Publications by authors named "Ian Brown"

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) co-operate in multi-protein machines that counter protein misfolding and aggregation and involve DNAJ (Hsp40), HSPA (Hsp70), and HSPH (Hsp105α). The HSPA family is a multigene family composed of inducible and constitutively expressed members. Inducible HSPA6 (Hsp70B') is found in the human genome but not in the genomes of mouse and rat.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Studies on the efficacy of zinc supplementation for treatment or prevention of diarrhea have shown an inconsistent effect in populations at risk for zinc deficiency. Unlike drugs, which have no preexisting presence in the body, endogenous zinc must be assessed pharmacokinetically by isotope tracer studies. Although such methods have produced much data, very few studies have estimated the dose and the timing of dosing of zinc supplementation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Epilepsy and psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are associated with reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The present study investigated the profile, relationship, and predictive power of illness perceptions, psychological distress (depression and anxiety), seizure activity, and demographic factors on HRQoL in these patient groups. Patients with epilepsy (n=62) and PNES (n=45) were recruited from a United Kingdom hospital and from membership-led organizations for individuals living with seizures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

For viruses such as avian influenza, immunity within a host population can drive the emergence of new strains by selecting for viruses with novel antigens that avoid immune recognition. The accumulation of acquired immunity with age is hypothesized to affect how influenza viruses emerge and spread in species of different lifespans. Despite its importance for understanding the behaviour of avian influenza viruses, little is known about age-related accumulation of immunity in the virus's primary reservoir, wild birds.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus A(H5N8) into Europe prompted animal and human health experts to implement protective measures to prevent transmission to humans. We describe the situation in 2016 and list public health measures and recommendations in place. We summarise critical interfaces identified during the A(H5N1) and A(H5N8) outbreaks in 2014/15.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The H1 subtype of influenza A viruses (IAVs) has been circulating in swine since the 1918 human influenza pandemic. Over time, and aided by further introductions from nonswine hosts, swine H1 viruses have diversified into three genetic lineages. Due to limited global data, these H1 lineages were named based on colloquial context, leading to a proliferation of inconsistent regional naming conventions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a set of highly conserved proteins involved in cellular repair and protective mechanisms. They counter protein misfolding and aggregation that are characteristic features of neurodegenerative diseases. Hsps act co-operatively in disaggregation/refolding machines that assemble at sites of protein misfolding and aggregation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) are proteinaceous organelles that are found in a broad range of bacteria and are composed of an outer shell that encases an enzyme cargo representing a specific metabolic process. The outer shell is made from a number of different proteins that form hexameric and pentameric tiles, which interact to allow the formation of a polyhedral edifice. We have previously shown that the Citrobacter freundii BMC associated with 1,2-propanediol utilization can be transferred into Escherichia coli to generate a recombinant BMC and that empty BMCs can be formed from just the shell proteins alone.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Our objective was to review the histological findings in index biopsies from the terminal ileum and other gastro-intestinal tract sites of Crohn's disease patients prior any treatment and to compare them with the findings from patients with non-specific ileitis. A total of 111 consecutive Crohn's disease cases (55 females, median age 27 years) with extra-ileal biopsies were retrospectively selected.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are cellular repair agents that counter the effects of protein misfolding that is a characteristic feature of neurodegenerative diseases. HSPA1A (Hsp70-1) is a widely studied member of the HSPA (Hsp70) family. The little-studied HSPA6 (Hsp70B') is present in the human genome and absent in mouse and rat; hence, it is missing in current animal models of neurodegenerative diseases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Influenza virus infections in pigs create significant economic impacts and health risks due to their zoonotic potential.
  • The study compared different methods of infecting pigs with the influenza virus, including intra-nasal and aerosol delivery, and assessed their immune responses and virus shedding patterns.
  • Findings indicate that natural infection through contact produces robust immune responses despite a low virus dose, which contrasts with the responses seen in pigs that were directly infected, highlighting the need for careful consideration in disease research and vaccine development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are a set of highly conserved proteins involved in cellular repair and protective mechanisms. The intracellular localization of inducible members of the HSPA (HSP70) family can be used as an index to identify stress-sensitive sites in differentiated human neuronal cells. Following thermal stress, the little studied HSPA6 (HSP70B') was targeted to the periphery of nuclear speckles (perispeckles) that are sites of transcription factories.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common cancer worldwide and accounts for approximately 30% of all keratinocyte cancers. The vast majority of cutaneous SCCs of the head and neck (cSCCHN) are readily curable with surgery and/or radiotherapy unless high-risk features are present. Perineural invasion (PNI) is recognized as one of these high-risk features.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: A diversifying pool of mammalian-adapted influenza A viruses (IAV) with largely unknown zoonotic potential is maintained in domestic swine populations worldwide. The most recent human influenza pandemic in 2009 was caused by a virus with genes originating from IAV isolated from swine. Swine influenza viruses (SIV) are widespread in European domestic pig populations and evolve dynamically.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In April 2013, an H9N2 low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) virus was isolated in a turkey breeder farm in Eastern England comprising 4966 birds. Point-of-lay turkey breeding birds had been moved from a rearing site and within 5 days had shown rapid onset of clinical signs of dullness, coughing, and anorexia. Three houses were involved, two contained a total of 4727 turkey hens, and the third housed 239 male turkeys.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Neurodegenerative diseases often stem from issues with protein misfolding, and current treatments are limited, but heat shock proteins (Hsps) can provide a protective mechanism against these problems.
  • A study found that using celastrol and arimoclomol together significantly increased the levels of several protective Hsps in human neuronal cells, including the unique HSPA6, without harming cell health.
  • This co-application approach not only boosts Hsp production but also targets multiple processes involved in neurodegeneration, such as inflammation, oxidative stress, and synaptic issues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Pathology of Perineural Spread.

J Neurol Surg B Skull Base

April 2016

The perineural space is a compartment located between the nerve axons, supporting cells and tissues, and the epineural fibrous sheath. Tumor cells invade this space in response to a complex interplay of trophic factors in the local microenviroment. This attraction of tumor cells to nerves is referred to as neurotropism.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Swine influenza presents a substantial disease burden for pig populations worldwide and poses a potential pandemic threat to humans. There is considerable diversity in both H1 and H3 influenza viruses circulating in swine due to the frequent introductions of viruses from humans and birds coupled with geographic segregation of global swine populations. Much of this diversity is characterized genetically but the antigenic diversity of these viruses is poorly understood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Sleeve gastrectomy specimens are increasingly common surgical specimens received for examination following bariatric surgery for weight loss. The spectrum of pathological changes seen in these cases is not well documented. Retrospective examination was undertaken of 1463 consecutive sleeve gastrectomy specimens received at Envoi Specialist Pathologists.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Patients with serrated polyposis develop multiple serrated polyps throughout the large bowel: hyperplastic polyps (HP), sessile serrated adenomas (SSA) and traditional serrated adenomas (TSA). The frequency and the characteristics of serrated lesions of the appendix have not been reported in serrated polyposis patients. We conducted a retrospective study of 34 serrated polyposis patients who underwent a total or right hemicolectomy for adenocarcinoma or polyp burden.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background And Aims: Angiotensin II (AII) is a powerful splanchnic vasoconstrictor with pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic properties. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and AII Receptor Antagonists (ARBs) are therapeutic in animal models of colitis. The aim of this case-control study is to determine the expression of angiotensinogen and related genes in human ileal Crohn's disease.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF