Lysyl oxidase-a possible role in systemic sclerosis-associated pulmonary hypertension: a multicentre study.

Objective: Lysyl oxidase (LOX) is an extracellular enzyme that cross-links collagen fibrils. LOX was found to be increased in serum of SSc patients and was suggested to be related to skin fibrosis, yet a vascular source of LOX has been demonstrated in idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (iPAH). We aimed to validate elevated LOX serum levels in SSc and to study its correlation with clinical characteristics and investigate its main source at the tissue level.

Involvement of the bax and bcl-2 system in the induction of germ cell apoptosis is correlated with the time of reperfusion after testicular ischemia in a rat model.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between time of reperfusion and bax/bcl-2-dependent germ cell apoptosis after testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat. In ischemic testis, bax/bcl-2 ratio did not change significantly, and the elevation of germ cell apoptosis was not marked; in the contralateral testis, germ cell apoptosis increased after 6 hours of reperfusion, achieved statistical significance after 24 hours, and decreased after 72 hours of reperfusion and was initiated by decreased bcl-2 messenger RNA levels and elevated bax/bcl-2 ratio within the first 6 hours of reperfusion.

Leptin accelerates enterocyte turnover during methotrexate-induced intestinal mucositis in a rat.

Gastrointestinal mucositis occurs as a consequence of cytotoxic treatment. In the present study, we tested whether leptin can protect gut epithelial cells from methotrexate (MTX)-induced intestinal damage. Non-pretreated and pretreated with MTX Caco-2 cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of leptin for 24 h.

The effect of 100% oxygen on intestinal preservation and recovery following ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Objective: Inhalation of oxygen improves the hemodynamic status and attenuates the inflammatory response after intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR). Yet, the use of hyperoxia is hindered by concerns that it could exacerbate reperfusion injury by increasing free radical formation. We examined the effect of hyperoxia on enterocyte turnover and intestinal preservation and rehabilitation following IR injury in rats.

Effect of oral glutamine on enterocyte turnover during methotrexate-induced mucositis in rats.

Background/aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral glutamine in preventing intestinal mucosal damage caused by methotrexate (MTX) in rats.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 experimental groups: control rats, rats treated intraperitoneally with MTX (MTX rats) and rats treated with oral glutamine in the drinking water (2%) 72 h following intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of MTX (MTX-glutamine rats). Intestinal mucosal damage (Park's injury score), mucosal structural changes, enterocyte proliferation and enterocyte apoptosis were determined 72 h following MTX injection.

Effect of lactulose on bacterial translocation and intestinal adaptation in a rat model of short bowel syndrome.

Background: It is frequently assumed that dietary nondigestible carbohydrates improve host resistance to intestinal infections by stimulating proliferation of the protective gut microflora. Therefore, the aim of this study was to define the effect of lactulose, a nondigestible carbohydrate, on bacterial translocation and intestinal adaptation in a rat model of short bowel syndrome (SBS).

Materials And Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 experimental groups.

Relationship between time of reperfusion and E-selectin expression, neutrophil recruitment, and germ cell apoptosis after testicular ischemia in a rat model.

Objective: To examine the relationship between the time of reperfusion and neutrophil recruitment, E-selectin expression, and germ cell apoptosis in the ischemic and contralateral testis after testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in a rat.

Design: Laboratory study.

Setting: Research laboratory in a faculty of medicine at Technion-institute of technology in Israel.

Oral insulin up-regulates Toll-like receptor 4 expression and enhances intestinal recovery following lipopolysaccharide-induced gut injury in a rat.

In the present study, we evaluated the protective effect of oral insulin (OI) on intestinal mucosa following lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal damage in a rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups: Sham rats, LPS-rats that were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and LPS-INS rats that were treated with OI given in drinking water 72 h before and following injection of LPS. Intestinal structural changes, enterocyte proliferation, enterocyte apoptosis, and mucosal expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) were determined 24 h after the last LPS injection.

Effect of probiotics on intestinal regrowth and bacterial translocation after massive small bowel resection in a rat.

Background/purpose: Because of their ability to inhibit intestinal bacterial overgrowth, probiotics (PROs) have been advocated for the treatment of patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). This study was conducted to determine the effect of PROs on bacterial translocation and intestinal regrowth after massive small bowel resection in a rat.

Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 experimental groups: sham rats underwent bowel transection and reanastomosis, SBS rats underwent 75% small bowel resection, and SBS-PRO rats underwent bowel resection and were treated with a PRO given in drinking water from day 4 through 14.

Biopsy-negative giant cell arteritis: Does anti-CD83 immunohistochemistry advance the diagnosis?

Background: In situ maturation of adventitial dendritic cells (DC) with expression of CD83 has been proposed as an early event in the pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis (GCA), preceding the appearance of an inflammatory infiltrate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the added value of anti-CD83 staining of temporal artery biopsy (TAB) specimens in patients with biopsy-negative temporal arteritis.

Methods: Fourteen patients with TAB performed in our medical center since 2001 and considered negative for GCA due to the absence of any inflammatory infiltrate were identified by a computerized search of patient records.

Oral glutamine prevents gut mucosal injury and improves mucosal recovery following lipopolysaccharide endotoxemia in a rat.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of oral glutamine in preventing mucosal damage caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxemia in a rat.

Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats, weighing 250 to 280 g, were divided into three experimental groups: CONTR rats (Group A), LPS rats (Group B) were treated with lipopolysaccharide given I.P.

Bombesin stimulates enterocyte turnover following massive small bowel resection in a rat.

Recent evidence suggests that bombesin (BBS) is involved in modulation of growth and differentiation of normal small intestine. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of BBS on enterocyte turnover after massive small bowel resection in a rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups: Sham rats underwent bowel transection and re-anastomosis, short bowel syndrome (SBS) rats underwent a 75% small bowel resection, and SBS-BBS rats underwent bowel resection and were treated with BBS given subcutaneously at a dose of 20 mug/kg, once daily, from postoperative day 3 through 14.

Dietary glutamine supplementation prevents mucosal injury and modulates intestinal epithelial restitution following ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the preventive effect of a 2-day oral glutamine supplementation against intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in a rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four experimental groups: sham rats underwent laparotomy, sham-GLU rats underwent laparotomy and were treaded with enteral glutamine (GLU) given in drinking water (2%) 48 hr before and following operation, IR rats underwent occlusion of both the superior mesenteric artery and the portal vein for 30 min followed by 24 hr of reperfusion, and IR-GLU rats were treated with enteral glutamine 48 hr before and following IR. Intestinal mucosal damage (Park's injury score), mucosal structural changes, enterocyte proliferation, and enterocyte apoptosis were determined 24 hr following IR.

Effect of testicular ischemia-reperfusion on recruitment of neutrophils, E-selectin expression and germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis in a rat.

Recent evidence suggests that neutrophil recruitment may initiate germ cell apoptosis in the ischemic testis. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between germ cell apoptosis and neutrophil recruitment in the contralateral testis following testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in a rat. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into two experimental groups: Group A: Sham operated animals; Group B: IR rats underwent 90 min of unilateral testicular ischemia following by 96 h of reperfusion.

The effect of leptin on intestinal recovery following ischemia-reperfusion injury in a rat.

Recent evidence suggests that the adipose tissue derived cytokine leptin (LEP) is involved in the modulation of growth and differentiation of normal small intestine. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of leptin on enterocyte turnover and intestinal recovery after ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in a rat. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups: (1) sham rats underwent laparotomy, (2) IR-rats underwent occlusion of both superior mesenteric artery and portal vein for 30 min followed by 24 h of reperfusion, and (3) IR-LEP rats underwent IR and were treated with leptin given subcutaneously at a dose of 50 microg/kg once a day for 48 h before and 24 h following IR.

Effect of dexamethasone on germ cell apoptosis in the contralateral testis after testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on spermatogenesis and germ cell apoptosis in the ipsilateral and contralateral testis after testicular ischemia-reperfusion (IR) in rats.

Design: Laboratory study.

Setting: Medical research laboratory in a university setting.

Gottron's papules-like eruption developing under hydroxyurea therapy.

A 57-year-old white female developed a Gottron's papules (GP)-like eruption, without any of the other clinical or laboratory signs of dermatomyositis (DM). She was under hydroxyurea treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia at the time. Skin biopsy was compatible with seborrheic keratosis.

Effect of leptin on intestinal re-growth following massive small bowel resection in rat.

Recent evidence suggests that the adipose tissue-derived cytokine leptin (LEP) is involved in modulation of growth and differentiation of normal small intestine. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of parenteral LEP on structural intestinal adaptation, cell proliferation and apoptosis in a rat model of short bowel syndrome (SBS). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three experimental groups: Sham rats underwent bowel transection and re-anastomosis, SBS-rats underwent a 75% small bowel resection, and SBS-LEP-rats underwent bowel resection and were treated with LEP given subcutaneously at a dose of 20 mug/kg, once daily, from day 3 through 14.