Inflammatory-activated microvascular endothelial cells regulate interleukin-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression of A549 cells in a paracrine fashion.

Increased levels of interleukin (IL)-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 have been found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. The authors investigated whether inflammatory-activated microvascular pulmonary endothelial cells (HMVECL) regulate expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 in the alveolar epithelial cell line A549 and studied the effects of hypoxia (5% O(2)) and hyperoxia (85% O(2)). The authors observed significant up-regulation of IL-8 and MCP-1 expression in A549 cells that was independent from the IL-1 receptor pathway but was modified by oxygen tension.

Birmingham Hip Resurfacing arthroplasty: short-term clinical and radiographic outcome.

Background: Aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic outcome of the first 300 consecutively implanted Birmingham Hip Resurfacing arthroplasties (BHR) in our department.

Methods: 300 BHR arthroplasties were performed in 263 patients until May 2003. Primary clinical endpoints of the investigation were the implant survival and the total Harris hip score, assessed at the last examination.

Distribution of endothelin receptor subtypes ETA and ETB in the rat kidney.

The endothelin (ET) receptor system is markedly involved in the regulation of renal function under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. The present study determined the detailed cellular localization of both ET receptor subtypes, ET(A) and ET(B), in the vascular and tubular system of the rat kidney by immunofluorescence microscopy. In the vascular system we observed both ET(A) and ET(B) receptors in the media of interlobular arteries and afferent and efferent arterioles.

Diagnostic and prognostic relevance of autoantibodies in uranium miners.

Uranium miners exposed to silica dust have a higher risk of developing systemic sclerosis (SSc) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Sera of 1976 former uranium miners were analysed for autoantibodies typical of connective tissue disease. The frequency of some of these antibodies (anti-centromere, -topoisomerase I, -nucleolar, -dsDNA, -Ro/SSA, -La-SSB and U1-RNP antibodies) was significantly higher compared to a gender- and age-matched control group and was associated with the intensity of exposure as well as with clinical symptoms of SSc or SLE.

Accumulation of genetic alterations in brain metastases of sporadic breast carcinomas is associated with reduced survival after metastasis.

Tumor progression is characterized by stepwise accumulation of genetic alterations. To identify alterations associated with breast cancer metastasis, an analysis of comparative loss of heterozygosity (LOH) was performed on 38 primary sporadic breast carcinomas and 16 distant metastases. Two loci at 5q21 and 18q21 were chosen because of their reported increased deletion frequency in metastatic tumors.