			Home About us Contact

RNA Concentration (rna + concentration)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	75%

Selected Abstracts

Efficacy of interferon-, treatment in Japanese children with chronic hepatitis C

JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
EISUKE NAKASHIMA
Abstract Background: We investigated the efficacy of natural interferon (IFN)-, treatment in 34 Japanese children with chronic hepatitis C. Methods: Thirty-four children completed 6 months of therapy with natural IFN-, and were followed for 12 months or longer. We examined the serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA titer and liver histology before, during, and after IFN treatment. Results: At 6 months after the cessation of IFN-, treatment, 16 patients (47%) had normal serum alanine aminotransferase concentration and no detectable serum HCV RNA. There were no major side-effects, excluding some influenza-like symptoms during the IFN-, treatment. Most genotype 2a patients had a complete response (80%). Moreover, patients who had a low HCV RNA titer (<102 copies/mL) after 1 month of IFN-, treatment became complete responders at 6 months after the cessation of treatment. Histological improvement was observed in almost all patients after IFN-, treatment. Conclusion: Interferon-, treatment is safe and effective for children with chronic hepatitis C and has no serious side-effects. A HCV RNA concentration of <102 copies/mL after 1 month of IFN-, treatment and genotype 2a may be useful predictors of long-term IFN efficacy. © 2003 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd [source]

Stimuli-responsive properties of aminophenylboronic acid-carrying thermosensitive copolymers

POLYMER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 5 2003

Abstract Thermosensitive copolymers of N -isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) and N -acryloxysuccinimide (NASI) were obtained by solution polymerization using azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator in a tetrahydrofuran,toluene mixture at 65,°C. A boronic acid-carrying ligand, m -aminophenylboronic acid (APBA) was covalently attached to the thermosensitive copolymer via the reaction between amino and succinimide groups. APBA-coupled thermosensitive copolymer exhibited both temperature and pH sensitivity. Thermally reversible phase transitions were observed both in the acidic and alkaline pH region for the APBA-modified copolymers obtained with different NASI feed concentrations. In our study, ribonucleic acid (RNA) was selected as a biomolecule having reactive groups which could potentially interact with the boronic acid functionality. The response of boronic acid-carrying thermosensitive copolymer against RNA was investigated in aqueous media in the pH range 4,9. In the acidic pH region, an increase was observed in the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the APBA-coupled thermosensitive copolymer with increasing RNA concentration. However, LCST decreased with increasing RNA concentration at both neutral and alkaline pH values. The LCST of the APBA-attached copolymer varied linearly with the RNA concentration at pH of 3, 4 and 7. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Gender-specific differences in temporomandibular retrodiscal tissues of the goat

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ORAL SCIENCES, Issue 5 2000
Angelo Mariotti
Healthy, adult, male and female goat temporomandibular retrodiscal tissues were characterized to determine if biochemical differences existed between the genders. RNA concentrations were not different between male and female retrodiscal tissues; however, the DNA concentration in female retrodiscal tissues was 82% greater than in male retrodiscal tissues. Collagen concentrations were significantly greater in male retrodiscal tissues, and this was reflected in significant gender differences of type I and III collagen concentrations. More specifically, male temporomandibular retrodiscal tissues contained 70% more type I collagen and 119% more type III collagen when compared to female retrodiscal tissues. These differences in collagens and DNA reflect a gender difference in temporomandibular retrodiscal tissue composition that underlies divergent biomechanical and neurophysiological properties. [source]

CXC chemokine ligand 4 (Cxcl4) is a platelet-derived mediator of experimental liver fibrosis,

HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2010
Mirko Moreno Zaldivar
Liver fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Platelets are involved in liver damage, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigate the platelet-derived chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 4 (CXCL4) as a molecular mediator of fibrotic liver damage. Serum concentrations and intrahepatic messenger RNA of CXCL4 were measured in patients with chronic liver diseases and mice after toxic liver injury. Platelet aggregation in early fibrosis was determined by electron microscopy in patients and by immunohistochemistry in mice. Cxcl4,/, and wild-type mice were subjected to two models of chronic liver injury (CCl4 and thioacetamide). The fibrotic phenotype was analyzed by histological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. Intrahepatic infiltration of immune cells was investigated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and stellate cells were stimulated with recombinant Cxcl4 in vitro. The results showed that patients with advanced hepatitis C virus,induced fibrosis or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis had increased serum levels and intrahepatic CXCL4 messenger RNA concentrations. Platelets were found directly adjacent to collagen fibrils. The CCl4 and thioacetamide treatment led to an increase of hepatic Cxcl4 levels, platelet activation, and aggregation in early fibrosis in mice. Accordingly, genetic deletion of Cxcl4 in mice significantly reduced histological and biochemical liver damage in vivo, which was accompanied by changes in the expression of fibrosis-related genes (Timp-1 [tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1], Mmp9 [matrix metalloproteinase 9], Tgf -, [transforming growth factor beta], IL10 [interleukin 10]). Functionally, Cxcl4,/, mice showed a strongly decreased infiltration of neutrophils (Ly6G) and CD8+ T cells into the liver. In vitro, recombinant murine Cxcl4 stimulated the proliferation, chemotaxis, and chemokine expression of hepatic stellate cells. Conclusion: The results underscore an important role of platelets in chronic liver damage and imply a new target for antifibrotic therapies. (HEPATOLOGY 2010.) [source]