Coenzyme Q-10 reduced the aberrant production of extracellular matrix proteins in uterine leiomyomas through transforming growth factor beta 3.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of coenzyme Q-10 (CoQ-10) on the dysregulated synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins mediated by transforming growth factor beta 3 (TGF-β3) in uterine leiomyomas.

Design: Laboratory study.

Setting: University.

Exercise-Induced Abdominal Wall Muscle Injury Resulting in Rhabdomyolysis and Mimicking an Acute Abdomen.

Background: Rhabdomyolysis is characterized by muscle necrosis and release of intracellular constituents, causing muscle pain, weakness, and myoglobinuria. This can be attributed to muscle injury after strenuous exercise. If the abdominal wall is involved, clinical presentation may resemble an acute abdomen.

Double Aneuploidy Detected by Cell-Free DNA Testing and Confirmed by Fetal Tissue Analysis.

Background: Double aneuploidies account for 0.21-2.8% of spontaneous abortions resulting from chromosomal abnormalities.

Staphylococcus aureus surface protein SdrE binds complement regulator factor H as an immune evasion tactic.

Similar to other highly successful invasive bacterial pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus recruits the complement regulatory protein factor H (fH) to its surface to inhibit the alternative pathway of complement. Here, we report the identification of the surface-associated protein SdrE as a fH-binding protein using purified fH overlay of S. aureus fractionated cell wall proteins and fH cross-linking to S.

Hyperglycemic conditions inhibit C3-mediated immunologic control of Staphylococcus aureus.

Background: Diabetic patients are at increased risk for bacterial infections; these studies provide new insight into the role of the host defense complement system in controlling bacterial pathogens in hyperglycemic environments.

Methods: The interactions of complement C3 with bacteria in elevated glucose were assayed for complement activation to opsonic forms, phagocytosis and bacterial killing. C3 was analyzed in euglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions by mass spectrometry to measure glycation and structural differences.

Protease inhibitors decrease IgG shedding from Staphylococcus aureus, increasing complement activation and phagocytosis efficiency.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen for immunologically intact humans and its pathogenesis is a model system for evasion of host defences. Antibodies and complement are essential elements of the humoral immune system for prevention and control of S. aureus infections.

A comparison of antibacterial activity against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative organisms for antimicrobial compounds in a unique composite wound dressing.

Objective: Antibiotic resistance is increasing among organisms that commonly cause wound infections. Therefore, it becomes increasingly desirable to prevent wound infections as systemic antibiotic treatment of established wound infections becomes more difficult, more expensive, and potentially more toxic. The ability to incorporate antimicrobial compounds into modern wound dressings provides an opportunity to prevent wound infections without the risk of systemic toxicity, thus diminishing morbidity, mortality, and cost to the healthcare system.

Clumping factor A interaction with complement factor I increases C3b cleavage on the bacterial surface of Staphylococcus aureus and decreases complement-mediated phagocytosis.

The human complement system is important in the immunological control of Staphylococcus aureus infection. We showed previously that S. aureus surface protein clumping factor A (ClfA), when expressed in recombinant form, bound complement control protein factor I and increased factor I cleavage of C3b to iC3b.