Search

Hantavirus hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a zoonotic disease characterized by acute onset, fever, malaise, and back pain. As the disease progresses, hemorrhagic disturbances and kidney dysfunctions predominate. The examination of tissue collected postmortem supports the premise that virus replication is not responsible for this pathology; therefore, it is widely believed that virus-induced immune responses lead to the clinical manifestations associated with HFRS. The overproduction of inflammatory cytokines is commonly reported in subjects with HFRS and has given rise to the hypothesis that a so-called 'cytokine storm' may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Currently, supportive care remains the only effective treatment for HFRS. Our data show that serum levels of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, CCL2, and IL-12 are upregulated in HFRS cases when compared to healthy controls and the level of upregulation is dependent on the phase and severity of the disease. Furthermore, we observed an association between the mild form of the disease and elevated serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-12. Collectively, these observations suggest that the administration of exogenous IFN-γ and IL-12 may provide antiviral benefits for the treatment of HFRS and, thus, warrants further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of La Radiologia Medica is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Surface Coatings International Part B: Coatings Transactions is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Discusses muscle contraction at the molecular level and shows that the power stroke can be regenerated much faster than expected from the ATPase rate. How the contradiction inherent in these results can be resolved; Rate of regeneration of the power stroke and the size of the conditioning release; More.

Impairment of cell-mediated immunity in patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors has repeatedly been reported but data to demonstrate the undelying immunological defect are not univocal. This report concerns a series of 31 patients harboring a glioma in which we studied: The same parameters were also evaluated in 7 cases of intracranial meningioma and in 8 patients affected by non-proliferative, non-inflammatory CNS diseases. Thirty age-matched healthy volunteers formed the control group. Neither impairment of Tcells as regard to number, responsiveness and subsets, nor abnormal Ig values were found in these groups. However two patients, harboring respectively a third ventricle low grade astrocytoma and an anterior callosal glioblastoma, presented a striking Tcells impairment. These findings might suggest a correlation between hypothalamus and immune system, as already postulated by several previous experimental and clinical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the role of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a vasoconstrictor and mitogenic peptide synthesized by endothelial cells, on the endothelial dysfunction in non-insulin-dependent diabetic (type 2) patients, we have measured the circulating ET-1 levels in 25 patients with and without clinically evident vascular complications and in a control group. Circulating ET-1 levels were significantly higher in diabetic patients with angiopathy than in diabetics without angiopathy and in controls (7.02±2.9 pg/ml vs 4.4±1.1 pg/ml and 3.08±0.7 pg/ml, respectively; P<0.001). No difference was demonstrated between diabetic patients without angiopathy and controls. These findings suggest that ET-1 may be a marker for arterial vascular disease only in patients with overt angiopathy. It is unclear whether it participates in the endothelial injury process or it is merely released from damaged endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of specific IgA antibodies in sera from 25 infants born to HIV-1 seropositive mothers was investigated by peptide-ELISA and peptide time-resolved fluoro-immunoassay (TR-FIA). The infants had been monitored at different times after birth for clinical signs and/or symptoms of HIV-1 infection and for detection of HIV-1 in lymphocyte cultures. Serum samples had also been tested for HIV-1 IgG antibodies by commercial ELISA and Western blot and for p24 antigen. Eleven of 25 children were then identified as infected. IgA detection was performed after rProtein G treatment to remove interfering IgG. In the infected group, IgA specific antibodies to a synthetic peptide representing a highly conserved region of the transmembrane glycoprotein gp41 (env: 594-613) were detected in 27 (73%) out of 37 serum samples (9 of 11 children) by the peptide-ELISA test. IgA specific antibodies to the same peptide were found in 30 (81%) sera (9 of 11 children) by the peptide-TR-FIA. Specific HIV-1 IgA antibodies were detected as early as 2 months of age in serum samples from five out of seven children (71% sensitivity) using peptide-ELISA and from six out of seven (86% sensitivity) by peptide-TR-FIA. Conversely, IgA specific antibodies to HIV-1 were absent in two infected children as well as in the sera of all uninfected children tested during the follow up period. Since maternal IgA does not cross the placenta, IgA detection in the serum of the infant is indicative of HIV-1 infection.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Stiffness measurements were performed during the rise, the plateau and the relaxation of tetanic contractions both in whole single muscle fibres and in tendonfree fibre segments under either fixed-end or length-clamp conditions. Fibres were isolated from the tibialis anterior muscle of the frog. Experiments were performed at 2-6° C. Changes in length of tendon-free fibre segments were monitored by means of a 'striation follower', an optoelectronic device which, during contraction, measured sarcomere displacement at the level of two selected regions of a fibre. 2. Fast length perturbations imposed at one tendon end of a fibre during the plateau of tetanic contractions distribute uniformly along its length. 3. During the tetanus rise stiffness led isometric tension in whole fibres under fixed conditions as well as in tendon-free fibre segments under length-clamp conditions. 4. It was confirmed that a significant part of the unlinearity of T relations is determined by tendon compliance. 5. During the isometric phase of relaxation in fixed-end tetani, the decline of tension led that of stiffness both in whole fibres and in tendon-free fibre segments. 6. It is concluded that the shift observed between stiffness and tension during tetanus rise and relaxation represents a true specific event in the contractile process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The time course of the contractile process was investigated in the presence of AR-L 115BS, a twitch potentiator which is thought to increase the rate of the Ca binding by troponin and to improve the Ca mobilization from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. AR-L 115BS increased markedly the rate of development of the force-velocity ( T-V) relation and of the isometric tetanic tension. The effect on the rate of development of the T-V relation was however substantially more intense than that on the speed of rise of tetanic tension, thus reducing considerably the isometric tension level at which the T-V relation attained its final characteristics. The velocity of shortening under zero load and the degree of curvature of the T-V relation were not affected by AR-L 115BS. These findings support the view that the development of the T-V relation and the rise of the isometric tetanic tension measure the time course of two different processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The force-velocity relation was determined at preset times after the beginning of the stimulus volley, either at low isometric tensions, during the raising phase of tetanus and the recovery after a quick release imposed at the plateau, or at the steady state. It is concluded that the characteristics of the force-velocity relation may be used to express the actual level of activation at any time during the contractile process and that the mechanical output of frog twitch muscle fibres implies two distinct steps: (i) activation of the contractile machinery; (ii) production of force. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The high-resolution 1H NMR (MRS) spectra of human brain tumor homogenates revealed a broad resonance at 5.3–5.4 ppm in glioblastoma multiforme ( N = 16) and brain metastases ( N = 2). The broad resonance was identified as ceramide, a sphingosine–fatty acid combination portion of ganglioside, indicating an elevated abundance of monounsaturated fatty acids. GLC analysis of gangliosides in the highly malignant glioblastoma multiforme revealed that the elevated monounsaturated fatty acid is oleic acid (C18:1). The resonance at 5.3–5.4 ppm region was not detectable in normal human brain ( N = 2), in meningiomas ( N = 2), or in low-grade astrocytomas ( N = 12). In normal human brain the abundance of monounsaturated fatty acid is minimal. 2. This investigation was made possible because the method of producing homogenate resulted in (i) no loss of lipids during the process and (ii) a well-homogenised sample, with (iii) no loss in chemical integrity. 3. The properties of tumor gangliosides include antigenic specificity and immunosuppresive activity and the ceramide, a sphingosine–fatty acid combination, noticeably influences the ganglioside immunosuppressive activity. 4. The observation of 1H NMR ceramide resonance in high-malignant brain tumors emphasizes the dramatic role of aberrant gangliosides and ceramide precursors on the grade of malignancy and invasiveness. 5. Further insight into the specific nature of the ceramide portion of gangliosides in grading the malignancy of brain tumors should be investigated further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied sterility and toxicity of vaccine LS1 containing aberrant gangliosides isolated from brain bioptates of 48 patients with gliomas of different malignancy and covalently bound to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. The vaccine was safe. This preparation produced no side effects in experimental animals. Our findings substantiated the necessity of father development of this method of vaccination. The vaccine should undergo clinical tests in patients with malignant gliomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the elementary force-generating process in muscles, which is thought to be due to a structural `working stroke' in the myosin head domain. Use of improved measurement techniques to show that the myosin heads move by about 10 nm with the same time course as the elementary force-generating process. How motor proteins such as myosin, dynein and kinesin use the free energy of ATP hydrolysis to produce force or motion.

An impairment of mitochondrial function may contribute to the pathophysiology of myotonic dystrophy (MyD). Coenzyme Q[sub 10] (CoQ[sub 10] ) deficiency has been previously observed, even if in an restricted sample of patients. The aim of this investigation was to obtain more information about coenzyme Q[sub 10] and its relationships to the aerobic metabolism in a group of MyD patients. Serum CoQ[sub 10] appeared significantly reduced with respect to normal controls: 0.93±0.22 vs. 1.58±0.28 μg/ml (p<0.05). Moreover, the results demonstrated an inverse tendency between CoQ[sub 10] levels and the CTG expansion degree. Basal blood lactate levels were significantly higher than controls (p<0.05). A borderline inverse correlation between CoQ[sub 10] and lactate, corresponding to lactate threshold, was found. These data suggest a possible role of CoQ[sub 10] in the pathogenesis of MyD, which may be mediated by mechanisms of cellular damage common to the oxidative pathway. Therapeutic strategies may be devised by virtue of this rationale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a patient with MELAS treated for 24 months with idebenone and riboflavin, during which no stroke-like episodes occured. Moreover neurological symptoms clearly improved, and a recovery of brain MRI and EEG abnormalities was observed. We conclude that the combined treatment with idebenone and riboflavin may restore the metabolic impairment in MELAS, possibly improving the long-term prognosis in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]