Abstract: Epileptic seizures are characterized by a multifaceted spectrum of alterations in the general level of awareness and/or the subjective contents of consciousness. Complete loss of consciousness occurs when epileptic activity involves both cortical and subcortical structures, as in generalized seizures. On the other hand, simple partial seizures can spare both the level and contents of consciousness. Finally, complex partial seizures associated with medial temporal lobe discharges can selectively impair the patient's subjective experiences with variable degrees of responsiveness. The differences in ictal semiology between patients with epilepsy offer unique avenues for understanding the relationship between pathological brain function and altered conscious states. ... Read more

Abstract: Proteins produced by DNA recombinant technology have been playing important roles in modern medicine ever since the first such protein drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about three decades ago. However the inherent high cost of producing recombinant proteins, particularly those produced from mammalian cells, has hampered their broad application. Other protein expression systems that can reduce the cost yet still maintain the high-level therapeutic activities of the recombinant proteins are a top R&D priority. Eukaryotic unicellular green algae cells may provide a good solution to this long-standing challenge. ... Read more

Abstract: Growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is essential for embryo development as well as for wound healing and progression of a number of diseases such as cancer, inflammatory conditions, eye diseases, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis in the adult. Current paradigms explain blood vessel growth entirely by sprouting angiogenesis or by vessel splitting through so called intussusceptive angiogenesis. However, these mechanisms are mainly derived from experiments on the developing embryo while less is known about angiogenesis in the adult during, e.g., wound healing, tumor growth, and inflammation. Recently we showed that blood vessel growth in the adult can be induced and directed by mechanical forces that naturally develop during healing or remodeling of tissues. In contrast to sprouting and intussusception, the new biomechanical hypothesis assumes that functional blood vessels are passively translocated which, if found generic, may drastically change the approach for developing anti- and pro-angiogenic therapies in the treatment of a variety of diseases. ... Read more

Abstract: The process of refolding or degrading misfolded proteins is the most important function of protein quality control (PQC) system. An imbalance between the capacity of PQC system and the quantity and severity of misfolded proteins may result in protein aggregate accumulation, which can ultimately contribute to a class of diseases referred to as conformational disorders. Numerous lines of evidence suggest that Ubiquilin 1 is an important component in PQC. Ubiquilin 1 has been indicated to be involved in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Here we review the evidence that Ubiquilin 1 is an important component of the PQC system and also review the role of Ubiquilin 1 in human diseases. ... Read more

Abstract: CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T (Treg) cells suppress the proliferation and release of cytokines in several subsets of immune cells. By doing so and by maintaining immune tolerance in peripheral tissues, Treg cells contribute to avert autoimmunity. Many studies have investigated how Treg cells operate in autoimmune diseases, and which cellular and molecular pathways are targeted by Treg cells. This review provides an update on the activities of Treg cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease characterized by the presence of hyperactive immune cells and aberrant antibody responses to multiple nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens. ... Read more

Abstract: Historically atherosclerosis has been viewed as a disease associated with dyslipidemia because many studies (e.g., Framingham study) have demonstrated that dyslipidemia is clearly a risk factor for the disease and lipid-lowering statin therapies have proven to be highly effective in reducing the cardiovascular events and improving the quality of life for patients with coronary heart disease all over the world. Over the last decade, both preclinical and clinical research has provided multiple lines of unequivocal evidence that inflammation and immune response are integral components of the pathogenesis for atherosclerosis. In this article, both clinical and preclinical evidence in support of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory disease will be reviewed. Evidence in support of atherosclerosis as an autoimmune disease will also be presented. Furthermore, opportunities for translating the newly gained knowledge of atherosclerosis as an inflammatory/autoimmune disease into novel diagnostic and therapeutic modalities will be discussed along with challenges in developing these modalities. ... Read more