Dexamethasone and RU24858 Induce Survival and Growth Factor Receptor Bound Protein 2, Leukotriene B4 Receptor 1 and Annexin-1 Expression in Primary Human Neutrophils.

Glucocorticoids are widely used anti-inflammatory medication in diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Glucocorticoids can either activate (transactivation) or inhibit (transrepression) transcription. RU24858 was introduced as a "dissociated" glucocorticoid and it has been reported to transrepress but not to transactivate.

Human cell-based micro electrode array platform for studying neurotoxicity.

At present, most of the neurotoxicological analyses are based on in vitro and in vivo models utilizing animal cells or animal models. In addition, the used in vitro models are mostly based on molecular biological end-point analyses. Thus, for neurotoxicological screening, human cell-based analysis platforms in which the functional neuronal networks responses for various neurotoxicants can be also detected real-time are highly needed.

Bioreconstructive poly-L/D-lactide implant compared with Swanson prosthesis in metacarpophalangeal joint arthroplasty in rheumatoid patients: a randomized clinical trial.

It was hypothesized that the bioresorbable interposition implant might offer a viable alternative to conventional silicone implant arthroplasty in rheumatoid metacarpophalangeal joint destruction. A randomized clinical study was performed to compare a stemless poly-L/D-lactide copolymer 96 : 4 (PLDLA) implant with the Swanson silicone implant. Results in 52 patients (53 hands and 175 joints) at a mean follow-up of 2 years (minimum 1 year) showed that the improvement in clinical assessments was comparable in both groups, except for better maintenance of palmar alignment in the Swanson group.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T mutation is related to the defects in the internal elastic lamina of the artery wall.

Background: The C677T mutation of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene leads to C/C, C/T and T/T genotypes, which affect the plasma homocysteine concentration in humans. In mini-pigs, high serum homocysteine levels are associated with defects in the internal elastic lamina (IEL) of the artery wall, which are apparently related to the migration of smooth muscle cells into the intima during atherogenesis. We studied the association between the MTHFR genotypes and the number of gaps in the IEL in the wall of the five major abdominal arteries.