These data suggest that chronic aortic wall inflammation is mediated by macrophage infiltration, which may account for the destruction of medial elastin, as reflected by SMC down regulation, through increased levels of active MMP-1 and MMP-12. Moreover, altered MT1-MMP proteolytic turnover and differential regulation of TIMP expression in AAAs suggest that tight regulatory mechanisms are involved in the molecular regulation of MMP activation processes in the pathogenesis of AAAs.

No abstract

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is associated with the expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), an ATP-dependent transporter which expels anti-cancer drugs from cells. In the present study, MDR1 P-gp was immunodetected by Western blot analysis in 60 human brain tumors, including meningiomas, schwannomas, low-grade gliomas (astrocytomas, pilocytic astrocytomas) and high-grade gliomas (anaplastic astrocytomas, glioblastomas and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas). Most samples from primary tumors expressed P-gp at the same levels as normal brain tissue except for schwannomas, in which levels were reduced by 65%, and meningiomas, in which levels were more than 10-fold higher in 7 of 10 samples. P-gp levels were 70% and 95% lower in brain metastases from melanomas and lung adenocarcinomas, respectively, than in normal brain tissue. These results indicate that the majority of primary brain tumors express MDR1 P-gp and that its high expression levels in meningiomas may be a marker for this type of brain tumor.

No abstract

The spectrum of invasive Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) infections includes bacteremia, toxic shock syndrome, and necrotizing fasciitis or myositis. We report the successful use of intravenous immunoglobulins in conjunction with antibiotics and surgery in a case of necrotizing myositis, toxic shock, and bacteremia. A literature review revealed that three other patients with invasive group A streptococcal infections had been treated with immunoglobulins: one adult patient had toxic shock syndrome, one had necrotizing fasciitis, and one child had septic arthritis. On the basis of this report and the review, we suggest that intravenous immunoglobulins may be useful in the treatment of all forms of invasive group A streptococcal infections associated with toxic shock syndrome.