Gingival biopsy specimens were obtained from 9 smokers and 7 non-smokers during routine flap surgical procedure to investigate the effects of cigarette smoking on gingival epithelium and connective tissue. Although no remarkable histopathological difference was noted between gingival tissues of smokers and non-smokers, but smokers revealed relatively more epithelial keratosis, inflammatory cell...

 Gastrointestinal disorders: abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting.  General disorders and administration site conditions: malaise, peripheral edema, pyrexia.  Immune System Disorders: Drug hypersensitivity to include facial edema, urticaria, angioedema and laryngeal edema.  Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders: myalgia  Nervou...

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDMS) is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by muscle weakness and a distinctive rash caused by underlying vasculopathy. Long-term complications include subcutaneous and muscular calcification, contractures and in some cases the gradual development of a second connective tissue disease. Early aggressive treatment with systemic immunosuppressants and other a...

MT1-MMP is a membrane-bound matrix metalloproteinase (MT-MMP) capable of mediating pericellular proteolysis of extracellular matrix components. MT1-MMP is therefore thought to be an important molecular tool for cellular remodeling of the surrounding matrix. To establish the biological role of this membrane proteinase we generated MT1-MMP-deficient mice by gene targeting. MT1-MMP deficiency caus...

The discovery of a form of collagen which can be extracted from fresh connective tissue in cold, neutral, and mildly aklaline media (1-5) has suggested that a fraction of the total collagen exists in a dispersed or loosely aggregated state in the extracellular, extrafibrillar matrix of the connective tissues. The process whereby a dispersion of collagen molecules (tropocollagen (6)) might be po...

In fibrous connective tissues, fibroblasts are organized into syncytia, cellular networks that enable matrix remodeling and that are interconnected by intercellular adherens junctions (AJs). The AJs of fibroblasts are mediated by N-cadherin, a broadly expressed classical cadherin that is critically involved in developmental processes, wound healing and several diseases of mesenchymal tissues. I...

Dystrophic calcinosis cutis was commonly described in long-term dermatomyositis or systemic sclerosis, being rarely reported in other connective tissue diseases. We report the case of a 65-years old woman with an only 5-years history of systemic lupus erythematosus, who presents with multiple, impressive subcutaneous calcified masses and biological normal serum calcium and phosphate levels.

Adipose tissue is a connective tissue specified for energy metabolism and endocrines, but functional differences between subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) have not been fully elucidated. To reveal the physiological role of SAT, we characterized in vivo tissue development and in vitro adipocyte differentiation. In a DNA microarray analysis of SAT and VAT in Wist...

The discovery of a form of collagen which can be extracted from fresh connective tissue in cold, neutral, and mildly aklaline media (1-5) has suggested that a fraction of the total collagen exists in a dispersed or loosely aggregated state in the extracellular, extrafibrillar matrix of the connective tissues. The process whereby a dispersion of collagen molecules (tropocollagen (6)) might be po...

The discovery of a form of collagen which can be extracted from fresh connective tissue in cold, neutral, and mildly aklaline media (1-5) has suggested that a fraction of the total collagen exists in a dispersed or loosely aggregated state in the extracellular, extrafibrillar matrix of the connective tissues. The process whereby a dispersion of collagen molecules (tropocollagen (6)) might be po...