Objective:

The aim of this study was to identify changes in inflammatory molecules in the blood (plasma) of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic syndrome (CP/CPPS) compared with controls. Altered levels indicate a systemic component by possible involvement of the prostate and/or the inner pelvic floor musculature.

Material and methods:

In 32 patients with CP/CPPS and 37 controls, blood plasma levels of testosterone, macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-beta, interleukin-2 (IL-2) and IL-1 beta were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Cortisol in saliva samples was measured in the morning and late evening. All participants answered a questionnaire regarding their health profile.

Results:

Significantly higher levels of MIF (p = 0.012) were detected in patients. The testosterone level was, contrary to other studies, little lower in patients (p = 0.014; age adjusted). When controls with health issues and patients with a parallel disease were excluded, the MIF and TNF-alpha levels were higher in the patients (p = 0.007, p = 0.016, respectively) than in controls, and the testosterone was slightly lower in patients (p = 0.047).

Conclusions:

The findings show an immune response extending to the circulatory system, in which MIF makes a significant contribution to CP/CPPS. This study also indicates TNF-alpha as a circulatory component when excluding subjects with concomitant diseases. Both MIF and TNF-alpha have previously been highlighted for other diseases related to chronic pain and here also for CP/CPPS. These results provide further insights into the immunological basis of CP/CPPS.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe activities of living after a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) from the perspective of relatives and patients in two cohorts and to evaluate the application of relatives’ statements, as a tool in nursing care, in order to support the patient.

Background: Memory problems after SAH are common according to patients’ and relatives’ statements and memory test results. This may influence the adjustment to daily life. Supporting patients and relatives requires knowledge concerning the activities of daily living from the perspective of both patients and relatives.

Method:Eleven relatives and 11 patients (cohort 1), 11 years after the onset of an SAH and 15 relatives and 15 patients (cohort 2) 6 years after the onset of an SAH participated in the study. Interview questions and memory tests were used to collect data.

Findings:Problems with activities of daily living were common and patients had more problems with social life than with personal and instrumental activites. The change in social company habits were due to emotional problems. Patients’ statements about problems with activities of living corresponded to results from patients’ memory tests and patients’ statements.

Conclusions: Relatives’ and patients’ statements are useful as tools in nursing care. Introducing fromalized dialogues and memory tests would improve the after care for this group of patients and improve their future family relationships.

Contamination of food with arsenics is a potential health risk for both humans and animals in many regions of the world, especially in Asia. Arsenics can be accumulated in humans, animals and plants for a longer period and a long-term exposure of humans to arsenics results in severe damage of kidney, lever, heart etc. and many other vascular diseases. Arsenic contamination in human may also lead to development of cancer. In this paper we report our results on data mining approach (an in silico analysis based on searching of the existing genomic databases) for identification and characterization of genes that might be responsible for uptake, accumulation or metabolism of arsenics. For these in silico analyses we have involved the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana in our investigation. By employing a system biology model (a kinetic model) we have studied the molecular mechanisms of these processes in this plant. This model contains equations for uptake, metabolism and sequestration of different types of arsenic; As(V), As(III), MMAA and DMAA. The model was then implemented in the software XPP. The model was also validated against the data existing in the literatures. Based on the results of these in silico studies we have developed some strategies that can be used for reducing arsenic contents in different parts of the plant. Data mining experiments resulted in identification of two candidate genes (ACR2, arsenate reductase 2 and PCS1, phytochelatin synthase 1) that are involved either in uptake, transport or cellular localization of arsenic in A. thaliana. However, our system biology model revealed that by increasing the level of arsenate reductase together with an increased rate of arsenite sequestration in the vacuoles (by involving an arsenite efflux pump MRP1/2), it is possible to reduce the amount of arsenics in the shoots of A. thaliana to 11–12%.

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe memory after a subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) from the perspective of relatives and patients in two cohorts and also to evaluate the application of relatives' statements as a tool in nursing care and rehabilitation, in order to support the patient. Background: Cognitive sequelae due to SAH are a large disability and may influence the adjustment to daily life. Supporting patients and relatives requires knowledge concerning the patients' memory both from the perspective of patients and relatives. Method: Eleven relatives and 11 patients (Cohort 1), 11 years after the onset of an SAH and 15 relatives and 15 patients (Cohort 2) 6 years after the onset of an SAH, participated in the study. Interview questions and memory tests were used to collect data. Findings: Problems with memory, including meta-memory problems regarding relatives' statements, were common. Relatives and patients stated patients' memory in a similar manner. However, patients' statements concerning their memory corresponded in higher degree with memory test results, in comparison with relatives' statements. Conclusions: Relatives' and patients' statements are useful as tools in nursing care and rehabilitation. However, from results showing meta-memory problems and that patients' statements concerning their memory corresponded better with memory test results (in comparison with relatives' statements), it is vital to offer patients memory tests in order to prevent complications in mutual family relationships.

During in vitro incubation in the absence or presence of insulin, glycogen depletion occurs in the inner core of the muscle specimen, concomitant with increased staining of hypoxia-induced-factor-1-alpha and caspase-3, markers of hypoxia and apoptosis, respectively. The aim of this study was to determine whether insulin is able to diffuse across the entire muscle specimen in sufficient amounts to activate signalling cascades to promote glucose uptake and glycogenesis within isolated mouse skeletal muscle. Phosphoprotein multiplex assay on lysates from muscle preparation was performed to detect phosphorylation of insulin-receptor on Tyr¹¹⁴⁶, Akt on Ser⁴⁷³ and glycogen-synthases-kinase-3 on Ser²¹/Ser⁹. To address the spatial resolution of insulin signalling, immunohistochemistry studies on cryosections were performed. Our results provide evidence to suggest that during the in vitro incubation, insulin sufficiently diffuses into the centre of tubular mouse muscles to promote phosphorylation of these signalling events. Interestingly, increased insulin signalling was observed in the core of the incubated muscle specimens, correlating with the location of oxidative fibres. In conclusion, insulin action was not restricted due to insufficient diffusion of the hormone during in vitro incubation in either extensor digitorum longus or soleus muscles from mouse under the specific experimental settings employed in this study. Hence, we suggest that the glycogen depleted core as earlier observed is not due to insufficient insulin action.

1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D₃) has been demonstrated to mediate both genomic and non-genomic responses in prostate cancer (CaP) cells. Here, we give an overview of membrane initiated 1,25(OH)₂D₃ signaling in prostate cancer cell progression. The presence of PDIA3 was investigated and homologous modeling of the putative PDIA3 receptor complex was conducted. Furthermore, the cellular distribution of nVDR was analyzed. We could show that both nVDR and PDIA3 are expressed in the prostate cancer cell lines investigated. The homologous modeling of PDIA3 showed that the receptor complex exists in a trimer formation, which suggests for allosteric activity. Our findings support previous reports and suggest that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ is an important therapeutic agent in inhibiting prostate cancer progression. Furthermore, our data show that 1,25(OH)₂D₃ regulate prostate cell biology via multiple pathways and targeting specific pathways for 1,25(OH)₂D₃ might provide more effective therapies compared to the vitamin D therapies currently clinically tested.

The vitamin D endocrine system modulates an arsenal of important biological functions in more than 30 different tissues in short- and long-term perspectives. Two membrane receptors and one nuclear receptor are suggested to be involved in the vitamin D signaling system, but the function and physiological relevance of the receptors are debated. The complexity of the vitamin D endocrine system makes it necessary to combine experimental data with in silico simulations to get a holistic view of vitamin D-dependent regulation of tissue and cell physiology. This review focus on binding characteristics for the three putative vitamin D receptors and proposes a future systems biology approach including mathematical modeling that will be helpful together with experimental methods in depicting antitumoral and other biological effects promoted by the vitamin D endocrine system.

In vitro incubation of isolated rodent skeletal muscle is a widely used procedure in metabolic research. One concern with this method is the development of an anoxic state during the incubation period that can cause muscle glycogen depletion. Our aim was to investigate whether in vitro incubation conditions influence glycogen concentration in glycolytic extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and oxidative soleus mouse muscle. Quantitative immunohistochemistry was applied to assess glycogen content in incubated skeletal muscle. Glycogen concentration was depleted, independent of insulin-stimulation in the incubated skeletal muscle. The extent of glycogen depletion was correlated with the oxidative fibre distribution and with the induction of hypoxia-induced-factor-1-alpha. Insulin exposure partially prevented glycogen depletion in soleus, but not in EDL muscle, providing evidence that glucose diffusion is not a limiting step to maintain glycogen content. Our results provide evidence to suggest that the anoxic milieu and the intrinsic characteristics of the skeletal muscle fibre type play a major role in inducing glycogen depletion in during in vitro incubations.