A Role of Sphingosine in the Intracellular Survival of .

Obligate human pathogenic are the second most frequent bacterial cause of sexually transmitted diseases. These bacteria invade different mucosal tissues and occasionally disseminate into the bloodstream. Invasion into epithelial cells requires the activation of host cell receptors by the formation of ceramide-rich platforms.

Effect of individual SCFA on the epithelial barrier of sheep rumen under physiological and acidotic luminal pH conditions.

The objective of this study was to investigate whether individual short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) have a different potential to either regulate the formation of the ruminal epithelial barrier (REB) at physiological pH or to damage the REB at acidotic ruminal pH. Ruminal epithelia of sheep were incubated in Ussing chambers on their mucosal side in buffered solutions (pH 6.1 or 5.

Key role of short-chain fatty acids in epithelial barrier failure during ruminal acidosis.

Subacute ruminal acidosis is induced by high concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA, mainly acetate, propionate, and butyrate) that release protons to decrease the pH of the ruminal digesta. This low pH, in turn, is thought to damage epithelial barrier function. The present study applied a model of simulated ruminal acidosis ex vivo to investigate if SCFA directly contribute to epithelial barrier failure beyond their role as proton donors.

Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 is a key factor for PorB-dependent invasion of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Disseminated gonococcal infection (DGI) is a rare but serious complication caused by the spread of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in the human host. Gonococci associated with DGI mainly express the outer membrane protein PorBIA that binds to the scavenger receptor expressed on endothelial cells (SREC-I) and mediates bacterial uptake. We recently demonstrated that this interaction relies on intact membrane rafts that acquire SREC-I upon attachment of gonococci and initiates the signalling cascade that finally leads to the uptake of gonococci in epithelial cells.

Cognitive function is not associated with recurrent foot ulcers in patients with diabetes and neuropathy.

Objective: To study whether there is an association between cognitive impairment and the relapse rate of foot ulcers in diabetic patients and those with previous foot ulcers.

Research Design And Methods: This single-center prospective study assessed the association of cognitive function and risk for ulcer relapse in 59 patients with diabetes (mean age 65.1 years, diabetes duration 16.