Transcription of toll-like receptors 2, 3, 4 and 9, FoxP3 and Th17 cytokines in a susceptible experimental model of canine Leishmania infantum infection

Canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum is a chronic zoonotic systemic disease resulting from complex interactions between protozoa and the canine immune system. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are essential components of the innate immune system and facilitate the early detection of many infections. However, the role of TLRs in CanL remains unknown and information describing TLR transcription during infection is extremely scarce. The aim of this research project was to investigate the impact of L. infantum infection on canine TLR transcription using a susceptible model. The objectives of this study were to evaluate transcription of TLRs 2, 3, 4 and 9 by means of quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in skin, spleen, lymph node and liver in the presence or absence of experimental L. infantum infection in Beagle dogs. These findings were compared with clinical and serological data, parasite densities in infected tissues and transcription of IL-17, IL-22 and FoxP3 in different tissues in non-infected dogs (n = 10), and at six months (n = 24) and 15 months (n = 7) post infection. Results revealed significant down regulation of transcription with disease progression in lymph node samples for TLR3, TLR4, TLR9, IL-17, IL-22 and FoxP3. In spleen samples, significant down regulation of transcription was seen in TLR4 and IL-22 when both infected groups were compared with controls. In liver samples, down regulation of transcription was evident with disease progression for IL-22. In the skin, upregulation was seen only for TLR9 and FoxP3 in the early stages of infection. Subtle changes or down regulation in TLR transcription, Th17 cytokines and FoxP3 are indicative of the silent establishment of infection that Leishmania is renowned for. These observations provide new insights about TLR transcription, Th17 cytokines and Foxp3 in the liver, spleen, lymph node and skin in CanL and highlight possible markers of disease susceptibility in this model

Human Monocyte Subsets at Homeostasis and Their Perturbation in Numbers and Function in Filarial Infection

To characterize the function and plasticity of the major human circulating monocyte populations and to explore their role in systemic helminth infection, highly purified (by flow-based sorting) human monocyte subsets (CD14(hi)/CD16(neg) [classical], CD14(+ or hi)/CD16(med) [intermediate], and CD14(neg)/CD16(hi) [nonclassical]) were examined at homeostasis and after activation. Among these three subsets the classical and intermediate subsets were found to be the major sources of inflammatory and regulatory cytokines, as well as cytokines/chemokines associated with alternative activation, whereas the nonclassical and classical populations demonstrated an ability to transmigrate through endothelial monolayers. Moreover, it was primarily the classical subset that was the most efficient in promoting autologous T cell proliferation. The distribution of these subsets changed in the context of a systemic helminth (Wuchereria bancrofti) infection such that patent infection altered the frequency and distribution of these monocyte subsets with the nonclassical monocytes being expanded (almost 2-fold) in filarial infection. To understand further the filarial/monocyte interface, in vitro modeling demonstrated that the classical subset internalized filarial antigens more efficiently than the other two subsets but that the parasite-driven regulatory cytokine interleukin-10 was exclusively coming from the intermediate subset. Our data suggest that monocyte subsets have a differential function at homeostasis and in response to helminth parasites

Chemical profiles and cytotoxic activities of essential oils from six species of Baccharis subgenus Coridifoliae (Asteraceae).

This article augments the current know ledge about the chemical-biological properties of Baccharis subgenus Coridifoliae and discusses the therapeutic potentials of these economically unexploited plants

Sintering behavior of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite produced by wet chemical method

The sintering behavior of synthesized nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) powder was investigated in terms of phase stability and mechanical properties. A wet chemical precipitation method was successfully employed to synthesize a high purity and single phase HA powder. After shaping, HA powder compacts have been sintered over the temperature range of 1000 degrees C to 1300 degrees C. Two different sintering holding times of 1 minute and 120 minutes were investigated. The results revealed that the 1 minute holding time profile was effective in suppressing grain growth and producing a HA body with improved densification. Additionally, higher mechanical properties such as Young's modulus of 119 GPa, high fracture toughness of 1.41 MPa.m(1/2) and hardness of 9.5 GPa were obtained for this sample as compared to HA bodies when sintered using the 120 minutes holding time. The study revealed for the first time that HA could be sintered using a 1 minute holding time without compromising on HA phase stability and mechanical properties

Effect of daily calcitriol supplementation with and without calcium on disease regression in non-alcoholic fatty liver patients following an energy-restricted diet: Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial

Background & aims: Despite evidence for beneficial effects of vitamin D, to our knowledge, no study has compared the effects of calcium supplementation with vitamin D on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) regression during a hypo-energetic program. We compared the effect of the vitamin D supplementation with and without calcium on anthropometric measures and biochemical parameters in NAFLD patients during a weight-loss program. Methods: A 12-week, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial was conducted in 120 NAFLD patients randomly assigned to receive 25 μg calcitriol (n = 37), 500 mg calcium carbonate + 25 μg calcitriol (n = 37), or placebo (n = 36) every day with their lunch meals while following a weight-loss program. Results: Weight, BMI and fat mass reduction were significant in each group after 12 wk of intervention (p < 0.001), but differences among the groups was not significant after 12 wk of the study, adjusted to the baseline measurements. Significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin, insulin resistance (by HOMA-IR) and TG concentrations and an increase in HDL.C was seen over the 12 wk of study in each group (p < 0.001). Adjusting to the baseline measurements, there was significant difference in FPG (p < 0.001), HOMA-IR (p < 0.001), serum insulin (p = 0.01), TG (p = 0.01) and HDL.C (p < 0.001) among the groups after 12 wk of the study. The calcium plus calcitriol group showed a significant decrease in ALT and FPG and increase in HDL.C level compared with the calcitriol group, adjusted to the baseline measures (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that calcium plus calcitriol supplementation for 12 weeks may be potentially effective for biochemical parameters in NAFLD patients. Further additional larger controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings. Registration: Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. IRCT201408312709N29. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolis

Sintering behavior of hydroxyapatite prepared from different routes

The sintering behavior of three different types of hydroxyapatite (HA) i.e. a commercial powder, HA(C), a synthesized powder by wet chemical precipitation method, HA(W) and a synthesized powder by mechanochemical method, HA(M) were investigated over the temperature range of 1000-1350 degrees C. It has been revealed that the sinterability and mechanical properties of the synthesized HA(W) was significantly higher than that of the HA(C) and HA(M). The optimum sintering temperature for the HA(W) samples was 1100 degrees C with the following properties being recorded: 99.8 relative density, Vickers hardness of 7.04 GPa and fracture toughness of 1.22 MPa m(1/2). In contrast, the optimum sintering temperature for the HA(C) and HA(M) samples was 1300 degrees C with relative density of 98 and 95.5, Vickers hardness of 5.47 GPa and 4.73 GPa, fracture toughness of 0.75 MPa m(1/2) and 0.82 MPa m(1/2) being measured. The present research showed that the wet chemical precipitation reaction was beneficial in producing a highly crystalline, high purity and single phase stoichiometric HA powder that is sinteractive particularly at low temperatures below 1100 degrees C. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of daily calcitriol supplementation with and without calcium on disease regression in non-alcoholic fatty liver patients following an energy-restricted diet: Randomized, controlled, double-blind trial

Background & aims: Despite evidence for beneficial effects of vitamin D, to our knowledge, no study has compared the effects of calcium supplementation with vitamin D on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) regression during a hypo-energetic program. We compared the effect of the vitamin D supplementation with and without calcium on anthropometric measures and biochemical parameters in NAFLD patients during a weight-loss program. Methods: A 12-week, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial was conducted in 120 NAFLD patients randomly assigned to receive 25 μg calcitriol (n = 37), 500 mg calcium carbonate + 25 μg calcitriol (n = 37), or placebo (n = 36) every day with their lunch meals while following a weight-loss program. Results: Weight, BMI and fat mass reduction were significant in each group after 12 wk of intervention (p < 0.001), but differences among the groups was not significant after 12 wk of the study, adjusted to the baseline measurements. Significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), insulin, insulin resistance (by HOMA-IR) and TG concentrations and an increase in HDL.C was seen over the 12 wk of study in each group (p < 0.001). Adjusting to the baseline measurements, there was significant difference in FPG (p < 0.001), HOMA-IR (p < 0.001), serum insulin (p = 0.01), TG (p = 0.01) and HDL.C (p < 0.001) among the groups after 12 wk of the study. The calcium plus calcitriol group showed a significant decrease in ALT and FPG and increase in HDL.C level compared with the calcitriol group, adjusted to the baseline measures (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that calcium plus calcitriol supplementation for 12 weeks may be potentially effective for biochemical parameters in NAFLD patients. Further additional larger controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings. Registration: Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. IRCT201408312709N29. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolis

Sintering behaviour of hydroxyapatite prepared from different routes

The sintering behavior of three different types of hydroxyapatite (HA) i.e. a commercial powder, HA(C), a synthesized powder by wet chemical precipitation method, HA(W) and a synthesized powder by mechanochemical method, HA(M) were investigated over the temperature range of 1000–1350 °C. It has been revealed that the sinterability and mechanical properties of the synthesized HA(W) was significantly higher than that of the HA(C) and HA(M). The optimum sintering temperature for the HA(W) samples was 1100 °C with the following properties being recorded: 99.8% relative density, Vickers hardness of 7.04 GPa and fracture toughness of 1.22 MPa m1/2. In contrast, the optimum sintering temperature for the HA(C) and HA(M) samples was 1300 °C with relative density of 98% and 95.5%, Vickers hardness of 5.47 GPa and 4.73 GPa, fracture toughness of 0.75 MPa m1/2 and 0.82 MPa m1/2 being measured. The present research showed that the wet chemical precipitation reaction was beneficial in producing a highly crystalline, high purity and single phase stoichiometric HA powder that is sinteractive particularly at low temperatures below 1100 °C

Densification behaviour and properties of manganese oxide doped Y-TZP ceramics

The effect of employing a short sintering holding time of 12 min as compared to that of the commonly employed holding time of 120 min (2h) on the properties of undoped and I wt manganese oxide (MnO(2))-doped Y-TZP ceramics were studied. Sintering studies was conducted over the temperature range of 1150-1600 degrees C. Bulk density, Young's modulus, Vickers hardness and fracture toughness tests were carried out on the sintered samples. The results revealed that the 12 min sintering holding time was effective in promoting densification of the 1 wt MnO(2)-doped Y-TZP without sacrificing tetragonal phase stability or mechanical properties and incurring grain growth. Microstructure investigation by using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) of the fracture MnO(2)-doped Y-TZP samples which was subjected to rapid quenching in liquid nitrogen revealed distinct microstructural features believed to be associated with the presences of a transient liquid phase during sintering. A sintering mechanism was subsequently proposed to explain the densification behaviour of MnO(2)-doped Y-TZP ceramics. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved