Cancer-associated fibroblasts and M2-polarized macrophages synergize during prostate carcinoma progression

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Heme modulates smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration via NADPH oxidase: A counter-regulatory role for heme oxygenase system

AbstractAccumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in response to inflammatory stimuli is a key event in atherogenesis, which commonly occurs in sinuous vessels with turbulent blood flow what leads to hemolysis and consequent free heme accumulation, a known pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory molecule.In this work, we investigated the effects of free heme on VSMC, and the molecular mechanisms underlying this process.Free heme induces a concentration-dependent migration and proliferation of VSMC which depends on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from NADPH oxidase (NADPHox) activity. Additionally, heme activates redox-sensitive proliferation-related signaling routes, such as Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) and NF-κB, and induces Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. NADPHox-dependent proliferative effect of heme seems to be endogenously modulated by HO since the pretreatment of VSMC with HO inhibitors potentiates heme-induced proliferation and, in parallel, increases ROS production. These effects were no longer observed in the presence of heme metabolites, carbon monoxide and biliverdin.The data indicate that VSMC proliferation induced by heme is endogenously modulated by a critical counter-regulatory crosstalk between NADPHox and HO systems

Differential X-ray attenuation in MA-XRF analysis for a non-invasive determination of gilding thickness

When investigating gilded artifacts or works of art, the determination of the gilding thickness plays a significant role in establishing restoration protocols or conservation strategies. Unfortunately, this is done by cross-sectioning the object, a destructive approach not always feasible. A non-destructive alternative, based on the differential attenuation of fluorescence radiation from the sample, has been developed in the past years, but due to the intrinsic random nature of X-rays, the study of single or few spots of an objects surface may yield biased information. Furthermore, considering the effects of both porosity and sample inhomogeneities is a practice commonly overlooked, which may introduce systematic errors. In order to overcome these matters, here we propose the extrapolation of the differential-attenuation method from single-spot X-ray fluorescence (XRF) measurements to macro-XRF (MA-XRF) scanning. In this work, an innovative algorithm was developed for evaluating the large amount of data coming from MA-XRF datasets and evaluate the thickness of a given overlapping layer over an area. This approach was adopted to study a gilded copper-based buckle from the sixteenth to seventeenth century found in Rome. The gilded object under investigation was also studied by other analytical techniques including scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Previous results obtained from SEM-EDS were used to confront the data obtained with the proposed methodology and validate it. MA-XRF elemental distribution maps were fundamental in identifying and choosing sampling areas to calculate the thickness of the gilding layer, avoiding lead islands present in the sample that could negatively influence the results. Albeit the large relative standard deviation, the mean thickness values fell within those found in literature and those obtained from previous studies with SEM-EDS. Surface fissure has been found to deeply affect the results obtained, an aspect that is often disregarded

Percepções de consumidores sobre carne bovina com indicação geográfica de raças locais brasileiras, Campo Grande-MS.

Foi realizado levantamento com 347 consumidores de carne bovina em 12 estabelecimentos que comercializam carnes em Campo Grande (MS), a fim de identificar sua percepção com relação às carnes diferenciadas, especialmente identificação geográfica (IG), buscando entender como essa percepção pode ser utilizada como estratégia para conservação de raças locais, como o bovino Pantaneiro e o bovino Curraleiro Pé-Duro, e identificar se estão dispostos a pagar por estes atributos. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entre vistas verbais utilizando um questionário semiestruturado composto por questões fechadas e abertas, subdividido em duas partes, uma referente ao perfil do consumidor e outra sobre seu conhecimento das características de carnes com indicação geográfica e das raças bovinas locais. Constatou-se que a maioria dos consumidores tem pouco conhecimento sobre o que são carnes com indicação geográfica e o que são raças bovinas locais. Mesmo assim, demonstraram interesse em consumir carne com IG de raças locais caso essas características sejam um indicador de qualidade e também para incentivar e valorizar um produto local. Além disso, estão dispostos a pagar mais por este tipo de produto, embora a frequência de consumo vá depender do preço . Conclui-se que o consumidor valorizou os atributos desse tipo de carne, sendo possível agregar valor em função de tais diferenciais. Desta forma, o uso de IG e m raças locais pode contribuir para a conservação dessas raças ao incorporar sua carne ao mercado