Background Endothelium-derived C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) possesses cytoprotective and anti-atherogenic functions that regulate vascular tone and smooth-muscle relaxation and might be key in protecting against ischaemiareperfusion injury [1]. The finding that many of the vasoprotective effects of CNP are mediated by the natriuretic peptide receptor type-C (NPR-C) suggests that this recept...

Nitric oxide (NO) is implicated as an important mediator of, or intermediary in, inflammation, immunity and neurotransmission. In the kidney, NO is involved in haemodynamic regulation, control of vascular tone and tubular function. Formation of oxygen-derived free radicals (OFR) have been documented in renal ischaemiareperfusion before. In this study, we investigated the significance of NO form...

1. The effects of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME), nitroiminoethyl-L-ornithine and Smethylisothiourea on skeletal muscle survival following 2 h of tourniquet ischaemia and 24 h of reperfusion were compared with those of the antiinflammatory steroid, dexamethasone. 2. Administration of each of the NOS inhibitors or dexamethasone 30 min before...

Cyclooxygenase (COX), the key enzyme for synthesis of prostaglandins, exists in two isoforms (COX-1 and COX2). COX-1 is constitutively expressed in the gastrointestinal tract in large quantities and has been suggested to maintain mucosal integrity through continuous generation of prostaglandins. COX-2 is induced predominantly during inflammation. On this premise selective COX-2 inhibitors not a...

Cyclooxygenase (COX), the key enzyme for synthesis of prostaglandins, exists in two isoforms (COX-1 and COX2). COX-1 is constitutively expressed in the gastrointestinal tract in large quantities and has been suggested to maintain mucosal integrity through continuous generation of prostaglandins. COX-2 is induced predominantly during inflammation. On this premise selective COX-2 inhibitors not a...

Cyclooxygenase (COX), the key enzyme for synthesis of prostaglandins, exists in two isoforms (COX-1 and COX2). COX-1 is constitutively expressed in the gastrointestinal tract in large quantities and has been suggested to maintain mucosal integrity through continuous generation of prostaglandins. COX-2 is induced predominantly during inflammation. On this premise selective COX-2 inhibitors not a...

Activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway protects the heart from ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog deleted on Chromosome10 (PTEN) is a negative regulator of this pathway. The hypothesis on which this thesis was based stated that inhibition of PTEN would confer protection against ischaemia-reperfusion injury. PTEN was reduced using: 1) a PTEN inhibitor, bpV(HOpic), 2) a mous...

Renal allograft thrombosis may be responsible for 2–7% of early allograft losses in adults [1] and up to 35% in children [2]. The North American Pediatric Renal Transplant Cooperative Study (NAPRTCS) reported that graft thrombosis represented the main cause of graft failure in the first year. Most cases of renal allograft thrombosis occur early in the postoperative period with a peak incidence ...

Cyclooxygenase (COX), the key enzyme for synthesis of prostaglandins, exists in two isoforms (COX-1 and COX2). COX-1 is constitutively expressed in the gastrointestinal tract in large quantities and has been suggested to maintain mucosal integrity through continuous generation of prostaglandins. COX-2 is induced predominantly during inflammation. On this premise selective COX-2 inhibitors not a...