One aspect of the function of the beta-arrestins is to serve as scaffold or adapter molecules coupling G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) to signal transduction pathways distinct from traditional second messenger pathways. Here we report the identification of Dishevelled 1 and Dishevelled 2 (Dvl1 and Dvl2) as beta-arrestin1 (betaarr1) interacting proteins. Dvl proteins participate as key inter...

BACKGROUND Exclusive breast feeding (EBF) has important protective effects on the survival of infants and decreases risk for many early-life diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors associated with EBF in Nigeria. METHODS Data on 658 children less than 6 months of age were obtained from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2003. The 2003 NDHS was a multi-stage...

BACKGROUND Lay support has been associated with improved breastfeeding practices, but studies of programs that engage men in breastfeeding support have shown mixed results and most are from high-income countries. The purpose of our research is to review strategies to engage men in exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) promotion or support in 28 project areas across 20 low- and middle-income countries. ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate diagnostic utility of Dishevelled-3 (DVL-3) mRNA and δ-catenin mRNA expression in pleural effusions of patients with lung cancer. METHODS DVL-3 mRNA and δ-catenin mRNA levels were assessed by performing RT-PCR on pleural effusion specimens from patients with lung cancer (n = 75) and with lung benign disease (n = 51). RESULTS The expressions of DVL-3 mRNA and δ-catenin ...

Dishevelled (DVL) is associated with axonal microtubules and regulates microtubule stability through the inhibition of the serine/threonine kinase, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta). In the canonical WNT pathway, the negative regulator Axin forms a complex with beta-catenin and GSK-3beta, resulting in beta-catenin degradation. Inhibition of GSK-3beta by DVL increases beta-catenin stabi...

Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR) is a congenital disorder characterized by an absence of enteric ganglion cells in the terminal regions of the gut during development. To date, the cause of HSCR remains unclear, although the pathogenesis of this complex disease is hypothesized to be influenced by numerous genetic and environmental factors. Dishevelled‑2 (DVL‑2) is a subtype of the dishevelled prote...

Wnt5a is a representative ligand that activates the Wnt/beta-catenin-independent pathway, resulting in the regulation of cell adhesion, migration, and polarity, but its molecular mechanism is poorly understood. This report shows that Dishevelled (Dvl) binds to adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene product, and this binding is enhanced by Wnt5a. Dvl was involved in the stabilization of the plus ...

The Technion autonomous underwater vehicle (TAUV) is an ongoing project aiming to develop and produce a small AUV to carry on research missions, including payload dropping, and to demonstrate acoustic communication. Its navigation system is based on an inertial navigation system (INS) aided by a Doppler velocity log (DVL), magnetometer, and pressure sensor (PS). In many INSs, such as the one us...

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is characterized by rapid and potentially reversible decline in renal function; however, the current management for AKI is nonspecific and associated with limited supportive care. Considering the need for more novel therapeutic approaches, we believe that lectins from Dioclea violacea (Dvl), based on their anti-inflammatory properties, could be beneficial for the treat...

BACKGROUND The potential edematogenic effect and the pharmacological characterization of a glucose-mannose-binding lectin from Dioclea violacea (DvL) were investigated. METHODS Paw edema was induced with DvL in control animals, and in animals pretreated with glucocorticoid or with blockers of histamine, nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase, platelet activating factor (PAF), bradykinin and li...