BACKGROUND Chemotherapy-induced nuclear factor kappaB (NFκB) activation is thought to play a key role in acquisition of chemoresistance by cancer cells. We focused on blockade of this activation by using the observation so-called 'desensitization' of NFκB using known NFκB activator, doxycycline. MATERIALS AND METHODS The human pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 was incubated with doxycycline,...

Mechanisms of action of anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) antibodies in therapy for inflammatory bowel disease are incompletely understood. Binding of antibodies to transmembrane TNF seems to be crucial for the induction of several cellular responses, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and reverse signaling. However significant, the...

Background. One-lung ventilation (OLV) during thoracic surgery may induce alveolar cell damage and release of proinflammatory mediators. The current trial was planned to evaluate effect of propofol versus isoflurane anesthesia on alveolar and systemic immune modulation during thoracic surgery. Methods. Fifty adult patients undergoing open thoracic surgery were randomly assigned to receive propo...

BACKGROUND Thoracotomy induces severe postoperative pain and impairment of pulmonary function, and therefore regional analgesia has been intensively studied in this procedure. Thoracic epidural analgesia is commonly considered the "gold standard" in this setting; however, evaluation of the evidence is needed to assess the comparative benefits of alternative techniques, guide clinical practice a...

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is characterized by mood, vegetative, cognitive, and even psychotic symptoms and signs that can cause substantial impairments in quality of life and functioning. Up to now, the exact pathogenesis of MDD remains poorly understood. Recent research has begun to reveal that the pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), play an integra...

Background The rationale for injection of epidural medications through the needle is to promote sooner onset of pain relief relative to dosing through the epidural catheter given that needle injection can be performed immediately after successful location of the epidural space. Some evidence indicates that dosing medications through the epidural needle results in faster onset and improved quali...

Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapies are successful in the treatment of inflammatory disorders. However, some patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) fail to response anti-TNF drugs due to the compensation of other inflammatory signals. In this study, to reduce compensatory responses of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) during TNF-α inhibition, we generated an IgG-like bispecific antibodiy (bsAb) ...

BACKGROUND Central neuraxial blockades find widespread applications. Severe complications are believed to be extremely rare, but the incidence is probably underestimated. METHODS A retrospective study of severe neurologic complications after central neuraxial blockades in Sweden 1990-1999 was performed. Information was obtained from a postal survey and administrative files in the health care ...

Zika virus (ZIKV) has recently caused a worldwide outbreak of infections associated with severe neurological complications, including microcephaly in infants born from infected mothers. ZIKV exhibits high neurotropism and promotes neuroinflammation and neuronal cell death. We have recently demonstrated that N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) blockade by memantine prevents ZIKV-induced neuron...