithelial mucin in breast carcinoma; to relate this to patient survival. METHODS--Sections from 210 breast carcinomas were stained with the anti-MUC2 core protein monoclonal antibody, 4F1, using an immunoperoxidase technique. The proportion of tumour cells positively stained and the localisation and intensity of any staining were recorded. Expression of MUC2 was compared with histological type and grade, tumour size, presence of nodal metastases, presence of oestrogen receptors, and menopausal status. The prognostic value of MUC2 expression was examined using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. RESULTS--MUC2 mucin was detected in 19% of cases of invasive carcinoma, in 11% of cases of carcinoma in situ, where present, but very rarely in adjacent normal breast epithelium. Presence of MUC2 was significantly associated with a shorter disease free interval (p < 0.05), although the observed difference in duration of overall survival was not significant. CONCLUSIONS--The MUC2 detected in breast carcinoma may be underglycosylated or staining may represent detection of the protein core before the completion of glycosylation. The virtual absence of 4F1 reactivity in normal breast epithelium suggests that, unlike the MUC1 mucin, the MUC2 mucin is not highly expressed by these cells. The mechanism by which expression of MUC2 affects the biology of breast tumours is unclear, although expression may be a reflection of general derepression of genes during tumour progression. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]