Influence of Photodynamic Therapy on Lichen Sclerosus with Neoplastic Background.

Background: Lichen sclerosus is the most common nonmalignant vulvar disease with morbidity in postmenopausal age. The first line of treatment is corticosteroid therapy. In case of insufficiency, tacrolimus or pimecrolimus can be provided.

Commitment of protein p53 and amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) in aging of human cerebellum.

Protein p53 is known to induce the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in response to a variety of cellular distress signals and DNA damage. A recent study has demonstrated that in blood cells of aging subjects, p53 may induce early pathological changes that precede the amyloidogenic cascade. However, it is not clear whether p53 participates in the local deposition of amyloid-beta peptide (Aβ) in the nerve tissue of normal aging subjects.

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a marker of angiogenesis in the necrotic area of human medulloblastoma.

Angiogenesis plays a key role in the progression of malignant tumors. In recent years, anti-angiogenic drugs have been shown to be effective against tumors. However, some tumors are able to adopt escape mechanisms, suggesting that the vascular network in these tumors may be formed or may function in a different way.

Methyl-CpG binding protein 2, receptors of innate immunity and receptor for advanced glycation end-products in human viral meningoencephalitis.

Inflammation is a normal host defense reaction to infections and tissue injury. In pathology, the process of inflammation is deregulated by various environmental factors, prolonged activation of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), induction of epigenetic machinery or expression of receptors for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE). In the present study, we examined immunoexpression of proteins participating in the above-mentioned mechanisms, in the brain of patients with viral meningoencephalitis.

Crosstalk in human brain between globoid cell leucodystrophy and zinc-α-2-glycoprotein (ZAG), a biomarker of lipid catabolism.

Zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZAG) is a protein identified as a lipid-mobilizing factor participating in a lipid catabolism. In spite of intensive studies conducted during last five decades, the role of this protein in processes of neurodegeneration remains unclear. The aim of our study was to examine the presence of ZAG protein in the brain of patients with Krabbe's disease, which is considered as a psychosine lipidosis caused by a mutation of a known gene.

Toll-like receptors as an innate immunity bridge to neuroinflammation in medulloblastoma.

The relationship between inflammation, immunity and cancer is widely accepted but mechanisms mediating this relationship remain unknown. Our present study was undertaken to examine the presence and distribution of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in necrotic areas of medulloblastoma. These receptors fulfil the criteria postulated for the receptors of innate immunity and signalling from TLRs induces synthesis of various pro-inflammatory cytokines, enzymes and mediators.

Current overview of functions of FoxO proteins, with special regards to cellular homeostasis, cell response to stress, as well as inflammation and aging.

FoxO transcription factors act at the interconnections between metabolic pathways inducible by many important signal transducers and mediators, such as p53, Ikk-β, NFKB, Akt, sirtuins, PTEN, and others. This may account for a crucial significance of disruptions in FoxO functions both in many kinds of diseases (including cancer, chronic inflammatory diseases, degenerative diseases, obesity, polymetabolic syndrome) and in some disease-like conditions (such as inflammaging, cachexia related to chronic inflammation, cancer-promotion by some chronic inflammatory responses, and the aging process itself). This paper reviews complex interactions between FoxOs and other signal transducers, trying to pinpoint how exactly disruptions of FoxO functions may occur, and how they may contribute to occurrence, development or complications of the conditions mentioned above.

Immunodistribution of amyloid beta protein (Aβ) and advanced glycation end-product receptors (RAGE) in choroid plexus and ependyma of resuscitated patients.

RAGE (receptor for advanced glycation end-products) participates in the influx transport of glycated Aβ (amyloid beta) from the blood to the brain. Because little is known of the RAGE operating in brain barriers such as those in the choroid plexus and ependyma, the aim of the present study was to examine the immunodistributions of RAGE and Aβ peptides in the choroid plexus where the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (B-CSF) is located, and in ependyma of the brain ventricles associated with functions of the cerebrospinal fluid-brain barrier (CSF-B). The study was performed on patients over 65 years successfully resuscitated after cardiac arrest with survival a few weeks.

Cerebellar cortical neurons misplaced in the white matter due to disturbed migration during development of human brain.

The normal laminar organisation of the cerebellar cortex is the result of the precisely controlled migration, differentiation and maturation of the neurons. Occasionally the migrating neurons lose their proper way of migration and form nests of grey matter in the improper place. The aim of this study was to investigate the morphological features of the lost neurons in the cerebellar white matter during development, with particular emphasis on their localisation, arrangement and differentiation.

Association of mast cells with calcification in the human pineal gland.

Increased pineal calcifications and decreased pineal melatonin biosynthesis, both age related, support the notion of a pineal bio-organic timing mechanism. The role of calcification in the pathogenesis of pineal gland dysfunction remains unknown but the available data document that calcification is an organized, regulated process, rather than a passive aging phenomenon. The cellular biology and micro-environmental conditions required for calcification remain poorly understood but most studies have demonstrated evidence that mast cells are strongly implicated in this process.

Calbindin positive Purkinje cells in the pathology of human cerebellum occurring at the time of its development.

Development of cerebellum continues over an extremely long period of time extending from the early embryonic phase until the first postnatal years. During an extended time of maturation the cerebellum is vulnerable to harmful agents. A group of cytoplasmic proteins that may protect cells against injury are the calcium binding proteins, among others calbindin.

Cryotherapy decreases histamine levels in the blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Conventional physiotherapy (electrotherapy, magnetic fields), kinesitherapy, and whole-body cryotherapy (plus kinesitherapy) are used to relieve pain and inflammation or to improve function in rheumatic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different physiotherapies and cryotherapy on biochemical blood parameters of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients with RA and 17 patients with OA received whole-body cryotherapy at -140 to -160 degrees C for 2 to 3 min, once daily for 4 weeks.

Histamine in pericarditis of children with congenital heart malformations.

Introduction: Congenital heart malformations are risk factors that make children susceptible to infections resulting in inflammation.

Material And Methods: The concentration of histamine as a modulator of inflammation was quantified in pericardial fluid and expression of histamine H(4) receptor (H(4)R) and histamine-releasing factor (HRF) was determined at mRNA and protein levels. Samples of pericardium and pericardial fluid were obtained during cardiac reconstruction surgery in children.

Decrease in expression of histamine H2 receptors by human amniotic epithelial cells during differentiation into pancreatic beta-like cells.

Objective And Design: Considering the role of histaminergic pathway in the differentiation of stem cells, we compared expression patterns of H(1) and H(2) receptors in the human amniotic epithelial cells (HAEC) culture at different stages of nicotinamide-induced differentiation into PBLC with the control HAEC.

Material And Methods: HAEC isolated after term pregnancies (N = 12) were cultured in vitro. Altogether, 72 cultures were established.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) evoked secretion of the human placental lactogen (HPL) in intrauterine growth retardation: examination of the relationship with Ang II receptor type 1 (AT1) expression.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) and its hemodynamic effects on placental vasculature mediated via Ang II receptor type 1 (AT1) may play significant role in intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Placental lactogen (HPL) production directly reflects placental function. We compared influence of Ang II on HPL production in normal and IUGR-complicated pregnancies and correlated this phenomenon with AT1 expression.

Astroglia and microglia in cerebellar neuronal migration disturbances.

Between the neuronal and glial cells there is a close relationship conditioning a tight morphological correlation and proper functional interplay. Disturbed interaction between glial and neuronal components leads to inappropriate neural circuits. The reflection of the failure of neural circuit organisation is the picture of morphological changes of neurons and glia.