Long-term prognosis of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis in childhood.

Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) is a rare but potentially serious disorder in children. There is no literature on the long-term neuropsychological and emotional sequelae and implications for quality of life. We studied 17 children who had CVST after the neonatal period, aged between 1 month and 16 years at the time of CVST (mean age at CVST was 6 years, median 4 years 8 months).

Connective tissue growth factor and igf-I are produced by human renal fibroblasts and cooperate in the induction of collagen production by high glucose.

Tubulointerstitial fibrosis is an important component in the development of diabetic nephropathy. Various renal cell types, including fibroblasts, contribute to the excessive matrix deposition in the kidney. Although transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been thought to play a major role during fibrosis, other growth factors are also involved.

Prognosis of haemorrhagic stroke in childhood: a long-term follow-up study.

Little is known about long-term physical sequelae, cognitive functioning, and quality of life of children who have had a haemorrhagic stroke. Fifty-six patients (29 females, 27 males) under 16 years of age at time of the bleeding were studied. Mean age at time of bleeding was 7.

Gene regulation of connective tissue growth factor: new targets for antifibrotic therapy?

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) has recently received much attention as a possible key determinant of progressive fibrosis and excessive scarring and also of wound repair, neoangiogenesis, bone formation and embryonic development. CTGF is also up regulated in numerous fibrotic diseases, including atherosclerosis and lung-, skin-, pancreas-, liver- and kidney-fibrosis. TGFbeta induces CTGF through different signaling pathways and a specific TGFbeta responsive element in the CTGF promoter.

CTGF expression in mesangial cells: involvement of SMADs, MAP kinase, and PKC.

Background: The induction of excess matrix in renal fibrosis seems to be mediated, at least in part, by the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta)-mediated induction of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in mesangial cells.

Methods: By examining CTGF protein and mRNA expression and promoter activity in the presence or absence of TGF-beta or inhibitors, the signaling pathways controlling basal and TGF-beta-induced CTGF expression in mesangial cells were investigated.

Results: TGF-beta enhances CTGF mRNA and protein expression in mesangial cells.

Nitric oxide down-regulates connective tissue growth factor in rat mesangial cells.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) exerts complex regulatory actions on mesangial cell (MC) biology, such as inhibition of proliferation, adhesion or contractility and induction of apoptosis. In our previous studies the NO-donor S-nitroso-glutathione (GSNO) was found to be a potent inhibitor of MC growth. This effect was mediated at least in part by inhibitory effects of GSNO on the transcription factor early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) [10].