Neovascularization that generates collateral blood flow can limit the extent of tissue damage after acute ischemia caused by occlusion of the primary blood supply. The neovascular response stimulated by the BB homodimeric form of recombinant platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) was evaluated for its capacity to protect tissue from necrosis in a rat skin flap model of acutely induced ischemi...

BACKGROUND Genetic variations in vitamin D receptor (VDR) may contribute to tuberculosis (TB) risk. Many studies have investigated the association between VDR BsmI gene polymorphism and TB risk, but yielded inconclusive results. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS We performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of 15 publications with a total of 2309 cases and 3568 controls. We assessed the strength of...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease where the degeneration of the nigrostriatal pathway leads to specific motor deficits. There is an unmet medical need for regenerative treatments that stop or reverse disease progression. Several growth factors have been investigated in clinical trials to restore the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway damaged in PD. Platelet-derived growth ...

Thyroid autoimmune reactions start with an accumulation of mainly dendritic cells in the thyroid. There is increasing evidence that, apart from being antigen-presenting cells, they are also able to control the growth and hormone synthesis of neighbouring endocrine cells. The questions thus arise: are dendritic cells accumulating in the pre-autoimmune thyroid in response to an altered proliferat...

Biomass burning (BB) is a large source of primary and secondary organic aerosols (POA and SOA). This study addresses the physical and chemical evolution of BB organic aerosols. Firstly, the evolution and lifetime of BB POA and SOA signatures observed with the Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer are investigated, focusing on measurements at high-latitudes acquired during the 2008 NASA ARCTAS miss...

The effect of prolonged diabetes on epinephrine-induced adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) response in the liver was examined in diabetes-prone BB/W rats. Basal and 1,iM epinephrineinduced cAMP release from isolated perfused liver was similar in non-diabetic and diabetic BB/W rats with preserved adipose tissue. In adipose tissue-absent diabetic rats losing intraand retro-peritoneal adipose ti...

p-Phenylenediamine (PPD) is a component of certain henna tattoo and hair dye formulations. Human exposure to PPD containing products is associated with the development of T-cell mediated allergic contact dermatitis. Antigen-specific T-cells from allergic contact dermatitis patients are activated with either PPD or Bandrowskis base (BB), the metabolized trimer of PPD. In non-allergic individuals...

We assessed the reported presence of creatine kinase-BB isoenzyme in the serum of patients with chronic renal failure. Our study showed that the blood of these patients contains a fluorescent material with an electrophoretic mobility similar to that of the BB isoenzyme on cellulose acetate strips. The fluorescing material is, however, completely distinct from BB isoenzyme and its nature is as y...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects and molecular mechanism of (-)-epicatechin-3-O-β-D-allopyranoside from Davallia formosana (BB) (also known as Gu-Sui-Bu) on type 1 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. This plant was demonstrated to display antioxidant activities and possess polyphenol contents. Diabetic mice were randomly divid...