Morphological and Receptorial Changes in the Epididymal Adipose Tissue of Rats Subjected to a Stressful Stimulus.

Obesity is nowadays related to other pathological conditions such as inflammation, insulin resistance, and diabetes, but little is known about the relationship between psychological stress and adipocytes. We decided to study the expression of the translocator protein (TSPO) 18-kDa, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-\u3b3 (PPAR-\u3b3), mitochondrial uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1), and adipocyte morphology in the adipose tissue of rats subjected to stress conditions. In our model of stress, rats fasted for 24 h were placed in a restraint cage and then immersed vertically to the level of the xiphoid process in a water bath at 23 \ub0C for 7 h. After that period, we removed the epididymal adipose tissues for the subsequent analysis. The optical and electron microscopy revealed that adipocytes of control rats formed a continuous epithelial-like cell layer; on the contrary in the adipocytes of stressed rats some cells have merged together and the number of vessels formed seems to increase. Stressed adipocytes presented unilocular cells with numerous mitochondria with a morphology ranging between that of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and white adipose tissue (WAT). Interestingly, when we investigated the subcellular distribution of UCP-1 by immunogold electron microscopy, the adipose tissue of stressed rats was positive for UCP-1. From the immunoblot analysis with anti-PPAR-\u3b3 antibody, we observed an increased expression of PPAR-\u3b3 in the adipocytes of stressed group compared with control group (P < 0.05). Stress induced the expression of TSPO 18-kDa receptor (B(max) = 106.45 \ub1 5.87 fmol/mg proteins), which is undetectable by saturation-binding assay with [(3)H]PK 11195 in the control group

Performance and noise prediction of low-Reynolds number propellers using the Lattice-Boltzmann method

This paper proposes a CFD/CAA-based approach to predict the aerodynamic performances and tonal/broadband noise radiation of low-Reynolds number propellers at engineering level. Broadband self-noise prediction of low-Reynolds number propellers is particularly challenging, due to the requirement for the employed computational method to emulate the complexity of the laminar/turbulent boundary-layer behavior on the blade. In this study, the numerical flow solution is obtained by using the Lattice-Boltzmann/Very Large Eddy Simulation method, whereas far-field noise is computed through the Ffowcs-Williams & Hawkings' acoustic analogy applied on the propeller surface. A zig-zag transition trip on the propeller blades is used in the numerical setup to reproduce resolved turbulent pressure fluctuations in boundary-layer for broadband noise computation at a relatively low computational cost. The effect of using a transition trip to simulate low-Reynolds number propellers, as well as the impact of its chordwise position on the calculation of performances and radiated noise, is outlined. The trip position marginally affects the thrust and to a slightly larger extent the torque prediction. Tonal noise at the blade-passing frequencies does not show a relevant sensitivity to it, whereas broadband noise is found to be slightly more influenced by the chordwise position of the trip, especially at high advance ratios. The low sensitivity of the numerical results to the trip location, as well as their good agreement with loads and noise measurements carried out in the A-Tunnel of TU-Delft, demonstrates the robustness of the proposed approach for industrial applications

Protective Effects of Borago officinalis (Borago) on Cold Restraint Stress-Induced Gastric Ulcers in Rats: A Pilot Study

Stress is a typical body's natural defense to a generic physical or psychic change. A specific linking mechanism between ulcer onset and psycho-physical stress prolonged exposure has been reported. We decided to investigate the possible effects of Borago officinalis L. (Borago) in preventing physical (stress)-induced gastric ulcers in a rat model. Eighty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 16 groups, pretreated with a control solution, omeprazole (20 mg/kg), Borago methanolic extract (25, 50, 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg), Borago organic extract (50, 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg), Borago aqueous extract (5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/kg), and D(-)-2-Amino-5-phosphonovaleric acid (AP5) (25 mg/kg) and kept in stressful conditions such as water immersion and restraint-induced stress ulcers. The animals were sacrificed and their stomach scored for the severity and the number of gastric ulcers. Methanolic extract (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced both ulcer parameters (***p &lt; 0.001 and **p &lt; 0.01, respectively). Aqueous and organic extract significantly decreased severity score at 5 and 10 mg/kg (**p &lt; 0.01 and ***p &lt; 0.001, respectively), and at 250 and 500 mg/kg (***p &lt; 0.001), respectively, while gastric ulcers' resulted number significantly reduced only at 10 mg/kg (*p &lt; 0.05) and at 500 mg/kg (**p &lt; 0.01), respectively. On the other hand, aqueous extract significantly increased the mucosal gastric content of cAMP (*p &lt; 0.05) and NR2A and NR2B subunits (*p &lt; 0.05 and **p &lt; 0.01, respectively) at 5 mg/kg. Organic extract showed also a significant cytotoxic effect at 500 and 1,000 mg/kg with a 3T3 cell viability reduction of 43.6% (**p &lt; 0.01) and 92.1% (***p &lt; 0.001), respectively. Borago aqueous extract at 10 mg/kg could be considered as a potential protective agent against stress-induced ulcers, and it is reasonable to possibly ascribe such protective activity to a modulation of the NR2A and NR2B subunit expression

Imiquimod-side effects in the treatment of periocular skin cancers: A review of the literature

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SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related cutaneous manifestations: a systematic review

To date, over 250 million people have been reportedly infected by COVID-19 disease, which has spread across the globe and led to approximately 5.1 million fatalities. To prevent both COVID-19 and viral transmission, DNA-based/RNA-based vaccines, non-replicating viral vector vaccines, and inactivated vaccines have been recently developed. However, a precise clinical and histological characterization of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related dermatological manifestations is still lacking. A systematic review of 229 articles was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, in order to provide an extensive overview of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related skin manifestations. Data on demographics, number of reported cases with cutaneous involvement, vaccine, and rash type (morphology) were extracted from articles and summarized. A total of 5941 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related dermatological manifestations were gathered. Local injection-site reactions were the most frequently observed, followed by rash/unspecified cutaneous eruption, urticarial rashes, angioedema, herpes zoster, morbilliform/maculopapular/erythematous macular eruption, pityriasis rosea and pityriasis rosea-like eruptions, and other less common dermatological manifestations. Flares of pre-existing dermatological conditions were also reported. Cutaneous adverse reactions following SARS-CoV-2 vaccine administration seem to be heterogeneous, rather infrequent, and not life-threatening. Vaccinated patients should be monitored for skin manifestations, and dermatological evaluation should be offered, when needed

Environmental concentrations of a delorazepam-based drug impact on embryonic development of non-target Xenopus laevis

Benzodiazepines, psychotropics drugs used for treating sleep disorders, anxiety and epilepsy, represent a major class of emerging water pollutants. As occurs for other pharmaceutical residues, they are not efficiently degraded during sewage treatment and persist in effluent waters. Bioaccumulation is already reported in fish and small crustaceans, but the impact and consequences on other “non-target” aquatic species are still unclear and nowadays of great interest. In this study, we investigated the effects of a pharmaceutical preparation containing the benzodiazepine delorazepam on the embryogenesis of Xenopus laevis, amphibian model species, taxa at high risk of exposure to water contaminants. Environmental (1 μg/L) and two higher (5 and 10 μg/L) concentrations were tested on tadpoles up to stage 45/46. Results demonstrate that delorazepam interferes with embryo development and that the effects are prevalently dose-dependent. Delorazepam reduces vitality by decreasing heart rate and motility, induces marked cephalic and abdominal edema, as well as intestinal and retinal defects. At the molecular level, delorazepam increases ROS production, modifies the expression of some master developmental genes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. The resulting stress condition significantly affects embryos’ development and threatens their survival. Similar effects should be expected as well in embryos belonging to other aquatic species that have not been yet considered targets for these pharmaceutical residues

Extensive "halo naevi" phenomenon and regression of melanin during nivolumab treatment in metastatic melanoma: A predictor of a better outcome?

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