Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Microglia are the primary immune cells of the brain and represent the main line of defense against brain environmental insults. In recent years, microglia have been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis by having interconnected yet opposing roles: beneficial as they clear amyloid beta (Aβ) and amyloid plaques, and detrimental as being responsible for synaptic and neuronal loss. These activities are tightly regulated by microglia receptors CD33 and TREM2.

Preparation of A Spaceflight: Apoptosis Search in Sutured Wound Healing Models.

To prepare the ESA (European Space Agency) spaceflight project "Wound healing and Sutures in Unloading Conditions", we studied mechanisms of apoptosis in wound healing models based on ex vivo skin tissue cultures, kept for 10 days alive in serum-free DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with bovine serum albumin, hydrocortisone, insulin, ascorbic acid and antibiotics at 32 °C. The overall goal is to test: (i) the viability of tissue specimens; (ii) the gene expression of activators and inhibitors of apoptosis and extracellular matrix components in wound and suture models; and (iii) to design analytical protocols for future tissue specimens after post-spaceflight download. Hematoxylin-Eosin and Elastica-van-Gieson staining showed a normal skin histology with no signs of necrosis in controls and showed a normal wound suture.

Latest Results for Anti-Angiogenic Drugs in Cancer Treatment.

Background: Angiogenesis is a mechanism, which tumors use to recruit oxygen and nutrients in order to maintain growth. The vascular endothelial growth factor family is the primary mediator of this process. For the last couple of decades, inhibition of angiogenesis has been the subject of extensive research, but so far anti-angiogenic drugs have only shown a modest effect.