“
“PAC1 is a pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) preferring receptor, which is abundant in the central and peripheral nervous systems. PAD belongs to the class B family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). The N-terminal first extracellular (EC1) domain of PAC1 is responsible for ligand recognition and binding. In this study, the recombinant EC1 domain of the PAC1 normal (N) form (amino acids 21-155) with 6His tag at the C-terminus (named PAC1-EC1(N)) was first expressed in an Escherichia coil strain and purified VDA chemical inhibitor by an Ni-NTA affinity column. About 6-8 mg of recombinant PAC1-EC1(N) protein with purity above 95% was produced

from 1 L of bacterial culture. Mass spectrum and western blot were used to identify the recombinant PAC1-EC1(N). Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence (ITF) assays showed that the purified PAC1-EC1(N) protein was able to recognize and bind to the PAC1 selective Nocodazole agonist maxadilan, the antagonist M65 and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). Maxadilan and M65 had higher affinities for PAC1-EC1(N) than VIP. The results of MTT assays showed that PAC1-EC1(N) stimulated the viability of PAC-CHO cells but blocked the effects of maxadilan on the proliferation of CHO cells expressing PAC1 (PAC1-CHO), indicating

that the functional soluble PAC1-EC1(N) may act as a regulator for the activation of PAC1. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: We compared posterior urethral strictures after pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects in India and Italy.

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the records of patients in India and Italy who underwent repair

for posterior urethral stricture after pelvic fracture urethral distraction defect. We investigated etiology, emergency treatment type, the specialist involved in emergency treatment, the type of stricture resulting from trauma and primary repair, posterior urethroplasty techniques and results.

Results: Of 255 patients with a median age of 33 years 117 (45.8%) and 138 (54.2%) were evaluated in India and Italy, respectively. In India the most common causes of pelvic fracture urethral distraction defects were pedestrian (35%), motorcycle (26.5%) and bicycle (12.8%) accidents. The most common emergency treatment was click here suprapubic cystostomy (79.5% of cases). Of the patients 70.1% were treated in emergency fashion by a surgeon and 85.4% had complex posterior urethral strictures. The most common technique was anastomosis with inferior and total pubectomy in 56.4% and 15.3% of cases, respectively. In Italy the etiology was mainly automobile accidents (39.2%). The most common emergency treatment was endoscopic realignment (49.2% of cases). Of the patients 92.7% were treated in emergency fashion by a urologist and 68.1% had simple urethral strictures. Perineal anastomosis and laser urethrotomy were the most used techniques (38.4% and 21.