Search results for "models"
showing 10 items of 8211 documents
Topical application of the adenosine A2Areceptor agonist CGS-21680 prevents phorbol-induced epidermal hyperplasia and inflammation in mice
2014
The nucleoside adenosine is a known regulator of immunity and inflammation that mediates, at least in part, the anti-inflammatory effect of methotrexate, an immunosuppressive agent widely used to treat autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Adenosine A2A receptors play a key role in the inhibition of the inflammatory process besides promoting wound healing. Therefore, we aimed to determine the topical effect of a selective agonist, CGS-21680, on a murine model of skin hyperplasia with a marked inflammatory component. Pretreatment with either CGS-21680 (5 μg per site) or the reference agent dexamethasone (200 μg/site) prevented the epidermal hyperplasia and inflammatory response induced by topica…
Prevalence of Genital Human Papilloma Virus Infection and Genotypes among Young Women in Sicily, South Italy
2008
Abstract Infection with oncogenic human papilloma virus (HPV) types is a necessary cause of cervical cancer. This study assessed the prevalence of HPV infection and genotypes among 1,006 randomly selected women, ages 18 to 24 years, living in Sicily (south Italy). The overall HPV rate was 24.1% (95% confidence interval, 21.5-26.9). The most frequent types were HPV-16 (4.5%), HPV-53 (2.7%), and HPV-84 (2.6%). The prevalence of vaccine types HPV-6, HPV-11, and HPV-18 was 1.4%, 0.1%, and 1.3%, respectively. Cytologic abnormalities were uncommon (3.1%) and associated with HPV detection (P < 0.0001). The only risk factor for HPV infection was the number of sexual partners (women with 2-3 …
Fear of falling and coexisting sensory difficulties as predictors of mobility decline in older women.
2012
BACKGROUND: Mobility decline, the coexistence of several sensory difficulties and fear of falling (FOF) are all common concerns in older people; however, knowledge about the combined effect of FOF and coexisting sensory difficulties on mobility is lacking. METHODS: Data on self-reported FOF, difficulties in hearing, vision, balance, and walking 2 km were gathered with a structured questionnaire among 434 women aged 63-76 years at baseline and after a 3-year follow-up. Logistic regression models were used for analyses. RESULTS: Every third participant reported difficulties in walking 2 km at baseline. In cross-sectional analysis, the odds ratio for difficulties in walking 2 km was higher amo…
Regenerative Medicine: Does Erythropoietin have a Role?
2009
Regenerative Medicine, a recent new medical domain, aims to develop new therapies through the stimulation of natural regenerative processes also in human beings. In this field, Erythropoietin (EPO) represents a significant subject of research. Several studies allow the assertion that EPO, in different concentrations, has protective effects mainly on the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and renal tissue. This action is carried out through one of few regenerative activities of human beings: angiogenesis. This mechanism, which involves endothelial stem cells and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor), has been experimentally demonstrated with Recombinant human erythropoietin (r…
Inhibition of Delta-like 4 mediated signaling induces abortion in mice due to deregulation of decidual angiogenesis.
2013
Objective: To explore whether the Dll4/Notch1 pathway plays a key role in regulating the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) driven decidual angiogenesis and related pregnancy through induction of a tip/stalk phenotype. Methods: Progesterone-replaced ovariectomized pregnant mice received a single injection of YW152F (Dll4 blocking antibody, BAb) or placebo at embryonic day (E) 4.5. Animals were sacrificed at different time points; blood and uterus were collected for further analysis. Number of embryos and implantation site, uteri weight, and serum progesterone levels were assessed. Alterations in the tip/stalk phenotype were determined by quantitative immunofl…
Effect of suturing the femoral portion of a four-strand graft during an ACL reconstruction
2014
Purpose A suture passed along the part of the graft that will be inserted into the femoral tunnel is widely used by surgeons, because it could prevent the graft sliding on the femoral fixation device during pulling from the tibial side. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical effects of suturing the intratunnel femoral part of the graft during an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Methods Bovine digital extensor tendons and tibias were harvested from 20 fresh-frozen mature bovine knees ranging in age from 18 to 24 months. Quadruple-strand bovine tendons were passed through the tibial tunnel and secured distally with a bioabsorbable interference screw. In one ha…
The Activation Pattern of the Antioxidant Enzymes in the Right Ventricle of Rat in Response to Pressure Overload is of Heart Failure Type
2003
In the left ventricle subjected to pressure overload activity, the antioxidant enzymes increased at the hyperfunctional stage. During the transition to heart failure, these enzymes are down-regulated, oxidative stress increases, and apoptosis progresses. Maladaptative activation of the antioxidant enzymes at an early stage may contribute to the intrinsic vulnerability of right ventricle to pressure overload. The authors studied changes in expression and activity of the enzymes manganese and copper-zinc superoxide dismutases, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase in the right ventricle of rat following induction of pulmonary hypertension by injection of monocrotaline. Increase in the manganes…
Effects of Different Anxiety Levels on the Behavioral Patternings Investigated through T-pattern Analysis in Wistar Rats Tested in the Hole-Board App…
2021
The Hole-Board is an ethologically based tool for investigating the anxiety-related behavior of rats following manipulation of the central anxiety level. The present paper aims to assess behavioral patterning following pharmacological manipulation of emotional assets in Wistar rats tested in this experimental apparatus. For this purpose, the behavior of three groups of rats injected with saline, diazepam or FG7142 was evaluated using conventional quantitative and multivariate Tpattern analyses. The results demonstrate that quantitative analyses of individual components of the behavior, disjointed from the comprehensive behavioral structure, are of narrow utility in the understanding of the …
Prenatal Brain Damage in Preeclamptic Animal Model Induced by Gestational Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition
2010
Cerebral palsy is a major neonatal handicap with unknown aetiology. There is evidence that prenatal brain injury is the leading cause of CP. Severe placental pathology accounts for a high percentage of cases. Several factors predispose to prenatal brain damage but when and how they act is unclear. The aim of this paper was to determine if hypoxia during pregnancy leads to damage in fetal brain and to evaluate the localization of this injury. An animal model of chronic hypoxia produced by chronic administration of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (L-NAME) was used to evaluate apoptotic activity in fetal brains and to localize the most sensitive areas. L-NAME reproduces a preeclamptic-like c…
Altered receptor binding densities in experimental antiphospholipid syndrome despite only moderately enhanced autoantibody levels and absence of beha…
2013
Abstract Experimental antiphospholipid syndrome (eAPS) in Balb/c mice causes neuropsychiatric abnormalities including hyperactivity, increased explorative behavior and cognitive deficits. Recently, we have demonstrated that these behavioral changes were linked to an upregulation of serotonergic 5-HT1A receptor binding densities in cortical and hippocampal regions while excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors remain largely unchanged. To examine whether the observed behavioral features depend on a critical antibody concentration, mice with only moderately enhanced antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), about 50–80% of high levels, were analyzed and compared to controls. The staircas…