Proinflammatory Liver and Antiinflammatory Intestinal Mediators Involved in Portal Hypertensive Rats

Proinflammatory (TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO) and antiinflammatory (IL-10, CO) levels were assayed in serum, liver, and small bowel in order to verify a hypothetic inflammatory etiopathogeny of portal hypertension that could be the cause of its evolutive heterogeneity. Male Wistar rats were divided into one control group (n = 11) and one group with a triple stenosing ligation of the portal vein (n = 23) after 28 days of evolution. In one subgroup of portal hypertensive rats, portal pressure, collateral venous circulation, mesenteric vasculopathy, and liver and spleen weights were determined. In the remaining rats with portal hypertension TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-10 were quantified in liver and ileum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. NO synthase activity was studied in liver and ileum. CO and NO were measured in portal and systemic blood by spectrophotometry and Griess reaction, respectively. Portal hypertensive rats with mayor spleen weight show hepatomegaly and mayor development of collateral circulation. Ileum release of IL-10 (0.30 ± 0.12 versus 0.14 ± 0.02 pmol/mg protein; P < .01) is associated with a liver production of both proinflammatory mediators (TNF-α: 2 ± 0.21 versus 1.32 ± 0.60 pmol/mg protein; P < .05, IL-1β: 19.17 ± 2.87 versus 5.96 ± 1.84 pmol/mg protein; P = .005, and NO: 132.10 ± 34.72 versus 61.05 ± 8.30 nmol/mL; P = .005) and an antiinflammatory mediator (CO: 6.49 ± 2.99 versus 3.03 ± 1.59 pmol/mL; P = .005). In short-term prehepatic portal hypertension a gut-liver inflammatory loop, which could be fundamental in the regulation both of the portal pressure and of its complications, could be proposed

Photocatalytic activity of nitrogen-doped and undoped titanium dioxide sputtered thin films

In the present work titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films were grown by d.c. reactive magnetron sputtering process, systematically varying the Ar/O2 ratio in the gas mixture, in order to study the influence of the oxygen partial pressure on the crystallographic structure and photocatalytic activity of the TiO2 thin films. After the sputtering process the TiO2 coatings were nitrided in a microwave (f= 2.45 GHz) Electron Cyclotron Resonance (ECR) plasma discharge in pure nitrogen, to compare the photocatalytic activity of undoped and nitrogen-doped TiO2 thin films. The crystal structure of the TiO2 grown samples was studied by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and the presence of the anatase phase in these films were corroborated by Raman spectroscopy. On the other hand, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements carried out in the nitrogen-doped TiO2 samples, showed that the nitrogen was incorporated to the films with an average concentration of 18 at% of N. The UV-Vis optical spectroscopy allowed calculating the band gap. A narrowing of the optical band gap from 3.2 eV for the undoped films to 2.5 eV for the N-doped films was observed. Photocatalytic activity tests were done using a methylene blue (MB) dye solution. The irradiation of the films in the MB dye solution was carried out with an emission lamp in the UV and in the visible range for undoped and N-doped TiO2 films, respectively. The results showed that the N-doped TiO2 films had a higher photocalytic activity in the visible range, reaching a greater MB degradation in comparison with undoped samples, which were subjected to a higher energy radiation.Fil: Franco Arias, Lina Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad del Valle; ColombiaFil: Zambrano, G.. Universidad del Valle; ColombiaFil: Gómez, M. E.. Universidad del Valle; ColombiaFil: Camps, E.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares; MéxicoFil: Escobar Alarcón, L.. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares; Méxic

Integrated drag coefficient formula for estimating the wave attenuation capacity of Rhizophora sp. mangrove forests

Recently, bulk drag coefficient (C˜D) formulations used to quantify wave energy dissipation by Rhizophora mangroves were developed from laboratory data; however, these formulations have not yet been validated with field data. Additionally, due to the complex geometry of mangrove trees within forests and spatial variability, common criteria for determining the adequate geometric characteristics of mangrove forests are lacking and are required to obtain accurate definitions for C˜D. This paper addresses these knowledge gaps by proposing a newly integrated C˜D formulation based on the comprehensive characterization of a Rhizophora mangle forest combined with wave measurements in field, and by using numerical modeling for the calibration process. The field campaign consisted of 23 continuous days of recorded wave data and spatial distribution observations of the geometric characteristics of the mangrove forest. The variation in frontal area per unit height per square meter (Ahm) along the mangrove forest was reported for three zones with different densities identified along the study transect, with decreasing root density from the vegetation edge to the forest interior. On average, the incident wave height decreased by 34% at 63 m in mangrove forests, and the wave attenuation ratios (r) varied between 0.001 and 0.01 m-1. To estimate the C˜D values associated with these wave height attenuation ratios, the Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) numerical model was used to calibrate the model results with the field observations. The variation in the tree frontal area along the mangrove forest and the wave conditions at the site are considered during the calibration process. To further characterize C˜D for this type of mangrove species, the C˜D values acquired from the calibration together with the values reported in the literature from laboratory experiments are presented as a function of the Keulegan-Carpenter number (KC). Root diameter is defined as the characteristic length according to the inherent geometric characteristics of a Rhizophora sp. forest. The new formulation allows us to predictably estimate C˜D values that can be used as inputs in drag force-based models to estimate the attenuation of wave energy produced by Rhizophora sp. forests

PAM-2 decreases neuropathic pain in mice and modulates chemokine/cytokine production in human microglial cells

Background: People worldwide suffer from neuropathic pain, and indicated medications are often either not effective or induce tolerance and abuse. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify additional therapeutic options to treat this form of pain. Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), particularly a7-nAChRs, have been implicated in pain signaling. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the extent to which the selective positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of a7 AChRs, PAM-2, modulates neuropathic pain. The working hypothesis, that PAM-2 inhibits inflammatory signaling and neuropathic pain, was tested using animal and cellular models.Methods: The anti-neuropathic pain activity of PAM-2 was assessed in two independent murine models of neuropathic pain. Briefly, neuropathic pain was induced in adult, male CD-1 mice (n=10/condition) via i.p. administration of either streptozotocin (STZ) or oxaliplatin (OXA). After 14 days, when neuropathic pain was present, mice were administrated with PAM-2 (1.0 or 3.0 mg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle. The pain threshold was subsequently determined by the cold plate test before and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after treatment. In addition, C20 human microglial cells were exposed to interleukin (IL)-1B (20 ng/ml) or vehicle alone, and in combination with nicotine (3 uM), PAM-2 (1-100 uM), or nicotine + PAM-2 for 24 h. After 24 h, cytokine/chemokine levels in the culture media were measured by ELISA.Results: A single dose of PAM-2 (3.0 mg/kg) decreased both STZ- and OXA-induced neuropathic pain in mice. Repeated treatment with an inactive dose (1.0 mg/kg) of PAM-2 showed anti-pain activity in OXA-treated mice after 14, but not 7, days of treatment. Additionally, methyllycaconitine blocked the anti-pain effects elicited by PAM-2, supporting the view that a7 AChRs are instrumental in the anti-pain actions of PAM-2. Cellular experiments revealed that nicotine minimally inhibited IL-1B-induced IL-6 and interferon-gamma-induced chemotactic protein 10 expression in C20 human microglial cells, and that this inhibition was potentiated by PAM-2 (100 uM). However, we cannot rule out the possibility that PAM- 2 was cytotoxic in this cell culture model.Conclusions: These findings indicate that a7 AChRs are involved in neuropathic pain signaling and that a7-PAMs may potentially be used therapeutically. The extent to which these protective effects involve reduced neuroinflammation remains to be determined

Pesticide use in banana plantations in Costa Rica-A review of environmental and human exposure, effects and potential risks

Biodiversity is declining on a global scale. Especially tropical ecosystems, containing most of the planetary biodiversity, are at risk. Agricultural monocrop systems contribute to this decline as they replace original hab-itats and depend on extensive use of synthetic pesticides that impact ecosystems. In this review we use large-scale banana production for export purposes in Costa Rica as an example for pesticide impacts, as it is in production for over a century and uses pesticides extensively for more than fifty years. We summarise the research on pesticide exposure, effects and risks for aquatic and terrestrial environment, as well as for human health. We show that exposure to pesticides is high and relatively well-studied for aquatic systems and humans, but hardly any data are available for the terrestrial compartment including adjacent non target ecosystems such as rainforest fragments. Ecological effects are demonstrated on an organismic level for various aquatic species and processes but are not available at the population and community level. For human health studies exposure evaluation is crucial and recognised effects include various types of cancer and neurobiological dysfunctions particularly in children. With the many synthetic pesticides involved in banana production, the focus on insecticides, revealing highest aquatic risks, and partly herbicides should be extended to fungicides, which are applied aerially over larger areas. The risk assessment and regulation of pesticides so far relies on temperate models and test species and is therefore likely underestimating the risk of pesticide use in tropical ecosystems, with crops such as banana. We highlight further research approaches to improve risk assessment and, in parallel, urge to follow other strategies to reduce pesticides use and especially hazardous substances

Barley-ß-glucans reduce systemic inflammation, renal injury and aortic calcification through ADAM17 and neutral-sphingomyelinase2 inhibition

In chronic kidney disease (CKD), hyperphosphatemia-induced inflammation aggravates vascular calcification (VC) by increasing vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) osteogenic differentiation, ADAM17-induced renal and vascular injury, and TNFα-induction of neutral-sphingomyelinase2 (nSMase2) to release pro-calcifying exosomes. This study examined anti-inflammatory β-glucans efficacy at attenuating systemic inflammation in health, and renal and vascular injury favoring VC in hyperphosphatemic CKD. In healthy adults, dietary barley β-glucans (Bβglucans) reduced leukocyte superoxide production, inflammatory ADAM17, TNFα, nSMase2, and pro-aging/pro-inflammatory STING (Stimulator of interferon genes) gene expression without decreasing circulating inflammatory cytokines, except for γ-interferon. In hyperphosphatemic rat CKD, dietary Bβglucans reduced renal and aortic ADAM17-driven inflammation attenuating CKD-progression (higher GFR and lower serum creatinine, proteinuria, kidney inflammatory infiltration and nSMase2), and TNFα-driven increases in aortic nSMase2 and calcium deposition without improving mineral homeostasis. In VSMC, Bβglucans prevented LPS- or uremic serum-induced rapid increases in ADAM17, TNFα and nSMase2, and reduced the 13-fold higher calcium deposition induced by prolonged calcifying conditions by inhibiting osteogenic differentiation and increases in nSMase2 through Dectin1-independent actions involving Bβglucans internalization. Thus, dietary Bβglucans inhibit leukocyte superoxide production and leukocyte, renal and aortic ADAM17- and nSMase2 gene expression attenuating systemic inflammation in health, and renal injury and aortic calcification despite hyperphosphatemia in CKD.A grant to A.S.D. and M.J.M. from IRBLleida and Agrotecnio Research collaborative projects from the Consell Social at Lleida University supported initial work, Instituto de Salud Carlos III and co-funded by European Union (ERDF/FEDER) (FIS PI11/00259, PI14/01452, PI17/02181), Plan de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación 2013–2017 y 2018–2022 del Principado de Asturias (GRUPIN14-028, IDI-2018-000152), RedInRen from ISCIII (ISCIII-RETIC REDINREN RD16/0009). Investigator support included: NC-L by GRUPIN14-028 and IDI-2018-000152, LM-A by GRUPIN14-028, SP by FICYT; MVA and PV by Educational Grant 2 A/2015 from ERA-EDTA CKD-MBD Working Group; PV and AC by ERA-EDTA fellowships 2011 and 2012; JR-C by MINECO (“Juan de la Cierva” program, FJCI-2015-23849); A.S.D. by Asociación Investigación de Fisiología Aplicada. A.S.D. and M.J.M. are members of the Campus Iberus (Ebro Valley Campus of International Excellence)

Imaging with ultrasound in physical therapy: What is the PT’s scope of practice? A competency-based educational model and training recommendations.

Physical therapists employ ultrasound (US) imaging technology for a broad range of clinical and research purposes. Despite this, few physical therapy regulatory bodies guide the use of US imaging, and there are limited continuing education opportunities for physical therapists to become proficient in using US within their professional scope of practice. Here, we (i) outline the current status of US use by physical therapists; (ii) define and describe four broad categories of physical therapy US applications (ie, rehabilitation, diagnostic, intervention and research US); (iii) discuss how US use relates to the scope of high value physical therapy practice and (iv) propose a broad framework for a competency-based education model for training physical therapists in US. This paper only discusses US imaging— not ’therapeutic’ US. Thus, ’imaging’ is implicit anywhere the term ’ultrasound’ is used.pre-print847 K

Suitability for minimal processing of non-melting clingstone peaches

P>Clingstone non-melting peach cultivars (Prunus persica L. Batsch) are used primarily for canning, but their processing as fresh-cut products is also of interest. Four clingstone peach cultivars ('Andross', 'Babygold 8', 'Calante' and 'Romea') were evaluated for their suitability for minimal processing (washing, peeling and slicing) followed by storage for 9 days at 4 degrees C in a modified atmosphere using microperforated films. Romea cultivar, which has low polyphenol oxidase (PPO) enzymatic activity, proved to be the most suitable cultivar for minimal processing, given its lower degree of browning as well as the results from a sensory evaluation. Maturity indicators varied slightly during storage at a different degree depending on cultivars. We have found that PPO activity and browning potential are adequate indicators for surface browning in fresh-cut non-melting peaches.Los autores agradecen al INIA ‘Plan Específico para Teruel’ (España) por proporcionar el apoyo financiero para el estudio (Proyecto PET 2007-009-C05-03).Publishe

Programa SATI-Q: registro de pacientes en unidades de cuidados intensivos de Argentina

El registro SATI-Q surgió en el año 2004 como iniciativa para optimizar la atención de los pacientes críticamente enfermos en Argentina. Se trata de una red multicéntrica de registro prospectivo de indicadores de calidad en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) integrada por instituciones con distintos grados de complejidad e infraestructura. Las Unidades participantes disponen de un soporte informático que permite monitorizar un set de indicadores predefinidos por el Comité de Gestión de la Sociedad Argentina de la Terapia Intensiva en un formato estandarizado, sobre la base de una herramienta de distribución libre y uso integrado a la práctica asistencial. Esta herramienta, software SATI-Q permite a las UCI participantes disponer en tiempo real de información útil para la gestión y también la investigación. La progresiva incorporación de nuevas funcionalidades para adaptarse a las necesidades de las UCI participantes ha sido un factor clave que ha permitido la evolución y crecimiento del registro en el tiempo.Sociedad Argentina de Informática e Investigación Operativ