An alkaline brain pH(i) was associated with severely impaired outcome; the degree of brain alkalosis was related to the severity of brain injury on MRI and brain lactate concentration; and a persistence of an alkaline brain pH(i) was associated with cerebral atrophy on MRI. Experimental animal models of hypoxia-ischemia show that NHE inhibitors are neuroprotective. Here, we review the published data on brain pH(i) in neonatal encephalopathy and the experimental studies of NHE inhibition and neuroprotection following hypoxia-ischemia.”
“The inflammatory response
has been implicated in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. Thus, the modulation of the inflammatory response by the consumption of bioactive food compounds, such as procyanidins, is a powerful tool to promote health. Procyanidin-mediated
anti-inflammatory molecular mechanisms include, among others, the modulation BMS-777607 cell line of the arachidonic acid pathway, the inhibition of the gene transcription, protein expression and enzymatic activity of eicosanoid generating enzymes, the production and secretion of inflammatory mediators (such as cytokines and nitric oxide), the inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation, and the modulation of the nuclear factor-?B (NF-?B) pathway. The NF-?B pathway can be regulated by procyanidins at several levels. During early events in NF-?B signaling, procyanidins Nepicastat Metabolism inhibitor modulate I?? activity, and the cytoplasmic retention of p65:p50 NF-?B by the inhibition CA4P of I?B phosphorylation and proteasomal degradation, while at late stages, they affect
the nuclear translocation of pro/anti-inflammatory NF-?B homo/hetero dimers and their subsequent binding to the promoter regions of target genes. To identify and understand the value of procyanidins in the modulation of the inflammatory response, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory activities and prohomeostatic effects of procyanidins need to be investigated further. (c) 2012 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.”
“Purpose of review
There is a critical need for meaningful viability and potency assays that characterize islet preparations for release prior to clinical islet cell transplantation. Development, testing, and validation of such assays have been the subject of intense investigation for the last decade. These efforts are reviewed, highlighting the most recent results while focusing on the most promising assays.
Recent findings
Assays based on membrane integrity do not reflect true viability when applied to either intact islets or dispersed islet cells. Assays requiring disaggregation of intact islets into individual cells for assessment introduce additional problems of cell damage and loss.