In vivo electroporation mediated gene delivery to the beating heart.

Gene therapy may represent a promising alternative strategy for cardiac muscle regeneration. In vivo electroporation, a physical method of gene transfer, has recently evolved as an efficient method for gene transfer. In the current study, we investigated the efficiency and safety of a protocol involving in vivo electroporation for gene transfer to the beating heart.

Long-term evaluation of myoblast seeded patches implanted on infarcted rat hearts.

Cell transplantation presents great potential for treatment of patients with severe heart failure. However, its clinical application was revealed to be more challenging than initially expected in experimental studies. Further investigations need to be undertaken to define the optimal treatment conditions.

Hydrogel-based engineered skeletal muscle grafts normalize heart function early after myocardial infarction.

Tissue engineering represents an attractive approach for the treatment of congestive heart failure. The influence of the differentiation of myogenic graft for functional recovery is not defined. We engineered a biodegradable skeletal muscle graft (ESMG) tissue and investigated its functional effect after implantation on the epicardium of an infarcted heart segment.

Activation of non-ischemic, hypoxia-inducible signalling pathways up-regulate cytoprotective genes in the murine liver.

Background/aims: We investigated the molecular response of a non-ischemic hypoxic stress in the liver, in particular, to distinguish its hepatoprotective potential.

Methods: The livers of mice were subjected to non-ischemic hypoxia by clamping the hepatic-artery (HA) for 2h while maintaining portal circulation. Hypoxia was defined by a decrease in oxygen saturation, the activation of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1 and the mRNA up-regulation of responsive genes.

In vivo electroporation and ubiquitin promoter--a protocol for sustained gene expression in the lung.

Background: Gene therapy applications require safe and efficient methods for gene transfer. Present methods are restricted by low efficiency and short duration of transgene expression. In vivo electroporation, a physical method of gene transfer, has evolved as an efficient method in recent years.

Intestinal epithelial cells synthesize glucocorticoids and regulate T cell activation.

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are important steroid hormones with widespread activities in metabolism, development, and immune regulation. The adrenal glands are the major source of GCs and release these hormones in response to psychological and immunological stress. However, there is increasing evidence that GCs may also be synthesized by nonadrenal tissues.

Strong additive effect of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and cyclosporine A but not tacrolimus in rat lung allotransplantation.

Objectives: 1,25-Dihydroxycholecalciferol (calcitriol, vitamin D3) has immunosuppressive properties. This study evaluates the effect of calcitriol in combination with either cyclosporine A or tacrolimus on acute lung allograft rejection in a rat model of unilateral left lung allotransplantation.

Methods: Unilateral left lung transplantation was performed in male rats (Brown-Norway to Fischer F344, 200-250 g body weight).

Detection of circulating tumor cells by cytokeratin 20 and prostate stem cell antigen RT-PCR in blood of patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

Background: Detection of circulating tumor cells in blood may be an important diagnostic and prognostic factor in the management of tumor patients. The present study aimed to examine whether cytokeratin 20 (CK-20) and prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) are useful markers for the detection of disseminated cancer cells in the blood of tumor patients.

Materials And Methods: A nested RT-PCR assay was used to detect CK-20 and PSCA mRNA in blood samples from 18 healthy donors, 15 patients with non-malignant disease, 9 patients with benign tumors and 47 patients with malignant tumors (11 pancreatic carcinoma, 8 gastric cancer, 15 colorectal carcinoma and 13 miscellaneous tumors).