Evolutionary origins of the placental expression of chromosome 19 cluster galectins and their complex dysregulation in preeclampsia.

Introduction: The dysregulation of maternal-fetal immune tolerance is one of the proposed mechanisms leading to preeclampsia. Galectins are key regulator proteins of the immune response in vertebrates and maternal-fetal immune tolerance in eutherian mammals. Previously we found that three genes in a Chr19 cluster encoding for human placental galectin-13 (PP13), galectin-14 and galectin-16 emerged during primate evolution and may confer immune tolerance to the semi-allogeneic fetus.

Placental Protein 13 (PP13) - A Placental Immunoregulatory Galectin Protecting Pregnancy.

Galectins are glycan-binding proteins that regulate innate and adaptive immune responses, and some confer maternal-fetal immune tolerance in eutherian mammals. A chromosome 19 cluster of galectins has emerged in anthropoid primates, species with deep placentation and long gestation. Three of the five human cluster galectins are solely expressed in the placenta, where they may confer additional immunoregulatory functions to enable deep placentation.

Senescence-related changes in gene expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from octo/nonagenarians compared to their offspring.

Mechanisms determining both functional rate of decline and the time of onset in aging remain elusive. Studies of the aging process especially those involving the comparison of long-lived individuals and young controls are fairly limited. Therefore, this research aims to determine the differential gene expression profile in related individuals from villages in Pahang, Malaysia.

Diagnostic pitfalls in the evaluation and management of amenorrhea in adolescents.

Amenorrhea is a common menstrual problem seen in adolescents. Amenorrhea has been shown to have a negative impact on adolescents' quality of life. In this paper we discuss the various causes and investigations of amenorrhea in adolescents and address management dilemmas for specific conditions.

Gelsolin and ceruloplasmin as potential predictive biomarkers for cervical cancer by 2D-DIGE proteomics analysis.

This study aimed to identify candidate proteins which may serve as potential biological markers for cervical cancer using 2D-DIGE. Serum samples of controls, patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN 3), squamous cell carcinoma of early (SCC I and II) and late (SCC III and IV) stage were subjected to 2D-DIGE. Differentially expressed spots were identified by tandem mass spectrometry.

Matrix metalloproteinase 9 mRNA: an early prognostic marker for patients with acute stroke.

Objectives: To investigate matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) mRNA as a prognostic marker in stroke.

Design And Methods: MMP9 mRNA concentrations in 126 stroke patients were analyzed using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Results: The normalized MMP9 mRNA concentration was almost 3 times higher in non-survival patients compared to survival patients (P=0.

Protection from traumatic brain injury in hormonally active women vs men of a similar age: a retrospective international study.

Background: It has been suggested that women with traumatic brain injury have more favorable outcomes than do men because of higher levels of circulating estrogen and progesterone that may reduce brain edema.

Objectives: To determine whether there is any association between sex and mortality in TBI patients and whether there is any association between sex and brain edema.

Design: Retrospective cohort study using data from 2001 to 2007 collected from a trauma registry in Hong Kong and the Victorian State Trauma Registry.

Is vitamin E toxic to neuron cells?

Besides acting as potent free radical scavengers, tocopherols and tocotrienols have been known to have non-antioxidant properties such as the involvement of alpha-tocopherol (alphaT) in PKC pathway and the anti-cancer properties of gamma-tocotrienol (gammaT3). This study aims to elucidate whether protective effects shown by alphaT and gammaT3 in H(2)O(2)-induced neuron cultures have anti-apoptotic or pro-apoptotic tendency toward the initiation of neuronal apoptosis. H(2)O(2) is used to induce apoptosis in primary cerebellar neuron cultures which is attenuated by pretreatment of alphaT or gammaT3 at concentrations < or =10 microM.

cagA gene variants in Malaysian Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients of different ethnic groups.

Helicobacter pylori infection of a distinct subtype of cagA may lead to different pathological manifestation. The aim of this study is to determine the presence of cagA gene and its variants in H. pylori infection among different ethnic groups and its effect on gastroduodenal diseases.