Western blotting showed that both cytokines activate Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but with somewhat different kinetics, and that activation of JNK by both cytokines individually is inhibited by the combination. These results indicate that IL-4 inhibition of MMP-3 expression is associated with reduction of IL-1 CRM1 inhibitor induced binding of active forms of the AP-1 dimer, while less active JunB-containing

dimers remain, and suggest that these changes are associated with decreased activation of JNK. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“To isolate acid- and bile-resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains directly from food samples and to preliminarily select them on the basis of fundamental probiotic properties.\n\nA rapid screening method allowed the isolation and selection of 20 acid- and bile-resistant yeasts from foods, avoiding time-consuming isolation steps. The strains were characterized for their specific survival in simulated gastric juice and in intestinal fluid after pre-exposure at low pH. Ten isolates demonstrated a satisfactory survival percentage in intestinal fluid after pre-exposure to gastric juice and appreciable lipolytic and

proteolytic properties, as demonstrated by the API-ZYM test. By using molecular LBH589 methods five strains were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae, three as Candida spp., one as Candida pararugosa and one as Pichia learn more spp. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains showed considerable probiotic properties, achieving a 80 < % < 90 survival through the simulated gastrointestinal tract, as well as interesting

glucosidase activities.\n\nThe research represents an efficient strategy to select and identify Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains with desirable acid and bile resistances.\n\nThis paper reports the direct selection of potentially probiotic yeasts from foods and provides indications about the ability of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains to survive conditions simulating the human gastrointestinal tract.”
“Background: Stem cells or immune cells targeting the central nervous system (CNS) bear significant promises for patients affected by CNS disorders. Brain or spinal cord delivery of therapeutic cells is limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) which remains one of the recognized rate-limiting steps. Osmotic BBB disruption (BBBD) has been shown to improve small molecule chemotherapy for brain tumors, but successful delivery of cells in conjunction with BBBD has never been reported. We have used a clinically relevant model (pig) of BBBD to attempt brain delivery of TALL-104, a human leukemic T cell line. TALL-104 cells are potent tumor killers and have demonstrated potential for systemic tumor therapy. The pig model used is analogous to the clinical BBBD procedure. Cells were injected in the carotid artery after labeling with the MRI T1 contrast agent GdHPDO3A.