140 research outputs found
Neuroimmunomodulatory and neuroprotective effects of the flavonoid apigenin in in vitro models of neuroinflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease
Neurodegenerative disorders (ND) are characterized by the progressive and irreversible loss of neurons. Alzheimerâs Disease (AD) is the most incident age-related ND, in which the presence of a chronic inflammatory compound seems to be related to its pathogenesis. Different stimuli in the central nervous system (CNS) can induce activation, proliferation, and changes in phenotype and glial function, which can be modulated by anti-inflammatory agents. Apigenin (4,5,7âtrihydroxyflavone) is a flavonoid found in abundance in many fruits and vegetables, that has shown important effects upon controlling the inflammatory response. This study evaluated the neuroprotective and neuroimmunomodulatory potential of apigenin using in vitro models of neuroinflammation associated with AD. Co-cultures of neurons and glial cells were obtained from the cortex of newborn and embryonic Wistar rats. After 26 days in vitro, cultures were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 ÎŒg/ml), or IL-1ÎČ (10 ng/ml) for 24 h, or to AÎČ oligomers (500 nM) for 4 h, and then treated with apigenin (1 ÎŒM) for further 24 h. It was observed that the treatment with apigenin preserved neurons and astrocytes integrity, determined by Rosenfeldâs staining and immunocytochemistry for ÎČ-tubulin III and GFAP, respectively. Moreover, it was observed by Fluoro-Jade-B and caspase-3 immunostaining that apigenin was not neurotoxic and has a neuroprotective effect against inflammatory damage. Additionally, apigenin reduced microglial activation, characterized by inhibition of proliferation (BrdU+ cells) and modulation of microglia morphology (Iba-1 + cells), and decreased the expression of the M1 inflammatory marker CD68. Moreover, as determined by RT-qPCR, inflammatory stimuli induced by IL-1ÎČ increased the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1ÎČ, and CCL5, and decreased the mRNA expression of IL-10. Contrary, after treatment with apigenin in inflammatory stimuli (IL-1ÎČ or LPS) there was a modulation of the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines, and reduced expression of OX42, IL-6 and gp130. Moreover, apigenin alone and after an inflammatory stimulus with IL-1ÎČ also induced the increase in the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), an effect that may be associated with anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Together these data demonstrate that apigenin presents neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and might represent an important neuroimmunomodulatory agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions
'Universal' FitzGerald Contractions
The model of a universe with a preferred frame, which nevertheless shares the
main properties with traditional special and general relativity theories, is
considered. We adopt Mach's interpretation of inertia and show that the energy
balance equation, which includes the Machian energy of gravitational
interactions with the universe, can imitate standard relativistic formulas.Comment: The version accepted by Eur. Phys. J.
RelaçÔes funcionais entre precipitação provåvel e média em regiÔes e climas brasileiros
Caracterização fenológica da videira cv. Itålia (Vitis vinifera L.) sob diferentes épocas de poda na região norte do estado do Rio de Janeiro
CaracterĂsticas de carcaça e da carne de caprinos Boer x Saanen confinados recebendo raçÔes com casca do grĂŁo de soja em substituição ao milho
CaracterĂsticas quantitativas da carcaça e qualitativas do mĂșsculo Longissimus dorsi de cabritos Ÿ Boer + ÂŒ Saanen confinados recebendo raçÔes contendo grĂŁos de oleaginosas
Potassium permanganate effects in postharvest conservation of the papaya cultivar Sunrise Golden
NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics
Xenarthrans â anteaters, sloths, and armadillos â have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset
ANTARES: the first undersea neutrino telescope
The ANTARES Neutrino Telescope was completed in May 2008 and is the first
operational Neutrino Telescope in the Mediterranean Sea. The main purpose of
the detector is to perform neutrino astronomy and the apparatus also offers
facilities for marine and Earth sciences. This paper describes the design, the
construction and the installation of the telescope in the deep sea, offshore
from Toulon in France. An illustration of the detector performance is given
- âŠ