Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase catalyzes the reduction of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, a carbon donor for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Patients with severe MTHFR deficiency have $<$20% residual enzyme activity, moderate hyperhomocysteinemia, vascular lesions and neurological dysfunction. Mildly-deficient individuals with a thermolabile enzyme are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease. / Two MTHFR sequence changes were identified. The first was a C to T transition at bp 764 altering a proline to a leucine codon; this change was found in one severely-deficient patient. The second was a C to T transition at bp 677, substituting a valine for a highly-conserved alanine codon. The $ rm A to V$ substitution was identified on 35-40% of chromosomes. Expression of the $ rm A to V$ mutation in prokaryotic cells revealed increased thermolability over the wild-type enzyme. Genotyping for the $ rm A to V$ mutation in three vascular disease studies showed that it was associated with mild hyperhomocysteinemia, a risk factor for vascular disease. / The preventative effects of folate supplementation on the occurrence and recurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs) have been repeatedly demonstrated. The curly-tail (ct) mouse model for NTDs was used to investigate the involvement of MTHFR in these defects. Ct mice had significantly increased homocysteine levels although differences in MTHFR activity were not demonstrated. The mouse MTHFR gene was mapped to distal chromosome 4, close to the major gene for NTDs in ct. MTHFR is suggested as a candidate locus for the ct defect.

Introduction Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from the pre-existing vasculature, is a pre-requisite for tumour growth and metastasis. Tumour-angiogenesis is regulated by various pro- and anti-angiogenic factors released by both endothelial and tumour cells, as well as by the micro-environment. Numerous studies have implicated various systems in the acquisition of the angiogenic phenotype. The present study sought to investigate the role of the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS) in tumour-angiogenesis. The kallikreins consist of two serine proteases, plasma and tissue kallikrein (TK), involved in the release of kinin peptides by enzymatic cleavage of kininogens. Stimulation of the cognate bradykinin receptors (BKR), B1R and B2R, mediates the mitogenic and vasoactive properties of kinins. In addition, TK activates matrix metallo-proteinases (MMPs) involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation. The expression profiles of TK and kinins have been found to be dys-regulated in numerous human cancers, and several studies have demonstrated the involvement of the KKS in growth and metastasis of prostate tumours. Further, previous in vitro models in our laboratory have established an association between the KKS and prostate tumour-angiogenesis. In those studies it was postulated that the up-regulated TK (produced by endothelial and tumour cells) stimulated endothelial cell proliferation. Thus, the aim of the present study was to define the effects of the KKS and seek a direct correlation with angiogenesis using in vitro models with tumour conditioned medium (CM), kinin receptor agonists and antagonists. Methods Ethical approval for this project was granted by the Biomedical Research Ethics Committee, University of KwaZulu-Natal (reference number BE152/08). Micro-vascular endothelial cells represent a suitable in vitro angiogenic model and dermal micro-vascular endothelial cells (dMVECs) were obtained commercially for this purpose. The tumour model used in this study was an immortalised prostate cancer (DU145) cell line. The CM model involves the treatment of one cell line with the metabolites of another. In the angiogenic model, dMVECs were exposed to increasing concentrations of DU145 CM. Stimulation was further augmented with BKR agonists. Specific BKR antagonists were used to test the specificity of stimulation. In addition, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was tested as a positive proliferation control. The potential of these agents to induce proliferation and migration was determined using the 3-[4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and a modified Boyden chamber assay, respectively. Previous studies investigating the pro-angiogenic effects of CM differed, in many respects, in terms of their models and methodologies. In an attempt to fully explore the pro-mitogenic effects of CM on endothelial cells, various modifications, as well as alternate endothelial and tumour cell types, were employed in the present study. The mitogenic and migratory effect of BKR agonists and antagonists on DU145 cells was also assessed. Further, the tumour model was expanded to investigate the autocrine potential of the KKS, by investigating the effect of DU145 CM on DU145 migration. Results In the angiogenic model, although the addition of DU145 CM elicited a statistically significant increase in micro-vascular endothelial cell proliferation, this increase was very small (<10%) and not dose-dependent. Pre-incubation of dMVECs with a B1R or B2R antagonist did not influence this small effect of CM on proliferation. In addition, neither B1R nor B2R agonists, at any concentration, produced any significant proliferative effect on endothelial cells. In contrast to these findings VEGF, a well-known mitogen, was able to stimulate proliferation of dMVECs. Migration assays revealed that DU145 CM failed to stimulate endothelial cell motility. Further, neither BKR agonist displayed any chemo-attractant potential in those assays. The most important finding was in the tumour model, where stimulation with a B1R agonist significantly enhanced proliferation and especially migration of DU145 cells. In addition, pre-treatment with a B1R antagonist abolished both these effects. B2R agonists could not produce the same positive effect as the B1R agonist on growth and migration of prostate tumour cells. DU145 CM did not prove to be a migratory stimulus for DU145 cells at any concentration. Discussion Previous studies in our laboratory have shown prostate-tumour CM to promote proliferation of endothelial cells and have postulated that TK up-regulation may be the reason for this. However, the present study could not reproduce this effect of CM. Further, BKR antagonists had no notable or consistent effect on the minimal promotion of proliferation that had been produced by DU145 CM. In addition, selective BKR agonists failed to induce proliferation or migration of endothelial cells, key events in the angiogenic cascade. Although in contrast to some studies, the present study was unable to implicate the KKS in angiogenesis, tumour neo-vascularisation is a consequence of several angiogenic factors functioning together as opposed to a single, isolated factor. For example, we were able to demonstrate a positive mitogenic effect of VEGF on endothelial cells and it may be this as well as other factors in the CM that are responsible for the small proliferation we observed. Up-regulation of kallikreins and kinins in tumours may enhance fundamental events in tumourigenesis in an autocrine manner, and bradykinin (BK) has previously been shown to promote tumour growth in mouse models. Our study supported the involvement of the KKS in tumourigenesis. Although CM from DU145 cells did not self-stimulate the migration of these cells, a B1R agonist enhanced both proliferation and migration, an effect that was also abrogated by the relevant antagonist, indicating a role for kinins. In contrast to the findings of another study, stimulation of the B2R failed to significantly promote tumour growth or motility. However, this is not an unexpected finding because it is thought that the ubiquitous B2R mediates physiological effects in the prostate while the inducible B1R plays a role in prostate cancer pathology. In summary, this study lends support to the ongoing exploration of BKR antagonists as possible candidates in the development of alternate approaches to cancer therapy. This may be particularly beneficial to hormone-independent tumours, such as those of the prostate, for which there exists few effective treatment options. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

Migrena - dažnas lėtinis susirgimas, kuris daugiausiai vargina jaunus žmones. Priepuolių metu dėl skausmo ir lydinčių reiškinių yra sutrikdoma ligonių kasdienė veikla. Be to, sergantiems migrena, o ypač migrena su aura, yra 2-3 kartus padidėjusi išeminių insultų, o taip pat kitų išeminių - kraujagyslinių komplikacijų rizika. Darbo tikslas buvo laikotarpyje tarp priepuolių nustatyti moterims, sergančioms migrena su aura (MA) ir be auros (M0), ryšį su bendraisiais kardiovaskulinės rizikos veiksniais, uždegiminių žymenų specifiškumu, ląstelinės hemostazės ypatumais bei su įvairaus diametro periferinių kraujagyslių endotelio funkcijos bei standumo kitimais. Ištyrėme 60 sveikų, 30 sergančių MA ir 30 M0. M0 moterims nustatytas didesnis sistolinis ir diastolinis kraujospūdis bei hipodinamija. Neįrodytos serumo amiloido A ir C reaktyvaus baltymo sąsajos su migrenos tipais, trombocitų funkcinio aktyvumo kitimais bei su įvairaus diametro periferinių kraujagyslių standumo ar endotelio funkcijos sutrikimais. Sergančiosioms migrena buvo padidėjęs trombocitų funkcinis aktyvumas, kuris priklausė nuo migrenos formos, M0 sergančiosioms ir nuo priepuolių dažnio Migrenos grupėje endotelio funkcija buvo sutrikusi tik mikrocirkuliacijoje. MA grupėje buvo didesnė tėkmės sąlygota dilatacija nei M0. Sergančiosioms migrena nustatytas susidarančių trombocitų monocitų agregatų tiesioginis ryšys su kitimais mikrocirkuliacijoje ir atvirkštinis ryšys su endotelio funkcija smulkiosiose periferinėse... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Migraine is a common chronic disease that is usually suffered by young people. During the attacks due to pain and other concomitant phenomena everyday activities of the patients are interrupted. Furthermore, people with migraine, especially with migraine with aura, are subject to 2-3 bigger risk of ischaemic stroke, as well as other ischaemc-blood vessel complications. The goal of the thesis is to determine the relation between migraine with aura (MA) and without aura (M0) (in women) and common cardiovascular risk factors, particularity of inflammatory markers, particularities of cellular hemostasis, as well as changes in functionality and stiffness of endothelium of peripheral blood vessels of various diameter during period between the attacks. 60 healthy women, as well as 30 with MA and 30 with M0 participated in the research. Higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as hypodynamia was registered in the M0 group. The relation between serum amyloid A, C reactive proteine and types of migraine, changes in functional activity of platelets and changes in functionality or stiffness of endothelium of peripheral blood vessels of various diameter was not proved. Women with migraine had an increased functional activity of platelets that depended on the type of migraine, frequency of attack and was more common in women with M0. In the migraine group endothelial function was unbalanced only in microcirculation. MA group demonstrated a higher flow-induced dilation than... [to full text]

Whole body vibration (WBV) is a technique that has been shown to induce positive blood flow changes, however little is known about the effect of different vibration amplitudes on arterial blood flow. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of 2 different amplitudes during an acute bout of WBV on blood flow through the popliteal artery. Methods. Thirty healthy, recreationally active subjects (15 women, 15 men) aged 19-34 years performed two, 10 - minute bouts of vibration at a frequency of 30 Hz and high amplitude (6 mm) or low amplitude (3 mm) in random order after a period of prone rest. Doppler ultrasound was used to assess changes in blood flow. Mean blood flow velocity, peak velocity, end-diastolic velocity, pulsatility index, and resistive index measures were taken immediately before vibration and immediately after. Results. Mean blood flow velocity increased after 10 minutes of WBV. Mean velocity increased more in the 6mm trial (pre= 21.6 ± 4.74 cm/s, post= 25.3 ± 6.11 cm/s) than in the 3mm trial (pre= 22.3 ± 4.33 cm/s, post= 23.5 ± 5.94 cm/s). Peak blood flow velocity increased following 10 minutes of WBV and increased more in the 6mm trial (pre= 37.1 ± 9.78 cm/s, post= 43.7 ± 10.95 cm/s) than in the 3mm trial (pre= 37.8 ± 8.92 cm/s, post= 39.4 ± 10.5 cm/s) following 10 minutes of passive WBV. Pulsatility index also increased significantly following 10 minutes of WBV and increased more in the 6mm trial (pre= 1.639 ± 0.1299, post= 1.729 ± 0.1324) than in the 3mm trial (pre= 1.660 ± 0.1219, post= 1.671 ± 0.1428). No main effects or interactions were observed for resistive index or end diastolic blood flow velocity (P>0.05). Conclusion. Ten minutes of passive WBV increases blood flow velocity. High amplitude (6 mm) produced a more pronounced increase in blood flow than the low amplitude (3 mm). Given the relationship between blood flow velocity and WBV, these results suggest that amplitude plays a role in increasing blood flow and that high amplitude (6 mm) may be more effective than low amplitude (3 mm) in improving circulation to the lower leg. / School of Physical Education, Sport, and Exercise Science

To be successful a tissue engineered small diameter blood vessel must be non-immunogenic, non-thrombogenic, have mechanical properties similar to native vessel and be vasoactive. The vascular media is responsible for the mechanical properties and the vasoactivity of the vessel. The collagen hydrogel approach has been long used and has many advantages, but has not yet achieved the mechanical integrity needed for implantation. No collagen-based tissue engineered vascular media has been shown to be vasoactive using culture techniques required to achieve the cell numbers needed to make a vascular graft. To study collagen synthesis, two model systems were used. Cells were seeded on top of an adsorbed collagen I or fibrin layer. Alternatively the cells were encapsulated in a collagen or fibrin hydrogel. Collagen I, decorin and biglycan synthesis was affected by both matrix type and presentation. After two weeks in culture the smooth muscle cells produce more type I collagen in the collagen based hydrogels then in the fibrin hydrogels and was used for further studies. The collagen based tissue engineered vascular media produced a consistent vasoactive response between two and eight weeks of culture. The smooth muscle cells have functional endothelin, kinin, adrenergic, serotonergic and purinergic receptors. The application of cyclic strain improves both the tissue strength and the contractile response. Use of transforming growth factor-β improved tissue strength, but reduced the contractile response. Transforming growth factor- β actually promoted a more contractile cell phenotype, but a stronger contractile force was required to overcome the thick compact collagen hydrogel and elicit a measurable contraction. This work adds to what is known about collagen-based tissue engineered vascular medias by identifying means of improving not only strength but vasoactivity. The trade-offs found between these two important characteristics are relevant to all tissue engineered medias.

People with diabetes are at a greater risk of burn injuries than those without diabetes. This stems from the epidemiological profiles of the conditions and the effects of morbidities associated with diabetes. Both conditions share some similarities in terms of metabolic alterations and suboptimal immune functions which may result in poor outcomes for patients. For that reason, it is reasonable to deduce that patients with diabetes are a challenging group to manage in burns units. However, this deduction should be taken cautiously because of lack of supporting evidence. Accordingly and after consulting with clinical experts, the research in this portfolio investigated the association between diabetes and burn injuries. In particular, two different aspects of this association were investigated in two individual quantitative and descriptive inquiries. The first was a case note review of patients hospitalised with a principal diagnosis of a foot burn injury in a large tertiary hospital in South Australia from 1999 to 2004. The second study investigated management of diabetes in burns units treating adults. This study is an e-mail survey of clinical leaders of burns units in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. The clinical leaders were approached indirectly through key liaison persons in each identified unit. In the first study, outcomes for twelve subjects with and fifty-two without diabetes were described using descriptive and non-parametric statistics. In the second study, descriptive frequencies and content analysis were adopted to analyse twenty-nine responses from seventeen out of thirty burns units which participated in the study. Supporting findings in the literature, the first study showed that burn injuries among subjects with diabetes were mainly resulted from household devices. There were no statistically significant differences between subjects with and without diabetes in terms of size and depth of burn injuries and treatment received. In spite of this, there was a statistically significant association between diabetes and the experience of local post-burn complications and longer duration of hospitalisation. The second study indicated that more than twenty-five percent of the respondents believed that multidisciplinary centres should only occasionally be involved in the process of care. Participants reported that the individual profile of each patient plays a major role in determining the management of diabetes. Additionally, it was found that the insulin sliding scale was commonly used in the management of diabetes in burns units. The association between diabetes and a burn injury is a serious issue in terms of health and cost. This association need be addressed firstly and most importantly at the prevention level; secondly through proper management of both diabetes and burns. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1285462 / Thesis (D.Nurs.)--Population Health and Clinical Practice, 2007.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Univ., 2003. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xi, 78 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-67).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 109 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.