Inhibitory effect of bone resorption and inflammation with etidronate therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis for 3 years and in vitro assay in arthritis models.

This study was conducted to identify bone resorption and anti-inflammatory effects with intermittent cyclical etidronate therapy (ICET) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and anti-inflammatory effect of etidronate in vitro. We compared bone mineral density (BMD), urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) level, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) level and Larsen damage scores between the ICET and the non-ICET groups for 3 years. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), substance P and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in synovial cells from arthritis models were measured following the addition of etidronate.

The frequency response of smooth muscle stiffness during Ca2+-activated contraction.

To investigate the mechanism of smooth muscle contraction, the frequency response of the muscle stiffness of single beta-escin permeabilized smooth muscle cells in the relaxed state was studied. Also, the response was continuously monitored for 3 min from the beginning of the exchange of relaxing solution to activating solution, and then at 5-min intervals for up to 20 min. The frequency response (30 Hz bandwidth, 0.

Transcriptional repression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene, mediated by CCAAT displacement protein/cut homolog, is associated with histone deacetylation.

Human cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) transcription is tightly regulated by nucleotide sequences upstream of the initiator sequences. Our studies of human CFTR transcription focus on identifying transcription factors bound to an inverted CCAAT consensus or "Y-box element." The human homeodomain CCAAT displacement protein/cut homolog (CDP/cut) can bind to the Y-box element through a cut repeat and homeobox.

Muscle-tendon model with length history-dependent activation-velocity coupling.

We developed muscle-tendon models incorporating Hill-type structure and length-dependent coupling between activation and velocity. The models were evaluated in electrically stimulated cat soleus muscles. Dynamic model parameters were estimated by a nonlinear parameter estimation algorithm from input-output data obtained during simultaneous random stimulation and length changes.

Transcription of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator requires a CCAAT-like element for both basal and cAMP-mediated regulation.

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene in man is controlled by a tightly regulated and weak promoter. The architecture of the CFTR promoter suggests regulatory characteristics that are consistent with the absence of a TATA-like sequence, including the ability to initiate RNA transcription at numerous positions. Detailed investigation of the most proximal region of the human CFTR gene promoter through deletion and mutational analysis reveals that expression is contingent on the conservation of the inverted CCAAT sequence.