May 30, 2012 - AbstractMycobacterium avium?intracellulare complex (MAC) strains were recovered from 48.9% of residential soil samples (agricultural farms [n=7], residential yards [n=79], and planting pots [n=49]) of 100 pulmonary MAC patients and 35 non?infected control patients. The frequency of MAC recovery did not differ among soil types or among patients regardless of the presence of pulmonary MAC disease, infecting MAC species, or period of soil exposure. Variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTR) analysis for MAC clinical and soil isolates revealed 78 different patterns in 47 M. avium clinical isolates and 41 soil isolates, and 53 different patterns in 18 M. intracellulare clinical isolates and 37 soil isolates. Six clinical and corresponding soil isolate pairs with an identical VNTR genotype we...

May 30, 2012 - SummaryMicrobial pathogens have evolved mechanisms to proactively manipulate innate immunity, thereby improving their fitness in mammalian hosts. We have previously shown that Porphyromonasgingivalisexploits CXC?chemokine receptor?4 (CXCR4) to instigate a subversive crosstalk with Toll?like receptor 2 that inhibits leukocyte killing of this periodontal pathogen. However, whether CXCR4 plays a role in periodontal disease pathogenesis has not been previously addressed. Here, we hypothesized that CXCR4 is required for P. gingivalis virulence in the periodontium and that treatment with AMD3100, a potent CXCR4 antagonist, would inhibit P. gingivalis?induced periodontitis. Indeed, mice administered AMD3100 via osmotic minipumps became resistant to induction of periodontal bone loss follo...

May 30, 2012 - Infertility caused by the disruption or absence of germ cells (i.e., sperm or egg) is a major and largely incurable medical problem. In vitro disease modeling using normal human germline cells is required to better understand the precise molecular mechanisms of infertility and to develop drugs to treat this condition. Recent advances in the differentiation methods of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) provide new avenues to generate germ cells in vitro. Furthermore, the discovery that induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be created from a patient's adult somatic cells by introducing the combinations of several transcription factors (e.g., OCT3/4, SOX2, KLF4, and MYC) enables us to generate new and powerful in vitro human disease models. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the...

May 30, 2012 - Authors: Nathan J. Palpant & Charles E. Murry When the heart is injured, the muscle does not regenerate and scars are produced. This process can be attenuated in the hearts of live mice by forcing scar-forming cells to become muscle cells. See Articles p.593 & p.599 (Source: Nature)

May 30, 2012 - Conclusions:? In Kawasaki disease, myocarditis develops even earlier than epicardial coronary arteritis, and it peaks by disease day 10 and then gradually disappears after disease day 20. The myocarditis is nevenly distributed from the entire heart to the epicardial layer of the base of the heart.© 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd (Source: Histopathology)

May 30, 2012 - Researchers have found evidence that some people who exercise do worse on measures related to heart disease. (Source: NYT)

May 30, 2012 - Conclusions:The sizeable burden of active mild?to?moderate UC on HRQoL was eliminated following 8 weeks' treatment with MMX mesalamine 2.4?4.8 g/day. HRQoL remained stable over 12 months of maintenance treatment in patients with quiescent UC. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012;) (Source: Inflammatory Bowel Diseases)

May 30, 2012 - Regulations haven't kept pace with discoveries, American Heart Association warns (Source: The Doctors Lounge - Health News)

May 30, 2012 - ConclusionProper assessment of patients, understanding therapeutic alternatives and their application, and early institution of preventative and adjuvant therapies can help to decrease skin cancer?related morbidity and mortality in SOTRs. (Source: Dermatologic Surgery)

May 30, 2012 - Researchers have developed a method for building complex nanostructures out of interlocking DNA "building blocks" that can be programmed to assemble themselves into precisely designed shapes. With further development, the technology could one day enable the creation of new nanoscale devices that deliver drugs directly to disease sites. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)