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Various Pathological Conditions (various + pathological_condition)
Selected AbstractsChanging concepts of bladder regenerationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 8 2007Akihiro Kanematsu Abstract: During the last decade, there has been a dramatic increase in studies aimed at regeneration of the urinary bladder. Many studies employed animal-derived or synthetic materials as grafts for experimental bladder augmentation models, with or without additional measures to promote regeneration, such as autologous cell transplantation or growth factor loading. However, in spite of encouraging results in several reports, few methodologies have shown proven definitive clinical utility. One major problem in these studies is the lack of a clear distinction between native and regenerated bladder in total bladder function after augmentation. Another crucial problem is the absorption and shrinkage of larger grafts, which may result from insufficient vascular supply and smooth muscle regeneration. In contrast, researchers have recently attempted to establish alternative regenerative strategies for treating bladder diseases, and have employed far more diverse approaches according to the various pathological conditions to be treated. For total replacement of the bladder after cystectomy for invasive bladder cancer, urothelium-covered neobladder with non-urinary tract backbone remains a viable choice. In addition, functional bladder diseases such as urinary incontinence, weak detrusor, or non-compliant fibrotic bladder have also been major targets for many leading research groups in this field. These conditions are studied much more from different therapeutic standpoints, aiming at the prevention or reversal of pathological conditions in muscle remodeling or neural control. Such altered research direction would inevitably lead to less surgically based basic biological research, and also would include a far wider spectrum of adult and pediatric bladder diseases, from overactive bladder to dysfunctional voiding. [source] Plasma and urine levels of urinary trypsin inhibitor in patients with acute and fulminant hepatitisJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 2 2002SHI DE LIN Abstract Background and Aim Urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) is synthesized by hepatocytes and excreted into urine. Plasma and urine UTI levels have been measured to evaluate whether these levels may be useful markers in various pathological conditions. However, there has been no study on plasma and urine UTI levels in patients with acute liver diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate plasma and urine UTI levels and their relationship with the severity of hepatic damage in patients with acute liver diseases. Methods Plasma and urine UTI levels were measured by newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 15 patients with acute hepatitis (AH), 12 patients with acute severe hepatitis (ASH) and 10 patients with fulminant hepatitis (FH), as assessed on admission. The serial changes in plasma and urine UTI were also observed in some patients with AH and ASH. Results Plasma UTI levels (U/mL, median [25,75th percentile]) were: 11.0, (9.5,16.1) in patients with AH; 7.8 (5.6,11.5) in those with ASH; 6.5 (4.0,9.5) in patients with FH; and 9.7 (7.3,11.0) in normal controls. Plasma UTI levels in patients with FH were significantly lower than in those with AH. Plasma UTI levels showed significant positive correlations with the levels of prothrombin time (PT), hepaplastin test, antithrombin III, ,2-plasmin inhibitor, plasminogen (Plg) and fibrinogen. After the recovery of liver dysfunction, increased plasma UTI levels in patients with AH were decreased, whereas previously decreased plasma UTI levels in patients with ASH were increased. Urine UTI levels were significantly increased in patients with AH compared with those of normal controls. In patients with ASH and FH, urine UTI levels were increased but not significantly. Urine UTI levels significantly positively correlated with PT and Plg. After the recovery of liver dysfunction, previously increased urine UTI levels in patients with AH were decreased. The correlation between plasma UTI and urine UTI levels was not significant. Conclusions The findings of the present study suggested that the levels of plasma and urine UTI changed in patients with AH and were closely related to the abnormalities of coagulo-fibrinolysis, including PT. Further studies are needed to clarify whether these levels may be useful markers to predict the prognosis of acute hepatitis. [source] Differential expression of heme oxygenase isoforms in rat brain by endotoxin (LPS)JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 2003V. Calabrese Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress protein expressed in various pathological conditions associated with oxidative stress. Brain HO-1 expression and activity in response to LPS treatment showed regional variability with the highest levels in the substantia nigra (SN) and hippocampus. HO-1 induction by LPS was redox-sensitive and associated with increased levels of NO synthase and arginase, two proteins involved in the regulation of cellular redox state. Brain HO-2 and HO-3 expression, studied by quantitative RT-PCR, did not show significant changes. Our data suggest an interaction between NO and the HO system in the brain after LPS treatment. As SN and hippocampus are involved in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, understanding interaction of these proteins in the brain will help to elucidate the mechanisms involved in neurodegeneration. [source] Characterization of CD8-positive macrophages infiltrating the central nervous system of rats with chronic autoimmune encephalomyelitisJOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH, Issue 5 2009Keiko Hiraki Abstract CD8+ macrophages appear in the central nervous system (CNS) under various pathological conditions such as trauma and ischemia. Furthermore, macrophages expressing CD8 were found in CNS lesions of chronic, but not acute, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). To further characterize cells with this phenotype, we examined CD8+ macrophages/monocytes in the CNS and peripheral organs during the course of acute and chronic EAE that had been induced by immunization of rats with myelin basic protein and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, respectively. Counting CD8+ macrophages in CNS lesions revealed that their numbers increased reaching about 60% of total infiltrating macrophages in chronic EAE, while CD8+ macrophages remained less than 5% throughout the course of acute EAE. Unexpectedly, however, higher abundance of CD8+ monocytes/macrophages in the peripheral blood was found in both acute and chronic EAE. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed no significant difference in the levels of chemokines and chemokine receptors of blood CD8+ monocytes between acute and chronic EAE. mRNA expression of perforin, a cytotoxic substance, was up-regulated in CD8+ monocytes compared with that of CD8, monocytes in both acute and chronic EAE. These findings suggest that activated CD8+ macrophages may play a cytotoxic role in chronic EAE lesions and that cells other than CD8+ monocytes/macrophages determined the difference in CNS pathology between acute and chronic EAE. Analysis of CD8+ monocytes/macrophages may provide useful information to permit further dissect the pathomechanisms of multiple sclerosis and to develop effective immunotherapies against autoimmune diseases in the CNS. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Study of Cytochrome P4502E1 mRNA Level of Mononuclear Cells in Patients With Alcoholic Liver DiseaseALCOHOLISM, Issue 2001Hirokazu Yano Background: Cytochrome P-4502E1 (CYP2E1) is an important enzyme because of its unique ability to convert many substrates to cytotoxins. The increased production of reactive intermediates by elevated enzyme concentrations leads to various pathological conditions. Therefore, it is important to detect induced CYP2E1 levels in alcoholic individuals to avoid xenobiotic-promoted liver injury. In the present investigation, we detected CYP2E1 mRNA levels of mononuclear cells obtained from 10 ml of blood by using competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Methods: Mononuclear cells were obtained from healthy individuals who did and did not drink habitually and patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Complementary DNA synthesis was performed with RNA obtained from mononuclear cells by reverse transcription-PCR. Competitive PCR of CYP2E1 was performed with the sense (5,-CTGCAACGTCATA-GCCGACA-3,) and antisense (5,-TCCATTTCCACGAGCAGGCA-3,) primer and competitor DNA. Competitive PCR of ,-actin also was performed. Electrophoresis was scanned, and each band was digitized. The concentration of CYP2E1 and ,-actin mRNA was calculated from the ratio of competitor DNA. Results: In healthy individuals who did and did not drink habitually, CYP2E1 mRNA levels were 103.3 copies/,l RNA and 101.7 copies/,l RNA, respectively. In actively drinking patients with ALD, CYP2E1 mRNA levels were 103.5 copies/,l RNA, but those levels decreased to 101.7 copies/,l RNA after 4 days of abstinence. No significant difference was observed in CYP2E1 mRNA levels between alcoholic fibrosis and cirrhosis. As control, we measured ,-actin mRNA levels in mononuclear cells in all samples. The mean value of ,-actin mRNA was 104.3 copies/,l RNA in all cases, which included patients with ALD. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that it is possible to measure the CYP2E1 mRNA levels of mononuclear cells in a 10 ml blood sample. The CYP2E1 mRNA level in mononuclear cells increases during drinking and decreases in abstinence for a short period of 3 to 4 days. It is concluded that CYP2E1 mRNA level may be used as an effective marker for alcoholic intake. [source] Matrix metalloproteinases, a disintegrin and metalloproteinases, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinases with thrombospondin motifs in non-neoplastic diseasesPATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 7 2010Takayuki Shiomi Cellular functions within tissues are strictly regulated by the tissue microenvironment which comprises extracellular matrix and extracellular matrix-deposited factors such as growth factors, cytokines and chemokines. These molecules are metabolized by matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), a disintegrin and metalloproteinases (ADAM) and ADAM with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS), which are members of the metzincin superfamily. They function in various pathological conditions of both neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases by digesting different substrates under the control of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) and reversion-inducing, cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK). In neoplastic diseases MMP play a central role in cancer cell invasion and metastases, and ADAM are also important to cancer cell proliferation and progression through the metabolism of growth factors and their receptors. Numerous papers have described the involvement of these metalloproteinases in non-neoplastic diseases in nearly every organ. In contrast to the numerous review articles on their roles in cancer cell proliferation and progression, there are very few articles discussing non-neoplastic diseases. This review therefore will focus on the properties of MMP, ADAM and ADAMTS and their implications for non-neoplastic diseases of the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, central nervous system, digestive system, renal system, wound healing and infection, and joints and muscular system. [source] Imaging techniques in the diagnosis and management of rhinosinusitis in childrenPEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2007F. Triulzi Sinusitis in children is a common problem. The diagnosis of both acute and chronic rhinosinusitis in the pediatric population, should be made first of all clinically, and not on the basis of imaging findings alone. Plain radiography may be used as a screening method for various pathological conditions of sinuses, but computed tomography (CT) remains the study of choice for the imaging evaluation of acute and chronic rhinosinusitis. In acute sinusitis, CT is indicated in patients with symptoms persisting after 10 days of appropriate therapy and in patients with suspected complications (especially in the brain and in the orbit). In addition to CT scanning, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the sinuses, orbits, and brain should be performed whenever extensive or multiple complications of sinusitis are suspected. In chronic sinusitis, CT scanning is the ,gold standard' for the diagnosis and the management, because it also provides an anatomic road map, when surgery is required. Nuclear medicine studies and ultrasound are rarely indicated in acute and chronic rhinosinusitis. [source] The Presence of Megamitochondria in the Ellipsoid of Photoreceptor Inner Segment of the Zebrafish RetinaANATOMIA, HISTOLOGIA, EMBRYOLOGIA, Issue 6 2005J. Kim Summary Although the megamitochondria (MM) were localized in various pathological conditions, normal retina of some mammalian species was reported to include MM for various physiological roles. However, it was not clearly confirmed whether the MM is present in the retina of lower vertebrate as well. In this study, we tried to show the presence of the MM in the zebrafish retina using electron microscopic technique. In all the photoreceptors including rods, cones and double cones of the zebrafish retina, MM were observed in the ellipsoid of inner segment. In the photoreceptor epllipsoid of the zebrafish retina, the mitochondria located in the central portion of the ellipsoid had a highly electron-dense matrix, which were accompanied by the mitochondria with electron-lucent matrix in the apical portion of the ellipsoid. The presence of MM was more clearly discernable in the rods, which were localized under the double cones. This finding is somewhat different from those observed in the previous studies because MM were localized in the inner segment of cones, but were not in those of rods in the case of mammalian retina. Although the exact physiological meaning for the presence of MM in some vertebrate species should be further studied, the present study could show that the MM in the ellipsoid of the retinal photoreceptors was not only restricted in some mammalian species. [source] | |||||||||||||