The role of the Hedgehog signaling pathway in cancer: A comprehensive review.

The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway was first identified in the common fruit fly. It is a highly conserved evolutionary pathway of signal transmission from the cell membrane to the nucleus. The Hh signaling pathway plays an important role in the embryonic development.

Synthesis, receptor binding and activity of iso and azakainoids.

Two syntheses for the production of an unsubstituted azakainoid are described. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of diazomethane with trans-dibenzyl glutaconate yields a 1-pyrazoline, which may be reduced directly to the pyrazolidine. An unexpected trans-cis isomerization is observed during Hg/Al reduction of the 1-pyrazoline NN bond.

Isolation, characterization and antioxidative activity of C-phycocyanin from Limnothrix sp. strain 37-2-1.

C-phycocyanin (C-PC) is a blue colored accessory photosynthetic pigment found in cyanobacteria. Some of the medicinal properties of Spirulina have been attributed to this pigment, which includes anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity. We have screened cyanobacteria isolated from freshwater habitats in Florida for their high content of C-PC.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene transfer for diabetic polyneuropathy: a randomized, double-blinded trial.

Objective: Randomized, blinded trial of intramuscular gene transfer using plasmid vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to treat diabetic polyneuropathy.

Methods: Diabetic patients with polyneuropathy were randomized to receive a VEGF-to-placebo ratio of 3:1. Three sets of injections were given at eight standardized sites adjacent to the sciatic, peroneal, and tibial nerves of one leg.

1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of trimethylsilyldiazomethane revisited: steric demand of the dipolarophile and the influence on product distribution.

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of trimethylsilyldiazomethane with alpha,beta-unsaturated esters was examined. The resulting 1-pyrazolines isomerize to regioisomeric 2-pyrazolines (a or b) or undergo desilylation (c). Acrylates yield only b or c.

Chronic ischemic monomelic neuropathy from critical limb ischemia.

Objective: To describe the peripheral neuropathy resulting from chronic and critical arterial leg ischemia.

Methods: The authors evaluated 19 patients on entry to a gene therapy treatment trial for chronic and critical leg ischemia. Measurements included medical history, examination, neurologic symptom (NSS) and neurologic examination (NES) scores, motor and sensory nerve conduction studies, and quantitative sensory testing.

Improvement in chronic ischemic neuropathy after intramuscular phVEGF165 gene transfer in patients with critical limb ischemia.

Objective: To investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor gene therapy on ischemic neuropathy in patients with critical limb ischemia.

Design: An open-label, dose-escalating trial. Patients with angiographically proven critical leg ischemia received injections of phVEGF(165) human plasmid in the muscles of the ischemic limb.

The median nerve terminal latency index in carpal tunnel syndrome: a clinical case selection study.

The terminal latency index (TLI) adjusts the distal motor latency (DL) for the terminal distance and the proximal nerve conduction velocity. We prospectively studied 66 patients in order to assess the sensitivity of the median nerve TLI for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Clinical and electrophysiological evaluations were completed by separate, blinded examiners.

Comparison of IgM-MGUS and IgG-MGUS polyneuropathy.

Objective: To compare the clinical and electrodiagnostic features and response to treatment in patients with IgM-MGUS and IgG-MGUS associated polyneuropathy.

Material And Methods: Retrospective review of 34 consecutive patients with MGUS associated neuropathy evaluated over 5 years.

Results: There were 19 patients with IgM-MGUS and 15 with IgG-MGUS.

Treatment of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy with interferon-alpha 2a.

We performed an open-label, prospective, pilot study of interferon (IFN)-alpha 2a treatment for 6 weeks in 16 patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). All patients had failed to improve or relapsed after treatment with at least one conventional therapy (steroids, IV gamma globulin, or plasma exchange). Assessment included MRC strength score, leg sensory score, grip dynanometry, Rankin disability score, electrodiagnostic studies, and serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Terminal latency index in the carpal tunnel syndrome.

Our retrospective study assessed the validity of the median motor terminal latency index (m-TLI) in evaluation of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). In patients deemed most likely to have CTS, the mean m-TLI was markedly reduced at 0.25 while the controls had a mean m-TLI of 0.

Improvement following interferon-alpha 2A in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a progressive or relapsing immune-mediated neuropathy usually responsive to plasma exchange, intravenous gammaglobulin or steroids, with some patients being refractory to these conventional therapies. We report a patient with CIDP who had spontaneous improvement after an episode of sepsis, but subsequently relapsed with severe generalized weakness; he was unresponsive to the conventional treatments for CIDP but had dramatic improvement following treatment with interferon-alpha 2A. Nerve conduction studies following treatment showed improved distal compound muscle action potential amplitudes without change in the degree of conduction block.