CAR links hypoxia signaling to improved survival after myocardial infarction.

The coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) mediates homo- and heterotopic interactions between neighboring cardiomyocytes at the intercalated disc. CAR is upregulated in the hypoxic areas surrounding myocardial infarction (MI). To elucidate whether CAR contributes to hypoxia signaling and MI pathology, we used a gain- and loss-of-function approach in transfected HEK293 cells, H9c2 cardiomyocytes and CAR knockout mice.

Fructose-driven glycolysis supports anoxia resistance in the naked mole-rat.

The African naked mole-rat's () social and subterranean lifestyle generates a hypoxic niche. Under experimental conditions, naked mole-rats tolerate hours of extreme hypoxia and survive 18 minutes of total oxygen deprivation (anoxia) without apparent injury. During anoxia, the naked mole-rat switches to anaerobic metabolism fueled by fructose, which is actively accumulated and metabolized to lactate in the brain.

Human RORγt(+)CD34(+) cells are lineage-specified progenitors of group 3 RORγt(+) innate lymphoid cells.

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) are defined by the expression of the transcription factor RORγt, which is selectively required for their development. The lineage-specified progenitors of ILC3s and their site of development after birth remain undefined. Here we identified a population of human CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) that express RORγt and share a distinct transcriptional signature with ILC3s.

Discovery of X-ray pulsations from a massive star.

X-ray emission from stars much more massive than the Sun was discovered only 35 years ago. Such stars drive fast stellar winds where shocks can develop, and it is commonly assumed that the X-rays emerge from the shock-heated plasma. Many massive stars additionally pulsate.

Presence of Fasciola hepatica in feral nutria (Myocastor coypus) living in a public park in Brazil.

Sixteen nutria (Myocastor coypus) from a protected area in Curitiba, Brazil, were sampled to determine the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica eggs and intestinal parasites and the presence of snails in the habitat used by nutria. The overall prevalence rates were 56.25% (9) for F.

Percutaneous implantation of a brachial plexus electrode for management of pain syndrome caused by a traction injury.

Introduction.  Intractable pain in the affected arm is a common sequel to severe traction lesions of the brachial plexus. Its management presents a challenge.

Subcutaneous neuromodulating implant targeted at the site of pain.

Introduction: Primary afferent stimulation for the control of chronic pain frequently offers the optimal compromise for the control of intractable pain. We describe a new access route directly to the site of pain (target) in the form of subcutaneous targeted neurostimulation (STN) via a percutaneous permanent neurostimulating implant.

Case Report: We present 3 cases with chronic intractable pain where STN via a permanent neurostimulating implant was introduced successfully.

Pulsed radiofrequency applied to dorsal root ganglia causes a selective increase in ATF3 in small neurons.

Background: This is a "proof of concept study" to test the hypothesis that pulsed radiofrequency, PRF, produces cell stress at the primary afferent level without signs of overt thermal damage. We assumed that cell stress would result in impairment of normal function, and used the expression of activating transcription factor 3, ATF3, as an indicator of cellular "stress".

Methods: PRF (20 ms of 500-kHz RF pulses, delivered at a rate of 2 Hz; maximum temperature 42 degrees C) was delivered either to the sciatic nerve of adult rats in mid thigh, or to the L4 anterior primary ramus just distal to the intervertebral foramen.

Spinal cord stimulation does not change peripheral skin blood flow in patients with neuropathic pain.

Background And Objective: Spinal cord stimulation has been used successfully for many years in the management of neuropathic pain. Nociceptive pathways are closely integrated into many autonomic reflexes. The aim was to test the hypothesis that pain relief caused by spinal cord stimulation is related to changes in peripheral skin blood flow.

Diagnosis of spinal disease with ultrafine flexible fiberscopes in patients with chronic pain.

Study Design: Spinal epidural and subarachnoid spaces were observed with the newly developed fine flexible fiberscopes in 55 patients with chronic pain.

Objectives: To evaluate the fiberscopes as diagnostic tools for spinal canal disease.

Summary Of Background Data: Fine flexible fiberscopes make it possible to visualize the entire length of the spinal subarachnoid space without major complications, and they may be of value for the diagnosis of certain spinal canal diseases.

Efficacy of intravenous magnesium in neuropathic pain.

Background: Postherpetic neuralgia is a complication of acute herpes zoster characterized by severe pain and paraesthesia in the skin area affected by the initial infection. There is evidence that the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor is involved in the development of hypersensitivity states and it is known that magnesium blocks the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor.

Method: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study was conducted in which magnesium sulphate was administered as an i.

Generation and subcellular distribution of histamine in human blood monocytes and monocyte subsets.

Objective And Design: This study was designed to establish the sites of formation and storage of histamine and histidine decarboxylase (HDC) in human monocytes and two of their subsets.

Materials And Methods: The experiments were carried out using monocytes from buffy coats of healthy blood donors. Histamine was quantitated by RIA, HDC activity by the formation of histamine.

Cytochrome P450 1B1: a major P450 isoenzyme in human blood monocytes and macrophage subsets.

In this study, cytochrome P450 (CYP; EC 1.14.14.

The use of lamotrigine in neuropathic pain.

Sodium channel antagonists have been used in the management of neuropathic pain for several years. Recent evidence suggests that lamotrigine, which is active at glutaminergic excitatory synapses, is very effective in producing pain relief. We have successfully used lamotrigine in two patients suffering from neuropathic pain.

Phantom pain and sensation among British veteran amputees.

Using a mail-delivered questionnaire, we surveyed 590 veteran amputees concerning phantom pain, phantom sensation and stump pain. They were selected randomly from a population of 2974 veterans with long-standing limb amputation(s) using a computer random number generator. Eighty-nine percent responded and of these, 55% reported phantom limb pain and 56% stump pain.

The value of SPECT scans in identifying back pain likely to benefit from facet joint injection.

Lumbar facet disease is sometimes implicated in low back pain. Identification is difficult and this may account for a variable response. Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) is a scanning technique which enables localization of facet joint pathology.

Characterization of a novel anti-inflammatory factor produced by RM3/1 macrophages derived from glucocorticoid treated human monocytes.

Glucocorticoids exert their anti-inflammatory activity by modulating the functions of various cell types including macrophages. They also induce the generation of a distinct macrophage subtype defined by the surface antigen RM3/1 which appears to be associated with the down-regulation of inflammation. Supernatants from these cells were found to exert a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory effect, particularly in the early phase as shown in the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) induced footpad edema of mice.

Secretion of leukaemia inhibitory factor after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation: a study of CD4+ and CD8+ TCR alpha beta+ T-cell clones derived from four leukaemia patients.

CD4+ and CD8+ TCR alpha beta+ T-cell clones were derived from 4 leukaemia patients early (4-6 weeks) after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) secretion in response to the activation signal accessory cells (AC) + phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) was investigated for each individual clone. Only a minority of CD4+ TCR alpha beta+ T-cell clones secreted LIF in response to AC + PHA, whereas most T-cell clones were capable of LIF secretion when exogenous interleukin 2 was added together with AC + PHA.

IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha secretion by CD4+ and CD8+ TCR alpha beta + T-cell clones derived early after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Secretion of the potentially antileukaemic cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha was investigated for CD4+ and CD8+ TCR alpha beta + T-cell clones derived from 4 leukaemia patients 3-6 weeks after allogeneic BMT. We investigated cytokine secretion in response to the activation signal accessory cells+phytohaemagglutinin+Interleukin 2. All clones derived after BMT were capable of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha secretion, and both for CD4+ (n = 96) and CD8+ (n = 8) T cells quantities of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha were significantly correlated with one another.