mTOR signaling regulates aberrant epithelial cell proliferative and migratory behaviors characteristic of airway mucous metaplasia in asthma.

Unlabelled: In asthma, the airway epithelium is hyperplastic, hypertrophied, and lined with numerous large MUC5AC-containing goblet cells (GC). Furthermore, the normal epithelial architecture is disorganized with numerous, what we here describe as, ectopic goblet cells (eGC) deep within the thickened epithelial layer disconnected from the lumenal surface. mTOR is a highly conserved pathway that regulates cell size and proliferation.

A Comparative Analysis of RNAi Trigger Uptake and Distribution in Mosquito Vectors of Disease.

In mosquitoes, the utilization of RNAi for functional genetics is widespread, usually mediated through introduced double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) with sequence identity to a gene of interest. However, RNAi in mosquitoes is often hampered by inconsistencies in target gene knockdown between experimental setups. While the core RNAi pathway is known to function in most mosquito strains, the uptake and biodistribution of dsRNAs across different mosquito species and life stages have yet to be extensively explored as a source of variation in RNAi experiments.

Effect of epithelial-specific MyD88 signaling pathway on airway inflammatory response to organic dust exposure.

The Toll-like receptor (TLR) adaptor protein MyD88 is integral to airway inflammatory response to microbial-enriched organic dust extract (ODE) exposures. ODE-induced airway neutrophil influx and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines was essentially abrogated in global MyD88-deficient mice, yet these mice demonstrate an increase in airway epithelial cell mucin expression. To further elucidate the role of MyD88-dependent responses specific to lung airway epithelial cells in response to ODE , the surfactant protein C protein (SPC) Cre embryologic expressing airway epithelial cells floxed for MyD88 to disrupt MyD88 signaling were utilized.

Autophagy of mucin granules contributes to resolution of airway mucous metaplasia.

Exacerbations of muco-obstructive airway diseases such as COPD and asthma are associated with epithelial changes termed mucous metaplasia (MM). Many molecular pathways triggering MM have been identified; however, the factors that regulate resolution are less well understood. We hypothesized that the autophagy pathway is required for resolution of MM by eliminating excess non-secreted intracellular mucin granules.

Impact of sugar composition on meal distribution, longevity, and insecticide toxicity in Aedes aegypti.

Toxic Sugar Baits (TSBs) are an inexpensive and field-applicable approach to deliver a variety of insecticides to sugar-seeking mosquitoes. We reasoned that carbohydrate chemistry could alter the performance and efficacy of TSBs. In this study, the uptake, distribution, and survival of female Aedes aegypti provided with twelve different aqueous sugar meals was recorded.

Mouse genome-wide association studies and systems genetics uncover the genetic architecture associated with hepatic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of a constrained ethyl antisense oligonucleotide targeting Malat1.

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have demonstrated variation of efficacy in patient populations. This has prompted our investigation into the contribution of genetic architecture to ASO pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD). Genome wide association (GWA) and transcriptomic analysis in a hybrid mouse diversity panel (HMDP) were used to identify and validate novel genes involved in the uptake and efficacy of a single dose of a Malat1 constrained ethyl (cEt) modified ASO.

3-O sulfation of heparin leads to hepatotropism and longer circulatory half-life.

Introduction: Heparins are common blood anticoagulants that are critical for many surgical and biomedical procedures used in modern medicine. In contrast to natural heparin derived from porcine gut mucosa, synthetic heparins are homogenous by mass, polymer length, and chemistry.

Materials & Methods: Stable cell lines expressing the human and mouse Stabilin receptors were used to evaluate endocytosis of natural and synthetic heparin.

Purification of Hepatocytes and Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells from Mouse Liver Perfusion.

This protocol demonstrates a method for obtaining high yield and viability for mouse hepatocytes and sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) suitable for culturing or for obtaining cell lysates. In this protocol, the portal vein is used as the site for catheterization, rather than the vena cava, as this limits contamination of other possible cell types in the final liver preparation. No special instrumentation is required throughout the procedure.

[Influence of the Weather on the Incidence of Fractures in the Elderly].

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The incidence of geriatric fractures (proximal femur, distal radius, proximal humerus and thoracolumbar spine injuries) in the population increases with ageing. However, the role of weather conditions, such as icy and slippery winter, should not be overlooked. A deeper insight into this relationship may bring about a better understanding of the fracture aetiology and thus allow for improvement in the prevention of fractures in elderly people.

[Incidence of proximal femur fractures in relation to seasons of the year and weather].

Purpose Of The Study: The opinion that proximal femur fractures occur mainly in the winter season and are related to slippery surfaces prevails in both the lay and medical communities. The elucidation of this relationship would lead to a better understanding of the aetiology of these fractures and may help to prevent them in the elderly population.

Material And Methods: In a retrospective study conducted at two departments, the occurrence of proximal femur fractures in patients 60+ years old in relation to weather conditions (air temperature and its humidity, atmospheric pressure, rain and mist) between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2005 was investigated.

Favorable coagulation profile with fondaparinux after hip surgery in elderly patients.

Twenty-three patients with fondaparinux prophylaxis over 75 years of age who underwent hip fracture surgery were enrolled in the study. Fondaparinux sodium (2.5 mg) was administered subcutaneously 6 h postoperatively and then every 24 h for 28 days.

[Spontaneous symphysis pubis rupture followed by intraabdominal bleeding during the vaginal delivery].

Symphysis pubis rupture is rare but life-threatening complication of vaginal delivery. Prompt diagnosis and therapy of this complication is crucial. We present a case report of a patient with a symphysis pubis rupture followed by severe intraabdominal bleeding.

[Expense analysis of the proximal femoral fractures treatment].

The aim of this paper was to provide estimated average costs of the hip fractures in the national scale by means of the analysis of the treatment expenses of 256 injured patients who were operated in the 1st Surgical Clinic of the General Teaching Hospital in Prague in 2002. Particular cost items as operation costs, price of the implant, hospitalization expenses by the categories and price of blood derivates were figured out. The follow-up treatment after hospital discharge like price per bed, expenses for general practicioner etc.

[Mosaicplasty in the treatment of knee injuries].

Different types of joint cartilage defects of knee are reported and their surgical treatment indications are given. Types of possible surgical procedures are discussed with detailed description of technique called mosaicplasty--osteochondral autograft transplantation.

Sequence, annotation, and analysis of synteny between rice chromosome 3 and diverged grass species.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) chromosome 3 is evolutionarily conserved across the cultivated cereals and shares large blocks of synteny with maize and sorghum, which diverged from rice more than 50 million years ago. To begin to completely understand this chromosome, we sequenced, finished, and annotated 36.

[Metabolic changes caused by artificial ischemia in knee arthroscopy].

The most important complication of arthroscopy of the knee is DVT. We studied 53 patients who undergoing arthroscopy with artificial ischemia of lower limb. We examined some biochemics and haematological dates, for example lactate, APTT, INR, PAI-1 etc.

[Prevention of thromboembolism in surgery of fractures of the upper end of the femur].

Morbidity and mortality after hip fractures is often a result of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Therefore, prophylaxis for venous thrombosis is recommended in patients undergoing osteosynthesis of upper end of lower extremity or arthroplasty of the hip. Study compared efficacy of UFH and LMWH in prevention of thromboembolic disease.

[Acute phase reaction in severe injuries].

Unlabelled: This study observes acute phase response in first time after injury.

Hypothesis: Injured patients are already in first timepiece up severe injury in worse general state developed acute phase response than control group before planed surgery. Levels of indicators acute phase response and haemostasis from venous blood samples collected in an injury day and at patients control group before planned surgery were compared.

[Evaluation of the effect of plastic casts from the aspect of prevention of thromboembolic disease].

Immobilization after trauma escalates risk of thrombosis. Our objective was to determine whether there is a difference in rates of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) after immobilization with plastic casts or routinely plaster of Paris in trauma patients. Despite both groups of patients do not show difference in blood coagulation tests (APTT, TT, PT, levels of fibrinogen and of D-dimer in plasma) during time of immobilization the evidence of DVT according to scintigraphy was lower in group of patients with plastic casts (3 per cent to 10 per cent).

[Antibiotic prophylaxis in hip joint surgery].

Nosocomial deep wound infections are serious complications after hip joint surgery. Our aim was to determine whether there is a difference in rates of nosocomial infections between group of patients after elective surgery of hip replacement and group of patients with hip replacement after trauma. Both groups of patients had perioperative prophylaxis with amoxycillin.

Increase of soluble cytoadhesive molecules sE-selectin and sICAM-1 and hyperfibrinogenaemia in patients with polytrauma without septicaemia.

Multiple organ failure with thrombophilia is suggested to occur in the course of polytrauma with septicaemia. The aim of the study was to investigate fibrinogen level, other proteins of acute phase response: positive-orosomucoid and negative-transferrin and soluble cytoadhesive molecules in plasma of patients (n = 28) with polytrauma (I-II. stage according to Hannover score) without detectable bacteraemia until 36 hours post injury.

[Fatal pulmonary embolisms in surgery patients].

The authors present results of the study of the fatal pulmonary postoperative embolism in the years 1995-1997. The maximum attention is given to the risk-factors and type of prevention. Among the biggest risks they are malignancy, reduction of pulmonary parenchyma, ischaemic coronary disease, high age and obesity.

[Injuries of the ligaments of the talar joint].

Based on experience with the treatment of 404 patients with injuries of the soft parts of the talus the authors maintain that markedly better results are achieved in patients where sufficiently long immobilization with a plaster bandage was used or where early reconstruction of the injured ligaments was performed. A very important negative factor is treatment of these injuries without immobilization or inadequate immobilization, as a high percentage of the patients develop instability of the talus with all its consequences. The authors consider arthrography the exact diagnostic method, the results of which are decisive for the therapeutic procedure.

[Changes in the distal end of the radius from the aspect of the injured person].

Based on an evaluation of a group of patients treated on account of fractures of the wrist. Colles type, we assume that the decisive factor is the type of fracture. We recommend therefore to divide these fractures into two groups.