109 research outputs found

    The Shape and Function of Tallies during the Han Dynasty

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    Split transplantation of the trachea: A new operative procedure for extended tracheal resection

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    AbstractBefore tracheal transplantation can be applied clinically, several problems must be solved: immunosuppression, blood supply to grafts, and reliable long-term preservation of grafts. We have conducted experiments on tracheal transplantation to solve these problems. In the present study, we tried a new operative procedure to accomplish reliable revascularization of transplanted tracheal grafts. It has been reported that transplantation of a 10-ring length of trachea is difficult even with omentopexy. Long tracheal allografts can be transplanted with use of direct revascularization, but this technique is extremely troublesome. Thus we developed a new operative procedure, “split tracheal transplantation,” in which grafts are divided at the midportion and covered with omentum, after demonstrating that the blood supply to tracheal grafts can be reestablished around the suture lines. Two groups of dogs were used. In group A (control, n = 4), a 10-ring length of trachea was autotransplanted. The anastomotic sites and grafts were covered with omental pedicles. In group B (split tracheal transplantation, n = 10), tracheal grafts 10 rings long were autotransplanted. These grafts were divided at the midportion, a piece of omentum was inserted between the two halves, and the midportion was sutured. Grafts were observed regularly by bronchoscopy and examined histopathologically after the animals died or were killed. In some animals, microangiography of the bronchial circulation was done. In the control group, necrosis, stenosis, or malacia of the grafts was observed in three of the four animals. In the split transplantation group, all animals survived for at least 2 months, all grafts were incorporated, and none showed ischemia, stenosis, or malacia. Microscopic examination and microangiography revealed that neovascularization of the graft was promoted by omentum inserted at the midportion of the graft. Split transplantation of the trachea is an easy and reliable way to extend tracheal resection. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1996;112:-8

    Immunobiotic lactic acid bacteria beneficially regulate immune response triggered by poly(I:C) in porcine intestinal epithelial cells

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    This study analyzed the functional expression of TLR3 in various gastrointestinal tissues from adult swine and shows that TLR3 is expressed preferentially in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC), CD172a+CD11R1high and CD4+ cells from ileal Peyer's patches. We characterized the inflammatory immune response triggered by TLR3 activation in a clonal porcine intestinal epitheliocyte cell line (PIE cells) and in PIE-immune cell co-cultures, and demonstrated that these systems are valuable tools to study in vitro the immune response triggered by TLR3 on IEC and the interaction between IEC and immune cells. In addition, we selected an immunobiotic lactic acid bacteria strain, Lactobacillus casei MEP221106, able to beneficially regulate the anti-viral immune response triggered by poly(I:C) stimulation in PIE cells. Moreover, we deepened our understanding of the possible mechanisms of immunobiotic action by demonstrating that L. casei MEP221106 modulates the interaction between IEC and immune cells during the generation of a TLR3-mediated immune response

    a proton pump inhibitor, mediates anti-inflammatory effect in gastric mucosal cells through the induction of heme oxygenase-1 via activation of NF-E2-related factor 2 and oxidation of kelch-like ECH-associating protein 1

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    ABSTRACT Induction of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression has been associated with cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory actions of lansoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unresolved. In this study, we investigate the role of transcriptional NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), its phosphorylation/activation, and oxidation of Kelch-like ECHassociating protein 1 (Keap1) in lansoprazole-induced HO-1 up-regulation using cultured gastric epithelial cells (rat gastric mucosal cell line, RGM-1). HO-1 expression of RGM-1 cells was markedly enhanced in a time-and dose-dependent manner by the treatment with lansoprazole, and this up-regulation of HO-1 contributed to the inhibition of chemokine production from stimulated RGM-1 cells. Transfection of Nrf2-siRNA suppressed the lansoprazole-induced HO-1. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed increases in the nuclear translocation and stress-response elements (StRE) binding activity of Nrf2 proteins in RGM-1 cells treated with lansoprazole. Furthermore, in RGM-1 cells transfected with HO-1 enhancer luciferase reporter plasmid containing mutant StRE, lansoprazole-induced HO-1 reporter gene activity was diminished. Lansoprazole promoted the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and lansoprazole-induced HO-1 up-regulation was suppressed by U0126, an ERKspecific inhibitor. Phosphorylated Nrf2 protein was detected in the phosphoprotein fraction purified by a Pro-Q Diamond Phosphoprotein Enrichment kit. Finally, an oxidative form of the Keap1 protein was detected in lansoprazole-treated RGM-1 cells by analyzing S-oxidized proteins using biotinylated cysteine as a molecular probe. These results indicate that lansoprazole up-regulates HO-1 expression in rat gastric epithelial cells, and the upregulated HO-1 contributes to the anti-inflammatory effects of the drug. Phosphorylation of ERK and Nrf2, activation and nuclear translocation of Nrf2, and oxidation of Keap1 are all involved in the lansoprazole-induced HO-1 up-regulation. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as lansoprazole and omeprazole are extensively used to treat acid-related disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease and peptic ulcer disease caused by stress, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and Helicobacter pylori infection. PPIs are stron

    Tissue-Restricted Expression of Nrf2 and Its Target Genes in Zebrafish with Gene-Specific Variations in the Induction Profiles

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    The Keap1-Nrf2 system serves as a defense mechanism against oxidative stress and electrophilic toxicants by inducing more than one hundred cytoprotective proteins, including antioxidants and phase 2 detoxifying enzymes. Since induction profiles of Nrf2 target genes have been studied exclusively in cultured cells, and not in animal models, their tissue-specificity has not been well characterized. In this paper, we examined and compared the tissue-specific expression of several Nrf2 target genes in zebrafish larvae by whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH). Seven zebrafish genes (gstp1, mgst3b, prdx1, frrs1c, fthl, gclc and hmox1a) suitable for WISH analysis were selected from candidates for Nrf2 targets identified by microarray analysis. Tissue-restricted induction was observed in the nose, gill, and/or liver for all seven genes in response to Nrf2-activating compounds, diethylmaleate (DEM) and sulforaphane. The Nrf2 gene itself was dominantly expressed in these three tissues, implying that tissue-restricted induction of Nrf2 target genes is defined by tissue-specific expression of Nrf2. Interestingly, the induction of frrs1c and gclc in liver and nose, respectively, was quite low and that of hmox1a was restricted in the liver. These results indicate the existence of gene-specific variations in the tissue specificity, which can be controlled by factors other than Nrf2

    The Quiescent Intracluster Medium in the Core of the Perseus Cluster

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    Clusters of galaxies are the most massive gravitationally-bound objects in the Universe and are still forming. They are thus important probes of cosmological parameters and a host of astrophysical processes. Knowledge of the dynamics of the pervasive hot gas, which dominates in mass over stars in a cluster, is a crucial missing ingredient. It can enable new insights into mechanical energy injection by the central supermassive black hole and the use of hydrostatic equilibrium for the determination of cluster masses. X-rays from the core of the Perseus cluster are emitted by the 50 million K diffuse hot plasma filling its gravitational potential well. The Active Galactic Nucleus of the central galaxy NGC1275 is pumping jetted energy into the surrounding intracluster medium, creating buoyant bubbles filled with relativistic plasma. These likely induce motions in the intracluster medium and heat the inner gas preventing runaway radiative cooling; a process known as Active Galactic Nucleus Feedback. Here we report on Hitomi X-ray observations of the Perseus cluster core, which reveal a remarkably quiescent atmosphere where the gas has a line-of-sight velocity dispersion of 164+/-10 km/s in a region 30-60 kpc from the central nucleus. A gradient in the line-of-sight velocity of 150+/-70 km/s is found across the 60 kpc image of the cluster core. Turbulent pressure support in the gas is 4% or less of the thermodynamic pressure, with large scale shear at most doubling that estimate. We infer that total cluster masses determined from hydrostatic equilibrium in the central regions need little correction for turbulent pressure.Comment: 31 pages, 11 Figs, published in Nature July
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