Indoxyl sulfate impairs erythropoiesis at BFU-E stage in chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global health condition characterized by a progressive deterioration of kidney function. It is associated with high serum levels of uremic toxins (UT), such as Indoxyl Sulfate (IS), which may participate in the genesis of several uremic complications. Anemia is one of the major complications in CKD patients that contribute to cardiovascular disease, increase morbi-mortality, and is associated with a deterioration of kidney failure in these patients.

Molecular approaches to diagnosis and management of ovarian cancer.

The recent advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer have been helpful in addressing issues in diagnosis, prognosis and management. The study of ovarian tumours by novel techniques such as immunohistochemistry, fluorescent in situ hybridisation, comparative genomic hybridisation, polymerase chain reaction and new tumour markers have aided the evaluation and application of new concepts into clinical practice. The correlation of novel surrogate tumour specific features with response to treatment and outcome in patients has defined prognostic factors which may allow the future design of tailored therapy based on a molecular profile of the tumour.

Allele loss on chromosome arm 6q and fine mapping of the region at 6q27 in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Genetic changes have been shown to be important in determining the multistep progression of cancer. Allele loss studies and karyotypic analysis of epithelial ovarian tumours have indicated the presence of putative tumour suppressor genes on chromosomes 6, 11, 13, 17, 18, 22, and X. We have focused on chromosome arm 6q to identify the minimal region that may contain a putative tumour suppressor gene.

Molecular cloning, developmental expression and pharmacological characterization of the CCKB/gastrin receptor in the calf pancreas.

We have cloned the calf predominant pancreatic cholecystokinin B (CCKB)/gastrin receptor cDNA. It encodes a 454 amino acid protein with 90% identity with the CCKB/gastrin receptor cloned in other species and tissues. However, the calf pancreatic CCKB/gastrin receptor contains a pentapeptide cassette within the third intracellular loop which is absent in the cloned human brain and stomach receptor.

Differential expression of A- and B-subtypes of cholecystokinin/gastrin receptors in the developing calf pancreas.

Cholecystokinin (CCK)/gastrin receptors were characterized in calf pancreatic plasma membranes from newborns, 28- and 119-day-old milk-fed preruminants, and 119-day-old weaned ruminants. Scatchard analysis of [125I]Bolton-Hunter reagent-[Thr28,Nle31]CCK-(25-33) binding indicated two classes of binding sites: high affinity sites exhibited significant higher affinity and binding capacity (P < 0.05) in 119-day-old ruminants than in 119-day-old preruminants (Kd = 0.

Characterization of binding sites for VIP-related peptides and activation of adenylate cyclase in developing pancreas.

HPLC-purified 125I-labeled vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) bound in a specific, saturable, and reversible manner to pancreatic plasma membranes isolated from newborn calves, from milk-fed calves at 28 and 119 days, and from weaned calves at 119 days. A series of VIP analogues, including pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), displaced 125I-VIP binding and activated adenylate cyclase in the same order of relative potency: PACAP-38 greater than helodermin greater than VIP, PACAP-27 greater than PHM (human peptide with NH2-terminal histidine and COOH-terminal methionine amide). At maximally effective concentrations, these five peptides produced the same two- to threefold increase of adenylate cyclase activity in pancreatic membranes from newborn and 28-day-old calves, and fourfold in ruminant or preruminant animals at 119 days.