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Second Line (second + line)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	66%

Selected Abstracts

Nestin expression in pancreatic endocrine and exocrine cells of mice lacking glucagon signaling

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 4 2007
Mamdouh H. Kedees
Abstract Nestin, a marker of neural stem cells, is also expressed by cells located in the epithelium of the pancreatic primordium and by a subpopulation of exocrine cells but not by endocrine cells. These findings raised the possibility that the pancreatic epithelium is heterogeneous and comprised of subpopulations of exocrine/nestin-positive and endocrine/nestin-negative precursor cells. We examined this issue in two mutant mouse models characterized by protracted expression of several embryonal properties in islet cells. One mutant line comprises mice lacking mature glucagon due to abrogation of proprotein convertase-2 (PC2,/,), responsible for the conversion of proglucagon into glucagon, while the second line consists of mice with a global deletion of the glucagon receptor (Gcgr,/,). We demonstrate that nestin is transiently expressed by acinar cells and by insulin and glucagon cells of islets of both lines of mice. In addition, the lack of glucagon signaling increased nestin mRNA levels in pancreas of mutant embryos and adult mice. We conclude that nestin+ cells located in the pancreatic primordium generate the cells of the endocrine and exocrine lineages. Furthermore, our results suggest that nestin expression is regulated by glucagon signaling. Developmental Dynamics 236:1126,1133, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Endothelium-specific Cre recombinase activity in flk-1-Cre transgenic mice

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 2 2004
Alexander H. Licht
Abstract The use of the Cre-loxP recombination system allows the conditional inactivation of genes in mice. The availability of transgenic mice in which the Cre recombinase expression is highly cell type specific is a prerequisite to successfully use this system. We previously have characterized regulatory regions of the mouse flk-1 gene sufficient for endothelial cell-specific expression of the LacZ reporter gene in transgenic mice. These regions were fused to the Cre recombinase gene, and transgenic mouse lines were generated. In the resulting flk-1-Cre transgenic mice, specificity of Cre activity was determined by cross-breeding with the reporter mouse lines Rosa26R or CAG-CAT-LacZ. We examined double-transgenic mice at different stages of embryonic development (E9.5,E16.5) and organs of adult animals by LacZ staining. Strong endothelium-specific staining of most vascular beds was observed in embryos older than E11.5 in one or E13.5 in a second line. In addition, the neovasculature of experimental BFS-1 tumors expressed the transgene. These lines will be valuable for the conditional inactivation of floxed target genes in endothelial cells of the embryonic vascular system. Developmental Dynamics 229:312,318, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Improvement in orofacial granulomatosis on a cinnamon- and benzoate-free diet

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 6 2006
Allison White RD
Abstract Background: Orofacial granulomatosis (OFG) is a chronic inflammatory disorder presenting characteristically with lip swelling but also affecting gingivae, buccal mucosa, floor of mouth, and a number of other sites in the oral cavity. Although the cause remains unknown, there is evidence for involvement of a dietary allergen. Patch testing has related responses to cinnamon and benzoate to the symptoms of OFG, with improvement obtained through exclusion diets. However, an objective assessment of the effect of a cinnamon- and benzoate-free diet (CB-free diet) as primary treatment for OFG has not previously been performed. Thus, this study was undertaken to investigate the benefits of a CB-free diet as first-line treatment of patients with OFG. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two patients with a confirmed diagnosis of OFG were identified from a combined oral medicine/gastroenterology clinic. All had received a CB-free diet as primary treatment for a period of 8 weeks. Each patient underwent a standardized assessment of the oral cavity to characterize the number of sites affected and the type of inflammation involved before and after diet. Results: There was a significant improvement in oral inflammation in patients on the diet after 8 weeks. Both global oral and lip inflammatory scores improved (P < 0.001), and there was significant improvement in both lip and oral site and activity involvement. However, improvement in lip activity was less marked than oral activity. Response to a CB-free diet did not appear to be site specific. A history of OFG-associated gut involvement did not predict a response to the diet. Conclusions: The impact of dietary manipulation in patients with OFG can be significant, particularly with regard to oral inflammation. With the disease most prevalent in the younger population, a CB-free diet can be recommended as primary treatment. Subsequent topical or systemic immunomodulatory therapy may then be avoided or used as second line. [source]

Linear and Whorled Hypermelanosis

PEDIATRIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
Vito Di Lernia M.D.
Histologically it shows only epidermal melanosis. Underlying chromosomal mosaicism has been demonstrated in only a few published cases. Progressive cribriform and zosteriform hyperpigmentation is considered to be the localized variant of linear and whorled nevoid hypermelanosis. We report a retrospective study on 16 children referred consecutively over a 10-year period for evaluation of segmental, linear or swirled hyperpigmentation distributed along the lines of Blashko, consistent with a diagnosis of linear and whorled nevoid hypermelanosis. Associated abnormalities were found only in one out of six patients with the diffuse form (linear and whorled nevoid hypermelanosis-type) and in none of the remaining 10 children presenting the unilateral form (progressive cribriform and zosteriform hyperpigmentation-type). A long-term follow-up did not disclose further abnormalities. The authors discuss the nosologic position of this entity with respect to hypomelanosis of Ito. Linear and whorled nevoid hypermelanosis and hypomelanosis of Ito should be not considered single entities, but be rather grouped as a heterogeneous collection of nonspecific pigmentary disorders caused by genetic mosaicism. Skin findings in these diseases can differ according to the pigmentation in the normal cell line and whether the second line contains more or less melanosomes than the normal skin of the individual exhibiting mosaicism. [source]

ACE inhibitors: their propertiesand current role in hypertension

PRESCRIBER, Issue 14 2009
Sze-Yuan Ooi MB BS
ACE inhibitors remain the first-line choice of treatment of hypertension in patients under 55 years, and second line in other patient groups. Our Drug Review considers their properties and the latest evidence for their use in hypertension, followed by further sources of information and an analysis of prescription data. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Interface Ltd. [source]

Opinion of Belgian neurologists on antiepileptic drug treatment in 2006: Belgian study on epilepsy treatment (BESET-2)

ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 6 2009
B. Legros
Objectives,,, (i) To describe the medical treatment of epilepsy in Belgium in 2006, (ii) to detect the presence or absence of consensus in epilepsy treatment and (iii) to analyze the evolution of the neurologists' opinion between 2003 and 2006. Materials and methods,,, In December 2006, 100 neurologists were interviewed with a structured questionnaire, based on ordinal four-point scales. The questionnaire contained questions on treatment choices in adult patients with epilepsy. The results of this survey were compared with results of a previous one done in 2003. Results,,, Initial monotherapy was the preferred treatment strategy. Valproate was first choice in idiopathic generalized epilepsy. Carbamazepine and oxcarbazepine were first choice in focal epilepsy with partial seizures. Valproate was also first choice in focal epilepsy with secondarily generalized seizures. New antiepileptic drugs were recommended in second line. However, in special treatment situations, they were considered first-line, e.g. lamotrigine in case of women in childbearing age. In comparison with 2003, there was a trend of using earlier the new antiepileptic drugs. Conclusions,,, In end 2006, carbamazepine, valproate and oxcarbazepine were considered to be first choice drugs, whereas other newer drugs, like lamotrigine, levetiracetam and topiramate were predominantly prescribed in second line. [source]