Combined In Silico, In Vivo, and In Vitro Studies Shed Insights into the Acute Inflammatory Response in Middle-Aged Mice

We combined in silico, in vivo, and in vitro studies to gain insights into age-dependent changes in acute inflammation in response to bacterial endotoxin (LPS). Time-course cytokine, chemokine, and NO2-/NO3- data from "middle-aged" (6-8 months old) C57BL/6 mice were used to re-parameterize a mechanistic mathematical model of acute inflammation originally calibrated for "young" (2-3 months old) mice. These studies suggested that macrophages from middle-aged mice are more susceptible to cell death, as well as producing higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, vs. macrophages from young mice. In support of the in silico-derived hypotheses, resident peritoneal cells from endotoxemic middle-aged mice exhibited reduced viability and produced elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and KC/CXCL1 as compared to cells from young mice. Our studies demonstrate the utility of a combined in silico, in vivo, and in vitro approach to the study of acute inflammation in shock states, and suggest hypotheses with regard to the changes in the cytokine milieu that accompany aging. © 2013 Namas et al

Python data mining quick start guide: a beginner's guide to extracting valuable insights from your data

This book is an introduction to data mining and its practical demonstration of working with real-world data sets. With this book, you will be able to extract useful insights using common Python libraries. You will also learn key stages like data loading, cleaning, analysis, visualization to build an efficient data mining pipeline

Bronchodilator effects of terbutaline and epinephrine in obstructive lung disease

A double‐blind crossover comparison was made of the effects of terbutaline, a new adrenergic drug with maior action on beta 2 receptors, epinephrine, and saline, on pulmonary function in 16 patients with chronic bronchitis or emphysema and 9 patients with bronchial asthma. Serial determinations of lung volumes, dynamic mechanics of breathing, and distribution of ventilation were made after subcutaneous administration. Terbutaline, 0.5 mg, was a more effective bronchodilator and had a longer duration of action than epinephrine 0.25 mg, but was associated with a higher incidence of side effects. These were generally minor and transient and included tremor, nervousness, and palpitations. Terbutaline may be useful in the management of bronchospasm of asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema

Aging Effects Of Nanoscale Ceria In Ceria-Platinum Composite Electrodes For Direct Alcohol Electro-Oxidation

Nanocrystalline Pt/CeO2 composite electrodes were fabricated to study the electrochemical oxidation of methanol and ethanol. The performance of the electrodes was tested as the ceria solutions aged over time. It was observed that the performance oscillated with time, suggesting that the catalytic behavior towards alcohol oxidation was greatly dependent on the aging of the particles. These results point to a great dependence of the catalytic effect on the redox state of the ceria particles. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd