Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) play a crucial role in regulating cancer progression, yet the molecular determinant that governs the tumor regulatory role of CAF remains unknown. Using a mouse melanoma model in which exogenous melanoma cells were grafted on the skin of two lines of mice where the genetic activation or inactivation of Notch1 signaling specifically occurs in natural host stro...

Sarcopenia is a recently defined medical condition described as age-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass and function. Recently, a transgenic mouse model was described linking dispersal of the neuromuscular junction caused by elevated agrin degradation to the rapid onset of sarcopenia. These mice show a significant elevation of serum levels of a C-terminal agrin fragment (CAF) compared to wi...

Purpose: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) actively participate in reciprocal communication with tumor cells and with other cell types in the microenvironment, contributing to a tumor-permissive neighborhood and promoting tumor progression. The aim of this study is the characterization of how CAFs from primary human colon tumors promote migration of colon cancer cells. Experimental design: Pr...

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to analyze the electrophysiologic characteristics of paroxysmal (PAF) and chronic (CAF) atrial fibrillation (AF) in the human right atrium (RA). BACKGROUND Differences that exist between PAF and CAF and the mechanisms of self-sustenance of these arrhythmias are incompletely understood. METHODS A total of 53 patients with PAF (25 patients, mean age 59 +/- ...

UNLABELLED Tumor cells lacking the functional p53 suppressor gene may arrest at the G2 phase of the cell cycle after exposure to ionizing radiation, resulting in increased radioresistance. Methylxanthines (MTXs), such as pentoxifylline (PTX) or caffeine (CAF), can inhibit the G2-phase checkpoint arrest of damaged cells and thus radiosensitize them. However, the effect of MTX in cells irradiated...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to compare the voltage-dependent K(+) currents of human cells of the right and left atria and determine whether electrical remodeling produced by chronic atrial fibrillation (CAF) is chamber-specific. BACKGROUND Several data point to the existence of interatrial differences in the repolarizing currents. Therefore, it could be possible that CAF-induced ...

This study evaluated the effects of ingesting sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or caffeine individually or in combination on high-intensity cycling capacity. In a counterbalanced, crossover design, 13 healthy, noncycling trained males (age: 21 ± 3 years, height: 178 ± 6 cm, body mass: 76 ± 12 kg, peak power output (Wpeak): 230 ± 34 W, peak oxygen uptake: 46 ± 8 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)) performed a graded ...

The complex antenna factor (CAF) introduced to measure transient electromagnetic fields or electromagnetic pulses and its applications are investigated. The equations of the three-antenna method for determining the CAF of a dipole antenna, a log-periodic dipole array antenna (LPDA), and a monopole antenna are derived. The results of the waveform reconstructions using the CAF are compared with t...

During the last years an increased interest has been observed on tools analyzing collaborative interactions that could be useful for researchers, teachers, or even students. The paper presents such a tool, based on the formally defined Collaborative Activity Function (CAF). The empirical evaluation of CAF is also presented. The evaluation is focused on teachers using CAF during and after sessio...