33 research outputs found
Gap junctional intercellular communication is not needed for the anticholestatic effect of tauroursodeoxycholic acid in mouse liver
No full textIntrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy--a heterogeneous group of pregnancy-related disorders?
No full textIntrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
No full textAbstract Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a cholestatic disorder characterized by (i) pruritus with onset in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, (ii) elevated serum aminotransferases and bile acid levels, and (iii) spontaneous relief of signs and symptoms within two to three weeks after delivery. ICP is observed in 0.4–1% of pregnancies in most areas of Central and Western Europe and North America, while in Chile and Bolivia as well as Scandinavia and the Baltic states roughly 5–15% and 1–2%, respectively, of pregnancies are associated with ICP. Genetic and hormonal factors, but also environmental factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of ICP. Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy increases the risk of preterm delivery (19–60%), meconium staining of amniotic fluid (27%), fetal bradycardia (14%), fetal distress (22–41%), and fetal loss (0.4–4.1%), particularly when associated with fasting serum bile acid levels > 40 μmol/L. The hydrophilic bile acid ursodeoxycholic acid (10–20 mg/kg/d) is today regarded as the first line treatment for intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Delivery has been recommended in the 38th week when lung maturity has been established.</p
Extrahepatic manifestations of cholestatic liver diseases: pathogenesis and therapy
No full textPruritus, fatigue, and metabolic bone disease are frequent complications of cholestatic liver diseases, which can be quite distressing for the patient and can considerably reduce the quality of life. The molecular pathogenesis of these extrahepatic manifestations of cholestasis is poorly understood, and hypotheses to explain these symptoms are being discussed. This article provides treatment recommendations for the complications of cholestasis based on putative pathomechanisms and summarizes recent experimental and clinical data involving management option
Additive manufacturing of multi-functional soft active devices
No full textUnique functions of living organisms in nature inspire a broad spectrum of engineering systems. Since biological living systems are often composed of multiple soft active materials with micro-scale three-dimensional (3D) structures, fundamental understanding on soft active materials and development of micro 3D manufacturing techniques are essential for effective implementations of their characteristics and functionalities. Hydrogels are soft polymeric materials that undergo volumetric changes upon solvent absorption. Some hydrogels exhibit such changes in response to external environmental conditions, such as temperature, pH, light, magnetic field, electric field, and chemical triggers, which are referred to as stimuli-responsive hydrogels. They have played an important role in a variety of applications, such as soft robotics, soft electronics, and biomedical engineering. Despite the growing attention to stimuli-responsive hydrogels and their diverse applications, manufacturing techniques for stimuli-responsive hydrogels have been limited to simple two-dimensional (2D) fabrication methods which restrict full utilization of their unique material behavior.
This dissertation focuses on the development and application of a high-resolution multi-material 3D digital fabrication technology, multi-material projection micro-stereolithography (MM-PuSL), in order to engineer stimuli-responsive hydrogels into 3D multi-functional soft active devices. Specifically, it consists of development of MM-PuSL, studies of fundamental physics for various stimuli-responsive hydrogels, including electroactive hydrogels, thermo-responsive hydrogels, and photo-active hydrogels, micro 3D printing of stimuli-responsive hydrogels, and development of multi-functional soft active devices, such as soft robots actuated by temperature changes or electric fields, and light-driven camouflage skin.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical reference
Sudden night palsy in a young man: thyrotoxic periodic paralysis as a first manifestation of hyperthyroidism
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