For determining the implications of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (cEPCs) and cellular membrane microparticles (MPs) in diabetic stroke, levels of EPCs, EPC-MPs, and endothelium-derived MPs (EMPs) and their correlations with blood glucose concentration, cerebral microvascular density (cMVD), and ischemic damage were investigated in type 2 diabetic db/db and db/+ (wild-type control) m...

Microparticles (MPs) are small fragments generated from the plasma membrane after cell stimulation or apoptosis. We have recently shown that MPs harboring the morphogen Sonic Hedgehog (MPs(Shh+)) correct endothelial injury by release of nitric oxide from endothelial cells [Agouni, Mostefai, Porro, Carusio, Favre, Richard, Henrion, Martínez and Andriantsitohaina (2007) FASEB J., 21, 2735-2741]. ...

Multinucleated giant cells of mononuclear phagocyte origin (monocyte or macrophage polykaryons [MPs] ) are seen in numerous different normal and pathologic states. We have previously shown that gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) induces fusion of uninuclear monocytes (UMs) to form MPs. This study was designed to characterize these IFN-gamma-induced MPs. Control and IFN-gamma-treated UMs and MPs did n...

BACKGROUND The Society of Hospital Medicine has delineated procedures as one of the core competencies for hospitalists. Little is known about whether exposure to a medical procedure service (MPS) impacts the procedural certification rate in internal medicine trainees in a community hospital training program. OBJECTIVE To determine whether or not exposure to an MPS would impact both the number...

Short stature is characteristic of patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) diseases. For children with skeletal dysplasias, such as MPS, it is important to know the natural history of growth. An understanding of the natural growth pattern in each MPS disease provides a measurement to which treatments can be compared, as well as data which can help families and providers make individualized de...

The melanocytes in vitiligo repigmentation are derived predominantly from melanocyte precursors (MPs) present in the outer root sheath (ORS) of hair follicles. The methods currently used for culturing MPs are unstable, and the cultured cells have the capacity to produce melanin. These factors are problematic when conducting in vitro studies to investigate the mechanism of repigmentation. Althou...

When rheumatologists think of mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS), if they think of it at all, it is likely they will think of a rare, inherited, chronic and progressive condition that affects young children. This is true for severe or fast progressing MPS, which is usually diagnosed by paediatric rheumatologists. There are, however, attenuated or slow-progressing forms that are less well known and pat...

The present study aimed to investigate the time course of changes in microparticles (MPs) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) that underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary intervention (PCI). A total of 24 STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI were enrolled, and circulating MPs were detected immediately prior to and after PCI, and at 4, 24 and 48 h post-PCI. ...

OBJECTIVE To describe the outcome of penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for corneal opacification in the setting of systemic mucopolysaccharidoses (MPS). METHODS A consecutive case series and literature review. RESULTS Eight eyes from 5 patients with MPS (MPS I, MPS IV, and MPS VI) and a history of PK met inclusion criteria for our case series at the University of Minnesota Medical Center. The m...

Pleural biomarkers allowing to mini-invasively discriminate benign from malignant pleural effusions are needed. Among potential candidates, microparticles (MPs) are extracellular vesicles that vectorize antigen derived from the parent cell. We hypothesized that tumor-derived MPs could be present in the pleural liquid and help to identify patients with malignant pleural effusions. Using highly s...