Search results for " Vessel"
showing 10 items of 625 documents
Integrin-dependent and -independent functions of astrocytic fibronectin in retinal angiogenesis
2011
Fibronectin (FN) is a major component of the extracellular matrix and functions in cell adhesion, cell spreading and cell migration. In the retina, FN is transiently expressed and assembled on astrocytes (ACs), which guide sprouting tip cells and deposit a provisional matrix for sprouting angiogenesis. The precise function of FN in retinal angiogenesis is largely unknown. Using genetic tools, we show that astrocytes are the major source of cellular FN during angiogenesis in the mouse retina. Deletion of astrocytic FN reduces radial endothelial migration during vascular plexus formation in a gene dose-dependent manner. This effect correlates with reduced VEGF receptor 2 and PI3K/AKT signalli…
Scaffold vascularization in vivo driven by primary human osteoblasts in concert with host inflammatory cells.
2011
Successful cell-based tissue engineering requires a rapid and thorough vascularization in order to ensure long-term implant survival and tissue integration. The vascularization of a scaffold is a complex process, and is modulated by the presence of transplanted cells, exogenous and endogenous signaling proteins, and the host tissue reaction, among other influencing factors. This paper presents evidence for the significance of pre-seeded osteoblasts for the in vivo vascularization of a biodegradable scaffold. Human osteoblasts, cultured on silk fibroin micronets in vitro, migrated throughout the interconnected pores of the scaffold and produced extensive bone matrix. When these constructs we…
Tbx1 regulates Vegfr3 and is required for lymphatic vessel development
2010
Defects in lymphangiogenesis are added to the broad clinical manifestations of DiGeorge syndrome, caused by deletion of the T box transcription factor Tbx1.
Microphthalmia, persistent hyperplastic hyaloid vasculature and lens anomalies following overexpression of VEGF-A188 from the αA-crystallin promoter
2007
Purpose During growth of the embryonic eye, dose- and site-specific expression of heparin-binding growth factors is critical for the formation of an appropriate vascular supply. Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A188 (VEGF-A188), a strongly heparin-binding, endothelial-specific mitogen, leads to severe disturbance of vascular and overall ocular morphology. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of VEGF-A188 overexpression on growth of ocular tissue components. Methods Stereological and immunohistochemical methods were employed to identify the vascular profiles, ocular tissue proportions, and cell types in VEGF-A188 transgenic mice and compare them with wild-type mice. R…
Priming with a combination of proangiogenic growth factors improves wound healing in normoglycemic mice
2011
Growth factors and/or angiogenic factors are supposed to improve wound healing. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of subcutaneous pretreatment with combinatory proangiogenic factors on wound closure, mechan - ical properties, vessel density and morphology. Twenty-eight Balb/c mice were divided equally into two groups. A mixture of VEGF (35.0 µg), bFGF (2.5 µg) and P dGF (3.5 µg) was administered subcutaneously 3, 5 and 7 days to 14 mice before full thickness skin punch biopsy wounding, whereas 14 control animals received three injections of 0.2 ml saline solution. Wound sizes were assessed daily and the repaired tissues were harvested 7 days after complete wound closure. Comp…
Staphylococcus aureus alpha toxin mediates polymorphonuclear leukocyte-induced vasocontraction and endothelial dysfunction.
2002
The effect of Staphylococcus aureus alpha toxin (alpha-toxin) on selectin-mediated neutrophil adhesion was investigated in polymorphonuclear leukocyte- (PMN) induced vasocontraction and endothelial dysfunction. Adherence of human PMNs to rat aortic endothelium increased significantly following stimulation of the endothelium with alpha-toxin (0.1, 0.5, and 1 microg/mL). This effect could be significantly attenuated by monoclonal antibodies directed against P-selectin or fucoidin, a carbohydrate known to block selectins. Unstimulated human PMNs (10(6)cells/mL) were added to organ chambers containing rat aortic rings stimulated with alpha-toxin (0.5 microg/mL). PMNs elicited a significant vaso…
Kawasaki disease in Sicily: clinical description and markers of disease severity
2016
Background: Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis of small and middle size arteries; 15-25 % of untreated patients and 5 % of patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) develop coronary artery lesions (CAL). Many studies tried to find the most effective treatment in the management of resistant KD and to select the risk factors for CAL. Our data are assessed on children from west Sicily, characterized by a genetic heterogeneity. Methods: We studied the clinical data of 70 KD Sicilian children (36 males: 51 %; 34 females: 49 %), analysed retrospectively, including: demographic and laboratory parameters; echocardiographic findings at diagnosis, at 2, 6 and 8 weeks,…
Sonografic examination of epiaortic vessels in patients with peripheral vertigo
2010
Abstract Introduction: To evaluate the utility of echo-color-Doppler ultrasonography (CDU) of extracranial brain-supplying vessels in patients with peripheral vertigo of unknown origin. Materials and methods: One-hundred-fifty-six patients (study group; 42 male and 114 female; mean age 61.86 14.14) and 161 patients (control group; 80 male and 81 female; mean age 62.31 13.69) were prospectively evaluated with CDU of extracranial brain-supplying vessels. Plaques in common and/or internal carotid artery (CA), arterial wall intima-media thickness (IMT) of common CA and peak systolic velocity (PSV) and resistive index (RI) of vertebral arteries (VA) were evaluated. Parametric (t-test) and non-pa…
A Kalman filter single point positioning for maritime applications using a smartphone
2020
Different positioning techniques have been largely adopted for maritime applications that require high accuracy kinematic positioning. The main objective of the paper is the performance assessment of a Single Point Positioning algorithm (SPP), with a Kalman filter (KF) estimator, adapted for maritime applications. The KF has been chosen as estimation technique due to the ability to consider both the state vector dynamic and the measurements. Particularly, in order to compute an accurate vertical component of the position, suitable for maritime applications, the KF settings have been modified by tuning the covariance matrix of the process noise. The algorithm is developed in Matlab environme…
Experiments and predictions of the transition of the flow pattern with impeller clearance in stirred tanks
2001
In the present work, the double- to single-loop flow pattern transition in a stirred vessel equipped with a Rushton turbine is investigated by Laser Doppler anemometry (LDA). In particular, the clearance at which such transition occurs is assessed by comparing axial velocity profiles underneath the impeller. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of the same system are carried out, by employing the 'inner-outer' fully predictive computation strategy. The comparison of predicted results with the experimental data collected shows that the transition is well reproduced by simulations. A good agreement on the mean velocities is also observed but for the impeller discharge stream angle t…