Mechanisms underlying the rupture of atherosclerotic plaque, a crucial factor in the development of myocardial infarction and stroke, are not well defined. Here, we examined the role of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) on the stability of interstitial collagens in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from carotid endarterectomy tissues of symptomat...

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) seems to enhance the pro-fibrotic protein synthesis by skin fibroblasts and its effects are mediated by endothelin-A and B (ETA and ETB) receptors. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ETA and ETB receptor antagonists (ETARA-sitaxsentan and ETA/BRA-bosentan) on type I collagen (COL-1), fibronectin (FN) and fibrillin-1 (FBL-1) synthesis in primary cultures of skin f...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test preference and examine the association between test preference and test completed. METHODS Patients (n = 1224) were 50-70 years, at average CRC risk, and overdue for screening. Outcome variables were preference for fecal occult blood test (FOBT), colonoscopy (COL), sigmoidoscopy...

The maintenance of stem or progenitor cell fate relies on intrinsic factors as well as local cues from the cellular microenvironment and systemic signaling. In the lymph gland, an hematopoietic organ in Drosophila larva, a group of cells called the Posterior Signaling Centre (PSC), whose specification depends on the EBF transcription factor Collier (Col) and the HOX factor Antennapedia (Antp), ...

The ability of colchicine (Col) to interfere with suppressor cells specific for the soluble protein antigen human gamma globulin (HGG) has been examined. This interference may be the mechanism of the adjuvanticity promoted by Col. When injected into A/J mice at the appropriate time and concentration, both Col and cyclophosphamide promoted an adjuvant increase in the plaque-forming cell response...

The recyclability of water-soluble ruthenium – phosphine complex catalysts was investigated in water – toluene and in water – pressurized carbon dioxide systems for selective hydrogenation of trans-cinnamaldehyde (CAL). For the first hydrogenation run, the selectivity for cinnamyl alcohol (COL) is high for both toluene and dense CO2, because of interfacial catalysis in which the reaction mainly...

BACKGROUND Community learning and e-mentoring, learning methods used in higher education, are not used to any extent in residency education. Yet both have the potential to enhance resident learning and, in the case of community learning, introduce residents to basic lifelong learning skills. We set out to determine whether residents participating in an Internet based e-mentoring program would, ...

BACKGROUND Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is considered resistant to ionizing radiation. Recently, the extracellular matrix (ECM) has been shown to play a role in both drug resistance and radiation resistance (RR). While fibronectin has been extensively investigated in the context of RR, the role of type I collagen [col(I)], a principal constituent of the ECM in tumour metastases, in RR of RCC is u...

In degenerative intervertebral discs (IVD), type X collagen (COL X) expression (associated with hypertrophic differentiation) and calcification has been demonstrated. Suppression of COL X expression and calcification during disc degeneration can be therapeutic. In the present study we investigated the potential of human parathyroid hormone 1-34 (PTH) in suppressing indicators of calcification p...

J. I. de la Rosa [email protected] Unidad Académica de Ingenierı́a Eléctrica, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Antiguo Camino a la Bufa No. 1, Col. Centro. C. P. 98000, Zacatecas, Zac., México J. Villa-Hernandez Unidad Académica de Ingenierı́a Eléctrica, Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas, Antiguo Camino a la Bufa No. 1, Col. Centro. C. P. 98000, Zacatecas, Zac., México E. de la Rosa M. Unidad A...