Activation of type-1 cannabinoid receptor shifts the balance between excitation and inhibition towards excitation in layer II/III pyramidal neurons of the rat prelimbic cortex.

Activation of the endocannabinoid (eCB) system by exogenous cannabinoids (drug abuse) can alter the physiology of the brain circuits involved in higher-order cognitive functions such as the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). A proper balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I balance) is critical for neuronal network oscillations underlying cognitive functions. Since type-1 cannabinoid receptors (CB1Rs), expressed in many brain areas including the mPFC, can modulate excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission, we aimed to determine whether CB1R activation results in modifications of the E/I balance.

Vitamin D promotes vascular regeneration.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency in humans is frequent and has been associated with inflammation. The role of the active hormone 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3; 1,25-VitD3) in the cardiovascular system is controversial. High doses induce vascular calcification; vitamin D3 deficiency, however, has been linked to cardiovascular disease because the hormone has anti-inflammatory properties.

Small cell lung cancer cells express the late stage gBK tumor antigen: a possible immunotarget for the terminal disease.

Big Potassium (BK) ion channels have several splice variants. One splice variant initially described within human glioma cells is called the glioma BK channel (gBK). Using a gBK-specific antibody, we detected gBK within three human small cell lung cancer (SCLC) lines.

Endocannabinoids produced upon action potential firing evoke a Cl(-) current via type-2 cannabinoid receptors in the medial prefrontal cortex.

The functional presence of type-2 cannabinoid receptors (CB2Rs) in layer II/III pyramidal neurons of the rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was recently demonstrated. In the present study, we show that the application of the endocannabinoids (eCBs) 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and methanandamide [a stable analog of the eCB anandamide (AEA)] can activate CB2Rs of mPFC layer II/III pyramidal neurons, which subsequently induces a Cl(-) current. In addition, we show that action potential (AP) firing evoked by 20-Hz current injections results in an eCB-mediated opening of Cl(-) channels via CB2R activation.

Model validation for a noninvasive arterial stenosis detection problem.

A current thrust in medical research is the development of a non-invasive method for detection, localization, and characterization of an arterial stenosis (a blockage or partial blockage in an artery). A method has been proposed to detect shear waves in the chest cavity which have been generated by disturbances in the blood flow resulting from a stenosis. In order to develop this methodology further, we use one-dimensional shear wave experimental data from novel acoustic phantoms to validate a corresponding viscoelastic mathematical model.

Rasmussen's encephalitis: clinical features, pathobiology, and treatment advances.

Rasmussen's encephalitis is a rare chronic neurological disorder, characterised by unilateral inflammation of the cerebral cortex, drug-resistant epilepsy, and progressive neurological and cognitive deterioration. Neuropathological and immunological studies support the notion that Rasmussen's encephalitis is probably driven by a T-cell response to one or more antigenic epitopes, with potential additional contribution by autoantibodies. Careful analysis of the association between histopathology and clinical presentation suggests that initial damage to the brain is mediated by T cells and microglia, suggesting a window for treatment if Rasmussen's encephalitis can be diagnosed early.

Combining cellular and gene therapy approaches for treatment of intracranial tumors.

New treatments are needed for brain metastasis, which is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Two novel cellular and gene therapy modalities were evaluated in xenograft models for human breast cancer. The individual and especially the combined treatments with alloreactive cytotoxic T lymphocytes and replicating retroviral vectors coding for prodrug activating enzymes followed later with nontoxic prodrug demonstrated efficacy without off-target effects.

Multipotent nestin-positive stem cells reside in the stroma of human eccrine and apocrine sweat glands and can be propagated robustly in vitro.

Human skin harbours multiple different stem cell populations. In contrast to the relatively well-characterized niches of epidermal and hair follicle stem cells, the localization and niches of stem cells in other human skin compartments are as yet insufficiently investigated. Previously, we had shown in a pilot study that human sweat gland stroma contains Nestin-positive stem cells.

The potential for genetically altered microglia to influence glioma treatment.

Diffuse and unstoppable infiltration of brain and spinal cord tissue by neoplastic glial cells is the single most important therapeutic problem posed by the common glioma group of tumors: astrocytoma, oligoastrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, their malignant variants and glioblastoma. These neoplasms account for more than two thirds of all malignant central nervous system tumors. However, most glioma research focuses on an examination of the tumor cells rather than on host-specific, tumor micro-environmental cells and factors.

Alternative polyadenylation and miR-34 family members regulate tau expression.

Tau pathologically aggregates in Alzheimer's disease, and evidence suggests that reducing tau expression may be safe and beneficial for the prevention or treatment of this disease. We sought to examine the role of the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) of human tau mRNA in regulating tau expression. Tau expresses two 3'-UTR isoforms, long and short, as a result of alternative polyadenylation.

IPMN: surgical treatment.

Purpose: Cystic pancreatic tumors are being detected more frequently, and particularly, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia (IPMN) has recently attracted increased attention. The detection rate of IPMN has increased over the last decade; however, management of this neoplasm remains controversial.

Methods: Based on a review of the relevant literature and the international guidelines, we discuss the diagnostic evaluation of IPMN, its treatment, and prognosis.

Quantum Dots Do Not Alter the Differentiation Potential of Pancreatic Stem Cells and Are Distributed Randomly among Daughter Cells.

With the increasing relevance of cell-based therapies, there is a demand for cell-labeling techniques for in vitro and in vivo studies. For the reasonable tracking of transplanted stem cells in animal models, the usage of quantum dots (QDs) for sensitive cellular imaging has major advances. QDs could be delivered to the cytoplasm of the cells providing intense and stable fluorescence.

A simple implantation method for flexible, multisite microelectrodes into rat brains.

A long term functional and reliable coupling between neural tissue and implanted microelectrodes is the key issue in acquiring neural electrophysiological signals or therapeutically excite neural tissue. The currently often used rigid micro-electrodes are thought to cause a severe foreign body reaction resulting in a thick glial scar and consequently a poor tissue-electrode coupling in the chronic phase. We hypothesize, that this adverse effect might be remedied by probes compliant to the soft brain tissue, i.

Mammary gland-derived nestin-positive cell populations can be isolated from human male and female donors.

Introduction: Nestin-expressing cells isolated from different human tissues reveal self-renewal capacity and a multilineage differentiation potential. In particular, adult stem/progenitor cell populations from exocrine glands such as the pancreas, salivary gland and sweat gland are characterized by prominent nestin expression. Interestingly, human mammary gland histological examinations also demonstrated the existence of nestin-positive cells in the ductal compartments.

Extraordinary shifts of the Leidenfrost temperature from multiscale micro/nanostructured surfaces.

In the present work, the effects of surface chemistry and micro/nanostructuring on the Leidenfrost temperature are experimentally investigated. The functional surfaces were fabricated on a 304 stainless steel surface via femtosecond laser surface processing (FLSP). The droplet lifetime experimental method was employed to determine the Leidenfrost temperature for both machine-polished and textured surfaces.

[Surgical treatment of fistula-in-ano--a journey between Skylla and Charybdis].

This review discusses the pathogenesis, symptomatology, diagnostic work-up, and treatment options for fistula-in-ano, which is a common condition that affects ~ 20 in 100,000 per year with a predominance for young males. Fistula-in-ano normally presents as an acute anorectal abscess that subsequently becomes established as a chronic discharging fistula. The illness is characterized by chronic perianal discharge and intermittent pain.

Differential expression of interferon-γ and chemokine genes distinguishes Rasmussen encephalitis from cortical dysplasia and provides evidence for an early Th1 immune response.

Background: Rasmussen encephalitis (RE) is a rare complex inflammatory disease, primarily seen in young children, that is characterized by severe partial seizures and brain atrophy. Surgery is currently the only effective treatment option. To identify genes specifically associated with the immunopathology in RE, RNA transcripts of genes involved in inflammation and autoimmunity were measured in brain tissue from RE surgeries and compared with those in surgical specimens of cortical dysplasia (CD), a major cause of intractable pediatric epilepsy.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from fish epidermis: perspectives for investigative dermatology.

Mammalian and fish skin share protective activities against environments that are rich in infectious agents. Fish epidermis is endowed with an extrinsic barrier consisting of a mucus layer and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). These operate together as a protective chemical shield.

The polarity protein Scrib is essential for directed endothelial cell migration.

Rationale: Polarity proteins are involved in the apico-basal orientation of epithelial cells, but relatively little is known regarding their function in mesenchymal cells.

Objective: We hypothesized that polarity proteins also contribute to endothelial processes like angiogenesis.

Methods And Results: Screening of endothelial cells revealed high expression of the polarity protein Scribble (Scrib).

Reduction of HLA class I expression by ribonucleic acid interference mitigates allogenicity of human primary and Immortalized cells.

Unmatched human leukocyte antigens (HLA) expressed by allogeneic donor cells are the major target for immunological rejection. In order to reduce the immunogenicity of allograft cells, we have developed lentiviral vectors for delivery of short hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA) against Class I HLA. This approach was evaluated in both an established human embryonic kidney cell line and primary human CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

A novel highly selective 5-HT6 receptor antagonist attenuates ethanol and nicotine seeking but does not affect inhibitory response control in Wistar rats.

Recent studies suggest a potential role for 5-hydroxytryptamine(6) (5-HT(6)) receptors in the regulation of addictive behavior. In the present study, our aim was to investigate whether the novel highly selective 5-HT(6) receptor antagonist compound (CMP) 42 affected nicotine and ethanol seeking behavior in Wistar rats. We have also studied whether CMP 42 had beneficial effects in a model of impulse control, as measured in the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT).

Pancreatic carcinoma cell lines reflect frequency and variability of cancer stem cell markers in clinical tissue.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly malignancies with insufficient therapeutic options and poor outcome. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are thought to be responsible for progression and therapy resistance. We investigated the potential of pancreatic cell lines for CSC research by analyzing to what extent they contain CSC populations and how representative these are compared to clinical tissue.

Glioma big potassium channel expression in human cancers and possible T cell epitopes for their immunotherapy.

Big potassium (BK) ion channels have several spliced variants. One spliced variant initially described within human glioma cells is the glioma BK (gBK) channel. This isoform consists of 34 aa inserted into the intracellular region of the basic BK ion channel.