The glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS), present at the surface of most cells and ubiquitous in extracellular matrix, binds many soluble extracellular signalling molecules such as chemokines and growth factors, and regulates their transport and effector functions. It is, however, unknown whether upon binding HS these proteins can affect the long-range structure of HS. To test this idea, we i...

BACKGROUND Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk, but little information is available about its association with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). OBJECTIVES This study aims to analyze the association between SCH and hs-CRP using baseline data from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). METHODS The study has...

Heat stress (HS) is one of the costliest issues in the U.S. pork industry. Aims of the present study were to determine the consequences of repeated exposure to HS on growth performance, and the effects of a high fiber diet, the genetic potential for high lean tissue accretion, and the genetic potential for residual feed intake (RFI) on resilience to HS. Barrows (n = 97) from three genetic lines...

BACKGROUND Inflammation plays a major role in the development of atherosclerosis. We wanted to investigate the effects of exercise on high-sensitivity (hs) C-reactive protein (CRP) in subjects who were suspected of having coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS Blood samples were obtained before, 5 minutes after, and 20 hours after an exercise test in 155 subjects who were suspected of CAD. Co...

BACKGROUND The prognostic values of baseline, longitudinal high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and its change over time on mortality in patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) remain uncertain. METHODS We retrospectively studied 1228 consecutive CAPD patients from 2007 to 2012, and followed up through December 2014. Cox regression models were performed to...

Micropuncture studies of single nephrons have shown that macula densa solute reabsorption via a furosemide-sensitive pathway activates nitric oxide (NO) generation via neuronal NO synthase (nNOS). This pathway is enhanced during salt loading. We investigated the hypothesis that changes in NO generation via nNOS in the macula densa contribute to changes in whole kidney NO generation and action d...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE It is unclear whether elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) is causal to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. We undertook a prospective longitudinal cohort study to address this question. METHODS In a population-based sample of 3122 subjects, we measured carotid intima media thickness (IMT) at baseline and after 3 years and surveyed clinical events. Ass...

Glycosaminoglycan-modified isoforms of CD44 have been implicated in growth factor presentation at sites of inflammation. In the present study we show that COS cell transfectants expressing CD44 isoforms containing the alternatively spliced exon V3 are modified with heparan sulfate (HS). Binding studies with three HS-binding growth factors, basic-fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF), heparin binding...

Horner syndrome (HS) occurs when there is interruption of the oculosympathetic pathway. The causes of HS are various, but HS originated from herniated cervical disc is very few. HS attributable to the lesion of the first-order neuron of cervical spinal cord is extremely rare. A 41-year old male was admitted for sudden onset of left ptosis and right side numbness. Neurological examination reveal...

The objective was to examine differential timing of vitamin C (VC) supplementation during the finishing period (for the first 56, 90, or 127 d) on performance, VC, and glutathione (GSH) concentrations and carcass traits of steers receiving a 0.31 or 0.59% S diet. Angus steers (n = 42) were stratified to pens by initial BW (304 ± 13 kg) and GeneMax marbling score (4.3 ± 0.12), and pens were rand...