Search results for "physiologic"
showing 10 items of 2593 documents
Protein kinase C promotes angiogenic activity of human endothelial cells via induction of vascular endothelial growth factor
2008
Aims Protein kinase C (PKC) plays an important role in the regulation of angiogenesis. However, downstream targets of PKC in endothelial cells are poorly defined. Methods and results mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was analysed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and HUVEC-derived EA.hy 926 cells. siRNA was used to knockdown PKC isoforms and VEGF. Matrigel tube formation assay was used to analyse the angiogenic activity of endothelial cells. Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) enhanced the ability of HUVEC to organize into tubular networks when plated on Matrigel, a phenomenon that could be prevented by PKC inhibi…
Priming with a Combination of Proangiogenic Growth Factors Enhances Wound Healing in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes in Mice
2010
<i>Background:</i> Numerous proangiogenic growth factors have been shown to improve impaired wound healing. This study evaluated the effects of subcutaneous pretreatment with a combination of proangiogenic growth factors on wound closure, mechanical properties, vessel density, and morphology. <i>Methods:</i> Thirty-six Balb/c mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were divided into 3 groups. A mixture of VEGF (35.0 µg), bFGF (2.5 µg), and PDGF (3.5 µg) was administered subcutaneously 3, 5, and 7 days prior to wounding in the first group, whereas the second group received three doses of 3.5 µg PDGF. Wound sizes were assessed daily and the repaired tissues were harv…
First clinical results with a new telemetric intracranial pressure-monitoring system.
2011
Background The knowledge of intracranial pressure (ICP) is the basis of an appropriate neurosurgical treatment. Because clinical, fundoscopic, or radiological data alone are often elusive, a pre- or postoperative long-term monitoring of the ICP itself is desirable. Objective We describe the first clinical experiences with a new telemetric ICP-monitoring device. Methods The transducer of this telemetric intraparenchymal pressure probe is placed under the galea over the calvaria. ICP can be monitored via a special telemetric reader, placed over the intact skin, and the ICP values are stored in a small portable computer. The system does not require an intensive care environment and can be used…
Comparison of anterior cingulate vs. insular cortex as targets for real-time fMRI regulation during pain stimulation
2014
© 2014 Emmert Breimhorst Bauermann Birklein Van De Ville and Haller. Real time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt fMRI) neurofeedback allows learning voluntary control over specific brain areas by means of operant conditioning and has been shown to decrease pain perception. To further increase the effect of rt fMRI neurofeedback on pain we directly compared two different target regions of the pain network notably the anterior insular cortex (AIC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Participants for this prospective study were randomly assigned to two age matched groups of 14 participants each (7 females per group) for AIC and ACC feedback. First a functional localizer using bloc…
General remarks on the role of the vestibular system in weightlessness
1987
Different methods are described to experimentally achieve weightlessness. Since the function of the otolith system depends on the presence of contact forces opposing gravity, it is disabled in weightlessness and may send misleading positional information to the brain. Without the contributions of the otolith system it is difficult in space to distinguish self-motion from object motion. Furthermore, the disintegration of information from the neck position receptors from those of the otolith system can lead to additional illusory positional sensations. Since the function of the semicircular canal system in previous space flights was found to be essentially undisturbed, the vestibular experime…
Ecological, morphological and genetic characterization of sympatric Haemonchus spp. parasites of domestic ruminants in Mauritania
1995
SUMMARYThe 4 species of ruminants (dromedary, zebu cattle, sheep and goat) in arid areas of Mauritania harboured Haemonchus spp. as the most frequent internal parasite. This was a rare situation where the 3 putative species, H. longistipes (dromedary), H. placet (zebu cattle) and H. contortus (sheep and goat) occurred sympatrically. The study was undertaken on hosts slaughtered at the Nouakchott abattoir, on the basis of monthly collection of worms. The environment was very unfavourable to H. placei and unfavourable to H. contortus, as intensity of infection remained low throughout the year, whereas infection in the dromedary was 10 to 20-fold higher. The survival strategies during the long…
Sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) bacterial infection and confinement stress acts on F-type lectin (DlFBL) serum modulation
2014
The F-lectin, a fucose-binding protein found from invertebrates to ectothermic vertebrates, is the last lectin family to be discovered. Here, we describe effects of two different types of stressors, bacterial infection and confinement stress, on the modulation of European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax (L.) F-lectin (DlFBL), a well-characterized serum opsonin, using a specific antibody. The infection of the Vibrio alginolyticus bacterial strain increased the total haemagglutinating activity during the 16-day testing period. The DlFBL value showed an upward regulation on the first, second and last days and underwent a slight downward regulation 4 days post-challenge. In contrast, the effect o…
LOCAL ADAPTATION, RESISTANCE, AND VIRULENCE IN A HEMIPARASITIC PLANT-HOST PLANT INTERACTION
2000
Coevolution may lead to local adaptation of parasites to their sympatric hosts. Locally adapted parasites are, on average, more infectious to sympatric hosts than to allopatric hosts of the same species or their fitness on the sympatric hosts is superior to that on allopatric hosts. We tested local adaptation of a hemiparasitic plant, Rhinanthus serotinus (Scrophulariaceae), to its host plant, the grass Agrostis capillaris. Using a reciprocal cross-infection experiment, we exposed host plants from four sites to hemiparasites originating from the same four sites in a common environment. The parasites were equally able to establish haustorial connections to sympatric and allopatric hosts, and…
Adaptation to iron deficiency in human pathogenic fungi
2020
Iron is an essential micronutrient for virtually all eukaryotic organisms and plays a central role during microbial infections. Invasive fungal diseases are associated with strikingly high rates of mortality, but their impact on human health is usually underestimated. Upon a fungal infection, hosts restrict iron availability in order to limit the growth and virulence of the pathogen. Here, we use two model yeasts, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, to delve into the response to iron deficiency of human fungal pathogens, such as Candida glabrata, Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Cryptococcus neoformans. Fungi possess common and species-specific mechanisms to a…
Naming People Ignoring Semantics in a Patient with Left Frontal Damage
1999
Studies about proper name anomia generally assume that persons' names are harder to recall than other semantic information one knows about them and that name retrieval is not possible without biographical knowledge. We describe a patient, SB, who, after a left frontal haemorrhage, was unable to recall any biographical information about people she could name. Moreover, she had a normal score in an Object Picture Naming Test, but gave confabulatory answers in a Semantic Questionnaire involving the same items. The role of frontal function in producing this pattern of impairment is discussed, together with the possible existence of a direct route from visual perception to proper name retrieval.