Facile synthesis of free-standing polymer brush films based on a colorless polydopamine thin layer.

A free-standing polymer brush film with tailored thicknesses based on a colorless polydopamine (PDA) thin layer is prepared and characterized. The surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) is performed on a PDA layer with thickness of ca. 6 nm, which generated an optically transparent and colorless free-standing PHEMA brush film (1.

Leukotriene receptor antagonists, LY293111 and ONO-1078, protect neurons from the sPLA2-IB-induced neuronal cell death independently of blocking their receptors.

In the ischemic brain, leukotrienes (LTs) are increased and their receptor antagonists protect neurons. However, it has not yet been sufficiently clarified how antagonists for LT receptors exhibit neuroprotective effects. In the present study, we evaluated protective effects of receptor antagonists for LTB4 (LY293111) and cysteinyl LTs (ONO-1078) in the primary culture of rat cortical neurons.

L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel is involved in the snake venom group IA secretory phospholipase A2-induced neuronal apoptosis.

Snake venom group IA secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2-IA) is known as a neurotoxin. Snake venom sPLA2s are neurotoxic in vivo and in vitro, causing synergistic neurotoxicity to cortical cultures when applied with toxic concentrations of glutamate. However, it has not yet been cleared sufficiently how sPLA2-IA exerts neurotoxicity.

L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels as therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases.

Ca(2+) is a highly versatile intracellular second messenger in the central nervous system, and regulates many complicated cellular processes, including excitation, plasticity and apoptosis. Influx of Ca(2+) from the extracellular fluid is required for sustained elevation of the cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration and full activation of Ca(2+)-dependent processes. Voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (VDCCs) serve as the principal routes of Ca(2+) entry into electrically excitable cells such as neurons.

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases level and collagenase activity in gingival crevicular fluid: the relevance to periodontal diseases.

Objectives: To provide an overall assessment of levels of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), collagenase activities, and of immuno-reactivities for matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 and -8 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) obtained from healthy subjects, and gingivitis and periodontitis patients, and to analyse the relationships between periodontal tissue destruction and the GCF components in periodontal diseases by principal component analysis.

Materials And Methods: GCF was sampled with sterile paper strips from 10 gingivitis and 11 periodontitis patients. Ten volunteers served as clinically healthy controls.