Circulating extracellular proteasome in the cerebrospinal fluid: a study on concentration and proteolytic activity.

Alterations of the intracellular ubiquitin-proteasome pathway are found in neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders of the central nervous system, as well as in its malignancies. Inhibitory substrates of the proteasomes represent promising approaches to control autoimmune inflammations and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. Extracellular circulating proteasomes are positively correlated to outcome prognosis in hematogenic neoplasias and the outcome in critically ill patients.

Laparoscopic robotic-assisted gastrointestinal surgery: the Geneva experience.

The continuing development of robotic surgery supports its use in laparoscopic gastrointestinal surgery. Our study retrospectively reviewed the surgical outcome and patient's satisfaction of gastrointestinal laparoscopic robotic procedures. From January 2003 to September 2007, 94 patients (27 women, 67 men) with a mean age of 53 years (range 19-84 years) underwent laparoscopic surgery with a da Vinci robotic system.

Derlin-1 and p97/valosin-containing protein mediate the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of human V2 vasopressin receptors.

The endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD), the main quality control pathway of the cell, is crucial for the elimination of unfolded or misfolded proteins. Several diseases are associated with the retention of misfolded proteins in the early secretory pathway. Among them is X-linked nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, caused by mutations in the gene encoding the V2 vasopressin receptor (V2R).

Human pharmacokinetics and safety evaluation of SonoVue, a new contrast agent for ultrasound imaging.

Rationale And Objectives: To assess in humans the pharmacokinetics of SonoVue, a new echo contrast agent based on stabilized sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) microbubbles and to provide additional safety and tolerability information on the compound.

Methods: The blood kinetics and pulmonary elimination of SF6 after intravenous bolus injection of two dosage levels (0.03 and 0.