1,237 research outputs found
Influence of deflocculant on the isoelectric point of refractory powders: Considerations on the action of deflocculant
Isoelectric point changes in suspensions of refractory materials vis-a-vis the role of deflocculants used in monolithic refractories were investigated by considering the mineral compositions and adsorbed ions in four kinds of clay. Three types of curves represented the relation between the isoelectric point and the deflocculant. The surface charge of clay particles in the suspensions became negative as a result of the deflocculant, since the isoelectric point of suspensions decreased as the deflocculant was added. The isoelectric point changes of calcined alumina were also compared with those of the clays, and a similar phenomenon was observed, except that the deflocculant dispersed the calcined alumina better than it did the clays. A simple model was used to analyze the results
FK506 and Cyclosporin A Enhance IL-6 Production in Monocytes: A single-Cell Assay
The effect of FK506 and cyclosporin A (CsA) on the production of
interleukin 6 (IL-6) in adherent monocytes was studied at a
single-cell level by the avidinbiotin- peroxidase complex methods.
The percentage of IL-6-producing monocytes increased when stimulated
with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at concentrations between 10 ng/ml and
10 μg/ml, in a dose dependent manner. Both FK506 and CsA
enhanced the percentage of IL-6- producing monocytes stimulated with
100 pg/ml-1 μg/ml of LPS up to values near those
obtained with 10 μg/ml of LPS. The enhancement by FK506 and
CsA was not seen when monocytes were stimulated with a high
concentration of LPS (10 μg/ml). When monocytes were
stimulated with a low concentration of LPS (10 ng/ml), FK506 and
CsA enhanced IL-6 production in a dose dependent manner, at a drug
concentration of 0.12 nM–1.2 μM (0.1–1 000 ng/ml)
for FK506 and 0.83 nM–8.3 μM (1–10 000 ng/ml) for
CsA. The optimal effect of FK506 was achieved at a concentration
7-fold lower than that of CsA. In contrast, production of turnout
necrosis factor-α (TNFα and interleukin 1β
(IL-1β) was slightly suppressed by FK506 and CsA at the
concentrations tested. Moreover, pretreatment of monocytes with
FK506 and CsA had a significant enhancing effect on LPS-induced IL-6
production, while treatment with FK506 or CsA after LPS stimulation
had no effects on IL-6 production, suggesting that the enhancing
effect of each drug is exerted before LPS stimulation or at an early
stage of the post-receptor pathway after LPS stimulation. These
experiments demonstrate that FK506 and CsA can selectively enhance
IL-6 production in monocytes under certain conditions in
vitro and, possibly, also in vivo
Aquatic Exercise for Better Living on Land: Impact of Shallow-Water Exercise on Older Japanese Women for Performance of Activities of Daily Living (ADL)
Twenty-six Japanese women (70.5 yr) self-selected water exercise (WEX) (n=13), or control (CON) (n=13) for 12 weeks. WEX was performed 60-minutes/day, 3 days/week with warm-up, cool-down stretch, ADL exercises, and cardiovascular/muscular endurance in 30°C water at a xiphoid level depth. CON continued their current activity/nutrition patterns. Compared to CON, WEX improved (p\u3c.05) functional fitness and balance measures including arm curl (22%), chair stand (21%), 8-feet up & go (13%), chair sit/reach (50%), and 12-min walk (15%). No significant changes in sway velocity (SV) or limits of stability (LOS) were seen for either group. This shallow water exercise improved land-based ADL for older women but not balance. ADL tasks associated with balance did improve which may have indicated enhanced motor control
Sexually dimorphic tibia shape is linked to natural osteoarthritis in STR/Ort mice
Human osteoarthritis (OA) is detected only at late stages. Male STR/Ort mice develop knee OA spontaneously with known longitudinal trajectory, offering scope to identify OA predisposing factors. We exploit the lack of overt OA in female STR/Ort and in both sexes of parental, control CBA mice to explore whether early divergence in tibial bone mass or shape are linked to emergent OA
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