Isolated blunt abdominal aortic injury without concomitant abdominal injuries treated with endovascular stent grafting

Blunt injury of the abdominal aorta is a rare event, seen in only 0.07% to 0.17% of all blunt traumas. These injuries are frequently associated with other intra-abdominal injuries, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. We present a case of isolated blunt abdominal aortic trauma to the infrarenal aorta without concomitant abdominal or spinal injuries. The patient was treated with endovascular aortic stent grafting and is without complications 12 months after the procedure

Involvement of formyl peptide receptors in the stimulatory effect of crotoxin on macrophages co-cultivated with tumour cells

Crotoxin (CTX) is the main neurotoxic component of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom. It inhibits tumour growth and modulates the function of macrophages, which are essential cells in the tumour microenvironment. the present study investigated the effect of CTX on the secretory activity of monocultured macrophages and macrophages co-cultivated with LLC-WRC 256 cells. the effect of the macrophage secretory activities on tumour cell proliferation was also evaluated. Macrophages pre-treated with CTX (0.3 mu g/mL) for 2 h were co-cultivated with LLC-WRC 256 cells, and the secretory activity of the macrophages was determined after 12, 24 and 48 h. the co-cultivation of CTX-treated macrophages with the tumour cells caused a 20% reduction in tumour cell proliferation. the production of both H2O2 and NO was increased by 41% and 29% after 24 or 48 h of co-cultivation, respectively, compared to the values for the co-cultures of macrophages of control. the level of secreted IL-1 beta increased by 3.7- and 3.2-fold after 12 h and 24 h of co-cultivation, respectively. Moreover, an increased level of LXA(4) (25%) was observed after 24 h of co-cultivation, and a 2.3- and 2.1-fold increased level of 15-epi-LXA(4) was observed after 24 h and 48 h, respectively. Boc-2, a selective antagonist of formyl peptide receptors, blocked both the stimulatory effect of CTX on the macrophage secretory activity and the inhibitory effect of these cells on tumour cell proliferation. Taken together, these results indicate that CTX enhanced the secretory activity of macrophages, which may contribute to the antitumour activity of these cells, and that activation of formyl peptide receptors appears to play a major role in this effect. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)PAPInstituto Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnologia em ToxinasButantan Inst, Lab Pathophysiol, BR-05503900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Lab Inflammat & Vasc Pharmacol, BR-09913030 Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Fac Med, BR-01246000 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Anat, BR-05508900 São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Biomed Sci, Dept Physiol & Biophys, BR-05508900 São Paulo, BrazilButantan Inst, Special Lab Pain & Signaling, BR-05503900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Lab Inflammat & Vasc Pharmacol, BR-09913030 Diadema, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 09/52330-9Instituto Nacional de Ciencia e Tecnologia em Toxinas: INCTTOX 2008/57898-0Web of Scienc

Supra-physiological doses of testosterone affect membrane oxidation of human neutrophils monitored by the fluorescent probe C11-BODIPY581/591

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of supra-physiological doses of testosterone (TES) on membrane oxidation of activated human neutrophils in vitro using an innovative and sensitive technique: the real-time detection with the fluorescence probe C11-BODIPY581/591. Methodological controls were performed with the lipid-soluble and powerful antioxidant astaxanthin at different neutrophil density cultures. Neutrophils from nine healthy young men (23.4 ± 2.5 years, 174.4 ± 7.0 cm height, and 78.3 ± 7.0 kg weight) were isolated and treated with 0.1 or 10 μM TES for 24 h and subsequently labeled with the free radical-sensitive probe C11-BODIPY581/591 for monitoring membrane oxidation after neutrophil activation with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). First-order exponential decay kinetic indicated that both 0.1 and 10 μM TES severely increased baseline membrane oxidation in non-activated human neutrophils (compared to control). However, similar kinetics of membrane oxidation were observed in control and 0.1 μM TES-treated neutrophils after PMA activation, whereas chemical activation did not alter the baseline higher rates of membrane oxidation in 10 μM TES-treated neutrophils. The data presented here support the hypothesis that TES exerts distinct effects on the membrane oxidation of human neutrophils, depending on its dose (here, 102 to 104-fold higher than physiological levels in men) and on PMA activation of the oxidative burst. Furthermore, this paper also presents an innovative application of the free radical-sensitive probe C11-BODIPY581/591 for monitoring (auto-induced) membrane oxidation as an important parameter of viability and, thus, responsiveness of immune cells in inflammatory processes

Supra-physiological doses of testosterone affect membrane oxidation of human neutrophils monitored by the fluorescent probe C11-BODIPY581/591

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of supra-physiological doses of testosterone (TES) on membrane oxidation of activated human neutrophils in vitro using an innovative and sensitive technique: the real-time detection with the fluorescence probe C11-BODIPY581/591. Methodological controls were performed with the lipid-soluble and powerful antioxidant astaxanthin at different neutrophil density cultures. Neutrophils from nine healthy young men (23.4 ± 2.5 years, 174.4 ± 7.0 cm height, and 78.3 ± 7.0 kg weight) were isolated and treated with 0.1 or 10 μM TES for 24 h and subsequently labeled with the free radical-sensitive probe C11-BODIPY581/591 for monitoring membrane oxidation after neutrophil activation with phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). First-order exponential decay kinetic indicated that both 0.1 and 10 μM TES severely increased baseline membrane oxidation in non-activated human neutrophils (compared to control). However, similar kinetics of membrane oxidation were observed in control and 0.1 μM TES-treated neutrophils after PMA activation, whereas chemical activation did not alter the baseline higher rates of membrane oxidation in 10 μM TES-treated neutrophils. The data presented here support the hypothesis that TES exerts distinct effects on the membrane oxidation of human neutrophils, depending on its dose (here, 102 to 104-fold higher than physiological levels in men) and on PMA activation of the oxidative burst. Furthermore, this paper also presents an innovative application of the free radical-sensitive probe C11-BODIPY581/591 for monitoring (auto-induced) membrane oxidation as an important parameter of viability and, thus, responsiveness of immune cells in inflammatory processes

Patterns of Public Participation: Opportunity Structures and Mobilization from a Cross-National Perspective

PURPOSE: The paper summarizes data from twelve countries, chosen to exhibit wide variation, on the role and place of public participation in the setting of priorities. It seeks to exhibit cross-national patterns in respect of public participation, linking those differences to institutional features of the countries concerned. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: The approach is an example of case-orientated qualitative assessment of participation practices. It derives its data from the presentation of country case studies by experts on each system. The country cases are located within the historical development of democracy in each country. FINDINGS: Patterns of participation are widely variable. Participation that is effective through routinized institutional processes appears to be inversely related to contestatory participation that uses political mobilization to challenge the legitimacy of the priority setting process. No system has resolved the conceptual ambiguities that are implicit in the idea of public participation. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The paper draws on a unique collection of country case studies in participatory practice in prioritization, supplementing existing published sources. In showing that contestatory participation plays an important role in a sub-set of these countries it makes an important contribution to the field because it broadens the debate about public participation in priority setting beyond the use of minipublics and the observation of public representatives on decision-making bodies

Measles: the best age and number of doses recommended for children vaccination in Brazil

This study was firstly carried out in an adult healthy population, which included university students, blood bank donors and pregnant women with a total of 889 people. It was observed that about 87% of this population carried blood specific measles antibodies, and the same percentage of antibodies detection was observed in each respective newborns, due to the transplacental passage of maternal antibodies. These antibodies were periodically titrated from the day of birth up to 7 months of age. After 4 months of age starts the decline of the antibody levels or its extinction. The response to the vaccine was studied in 1268 children which were divided in 3 groups: I) vaccinated at 7 months and then revaccinated at 15 months; II) vaccinated at 9 months; and III) vaccinated at 7 months and then revaccinated at 9 months. This study have demonstrated that in spite of the response to the vaccine in older children being more efficient, it is very important in the actual epidemiological circumstances of measles in Brazil that the vaccination of children starts at 7 months, despite the percentage of seroconversions being around 50%. This point of view is substantiated by the observation that the mortality index in children under one year of age is responsible for half of the deaths occurring by measles in Brazil. After the second dose of measles vaccine it was not found any difference in the seroconvertion rates in the revaccinated group either at 2 months or 8 months after the first dose of vaccine. The conclusion of this study was the recommendation of the measles vaccine being started at 7 months of age in an attempt to diminish the high mortality and morbidity rates in that group of age, being the revaccination mandatory at 9 months of age in order to protect those children who did not seroconvert after the first dose of vaccine.Este estudo foi inicialmente conduzido em população adulta normal, compreendendo doadores de Banco de Sangue, estudantes universitários e parturientes, totalizando 889 indivíduos. Foi observado que cerca de 87% desta população apresentava anticorpos específicos para o sarampo, e que o mesmo porcentual de positividade observado nas gestantes, foi encontrado nos seus respectivos conceptos dada a passagem transplacentária dos anticorpos maternos. Foi verificado o declínio desses anticorpos após o 4.° mês, do recém-nato. Os resultados à vacinação contra o sarampo foi estudada em 1268 crianças divididas em três grupos: I) vacinadas aos 7 meses e revacinadas aos 15 meses; II) vacinadas aos 9 meses e III) vacinadas aos 7 meses e revacinadas aos 9 meses. Os resultados deste estudo indicam que apesar da resposta à vacinação ter sido mais eficiente no grupo de crianças maiores, é importante que se vacine aos 7 meses de idade, embora a porcentagem de soroconversão tenha sido de 50%. Esta medida deve ser levada em consideração, tendo em vista que a mortalidade por sarampo em crianças com menos de 1 ano representa a metade dos óbitos pela doença. Foi verificado que após a aplicação da 2.° dose, não houve diferença quanto à soroconversão, tanto no grupo revacinado 2 meses ou 8 meses após a 1.º dose da vacina. Portanto, a vacinação aos 7 meses é necessária, visando diminuir a mortalidade e a morbidade dentro do 1.º ano de vida, e a revacinação aos 9 meses, a fim de imunizar as crianças não beneficiadas com a 1.ª dose