Search

CXCL2 (macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2)), a critical chemokine for neutrophils, has been shown to be produced in the rat intestine in response to platelet-activating factor (PAF) and to mediate intestinal inflammation and injury. The intestinal epithelium, constantly exposed to bacterial products, is the first line of defence against micro-organisms. It has been reported that enterocytes produce proinflammatory mediators, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and PAF, and we showed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and TNF activate nuclear factor (NF)-κB in enterocytes. However, it remains elusive whether enterocytes release CXCL2 in response to LPS and TNF via a NF-κB-dependent pathway and whether this involves the endogenous production of TNF and PAF. In this study, we found that TNF and LPS markedly induced CXCL2 gene expression in IEC-6 cells, TNF within 30 min, peaking at 45 min, while LPS more slowly, peaking after 2 hr. TNF- and LPS- induced CXCL2 gene expression and protein release were completely blocked by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) and helenalin, two potent NF-κB inhibitors. NEMO-binding domain peptide, a specific inhibitor of inhibitor protein κB kinase (IKK) activation, a major upstream kinase mediating NF-κB activation, significantly blocked CXCL2 gene expression and protein release induced by LPS. WEB2170 (PAF antagonist) and anti-TNF antibodies had no effect on LPS-induced CXCL2 expression. In conclusion, CXCL2 gene is expressed in enterocytes in response to both TNF and LPS. LPS-induced CXCL2 expression is dependent on NF-κB activation via the IKK pathway. The effect of LPS is independent of endogenous TNF and PAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested the hypothesis that relatively symmetrical flies live longer. Vein measurements on the left and right wings from the same individual were used to characterize bilateral symmetry in relationship to age-specific survival in defined cohorts. A longitudinal cohort study supported the hypothesis of a correlation between bilateral symmetry and longevity. For another type of experiment, wings were removed from females and males at approximately the beginning of adult life. Thus, there would be no effect of wings per se on adult survival. These wings were measured to characterize bilateral asymmetry, and the day of death of each dewinged individual was determined. Wing symmetry of females and males proved to be a statistically significant predictor of life span, especially for males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data that can be best described as a sample of curves are now fairly common in science and engineering. When the dynamics of development, growth, or response overtime are at issue, subjects or experimental units may experience events at different temporal paces. For functional data where trajectories may be individually time-transformed, it is usually inadequate to use commonly used sample statistics, such as the cross-sectional mean or median or the cross-sectional sample variance. If one observes time-warped curve data (i.e.. random curves or random trajectories that exhibit random transformations of the time scale), then the usual L² norm and metric typically are inadequate. One may then consider subjecting each observed curve to a time transformation in an attempt to reverse the warping of the time scale before further statistical analysis. Dynamic time warping, alignment, curve registration, and landmark-based methods have been put forward with the goal of finding adequate empirical time transformations. Previous analyses of warping typically have not been based on a model in which individual observed curves are viewed as realizations of a stochastic process. We propose a functional convex synchronization model, under the premise that each observed curve is the realization of a stochastic process. Monotonicity constraints on time evolution provide the motivation for a functional convex calculus with the goal of obtaining sample statistics such as a functional mean. Observed random functions in warped time space are represented by a bivariate random function in synchronized time space, consisting of a stochastic monotone time transformation function and an unrestricted random amplitude function. Our theory assumes a monotone time warping transformation (hat maps synchronized time to warped (i.e., observed) time. This leads to the definition of a functional convex average or "longitudinal average." in contrast lo the conventional... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compares the effects of germ-free environment and antibiotic treatment on the pathophysiological responses and intestinal group II phospholipase A[sub2] (PLA[sub2]) activity after platelet-activating factor (PAF) or lipopolysaccharide injection. Systemic blood pressure over time after injection of PAF in the rats studied; Role of intestinal injury in various diseases; Importance of PLA[sub2] in cardiovascular collapse due to septic shock.

Examines the role of gut flora on intestinal group II phospholipase A[sub 2] (PLA[sub 2]) activity and intestinal injury in shock. Impact of antibiotic treatment on PLA[sub 2]-II activity; Induction of hypotension by lipopolysaccharides; Importance of PLA[sub 2]-II in immunity.

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have become one of the most promising technologies in wastewater treat - ment. This study aimed to investigate the emission characteristics, source analysis and health risk of bioaerosols generated from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) with an MBR throughout the entire process. The results suggested that tile MBR exhibited a high concentration of bacterial bioaerosols 2921-6173 CFU/mt and fungal bioaerosols (77-673 CFU/mt and a high proportion of the respiratory fraction (RF) of bioaerosols. In the MBR, Holomonas, Microvirga, and Geodermatophilus and Rubellimicrobium were the dominant bacteria, and the predominant fungi were Acidea, Neophaeosphaeria, and Cryptotrichosporon. Water soluble ions (WS[s) in the bioaerosols were mainly 5042: N03-, Cl-, Ca2+1 Na+ and NH4*, with concentrations ranging from 18.68 to 183.41 tig/m3. Temperature, relative humidity (RH) and wind speed (WS) all had different influences on bacterial bioaerosols and fungal bioaerosols. Air was the major source of bioaerosols from the MBR. Bioaerosols in the fine grid (FG) and sludge dewatering room SDR) were from wastewater, sludge and air. Furthermore, inhalation was the greatest pathway of bioaerosol exposure. The SDR, aeration tank (AerT) and MBR showed the highest risks of bioaerosols. Thus, bioaerosols from MBRs should be sufficiently investigated, and effective controls should be set up to protect workers and residents around plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) into polymers is the current means for enhancing the performance of polymer materials, the key to which is the increase of compatibility between NPs and polymer media. In this paper, the polymerizable surfactant octadecyl-p-vinylbenzyldimethylammonium chloride (OVDAC) is synthesized and used as a capping agent for direct synthesis of various metal NPs, for instance Au, Ag, Pd, and Pt, and semiconductor NPs, for instance ZnS, CdS, and PbS. The preformed OVDAC-stabilized NPs are lipophilic and act as macromolecular monomers in the copolymerization with lipophilic monomers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is now the third leading cause of death in the world, after ischemic heart disease and stroke. However, in the face of this preventable and curable major public health problem, there are still many problems in clinical diagnosis and treatment in China, such as insufficient health education, missing follow-up data, and non-standardized clinical management, which may be important causes of the deterioration of conditions, leading to increased difficulties in treating and higher possibility of poor outcome after late treatment as well as increased social and economic burden of COPD. Therefore, it is of great practical significance to accelerate the standardization of prevention, diagnosis and management of COPD to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of diagnosis and treatment of COPD. To provide a reference for emergency and respiratory clinicians to better treat COPD patients clinically, in view of domestic diagnosis, treatment and studies regarding COPD, we comprehensively analyzed the non-pharmacological treatment of stable COPD based on the updated GOLD's Global Strategy for the Diagnosis, Management, and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, mainly including pulmonary function measurement and assessment, smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, ventilatory support and surgical interventions.

Feeding a Western high-fat diet (HFD) to C57BL/6 mice induces obesity, associated with a chronic inflammatory state, lipid transport, and metabolic derangements, and organ system effects that particularly prominent in the kidneys. Here, we report that RLIP76 homozygous knock-out (RLIP76-/- ) mice are highly resistant to obesity as well as these other features of metabolic syndrome caused by HFD. The normal increase in pro-inflammatory and fibrotic markers associated with HFD induced obesity in wild-type C57B mice was broadly and nearly completely abrogated in RLIP76-/- mice. This is a particularly striking finding because chemical markers of oxidative stress including lipid hydroperoxides and alkenals were significantly higher in RLIP76-/- mice. Whereas HFD caused marked suppression of AMPK in wild-type C57B mice, RLIP76-/- mice had baseline activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, which was not further affected by HFD. The baseline renal function was reduced in RLIP76-/- mice as compared with wild-type, but was unaffected by HFD, in marked contrast to severe renal impairment and glomerulopathy in the wild-type mice given HFD. Our findings confirm a fundamental role of RLIP76 in regulating the function of obesity-promoting pro-inflammatory cytokines, and provide a novel mechanism for targeted therapy of obesity and metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]