Search results for "models"
showing 10 items of 8211 documents
Resistin: An Inflammatory Cytokine. Role in Cardiovascular Diseases, Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome
2014
Resistin is an adipocyte- and monocyte-derived cytokine which has been implicated in the modulation of insulin action, energy, glucose and lipid homeostasis. Resistin has been associated with insulin resistance and many of its known complications. As a molecular link between metabolic signals, inflammation, and vascular dysfunction, resistin can be proposed as playing a significant role in the heightened inflammatory state induced by metabolic stress linked to excessive caloric intake, thus contributing to the risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS), type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In this review, we highlighted the role of resistin, as an inflammatory cytokine, in the…
Increased Connexin 43 Expression as a Potential Mediator of the Neuroprotective Activity of the Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone
2009
CRH is a major central stress mediator, but also a potent neuroprotective effector. The mechanisms by which CRH mediates its neuroprotective actions are largely unknown. Here, we describe that the gap junction molecule connexin43 (Cx43) mediates neuroprotective effects of CRH toward experimentally induced oxidative stress. An enhanced gap junction communication has been reported to contribute to neuroprotection after neurotoxic insults. We show that CRH treatment up-regulates Cx43 expression and gap junctional communication in a CRH receptor-dependent manner in IMR32 neuroblastoma cells, primary astrocytes, and organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. MAPKs and protein kinase A-cAMP response…
Stability and Predictors of Poor 6-min Walking Test Performance over 2 Years in Patients with COPD
2020
Poor performance in the 6-min walk test (6MWT <
Advances in detection and characterization of atherosclerosis using contrast agents targeting the macrophage
2006
With advances in imaging technology and our understanding of the role of inflammation in atherosclerosis, the macrophage appears to be an excellent target for imaging the progression of disease. In addition to imaging the macrophage with only 1 modality, contrast agents can be created that can be imaged with multiple modalities. This seems extremely attractive, as lesion morphology and characteristics can be determined with modalities that provide high picture resolution, such as CT or MRI, whereas macrophage quantity can be accurately determined through the creation of a radiolabeled contrast agent such as FDG via PET. Although this combination of imaging technologies may yield clinically …
Early developmental alterations of low-Mg2+ -induced epileptiform activity in the intact corticohippocampal formation of the newborn mouse in vitro.
2005
Abstract The generation, propagation and pharmacological properties of low-Mg 2+ -induced epileptiform activity were examined in the intact corticohippocampal formation (CHF) of the newborn (P0–4) mouse in vitro. Multi-site field potential recordings in dentate gyrus (DG), CA3, CA1, entorhinal cortex (EC) and temporal cortex (TC) revealed in 0.2 mM Mg 2+ -containing ACSF a stable pattern of spontaneous epileptiform activity consisting of recurrent ictal-like events (ILEs) and interictal events (IEs). Although this activity could be consistently observed as early as P0, ILEs were smaller in amplitude, less frequent and showed a slower onset in P0–2 as compared to P3–4 animals. In all age gro…
Protrhombotic Effects of Contraceptives
2010
The use of oral contraceptives first became widespread some 40 years ago, and reports of an excess risk of cardiovascular disease among women who used these agents soon followed. Few drugs have been the object of such intensive epidemiological research, the outcome of which has provided clinicians with detailed information about risks not only of specific thrombotic diseases but also important non-contraceptive benefits from the pill. Recently, oral contraceptives have been classified by some according to "generation" (first, second, third, and most recently, fourth generation): first-generation formulations containing lynestrenol or norethindrone, second-generation formulations containing …
From structural biochemistry to expression profiling: Neuroprotective activities of estrogen
2005
Abstract Estrogens are neuromodulatory and neuroprotective hormones. Chemically, estrogens are steroid compounds and unfold most of their activities through the activation of nuclear receptors that bind to specific target genes and control their transcription. Two subtypes of estrogen receptors are known (estrogen receptor α and estrogen receptor β) and they are expressed throughout the body including the CNS and in particular the brain. We employed large scale DNA-chip-analysis to display the gene expression pattern differentially regulated by both estrogen receptor subtypes in human neuronal cells. We identified different gene families regulated by estrogen receptors that complement the k…
Alteration of the Calcium Content in Inner Hair Cells of the Cochlea of the Guinea Pig after Acute Noise Trauma with and without Application of the O…
1999
Calcium ions are known to be important to the process of signal transduction across the apical and basal sides of the inner hair cells. Calcium channel antagonists have been demonstrated by light microscopy to provide protection against acoustic trauma. To evaluate the protective effect of calcium channel blocker on the inner ear cells to noise exposure, the amount of the histochemical reaction products formed in the cytoplasm of the inner hair cells of the guinea pig after application of pyroantimonate was measured by an image processing system connected to an energy-filtering transmission electron microscope (EFTEM). Compared to untreated control specimens (experimental animal group I) th…
The extent of adhesion induction through electrocoagulation and suturing in an experimental rat study.
2008
Objective To investigate the effect of three types of peritoneal trauma occurring during surgery (high-frequency bipolar current, suturing, and mechanical damage) on postoperative adhesion formation in a rodent animal model. Design Randomized, controlled experimental trial in an in vitro animal model. Setting Laboratory facilities of a university department of obstetrics and gynecology. Animal(s) Thirty-five female Wistar rats. Intervention(s) Bilateral experimental lesions were created on the abdominal wall in every animal. The effect of minimal electrocoagulation was examined by creating lesions (n = 14) through sweeps of a bipolar forceps with a duration of 1 second and standardized pres…
Methotrexate-Loaded Polymethylmethacrylate Bone Cement for Local Bone Metastasis Therapy: Pilot Animal Study in the Rabbit Patellar Groove
2008
Local chemotherapy is an option in bone metastasis treatment. On the other hand, evaluation of side effects on bone is a difficult issue in drug development and biomaterials research. Most animal models to date are inappropriate or not feasible. Rabbits are an alternative to other bigger mammals and have an appropriate bone structure compared to rats and mice. The patellar groove model of the rabbit offers a standardized and sensitive model to evaluate bone-compromising drug effects. We tested the system with a reproducible polymethacrylate implant as carrier and loaded this system with methotrexate. Three methotrexate concentrations were used in the test samples (250 mg, 1 g and 4 g per 40…