Vector-borne diseases in pregnancy.

Vector-borne infections cause a significant proportion of world-wide morbidity and mortality and many are increasing in incidence. This is due to a combination of factors, primarily environmental change, encroachment of human habitats from urban to peri-urban areas and rural to previously uninhabited areas, persistence of poverty, malnutrition and resource limitation in geographical areas where these diseases are endemic. Pregnant women represent the single largest 'at risk' group, due to immune-modulation and a unique physiological state.

Use of Biologically Active 3D Matrix for Extensive Skin Defect Treatment in Veterinary Practice: Case Report.

Large full-thickness skin defects represent a serious veterinary problem. We have developed novel bioactive 3D-matrixes based on fibrin glue Tissucol (Baxter), containing the combination of the adenoviral constructs with genes vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF165) and fibroblast growth factor two (FGF2; construct Ad5-VEGF165 + Ad5-FGF2) or multipotent mesenchymal stem cells, genetically modified with these constructs. studies confirmed the biosynthesis of VEGF165 and FGF2 mRNA in the transduced cells.

Biomarkers in the dentin-pulp complex: role in health and disease.

Biomarkers are functional elements at the cellular or molecular level, playing important roles in health and disease. The dentin-pulp complex of the tooth houses several biomarkers at different stages of development, and a lack of these biomarkers results in developmental disorders. Furthermore, biomarkers play a very important role in the pathogenesis of dental caries, pulpal and periapical pathoses in two ways - they are essential elements in the pathological process and their detection helps in accurate diagnosis of the pathological condition.

Detoxifying enzyme genotypes and susceptibility to cutaneous malignancy.

While ultraviolet (UV) exposure is thought to be a major risk factor for basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma, more recent research has focused on genetic factors predisposing to these cancers. UV constitutes an oxidative stress with generation of free radicals, leading to lipid and DNA damage and gene mutation. It could therefore be hypothesized that individual ability to deal with these products may be important in cutaneous carcinogenesis.