[Problems when switching antipsychotics].

Most patients with schizophrenia switch antipsychotics (APs) either due to lack of efficacy or due to side effects. Changing AP, especially switching from clozapine, may lead to deterioration in the patient's condition because of pharmacodynamic differences between the existing and the new AP. A meta-analysis including four studies found no differences between switch strategies while three recent studies each found a positive short term effect of a crossover strategy compared to an abrupt switch.

Matrix metalloproteinase-8 overexpression prevents proper tissue repair.

Background: The collagenolytic matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) is essential for normal tissue repair but is often overexpressed in wounds with disrupted healing. Our aim was to study the impact of a local excess of this neutrophil-derived proteinase on wound healing using recombinant adenovirus-driven transduction of full-length Mmp8 (AdMMP-8).

Methods: The effect of MMP-8 overexpression was evaluated in dermal fibroblasts and in two wound healing models in male Wistar rats: subcutaneously positioned ePTFE catheters and linear incisional skin wounds.

Identification of a functional hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 binding site in the neutral ceramidase promoter.

The brush border membrane of the differentiated small intestinal epithelial cell is studded with membrane bound hydrolytic ectoenzymes involved in digestion. Previous studies of the regulation of genes encoding brush border enzymes have especially implicated the transcription factors hepatocyte nuclear factor HNF-1 and Cdx2. Recent genome-wide studies have, however, also identified HNF-4α as a transcription factor with a high number of target genes in the differentiated small intestinal epithelial cell.

Methylprednisolone prevents tumour necrosis factor-alpha-dependent multinucleated giant cell formation.

Objectives: Granulomas contain multinucleated giant cells (MGCs), the function of which remains largely unknown. In patients with autoimmune granulomatous disease, the granulomas can be resolved during treatment with glucocorticosteroid (GCS). However, little is known about the influence of GCSs on the formation of MGCs.

Cellular cross talk in the small intestinal mucosa: postnatal lymphocytic immigration elicits a specific epithelial transcriptional response.

During the early postnatal period lymphocytes migrate into the mouse small intestine. Migrating infiltrative lymphocytes have the potential to affect the epithelial cells via secreted cytokines. Such cross talk can result in the elicitation of an epithelial transcriptional response.