"Cecal Resection with Bipolar Sealing in a Rat Model": A Promising Approach for Future Human Studies.

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Agronomic potential of Reseda luteola L. as new crop for natural dyes in textiles production

Six weld genotypes (Reseda luteola L.) were evaluated for their agronomic characteristics in a 4-year field study carried out under rainfed condition in Central Italy in order to point out productive potential and the best harvest time to maximise yield of dye. Good agronomic performances were observed with an overall dry yield of about 40 g per plant and an estimated dry yield per hectare of 2.8 tons. Differences were found among the six accessions and some of them withstanded well to drought conditions experienced in drier growing seasons. The harvest of plants during flowering or during beginning of fruit ripening did not affect overall dry yield (40 and 45 g per plant at flowering and fruit maturity, respectively). The luteolin amount (expressed in mg g-1 dry weight) was affected by climatic conditions as experienced in two different growing seasons (1993 and 1994) and by the plant phenological stages at harvest being luteolin most abundant in the dryest year and in plants harvested during flowering. Genetic variability existed for the luteolin content in leaves plus reproductive structures (inflorescences and fruits) that varied from 13.6 to 28.7 mg g-1 dry weight in the six accessions tested in 1994. The dry powder from leaves and reproductive structures was used in the dyeing of cotton, wool and silk yams. Good and bright yellow colours were observed using a ratio 30:100 (weight/weight) of weld on the textile materials. Separated weld organs showed different dyeing capacities being the leaves, inflorescences and fruits the most effective ones. Weld showed a progressive decrease in resistance to fading going from cotton, to the other kind of yarns. Finally, all dyed specimens exhibited good resistance to light and wash fastness making the use of weld a viable alternative to synthetic yellow dyes

Localization of thrombospondin-l and its cysteine-serine-valine-threonine-cysteine-glycine receptor in colonic anastomotic healing tissue

Thrombospondin-l (TSP-1) is a matrix protein implicated in mechanisms of wound healing. TSP-1 contains the sequence cysteine-serine-valinethreonine- cysteine-glycine (CSVTCG) that has been shown to function primarily as a cell adhesion domain. Our laboratory has isolated a novel receptor specific for the CSVTCG adhesive domain of TSP-1. Immunohistochemical staining techniques and computerized image analysis were used to identify and quantitate TSP-1 and its CSVTCG receptor in surgically created colon anastomotic wounds. Histopathologic and quantitative examination demonstrated increased expression of TSP- 1 and its CSVTCG receptor in areas of wound healing. These findings suggest a role for TSP-1 and its CSVTCG receptor in wound healing. The control of expression and activity of these molecules may eventually be the basis for the development of wound healing agents that could significantly reduce the morbidity from surgical intervention

Modulation of IMD, Toll, and Jak/STAT Immune Pathways Genes in the Fat Body of Rhodnius prolixus During Trypanosoma rangeli Infection

Trypanosoma rangeli is the second most common American trypanosome that infects man. It is vectored by triatomines fromthe genusRhodnius, in which it invadesthe hemolymph and infects the salivary glands, avoiding the bug immune responses. In insects, these responses are initiated by well conserved pathways, mainly the IMD, Toll, and Jak/STAT. We hypothesize that long-term infection with T. rangeli in the gut or hemolymph of Rhodnius prolixus triggers different systemic immune responses, which influence the number of parasites that survive inside the vector. Thus, we investigated groups of insects with infections in the gut and/or hemolymph, and evaluated the parasite load and the expression in the fat body of transcription factors (Rp-Relish, Rp-Dorsal, and Rp-STAT) and inhibitors (Rp-Cactus and Rp-Caspar) of the IMD, Toll, and Jak/STAT pathways. We detected lower parasite counts in the gut of insects without hemolymph infection, compared to hemolymph-infected groups. Besides, we measured higher parasite numbers in the gut of bugs that were first inoculated with T. rangeli and then fed on infected mice, compared with control insects, indicating that hemolymph infection increases parasite numbers in the gut. Interestingly, we observed that genes from the three immune pathways where differentially modulated, depending on the region parasites were present, as we found (1) Rp-Relish downregulated in gut-and/or-hemolymph-infected insects, compared with controls; (2) RpCactus upregulated in gut-infected insect, compared with controls and gut-andhemolymph-infected groups; and (3) Rp-STAT downregulated in all groups of hemolymph-infected insects. Finally, we uncovered negative correlations between parasite loads in the gut and Rp-Relish and Rp-Cactus expression, and between parasite counts in the hemolymph and Rp-Relish levels, suggesting an association between parasite numbers and the IMD and Toll pathways. Overall, our findings reveal new players in R. prolixus–T. rangeli interactions that could be key for the capacity of the bug to transmit the pathogen.Fil: Rolandelli, Agustin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Nascimento, Adeisa E. C.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Silva, Leticia S.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; BrasilFil: Rivera Pomar, Rolando. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Universidad Nacional del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigaciones y Transferencia del Noroeste de la Provincia de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Guarneri, Alessandra A.. Fundación Oswaldo Cruz; Brasi

Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis Show Unique Cytokine Profiles

Networks of cytokines have been implicated in both forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). While CD has associated with T-helper type 1 (Th1) immune responses, UC shows Th2 patterns. Recent studies reported that the inflamed intestinal regions in both CD and UC are significantly infiltrated with a newly described set of T helper, the Th17 cells. These cells have unique cytokine responses. These findings prompted us to further explore the cytokine profiles of CD and UC with a special focus on the Th2 and Th17 related mediators