Complementary and alternative medicine provision in Europe--first results approaching reality in an unclear field of practices.

Background: The demand for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatment in the European Union (EU) has led to an increase in the various CAM interventions available to the public. Our aim was to describe the CAM services available from both registered medical practitioners and registered non-medical practitioners.

Methods: Our literature search comprised a PubMed search of any scientific publications, secondary references and so-called grey literature, a search of government websites and websites of CAM organisations to collect data in a systematic manner, and personal communications, e.

S1P modulator FTY720 limits matrix expansion in acute anti-thy1 mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis.

FTY720 is a novel immune modulator whose primary action is blood lymphocyte depletion through interaction with sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors. The present study analyzes the effect of FTY720 on both the early mesangial cell injury and the subsequent matrix expansion phase of experimental mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis. Disease was induced by injection of OX-7 anti-thy1 antibody into male Wistar rats.

Platelet inhibition limits TGF-beta overexpression and matrix expansion after induction of anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis.

Background: Although a role of platelets is well established in atherosclerosis, only little is known about their contribution to pathologic renal matrix expansion. The present study analyzes the effect of the platelet inhibitor clopidogrel on the early injury and subsequent repair phase of experimental anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis.

Methods: In male Sprague-Dawley rats, acute anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis was induced by intravenous injection of OX-7 antibody.

NO mediates antifibrotic actions of L-arginine supplementation following induction of anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis.

Unlabelled: NO mediates antifibrotic actions of L-arginine supplementation following induction of anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis.

Background: L-Arginine plays a complex role in renal matrix expansion, involving endogenous metabolism into nitric oxide (NO), polyamines, L-proline and agmatine. Supplementing dietary L-arginine intake has been shown to limit transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 overproduction and matrix accumulation in rats with induced anti-thy1 glomerulonephritis (GN).