Together, these results demonstrate that human gliomas contain multiple populations of cells with the capacity to form tumors and specifically identify a population of tumorigenic A2B5+ cells that are phenotypically distinct from CD133+ cells.

GCL (glutamate-cysteine ligase) is a heterodimer of a GCLC (GCL catalytic subunit) that possesses all of the enzymatic activity and a GCLM (GCL modifier subunit) that alters the K(i) of GCLC for GSH. We hypothesized that the expression of GCLM and the association of GCLM with GCLC were responsible for the apparent increase in GCL activity state observed in the liver of rats fed low-protein diets or in hepatocytes cultured in low-sulphur amino acid-containing medium. Therefore we conducted a series of studies using rats and a human hepatoma (HepG2/C3A) cell line to assess the role of GCLM and holoenzyme formation in the regulation of GCL activity in response to sulphur amino acid intake or availability. Increases in GCL activity in rat liver, as well as in HepG2 cells, were due to the additive effects of changes in the amount of GCLC and the kcat for GCLC. The increase in the kcat for GCLC was associated with increased holoenzyme formation, which was associated with an increase in the molar ratio of GCLM to GCLC. Furthermore, our results indicate that the GCLM level in rat liver is always limiting and that up-regulation of the GCLM level results in increased holoenzyme formation and an increase in the kcat. This is the first report demonstrating that the catalytic efficiency of rat GCL is increased by holoenzyme formation and the first demonstration of differential up-regulation of the GCL subunits in response to cysteine deprivation.

The Boston keratoprosthesis, based on early follow-up, is a good alternative as a primary penetrating corneal procedure in a select group of patients with very poor prognosis for penetrating keratoplasty. Although complications can occur and require close monitoring, visual acuity significantly improved in the majority of patients.

Hispanic ethnicity is a potentially important risk factor for recurrence of primary pterygia treated with CAG.