Effect of remote ischaemic conditioning on clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI): a single-blind randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Remote ischaemic conditioning with transient ischaemia and reperfusion applied to the arm has been shown to reduce myocardial infarct size in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). We investigated whether remote ischaemic conditioning could reduce the incidence of cardiac death and hospitalisation for heart failure at 12 months. METHODS: We did an international investigator-initiated, prospective, single-blind, randomised controlled trial (CONDI-2/ERIC-PPCI) at 33 centres across the UK, Denmark, Spain, and Serbia. Patients (age >18 years) with suspected STEMI and who were eligible for PPCI were randomly allocated (1:1, stratified by centre with a permuted block method) to receive standard treatment (including a sham simulated remote ischaemic conditioning intervention at UK sites only) or remote ischaemic conditioning treatment (intermittent ischaemia and reperfusion applied to the arm through four cycles of 5-min inflation and 5-min deflation of an automated cuff device) before PPCI. Investigators responsible for data collection and outcome assessment were masked to treatment allocation. The primary combined endpoint was cardiac death or hospitalisation for heart failure at 12 months in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02342522) and is completed. FINDINGS: Between Nov 6, 2013, and March 31, 2018, 5401 patients were randomly allocated to either the control group (n=2701) or the remote ischaemic conditioning group (n=2700). After exclusion of patients upon hospital arrival or loss to follow-up, 2569 patients in the control group and 2546 in the intervention group were included in the intention-to-treat analysis. At 12 months post-PPCI, the Kaplan-Meier-estimated frequencies of cardiac death or hospitalisation for heart failure (the primary endpoint) were 220 (8·6%) patients in the control group and 239 (9·4%) in the remote ischaemic conditioning group (hazard ratio 1·10 [95% CI 0·91-1·32], p=0·32 for intervention versus control). No important unexpected adverse events or side effects of remote ischaemic conditioning were observed. INTERPRETATION: Remote ischaemic conditioning does not improve clinical outcomes (cardiac death or hospitalisation for heart failure) at 12 months in patients with STEMI undergoing PPCI. FUNDING: British Heart Foundation, University College London Hospitals/University College London Biomedical Research Centre, Danish Innovation Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation, TrygFonden

Method development for rapid quantification of Rn-222 in surface water and groundwater

Understanding the risks of a developing unconventional hydrocarbons industry, including shale gas, to the chemical quality of surface water and groundwater involves firstly establishing baseline compositions against which any future changes can be assessed. Contaminants of geogenic origin are of particular interest and radon has been identified as one potential contaminant from shale sources. Robust measurement and monitoring of radon in water at environmental concentrations is essential for ensuring protection of water sources and maintaining public confidence. Traditional techniques for Rn-222 determination in water, such as inference by gamma spectrometry and direct alpha counting, are impractical for direct field measurement, and the relatively short half-life of Rn-222 (~ 3.82 days) means that longer analytical protocols from field to the laboratory may result in greater uncertainty for Rn-222 activity. Therefore, a rapid and low-cost method would be beneficial. We have developed and refined a laboratory procedure for Rn-222 monitoring using liquid scintillation counting (LSC). The accuracy of Rn-222 activities obtained via this procedure was evaluated by the analysis of almost 200 water samples collected from streams and boreholes as part of a detailed baseline investigation in the Vale of Pickering, Yorkshire, one potential location for future shale gas exploration. LSC was preferred for measurement of Rn-222 and had comparable accuracy to gamma spectrometry and direct alpha counting. The methodology provided a rapid, portable and low-maintenance option relative to the two established techniques and is shown to be a favourable choice for the measurement of radon in surface water and groundwater at environmental concentrations

Inflammation-induced endothelial to mesenchymal transition promotes brain endothelial cell dysfunction and occurs during multiple sclerosis pathophysiology

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) has a major role in maintaining brain homeostasis through the specialized function of brain endothelial cells (BECs). Inflammation of the BECs and loss of their neuroprotective properties is associated with several neurological disorders, including the chronic neuro-inflammatory disorder multiple sclerosis (MS). Yet, the underlying mechanisms of a defective BBB in MS remain largely unknown. Endothelial to mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) is a pathophysiological process in which endothelial cells lose their specialized function and de-differentiate into mesenchymal cells. This transition is characterized by an increase in EndoMT-related transcription factors (TFs), a downregulation of brain endothelial markers, and an upregulation of mesenchymal markers accompanied by morphological changes associated with cytoskeleton reorganization. Here, we postulate that EndoMT drives BEC de-differentiation, mediates inflammation-induced human BECs dysfunction, and may play a role in MS pathophysiology. We provide evidence that stimulation of human BECs with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and interleukin (IL)-1β promotes EndoMT, a process in which the TF SNAI1, a master regulator of EndoMT, plays a crucial role. We demonstrate the involvement of TGF-β activated kinase 1 (TAK1) in EndoMT induction in BECs. Finally, immunohistochemical analysis revealed EndoMT-associated alterations in the brain vasculature of human post-mortem MS brain tissues. Taken together, our novel findings provide a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying BECs dysfunction during MS pathology and can be used to develop new potential therapeutic strategies to restore BBB function

Dual role of ALCAM in neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier homeostasis.

Activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM) is a cell adhesion molecule found on blood-brain barrier endothelial cells (BBB-ECs) that was previously shown to be involved in leukocyte transmigration across the endothelium. In the present study, we found that ALCAM knockout (KO) mice developed a more severe myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35-55-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The exacerbated disease was associated with a significant increase in the number of CNS-infiltrating proinflammatory leukocytes compared with WT controls. Passive EAE transfer experiments suggested that the pathophysiology observed in active EAE was linked to the absence of ALCAM on BBB-ECs. In addition, phenotypic characterization of unimmunized ALCAM KO mice revealed a reduced expression of BBB junctional proteins. Further in vivo, in vitro, and molecular analysis confirmed that ALCAM is associated with tight junction molecule assembly at the BBB, explaining the increased permeability of CNS blood vessels in ALCAM KO animals. Collectively, our data point to a biologically important function of ALCAM in maintaining BBB integrity

Notch signaling is impaired during inflammation in a Lunatic Fringe-dependent manner

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) assures brain homeostasis through the specialized function of brain endothelial cells (BECs). Dysfunction of the BBB due to inflammatory processes is associated with several neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). Understanding the mechanisms that underlie these processes may ultimately lead to new therapeutic strategies to restore BBB function, thereby fighting disease progression. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time a critical role of the Notch signaling pathway in the function of the BBB under resting and inflammatory conditions. Inhibition of the Notch signaling, either by a γ-secretase inhibitor or by genetic ablation of endothelial NOTCH, led to BBB dysfunction in vitro as evidenced by reduced transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER), altered localization and loss of endothelial junction molecules and enhanced macromolecular permeability. Inflamed BECs showed impaired Notch signaling as indicated by reduced level of the downstream target HES-1 and HES-5. Notably, barrier function was further reduced when the Notch signaling was inhibited under inflammatory conditions, suggesting an additive effect of the Notch signaling and inflammation in BECs. In contrast, inducible overexpression of Notch-intracellular domain 1 (NICD1) rescued the detrimental effect caused by inflammation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that inflammation reduced the expression of the glycosyltransferase Lunatic Fringe (LFNG), a known positive regulator of Notch glycosylation and signaling, thereby leading to disrupted barrier function of BECs. Together, our data demonstrate the functional importance of the conserved Notch signaling pathway in control of the brain endothelial barrier and shed light on the role of LFNG in the regulation of Notch glycosylation and signaling in the adult brain vasculature in both health and diseas

Gender and the Organization of Sacred Space in Early Modern England c1580-1640

The relationship between gender and space has been a consistent theme in histories of women and of gender over many years, even if not always explicitly stated. One of the most influential master narratives about the status of women is a story of decline from the early modern to the Victorian age. Historians who support this theory argue that, with the advent of capitalism and the rise of a class society, the division between domestic space and work space became more distinct, the household became more sharply identified as private, domestic, and feminine, in opposition to the public and masculine spaces of work and politics, from which women were progressively excluded. The outcome of this sharpening of spatial and social distinctions, it is argued, was to produce a more rigidly hierarchical and patriarchal society.This ?separate spheres? model continues to have a very powerful influence on women?s and gender history, although there is now a mounting body of literature that challenges many of its assumptions. Work on masculinity has drawn attention to the ?private? and domestic aspects of the lives of men as well as women. The ?public? aspects of the family have been addressed in terms of its relationship to the community, to political institutions, public policy, and in terms of its economic role. Studies have also begun to stress continuity in the spheres and status of women

Oncostatin M triggers brain inflammation by compromising blood–brain barrier integrity

Oncostatin M (OSM) is an IL-6 family member which exerts neuroprotective and remyelination-promoting effects after damage to the central nervous system (CNS). However, the role of OSM in neuro-inflammation is poorly understood. Here, we investigated OSM’s role in pathological events important for the neuro-inflammatory disorder multiple sclerosis (MS). We show that OSM receptor (OSMRβ) expression is increased on circulating lymphocytes of MS patients, indicating their elevated responsiveness to OSM signalling. In addition, OSM production by activated myeloid cells and astrocytes is increased in MS brain lesions. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a preclinical model of MS, OSMRβ-deficient mice exhibit milder clinical symptoms, accompanied by diminished T helper 17 (Th17) cell infiltration into the CNS and reduced BBB leakage. In vitro, OSM reduces BBB integrity by downregulating the junctional molecules claudin-5 and VE-cadherin, while promoting secretion of the Th17-attracting chemokine CCL20 by inflamed BBB-endothelial cells and reactive astrocytes. Using flow cytometric fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) quantification, we found that OSM-induced endothelial CCL20 promotes activation of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) on Th17 cells. Moreover, CCL20 enhances Th17 cell adhesion to OSM-treated inflamed endothelial cells, which is at least in part ICAM-1 mediated. Together, these data identify an OSM-CCL20 axis, in which OSM contributes significantly to BBB impairment during neuro-inflammation by inducing permeability while recruiting Th17 cells via enhanced endothelial CCL20 secretion and integrin activation. Therefore, care should be taken when considering OSM as a therapeutic agent for treatment of neuro-inflammatory diseases such as MS