Specific antisera to collagen Types I, II and III and proteoglycan were used to investigate the distributions of these molecules in normal human intervertebral discs. Immunofluorescent staining indicated the presence of small amounts of Type III collagen located pericellularly in normal adult intervertebral discs. This finding had not been demonstrated previously by other methods. Similar speci...

Purpose To investigate the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase-activated protein kinase-2 (MK2) in ocular surface damage of dry eye. Methods MK2 inhibition was performed in mice subjected to desiccating stress (DS) by topical application of MK2 inhibitor (MK2i) or vehicle eye drops. The total and phosphorylated MK2 in conjunctiva were detected by Western blot. The phenol red cotton test ...

Microscopical examination of 927 Giemsa-stained conjunctival smears from children with chronic trachoma in southern Tunisia showed 93 (10 per cent.) with typical trachoma (chlamydial) inclusions in epithelial cells. The accompanying cytological features were a useful indicator for inclusions. Inclusions were found only in slides with numerous polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) and separation ...

mycoplasma genitalium (m.genitalium) is a sexually transmitted pathogen. detection of this microorganism in clinical specimens by culture is rather difficult and time consuming. the aim of this study was to produce polyclonal antibody against a synthetic peptide from p110 protein of m.genitalium in order to develop a diagnostic tool for detection of this microorganism in clinical specimens. a s...

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS AlloDerm (LifeCell Corp., Branchburg, NJ) is commonly employed for reconstruction of ablative soft tissue and mucosal defects following surgical resections. Although devoid of growth factors, AlloDerm may serve as an adhesive matrix for binding of growth factors, increasing local angiogenesis, and wound healing. We hypothesized that AlloDerm would enhance angiogenesis and ...

Glycolysis emerges as a new therapeutic target for malignancies. The inhibition of glycolytic activator, PFKFB3, repairs tumor endothelial cell function, and normalizing the microenvironment. We aimed to investigate significance PFKFB3 in HCC, effects inhibitor, PFK15, HCC cells cells. Double immunofluorescent staining CD31 tissues revealed that high expression both was significantly correlated...

Mesangial cells are located within glomerular capillary loops and contribute to the physiological regulation of glomerular hemodynamics. The function of mesangial cells is controlled by a variety of ion channels in the plasma membrane, including nonselective cation channels, receptor-operated Ca2+ channels, and recently identified store-operated Ca2+ channels. Although the significance of these...