Long-term, high intake of vitamin C decreases size and increases quantity of liver mitochondria in Guinea-pigs.

Microsomal cytochrome P450 is an important enzyme involved in drug metabolism and bioactivation in the liver. In guinea-pigs, the specific amount of cytochrome P450 depends on dietary vitamin C intake. Short-term vitamin C treatment can induce non-genomic effects on hepatocytes, such as activating mitochondrial respiration without changing cytochrome concentration.

Structure-function analysis of factor VII activating protease (FSAP): sequence determinants for heparin binding and cellular functions.

Factor VII activating protease (FSAP) is associated with cardiovascular diseases and liver fibrosis. To understand the regulation of its proteolytic activity we have characterized recombinant FSAP-mutants over-expressed in HEK-293 cells. The secreted FSAP-protein concentration correlated inversely with the enzymatic activity of the FSAP-mutants.

A key role for Toll-like receptor-3 in disrupting the hemostasis balance on endothelial cells.

Various virus infections cause dysfunctional hemostasis and in some instances lead to the development of viral hemorrhagic fever syndrome. How do diverse viruses induce the expression of tissue factor on vascular cells? We hypothesize that a direct stimulation of pattern recognition receptors (PRR) by viral nucleic acids may be the key. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is produced by many viruses and is recognized by various PRR, including Toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3).

Urokinase receptor (CD87) clustering in detergent-insoluble adhesion patches leads to cell adhesion independently of integrins.

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol-anchored protein that mediates cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix protein vitronectin (VN). We demonstrate here that this cell adhesion process is accompanied by the formation of an adhesion patch characterized by an accumulation of uPAR into areas of direct contact between the cell and the matrix. The adhesion patch requires the glycolipid anchor and develops only on a VN-coated substrate, but not on fibronectin.

Histologic assessment of epithelial thickness in early laryngeal cancer or precursor lesions and its impact on endoscopic imaging.

The objective of the study was to assess the epithelial thickness in different lesions of the vocal folds in order to gain more information about its influence on endoscopic imaging. Retrospective study including 161 patients undergoing surgery for a total of 206 benign and malignant lesions of the vocal folds. Laryngoscopy and autofluorescence endoscopy were the first line of investigation for these lesions.