Publications by authors named "Marina Aunapuu"

The aim of this study was to compare different antigen retrieval methods to improve the outcome of immunohistochemistry (IHC) performed on osteoarthritic (OA) cartilage obtained from total knee replacement operation. A voluminous and dense extracellular matrix of articular cartilage inhibits antibody penetration, and therefore, proteins present at low concentrations and masked during fixation may need antigen retrieval to enhance an IHC outcome. We focused on the IHC detection of a minor but diagnostically promising cartilage glycoprotein, CILP-2 (cartilage intermediate layer protein 2), to demonstrate the effect of four different protocols: (1) heat-induced epitope retrieval (HIER), (2) proteolytic-induced epitope retrieval applying proteinase K and hyaluronidase (PIER), (3) HIER combined with PIER, and (4) no antigen retrieval (control).

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Pathological cleavage of type II collagen (Col2) and generation of Col2 neoepitopes can serve as useful molecular markers of the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). One of such potential biomarkers is type II collagen neoepitope C2C. The aim of this study was to correlate the degree of articular cartilage damage in OA patients with C2C expression in histological samples of tissues removed during total knee replacement.

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Background: Varicose veins affect approximately 25% of people in industrialized countries.

Methods: The study aimed at detecting apoptotic cells and histopathological changes in varicose vein walls. Patients (N.

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The aim of the study was to correlate the immunohistochemical expression of cartilage intermediate layer protein 2 (CILP-2) and discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2), and the ultrastructural changes in the cartilage with the degree of articular cartilage damage in osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Cartilage samples were obtained from twenty patients aged from 46 to 68 years undergoing total knee arthroplasty. In each patient, medial and lateral tibial plateau samples were analysed applying OARSI histopathology grading.

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To investigate morphological changes in the endometrial epithelial cells of patients with infertility problems. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from 10 women who have undergone several unsuccessful in vitro fertilisation (IVF) procedures. Endometrial biopsies were performed between luteinizing hormone surge days LH+6 to +10 of the natural menstrual cycle.

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Objective: To determine, if staining of articular cartilage for proteoglycans (natural element of healthy and functioning cartilage) and discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) (a protein associated with articular cartilage degradation) is correlated with histological tissue damage or radiographic assessment score in patients with early stages of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Method: 40 patients, with early stage OA were enrolled, from whom the biopsies for histological and immunohistochemical studies were obtained from edge of the femoral condyle during the arthroscopy. Semi-quantitative computer based analysis was used to evaluate the proportion of staining in histological sections.

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Background: Prevention or attenuation of diabetic vascular complications includes anti-hypertensive treatment with renin-angiotensin system inhibitors on account of their protective effects beyond blood pressure reduction. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB), on blood pressure, aortic stiffening, and aortic remodelling in experimental type 1 diabetes in rats.

Methods: Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) (65 mg/kg) in male Wistar rats.

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Aims: Vitamin D may have an important role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) such as Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), have been implicated in diabetic vascular complications via oxidative stress-mediated pathways. We investigated the potential protective effect of vitamin D on CML accumulation in the diabetic aortic wall.

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Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with micro- and macrovascular complications and increased cardiovascular risk. Elevated levels of serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) may be responsible for endothelial dysfunction associated with diabetes-induced vascular impairment. Vitamin D may have potential protective effects against arterial stiffening.

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The study aimed at detecting apoptotic endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) together with determining expression of NF-kappaB (p105/p50) and Bax in varicose vein walls. Women (n = 35) undergoing the excision of varicose veins were divided into 3 groups: younger than 35 years (I), 36-50 years (II), and older than 50 years (III). Apoptosis was determined by the TUNEL method, NF-kappaB and Bax expression by immunohistochemistry.

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We aimed to elucidate the immunological (cytokines), biochemical (antioxidative), and patho-morphological responses in the gut and liver evoked by the addition of Lactobacillus fermentum ME-3 to ofloxacin (OFX) treatment in an experimental infection model of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. After challenge with S. Typhimurium and treatment according to different schemes, either with OFX and/or addition of L.

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Unlabelled: Cell proliferation and apoptosis in the remnant rat kidney after treatment with low-dose irradiation was investigated.

Material And Methods: In the first group (n=9), adult male Wistar rats underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (NPX); in the second group (n=9), NPX was combined with low-dose irradiation. Rats without surgery and irradiation formed the control group (n=9).

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Background: Wolfram Syndrome (WS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterised by non-autoimmune diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, cranial diabetes insipidus and sensorineural deafness. Some reports have described hypogonadism in male WS patients. The aim of our study was to find out whether Wfs1 deficient (Wfs1KO) male mice have reduced fertility and, if so, to examine possible causes.

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The hepatoprotective effects and pharmacokinetics of trans-resveratrol and hydroxystilbenes of the garden rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum L., R. rhaponticum) root ethanol extract were studied.

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Although cholecystokinin is a regulatory peptide with a predominant role in the brain and the gastrointestinal tract, there is an increasing evidence for its role in the kidney. The aim of this study was to reveal morphological changes in the structure of kidney of mice with cholecystokinin overexpression by means of light, transmission and scanning electron microscope, and atomic force microscopy. Using immunohistochemistry the expression of important basement membrane proteins collagen IV, laminin and fibronectin, as well the distribution of cholecystokinin-8 in the renal structures was evaluated.

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A study of 739 conscripts aged 17 years from the town of Tartu and from the Tartu county was performed. Height, weight, 33 anthropometric measurements and 12 skinfolds were measured. The data were classified into five height-weight mean and SD-classes applying the Estonian reference values for this age and sex (Grünberg et al.

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Sepsis, being characterized by massive translocation of bacteria into tissues, induces the suppression of the function of both leukocytes and macrophages. The aim of the study was to count activated macrophages (AMs) and apoptotic (Ao) cells in the rat spleen during the period of experimental sepsis and to clarify the associations of these parameters with each other and with leukocyte migration and bacterial translocation into different organs. The Wistar rats were intraperitoneally inoculated with Escherichia coli (E.

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One of the first centres of medical higher education in the Baltic countries was the University of Tartu (Dorpat), which was founded in 1632 by the Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus II. The University's first genuinely own building, however, the Old Anatomical Theatre, was completed only in 1805 after the re-opening of the University (1802). This year marks the 200th anniversary of its opening.

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Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) often play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastritis, peptic ulcer, and probably also gastric cancer. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by this bacterium may be one of the crucial factors whereby oxidative stress can play a role in the pathogenesis of ulcer disease.

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The aim of our study was to investigate the changes in the early stages (at weeks 2 and 4) of experimental acute renal failure after short-time ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) compared with the impact of Losartan. Twenty male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: sham-operated rats (2 weeks), I/R groups (2 and 4 weeks); I/R and Losartan-treated groups (2 and 4 weeks). I/R was produced in adult rats by clamping the left kidney renal artery and renal vein for 40 min.

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Previous studies suggest that cholecystokinin (CCK) is implicated in the modulation of pain sensitivity and the development of neuropathic pain. We used CCK(2) receptor deficient (CCK(2) (-/-)) mice and assessed their mechanical sensitivity using Von Frey filaments, as well as the development and time course of mechanical hyperalgesia in a model of neuropathic pain. We found that CCK(2) (-/-) mice displayed mechanical hyposensitivity, which was reversed to the level of wild-type animals after administration of naloxone (0.

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Previous studies have indicated that the application of low dose radiation to an arterial ligation has the potential to subsequently reduce or eliminate restenosis caused by smooth muscle cell proliferation. Sufficient kidney irradiation causes a radiation nephropathy and often leads to renal failure. In order to evaluate the effect of low-dose irradiation on the kidney we hypothesized that this particular therapy modifies renal injury in rats with renal ablation and subsequently slows the rate of the progression.

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Background/aims: Rats with subtotal nephrectomy (5/6NPX) rapidly develop systemic hypertension and proteinuria. The aim of our study was to evaluate the changes in oxidative stress parameters after 2 and 4 weeks of treatment with renin-angiotensin system (RAS)-blocking agent losartan and beta-blocking agent atenolol in experimental chronic renal failure (CRF).

Methods: After 5/6NPX, rats were immediately treated with losartan or atenolol.

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The effect of low-dose irradiation on laminin distribution and urine protein excretion in the remnant rat kidney has been studied. The rat remnant kidney formed after 5/6 nephrectomy is an experimental model of chronic renal failure. In the remnant kidney, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is developed characterized by focal or segmental sclerosis in glomeruli, alterations in the tubules and thickening of the glomerular basement membrane.

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The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of losartan on the changes in the early stages (at week 4) of experimental chronic renal failure after 5/6 nephrectomy compared with the impact of atenolol. Attention was focused on the ultrastructural changes in the renal corpuscles. Twenty-seven male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: nephrectomized group, nephrectomized losartan-treated group and nephrectomized atenolol-treated group.

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