Cholestasis, a hallmark feature of hepatobiliary disease, is characterized by the retention of biliary constituents. Some of these constituents, such as bile acids, inflict damage to hepatocytes and bile duct cells. This damage may lead to inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and eventually carcinogenesis, sequelae that aggravate the underlying disease and deteriorate clinical outcome. Canalicula...

Peroxisome-proliferator responsive element (PPRE) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) response element have been found in the gene sequence of superoxide dismutase (SOD). This study determines the PPARs and NF-κB expression and SOD activity in damaged livers of rats with obstructive jaundice. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 120) were randomly assigned into four groups: sham 7 days post-surgery (Sham 7), bil...

Cellular signaling relies on macromolecules to transduce stimuli information into conformational changes (Changeux and Edelstein, 2005). The mechanisms by which macromolecules accomplish this feat are often allosteric: a small stimulus applied at one area of the macromolecule regulates behavior at locations structurally distant from the active site of stimulation. A detailed and mechanistic und...

Background: The aim of our study was to determine whether intermittent hemodiafiltration (HDF) leads to an alteration in monocyte antiviral activity as well as in the in vitro release of cytokines such as interleukin-12 (IL12), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-α (IFN-α) by the same cells. Methods: We enrolled 25 patients undergoing HDF for 3.5-4 hours 3 times a week (12 men, 13 wo...

Amyoplasia is a specific type and the most common form of arthrogryposis (multiple congenital contractures). It is a clinical diagnosis at this time. Care should be used making the diagnosis because of the implications for recurrence, natural history, associated anomalies, and both etiology and pathogenesis. We reviewed over 600 published reports and 2,500 individual records to identify the 560...

INTRODUCTION. .................................................................. 559 Description of zigzag culms.. ...................................................... 560 Terminology ..................................................................... 560 Inheritance of zigzag culms.. ...................................................... 560 Behavior in the FI and FS generations.. ...........