The role of CD44H molecule in the interactions between human monocytes and pancreatic adenocarcinoma-derived microvesicles

Introduction. CD44H is a transmembrane molecule important for cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. In monocytes, CD44H is implicated in phagocytosis of particles coated by hyaluronan (HA). HA fragments were shown to induce chemokine secretion by monocytes. Tumour derived microvesicles (TMVs), which are small membrane fragments derived from tumour cells can carry fragments of HA. The aim of the study was to examine whether monocyte’s CD44H is involved in the engulfment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma-derived microvesicles and in the production of chemokines induced by TMVs. Materials and methods. TMVs engulfment and chemokines’ secretion stimulated with TMVs were determined in control human monocytes and cells incubated with anti-CD44H monoclonal antibody (mAb) by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Phosphorylation of STAT3, transcription factor essential for chemokines’ production and CD44 signal transduction, was determined by Western blotting. Results. Blocking of CD44H by anti-CD44H mAb on monocytes decreased the engulfment of TMVs and thesecretion of CCL4 and CCL5, but had no effect on CCL2, CCL3 and CXCL8. STAT-3 phosphorylation inmonocytes incubated with TMVs after CD44 blocking was also reduced. Conclusion. The results suggest that tumour-derived microvesicles (TMVs) may carry bioactive cargo(s) which induces STAT3 dependent signalling pathway in human monocytes via CD44 molecules

Measurement of psychological entitlement in 28 countries

This article presents the cross-cultural validation of the Entitlement Attitudes Questionnaire, a tool designed to measure three facets of psychological entitlement: active, passive, and revenge entitlement. Active entitlement was defined as the tendency to protect individual rights based on self-worthiness. Passive entitlement was defined as the belief in obligations to and expectations toward other people and institutions for the fulfillment of the individual’s needs. Revenge entitlement was defined as the tendency to protect one’s individual rights when violated by others and the tendency to reciprocate insults. The 15-item EAQ was validated in a series of three studies: the first one on a general Polish sample (N = 1,900), the second one on a sample of Polish students (N = 199), and the third one on student samples from 28 countries (N = 5,979). A three-factor solution was confirmed across all samples. Examination of measurement equivalence indicated partial metric invariance of EAQ for all national samples. Discriminant and convergent validity of the EAQ was also confirmed

Corruption and sexual Scandal: the importance of politician gender

Esta investigación experimental analiza las reacciones individua- les hacia los políticos involucrados en algún escándalo, según el tipo de es- cándalo y al género del político (N=798). Fueron considerados los escánda- los sexuales y la corrupción. Los resultados indicaron que las féminas liga- das a la política fueron juzgadas con mayor severidad y recibieron peores críticas que los políticos masculinos, esto independiente del tipo de escán- dalo. Para las féminas, el escándalo no solo afectó a aspectos de su morali- dad, sino también de su competencia profesional, algo que no pasa si el po- lítico es un hombre. Los resultados fueron discutidos dentro del marco de referencia de la teoría de incumplimiento de expectativas (“expectancy vio- lations theory”) y de la teoría de cambios en los estándares, las cuales predi- cen una evaluación y percepción mayormente negativa hacia las mujeres que se ven involucradas en algún tipo comportamiento inmoral, aun a pesar de que no exista prejuicio sobre la participación de las mujeres en la políti- ca.The current experimental study analyzes individuals’ reactions to politicians involved in scandals as a function of scandal type and politician sex (N = 798). Corruption and sexual scandals were considered. The re- sults indicate that female politicians were judged more harshly than male politicians involved in scandals regardless of the type of scandal. Scandal affected not only assessment of their morality but also competence, contra- ry to assessment of men. The results were discussed in reference to expec- tancy violations theory and shifting standards theory which predicts more negative evaluation of women involved in immoral behavior despite lack general prejudices toward women in politics

Corruption and Sexual Scandal: The Importance of Politician Gender

Esta investigación experimental analiza las reacciones individua- les hacia los políticos involucrados en algún escándalo, según el tipo de es- cándalo y al género del político (N=798). Fueron considerados los escánda- los sexuales y la corrupción. Los resultados indicaron que las féminas liga- das a la política fueron juzgadas con mayor severidad y recibieron peores críticas que los políticos masculinos, esto independiente del tipo de escán- dalo. Para las féminas, el escándalo no solo afectó a aspectos de su morali- dad, sino también de su competencia profesional, algo que no pasa si el po- lítico es un hombre. Los resultados fueron discutidos dentro del marco de referencia de la teoría de incumplimiento de expectativas (“expectancy vio- lations theory”) y de la teoría de cambios en los estándares, las cuales predi- cen una evaluación y percepción mayormente negativa hacia las mujeres que se ven involucradas en algún tipo comportamiento inmoral, aun a pesar de que no exista prejuicio sobre la participación de las mujeres en la políti- ca.The current experimental study analyzes individuals’ reactions to politicians involved in scandals as a function of scandal type and politician sex (N = 798). Corruption and sexual scandals were considered. The re- sults indicate that female politicians were judged more harshly than male politicians involved in scandals regardless of the type of scandal. Scandal affected not only assessment of their morality but also competence, contra- ry to assessment of men. The results were discussed in reference to expec- tancy violations theory and shifting standards theory which predicts more negative evaluation of women involved in immoral behavior despite lack general prejudices toward women in politics

2358 E. Grage-Griebenow et al. Eur. J. lnununol. 1997.27:2358-2365 Evelin Grage-Griebenow l,

of human peripheral blood monocytes is resistant to killing by antigen-activated CD4-positive cytotoxic T cells It has been demonstrated that in monocyterr cell co-cultures activated with recall antigens, cytotoxic T cells were generated which are able to reduce the number of antigen-presenting monocytes. In previous studies we could show that a minor subset of monocytes, the Fey receptor I-negative (CD64-) monocytes, exhibits significantly higher antigen-presenting capacity than the main population of monocytes (> 90 %) which are Fey receptor I-positive (CD64+). Therefore, we addressed the question whether they are also differentially susceptible to T cell-mediated killing. In the present study we demonstrate that the CD64- monocyte subset is more resistant to killing by antigen-activated T cells than CD64 + monocytes, as indicated by a higher viability and recovery of CD64monocytes. This mechanism involves CD95 (Fas) antigen, since monocyte death in co-cultures with antigen-activated T cells could be partially reduced by blocking anti-Fas monoclonal antibodies (mAb). In agreement with this finding, although CD95 antigen was expressed on CD64 + and CD64- monocytes at comparable levels, killing of CD64- monocytes by activating anti-Fas mAb was lower than of CD64+ monocytes.

Induction of DNA Breakage in U937 Cells by Oxazaphosphorines

Mazur L, Opydo-Chanek M, Stojak M, Baran J, Niemeyer, IIT-GmbH U. Induction of DNA Breakage in U937 Cells by Oxazaphosphorines. FOLIA BIOLOGICA-KRAKOW. 2010;58(1):15-20.Oxazaphosphorines are a class of DNA alkylating agents. The aim of the present study was to compare the possible influence of three new generation oxazaphosphorines, D-17272 (mafosfamide cyclohexylamine salt), D-18864 (4-hydro-peroxy-cyclophosphamide), and D-19575 (glufosfamide, P-D-glucose-isophosphoramide mustard) on DNA damage induction in the human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells. The flow cytometry APO-BRDU (TM) assay, based on the TUNEL method, was used for the in situ detection of DNA strand breaks. After exposure of U937 cells to the oxazaphosphorines, the patterns of temporary changes in the frequency of TUNEL positive U937 cells, expressing DNA breakage, were determined. The effects of the oxazaphosphorines on U937 cells were dependent on the agent tested and its dose, and the time intervals after the drug application. The different potential of D-I 7272, D-18864 and D-19575 to induce DNA strand breakage in the human histiocytic lymphoma U937 cells was shown

A New and Simple Approach for Decontamination of Food Contact Surfaces with Gliding Arc Discharge Atmospheric Non-Thermal Plasma

In this study, a gliding arc discharge (GAD) microplasma system was designed, and its decontamination effect was investigated on stainless steel (SS), silicone (Si), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) surfaces artificially contaminated with 8.15 +/- 0.28 log cfu/mL of Escherichia coli and 6.18 +/- 0.21 log cfu/mL of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Each of the contaminated surfaces was treated with high purity air (79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen) or nitrogen plasmas for 1-10 min at varying rates of gas flow. Significant reductions of 3.76 +/- 0.28, 3.19 +/- 0.31, and 2.95 +/- 0.94 log cfu/mL in S. epidermidis, and 2.72 +/- 0.82, 4.43 +/- 0.14, and 3.18 +/- 0.96 log cfu/mL in E. coli on SS, Si, and PET surfaces, respectively, were achieved after 5 min of plasma treatment by using nitrogen as the plasma forming gas (p < 0.05). The temperature changes of each surface during plasma generation were lower than 35 degrees C and were not affected by the type of plasma forming gas. Additionally, morphological changes in the structure of E. coli and S. epidermidis after GAD plasma treatments were demonstrated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Materialism, subjective well-being, and entitlement

The present article examines interrelationships between materialism, subjective well-being, and entitlement. Three entitlement attitudes (active, passive, and revengeful) are examined as possible outcomes of materialism, whereas subjective well-being (SWB) is regarded as a potential mediator and moderator of this relationship. The study analyzed data from a sample of Polish citizens (N = 534). Active entitlement, which is defined as a focus on self-interest and self-promotion, was positively correlated with materialism and SWB. Passive entitlement, or belief in the world as a net of obligations with a focus on group interest, was positively related to materialism only among individuals with a low level of SWB. Revengeful entitlement, defined as difficulties in forgiving insults, was negatively related to SWB and positively to materialism. Results are discussed in the context of the research literature on materialism and subjective well-being

The emerging importance of DNA mapping and other comprehensive screening techniques, as tools to identify new drug targets and as a means of (cancer) therapy personalisation

Every human being is genetically unique and this individuality is not only marked by morphologic and physical characteristics but also by an individual's response to a particular drug. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are largely responsible for one's individuality. A drug may be ineffective in one patient, whereas the exact same drug may cure another patient. Recent advances in DNA mapping and other screening technologies have provided researchers and drug developers with crucial information needed to create drugs that are specific for a given individual. In the future, physicians will be able to prescribe individualised drugs adjusted to, for example, activities of specific enzymatic pathways that would either be targeted by these drugs, or would be responsible for drug conversion or inactivation. Furthermore, the mapping of the human genome allows broader development and application of drugs that act on the level of gene transcription rather than as simple biochemical inhibitors or activators of certain enzymes. Such new approaches will maximise desired therapeutic results and may completely eliminate severe side effects. To illustrate the potential of genetic translational research, the authors discuss available analytical methodologies such as; gene arrays, flow cytometry-based screening for SNPs, proteomics, metabolomics, real-time PCR, and other methods capable of detecting both SNPs, as well as more profound changes in cell metabolism. Finally, the authors provide several examples that focus mostly on targeting protein-DNA interactions, but also other processes