A Mannose-Binding Receptor is Expressed on Human Keratinocytes and Mediates Killing of Candida albicans

Human keratinocytes are known to kill Candida albicans in vitro, but the mechanism of killing is not yet understood. Here, we demonstrate that spontaneous, ultraviolet-B-light-induced, α-melanocyte-stimulating-hormone-induced, and interleukin-8-induced Candida killing by keratinocytes can be inhibited with mannan and mannosylated bovine serum albumin (Man-BSA). A polyclonal goat serum raised against the human macrophage mannose receptor stained suprabasal keratinocytes, but no staining was observed on keratinocytes with a monoclonal antibody (mAb15) specific for the human macrophage mannose receptor. Mannose-affinity chromatography of keratinocyte extract isolated a 200 kDa protein, and on the Western blot the goat antiserum reacted with a 200 kDa protein. In radioligand binding studies, the binding of 125I-Man-BSA to human keratinocytes was inhibited by mannan in a concentration-dependent manner. Analysis of the binding revealed a single class keratinocyte mannose receptor with a KD of 1.4 × 10-8 M and a Bmax of 1 × 104 binding sites per cell. The binding of 125I-Man-BSA to keratinocytes proved to be time-dependent, acid-precipitable, and Ca2+- and trypsin-sensitive. After trypsinization the receptors underwent a rapid recovery at 37°C. These results demonstrate the presence of mannose receptor on human keratinocytes, and its active involvement in the killing of Candida albicans

Decreased plasma nociceptin/orphanin FQ levels after acute coronary syndromes

Foregoing researches made on the N/OFQ system brought up a possible role for this system in cardiovascular regulation. In this study we examined how N/OFQ levels of the blood plasma changed in acute cardiovascular diseases. Three cardiac patient groups were created: enzyme positive acute coronary syndrome (EPACS, n = 10), enzyme negative ACS (ENACS, n = 7) and ischemic heart disease (IHD, n = 11). We compared the patients to healthy control subjects (n = 31). We found significantly lower N/OFQ levels in the EPACS [6.86 (6.21–7.38) pg/ml], ENACS [6.97 (6.87–7.01) pg/ml and IHD groups [7.58 (7.23–8.20) pg/ml] compared to the control group [8.86 (7.27–9.83) pg/ml]. A significant correlation was detected between N/OFQ and white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count (PLT), creatine kinase (CK), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and cholesterol levels in the EPACS group.Decreased plasma N/OFQ is closely associated with the presence of acute cardiovascular disease, and the severity of symptoms has a significant negative correlation with the N/OFQ levels. We believe that the rate of N/OFQ depression is in association with the level of ischemic stress and the following inflammatory response. Further investigations are needed to clarify the relevance and elucidate the exact effects of the ischemic stress on the N/OFQ system

Effect of the drying method on the composition of Origanum vulgare L. subsp. hirtum essential oil analysed by GC-MS and sensory profile method

In the case of a widely used spice — Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum — the effect of different drying methods (natural, and by using dryers at temperatures of 30°C, 40 °C, 45°C) was investigated referring to the essential oil amount and composition in the final material. The sensory characteristics of olive oils flavoured by the oregano samples were also determined. The essential oil amount and the area percentage of its main component — carvacrol — were significantly influenced by the different drying temperatures. Compared to the natural way of drying in the case of the essential oil content the drying temperature of 40°C and 45°C was preferable for the higher amounts. Referring to the carvacrol area percentage the drying temperature of 30°C resulted in the highest amounts (89.74±0.28%), that was affirmed by the sensory analysis as well; based on the taste descriptions the consumers found it the most pungent one. According to our results sensory analysis data in most of the cases corresponds to the GC-MS measurements and give a much more complex characterisation of a spice

Design, fabrication, and characterization of picowell arrays on cyclic olefin copolymer surfaces generated with a 10.5 MeV N4+ ion microbeam

Handling of picoliter-to-nanoliter-scale volumes and objects has increasing importance in life sciences. This is the volume scale of cell extractions and individual living cells. Here, we introduce a method of generating a picoliter-scale device by direct writing of picowell arrays on a ZEONOR™ copolymer surface with high-energy medium-mass ion microbeam. Arrays of various microstructures were written in the sample using a microbeam of 10.5 MeV N4+ ions at various implanted ion fluences. The best array was obtained by implantation of annuli of 10 and 11 μm of inner and outer diameters with a fluence of 7.8 × 1012 ions/cm2