67 research outputs found
Role of mast cells in atherosclerosis: a classical inflammatory disease.
Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease and hyperlipidaemia is one of the main risk factors for aging, hypertension and diabetes. Variance in plasma LDL cholesterol concentration may be associated with differences in cardiovascular disease risk and high levels of lipids are associated with increased risk of developing atherosclerosis. Macrophages, which generate pro-inflammatory cytokines, mainly interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-alpha), are deeply involved in atherosclerosis, as well as mast cells which generate several cytokines, including IL-6 and IFN-gamma, and chemokines such as eotaxin, MCP-1 and RANTES involved in monocyte recruitment and differentiation in the arterial wall. In addition, mast cells participate in lipid retention and vascular cell remodeling, and are mediators of innate and adaptive immunity during atherosclerosis. Mast cells which accumulate in the human arterial intima and adventitia during atherosclerotic plaque progression, release vasoactive and angiogenic compounds, and pro-inflammatory mediators, such as arachidonic acid metabolites, histamine, cytokines/chemokines, platelet activating factor (PAF) and proteolytic enzymes. Mast cells can be activated by pro-inflammatory stimuli, including cytokines, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia, and trigger the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules such as P-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and chemokines which mediate the recruitment and adhesion of leukocytes. The participation of mast cells in atherosclerosis is still an enigma and it may be of therapeutic interest to clarify this process
Impact of Mast Cells on Multiple Sclerosis: Inhibitory Effect of Natalizumab
Mast cells (MCs) derive from a distinct precursor in the bone marrow and are predominantly found in tissues at the interface between the host and the external environment where they can secrete mediators without overt degranulation. Mast cells mature under local tissue microenvironmental factors and are necessary for the development of allergic reactions, through crosslinking of their surface receptors for IgE (FcεRI), leading to degranulation and the release of vasoactive, pro-inflammatory and nociceptive mediators that include histamine, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and proteolytic enzymes. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory demylination within the central nervous system. MCs are involved in the pathogenesis of MS by generating various vasoactive mediators and cytokines and participate in the destruction of the myelin sheath and the neuronal cells. The process of the development of demyelinating plaques in MS is probably linked with the rupture of the blood-brain barrier by MC products. The effects of natalizumab, which is a very effective drug in reducing the annualized relapse rate and other relapse-based endpoints, are discussed. Here, we report the relationship between MCs and MS
Ultra-deep Large Binocular Camera U-band Imaging of the GOODS-North Field: Depth vs. Resolution
We present a study of the trade-off between depth and resolution using a
large number of U-band imaging observations in the GOODS-North field
(Giavalisco et al. 2004) from the Large Binocular Camera (LBC) on the Large
Binocular Telescope (LBT). Having acquired over 30 hours of data (315 images
with 5-6 mins exposures), we generated multiple image mosaics, starting with
the best atmospheric seeing images (FWHM 0.8"), which constitute
10% of the total data set. For subsequent mosaics, we added in data with
larger seeing values until the final, deepest mosaic included all images with
FWHM 1.8" (94% of the total data set). From the mosaics, we
made object catalogs to compare the optimal-resolution, yet shallower image to
the lower-resolution but deeper image. We show that the number counts for both
images are 90% complete to . Fainter than
27, the object counts from the optimal-resolution image start to
drop-off dramatically (90% between = 27 and 28 mag), while the deepest
image with better surface-brightness sensitivity ( 32
mag arcsec) show a more gradual drop (10% between 27
and 28 mag). For the brightest galaxies within the GOODS-N field, structure and
clumpy features within the galaxies are more prominent in the
optimal-resolution image compared to the deeper mosaics. Finally, we find - for
220 brighter galaxies with 24 mag - only marginal
differences in total flux between the optimal-resolution and lower-resolution
light-profiles to 32 mag arcsec. In only 10% of
the cases are the total-flux differences larger than 0.5 mag. This helps
constrain how much flux can be missed from galaxy outskirts, which is important
for studies of the Extragalactic Background Light.Comment: 24 pages, 14 figures, submitted to PASP, comments welcom
Return to sport activity after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in skeletally immature athletes with manual drilling original all inside reconstruction at 8 years follow-up
Objective: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears are common injuries in adolescent athletes, especially
in those who bear high stress on their knees due to shearing forces. The goal of the surgical procedures in
skeletally immature patients is to restore joint stability avoiding the adverse effects on the growth
process.
The aim of this study was to verify the return of the skeletally immature professional athletes to sports in
the long-term, following ACL reconstruction with the original all-inside technique and with manual
drilling.
Methods: This study included 24 athletes (14 boys, 10 girls; mean age: 13.15 years, range: 9e14 years)
who had radiographic evidence of open physes, were less than 14 years of age at the time of surgery and
those with a minimum follow-up of eight years. All patients completed a questionnaire, the IKDC subjective
knee evaluation form, and Tegner Activity Scale. Biomechanical outcomes of the KT-1000
arthrometer, gait analysis, and stabilometric and isokinetic results were also evaluated. A plain radiograph
of both lower limbs was taken to obtain a precise measurement of the limb length and mechanical
axis angles.
Results: The patients returned to sport activities in a mean time of 6.43 months. No rerupture or
resurgery due to growth abnormalities was observed. The mean difference in length between the
operated and contralateral legs was 0.4 (range: 0.2 to 0.7) cm. The mean side-to-side difference
measured with the KT-1000 arthrometer was 5.2 (range: 3.5 to 7) mm in the preoperative and 0.8 (range:
0 to 2.5) mm in the postoperative measurements.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the original all-inside technique with manual drilling with a half tunnel and
short graft seems to be a very effective technique for the surgical management of ACL injuries in pediatric/
adolescent athletes. A good rate of return to sports at pre-injury levels or higher, high patient
satisfaction and a decent motor and proprioceptive function is possible as shown by our analysis.
Level of evidence: Level IV, Therapeutic study
Searching for Intragroup Light in Deep U-band Imaging of the COSMOS Field
We present the results of deep, ground based U-band imaging with the Large
Binocular Telescope of the Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) field as part of
the near-UV imaging program, UVCANDELS. We utilize a seeing sorted stacking
method along with night-to-night relative transparency corrections to create
optimal depth and optimal resolution mosaics in the U-band, which are capable
of reaching point source magnitudes of AB 26.5 mag at 3 sigma. These ground
based mosaics bridge the wavelength gap between the HST WFC3 F27W and ACS F435W
images and are necessary to understand galaxy assembly in the last 9-10 Gyr. We
use the depth of these mosaics to search for the presence of U-band intragroup
light (IGrL) beyond the local Universe. Regardless of how groups are scaled and
stacked, we do not detect any U-band IGrL to unprecedented U-band depths of
29.1-29.6 mag/arcsec2, which corresponds to an IGrL fraction of less than 1% of
the total group light. This stringent upper limit suggests that IGrL does not
contribute significantly to the Extragalactic Background Light at short
wavelengths. Furthermore, the lack of UV IGrL observed in these stacks suggests
that the atomic gas observed in the intragroup medium (IGrM) is likely not
dense enough to trigger star formation on large scales. Future studies may
detect IGrL by creating similar stacks at longer wavelengths or by
pre-selecting groups which are older and/or more dynamically evolved similar to
past IGrL observations of compact groups and loose groups with signs of
gravitational interactions.Comment: Accepted to PAS
Seeing-sorted Visible Multi-Object Spectrograph U-band Imaging of the GOODS-south Field*
We present the optimal resolution and optimal depth U-filter mosaics using the seeing-sorted method of Ashcraft et al. on deep, ground-based U-bandimaging of the Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey South field as part of the near-UV imaging program UVCANDELS. We use the U-bandimages obtained with the VIsible Multi-Object Spectrograph on the European Southern Observatory Very Large Telescope by Nonino et al. Our best resolution mosaic includes images with a seeing full-width half maximum (FWHM) ≤ 0"8, and encompasses 50% of the data. Our best depth mosaic includes images with FWHM ≤ 1"5, corresponding to 100% of the data. Prior to being combined, the source fluxes in each individual background-subtracted image are corrected to match a 3D-HST photometric catalog of the same field to correct variations in the U-band zero-points. These mosaics provide deep U-banddata complementary to the UVCANDELS HST WFC3 F275W and ACS F435W images. We assess the depth of both U-bandmosaics. * Based on data acquired using the Very Large Telescope (VLT) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO)
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