Cell-surface death receptors such as DR4 and DR5 trigger apoptosis through a death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) that recruits the apical protease caspase-8. Apoptosis commitment requires efficient activation and autocatalytic release of caspase-8 into the cytoplasm to engage executioner caspases. While DISC recruitment initiates caspase-8 stimulation, full activation of the protease depend...

An electrodynamic balance (EDB) of the double ring double disc type has been designed for studying single microparticles. It allows electrostatic particle injection and recovery as well as alignment of elongated particles. The stability characteristics of cylindrical fibers and their alignment in this EDB are investigated. Angular as well as translational oscillations are observed, each associa...

Herniated intervertebral disc tissue has been shown to produce a number of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines, but there have been no similar studies using discs from patients with discogenic low back pain. We have compared the levels of production of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in disc tissue from patients undergoing discectomy for sciatica (63) ...

Formation of the death-inducing signaling complex (DISC) initiates extrinsic apoptosis. Caspase-8 and its regulator cFLIP control death signaling by binding to death-receptor-bound FADD. By elucidating the function of the caspase-8 homolog, caspase-10, we discover that caspase-10 negatively regulates caspase-8-mediated cell death. Significantly, we reveal that caspase-10 reduces DISC associatio...

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen which is naturally resistant to a large range of antibiotics like lots of Beta–Lactams (penicillins, cephalosporins and carbapenems) and may cause additional resistance after unsuccessful treatment. The understanding of beta-lactamase identification and detection in these bacteria is very valuable. In recent years a number of variety of new be...

Background: Stereoscopic assessment of the optic disc morphology is an important part of the care of patients with glaucoma. The aim of this study was to assess stereoviewing of stereoscopic optic disc images using an example of the new technology of autostereoscopic screens compared to the liquid shutter goggles. Methods: Independent assessment of glaucomatous disc characteristics and measurem...

BACKGROUND Little information is available on metastatic tumors to the optic disc. OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical features and prognosis of patients with optic disc metastasis. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. RESULTS Of 660 consecutively evaluated patients with intraocular metastasis, 30 (4.5%) (31 eyes) had metastatic cancer to the optic disc; 24 (80%) were women and 6 (20%) were...

Three-dimensional L4-L5 finite element (FE) models of three disc heights (9.5mm, 11.5mm, and 13.5mm) and three disc wedge angles (5o, 8 o, and 10 o) were developed to investigate their effect on L4-L5 lumbar motion segment under pure axial compressive loading. The FE predictions indicated that the axial disc displacement and the posterior disc bulge increased greatly with an increase in the ave...

From the Bone and Stem Cell Research Group, CABMM, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland, Spine Research Group, CABMM, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland, Centre for Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Geography, University Duisburg-Essen, 45117 Essen, Germany, Institute of Physiology and Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP), University of Zurich,...