Early spontaneous immortalization and loss of plasticity of rabbit bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Objectives: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC) have been widely used for cell therapy and tissue engineering purposes. However, there are still controversies concerning safety of application of these cells after in vitro expansion. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the characteristics of rabbit BM-MSC during long-term culture.

Insulin-like growth factor-I-forkhead box O transcription factor 3a counteracts high glucose/tumor necrosis factor-α-mediated neuronal damage: implications for human immunodeficiency virus encephalitis.

In HIV patients, antiretroviral medications trigger metabolic abnormalities, including insulin resistance. In addition, the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), which is elevated in human immunodeficiency virus encephalitis (HIVE), also induces insulin resistance and inflicts neuronal damage in vitro. In differentiated PC12 cells and rat cortical neurons, high glucose (HG; 25 mM) triggers reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, contributing to the retraction of neuronal processes, with only a minimal involvement of neuronal apoptosis.

Suppression of HIV-1 transcriptional elongation by a DING phosphatase.

HIV-1 gene transcription is controlled by the cooperation of viral and host factors which bind to specific DNA sequences within the viral promoter spanning the long terminal repeat (LTR). Previously we showed that the St. John's Wort DING phosphatase, p27SJ, suppresses HIV-1 gene transcription by binding to the viral protein Tat and preventing its nuclear import.

Dormant phase and multinuclear cells: two key phenomena in early culture of murine bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Special features of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have made them a popular tool in cell therapy and tissue engineering. Although mouse animal models and murine MSCs are common tools in this field, our understanding of the effect of in vitro expansion on the behavior of these cells is poor and controversial. In addition, in comparison to human, isolation of MSCs from mouse has been reported to be more difficult and some unexplained features such as heterogeneity and slow growth rate in the culture of these cells have been observed.

Five-year outcome of surgical treatment of migraine headaches.

Background: This study was designed to assess the long-term efficacy of surgical deactivation of migraine headache trigger sites.

Methods: One hundred twenty-five volunteers were randomly assigned to the treatment (n = 100) or control group (n = 25) after examination by the team neurologist to ensure a diagnosis of migraine headache. Patients were asked to complete the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Migraine-Specific Quality of Life, and Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaires before treatment and at 12- and 60-month postoperative follow-up.

Role of Purα in the cellular response to ultraviolet-C radiation.

Purα is a nucleic acid-binding protein with DNA-unwinding activity, which has recently been shown to have a role in the cellular response to DNA damage. We have investigated the function of Purα in Ultraviolet-C (UVC) radiation-induced DNA damage and nucleotide excision repair (NER). Mouse embryo fibroblasts from PURA(-/-) knockout mice, which lack Purα, showed enhanced sensitivity to UVC irradiation as assessed by assays for cell viability and clonogenicity compared to Purα positive control cultures.

Activation of HIV-1 LTR by Rad51 in microglial cells.

Infection with HIV-1 induces a variety of biological alterations to the host that are beneficial to the life cycle of the virus but may have adverse effects on the host cell. Here we demonstrate that expression of Rad51, a major component of the homologous recombination-directed DNA repair (HRR) pathway, is induced upon HIV-1 infection of microglial cells. Activation of Rad51 expression positively impacts on HIV-1 LTR transcription through a region of the viral promoter known for binding the inducible transcription factor NFκB.

The Expression of Toll-like Receptors in Dermatological Diseases and the Therapeutic Effect of Current and Newer Topical Toll-like Receptor Modulators.

Toll-like receptors are a group of glycoproteins located mostly in cellular membranes, capable of recognizing certain molecules in exogenous microorganisms and initiating immune responses against them through the activation of several intracellular signaling pathways. Toll-like receptors can be stimulated when an inflammatory reaction is needed for the treatment of conditions, such as viral infections or skin cancer, or can be inhibited when a reduction of inflammation is necessary for the treatment of conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and septic shock. In the human skin, keratinocytes and Langerhans cells are known to express these receptors.

Innovative therapies in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Keloids and hypertrophic scars are benign fibrous overgrowths of scar tissue, which results from an abnormal response to trauma. Several therapeutic modalities have been described for the treatment and prevention of these conditions, but the optimal management approach has not yet been defined. This article reviews the most recent, innovative, therapeutic strategies for the management of hypertrophic scars and keloids, including mitomycin-C, tamoxifen citrate, methotrexate, imidazolaquinolines, retinoids, calcineurin inhibitors, phenylakylamine calcium channel blockers, botulinum toxin, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, hepatocyte growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, interleukin-10, manosa-6-phosphate, transforming growth factor beta, antihistamines, and prostaglandin E2.

Nonsurgical innovations in the treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most frequent types of cancer in the United States and represent 75 percent and 20 percent, respectively, of all nonmelanoma skin cancers. Since ultraviolet radiation is implicated in their development, photoprotection is fundamental in their prevention. Additional preventive measures include identifying high-risk individuals for early detection along with using agents, such as retinoids, that are effective in decreasing the risk of premalignant cells further developing into carcinomas.

Tissue and cellular morphological changes in growth plate explants under compression.

The mechanisms by which mechanical loading may alter bone development within growth plates are still poorly understood. However, several growth plate cell or tissue morphological parameters are associated with both normal and mechanically modulated bone growth rates. The aim of this study was to quantify in situ the three-dimensional morphology of growth plate explants under compression at both cell and tissue levels.

Herpes simplex virus and human papillomavirus genital infections: new and investigational therapeutic options.

Human papillomavirus and Herpes simplex virus are the most common genital viral infections encountered in clinical practice worldwide. We reviewed the literature focusing on new and experimental treatment modalities for both conditions, based on to the evidence-based data available. The modalities evaluated include topical agents such as immune response modifiers (imiquimod, resiquimod, and interferon), antivirals (penciclovir, cidofovir, and foscarnet), sinecatechins, microbiocidals (SPL7013 gel, and PRO 2000 gel), along with experimental (oligodeoxynucleotides), immunoprophylactic, and immunotherapeutic vaccines.

Trifluoperazine-induced cholestatic jaundice.

Liver injury occurs with many drugs; therefore, a thorough work up is important for establishing the diagnosis. We report a case of trifluoperazine-induced cholestatic jaundice. A 44-year old male with schizoaffective disorder developed an increase in liver enzymes and jaundice after starting treatment with trifluoperazine.

Comparison of the Intersurgical Solus laryngeal mask airway and the i-gel supralaryngeal device.

Summary We compared the performance of the Intersurgical Solus laryngeal mask airway (LMA) with that of the i-gel in 120 patients of ASA physical status during general anaesthesia with respect to oropharyngeal leak pressure, peak airway pressure, airway manipulation, insertion time, fibreoptic view, ventilatory parameters, and peri-operative complications. After receiving a standardised induction of anaesthesia, either a Solus LMA (60 patients) or an i-gel (60 patients) was inserted. One hundred and fifteen patients completed the study.

Regulatory and metabolic rewiring during laboratory evolution of ethanol tolerance in E. coli.

Understanding the genetic basis of adaptation is a central problem in biology. However, revealing the underlying molecular mechanisms has been challenging as changes in fitness may result from perturbations to many pathways, any of which may contribute relatively little. We have developed a combined experimental/computational framework to address this problem and used it to understand the genetic basis of ethanol tolerance in Escherichia coli.

A comparative study evaluating the tolerability and efficacy of two topical therapies for the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Background: Onion extract gel (OE) and 0.5% hydrocortisone, silicone and vitamin E lotion (HSE) are two over-the-counter preparations used to enhance the cosmesis of keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Objective: To determine the tolerability and efficacy of OE versus HSE versus placebo in subjects with keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Effects of cyclic stretch waveform on endothelial cell morphology using fractal analysis.

Endothelial cells are remodeled when subjected to cyclic loading. Previous in vitro studies have indicated that frequency, strain amplitude, and duration are determinants of endothelial cell morphology, when cells are subjected to cyclic strain. In addition to those parameters, the current study investigated the effects of strain waveform on morphology of cultured endothelial cells quantified by fractal and topological analyses.

Birth weight and body composition of neonates born to Caucasian compared with African-American mothers.

Objective: To estimate whether neonates of African-American women have lower birth weights because of either decreased lean body mass or fat mass.

Methods: A secondary analysis of a cohort of 104 African-American and 274 Caucasian term, singleton, healthy pregnancies. Women with existing or gestational diabetes were excluded.

The use of remifentanil in general anesthesia for cesarean section in a parturient with severe mitral stenosis and pulmonary edema.

Valvular heart diseases have adverse effects on hemodynamic condition in the parturients during pregnancy. Cesarean section with an opioid based general anesthesia has been used to alleviate these deleterious effects. We hereby describe the effective application of remifentanil, for cesarean section under general anesthesia, in a 30 yr.

Intraprostatic botulinum toxin type A injection for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: Initial experience with Dysport.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of intraprostatic botulinum toxin type A (BoNTA, Dysport) injection on lower urinary tract symptoms, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), prostate volume (PV), peak urine flow rate (Q(max)) and postvoiding residue (PVR), and to evaluate the role of PV in the treatment outcome.

Material And Methods: Seventy-two men with PSA < 4 ng/ml, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) > or = 8, Q(max) < 12 ml/s and PV < 60 ml were enrolled. A total of 300-600 U Dysport was injected transperineally under transrectal ultrasound guidance.

Magnetic resonance tensors in uracil: calculation of 13C, 15N, 17O NMR chemical shifts, 17O and 14N electric field gradients and measurement of 13C and 15N chemical shifts.

The experimental (13)C NMR chemical shift components of uracil in the solid state are reported for the first time (to our knowledge), as well as newer data for the (15)N nuclei. These experimental values are supported by extensive calculated data of the (13)C, (15)N and (17)O chemical shielding and (17)O and (14)N electric field gradient (EFG) tensors. In the crystal, uracil forms a number of strong and weak hydrogen bonds, and the effect of these on the (13)C and (15)N chemical shift tensors is studied.

The Effect of Educational Program Based on BASNEF Model for Eye Care in Non-insulin Dependent Diabetic Patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of educational program based on the BASNEF (Belief, Attitude, Subjective Norm, and Enabling Factors) Model on eye care among patients with insulin independent diabetes mellitus in Shiraz City, Fars Province, Iran.

Methods: We enrolled 100 patients with non-insulin independent diabetes mellitus (Type II) fulfilling the inclusion criteria of this experimental study. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, one experimental, and one control group.

Estimates of insulin sensitivity using glucose and C-Peptide from the hyperglycemia and adverse pregnancy outcome glucose tolerance test.

OBJECTIVE To determine if glucose and C-peptide values obtained as part of the Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (HAPO) study could be used to estimate insulin sensitivity during late pregnancy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 78 women enrolled in the HAPO study were recruited for this ancillary study. Venous plasma samples were drawn after an 8- to 10-h fast (time 0) and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after a 75-g glucose challenge, which was performed at 24-32 weeks' gestation.