University of Texas Medical Branch

About: University of Texas Medical Branch is a education organization based out in Galveston, Texas, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Virus. The organization has 22033 authors who have published 38268 publications receiving 1517502 citations. The organization is also known as: The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston & UTMB.

Inflammation and the development of pancreatic cancer.

Abstract: Objective . Pancreatic cancer has an extremely poor prognosis and the cellular mechanisms contributing to pancreatic cancer are relatively unknown. The goals of this review are to present the epidemiological and experimental data that supports inflammation as a key mediator of pancreatic cancer development, to explain how inflammatory pathways may create an environment that supports tumor formation, and to discuss how the use of novel agents directed at these pathways may be used for the treatment of pancreatic malignancy. Summary Background Data . Inflammation has been identified as a significant factor in the development of other solid tumor malignancies. Both hereditary and sporadic forms of chronic pancreatitis are associated with an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer. The combined increase in genomic damage and cellular proliferation, both of which are seen with inflammation, strongly favors malignant transformation of pancreatic cells. Cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and mediators of the inflammatory pathway (e.g., NF- κ B and COX-2) have been shown to increase cell cycling, cause loss of tumor suppressor function, and stimulate oncogene expression; all of which may lead to pancreatic malignancy. Anti-cytokine vaccines, inhibitors of pro-inflammatory NF- κ B and COX-2 pathways, thiazolidinediones, and anti-oxidants are potentially useful for the prevention or treatment of pancreatic cancer. Redirection of experimental interests toward pancreatic inflammation and mechanisms of carcinogenesis may identify other novel anti-inflammatory agents or other ways to screen for or prevent pancreatic cancer. Conclusion . Pancreatic inflammation, mediated by cytokines, reactive oxygen species, and upregulated pro-inflammatory pathways, may play a key role in the early development of pancreatic malignancy.

RANTES is a chemotactic and activating factor for human eosinophils.

Abstract: RANTES is a member of the 8-kDa cytokine family that has been shown to possess chemotactic activity for monocytes and CD4 T cells. In this study, we investigated whether RANTES could affect eosinophil chemotaxis and function. Peripheral blood eosinophils from blood donors were isolated on Percoll gradients to > 98% purity and then used for chemotaxis, flow cytometry, eosinophil cationic protein release assay, and survival assay. We found that RANTES is chemotactic for eosinophils at 10(-9) to 10(-8) M concentrations. RANTES elicited 65% of the chemotactic response to 10(-7) M platelet-activating factor in all experiments. The mechanism of chemotaxis was investigated by studying the expression of adhesion molecules on eosinophils by flow cytometry. We found that RANTES up-regulated the expression of CD11b/CD18 on eosinophils in a dose-dependent manner. In another set of experiments, purified eosinophils incubated with various concentrations of RANTES released eosinophil cationic protein as measured by a RIA. We also investigated the effect of RANTES on eosinophil density. Leukocytes were incubated in the presence or absence of RANTES, and the distribution of eosinophils on discontinuous Percoll gradients was then examined. We found that eosinophils became hypodense (< 1.085) when incubated in RANTES. However, unlike IL-3, RANTES did not affect the survival of eosinophils in a 4-day culture system. Thus, we established that RANTES is a chemotactic and activating factor for eosinophils.

A two-pronged strategy to suppress host protein synthesis by SARS coronavirus Nsp1 protein

Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus nsp1 protein suppresses host gene expression, including type I interferon production, by promoting host mRNA degradation and inhibiting host translation, in infected cells. We present evidence that nsp1 uses a novel, two-pronged strategy to inhibit host translation and gene expression. Nsp1 bound to the 40S ribosomal subunit and inactivated the translational activity of the 40S subunits. Furthermore, the nsp1-40S ribosome complex induced the modification of the 5' region of capped mRNA template and rendered the template RNA translationally incompetent. Nsp1 also induced RNA cleavage in templates carrying the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) from encephalomyocarditis virus, but not in those carrying IRES elements from hepatitis C or cricket paralysis viruses, demonstrating that the nsp1-induced RNA modification was template-dependent. We speculate that the mRNAs that underwent the nsp1-mediated modification are marked for rapid turnover by the host RNA degradation machinery.

Adaptive Coloration in Young Cuttlefish (Sepia Officinalis L.): The Morphology and Development of Body Patterns and Their Relation to Behaviour

Abstract: Young Sepia officinalis (0-5 months) were studied in the laboratory and in the sea, and their appearance and behaviour compared with that of adult animals Cuttlefish lay large eggs and the hatchlings are miniature replicas of the adults From the moment of hatching they show body patterns as complex as those of adults and far more elaborate than those shown by most juvenile cephalopods There are 13 body patterns: 6 of these are \`chronic' (lasting for minutes or hours) and 7 are \`acute' (lasting for seconds or minutes) The patterns are built up from no fewer than 34 chromatic, 6 textural, 8 postural and 6 locomotor components, used in varying combinations and intensities of expression Nearly all these components occur in young animals: 26 of the chromatic, all the textural and locomotor, and 6 of the postural components Nevertheless, patterning does change with age and we have recorded this and correlated the changes with behaviour The components are built up from units, which themselves comprise four elements organized in precise relation to one another: chromatophores, iridophores, leucophores and skin muscles The chromatophores are always especially important: they are muscular organs innervated directly from the brain and controlled ultimately by the highest centres (optic lobes) The areas in the Sepia brain that control patterning are already well developed at hatching, for the appearance of the skin is as much part of the brain's motor program as is the attitude of the arms or fins, or the posture of the entire animal The iridophores and leucophores develop later and are especially important constituents of many adult patterns, notably the Intense Zebra of the mature male Experiments confirm that patterning is neurally controlled and apparently mediated exclusively by the visual system Young cuttlefish use patterning primarily for concealment, utilizing such strategies as general colour resemblance, disruptive coloration, obliterative shading, shadow elimination, disguise and adaptive behaviour Older animals also conceal themselves but increasingly use patterns for signalling, both interspecifically (warning or `deimatic' displays) and intraspecifically (sexual signalling) Laboratory-reared cuttlefish were released in the sea and observed underwater They quickly and effectively concealed themselves on the substrate; it was easy for the human observer to lose them and many passing fish behaved as if they were not there One local predator, Serranus cabrilla, was observed to attack them and no fewer than 35 attacks were recorded, only six of which were successful Laboratory-reared cuttlefish apparently distinguished between these predators and other, non-predatory, fish the first time they encountered them in nature

Milk allergy. i. oral challenge with milk and isolated milk proteins in allergic children.

Abstract: The diagnosis of milk allergy was confirmed in 89 children by oral challenge with milk and/or purified milk proteins. Most of these patients were diagnosed as allergic during the first 2 years of life. The symptoms of milk allergy usually began during the first few months of life. Eighteen of the total patients experienced spontaneous remission of milk hypersensitivity. Multiple symptoms were produced by oral milk challenge in 77% of the patients. Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, asthma, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were frequently presenting and challenge symptoms. Several patients had central nervous system symptoms, urticaria, or anaphylactic reactions following milk challenge. Seventy-eight per cent of the presenting symptoms were reproduced by oral milk challenges. Challenge feedings produced symptoms not found in the history in 18% of the patients. No consistent patterns of symptom combinations were found. The onset time of oral challenge reactions was usually within the first 12 to 24 hours. Some reactions occurred within a few minutes while others required 2 days or more before they were discernible. The duration of challenge reactions was usually between 12 to 24 hours. Allergic symptoms appeared much sooner after oral challenge in the patients who required less milk to elicit an allergic reaction. Forty-five patients were challenged with amounts of the purified milk proteins, casein, alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, and bovine serum albumin, present in the challenge doses of 100 ml skim milk. Every patient had an allergic reaction to one or more milk proteins. The frequencies of reactions were casein, 57%; BSA, 51%; beta-lactoglobulin, 66%; and alpha-lactalbumin, 54%. The reactions from oral challenge to skim milk or purified milk protein in a given patient were very similar. No correlation was found between the symptoms produced and the specific protein which produced these reactions. By oral challenge tests few patients (13%) were allergic solely to the heat labile protein, BSA. Only two of these patients could be actually managed on a processed milk in which BSA was inactive by laboratory tests.