238 research outputs found
Poly(ADP-Ribose)Polymerase-1 in Lung Inflammatory Disorders: A Review.
Asthma, acute lung injury (ALI), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are lung inflammatory disorders with a common outcome, that is, difficulty in breathing. Corticosteroids, a class of potent anti-inflammatory drugs, have shown less success in the treatment/management of these disorders, particularly ALI and COPD; thus, alternative therapies are needed. Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerases (PARPs) are the post-translational modifying enzymes with a primary role in DNA repair. During the last two decades, several studies have reported the critical role played by PARPs in a good of inflammatory disorders. In the current review, the studies that address the role of PARPs in asthma, ALI, and COPD have been discussed. Among the different members of the family, PARP-1 emerges as a key player in the orchestration of lung inflammation in asthma and ALI. In addition, PARP activation seems to be associated with the progression of COPD. Furthermore, PARP-14 seems to play a crucial role in asthma. STAT-6 and GATA-3 are reported to be central players in PARP-1-mediated eosinophilic inflammation in asthma. Interestingly, oxidative stress-PARP-1-NF-κB axis appears to be tightly linked with inflammatory response in all three-lung diseases despite their distinct pathophysiologies. The present review sheds light on PARP-1-regulated factors, which may be common or differential players in asthma/ALI/COPD and put forward our prospective for future studies
Laparoscopic Surgeries during Pregnancy - Related Anaesthetic Concerns
Pregnancy is no longer considered a contraindication to laparoscopic surgery. The advantages include less exposure of the fetus to possibly toxic agents, smaller incisions, decreased pain, less need for analgesics, more rapid recovery and mobilization. By understanding the physiological and pharmacological changes during pregnancy, surgery and related anesthesia risk can be minimized on mother and fetus. Appendicitis, cholecystitis, ovarian torsion and trauma are among the more common indications for surgical intervention. Less commonly, cardiac and neurological procedures are undertaken during pregnancy
Coffin-Siris syndrome with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome: a case report
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>We report the case of an unusual association of Coffin-Siris syndrome with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome. This association has never previously been reported in the medical literature.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A nine-year-old Indian girl was referred to our hospital for growth retardation, mental retardation, lax joints, generalized hypertrichosis, and hypoplastic fifth fingernails and toenails. A thorough medical examination and evaluation revealed she had phenotypic features of Coffin-Siris syndrome, with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome on radiological evaluation. The karyotype of our patient was normal.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In an unexplained case of mental retardation with facies suggestive of Coffin-Siris syndrome, association with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome should be considered and the patient should be evaluated for the same. Both of these syndromes may have a common pathogenesis, as yet unknown. This case report has broad implications, as similar cases in future may give insights into the pathogenesis of both these syndromes.</p
Dynamical tunneling in molecules: Quantum routes to energy flow
Dynamical tunneling, introduced in the molecular context, is more than two
decades old and refers to phenomena that are classically forbidden but allowed
by quantum mechanics. On the other hand the phenomenon of intramolecular
vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) has occupied a central place in the
field of chemical physics for a much longer period of time. Although the two
phenomena seem to be unrelated several studies indicate that dynamical
tunneling, in terms of its mechanism and timescales, can have important
implications for IVR. Examples include the observation of local mode doublets,
clustering of rotational energy levels, and extremely narrow vibrational
features in high resolution molecular spectra. Both the phenomena are strongly
influenced by the nature of the underlying classical phase space. This work
reviews the current state of understanding of dynamical tunneling from the
phase space perspective and the consequences for intramolecular vibrational
energy flow in polyatomic molecules.Comment: 37 pages and 23 figures (low resolution); Int. Rev. Phys. Chem.
(Review to appear in Oct. 2007
How to Select Replacement Grafts for Various Periodontal and Implant Indications
Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141520/1/cap0167.pd
Standardized reporting of monoclonal immunoglobulin-associated renal diseases: recommendations from a Mayo Clinic/Renal Pathology Society Working Group
Wheat-barley hybridization – the last forty years
Abstract Several useful alien gene transfers have
been reported from related species into wheat (Triticum
aestivum), but very few publications have dealt
with the development of wheat/barley (Hordeum
vulgare) introgression lines. An overview is given
here of wheat 9 barley hybridization over the last
forty years, including the development of
wheat 9 barley hybrids, and of addition and translocation
lines with various barley cultivars. A short
summary is also given of the wheat 9 barley hybrids
produced with other Hordeum species. The meiotic
pairing behaviour of wheat 9 barley hybrids is presented,
with special regard to the detection of wheat–
barley homoeologous pairing using the molecular
cytogenetic technique GISH. The effect of in vitro
multiplication on the genome composition of intergeneric
hybrids is discussed, and the production and
characterization of the latest wheat/barley translocation
lines are presented. An overview of the agronomical
traits (b-glucan content, earliness, salt tolerance,
sprouting resistance, etc.) of the newly developed
introgression lines is given. The exploitation and
possible use of wheat/barley introgression lines for
the most up-to-date molecular genetic studies
(transcriptome analysis, sequencing of flow-sorted
chromosomes) are also discussed
Measuring new product and service portfolio advantage
The current study introduces the concept of new product and service portfolio (NPSP) advantage by creating and validating a three-dimensional measurement method that reflects novelty, meaningfulness and superiority – the three characteristics of NPSP advantage. Based on industry-wide homogeneous generalizable quantitative data from 108 manufacturing companies, the results indicate that these three characteristics of NPSP – novelty, meaningfulness and superiority – are distinct characteristics that together constitute NPSP advantage. This paper contributes to the literature on new product development, as its findings suggest that when measuring the concept of NPSP advantage, the three-dimensional construct that includes the three aforementioned characteristics has a better fit to the data than the unidimensional structure. Because it considers both new products and services, the current study offers an integrated approach to measure the desired innovation process outcome (NPSP advantage). In this way, this paper bridges the research on new product development with that on new service development.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed
Circulating DNA: Diagnostic Tool and Predictive Marker for Overall Survival of NSCLC Patients
PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to determine whether the amounts of circulating DNA (cDNA) could discriminate between NSCLC patients and healthy individuals and assess its value as a prognostic marker of this disease. METHODS: We conducted a study of 309 individuals and the cDNA levels were assessed through real-time PCR methodology. RESULTS: We found increased cDNA levels in NSCLC patients compared to control individuals. We also found a decreased overall survival time in patients presenting high cDNA levels, when compared to lower cDNA concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Quantification of cDNA may be a good tool for NSCLC detection with potential for clinical applicability
The NAMPT inhibitor FK866 reverts the damage in spinal cord injury
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Emerging data implicate nicotinamide phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) in the pathogenesis of cancer and inflammation. NAMPT inhibitors have proven beneficial in inflammatory animal models of arthritis and endotoxic shock as well as in autoimmune encephalitis. Given the role of inflammatory responses in spinal cord injury (SCI), the effect of NAMPT inhibitors was examined in this setting.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We investigated the effects of the NAMPT inhibitor FK866 in an experimental compression model of SCI.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-four hr following induction of SCI, a significant functional deficit accompanied widespread edema, demyelination, neuron loss and a substantial increase in TNF-α, IL-1β, PAR, NAMPT, Bax, MPO activity, NF-κB activation, astrogliosis and microglial activation was observed. Meanwhile, the expression of neurotrophins BDNF, GDNF, NT3 and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 decreased significantly. Treatment with FK866 (10 mg/kg), the best known and characterized NAMPT inhibitor, at 1 h and 6 h after SCI rescued motor function, preserved perilesional gray and white matter, restored anti-apoptotic and neurotrophic factors, prevented the activation of neutrophils, microglia and astrocytes and inhibited the elevation of NAMPT, PAR, TNF-α, IL-1β, Bax expression and NF-κB activity.</p> <p>We show for the first time that FK866, a specific inhibitor of NAMPT, administered after SCI, is capable of reducing the secondary inflammatory injury and partly reduce permanent damage. We also show that NAMPT protein levels are increased upon SCI in the perilesional area which can be corrected by administration of FK866.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings suggest that the inflammatory component associated to SCI is the primary target of these inhibitors.</p
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