Gender-dependent differences in plasma matrix metalloproteinase-8 elevated in pulmonary tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health pandemic and greater understanding of underlying pathogenesis is required to develop novel therapeutic and diagnostic approaches. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are emerging as key effectors of tissue destruction in TB but have not been comprehensively studied in plasma, nor have gender differences been investigated. We measured the plasma concentrations of MMPs in a carefully characterised, prospectively recruited clinical cohort of 380 individuals. The collagenases, MMP-1 and MMP-8, were elevated in plasma of patients with pulmonary TB relative to healthy controls, and MMP-7 (matrilysin) and MMP-9 (gelatinase B) were also increased. MMP-8 was TB-specific (p<0.001), not being elevated in symptomatic controls (symptoms suspicious of TB but active disease excluded). Plasma MMP-8 concentrations inversely correlated with body mass index. Plasma MMP-8 concentration was 1.51-fold higher in males than females with TB (p<0.05) and this difference was not due to greater disease severity in men. Gender-specific analysis of MMPs demonstrated consistent increase in MMP-1 and -8 in TB, but MMP-8 was a better discriminator for TB in men. Plasma collagenases are elevated in pulmonary TB and differ between men and women. Gender must be considered in investigation of TB immunopathology and development of novel diagnostic markers

Practical application of browns and grays based on a vector concept : the practical strength the asymmetrical Munsell color space

A comparison was done regarding tertiary students' response between the symmetrical color wheel—The Itten Color Wheel developed by Johanne Itten at Bauhaus School and the asymmetrical Munsell Color Space developed by Professor Albert Munsell. One of the significant differences was the students' response on the representation of browns and grays. Students realized the Itten Color Wheel did not indicate these less chromatic browns and grays in relation to their pure hues while the Munsell Color Space arranged these browns and grays progressively in accurate vector length from one hue to another. The Munsell Color Space was first developed with watercolor paint representing the true practical range of each hue with its transitional tertiary colors, namely the intermediate browns and grays within the color space. The practical range between any two or more hues could be visualized with the help of these intermediate browns and grays. To investigate further the importance of the asymmetrical structure of the Munsell Color Space and the practical advantage through representing browns and grays in the color space, this article will present a vector approach of color planning. This approach further enhances the learning of color theory based on the Munsell Color Space. A few practical examples are also shown in this article to illustrate how this vector approach may help in learning and planning color applications.Accepted versio