Recent advances in understanding and managing Chlamydia trachomatis infections.
Authors: Marrazzo J, Suchland R
Abstract
Worldwide, Chlamydia trachomatis infections rank among the most common sexually transmitted infections (STI), and cause notable reproductive morbidity in women. Although advances in highly accurate and non-invasive diagnostic testing have allowed for better estimation of the burden of disease-especially the asymptomatic state-we still lack a true point-of-care test, and many infections go undetected and untreated. Moreover, limited resources and effort for managing sexual partners of those in whom infection is actually identified comprise a major challenge to contro...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - January 14, 2015 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Commentary: Management of hypospadias.
Authors: Glassberg KI
PMID: 25580275 [PubMed] (Source: F1000 Medicine Reports)
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - January 14, 2015 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Microglia - the brain's busy bees.
Authors: Cronk JC, Kipnis J
Abstract
Recent years have seen significant changes in the way scientists view microglia and their role in health and disease. For decades, it was presumed that microglia were stationary, inactive immune cells in the brain, waiting for an immunologic insult to call them into action. In contrast, modern imaging techniques have revealed that microglia are constantly in motion, surveying their environment. Lineage tracing studies have led to the understanding that microglia are part of a larger family of cells, called tissue-resident macrophages, which arise from early yolk sac pro...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Acute pain medicine in anesthesiology.
Authors: Boezaart AP, Munro AP, Tighe PJ
Abstract
The American Academy of Pain Medicine and the American Society for Regional Anesthesia have recently focused on the evolving practice of acute pain medicine. There is increasing recognition that the scope and practice of acute pain therapies must extend beyond the subacute pain phase to include pre-pain and pre-intervention risk stratification, resident and fellow education in regional anesthesia and multimodal analgesia, as well as a deeper understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms that are integral to the variability observed among individual respo...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Recent advances in treatment of acute coronary syndromes.
Authors: Aggarwal B, Menon V
Abstract
In this manuscript we highlight recent advances in the management of acute coronary syndromes. Efforts to minimize myocardial ischemia time through improved health care systems have resulted in significant success. In addition, new evidence in the areas of reperfusion therapy and pharmacological intervention has emerged. Percutaneous coronary intervention continues to evolve and new data concerning the superiority of the radial route, the use of improved stents and adjunctive therapy will be presented. We will highlight the changes that were made in international guide...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
Authors: Butt W, Maclaren G
Abstract
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an advanced form of life support technology whereby venous blood is oxygenated outside of the body and returned to the patient. ECMO was initially used as last-resort rescue therapy for patients with severe respiratory failure. Over the last four decades, it has developed into a safe, standard therapy for newborns with progressive cardiorespiratory failure, as a resuscitation therapy after cardiac arrest, and in combination with other treatments such as hypothermia and various blood filtration therapies. ECMO has also become...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Epithelial adhesive junctions.
Authors: Capaldo CT, Farkas AE, Nusrat A
Abstract
Epithelial adhesive cell-to-cell contacts contain large, plasma membrane-spanning multiprotein aggregates that perform vital structural and signaling functions. Three prominent adhesive contacts are the tight junction, adherens junction, and the desmosome. Each junction type has unique cellular functions and a complex molecular composition. In this review, we comment on recent and exciting advances in our understanding of junction composition and function.
PMID: 24592313 [PubMed] (Source: F1000 Medicine Reports)
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Wheels within wheels: new transcriptional feedback loops in the Arabidopsis circadian clock.
Authors: McClung CR
Abstract
The circadian clock allows organisms to temporally coordinate their biology with the diurnal oscillation of the environment, which enhances plant performance. Accordingly, a fuller understanding of the circadian clock mechanism may contribute to efforts to optimize plant performance. One recurring theme in clock mechanism is coupled transcription-translation feedback loops. To date, the majority of plant transcription factors constituting these loops, including the central oscillator components CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1), LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL (LHY), and TIMING OF C...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
A CRISPR method for genome engineering.
Authors: Wilkinson R, Wiedenheft B
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) RNA-guided adaptive immune systems that protect bacteria and archaea from infection by viruses are now being routinely repurposed for genome engineering in a wide variety of cell types and multicellular organisms.
PMID: 24592315 [PubMed] (Source: F1000 Medicine Reports)
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Advances in treating psoriasis.
Authors: Belge K, Brück J, Ghoreschi K
Abstract
Psoriasis is a T helper (Th)17/Th1-mediated autoimmune disease affecting the skin and joints. So far, distinct traditional oral compounds and modern biologics have been approved in most countries for the treatment of patients with moderate to severe psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Yet, the anti-psoriatic therapeutic spectrum is to be extended by a number of novel targeted therapies including biologics and modern oral compounds. The next set of anti-psoriatic biologics targets mainly Th17-associated cytokines such as IL-17 or IL-23. In contrast, modern oral...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Advances in understanding pituitary tumors.
Authors: Kopczak A, Renner U, Karl Stalla G
Abstract
Pituitary tumors are common in the general population. Since neuroimaging techniques have improved, pituitary tumors are more often diagnosed incidentally. About 16.7% of the general population show changes in the pituitary gland. Predominantly, pituitary tumors are benign pituitary adenomas. Pituitary carcinomas or aggressive pituitary tumors are extremely rare. They might develop from benign adenomas. New genetic and epigenetic abnormalities help us to understand pituitary tumorigenesis and might lead to therapeutical targeting drugs in the future. Mac...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Perinatal neuroprotection.
Authors: Salmeen KE, Jelin AC, Thiet MP
Abstract
Fetal or neonatal brain injury can result in lifelong neurologic disability. The most significant risk factor for perinatal brain injury is prematurity; however, in absolute numbers, full-term infants represent the majority of affected children. Research on strategies to prevent or mitigate the impact of perinatal brain injury ("perinatal neuroprotection") has established the mitigating roles of magnesium sulfate administration for preterm infants and therapeutic hypothermia for term infants with suspected perinatal brain injury. Banked umbilical cord blood,...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Proteostasis and longevity: when does aging really begin?
Authors: Labbadia J, Morimoto RI
Abstract
Aging is a complex process regulated by multiple cellular pathways, including the proteostasis network. The proteostasis network consists of molecular chaperones, stress-response transcription factors, and protein degradation machines that sense and respond to proteotoxic stress and protein misfolding to ensure cell viability. A loss of proteostasis is associated with aging and age-related disorders in diverse model systems, moreover, genetic or pharmacological enhancement of the proteostasis network has been shown to extend lifespan and suppress age-related diseas...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Increasing the resolution of the adult neurogenesis picture.
Authors: Lacar B, Parylak SL, Vadodaria KC, Sarkar A, Gage FH
Abstract
The birth of new neurons in the adult mammalian brain-once thought impossible-is now a well-accepted phenomenon that takes place in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and the hippocampus. This review focuses on the recent work that has sharpened our views of how hippocampal newborn neurons are regulated and function. Areas of study include (a) how neurogenesis contributes to behavioral pattern separation, (b) how pattern separation may be influenced by the properties and circuitry of newborn neurons, (c) differences along...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
Advances in understanding Pseudomonas.
Authors: Tümmler B, Wiehlmann L, Klockgether J, Cramer N
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the type species of pseudomonads, is an opportunistic pathogen that colonizes a wide range of niches. Current genome sequencing projects are producing previously inconceivable detail about the population biology and evolution of P. aeruginosa. Its pan-genome has a larger genetic repertoire than the human genome, which explains the broad metabolic capabilities of P. aeruginosa and its ubiquitous distribution in aquatic habitats. P. aeruginosa may persist in the airways of individuals with cystic fibrosis for decades. ...
Source: F1000 Medicine Reports - December 1, 2014 Category: Biomedical Science Tags: F1000Prime Rep Source Type: research
