The inflammasome is a cytoplasmic multiprotein complex that has recently been identified in immune cells as an important sensor of signals released by cellular injury and death. Analogous to immune cells, hepatic stellate cells (HSC) also respond to cellular injury and death. Our aim was to establish whether inflammasome components were present in HSC and could regulate HSC functionality. Monos...

In this study, immunohistochemistry was used to clarify the early stages of viral kinetics and cycliccourse of IBDV, IR499, which has been described earlier as a very virulent strain (vvIBDV). Fifteen, 4-week-old SPF chickens were inoculated with 10³ EID50 of vvIBDV, IR499, via oculo/nasal route. Five birdsserved as controls, and inoculated with phosphate buffered saline (PBS). The birds were t...

background pomegranate (punica granatum) is a significant source of bioactive compounds. however, its toxicity is not intensively studied. objectives the current study investigated the safety and tolerability of pomegranate peel extract (ppe) in balb/c mice. conclusions the current study showed that ppe had no toxicity and its use is suggested with potential applications against diseases. resul...

OBJECTIVE Obesity promotes a chronic inflammatory condition in adipose tissue (AT). Impairment of insulin sensitivity coincides with infiltration of T cells into AT in early stages of obesity, when macrophages are not yet present. Here, we examine the role of invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, a subtype of T cells activated by lipid antigens, on glucose and lipid metabolism in obesity. ...

To evaluate the impact of gender and ablation β-carotene oxygenase 1 (BCO1), 2(BCO2) or both on tissue accumulation lycopene dosed transgenic mice. Previous work from our laboratories suggests that BCO2 appears to be primary carotenoid cleavage enzyme for in vivo. Three-week old C57BL/6 male female mice (wild type [WT], Bco1-/-, Bco2-/-, Bco1-/- X Bco2-/- double knock out [DKO]) were divided in...

background: recently, embryonic stem (es) cells have become very important resources in basic medical researches. these cells can differetiate into derivatives of all primary germ layers. objectives: in order to isolate embryonic stem cells in vitro, the blastocyst were cultured and the morphological aspects, population doubling time, alkalin phosphatse and differentiation properties of the cel...

background: the uterus is a dynamic tissue responding to hormonal changes during reproductive cycles. as such, uterine stem cells have been studied in recent years. transcription factors oct4 and sox2 are critical for effective maintenance of pluripotent cell identity. objective: the present research evaluated the mrna expression of oct4 and sox2 in the uterine tissues of ovariectomized mice tr...

  Objective(s): To appraise the antihepatotoxic efficacy of ethanolic extract of Operculum turpethum root on the liver of Swiss albino mice.   Materials and Methods:   Hepatic fibrosis was induced in adult male albino mice through intraperitoneal administrations of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) at the concentration of 10 mg/kg body weight. The liver toxicity and therapeutic effect of the ...

despite the fact that hepatic involvement is frequently seen in systemic primary amyloidosis, major hepatic symptoms as primary manifestation and severe impaired liver function are rare. herein, we report a 38-year-old woman with primary hepatic amyloidosis, and severe  portal hypertension . the patient had ascites and markedly elevated alkaline phosphatase level at presentation. she had a rapi...