Navigation Links
Children's Hospital researchers identify molecular 'switch' that could save very young lives
Date:12/4/2007

A team of researchers at Childrens Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC have identified a molecular switch that, when blocked, may help reverse necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a leading cause of death in premature infants.

Results of the research were presented by principal investigator David J. Hackam, MD, PhD, a pediatric surgeon and scientist at Childrens Hospital, this weekend at the 4th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology.

NEC is a severe inflammatory disease of the intestine that occurs in about 5 percent of premature births and can be fatal in as many as half of those cases. In extreme cases, NEC leads to perforation of the intestine, a condition that can be fatal if not treated with emergency surgery. NEC is increasing in frequency due to the increased survival of premature infants, according to Dr. Hackam.

Working in the laboratory with an animal model of NEC, Dr. Hackams team found that when molecular receptor known as Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) was blocked, they enabled the repair of damaged intestinal tissue that is the hallmark of NEC.

This Toll-like receptor is a defense mechanism that normally switches on the intestines immune response. But in some premature infants, stresses like oxygen deprivation and toxins caused by underdeveloped lungs stimulate the overproduction of TLR4. Like an unstoppable alarm, this signaling eventually can lead to cell death and prevent enterocytes from migrating to close wounds in the intestine, which can result in intestinal failure, Dr. Hackam said. By interfering with the production of another molecule associated with TLR4 known as focal adhesion kinase (FAK), we were able to silence the TLR4 alarm in intestinal cells.

Blocking the TLR4 signal allowed enterocytes to once again migrate and heal the damaged intestinal tissue. Dr. Hackams team is continuing to research the development of treatment strategies that would block the TLR4 switch by influencing it
'/>"/>

Contact: Marc Lukasiak
marc.lukasiak@chp.edu
412-692-7919
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Source:Eurekalert

Page: 1 2

Related medicine news :

1. Nautica Malibu Triathlon Presented by Toyota Raises $718,000 for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Pediatric Cancer Research
2. Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Turns Off the Tap With Green Earth Waterless Carwash
3. New research explores newborn in-hospital weight loss
4. NYC-area 1st: Morgan Stanley Childrens Hospital performs transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement
5. Norwalk virus: Cruise ship illness challenging and costly to hospitals, too
6. Glades General Hospital First in Palm Beach County to Provide On-Site Electronic Birth Registration
7. Billy Graham Home After Hospitalization:
8. Alvarado Hospital Files Countersuit Against Blue Shield
9. UHW Announces: Antelope Valley Hospital Caregivers and Board Vote to Ratify First Union Contract With SEIU UHW-West
10. Texas Supreme Court Rules Against Medicare HMOs in Hospital Reimbursement Fight
11. Annual flu shot cuts need for doctors visits, hospitalization among children

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:11/30/2009)...W ORLEANS, Nov. 30 SEIU...he global corporation Sodexo will hold a rally Tue...nd Maintenance headquarters, 3800 Desire Parkway, ...cy and arbitrary disciplinary policies that target...ill family member. Sodexo employees who clean scho...
(Date:11/30/2009)... , LOS ANGELES, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -... the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center for Hea...JF Center), and impreMedia, shows a widespread con...he importance of health care reform and indicates ... the first time, health care tops the list of nati...
(Date:11/30/2009)...HAFFHAUSEN, Switzerland, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-First...day announced that its 2010 annual general meeting...10, 2010 at 3:00 p.m. Central European time at the...02 Zurich, Switzerland. Registered shareholders as...itled to vote at the annual general meeting. Addi...
(Date:11/30/2009)...NESVILLE, Fla., Nov. 30 The launch...he availability of the first FDA-cleared, fully-au... analysis by a radiologist of suspicious breast le...d at the Radiological Society of North America 200...rtnership with leading experts in breast MRI, ONCA...
(Date:11/30/2009)...., November 30, 2009 ― Providing free medica... to patients, lives at a relatively low cost for p... researchers at St. Michael,s Hospital in Toronto....tive prescribed medications because they simply do...la, the study,s lead author and a physician at St....
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:As H1NI Hits New Orleans in Force: School Custodians to Hold Rally to Call on Contractor to Stop Penalizing Workers Coping With Illness 2Health News:New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support Among Latinos for Health Care Reform That Includes Public Option 2Health News:New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support Among Latinos for Health Care Reform That Includes Public Option 3Health News:New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support Among Latinos for Health Care Reform That Includes Public Option 4Health News:New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support Among Latinos for Health Care Reform That Includes Public Option 5Health News:New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support Among Latinos for Health Care Reform That Includes Public Option 6Health News:New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support Among Latinos for Health Care Reform That Includes Public Option 7Health News:New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support Among Latinos for Health Care Reform That Includes Public Option 8Health News:New Survey Shows Overwhelming Support Among Latinos for Health Care Reform That Includes Public Option 9Health News:New Breast MRI Technology Enables Enhanced Breast Cancer Detection 2Health News:New Breast MRI Technology Enables Enhanced Breast Cancer Detection 3Health News:Coverage of inexpensive drugs may increase length and quality of life after heart attack 2
... trend in health coverage and destabilization of M... reform must be part of economic stimulus package....an , a report on healthcare coverage released tod...osing ground in critical areas, including the numb...
... hope that the drug rasagiline can do what no othe...low the progression of a devastating degenerative ... ability to move and function. , Now a new study... better than those for whom treatment was delayed ...
...sive treatment for facial lines, texture and pigme... OAKS, Calif., Jan. 26 The Pearl procedure is use...re, sun-damaged skin and aging to provide a health...ong-term benefits. The treatment will feel like a ...
...lthy choices. , , LYNDHURST, N.J., Jan. 26 Incen... solutions to the healthcare industry, announced t...has launched a new "points-based" health incentive...health and wellness by offering various incentives...
...s - for the 18th time! - the venue for the Europea...ery enjoyable educational interactive forum. It wi...ly 250 participants are expected to attend. , "Fo...hops, case studies and the Urological Challenge, s...
...mprove Practice Quality, Interoperability, and Fis...its heritage and experience of more than a decade ...nounced the launch of Sage Intergy version 5.5 int... The systems, enhancements are designed to further...
Other Medicine News:Health News:Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation Releases Cover Michigan - a Report on Healthcare Coverage and Access 2Health News:Center for Healthcare Research & Transformation Releases Cover Michigan - a Report on Healthcare Coverage and Access 3Health News:Patients starting Parkinson's drug rasagiline earlier do better 2Health News:Renaissance Laser & Vein Institute (LaserandVeinclinic.com) 'Pearl Treatment' 2Health News:IncentOne Provides Incentive Solution to CIGNA 2Health News:Interactive virtual training at European Urology Forum in Davos 2Health News:Sage Launches Sage Intergy Version 5.5 Integrated Electronic Health Records and Practice Management System 2Health News:Sage Launches Sage Intergy Version 5.5 Integrated Electronic Health Records and Practice Management System 3Health News:Sage Launches Sage Intergy Version 5.5 Integrated Electronic Health Records and Practice Management System 4
(Date:11/30/2009)...0 The Simmons law firm,s Trent Mir...enting thousands of women that were seriously inju...ontrol pill manufactured and marketed by Bayer Pha...tidistrict Litigation has ordered that all federal...solidated and centralized for pretrial litigation ...
(Date:11/30/2009)...ov. 30 According to Millennium Res... technology market intelligence, the nearly $1.2 b... almost 5% over 2008 as patients chose to delay or...is. The market will, however, begin recovery in 20...ession growth rates of over 15%. MRG,s facial inje...
(Date:11/30/2009)...vember 30 Health Robotics today an...nt plans and product specifications,for a new and ...al,Nutrition", a new key component of its i.v. Roo...s, ASHP (Booth # 114). , "I look forward ...tation,s blueprints and to find out if TPNstation ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Simmons Firm's Partner Trent Miracle Chosen to Help Lead National Litigation Against Bayer 2Facial Injectables Emerge From the Recession 2Facial Injectables Emerge From the Recession 3Health Robotics to Unveil TPNstation(TM) at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists on December 7th 2Health Robotics to Unveil TPNstation(TM) at the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists on December 7th 3Breaking barriers with nanoscale lasers 13239 1Breaking barriers with nanoscale lasers 13239 2Breaking barriers with nanoscale lasers 13239 3Breaking barriers with nanoscale lasers 13239 4Over 74 000 Participate in President Obama Teleforum on Healthcare Reform 53015 1Over 74 000 Participate in President Obama Teleforum on Healthcare Reform 53015 2Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd Announces Change to Executive Team as Jitendra N Doshi Assumes Position of CEO 53013 1Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories Ltd Announces Change to Executive Team as Jitendra N Doshi Assumes Position of CEO 53013 2
The Comprehensive Natural-Knee Cruciate Retaining System
The Apollo Primary Knee System
MJS Posterior Stabilized Knee System
Lineage Acetabular Poly Liners - 28 mm ID
Medicine Products: