Search results for "Gram"
showing 10 items of 9069 documents
Cigarette smoke causes caspase-independent apoptosis of bronchial epithelial cells from asthmatic donors
2015
BackgroundEpidemiologic studies have demonstrated important links between air pollution and asthma. Amongst these pollutants, environmental cigarette smoke is a risk factor both for asthma pathogenesis and exacerbation. As the barrier to the inhaled environment, the bronchial epithelium is a key structure that is exposed to cigarette smoke.ObjectivesSince primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) from asthmatic donors are more susceptible to oxidant-induced apoptosis, we hypothesized that they would be susceptible to cigarette smoke-induced cell death.MethodsPBECs from normal and asthmatic donors were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE); cell survival and apoptosis were assessed by fl…
Apoptosis resistance in epithelial tumors is mediated by tumor-cell-derived interleukin-4
2008
We investigated the mechanisms involved in the resistance to cell death observed in epithelial cancers. Here, we identify that primary epithelial cancer cells from colon, breast and lung carcinomas express high levels of the antiapoptotic proteins PED, cFLIP, Bcl-xL and Bcl-2. These cancer cells produced interleukin-4 (IL-4), which amplified the expression levels of these antiapoptotic proteins and prevented cell death induced upon exposure to TRAIL or other drug agents. IL-4 blockade resulted in a significant decrease in the growth rate of epithelial cancer cells and sensitized them, both in vitro and in vivo, to apoptosis induction by TRAIL and chemotherapy via downregulation of the antia…
Leukocytes in neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses: function and apoptosis
1997
The neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinoses (NCL) are a group of progressive encephalopathies with a fatal course that are mostly of autosomal recessive inheritance. The pathophysiological mechanisms causing the diseases are not known. The characteristic histomorphological feature of the NCL is an abnormal lysosomal accumulation of lipopigments in neural and extraneural cells, including peripheral blood leukocytes. We studied the function of peripheral venous blood immunocompetent cells in ten patients with NCL and in age- and sex-matched controls to determine how, if at all, the accumulation of intracytoplasmic storage material influences the functional capacity of affected tissue. Our results did …
Apoptosis-related Proteins in Skeletal Muscle Fibers of Spinal Muscular Atrophy
1997
There is evidence that apoptosis in spinal muscular atrophies (SMA) is not restricted to motor neurons but also affects muscle fibers. Studying the expression of several apoptosis-associated proteins we found constant expression of bax in muscle fibers, which promoted cell death. The expression of bax correlated with defective innervation of muscle fibers was also indicated by upregulation of N-CAM. While in early-onset SMA atrophic as well as normo- and hypertrophic muscle fibers displayed expression of bax, muscle fibers in late-onset SMA and peripheral neuropathies showed bax-expression only in atrophic fibers. Other investigated apoptosis-associated factors comprised interleukin-1 beta …
Facial emotion space in schizophrenia
2007
Introduction. Previous studies show that patients with schizophrenia have a deficit in facial emotion recognition. In the framework of emotion categorisation theories, the purpose of the present study was to test if this impairment could result from abnormal boundaries between emotions (whether these boundaries are shifted along continuums or are less sharpened). Method. Twenty-six schizophrenic patients and the same number of healthy participants were required to perform a facial emotion recognition task and an emotion categorisation task with different emotion intensities obtained using morphing techniques. Results. The main results indicate that schizophrenic patients exhibited an emotio…
Treatment Monitoring Program for Implementation of Adherence to Second-Line Erlotinib for Advanced Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
2012
Abstract Background Adherence to erlotinib could be a determinant for clinical outcome and treatment toxicity in patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (A-NSCLC). Patients and Methods In an observational study, the Basel Assessment of Adherence Scale (BAAS), a visual analogue scale (VAS), pill counting, and missed appointment rate were used to evaluate adherence in a first cohort of patients who was prescribed erlotinib without a specifically designed management strategy and in a second cohort of patients followed by an oral treatment monitoring program. Results Adherence > 95% by BAAS at 2 months of treatment in the first and second cohorts was 72% and 84%, respectively ( P = .0…
Contractile effects of arginine analogues on human internal thoracic and radial arteries
2000
Abstract Objectives: Plasma levels of endogenous guanidino-substituted analogues of L -arginine are increased in various pathologic conditions. In the present study we determined the effects of some of these compounds on basal and stimulated release of nitric oxide in human internal thoracic and radial arteries. Methods: Rings of human internal thoracic and radial arteries were obtained from 16 multiorgan donors. The rings were suspended in organ baths for isometric recording of tension. Results: N G -monomethyl L -arginine (10 –6 to 10 –3 mol/L) and N G ,N G -dimethyl L -arginine (10 –6 to 10 –3 mol/L) caused concentration- and endothelium-dependent contractions. Maximal force of contracti…
Effects of effort and EMG levels on short-latency stretch reflex modulation after varying background muscle contractions.
2005
It is known that the short-latency stretch reflex (SLSR) is modulated by the background muscle activity when it is elicited at matched torque levels. This study was designed to examine the effects of muscle contraction types before a stretch perturbation on SLSR in the human soleus muscle (SOL) when SLSR was elicited at the same levels of effort and at matched electromyographic (EMG) activity levels. A mechanical stretch perturbation was applied to the calf muscles when the ankle joint reached a ninety degree tibio-tarsal joint angle after the muscles performed an isometric (pre-ISO), shortening (pre-SHO) and lengthening contraction (pre-LEN). Subjects were seated on an ankle ergometer chai…
Neuromuscular control in landing from supra-maximal dropping height.
2009
International audience; The present study utilized high-impact supra-maximal landings to examine the influence of the pre-impact force level on the post-impact electromyographic (EMG) activity and, in particular, on the short latency EMG reflex (SLR) component. Unilateral-leg landings were performed in a sitting position on a sledge apparatus after release from high, but individually constant dropping height. A lower limb guiding device fixed to the front of the sledge seat allowed the subjects to sustain a given pre-set force level up to impact. This force level was either freely chosen or set at 20, 35, and 50% of maximal isometric plantarflexion force. EMG activity was recorded from eigh…
Peer-Led or Expert-Led Intervention in HIV Prevention Efficacy? A Randomized Control Trial Among Spanish Young People to Evaluate Their Role
2017
HIV new infections still affect young people around the world. In this context, behavioral interventions seem to be effective in promoting safe sex although some conditions are still inconclusive in different regions. For example, there is insufficient evidence about who may be the best facilitator. For this reason, this study evaluates the effectiveness of peer and expert facilitators for HIV prevention aimed at Spanish young people. For this purpose 225 Spanish college students, aged between 18 and 25 (74.20% women and 25.80% men), were involved in an experimental design to evaluate the facilitators’ effect in a brief intervention for HIV prevention. Participants’ results were measured b…