Differential temporal expression of matrix metalloproteinases after spinal cord injury: relationship to revascularization and wound healing.

Object: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), particularly MMP-9/gelatinase B, promote early inflammation and barrier disruption after spinal cord injury (SCI). Early blockade of MMPs after injury provides neuroprotection and improves motor outcome. There is recent evidence, however, that MMP-9 and MMP-2/gelatinase A participate in later wound healing in the injured cord.

The use of flow cytometry to assess neutrophil infiltration in the injured murine spinal cord.

Inflammatory cells, including neutrophils, are likely candidates in promoting early cell death after spinal cord injury. We describe a simple and reliable method for obtaining neutrophils from the injured murine spinal cord for flow cytometric quantification. Mice were subjected to either a moderate or severe spinal cord contusion injury and euthanized 24 h later.

The lactic acid bacteria: a literature survey.

The purpose of this review article on the lactic acid bacteria grew from an early curiosity and a desire to convey and impart the broad scope of literary information on their functions as starter cultures, in the manufacture of fermentation products such as dairy products and alcoholic beverages, as well as their contribution to better health. This review article is an attempt to empower the reader and to circumvent the difficult task in acquiring and elucidating a large body of information. The intent is to familiarize the reader with the various lactic species, their habitat or source, associated food, physiological characteristics, colonial morphology, biochemical characteristics, culture media (enrichment, nonselective, and selective), classic description, and taxonomy.