Iron signature in asbestos-induced malignant pleural mesothelioma: A population-based autopsy study.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive cancer with poor prognosis. The development of MPM is frequently linked to inhalation of asbestos fibers. A genetic component of susceptibility to this disease is suggested by the observation that some individuals develop MPM following lower doses of asbestos exposure, whereas others exposed to higher quantities do not seem to be affected.

Non peptidic urotensin II antagonists: perspectives for a new class of drugs.

Urotensin II (U-II) is a cyclic peptide isolated from a fish. Subsequently, human U-II and its receptor were identified. In rat thoracic aorta U-II triggers powerful vasoconstrictor activity.

Antihypertensive treatment and renal damage: amlodipine exerts protective effect through the polyol pathway.

Besides generating renal damage, hypertension plays an important role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. The fructose-fed rat is a well-established model both of high blood pressure and renal impairment, which is similar to diabetic nephropathy. To clarify the relationship between hypertension, glucose metabolism, and kidney remodeling, we investigated the renal level of Glut 1 and Glut 5, their relation to fibrosis and the effects of an antihypertensive drug on renal damage.

Nephroprotective effect of bosentan in diabetic rats.

Previous studies have suggested that endothelins could be involved in the pathogenesis of target organ damage in diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible protective effect of Bosentan, an antagonist of endothelin receptor, on the kidney of diabetic rats. The study comprised a control group of 10 WKY rats and a group of 22 WKY rats in which diabetes was induced by streptozotocin i.