Results: The results indicate that hawthorn extract prolonged the life span of Drosophila, with 50 % survival time of 0.8 and 4 mg/mL groups being increased from 52 days (control) to 56 and 62 days, respectively. Addition of 0.8 mg/mL hawthorn extract increased CuZn-SOD enzyme activity significantly (p < 0.05); the 4 mg/mL extract significantly increased CuZn-SOD enzyme (p < 0.01) and CAT enzyme activity (p < 0.05), but decreased MDA levels. Real Selleckchem Z-DEVD-FMK time-PCR
results show that the 4 mg/mL extract significantly improved the expression levels of CuZn-SOD and CAT mRNA (p < 0.05); on the other hand, both extract concentrations improved PHGSH-Px mRNA level significantly compared with that of control group (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The antioxidant activity of hawthorn in vivo may be achieved by increasing endogenous antioxidant enzymes.”
“Purpose of review
The lung in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is susceptible to fibrosis and the ensuing respiratory insufficiency contributes to significant morbidity and mortality in this disease. The lack
of effective therapies for pulmonary fibrosis has spurred a re-evaluation of pathobiological paradigms and therapeutic strategies in scleroderma-associated interstitial lung disease and in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The purpose of this review is to examine emerging new therapeutic targets that modulate pro-fibrotic phenotypes of tissue-resident cells and the associated aberrant tissue remodeling responses in fibrotic disorders.
Recent findings
Progressive forms of tissue fibrosis, click here including scleroderma, are characterized by an accumulation of activated mesenchymal cells and Metabolism inhibitor their secreted extracellular matrix proteins in association with dysrepair
of epithelial and endothelial cells. Recent studies suggest that emergence of cellular phenotypes that perpetuate loss of cellular homeostasis is characteristic of many fibrosis-related clinical syndromes.
Summary
Therapeutic strategies that modulate the fate/phenotype of reparative structural cells, including epithelial, endothelial, and mesenchymal cells, offer new opportunities for the development of more effective drugs for the treatment of fibrosis.”
“Objective: To compare perinatal outcomes of suspected versus non-suspected small-for-gestational age fetuses (SGA) at term. Methods: Retrospective cohort study among all term singleton neonates with a birth weight <10th percentile born in the Parkstad region between 1 January 2006 and 3 March 2008. The subjects were assigned to a prenatally suspected or non-suspected SGA group. Primary outcome was adverse neonatal outcome at birth, defined as a composite of intrauterine fetal death, Apgar <7 at 5 min, or pH umbilical artery <7.05. Secondary outcome included neonatal medium care unit (NMCU) admission >= 7 days. Results: 430 subjects were included in the study; 36.7% was suspected of SGA.