Crossing the Vascular Wall: Common and Unique Mechanisms Exploited by Different Leukocyte Subsets during Extravasation

Leukocyte extravasation is one of the essential and first steps during the initiation of inflammation. Therefore, a better understanding of the key molecules that regulate this process may help to develop novel therapeutics for treatment of inflammation-based diseases such as atherosclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis. The endothelial adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are known as the central mediators of leukocyte adhesion to and transmigration across the endothelium. Engagement of these molecules by their leukocyte integrin receptors initiates the activation of several signaling pathways within both leukocytes and endothelium. Several of such events have been described to occur during transendothelial migration of all leukocyte subsets, whereas other mechanisms are known only for a single leukocyte subset. Here, we summarize current knowledge on regulatory mechanisms of leukocyte extravasation from a leukocyte and endothelial point of view, respectively. Specifically, we will focus on highlighting common and unique mechanisms that specific leukocyte subsets exploit to succeed in crossing endothelial monolayers

Methyl 2-benzyl-5-[1-(4-methoxy­phen­yl)-4-oxo-3-phenyl­azetidin-2-yl]-4-nitro-3-phenyl­pyrrolidine-2-carboxyl­ate

In the title mol­ecule, C35H33N3O6, the pyrrolidine ring adopts a twist conformation. The mol­ecules are paired into centrosymmetric dimers by weak inter­molecular C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds. The dimers inter­act further again via C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds and N—H⋯O intramolecular interaction also stabilize the crystal packing

Secure, Mobile Visual Sensor Networks Architecture

As Wireless Sensor Network-based solutions are proliferating they are facing new challenges: they must be capable of adapting to rapidly changing environments and requirements while their nodes should have low power consumption as they usually run on batteries. Moreover, the security aspect is crucial since they frequently transmit and process very sensitive data, while it is important to be able to support real-time video or processed images over their limited bandwidth links. SMART targets to design and implement a highly reconfigurable Wireless Visual Sensor Node (WVSN) defined as a miniaturized, light-weight, secure, low-cost, battery powered sensing device, enriched with video and data compression capabilities

Diagnostic yield of electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy is highly dependent on the presence of a Bronchus sign on CT imaging: results from a prospective study

Electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB) has been developed as a novel ancillary tool for the bronchoscopic diagnosis of pulmonary nodules. Despite successful navigation in 90% of patients, ENB diagnostic yield does not generally exceed 70%. We sought to determine whether the presence of a bronchus sign on CT imaging conditions diagnostic yield of ENB and might account for the discrepancy between successful navigation and diagnostic yield. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, single-center study of ENB in 51 consecutive patients with pulmonary nodules. ENB was chosen as the least invasive diagnostic technique in patients with a high surgical risk, suspected metastatic disease, or advanced-stage disease, or in those who demanded a preoperative diagnosis prior to undergoing curative resection. We studied patient and technical variables that might condition diagnostic yield, including size, cause, location, distance to the pleural surface, and fluorodeoxyglucose uptake of a given nodule; the presence of a bronchus sign on CT imaging; registration point divergence; and the minimum distance from the tip of the locatable guide to the nodule measured during the procedure. RESULTS: The diagnostic yield of ENB was 67% (34/51). The sensitivity and specificity of ENB for malignancy in this study were 71% and 100%, respectively. ENB was diagnostic in 79% (30/38) patients with a bronchus sign on CT imaging but only in 4/13 (31%) with no discernible bronchus sign. Univariate analysis identified the bronchus sign (P = .005) and nodule size (P = .04) as statistically significant variables conditioning yield, but on multivariate analysis, only the bronchus sign remained significant (OR, 7.6; 95% CI, 1.8-31.7). No procedure-related complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: ENB diagnostic yield is highly dependent on the presence of a bronchus sign on CT imaging

Lesiones traqueales focales. A propósito de un caso

Presentamos un caso de carcinoma adenoide quístico de tráquea demostrado mediante TC multidetector de 64 coronas, PET-TC, y co- rrelación anatomopatológica, en un paciente con hemoptisis. En este artículo revisamos el diagnóstico diferencial de las lesiones traqueales únicas focales mediante tomografía computarizada (TC). Las técnicas de imagen permitieron el diagnóstico e infravaloraron la invasión de la pared traqueal en este caso, confi rmada con posterioridad mediante el estudio histológico. INGLÉS: We present a case of adenoid cystic tracheal carcinoma detected by computerized tomography (64-MDCT) with cyto-histological correlation in a patient with hemoptysis. In this article we review the differential diagnosis of solitary focal tracheal lesions as they appear in computerized tomography (CT). In this case, image methods suggested the diagnosis but underestimated the tracheal wall invasion, which was established by histologycal examination of the resected tumor

Aplicación de los clorofluorocarbonos y el hexafluoruro de azufre como trazadores hidrogeológicos en los acuíferos carbonatados del Parque Natural del Barranco del Río Dulce (Guadalajara)

Based on information from boreholes and springs of the aquifers associated with the Jurassic and Cretaceous carbonate materials near the Natural Park of the Barranco del Río Dulce (PNBRD) a conceptual groundwater flow model has been established whose dynamics was validated with the interpretation of the contents of CFC and SF6, never before used in Spain for these purposes. At all points there is a fraction of pre-1950 water that is greater in the recharge areas of the Jurassic units, where the interpretation of the data via the exponential model reflects ages up to 100 years. The interpretation of the contents of CFCs from binary mixture model reflects ages greater than 17 years for the young fraction that may correspond with water that flow through the spaces of intermediate size between the rock matrix and karst conduits. Although not belonging to the same aquifer unit, the points with the highest proportion of water “post-1950” are located in the river valleys of the Cretaceous units. The results are consistent with the existence of generally poor hydraulic gradients, because of the high apparent ages obtained, the existence of multiple inlets and at least a double porosity. In the Cretaceous aquifers there are karst conduits that raise the flow of springs quickly after rainfall and whose influence is not reflected in the samples. CFCs can be useful to indicate the existence of phenomena of current urban pollution. Age values derived from SF6 concentrations are lower than those derived from CFCs, probable due to contribution of this gas from the rock invalidating its use as tracer. The future use of CFCs is compromised by the decreasing tendency of its concentration in the atmosphere, although the comparison of CFC-113 with SF6 of no geological origin, will maintain its utility.A partir de la información procedente de los puntos de agua de los acuíferos asociados a los materiales carbonatados jurásicos y cretácicos próximos al Parque Natural del Barranco del Río Dulce (PNBRD) y de su estructura geológica, se ha establecido un modelo conceptual de flujo subterráneo cuya dinámica fue validada con la interpretación de los contenidos en CFCs y SF6, nunca antes utilizados en España con estos propósitos, de algunas muestras situadas en distintas posiciones. En todos los puntos se reconoce la existencia de una fracción de agua infiltrada antes de 1950 que es mayor en las zonas de recarga de los acuíferos de edad Jurásico donde a través del modelo exponencial se llega a edades aparentes de hasta 100 años. La interpretación de los contenidos en CFCs de todas las muestras a partir del modelo de mezcla binaria, refleja edades superiores a los 17 años para la fracción joven que puede corresponder con aquella que circula por los canales de tamaño intermedio entre la matriz rocosa y los conductos kársticos mayores. Aun no perteneciendo a la misma unidad acuífera, los puntos con mayor proporción de aguas “post-1950” se sitúan en los valles fluviales de los macizos cretácicos. Los resultados son coherentes con sistemas acuíferos de escaso gradiente general, por lo elevado de las edades aparentes obtenidas, la existencia de múltiples entradas de agua y de al menos una doble porosidad, elementos establecidos en el modelo conceptual. En los acuíferos de edad Cretácico existen conductos kársticos que elevan el caudal de los manantiales de forma rápida tras las precipitaciones y cuya influencia no se refleja en las muestras estudiadas. Los CFCs pueden ser útiles para indicar la existencia de fenómenos de contaminación urbana actual. Los valores de edad derivados de las concentraciones de SF6 son inferiores a los deducidos con los CFCs por un probable aporte de este gas del sustrato invalidando su uso como trazador. El futuro del uso de los CFCs se encuentra comprometido por la tendencia decreciente de su concentración en la atmósfera, aunque la comparación del CFC-12 con el SF6, allí donde este gas no sufra incorporaciones de origen geológico, mantendrá su utilidad