[Ganglioneuroma of parapharyngeal space: case report and review of the literature].

A case of ganglioneuroma of parapharyngeal space is described and the literature on this field is briefly reviewed. The patient, a 7-year-old female, presented with a left parapharyngeal space mass causing medial displacement of the left lateral pharyngeal wall. The lesion sized 4.

Endotoxin fails to stimulate inositol triphosphate production in macrophages.

Unlabelled: Inositol Triphosphate (IP3) production is an early cell signaling event which leads to mobilization of intracellular calcium (Ca++). We examined whether bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) stimulates IP3 production in macrophages pretreated with LPS (tolerant) or not.

Methods: RAW 264.

Hemodynamic and metabolic variables predict porcine ex vivo liver function.

Early recognition of hepatic function during initial graft reperfusion is important in beginning hepatic support perfusions as well as in liver transplantation. We hypothesized that both hemodynamic and metabolic perfusion variables obtained immediately after reperfusion predict eventual function during liver support or transplantation. Specific hemodynamic variables, i.

Laparoscopic surgery and Kupffer cell activation.

Background: Evidence tends to support a relative preservation of the systemic immune response with laparoscopy as compared with laparotomy. However, the role of hepatic macrophages, or Kupffer cells, in modulating this immune advantage is unknown. This study investigated the functions of Kupffer cells after either laparoscopy or laparotomy in a rat model.

Pancreatic cancer cell proliferation is phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase dependent.

Background: Genetic mutations found in pancreatic cancer (K-ras, p16, p53) lead to inappropriate cellular proliferation. Mitogens stimulate proliferation via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)- and/or the p44/42-mitogen-activated protein kinase [p44/42-MAPK or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)] signaling pathways. We examined whether inhibition of either PI3K or ERK could limit proliferation in human pancreatic cancer.