Low expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax, Bak and Smac indicates prolonged progression-free survival in chemotherapy-treated metastatic melanoma.

Despite the introduction of novel targeted therapies, chemotherapy still remains the primary treatment for metastatic melanoma in poorly funded healthcare environments or in case of disease relapse, with no reliable molecular markers for progression-free survival (PFS) available. As chemotherapy primarily eliminates cancer cells by apoptosis, we here evaluated if the expression of key apoptosis regulators (Bax, Bak, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Smac, Procaspase-9, Apaf-1, Procaspase-3 and XIAP) allows prognosticating PFS in stage III/IV melanoma patients. Following antibody validation, marker expression was determined by automated and manual scoring of immunohistochemically stained tissue microarrays (TMAs) constructed from treatment-naive metastatic melanoma biopsies.

Systemic IL-1β production as a consequence of corneal HSV-1 infection-contribution to the development of herpes simplex keratitis.

This study sought to identify potential therapeutic targets in herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) patients with active and inactive infection by investigating peripheral cytokine production. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum were prepared from healthy controls and HSK patients during active infection or following treatment (inactive infection). Serum antibody titres were determined by ELISA.

The Formation of Microthrombi in Parenchymal Microvessels after Traumatic Brain Injury Is Independent of Coagulation Factor XI.

Microthrombus formation and bleeding worsen the outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). The aim of the current study was to characterize these processes in the brain parenchyma after experimental TBI and to determine the involvement of coagulation factor XI (FXI). C57BL/6 mice (n = 101) and FXI-deficient mice (n = 15) were subjected to controlled cortical impact (CCI).

Prognostic and predictive biomarkers in melanoma: an update.

Malignant melanoma is one of the most aggressive cancers. Several new therapeutic strategies that focus on immuno- and/or targeted therapy have been developed, which have entered clinical trials or already been approved. This review provides an update on prognostic and predictive biomarkers in melanoma that may be used to improve the clinical management of patients.

Platelet signalling networks: pathway perturbation demonstrates differential sensitivity of ADP secretion and fibrinogen binding.

Platelet signalling responses to single agonists have been identified previously. However, a model of the total platelet signalling network is still lacking. In order to gain insights into this network, we explored the effects of a range of platelet-function inhibitors in two independent assays of platelet function, namely fibrinogen binding and ADP secretion.

Electrochemical desorption of fibrinogen from gold.

The electrochemically induced desorption of Oregon green labeled fibrinogen layers from clean gold surfaces at negative potentials has been probed using capacitance, fluorescence microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Capacitance measurements on fibrinogen layers indicate that desorption occurs at potentials more negative than -0.8 V and that complete desorption occurs when the electrode is biased at -1.

Compartmentalization regulates the interaction between the platelet integrin alpha IIb beta 3 and ICln.

The volume-regulating protein, ICln, interacts with the conserved KxGFFKR alpha-integrin signature motif. ICln is an abundant protein (4455 +/- 650 molecules/platelet) found exclusively in the soluble cytosolic fraction of unactivated platelets. In contrast, its binding partner, the platelet integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3), is present in detergent-insoluble fractions associated with membrane and cytoskeleton subcellular localizations.