Smoking and polymorphisms of genes encoding mannose-binding lectin and surfactant protein-D in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

To investigate whether polymorphisms in genes coding for mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and surfactant protein-D (SP-D) are associated directly or by interaction with smoking with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (ACPA) positive RA, and erosive RA. MBL2 genotypes, SFTPD genotype at codon 11, and HLA-shared epitope were determined in 456 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 533 sex- and age-matched controls. Patients were grouped according to the presence of ACPA antibodies and RA-associated bone erosions and sub-stratified according to smoking status as never or ever smokers.

Decellularized matrix from tumorigenic human mesenchymal stem cells promotes neovascularization with galectin-1 dependent endothelial interaction.

Background: Acquisition of a blood supply is fundamental for extensive tumor growth. We recently described vascular heterogeneity in tumours derived from cell clones of a human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) strain (hMSC-TERT20) immortalized by retroviral vector mediated human telomerase (hTERT) gene expression. Histological analysis showed that cells of the most vascularized tumorigenic clone, -BD11 had a pericyte-like alpha smooth muscle actin (ASMA+) and CD146+ positive phenotype.

Effect of repeated intracoronary injection of bone marrow cells in patients with ischaemic heart failure the Danish stem cell study--congestive heart failure trial (DanCell-CHF).

Background: It has been suggested that myocardial regeneration may be achieved by a single intracoronary bone marrow derived stem cell infusion in selected patients with ischaemic heart disease. The effect is uncertain in patients with chronic ischaemic heart failure and it is not known whether repeated infusions would have additional positive effects.

Aims: To assess whether two treatments of intracoronary infusion of bone marrow stem cells, administered 4 months apart, could improve left ventricular (LV) systolic function in patients with chronic ischaemic heart failure.

Thioridazine reduces resistance of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus by inhibiting a reserpine-sensitive efflux pump.

Previous studies suggested that the phenothiazine chlorpromazine (CPZ) could reverse or reduce the antibiotic resistance of bacteria. In some areas of the world, the majority of Staphylococcus aureus isolates are now resistant to methicillin, prompting this study to see whether such resistance can be altered by phenothiazine thioridazine (TZ), an agent with equal antibacterial activity, which is free of the severe side-effects associated with chronic administration of CPZ. The results indicated that, whereas methicillin-sensitive strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) were not rendered more susceptible to oxacillin, resistance to oxacillin by highly-resistant strains (MRSA) could be significantly reduced by sub-inhibitory concentrations of TZ.

[Stem cell therapy in ischemic heart disease].

Stem cell therapy is a treatment of great potential, including in cardiology. In the past few years, it has been shown that the heart has the potential for regeneration. Clinical studies have shown that intracoronary or intracardiac transplantation of bone marrow stem cells to patients with chronic or acute ischemic heart diseases improves the function and regional myocardial perfusion of the left ventricle.

Inhibition of the Carpobrotus edulis methanol extract on the growth of phagocytosed multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

The Carpobrotus edulis methanol extract, inactive against the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or the multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis, does inhibit the growth of these two bacteria once they are phagocytosed by monocyte derived human macrophages.

Mesenchymal stem cells: cell biology and potential use in therapy.

Mesenchymal stem cells are clonogenic, non-haematopoietic stem cells present in the bone marrow and are able to differentiate into multiple mesoderm-type cell lineages e.g. osteoblasts, chondrocytes, endothelial-cells and also non-mesoderm-type lineages e.

Phenothiazines alter resistance of methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) to oxacillin in vitro.

Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance of bacteria include efflux pumps which extrude the antibiotic prior to reaching its target. Phenothiazines inhibit the activity of some efflux pumps thereby altering the susceptibility of bacteria. This study demonstrated that chlorpromazine and thioridazine reduce the susceptibility of methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA) but not that of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains to oxacillin (MIC of oxacillin reduced from >500 to 10 mg/l).

In vivo development of quinolone resistance in Salmonella enterica serotype typhimurium DT104.

Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium definitive phage type 104 was isolated several times from the same patient over a period of 2 years. The strain developed reduced sensitivity to fluoroquinolones, and a mutation in the gyrA gene that is associated with reduced sensitivity to quinolones was identified.