Comparison of LPS-stimulated release of cytokines in punch versus transwell tissue culture systems of human gestational membranes

Abstract Background Cytokine signaling within the amnionic, chorionic and decidual extraplacental gestational membranes plays an important role in membrane rupture and the timing of birth. The predominant in vitro explant culture system for evaluating cytokine induction in human gestational membranes has been the free-floating biopsy punch culture. Punch systems have been used to investigate the impact of various toxicants, pharmaceuticals and genetic variation on expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. More recently, a dual compartment transwell culture system has been developed that more closely mimics the intrauterine compartment. The current study compares these two systems with respect to release of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a model stimulant. Methods Tissue samples were exposed to 100 ng/ml LPS for 12 h and cytokines were measured by ELISA. Data are expressed as increase relative to non-treated controls. Results Levels of interleukin-6 increased in punch culture medium samples to a significantly greater extent (34.2 fold) compared with medium from transwell cultures in the amnion (6.6 fold) or choriodecidual (7.1 fold) compartments. Interleukin-8 also showed a significantly greater induction in punch (4.8 fold) than transwell amnion (1.6 fold) or choriodecidual (1.7 fold) samples. The anti-inflammatory interleukin-10 showed a significant difference between punch (36.5 fold) and transwell amnion (15.4 fold) samples, but no difference was observed between punch and transwell choriodecidual (28.5 fold) samples. Neither interleukin-1beta nor tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) showed a significant difference between the punch and transwell samples. Conclusions These results indicate that the pattern of LPS-stimulated cytokine release from gestational membranes in vitro depends on the culture system used, confounding comparisons of studies that use different gestational membrane culture systems to study inflammatory responses.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78253/1/1477-7827-8-121.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78253/2/1477-7827-8-121.pdfPeer Reviewe

Angie

Thesis (M.A.)--Boston University, 1949. This item was digitized by the Internet Archive

Implementation of Local Control Accountability Plans in a Geographically Diverse Sample of K-12 California Public School Districts: The Impact on the Classroom and Parent Input in the Process

The Local Control Funding Formula, executed in part through the Local Control and Accountability Plans, allows California school districts to allocate funds based on their needs as identified through goals and action items. This research project sheds light on the extent to which the funds have been utilized in the classroom and at the school sites. Surveys were sent to teachers in six California school districts. The districts varied in size, demographics, and location. The research examined the steps the districts took to include parents in the process of developing the Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAP) and whether parents’ input was included in the finalized plan. The research analyzes how the parents’ input compares to the goals and action items in the LCAP. The research reveals the extent to which the funding reaches the school and classroom

Tendencies and practices : open government policies at the municipal level in Argentina

El artículo presenta resultados preliminares de una investigación sobre la implementación de iniciativas y acciones de gobierno abierto (GA) a nivel local de gobierno. La misma se propone construir conocimiento sobre el estado de situación de la implementación de estas políticas. Los hallazgos se presentan en cinco dimensiones: implantación del GA, transparencia, participación ciudadana, datos abiertos y áreas de gestión del GA. El trabajo se desarrolló sobre la totalidad de los municipios de, al menos, 50 mil habitantes: 122 gobiernos locales argentinos. A partir de las múltiples iniciativas registradas se ha podido conocer que el 37% de los municipios de Argentina han implementado de momento políticas de gobierno abierto, con una fuerte prevalencia de municipios de la región central del país y de municipios de mayor escala. Estas iniciativas de GA presentan un bajo nivel de institucionalización formal, ya que sólo un 11% de los municipios han creado áreas específicas. Entre las acciones se destacan las referidas a transparencia y participación ciudadana, líneas preexistentes a las políticas de GA. Estos resultados exploratorios dan cuenta del estado de situación del desarrollo del GA a nivel local, nivel sobre el que existe una relativa ausencia de estudios.This article presents preliminary results of an investigation on the implementation of initiatives and actions of open government (GA) at the local government level. It is proposed to build knowledge about the situation status of the implementation of these policies. The findings are presented in five dimensions: GA implementation, transparency, citizen participation, open data and GA management areas. The work was carried out on the totality of the municipalities of at least 50 thousand inhabitants: 122 local Argentine governments. From the multiple initiatives registered, it has been known that 37% of the municipalities of Argentina have implemented open government policies at the moment, with a strong prevalence of municipalities in the central region of the country and larger-scale municipalities. These GA initiatives have a low level of formal institutionalization, since only 11% of the municipalities have created specific areas. Among the actions are those related to transparency and citizen participation, pre-existing lines to GA’s policies. These exploratory results show the status of the development of the GA at the local level, a level on which there is a relative absence of studies.Fil: Grandinetti, Rita María. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencia Política y Relaciones Internacionales; Argentina.Fil: Miller, Ezequiel. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencia Política y Relaciones Internacionales; Argentina