Outcome study of the Pipeline Vantage Embolization Device (second version) in unruptured (and ruptured) aneurysms (PEDVU(R) study).

Background: The Pipeline Vantage Embolization Device (PEDV) is the fourth-generation pipeline flow diverter for intracranial aneurysm treatment. There are no outcome studies for the second PEDV version. We aimed to evaluate safety and efficacy outcomes.

Computed Tomography Angiography and Magnetic Resonance Angiography of Congenital Anomalies of Pulmonary Veins.

We aimed to review computed tomography and magnetic resonance angiography of congenital anomalies of pulmonary veins. Total anomalous pulmonary venous return shows all pulmonary veins drain abnormally in another site rather than left atrium. Imaging can detect anomalous veins either supracardiac, infracardiac, or mixed.

Caspase-Cleaved Cytokeratin 18 Fragment M30 as a Potential Biomarker of Macrovascular Invasion in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background And Aim: Extremely poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with progressing disease was denoted by vascular invasion. Cytokeratin 18 (CK18) has been shown to be overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma so it is a valuable tumor marker; however, its role in vascular invasion is still unclear. This study aimed to predict CK18 as a predictive marker for macrovascular malignant invasion.

DNA-free recombinant SV40 capsids protect mice from acute renal failure by inducing stress response, survival pathway and apoptotic arrest.

Viruses induce signaling and host defense during infection. Employing these natural trigger mechanisms to combat organ or tissue failure is hampered by harmful effects of most viruses. Here we demonstrate that SV40 empty capsids (Virus Like Particles-VLPs), with no DNA, induce host Hsp/c70 and Akt-1 survival pathways, key players in cellular survival mechanisms.

Pancreatic acinar and islet cell infection by low-dose SV40 administration.

Objectives: Viral vector uptake into the pancreas is rare. The few viral vectors reported to transduce in vivo pancreatic islets after systemic injection required additional physical measures, such as direct pancreatic injection or hepatic vessel clamping. Because pancreatic islet uptake of the human polyomavirus family member BK virus was previously reported in hamsters after systemic administration, we hypothesized that SV40, a polyomavirus member remarkably similar to BK virus, may also infect the pancreas.

Simian virus 40 vectors for pulmonary gene therapy.

Background: Sepsis remains the leading cause of death in critically ill patients. One of the primary organs affected by sepsis is the lung, presenting as the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). Organ damage in sepsis involves an alteration in gene expression, making gene transfer a potential therapeutic modality.

High cooperativity of the SV40 major capsid protein VP1 in virus assembly.

SV40 is a small, non enveloped DNA virus with an icosahedral capsid of 45 nm. The outer shell is composed of pentamers of the major capsid protein, VP1, linked via their flexible carboxy-terminal arms. Its morphogenesis occurs by assembly of capsomers around the viral minichromosome.

Liver-targeted gene therapy by SV40-based vectors using the hydrodynamic injection method.

Efficient reconstitution of defective genes in hepatocytes could be used to treat various liver and systemic diseases through gene therapy. To explore the potential of SV40-based vectors in liver gene therapy, we constructed SV/luc, an SV40 T-antigen replacement transduction vector, that was propagated on COS and COT cells, which supply the SV40 T-antigen in trans. For liver targeting, BALB/C mice were injected via the tail vein with SV/luc stocks containing 3 x 10(6) to 10(8) transducing units in a volume of 1-2 ml.

The abundant nuclear enzyme PARP participates in the life cycle of simian virus 40 and is stimulated by minor capsid protein VP3.

The abundant nuclear enzyme poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) functions in DNA damage surveillance and repair and at the decision between apoptosis and necrosis. Here we show that PARP binds to simian virus 40 (SV40) capsid proteins VP1 and VP3. Furthermore, its enzymatic activity is stimulated by VP3 but not by VP1.

A new packaging cell line for SV40 vectors that eliminates the generation of T-antigen-positive, replication-competent recombinants.

Simian virus 40 (SV40) vectors are efficient vehicles for gene delivery to hematopoietic and hepatic cells. To ensure their replication incompetence and because of safety considerations, it is critical that the vectors do not contain T-antigen sequences. Available packaging cell lines for T-antigen replacement vectors, COS and CMT4, contain considerable sequence identity with the vectors, leading to homologous recombination and reacquisition of the T-antigen gene.

The beta+-IVS-I-6 (T-->C) mutation accounts for half of the thalassemia chromosomes in the Palestinian populations of the mountain regions.

A study of the spectrum of beta-thalassemia mutations in the southern part of the West Bank of the Palestinian Authority revealed the presence of 10 different beta-globin mutations. The study included 41 patients and 54 carriers of beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia. The spectrum of mutations observed was typically Mediterranean.