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Selected AbstractsInterleukin-10 is associated with resistance to febrile seizures: Genetic association and experimental animal studiesEPILEPSIA, Issue 4 2009Yoshito Ishizaki Summary Purpose:, Febrile seizures (FS) are the most common form of childhood convulsions. Many reports have shown that a proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1 (IL-1) ,, may have a facilitatory effect on the development of FS. We have previously shown that the IL1B -511C/T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with simple FS of sporadic occurrence. The balance between pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines influences the regulation of infections and could, therefore, play a role in the pathogenesis of FS. Here, to determine whether pro- and antiinflammatory cytokine genes are responsible for the susceptibility to FS, we have performed an association study on functional SNPs of cytokine genes in FS patients and controls. Methods:, The promoter SNPs of four inflammatory cytokine genes (IL6 -572C/G, IL8 -251A/T, IL10 -592A/C and TNFA -1037C/T) were examined in 249 patients with FS (186 simple and 63 complex FS) and 225 controls. Because the IL10 -592 SNP showed a positive association with FS, two additional SNPs (IL10 -1082A/G and -819T/C) were subjected to haplotype analysis. Furthermore, we examined the in vivo role of IL-10 in hyperthermia-induced seizures using immature animal models. Results:, The frequencies of the IL10 -592C allele and -1082A/-819C/-592C haplotype were significantly decreased in FS as compared with in controls (p = 0.014 and 0.013, respectively). The seizure threshold temperature in the IL-10,administered rats was significantly higher than that in the saline-treated control ones (p = 0.027). Conclusions:, The present study suggests that IL-10 is genetically associated with FS and, contrary to IL-1,, confers resistance to FS. [source] Severe alterations of endothelial and glial cells in the blood-brain barrier of dystrophic mdx miceGLIA, Issue 3 2003Beatrice Nico Abstract In this study, we investigated the involvement of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in the brain of the dystrophin-deficient mdx mouse, an experimental model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). To this purpose, we used two tight junction markers, the Zonula occludens (ZO-1) and claudin-1 proteins, and a glial marker, the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein, whose expression is correlated with BBB differentiation and integrity. Results showed that most of the brain microvessels in mdx mice were lined by altered endothelial cells that showed open tight junctions and were surrounded by swollen glial processes. Moreover, 18% of the perivascular glial endfeet contained electron-dense cellular debris and were enveloped by degenerating microvessels. Western blot showed a 60% reduction in the ZO-1 protein content in mdx mice and a similar reduction in AQP4 content compared with the control brain. ZO-1 immunocytochemistry and claudin-1 immunofluorescence in mdx mice revealed a diffuse staining of microvessels as compared with the control ones, which displayed a banded staining pattern. ZO-1 immunogold electron microscopy showed unlabeled tight junctions and the presence of gold particles scattered in the endothelial cytoplasm in the mdx mice, whereas ZO-1 gold particles were exclusively located at the endothelial tight junctions in the controls. Dual immunofluorescence staining of ,-actin and ZO-1 revealed colocalization of these proteins. As in ZO-1 staining, the pattern of immunolabeling with anti,,-actin antibody was diffuse in the mdx vessels and pointed or banded in the controls. ,-actin immunogold electron microscopy showed gold particles in the cytoplasms of endothelial cells and pericytes in the mdx mice, whereas ,-actin gold particles were revealed on the endothelial tight junctions and the cytoskeletal microfilaments of pericytes in the controls. Perivascular glial processes of the mdx mice appeared faintly stained by anti-AQP4 antibody, while in the controls a strong AQP4 labeling of glial processes was detected at light and electron microscope level. The vascular permeability of the mdx brain microvessels was investigated by means of the horseradish peroxidase (HRP). After HRP injection, extensive perivascular areas of marker escape were observed in mdx mice, whereas HRP was exclusively intravascularly localized in the controls. Inflammatory cells, CD4-, CD8-, CD20-, and CD68-positive cells, were not revealed in the perivascular stroma of the mdx brain. These findings indicate that dystrophin deficiency in the mdx brain leads to severe injury of the endothelial and glial cells with disturbance in ,-actin cytoskeleton, ZO-1, claudin-1, and AQP4 assembly, as well as BBB breakdown. The BBB alterations suggest that changes in vascular permeability are involved in the pathogenesis of the neurological dysfunction associated with DMD. GLIA 42:235,251, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] FT-IR spectroscopy in diagnosis of diabetes in rat animal modelJOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS, Issue 8-9 2010Feride Severcan Abstract In recent years, Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy has had an increasingly important role in the field of pathology and diagnosis of disease states. In the current study, FT-IR spectroscopy together with cluster analysis were used as a diagnostic tool in the discrimination of diabetic samples from control ones in rat kidney plasma membrane apical sides (brush-border membranes), liver microsomal membranes and Extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and Soleus (SOL) skeletal muscle tissues. A variety of alterations in the spectral parameters, such as frequency and signal intensity/area was observed in diabetic tissues and membranes compared to the control samples. Based on these spectral variations, using cluster analysis successful differentiation between diabetic and control groups was obtained in different spectral regions. The results of this current study further revealed the power and sensitivity of FT-IR spectroscopy in precise and automated diagnosis of diabetes. (© 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] The outcome of a preventive dental care programme on the prevalence of localized aggressive periodontitis in Down's syndrome individualsJOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH, Issue 7 2006M. Zigmond Abstract Background Periodontal disease in Down's syndrome (DS) individuals develops earlier and is more rapid and extensive than in age-matched normal individuals. The present study evaluated a group of DS patients, who had been participating in a 10-year preventive dental programme, for the impact of the programme on their periodontal status. Methods Thirty DS patients (mean age 23.3 ± 4 years) were compared with 28 age-matched healthy controls (mean age 22.8 ± 5 years). The hygiene level, gingival condition and periodontal status (periodontal probing depth, clinical attachment level and radiographic alveolar bone loss) were determined. Results In spite of similar oral hygiene and gingival measures, DS patients, as opposed to the control ones, had a severe periodontal disease. The prevalence, extent and severity of periodontitis in the DS group were significantly greater than in the control group. The teeth most commonly and severely affected were the lower central incisors and the upper first molars. DS patients lost significantly more teeth due to periodontitis. Conclusions The clinical and radiographic picture found in the present DS group is characteristic of localized aggressive periodontitis. Within the limitations of this study, it seems that the preventive dental programme had no effect on periodontal destruction progression of localized aggressive periodontitis in DS individuals and that impaired oral hygiene plays a relatively minor role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Future controlled studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of different preventive dental programmes in preventing the progression of periodontitis in DS patients. [source] The effect of long-term streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (STZ-DM) on cynomolgus (Macaca Fascicularis) monkeysJOURNAL OF MEDICAL PRIMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2009D. Wu Abstract Background, This study aimed to retrospectively analyze the effect of long-term streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus (STZ-DM) on adolescent cynomolgus monkeys. Methods, A total of 12 monkeys (six STZ-DM and six controls) were monitored for fasting glucose levels and locomotor activities, tested for hematological and serum parameters, measured for body weight and somatometric values. Results, Fasting glucose was maintained at high levels in STZ-DM monkeys. At the age when normal adolescent monkeys dramatically increased their weight, STZ-DM led to the retardation of weight increase in diabetic monkeys. Moreover, STZ-DM monkeys showed abnormal lipid levels and somatometric measurements. In locomotor activity test, STZ-DM monkeys were more active than control ones. Conclusions, Long-term STZ-DM disrupts the normal growth of young monkeys and interferes with some aspects of hormone, lipid metabolism and physical activities. Mean plasma glucose (MPG) appeared to be an important factor in physical activity abnormalities of STZ-DM monkeys. [source] Use of alginate or zein as edible coatings to delay postharvest ripening process and to maintain tomato (Solanum lycopersicon Mill) qualityJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 7 2008Pedro Javier Zapata Abstract BACKGROUND: Edible coatings could be effective tools for delaying the ripening process of fruits. Alginate or zein as edible coatings were assayed in tomato in order to maintain parameters related to quality during postharvest storage. RESULTS: Coated tomatoes showed lower respiration rate and ethylene production than control ones, with a twofold lower concentration of ethylene precursor. In addition, the evolution of parameters related to tomato quality losses, such as softening, colour evolution and weight loss, was significantly delayed (4,6 days on average) in coated tomatoes as compared to controls. Thereafter, sugars, organic acids (and especially ascorbic acid) and scores from sensory analysis remained at much higher levels at the end of storage in treated than in control tomatoes. CONCLUSIONS: Coatings based on alginate or zein could be effective tools for delaying the tomato-ripening process during postharvest storage, and in turn maintaining tomato quality and its acceptability by consumers. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] | ||||||||||