Studies in the image of the Madonna lactans in late medieval and Renaissance Italy.

This dissertation is an analysis of Italian late medieval and Renaissance peoples’ response to the Madonna lactans image. Although the images that comprise this type are similar in that Mary holds Christ at her breast, they vary widely in iconography and context. We shall use reception and response theory to determine how the image functioned for spectators. Determining how different groups responded to the motif is facilitated by applying an interpretive community model. Hence a group’s interpretive principles connect these communities and inform their reception of the image. We argue that although context and communities are diverse, most people believed the image to be a conduit to the divine. Our study is divided into four chapters covering a late medieval through Renaissance history of breastfeeding, devotion, the motif as an altarpiece, and reception by Renaissance people. Chapter one gives a historical overview of the advice concerning breastfeeding to which medievals were subjected. In light of sacerdotal advice, we argue that the Church used the image to promote maternal feeding. We also consider wet nurses as a community and audience. Chapter two draws on social and historical inquiries to explore public and private devotion. We highlight the Madonna lactans as an intercessor. While chapter one and two provide a historical and social foundation, the next two chapters consider different interpretive communities’ experiential viewing. Chapter three argues that the late medieval altarpiece image was more than an aesthetic illusion for churchgoers, finding that the image was believed to have sacramental value. Theories about medieval vision are applied to viewing religious rites with images. Chapter four delves into several communities’ interpretive principles. First, in light of its increased naturalism, we argue against a prurient reading of the image by applying scientific studies, an iconographic analysis, and period laws. Second, we find that nuns perceived the image to be a means to intimacy with Christ. One nun’s desire for contemplation before the image was so ardent, she drew it for her private edification, at great personal risk. Finally, we argue that when the viewer held the interpretive power, lay people embraced the image’s intercessory message

Evaluation of macrophage plasticity in brown and white adipose tissue

There are still questions about whether macrophage differentiation is predetermined or is induced in response to tissue microenvironments. C2D macrophage cells reside early in the macrophage lineage in vitro, but differentiate to a more mature phenotype after adoptive transfer to the peritoneal cavity (PEC-C2D). Since C2D macrophage cells also traffic to adipose tissue after adoptive transfer, we explored the impact of white adipose tissue (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT) and in vitro cultured adipocytes on C2D macrophage cells. When PEC-C2D macrophage cells were cultured with preadipocytes the cells stretched out and CD11b and Mac-2 expression was lower compared to PEC-C2D macrophage cells placed in vitro alone. In contrast, PEC-C2D cells co-cultured with adipocytes maintained smaller, round morphology and more cells expressed Mac-2 compared to PEC-C2D co-cultured with preadipocytes. After intraperitoneal injection, C2D macrophage cells migrated into both WAT and BAT. A higher percentage of C2D macrophage cells isolated from WAT (WAT-C2D) expressed Ly-6C (33%), CD11b (11%), Mac-2 (11%) and F4/80 (29%) compared to C2D macrophage cells isolated from BAT (BAT-C2D). Overall, BAT-C2D macrophage cells had reduced expression of many cytokine, chemokine and receptor gene transcripts when compared to in vitro grown C2D macrophages, while WAT-C2D macrophage cells and PEC-C2D up-regulated many of these gene transcripts. These data suggest that the C2D macrophage phenotype can change rapidly and distinct phenotypes are induced by different microenvironments

Proinflammatory role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in acute hyperoxic lung injury

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hyperoxic exposures are often found in clinical settings of respiratory insufficient patients, although oxygen therapy (>50% O₂) can result in the development of acute hyperoxic lung injury within a few days. Upon hyperoxic exposure, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is activated by a variety of proinflammatory cytokines both <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo</it>. In the present study, we used a murine hyperoxic model to evaluate the effects of iNOS deficiency on the inflammatory response.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Wild-type and iNOS-deficient mice were exposed to normoxia, 60% O₂or >95% O₂for 72 h.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Exposure to >95% O₂resulted in an increased iNOS mRNA and protein expression in the lungs from wild-type mice. No significant effects of iNOS deficiency on cell differential in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were observed. However, hyperoxia induced a significant increase in total cell count, protein concentration, LDH activity, lipid peroxidation, and TNF-α concentration in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid compared to iNOS knockout mice. Moreover, binding activity of NF-κB and AP-1 appeared to be higher in wild-type than in iNOS-deficient mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Taken together, our results provide evidence to suggest that iNOS plays a proinflammatory role in acute hyperoxic lung injury.</p

Gene expression profile in monocyte during in vitro mineral fiber degradation

A human monocytes cell line, U-937, incubated in the presence of filtered medium from Escherichia coli culture (FS) has been previously reported to degrade man made mineral fiber and it has been indicated as a good paradigm of in vivo fiber biopersistence evaluation (manuscript accepted for publication). In the present paper, a study is reported aimed to define the molecular modification occurring in the U-937 monocytes during in vitro fiber degradation. The induction of gene expression was investigated in U-937 exposed to rock wool fibers (HDN) in the presence of FS by transcriptome analysis using 20 K DNA microarrays and quantitative RT-PCR. The over-expression of genes related to mobility and cellular adhesion, oxidative stress, immune system stimulation, enzymes, and ions transport protein systems were identified. Among them NCF1 gene, the gene encoding a subunit of NADPH oxidase, over-expression was detected. As the product of this gene allows the formation of superoxide anion that could lead to oxidative stress, HDN fibers were exposed to hydrogen peroxide. Fiber degradation similar to those observed upon incubation with U-937 in the presence of FS was obtained thus suggesting that reactive oxygen species production may be responsible for fiber degradation by U-937 monocytes