Murine extracellular superoxide dismutase is converted into the inactive fold by the Ser195Cys mutation.

We have previously shown that human extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) exists as two variants with differences in their disulfide bridge patterns: one form is the active enzyme (aEC-SOD), and the other is inactive (iEC-SOD). The availability of both active and inactive folding variants significantly reduces the specific activity of EC-SOD in vivo. Both forms are produced during biosynthesis, but the underlying folding mechanisms remain unclear.

The concentration of extracellular superoxide dismutase in plasma is maintained by LRP-mediated endocytosis.

In this study, we show that human extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) binds to low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP). This interaction is most likely responsible for the removal of EC-SOD from the blood circulation via LRP expressed in liver tissue. The receptor recognition site was located within the extracellular matrix-binding region of EC-SOD.

p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-driven MAPKAPK2 regulates invasion of bladder cancer by modulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity.

In transitional cell carcinoma, the most common form of bladder cancer, overexpression of the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 offers prognostic value as markers of disease-specific survival. These molecules have been implicated in metastasis of bladder cancer, but the underlying mechanisms through which they are controlled are poorly defined. In this study, we investigated a role of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in this process, using bladder cancer cell lines HTB9 and HTB5 that were derived from different tumor stages.

The folding of human active and inactive extracellular superoxide dismutases is an intracellular event.

Human extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) is a tetrameric glycoprotein responsible for the removal of superoxide generated in the extracellular space. Two different folding variants of EC-SOD exist based on the disulfide bridge connectivity, resulting in enzymatically active (aEC-SOD) and inactive (iEC-SOD) subunits. As a consequence of this, the assembly of the EC-SOD tetramers produces molecules with variable activity and may represent a way to regulate the antioxidant level in the extracellular space.

Patient perceptions of an outpatient palliative care intervention: "It had been on my mind before, but I did not know how to start talking about death...".

Little is known about whether introducing palliative care to seriously ill outpatients continuing to pursue treatment of their disease is acceptable or beneficial to patients. Intervention patients in a trial of outpatient palliative care consultation completed structured exit interviews as part of a qualitative study. Participants had advanced heart or lung disease or cancer, and a life expectancy between 1 to 5 years as estimated by their primary care physician (PCP).

The comprehensive care team: a description of a controlled trial of care at the beginning of the end of life.

Objective: To describe the characteristics, acceptability, and basic efficacy of an outpatient palliative care consultation service for patients with serious illness continuing to receive treatment for their underlying disease.

Design: Structured interviews of intervention patients enrolled in a prospective, nonrandomized, controlled trial.

Setting: General medicine practice in an urban, academic medical center.

Volunteer patient advocacy: an interdisciplinary course on attending to patients at the end of life.

Little is known about the impact on health care students of early end-of-life care (EOLC) education and patient contact. We developed an EOLC course that allowed students to serve as volunteer advocates for patients at the end of life (EOL). We evaluated the course's acceptability to students and its effect on students' attitudes and beliefs.