D. P. Papadopoulos¹, I. Moyssakis¹, T. K. Makris¹, M. Poulakou², G. Stavroulakis¹, D. Perrea², V. E. Votteas¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.2, pp. 152-160, 2005

Abstract Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) degrade myocardial fibrillar collagen in acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients. Their activity is tightly controlled in normal myocardium by a family of closely related tissue inhibitors known as TIMP. An imbalance in their activity might contribute to post-MI remodeling. Plasma levels of MMP-1, TIMP-1 and MMP-1/TIMP-1 complex were measured, using relevant ELISA kits, in 24 (22 males-2 females), acute MI patients with a mean age 59 ± 14 years. Blood samples were taken on admission (0h),and 3h, 6h, 9h, 18h, 24h, 36h, 48h, 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th, 7^th, 15^th, 30^th days after MI. All patients underwent… More >

Rassa Pegahi, Florent Poyer, Elisabeth Legrand, Lionel Cazin, Jean-Pierre Vannier, Marek Lamacz

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.3, pp. 223-232, 2005

Abstract The present work focused on the study of the secretory activity of pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) cells harvested from bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) in 16 children. The basal and cytokine (SDF-1, GM-CSF, bFGF, VEGF)-stimulated secretions of gelatinases 2 and 9 (MMPs-2 and -9) and expression of their genes were monitored by zymography and RT-PCR, respectively. A wide heterogeneity was found in the secretory capacities of these cells. The basal secretion of MMP-9 was more frequently observed than that of MMP-2 in both cell types. The cytokines VEGF and bFGF were found… More >

TATIANA CARLA TOMIOSSO, LAURECIR GOMES, BENEDICTO DE CAMPOS VIDAL, EDSON ROSA PIMENTEL

BIOCELL, Vol.29, No.1, pp. 47-54, 2005, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2005.29.047

Abstract The composition and organization of the extracellular matrix of ostrich articular cartilage was investigated, using samples from the proximal and distal surfaces of the tarsometatarsus. For morphological analysis, sections were stained with toluidine blue and analyzed by polarized light microscopy. For biochemical analysis, extracellular matrix components were extracted with 4 M guanidinium chloride, fractionated on DEAE-Sephacel and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. Glycosaminoglycans were analyzed by electrophoresis in agarose gels. Structural analysis showed that the fibrils were arranged in different directions, especially on the distal surface. The protein and glycosaminoglycan contents of this region were higher than More >

G. Minak¹, F. E. G. Chimisso², H. S. Costa Mattos³

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.1, No.3, pp. 193-202, 2005, DOI:10.3970/sdhm.2005.001.193

Abstract Cyclic plasticity and damage of a metal matrix composite have been studied in the framework of continuum damage mechanics. The material was considered as macroscopically homogeneous and a model incorporating damage gradient was applied. Strain-controlled fully reversed low-cycle fatigue uniaxial tests were performed to identify material parameters related to yield stress, isotropic and kinematic hardening, fatigue life and damage diffusion. From previous studies it has been found that in the most general case the parameters of the model are constant or depend exponentially on total strain so that only two or three tests are needed More >

Christopher A. Lemmon^1,2, Nathan J. Sniadecki³, Sami Alom Ruiz^1,3, John L. Tan, Lewis H. Romer^2,4,5, Christopher S. Chen^3,4

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.2, No.1, pp. 1-16, 2005, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2005.002.001

Abstract The interplay of mechanical forces between the extracellular environment and the cytoskeleton drives development, repair, and senescence in many tissues. Quantitative definition of these forces is a vital step in understanding cellular mechanosensing. Microfabricated post array detectors (mPADs) provide direct measurements of cell-generated forces during cell adhesion to extracellular matrix. A new approach to mPAD post labeling, volumetric imaging, and an analysis of post bending mechanics determined that cells apply shear forces and not point moments at the matrix interface. In addition, these forces could be accurately resolved from post deflections by using images of More >

Morakot Likhitpanichkul¹, X. Edward Guo², Van C. Mow^1,3

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.2, No.4, pp. 191-204, 2005, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2005.002.191

Abstract Thorough analyses of the mechano-electrochemical interaction between articular cartilage matrix and the chondrocytes are crucial to understanding of the signal transduction mechanisms that modulate the cell metabolic activities and biosynthesis. Attempts have been made to model the chondrocytes embedded in the collagen-proteoglycan extracellular matrix to determine the distribution of local stress-strain field, fluid pressure and the time-dependent deformation of the cell. To date, these models still have not taken into account a remarkable characteristic of the cartilage extracellular matrix given rise from organization of the collagen fiber architecture, now known as the tension-compression nonlinearity (TCN)… More >

A.L. Brock, D.E. Ingber¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.2, No.3, pp. 135-144, 2005, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2005.002.135

Abstract The direction in which cells extend new motile processes, such as lamellipodia and filopodia, can be controlled by altering the geometry of extracellular matrix adhesive islands on which individual cells are cultured, thereby altering mechanical interactions between cells and the adhesive substrate [Parker (2002)]. Here we specifically investigate the intracellular molecular signals that mediate the mechanism by which cells selectively extend these processes from the corners of polygonal-shaped adhesive islands. Constitutive activation of the small GTPase Rac within cells cultured on square-shaped islands of fibronectin resulted in the elimination of preferential extension from corners. This… More >

V.V. Mykhas’kiv¹, O.I. Stepanyuk²

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.10, No.1, pp. 45-64, 2005, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2005.010.045

Abstract The 3D elastostatic problem for an infinite remotely loaded matrix containing a finite number of arbitrarily located rigid disk-inclusions and plane cracks is solved by the boundary integral equation (BIE) method. Its boundary integral formulation is achieved by the superposition principle with the subsequent integral representations of superposition terms through surface integrals, which should satisfy the displacement linearity conditions in the inclusion domains and load-free conditions in the crack domains. The subtraction technique in the conjunction with mapping technique under taking into account the structure of the solution at the edges of inhomogeneities is applied More >

Dimitrios Tziakas¹, Georgios Chalikias¹, John T. Parissis², Helen Hatzinikolaou¹, Dimitrios Stakos¹, Evropi Papadopoulou³, Alexandros Kortsaris³, Dimitrios Hatseras¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 231-239, 2004

Abstract Introduction. Recent clinical and experimental studies indicate that upregulation of the TNF system can contribute to the progression of cardiac remodeling and heart failure decompensation, by promoting alterations in cardiomyocyte biology and extracellular matrix metabolism. Extracellular matrix turnover is regulated by the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are endogenous enzymes responsible for extracellular collagen degradation. The present study investigates the fluctuation of serum levels of TNF-α, soluble TNF receptor-1 (sTNFR1) and -2 (sTNFR2), in patients with chronic heart failure both during acute decompensation and the stable state of the syndrome. The second goal of this study… More >

Małgorzata Wolańska, Edward Bańkowski

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.4, pp. 359-363, 2004

Abstract It is commonly thought that uterine leiomyomas result from hyperstimulation of myometrium by ovarian hormones. Some observations suggest that cytokines and growth factors are intermediate elements through which the ovarian hormones may exert their growth-stimulatory effects on leiomyomas. Human myometrium and uterine leiomyomas of various weights were homogenised and extracted with 1M acetic acid or with 0.05M Tris/HCl, pH 7.6. The extracts were assayed for IGF-I using the ELISA technique. It was found that 0.05 M Tris/HCl extracts contained several times more IGF-I than the 1M acetic acid extracts. Nanogram amounts of IGF-I were found… More >