Effects of Etanercept on TNF- Inhibition in Rats with Adenine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease.

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) constitutes a chronic inflammatory state associated with an increase in inflammatory mediators and profibrotic molecules such as tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-). Etanercept (ETA) is a TNF inhibitor widely used in treatment of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. However, the effects of TNF- inhibition in the establishment of CKD have not been fully elucidated.

Recombinant Erythropoietin Provides Protection against Renal Fibrosis in Adenine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes anemia by renal damage. In CKD, the kidney is submitted to hypoxia, persistent inflammation, leading to fibrosis and permanent loss of renal function. Human recombinant erythropoietin (rEPO) has been widely used to treat CKD-associated anemia and is known to possess organ-protective properties that are independent from its well-established hematopoietic effects.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Atorvastatin on the Kidney Graft of Living Donor Transplants.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have demonstrated that statins have anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, which could be considered beneficial in kidney transplantations. This study assesses the anti-inflammatory effect of atorvastatin on the kidney grafts of living donor transplants. MATERIAL AND METHODS In a randomized clinical trial, kidney donors were divided into 2 groups.

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. aqueous extract attenuates hepatic steatosis through down-regulation of PPAR-γ and SREBP-1c in diet-induced obese mice.

The growing incidence of obesity is a worldwide public health problem leading to a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which extends from steatosis to steatohepatitis and cirrhosis. We investigated whether the aqueous extract of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Hs) reduces body weight gain and protects the liver by improving lipid metabolism in high fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6NHsd mice.

The synthetic cathelicidin HHC-10 inhibits Mycobacterium bovis BCG in vitro and in C57BL/6 mice.

Tuberculosis causes close to 1.5 million deaths in the world, with new cases exceeding 9 million in recent years. Coinfection with HIV further worsens the global situation.

Combinatorial gene therapy renders increased survival in cirrhotic rats.

Background: Liver fibrosis ranks as the second cause of death in México's productive-age population. This pathology is characterized by accumulation of fibrillar proteins in hepatic parenchyma causing synthetic and metabolic disfunction. Remotion of excessive fibrous proteins might result in benefit for subjects increasing survival index.

[Histological evaluation of hepatic fibrosis in patients with post surgical bile duct injury].

Background: Bile duct injuries after cholecystectomy can produce fibrous and collagen deposit tissue. Our objective was to evaluate the liver fibrosis measured in histological tissue in patients with bile duct injury after cholecystectomy.

Methods: Three normal liver biopsies and 21 from patients with bile duct injuries were studied.

Black bean extract ameliorates liver fibrosis in rats with CCl4-induced injury.

Unlabelled: We assessed the anti-fibrotic effects of methanolic black bean extract antioxidants in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) liver injury model in rats. Experimentally intoxicated animals received CCl4 for eight weeks, the reference and test groups received daily intragastric quercetin or daily intragastric black bean extract. Liver fibrosis was assessed and quantified using morphometric analysis.

Isosorbide dinitrate spray as therapeutic strategy for treatment of chronic venous ulcers.

Venous ulcers are the most common form of leg ulcers, which induce lesion because of the loss of substances deposited on the damaged skin. Isosorbide dinitrate is a vasodilator with effects on both arteries and veins and induces opening of vascular layers. The objective is to study the effects of isosorbide dinitrate-spray in patients with chronic venous ulcers.

[Hepatic fibrosis: role of matrix metalloproteases and TGFbeta].

Liver fibrosis and cirrhosis involve multiple cellular and molecular events that lead to deposition of an excess of extracellular matrix proteins and increase the distortion of normal liver architecture. Etiologies include chronic viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse and drug toxicity. Degradation of these matrix proteins occurs predominantly as a result of a family of enzymes called metalloproteases (MMPs) that specifically degrade collagenous and non-collagenous substrates.

[Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its therapeutic applications].

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) also known as "scatter factor" (SF), was identified for the first time as a potent mitogen of primary cultured hepatocytes; it has multiple biological responses in a variety of cells including mitogenic, motogenic, morphogenic and antiapoptotic activities. It is secreted as an inactive single chain protein and isproteolitically cleaved to form an active two chain HGF. The hepatocyte growth factor activator (HGFA) is the principal activator of HGF.

[Transforming growth factor-beta as a therapeutic target].

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family members include TGF-beta, activins, and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP). These proteins are structurally related cytokines secreted in diverse Metazoans. TGF-beta family members regulate cellular functions such as proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and migration, and play an important role in organism development.