Liposomal packaging generates Wnt protein with in vivo biological activity.

Wnt signals exercise strong cell-biological and regenerative effects of considerable therapeutic value. There are, however, no specific Wnt agonists and no method for in vivo delivery of purified Wnt proteins. Wnts contain lipid adducts that are required for activity and we exploited this lipophilicity by packaging purified Wnt3a protein into lipid vesicles.

Characterization of melamine-containing and calcium oxalate crystals in three dogs with suspected pet food-induced nephrotoxicosis.

The histomorphologic characteristics and chemical composition of the crystals associated with suspected pet food-induced nephrotoxicosis in 3 dogs are described. Kidney specimens from 2 dogs, a 3-year-old Parson Russell Terrier and a 3-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, were examined. Both developed acute renal failure after eating canned pet food on the 2007 Menu Foods recall list.

Expression of axotomy-inducible and apoptosis-related genes in sensory nerves of rats with experimental diabetes.

In diabetes, peripheral nerves suffer deficient neurotrophic support-a situation which resembles axotomy. This raises the question: does inappropriate establishment of an axotomised neuronal phenotype contribute to diabetic neuropathy, and in extremis, does this provoke apoptosis? We hybridized reverse-transcribed RNA, from the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of 8-week streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats, to Affymetrix Rat Genome U34A chips and scanned the array for expression of (a) genes that are upregulated by axotomy, (b) proapoptotic and (c) anti-apoptotic genes. Expression of the axotomy-responsive genes coding for growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), galanin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), pre-pro-vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (pre-pro-VIP), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), protease nexin 1, heat-shock protein 27 (HSP 27) and myosin light chain kinase II (MLCK II) was unaffected in ganglia from diabetic rats compared to controls; thus, no axotomised phenotype was established.

Temporal gene expression during differentiation of human embryonic stem cells and embryoid bodies.

Background: The aim of this study was to characterize human embryonic stem (ES) cells at the molecular level by performing large-scale complementary DNA (cDNA) analysis using DNA micro-arrays.

Methods: The transcription profile of human ES cells was determined by comparing it to 2, 10 and 30-day old embryoid bodies (EBs) using Affymetrix Genechip human micro-arrays (U133).

Results: According to this analysis we demonstrate that two human ES cell lines are more close to each other than to their differentiated derivatives.

Three cases of canine bile peritonitis with mucinous material in abdominal fluid as the prominent cytologic finding.

Background: Bile peritonitis is a severe, nonseptic inflammatory response to bile in the peritoneal cavity. It may result from generalized or localized leakage of bile due to spontaneous rupture of the biliary system or as a complication of biliary tract inflammation, obstruction, manipulation, or trauma. Cytologically, bile in abdominal fluid appears as golden-green granular pigment.