Abnormal regulation of fibronectin production by fibroblasts in psoriasis.

Background: Data indicate that in psoriasis, abnormalities are already present in nonlesional skin. Transforming growth factor-β and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), together with fibronectin and α5β1 integrin, were suggested to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis by influencing inflammation and keratinocyte hyperproliferation.

Objectives: To investigate the expression of KGF, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)2, fibronectin (FN) and extra domain A (EDA)-positive FN in healthy and nonlesional psoriatic skin, and to study the effect of KGF on the regulation of FN and EDA(+) FN production by fibroblasts.

Pulsed accretion in a variable protostar.

Periodic increases in luminosity arising from variable accretion rates have been predicted for some pre-main-sequence close binary stars as they grow from circumbinary disks. The phenomenon is known as pulsed accretion and can affect the orbital evolution and mass distribution of young binaries, as well as the potential for planet formation. Accretion variability is a common feature of young stars, with a large range of amplitudes and timescales as measured from multi-epoch observations at optical and infrared wavelengths.

ZNF804A may be associated with executive control of attention.

ZNF804A, encoding the transcription factor zinc-finger protein 804A, is a genome-wide supported psychosis gene associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. However, only little information is available on the role of ZNF804A regarding the cognitive phenotype of psychosis. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs1344706 (A/C, A = risk allele) in ZNF804A and attention in 200 healthy volunteers.

Insulin resistance and androgens in healthy women with different body fat distributions.

Objective: To compare androgens and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels, and indices of insulin sensitivity (the response of plasma insulin and C-peptide in OGTT, insulin resistance and beta-cell activity estimated with the homeostasis assessment model (HOMA model) in healthy obese premenopausal women with different body fat distributions.

Patients And Methods: Free testosterone, androstenedione, SHBG levels and responses of plasma glucose, insulin and C-peptide in OGTT were examined in 74 healthy premenopausal women (19 with lower-body obesity (WHR < 0.80), 20 with pure abdominal obesity (WHR > 0.

Alloxan induced cataract in a rat.

We have measured lipid peroxidation and the activity of antioxidant enzymes in lenses of alloxan injected rats. After 12 weeks alloxan treated rats developed lens cataract. Diabetes rats had both lower lens weight and lower level of proteins in soluble fraction of lens homogenate.

Senile cataract and the absorption activity of cytochrome C oxidase.

The aim of the study was to determine the activity of cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondrial fractions of cataractogenic epithelial cells of lenses of 60 patients (34 females and 26 males). According to clinical criteria patients were divided into three groups: group 1--patients with senile cataract, group 2--active smokers with senile cataract, and group 3--diabetic patients with cataract as diabetic complication. In the extracted lenses we determined the absorption activity of mitochondrial enzyme cytochrome c oxidase.

Protein carbonylation and glycation in human lenses.

It has been observed protein carbonylation and glycation in the lens epithelial cell fractions of lenses in people with mature cataract. We used lenses of diabetic patients, weak and strong cigarette smokers and people who had senile cataract. The protein glycation is the highest in a diabetic senile cataract patients and the lowest in non-diabetic senile cataract patients.