The detrital zircon record of Variscan to post‑Variscan tectonosedimentary and magmatic processes in the Tauern Window (Eastern Alps)

Coupled U–Pb and Lu–Hf LA-ICP-MS detrital and igneous zircon data were obtained from metasedimentary sequences (Kaserer Formation, Schmirntal Quartzite, Seidlwinkel Formation, Bündnerschiefer Basin, Riffler Basin) of the western Tauern Window (Eastern Alps). Results show maximum deposition ages between the Late Permian and the Triassic, indicating protracted sedimentation and magmatism between the Late Paleozoic and the Mesozoic. The Lu–Hf fingerprint shows a change from subchondritic to variable subchondritic to suprachondritic compositions at ca. 290 Ma, possibly documenting the transition from Late Paleozoic Variscan post-collisional processes to intracontinental extension. Lithospheric thinning and magmatic underplating may explain the observed Hf isotopic evolution as the result of mixing of crustal and mantellic sources. From a paleogeographical perspective, results confirm that the Tauern Window was situated between Alpine basement units (South Alpine, Austroalpine and External Massifs) and the Bohemian Massif during the Permian–Triassic.Fil: Veselá, P.. Ludwig Maximilians Universitat; AlemaniaFil: Oriolo, Sebastián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Geociencias Básicas, Aplicadas y Ambientales de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Basei, M. A. S.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Lammerer, Bernd. Ludwig Maximilians Universitat; AlemaniaFil: Siegesmund, S.. Universität Göttingen; Alemani

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Thyme Essential Oil in Mice

Plant essential oils are plant secondary metabolites possessing various pharmacological properties, primarily anti-oxidative, antimicrobial or immunomodulatory ones. The aim of this work was to study the effects of thyme essential oil dietary administration in murine DTH/ CHS reaction, carrageenan paw oedema and TNBS colitis. Thyme essential oil was added to the murine diet at three concentrations (5000, 2500 and 1250 ppm) and fed to Balb/c mice. The extent of ear swelling in DTH/CHS reaction and paw oedema induced by carrageenan application was measured using the Mitutoyo thickness gauge. In the model of TNBS colitis we evaluated the changes in body weight, the colon weight : body weight ratio, bacterial translocation to mesenteric lymph nodes, and macroscopical and histological scores. IL-1β and IL-6 messenger RNA expression in colonic samples of one experimental group were assessed using quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase PCR. Dietary supplementation with 5000 ppm of thyme essential oil significantly decreased paw oedema and ear swelling. This thyme essential oil concentration caused a significant inhibition of total mRNA IL-1β expression in the mouse colon, and markedly decreased the macroscopic and microscopic scores of colitis. On the other hand, the 1250 ppm of thyme essential oil in diet increased ear oedema induced by oxazolone application in mice. Our study indicates that thyme essential oil is able to affect murine experimental inflammatory models depending on the concentration used. It is concluded that the anti-inflammatory effects of thyme essential oil should be interpreted with a caution due to its contradictory, dose-related effects

Activation of Multiple Apoptotic Pathways in Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells by the Prenylated Isoflavone, Osajin

Osajin is a prenylated isoflavone showing antitumor activity in different tumor cell lines. The underlying mechanism of osajin-induced cancer cell death is not clearly understood. In the present study, the mechanisms of osajin-induced cell death of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells were explored. Osajin was found to significantly induce apoptosis of NPC cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Multiple molecular effects were observed during osajin treatment including a significant loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, enhanced expression of Fas ligand (FasL), suppression of glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa (GRP78), and activation of caspases-9, -8, -4 and -3. In addition, up-regulation of proapoptotic Bax protein and down-regulation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein were also observed. Taken together, osajin induces apoptosis in human NPC cells through multiple apoptotic pathways, including the extrinsic death receptor pathway, and intrinsic pathways relying on mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Thus, osajin could be developed as a new effective and chemopreventive compound for human NPC

Wpływ niedokrwienno-reperfuzyjnego uszkodzenia jelita na poziom określonych genów u szczurów

The small intestine is an organ with very well developed immunological activity. There are specific cells in the mucosa of the small intestine responsible for releasing the inflammatory mediators that can lead to Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS), which is a very complex process that can occur after ischemia-reperfusion injury. The accumulation of specific inflammatory mediators in the wall of the small intestine also increases the expression of apoptotic genes. The aim of this study was to detect and analyse the changes in the expression of apoptotic genes (Bax, Bcl2) and the genes responsible for the production of cytokines (TNFα, IL1β, IL6, IL10) and tumour growth factor beta (TGFβ). Male Wistar rats underwent ischemia performed by complete occlusion of the mesenteric artery. Ischemia was followed by reperfusion periods of 1 hour, 24 hours, and 30 days. Subsequently, the total RNA was isolated from the complete wall of the small intestine and RT-PCR (real-time) was performed. There was a significant increase in the levels of specific genes (Bax, Bcl2, TNFα, IL1β, IL6, IL10, TGFβ) after one hour of reperfusion and a decreased tendency after 24 hours and 30 days.Jelito cienkie jest narządem o bardzo dobrze rozwiniętej aktywności immunologicznej. W błonie śluzowej jelita cienkiego znajdują się specjalne komórki odpowiedzialne za uwalnianie mediatorów zapalenia, mogące wywołać zespół niewydolności wielonaczyniowej (ang. Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS)), który jest bardzo złożonym procesem, jaki może wystąpić po uszkodzeniu niedokrwienno-reperfuzyjnym. Nagromadzenie swoistych mediatorów zapalenia w ścianie jelita cienkiego zwiększa również ekspresję genów apoptotycznych. Celem tej pracy było wykrycie i analiza zmian w ekspresji genów apoptotycznych (Bax, Bcl2) oraz genów odpowiedzialnych za wytwarzanie cytokin (TNFα, IL1β, IL6, IL10), a także transformującego czynnika wzrostu beta (TGFβ). U samców szczurów rasy Wistar wywoływano niedokrwienie poprzez całkowite zamknięcie tętnicy krezkowej, po czym następowały okresy reperfuzji trwające 1 godzinę, 24 godziny i 30 dni. Następnie z całej ściany jelita cienkiego izolowano RNA całkowite i przeprowadzono badanie RT-PCR (w czasie rzeczywistym). Stwierdzono istotny wzrost poziomów określonych genów (Bax, Bcl2, TNFα, IL1β, IL6, IL10, TGFβ) po jednej godzinie reperfuzji oraz trend spadkowy po 24 godzinach i 30 dniach

Fate of the molar dental lamina in the monophyodont mouse

The successional dental lamina (SDL) plays an essential role in the development of replacement teeth in diphyodont and polyphyodont animals. A morphologically similar structure, the rudimental successional dental lamina (RSDL), has been described in monophyodont (only one tooth generation) lizards on the lingual side of the developing functional tooth. This rudimentary lamina regresses, which has been proposed to play a role in preventing the formation of future generations of teeth. A similar rudimentary lingual structure has been reported associated with the first molar in the monophyodont mouse, and we show that this structure is common to all murine molars. Intriguingly, a lingual lamina is also observed on the non-replacing molars of other diphyodont mammals (pig and hedgehog), initially appearing very similar to the successional dental lamina on the replacing teeth. We have analyzed the morphological as well as ultrastructural changes that occur during the development and loss of this molar lamina in the mouse, from its initiation at late embryonic stages to its disappearance at postnatal stages. We show that loss appears to be driven by a reduction in cell proliferation, down-regulation of the progenitor marker Sox2, with only a small number of cells undergoing programmed cell death. The lingual lamina was associated with the dental stalk, a short epithelial connection between the tooth germ and the oral epithelium. The dental stalk remained in contact with the oral epithelium throughout tooth development up to eruption when connective tissue and numerous capillaries progressively invaded the dental stalk. The buccal side of the dental stalk underwent keratinisation and became part of the gingival epithelium, while most of the lingual cells underwent programmed cell death and the tissue directly above the erupting tooth was shed into the oral cavity

Impact of local clothing values on local skin temperature simulation

Current human thermophysiological models calculate skin temperatures to predict human thermal comfort. To identify local influences on overall thermal comfort, local skin temperatures should be computed with high accuracy. This necessity depends on reliable input data of local clothing properties. However, only few data sets on local clothing insulation are published, and these values can be inconsistent. This paper analyses the effect of different sets of local clothing values on simulated skin temperatures using the thermophysiological model ThermoSEM. The skin temperatures are computed for a seated (1met), average man wearing a light clothing combination (0.5clo). Four sets of local clothing values are taken from the literature. This data is used to simulate local skin temperatures for uniform operative temperatures between 18°C and 34°C. Furthermore, the comparison to measured data is included. The results show that local skin temperatures are sensitive to the local clothing properties, and deviations might be up to 4K. These findings emphasize that local clothing parameters have to be chosen carefully. additionally, current local clothing databases scarcely reflect the wide variety of clothing ensembles worn in practice. Therefore, this study underlines the need for further measurements of local clothing properties with detailed documentation of experimental set up