Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) is a mesenchyme-derived pleiotropic factor that regulates cell growth, cell motility, and morphogenesis of various cells, and is thus considered a humoral mediator of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions. We previously identified HGF as a novel member of the family of endothelium-specific growth factors. Moreover, the presence of a local HGF system (HGF and its spe...

Various predisposing situations or conditions have been associated with a heightened risk of serious complications following therapeutic irradiation (XRT). Some examples include diabetes,1 ataxia telangiectasia,2 collagen vascular diseases such as scleroderma, lupus, or CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, and telangiectasia),3,4 or prior abdomi...

Ammonia is known to be a potent neurotoxin that causes severe negative effects on the central nervous system. Excessive ammonia levels have been detected in the brain of patients with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer disease (AD). Therefore, ammonia could be a factor contributing to the progression of AD. In this review, we provide an introduction to the toxicity of ammonia and putative...