SummaryShewanella are renowned for their ability to utilize a wide range of electron acceptors (EA) for respiration, which has been partially accredited to the presence of a large number of the c‐type cytochromes. To investigate the involvement of c‐type cytochrome proteins in aerobic and anaerobic respiration of Shewanella oneidensis Mr ‐1, 36 in‐frame deletion mutants, among possible 41 predicted, c‐type cytochrome genes were obtained. The potential involvement of each individual c‐type cytochrome in the reduction of a variety of EAs was assessed individually as well as in competition experiments. While results on the well‐studied c‐type cytochromes CymA(SO4591) and MtrC(SO1778) were consistent with previous findings, collective observations were very interesting: the responses of S. oneidensis Mr ‐1 to low and highly toxic metals appeared to be significantly different; CcoO, CcoP and PetC, proteins involved in aerobic respiration in various organisms, played critical roles in both aerobic and anaerobic respiration with highly toxic metals as EA. In addition, these studies also suggested that an uncharacterized c‐type cytochrome (SO4047) may be important to both aerobiosis and anaerobiosis.

Purpose: To assess the overall diagnostic accuracy of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) in detecting bone metastases with a meta-analysis. Materials and Methods:The MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cancerlit, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from January 1995 to September 2010 for studies evaluating the accuracy of WB-MRI in detecting bone metastases. Histopathologic analysis and/or close clinical and imaging follow-up for at least 6 months was assessed. Meta-analysis methods were used to pool sensitivity and specificity and to construct summary receiver-operating characteristics.Results: A total of 11 studies with 495 patients who fulfilled all of the inclusion criteria were considered for the analysis. No publication bias was found. WB-MRI had a pooled sensitivity of 0.899 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.845-0.939) and a pooled specificity of 0.918 (95% CI, 0.882-0.946). The subgroup without diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) positive results had higher pooled specificity 0.961 (95% CI, 0.922-0.984) than the subgroup with DWI (P < 0.05).Conclusion: WB-MRI was an accurate, cost-effective tool in detecting bone metastases. WB-MRI without DWI may improve the specificity of detecting bone metastases. DWI seems to be a sensitive but rather unspecific modality for the detection of bone metastatic disease. High-quality prospective studies regarding WB-MRI in detecting bone metastases still need to be conducted.

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CT angiography is an accurate, cost-effective tool in the diagnosis of acute GI bleeding and can show the precise location of bleeding, thereby directing further management.

BackgroundRecent guidelines on iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) have confirmed the aetiological role of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori), but the relationship still remains controversial.MethodsStarting in May 2009, searches of the following databases were undertaken: Medline (1966 to April 2009), Embase (1980 to April 2009), the Cochrane library (1800 to June 2008), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Premedline, Healthstar, CBMdisc and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (January 1970 to April 2009). Changes in haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations and serum ferritin (SF) concentrations were recorded for intervention and control groups. The meta-analysis used random effect models and subgroup analyses were performed to explain heterogeneity.ResultsEight studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies were performed in Asia, an area with a high incidence of IDA and H pylori. The pooled analysis of eight studies showed that H pylori eradication therapy can improve IDA, since changes in Hb and SF concentrations in the intervention groups were higher than in controls. The weighted mean difference (WMD) of Hb was 12.88 g/l (95% CI 6.03 to 19.74 g/l, p<0.00001); the WMD of SF was 10.05 μg/l (95% CI 5.48 to 14.63 μg/l, p<0.00001).ConclusionsH pylori eradication therapy combined with iron administration is more effective than iron administration alone for the treatment of IDA. Eradication therapy has different effects on adults and children. Bismuth based triple therapy has a better response in terms of increased Hb and SF concentrations than proton pump inhibitor (PPI) based triple therapy.

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