Preventive effect of risedronate on bone loss in men receiving androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.

Aim: Androgen-deprivation therapy for prostate cancer decreases bone mineral density and increases the risk of fracture. The effect of risedronate, a potent third-generation oral bisphosphonate, on bone loss during androgen deprivation therapy was investigated.

Methods: Sixty-one prostate cancer patients with a mean age (+/- SD) of 79 +/- 6 years who had received androgen deprivation therapy for 42 +/- 29 months were enrolled, and were treated with 2.

Nerve growth factor prevents apoptosis of cord blood-derived human cultured mast cells synergistically with stem cell factor.

Background: Stem cell factor (SCF) has been identified as a critical survival factor of human mast cells. Other cytokines which possess survival promotion activity on human mast cells are less known.

Objective: We examined the survival promotion activity of nerve growth factor (NGF) on cord blood-derived human cultured mast cells.

Production of fibrogenic cytokines by cord blood-derived cultured human mast cells.

Background: Mast cells are a potential source of cytokines, but their contribution to nonallergic inflammatory conditions, such as fibrosis, remains unclear.

Objective: We investigated whether cord blood-derived cultured human mast cells could produce fibrogenic cytokines by IgE-mediated activation.

Methods: Mast cells were obtained from human cord blood mononuclear cells by culture with stem cell factor and IL-6.

Nerve growth factor release with mast-cell-derived mediators in a patient with systemic mastocytosis after middle-wave ultraviolet irradiation.

Background: The symptoms of a 56-year-old man with systemic mastocytosis became worse with exposure to sunlight. We evaluated mast-cell-derived mediators and cytokines before and after exposure to ultraviolet light in the patient.

Methods: The patient was irradiated with middle-wave ultraviolet light, so-called ultraviolet light B, and the levels of mediators and cytokines were measured serially.

Human mast cells produce matrix metalloproteinase 9.

Extracellular matrix-destructive enzymes, like matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), have been recognized in the process of inflammation and tissue remodeling and repair. The affected tissues often contain markedly increased numbers of mast cells. Although mast cells are capable of activating latent collagenase and proMMP, it has so far been unknown whether human mast cells themselves produce and secrete MMP9.