endocarditis with glomerulonephritis in a patient with complete transposition of the great arteries.

We describe a patient with history of dextro-transposition of the great vessels, ventricular septal defect, and pulmonary valve replacement who presented with fatigue, prolonged fever, and leg edema. He was found to have kidney injury, pancytopenia, and liver congestion. Echocardiogram revealed thickened leaflets with prolapsing vegetation on the pulmonary valve.

Severe Cholestasis and Bile Acid Nephropathy From Anabolic Steroids Successfully Treated With Plasmapheresis.

Severe cholestasis with anabolic androgenic steroids is well-known to cause acute liver injury. Treatment is usually supportive after withdrawal of the offending agent. Acute kidney injury (AKI) frequently occurs in acute liver injury and may complicate management and prognosis.

MT1-MMP Activation of TGF-β Signaling Enables Intercellular Activation of an Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Program in Cancer.

Membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP-14) is associated with cancer invasion and metastasis leading to poor patient prognosis. MT1-MMP mediates cancer cell invasion via degradation of basement membrane and extracellular matrix, and induction of cell migration. However, MT1-MMP expression in the cancer stroma can drive invasion of carcinoma cells in vivo, suggesting MT1-MMP may also promote cancer invasiveness via paracrinemediated mechanisms.

Unraveling the role of KIAA1199, a novel endoplasmic reticulum protein, in cancer cell migration.

Background: Cell migration is a critical determinant of cancer metastasis, and a better understanding of the genes involved will lead to the identification of novel targets aimed at preventing cancer dissemination. KIAA1199 has been shown to be upregulated in human cancers, yet its role in cancer progression was hitherto unknown.

Methods: Clinical relevance was assessed by examining KIAA1199 expression in human cancer specimens.

Interleukin-17 causes Rho-kinase-mediated endothelial dysfunction and hypertension.

Aims: Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-17A (IL-17) are associated with hypertensive autoimmune diseases; however, the connection between IL-17 and hypertension is unknown. We hypothesized that IL-17 increases blood pressure by decreasing endothelial nitric oxide production.

Methods And Results: Acute treatment of endothelial cells with IL-17 caused a significant increase in phosphorylation of the inhibitory endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase residue threonine 495 (eNOS Thr495).

Metformin intoxication requiring dialysis.

Metformin (MTF) is one of the most common oral agents used to treat diabetes mellitus. Intoxication is associated with lactic acidosis and has significant clinical consequences. We report 12 cases requiring dialytic intervention.

Nanomedicine-nanoemulsion formulation improves safety and efficacy of the anti-cancer drug paclitaxel according to preclinical assessment.

Paclitaxel is an important anticancer drug and is currently used to treat a variety of cancers, including ovarian carcinomas, breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, and AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma. The objectives of the studies were to assess and compare the safety and efficacy of EmPAC (a newly developed nanoemulsion formulation of paclitaxel) versus Taxol (the injectable formulation of paclitaxel involving the use of polyethylated or polyoxyl castor oil currently used in the clinic). The objectives were also to investigate the mechanism for the improved safety and efficacy of EmPAC over Taxol.

Oxidative stress and prostate cancer progression are elicited by membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase.

Oxidative stress caused by high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been correlated with prostate cancer aggressiveness. Expression of membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP), which has been implicated in cancer invasion and metastasis, is associated with advanced prostate cancer. We show here that MT1-MMP plays a key role in eliciting oxidative stress in prostate cancer cells.

The effects of the plasminogen pathway on scar tissue formation.

Objectives/hypothesis: The authors sought to determine the role of the plasminogen pathway in wound healing. They hypothesized that decreased fibrin degradation may lead to increased collagen deposition. Presuming that the degree of histopathological abnormality correlates with the aesthetic appearance of the scar, we conducted a study that attempted to determine the histopathological appearance of scar tissue in mice with and without impaired function of the plasminogen pathway.