Increased expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and MMP10, MMP23 in inflammatory bowel disease: Cross‐sectional study

It has been reported that EMMPRIN is involved in the regulation of immune response and the induction of MMPs production by fibroblasts. The aim of this study was to describe the intestinal gene expression and protein production of EMMPRIN, MMP23 and MMP10 in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) and compared them with a control group. Gene expression of EMMPRIN, MMP10 and MMP23B was measured by RT‐PCR. In order to determine EMMPRIN and MMP protein expression, colonic tissues were immunostained. The results of the study showed EMMPRIN gene expression was upregulated in rectal mucosa from active (a)UC versus aCD patients (P = .045), remission (r)CD group (P = .0009) and controls (P < .0001). We detected differences between rUC and aCD (P = .004), rCD (P < .0001) or control group (P < .0001). EMMPRIN showed a higher expression in mucosa (intraepithelial lymphocytes), submucosa and adventitia (endothelial cells) from aCD patients. MMP23 levels were increased in aUC and aCD compared to rUC and rCD and the control group (P = .0001). EMMPRIN+/MMP23+─expressing cells were localized mainly in mucosa, muscular and adventitia from active UC patients. MMP10 gene expression was increased in aUC versus CD patients and the control group (P = .0001). MMP10 gene expression is associated with inflammation in UC patients (P = .0001, r² = .585). EMMPRIN+/MMP10+─producing cells were found mainly in all intestinal layers and perivascular inflammatory infiltrates from aUC patients. In conclusion, EMMPRIN, MMP23 and MMP10 were upregulated in patients with active UC versus remission UC , CD and control groups suggesting that, they are involved in the inflammatory process.     

Deletion of mouse Porcn blocks Wnt ligand secretion and reveals an ectodermal etiology of human focal dermal hypoplasia/Goltz syndrome

The Drosophila porcupine gene is required for secretion of wingless and other Wnt proteins, and sporadic mutations in its unique human ortholog, PORCN, cause a pleiotropic X-linked dominant disorder, focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH, also known as Goltz syndrome). We generated a conditional allele of the X-linked mouse Porcn gene and analyzed its requirement in Wnt signaling and embryonic development. We find that Porcn-deficient cells exhibit a cell-autonomous defect in Wnt ligand secretion but remain responsive to exogenous Wnts. Consistent with the female-specific inheritance pattern of FDH, Porcn hemizygous male embryos arrest during early embryogenesis and fail to generate mesoderm, a phenotype previously associated with loss of Wnt activity. Heterozygous Porcn mutant females exhibit a spectrum of limb, skin, and body patterning abnormalities resembling those observed in human patients with FDH. Many of these defects are recapitulated by ectoderm-specific deletion of Porcn, substantiating a long-standing hypothesis regarding the etiology of human FDH and extending previous studies that have focused on downstream elements of Wnt signaling, such as β-catenin. Conditional deletion of Porcn thus provides an experimental model of FDH, as well as a valuable tool to probe Wnt ligand function in vivo.     

Elevated Plasma S100B,Psychotic Symptoms,and Cognition in Schizophrenia

S100B is a calcium binding protein mainly produced by glial cells. Previous studies have shown elevated levels of S100B in patients with schizophrenia. We measured S100B levels in fasting plasma of 39 patients with schizophrenia and 19 adult healthy controls. We used linear regression to compare S100B between patients and controls. In patients only, we also investigated the relationship between S100B levels and psychotic symptoms (assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale), and cognitive function (assessed by the NIH Toolbox Cognition Battery), respectively by calculating Pearson’s correlation coefficients. Mean plasma S100B was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group. There were no significant correlations between plasma S100B and psychotic symptoms or cognition.     

Screw retained vs. cement retained implant‐supported fixed dental prosthesis

A fixed dental prosthesis can be secured to an endosseous implant via cementation (using a provisional or definitive cement) on an implant abutment that is screw retained to the implant or directly in the implant via screw retention. The clinical decision as to which retention system best suits the individual patient depends on several factors. The aim of this review is to present a detailed overview of the factors potentially influencing whether to choose screw retention or cement retention. These factors include the individual indication, advantages and disadvantages of the different retention mechanisms, the retention provided, retrievability, provisionalization, esthetics and clinical performance, including failures and complications. The results of recently published systematic reviews on this topic are discussed and an overview is provided. A decision tree is presented to facilitate the clinical selection of the retention type. This overview concludes that the choice of retention type (screw retained or cement retained) might not influence the overall survival of the implant‐supported fixed dental prosthesis, but may be responsible for the development of certain complications. The decision may depend on technical feasibility and on weighing the pros and cons.     

In Vivo Characterization of the Activation and Interaction of the VanR-VanS Two-Component Regulatory System Controlling Glycopeptide Antibiotic Resistance in Two Related Streptomyces Species

The VanR-VanS two-component system is responsible for inducing resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics in various bacteria. We have performed a comparative study of the VanR-VanS systems from two streptomyces strains, Streptomyces coelicolor and Streptomyces toyocaensis, to characterize how the two proteins cooperate to signal the presence of antibiotics and to define the functional nature of each protein in each strain background. The results indicate that the glycopeptide antibiotic inducer specificity is determined solely by the differences between the amino acid sequences of the VanR-VanS two-component systems present in each strain rather than by any inherent differences in general cell properties, including cell wall structure and biosynthesis. VanR of S. coelicolor (VanRsc) functioned with either sensor kinase partner, while VanR of S. toyocaensis (VanRst) functioned only with its cognate partner, S. toyocaensis VanS (VanSst). In contrast to VanRsc, which is known to be capable of phosphorylation by acetylphosphate, VanRst could not be activated in vivo independently of a VanS sensor kinase. A series of amino acid sequence modifications changing residues in the N-terminal receiver (REC) domain of VanRst to the corresponding residues present in VanRsc failed to create a protein capable of being activated by VanS of S. coelicolor (VanSsc), which suggests that interaction of the response regulator with its cognate sensor kinase may require a region more extended than the REC domain. A T69S amino acid substitution in the REC domain of VanRst produced a strain exhibiting weak constitutive resistance, indicating that this particular amino acid may play a key role for VanS-independent phosphorylation in the response regulator protein.     

Refractory ascites in systemic lupus erythematosus: further biological support of intraperitoneal steroid treatment as a suitable therapeutical option

Clinical Rheumatology - The objective of this report was to evaluate the ascitic fluid of a patient with refractory lupus ascites (proband) at different time points—pre- and...     

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum: report of two cases

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is a rare inherited multisystem disorder that is characterized by a pathological mineralization of the elastic connective tissue, which involves predominantly the skin, eyes and cardiovascular system. Its cause lies on mutations in the ABCC6 gene, which lead to reduction or absence of the transmembrane transport ADP dependent protein (MRP6), causing an accumulation of extracellular material and subsequent deposition of calcium and other minerals in the elastic tissue. The authors report two cases of pseudoxanthoma elasticum, emphasizing its major clinical features and the importance of early diagnosis of the disorder, aiming for adequate therapeutic management of associated complications.