The effects of gene knockouts and over-expressions on CCN family proteins in angiogenesis

Blood vessel growth is an intricate process normally characterized through the processes of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Vasculogenesis is the process of blood vessel formation via differentiation of early progenitor cells into endothelial cells. Angiogenesis is physiological process by which new blood vessels form and develop from pre-existing vessels, these vessels are critical for allowing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the body’s organs and tissues, which allows for proper growth and development. However, blood vessel growth has been shown to develop pathologically as well as physiologically. Pathological instances have been observed in a plethora of microvasculature diseases, especially in the eye. These microvasculature diseases include: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) and vitreoretinopathy, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and neovascular glaucoma. Furthermore, unrestrained blood vessel growth via angiogenesis has been noted in being playing a critical role in tumor cell growth, proliferation, and metastasis. In an attempt understand the development of these pathologies, research has been conducted to further characterize the specific roles of genes which play a role in the mechanistic pathway of blood vessel growth and formation. Extracellular Matrix (ECM) proteins, which are critical in all aspects of vascular development and health, have been shown to play a role in modulation of angiogenetic growth and transcription factors. One particular matricellular protein family, cellular communication network, has been shown to play a critical role in the modulation and control of ECM composition and morphology. It is also said that CCN proteins influence physiological and pathological Angiogenic and Neovascularization processes. Further knowledge and understanding of the mechanistic pathways of CCN proteins on Angiogenesis and Neovascularization could allow for possible drug therapy aimed at mitigation of unrestrained blood vessel growth in pathologies of the eye. Such research could also be utilized for targeted drug therapies on tumors, as past studies have shown cancer development depends on blood supply to thrive and grow

Epithelioid hemangioma (angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia) of the orbit: a case report

© 2007 Fernandes et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licens

Comparative genomics and host resistance against infectious diseases.

The large size and complexity of the human genome have limited the identification and functional characterization of components of the innate immune system that play a critical role in front-line defense against invading microorganisms. However, advances in genome analysis (including the development of comprehensive sets of informative genetic markers, improved physical mapping methods, and novel techniques for transcript identification) have reduced the obstacles to discovery of novel host resistance genes. Study of the genomic organization and content of widely divergent vertebrate species has shown a remarkable degree of evolutionary conservation and enables meaningful cross-species comparison and analysis of newly discovered genes. Application of comparative genomics to host resistance will rapidly expand our understanding of human immune defense by facilitating the translation of knowledge acquired through the study of model organisms. We review the rationale and resources for comparative genomic analysis and describe three examples of host resistance genes successfully identified by this approach

Effects of alcohol and nicotine on cytotoxic functions of human lymphocytes

The in vitro effects of the recreational drugs, ethanol (EtOH) and nicotine, on natural killer (NK) antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxic (ADCC) and lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cell activities on normal lymphocytes were investigated. Lymphocytes precultured with EtOH at concentrations of 0.4 and 0.6% (v/v) produced significant suppression of NK and ADCC activities. In target-binding assays, EtOH decreased the target-binding capacity of effector cells. EtOH also inhibited the activities of Percoll-separated, NK-enriched large granular lymphocytes. EtOH-induced inhibition of NK activity could be reversed by incubating lymphocytes for 1 hr with interferon. The generation and lytic capacity of LAK cells was also significantly depressed by EtOH when added at the initiation of culture. Nicotine at concentrations of 5 and 10 [mu]g/ml, when added directly to mixtures of effector and target cells, produced significant inhibition of NK activity. Nicotine (2 [mu]g/ml) and EtOH (0.01, 0.1, and 0.2%) at noninhibitory concentrations when added separately, showed significant suppression of NK activity when used in combination. Pretreatment of target cells with either EtOH or nicotine for 4 hr did not affect cytotoxic activity. Inhibition of cytotoxicity was also not due to direct toxicity of effector cells because lymphocytes treated with either EtOH or nicotine showed normal 51Cr release and their viability was comparable to that of untreated control cells. These studies demonstrate that EtOH and nicotine have significant immunomodulatory effects on the cytotoxic activities of human lymphocytes which may be of clinical relevance.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/28716/1/0000537.pd

Haliotis asinina – Donkey ear Abalone

Aquaculture and related biological attributes of abalone species in Australia – a review

Οι από του στόματος κεφαλοσπορίνες πιβοξιλική κεφεταμέτη και ακετυλοκεφουροξίμη στη θεραπεία παιδιατρικών λοιμώξεων

In the present study we evaluated in vitro and in vivo two newer oral cephalosporins, cefetamet, pivoxil and cefuroxime axetil. The study is consisted of four parts. In the first part we studied the in vitro activity of these two cephalosporins against fifty strains of Escherichia coli, which had been isolated form urine cultures in children. In the second part we compared the pharmacokinetics of cefetamet pivoxil to that cefaclor in children . In the third and fourth part of the study we evaluated the efficacy of cefetamet pivoxil and cefuroxime axetil in the treatment of childhood pneumonia and acute otitis media respectively.Στην εργασία αυτή μελετήθηκαν in vitro και in vivo δύο νεότερες από του στόματος χορηγούμενες κεφαλοσπορίνες η πιβοξιλική κεφεταμέτη και η ακετυλοκεφουροξίμη. Η εργασία αποτελείται από 4 σκέλη. Στο πρώτο σκέλος αξιολογήθηκε κατά Κirby-Bauer η in vitro δραστικότητα των δύο αυτών κεφαλοσπορινών έναντι 50 στελεχών κολοβακτηριδίου που είχαν απομονωθεί από καλλιέργειες ούρων παιδιών. Στο επόμενο σκέλος έγινε μελέτη της φαρμακευτικής της πιβοξιλικής κεφεταμέτης σε παιδιά σε σύγκριση με την κεφακλόρη. Στα επόμενα δύο σκέλη μελετήθηκε η αποτελεσματικότητα της πιβοξιλικής κεφεταμέτης και της ακετυλοκεφουροξίμης σε παιδιά τα οποία έπασχαν από πνευμονία και οξεία μέση πυώδη ωτίτιδα αντίστοιχα

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor with Autonomic Nerve Differentiation and Coexistent Mantle Cell Lymphoma Involving the Appendix

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and mantle cell lymphoma involving the appendix are rare as individual disease entities. Their coexistence has not been previously reported in the literature. We describe a 65-year old female who presented with extensive ileocecal mantle cell lymphoma, which extended to the appendix. The appendix was involved by mantle cell lymphoma and an incidental coexistent GIST was noted in the appendiceal wall. The GIST was CD117 positive but did not harbor mutations in the c-kit and PDGFR genes. In addition, it was unusual in showing S-100 immunoreactivity and ultrastructural evidence of autonomic nerve differentiation. This is the first description of the association of a GIST with autonomic nerve differentiation coexisting with mantle cell lymphoma in the appendix