Lung inflammation by fungus, Bjerkandera adusta isolated from Asian sand dust (ASD) aerosol and enhancement of ovalbumin-induced lung eosinophilia by ASD and the fungus in mice.

BackgroundBjerkandera adusta (B. adusta) is one of the most important etiological fungi associated with chronic cough. However, precise details of the inflammatory response to exposure are not well understood yet. B. adusta was recently identified in Asian sand dust (ASD) aerosol. Therefore, in the present study the exacerbating effects of ASD on B. adusta-induced lung inflammation and B. adusta + ASD on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine lung eosinophilia were investigated using experimental mice.MethodsIn order to prepare testing samples, B. adusta obtained from ASD aerosol was inactivated by formalin and ASD collected from the atmosphere was heated to remove toxic organic substances (H-ASD). CD-1 mice were instilled intratracheally with 12 different samples prepared with various combinations of B. adusta, H-ASD, and OVA in a normal saline solution. The lung pathology, cytological profiles in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and the levels of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in BALF were investigated.ResultsH-ASD aggravated the lung eosinophilia induced by B. adusta alone, which also aggravated the lung eosinophilia induced by OVA. The mixture of OVA, H-ASD, and B. adusta caused serious fibrous thickening of the subepithelial layer, eosinophil infiltration, and proliferation of goblet cells in the airways along with remarkable increases of IL-13, eotaxin, IL-5, and MCP-3 in BALF.ConclusionsThe results of the present study demonstrated that B. adusta isolated from ASD aerosol induces allergic lung diseases. H-ASD enhanced allergic reactions caused by OVA or B. adusta. A mixture of B. adusta, H-ASD, and OVA caused the most remarkable exacerbation to the allergic airway inflammation via remarkable increases of pro-inflammatory mediators

The Origins of New Zealand's Chinook Salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha

Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, are well established as anadromous and landlocked runs in New Zealand. Ova introductions during the 1870's (probably from the McCloud River, California, U.S.A.), failed to generate anadromous stocks, but further introductions offall-run salmon ova from hatcheries in California's Sacramento River basin in the early 1900's were successful and formed the basis for existing runs. The first batch of ova in the 1900's consignments originated from Battle Creek, a Sacramento River tributary, but the explicit source of later batches is not known. It seems likely that the successful runs stem from the second batch (1903 brood year-1904 consignment in New Zealand), probably augmented by returns from later importations

Expression of VPAC1 in a murine model of allergic asthma

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is a putative neurotransmitter of the inhibitory non-adrenergic non-cholinergic nervous system and influences the mammalian airway function in various ways. Hence known for bronchodilatory, immunomodulatory and mucus secretion modulating effects by interacting with the VIP receptors VPAC1 and VPAC2, it is discussed to be a promising target for pharmaceutical intervention in common diseases such as COPD and bronchial asthma. Here we examined the expression and transcriptional regulation of VPAC1 in the lungs of allergic mice using an ovalbumin (OVA) -induced model of allergic asthma. Mice were sensitized to OVA and challenged with an OVA aerosol. In parallel a control group was sham sensitized with saline. VPAC1 expression was examined using RT-PCR and real time-PCR studies were performed to quantify gene transcription. VPAC1 mRNA expression was detected in all samples of OVA-sensitized and challenged animals and control tissues. Further realtime analysis did not show significant differences at the transcriptional level. Although the present studies did not indicate a major transcriptional regulation of VPAC1 in states of allergic airway inflammation, immunomodulatory effects of VPAC1 might still be present due to regulations at the translational level

Poly(2-propylacrylic acid)/poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) blend microparticles as a targeted antigen delivery system to direct either CD4+ or CD8+ T cell activation.

Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) based microparticles (MPs) are widely investigated for their ability to load a range of molecules with high efficiency, including antigenic proteins, and release them in a controlled manner. Micron-sized PLGA MPs are readily phagocytosed by antigen presenting cells, and localized to endosomes. Due to low pH and digestive enzymes, encapsulated protein cargo is largely degraded and processed in endosomes for MHC-II loading and presentation to CD4+ T cells, with very little antigen delivered into the cytosol, limiting MHC-I antigenic loading and presentation to CD8+ T cells. In this work, PLGA was blended with poly(2-propylacrylic acid) (PPAA), a membrane destabilizing polymer, in order to incorporate an endosomal escape strategy into PLGA MPs as an easily fabricated platform with diverse loading capabilities, as a means to enable antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells. Ovalbumin (OVA)-loaded MPs were fabricated using a water-in-oil double emulsion with a 0% (PLGA only), 3 and 10% PPAA composition. MPs were subsequently determined to have an average diameter of 1 µm, with high loading and a release profile characteristic of PLGA. Bone marrow derived dendritic cells (DCs) were then incubated with MPs in order to evaluate localization, processing, and presentation of ovalbumin. Endosomal escape of OVA was observed only in DC groups treated with PPAA/PLGA blends, which promoted high levels of activation of CD8+ OVA-specific OT-I T cells, compared to DCs treated with OVA-loaded PLGA MPs which were unable activate CD8+ T cells. In contrast, DCs treated with OVA-loaded PLGA MPs promoted OVA-specific OT-II CD4+ T cell activation, whereas PPAA incorporation into the MP blend did not permit CD4+ T cell activation. These studies demonstrate PLGA MP blends containing PPAA are able to provide an endosomal escape strategy for encapsulated protein antigen, enabling the targeted delivery of antigen for tunable presentation and activation of either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells

Partisipasi Masyarakat Dalam Konservasi Cagar Alam Pulau Dua Di Kelurahan Sawah Luhur Kecamatan Kasemen Kota Serang

Cagar Alam merupakan sebuah kawasan hutan suaka alam yang berarti terdapat perlindungan kawasan berupa kekayaan alam beserta isinya. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah, (1) Mengidentifikasi pengaruh partisipasi masyarakat dalam bentuk tenaga terhadap konservasi Cagar Alam Pulau Dua. (2) Mengidentifikasi pengaruh partisipasi masyarakat dalam bentuk buah pikiran terhadap konservasi Cagar Alam Pulau Dua. (3) Mengidentifikasi pengaruh partisipasi masyarakat dalam bentuk harta benda terhadap konservasi Cagar Alam Pulau Dua. (4) Mengidentifikasi pengaruh partisipasi masyarakat dalam bentuk keterampilan dan kemahiran terhadap konservasi Cagar Alam Pulau Dua. (5) Mengidentifikasi pengaruh partisipasi masyarakat dalam bentuk sosial terhadap konservasi Cagar Alam Pulau Dua. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif, dilakukan untuk menjabarkan hasil temuan dilapangan dengan mengambil sampel dari populasi penduduk. Hal yang dilakukan pada saat penelitian dilapangan seperti menyebar angket kepada masyarakat Kelurahan Sawah Luhur, wawancara kepada pengelola dan pemerintah setempat serta observasi lapangan melihat kondisi sebenarnya wilayah penelitian. Hasil yang didapatkan adalah bahwa buah pikiran, tenaga, kemahiran dan keterampilan, dan sosial bernilai positif artinya faktor tersebut mempengaruhi konservasi untuk konservasi Cagar Alam Pulau Dua. Namun pengaruhnya rendah. Oleh karena itu menanamkan kesadaran masyarakat akan sebuah kelestarian alam harus ditingkatkan kembali. Kata kunci : Konservasi, Partisipasi Masyarakat, Cagar Alam Natural preserve is a forest area natural sanctuary which means there is protection areas in the form of wealth the nature and content.The aim of this research are, (1) identify the influence of public participation in the form of power to preserving the natural heritage Cagar Alam Pulau Dua (2) identify the influence of public participation in a form of fruit of the mind to preserving the natural heritage Cagar Alam Pulau Dua. (3) identify influence the participation of the people in the form of material possessions to preserving the natural heritage Cagar Alam Pulau Dua.(4) identify the influence of public participation in the form of skill and skillfulness to preserving the natural heritage Cagar Alam Pulau Dua (5) identify the influence of public participation in the form of social to preserving the natural heritage Cagar Alam Pulau Dua . This research using a descriptive of method was done to describe the result of the findings in field by taking sample of the population. A thing done at the time of research poll in field as spread to the public kelurahan Sawah Luhur, an interview to management and local government and field observation see the real condition. Result obtained is that the mind, power, skill, and social worth positive means that this factor affecting conservation of natural heritage for the preservation of the Cagar Alam Pulau Dua. But its influence low. Hence educate people will be a preserve nature must be improved back. Keywords : conservastion, public participation, Natural preserv

Determinan Perilaku Suami yang Mempengaruhi Pilihan Penolong Persalinan Bagi Istri

Background: Culture often gives limitation for women in decision taking regarding their health. In fact, husbands play an absolute role to determine who will attend and help the delivery.Objective: To explore husbands' behavior in choosing and determining that will help their wife's delivery.Methods: This is a survey study using cross-sectional design. The samples were 110 husbands who had a wife delivering in Pekuncen Sub District's primary health center, Banyumas District, Central Java, during the period of 1 January 2005 – 31 December 2005.Results: The variables that had significant relationship in choosing and determining birth attendant were husbands' education OR = 7.57 (95% Cl: 2.11 – 27.15), delivery cost OR = 6.77 (95% Cl: 2.06 – 22.28) and husbands' trust OR = 0.15 (95% Cl: 0.04 – 0.55). Husbands with higher level of education had an opportunity of 7.5 times increased to choose and determine the birth attendant compared to those with lower lever of education. Husbands' trust had an opportunity of 7 times decreased to choose and determine the birth attendant compared to those with no trust to the birth attendant. Expensive delivery cost would be 6.7 times increased the determination of the birth attendant by health provider compared to cheap delivery cost. It was because of some additional cost for the health provider that was relatively high. As a result, mean distribution curve of the birth attendant cost would tend to go to the right.Conclusions: Husbands' education, cost, and trust factors were the determinant factors in choosing and determining who would attend the delivery