An osteopontin-NADPH oxidase signaling cascade promotes pro-matrix metalloproteinase 9 activation in aortic mesenchymal cells.

Osteopontin (OPN) is a cytokine upregulated in diabetic vascular disease. To better understand its role in vascular remodeling, we assessed how OPN controls metalloproteinase (MMP) activation in aortic adventitial myofibroblasts (AMFs) and A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). By zymography, OPN and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha preferentially upregulate pro-matrix metalloproteinase 9 (pro-MMP9) activity.

Prospective study of thymic carcinoids in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1.

Little is known of the natural history of thymic carcinoids in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1). This is important because in 1993 they were identified as a frequent cause of death, yet only small retrospective studies and case reports exist. We report results of a prospective study of 85 patients with MEN1 evaluated for pancreatic endocrine tumors and followed over a mean of 8 yr with serial chest computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), chest x-ray, and, since 1994, octreoscans [somatostatin receptor scintigraphy (SRS)].