University College Cork

About: University College Cork is a education organization based out in Cork, Ireland. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 12056 authors who have published 28452 publications receiving 958414 citations. The organization is also known as: Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh & National University of Ireland, Cork.

The probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis 35624 displays visceral antinociceptive effects in the rat

Abstract: Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altering bowel habit with a high percentage of patients displaying comorbid anxiety. Growing clinical and preclinical evidence suggests that probiotic agents may restore the altered brain–gut communication in IBS. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of repeated treatment with three different probiotics in reducing visceral pain in visceral normosensitive (Sprague–Dawley [SD]) and visceral hypersensitive (Wistar–Kyoto [WKY]) rat strains. Methods Following 14 days oral gavage of Lactobacillus salivarius UCC118, Bifidobacterium infantis 35624, or Bifidobacterium breve UCC2003 both SD and WKY rats were exposed to a novel stress, the open field arena and their behavior was recorded. Subsequently, the effects of probiotics on visceral nociceptive responses were analyzed by recording pain behaviors during colorectal distension (CRD). Key Results It was found that there was a difference in the open field behavior between strains but none of the probiotic treatment altered behavior within each strain. Interestingly, the probiotic B. infantis 35624 but not others tested significantly reduced CRD-induced visceral pain behaviors in both rat strains. It significantly increased the threshold pressure of the first pain behavior and also reduced the total number pain behaviors during CRD. Conclusions & Inferences These data confirm that probiotics such as B. infantis 35624 are effective in reducing visceral pain and may be effective in treating certain symptoms of IBS.

Mutual Fund Performance: Skill or Luck?

Abstract: Using a comprehensive data set on (surviving and non-surviving) UK mutual funds (April 1975 - December 2002), we use a bootstrap methodology to distinguish between 'skill' and 'luck' for individual funds. This methodology allows for non-normality in the idiosyncratic risks of the funds - a major issue when considering those funds which appear to be either very good performers or very bad performers, since these are the funds which investors are primarily interested in identifying. Our study points to the existence of genuine stock picking ability among a small number of top performing UK equity mutual funds (i.e. performance which is not solely due to good luck). At the negative end of the performance scale, our analysis strongly rejects the hypothesis that poor performing funds are merely unlucky. These funds demonstrate 'bad skill'. Recursive estimation and Kalman 'smoothed' coefficients indicate temporal stability in the performance alpha of winner and loser portfolios.

Gold nanoparticles enlighten the future of cancer theranostics

Abstract: Development of multifunctional nanomaterials, one of the most interesting and advanced research areas in the field of nanotechnology, is anticipated to revolutionize cancer diagnosis and treatment. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are now being widely utilized in bio-imaging and phototherapy due to their tunable and highly sensitive optical and electronic properties (the surface plasmon resonance). As a new concept, termed "theranostics," multifunctional AuNPs may contain diagnostic and therapeutic functions that can be integrated into one system, thereby simultaneously facilitating diagnosis and therapy and monitoring therapeutic responses. In this review, the important properties of AuNPs relevant to diagnostic and phototherapeutic applications such as structure, shape, optics, and surface chemistry are described. Barriers for translational development of theranostic AuNPs and recent advances in the application of AuNPs for cancer diagnosis, photothermal, and photodynamic therapy are discussed.

Isolation and analysis of bacteria with antimicrobial activities from the marine sponge haliclona simulans collected from irish waters

Abstract: Samples of the marine sponge Haliclona simulans were collected from Irish coastal waters, and bacteria were isolated from these samples Phylogenetic analyses of the cultured isolates showed that four different bacterial phyla were represented; Bacteriodetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes The sponge bacterial isolates were assayed for the production of antimicrobial substances, and biological activities against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi were demonstrated, with 50% of isolates showing antimicrobial activity against at least one of the test strains Further testing showed that the antimicrobial activities extended to the important pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium difficile, multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and pathogenic yeast strains The Actinomycetes were numerically the most abundant producers of antimicrobial activities, although activities were also noted from Bacilli and Pseudovibrio isolates Surveys for the presence of potential antibiotic encoding polyketide synthase and nonribosomal peptide synthetase genes also revealed that genes for the biosynthesis of these secondary metabolites were present in most bacterial phyla but were particularly prevalent among the Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria This study demonstrates that the culturable fraction of bacteria from the sponge H simulans is diverse and appears to possess much potential as a source for the discovery of new medically relevant biological active agents

Localization of HIV-1 co-receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 in the brain of children with AIDS.

Abstract: The chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 are co-receptors together with CD4 for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 entry into target cells. Macrophage-tropic HIV-1 viruses use CCR5 as a co-receptor, whereas T-cell-line tropic viruses use CXCR4. HIV-1 infects the brain and causes a progressive encephalopathy in 20 to 30% of infected children and adults. Most of the HIV-1-infected cells in the brain are macrophages and microglia. We examined expression of CCR5 and CXCR4 in brain tissue from 20 pediatric acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients in relation to neuropathological consequences of HIV-1 infection. The overall frequency of CCR5-positive perivascular mononuclear cells and macrophages was increased in the brains of children with severe HIV-1 encephalitis (HIVE) compared with children with mild HIVE or non-AIDS controls, whereas the frequency of CXCR4-positive perivascular cells did not correlate with disease severity. CCR5- and CXCR4-positive macrophages and microglia were detected in inflammatory lesions in the brain of children with severe HIVE. In addition, CXCR4 was detected in a subpopulation of neurons in autopsy brain tissue and primary human brain cultures. Similar findings were demonstrated in the brain of adult AIDS patients and controls. These findings suggest that CCR5-positive mononuclear cells, macrophages, and microglia contribute to disease progression in the central nervous system of children and adults with AIDS by serving as targets for virus replication.