Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase Activating Peptide (1-38) and its analog (Acetyl-[Ala15, Ala20] PACAP 38-polyamide) reverse methacholine airway hyperresponsiveness in rats

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar funcionalmente e estruturalmente efeito broncodilatador do peptídeo ativador da adenilato ciclase pituitária (PACAP1-38) e da acetil-[Ala15, Ala20]PACAP 38-poliamida, potente análogo do PACAP-38, nos ratos desafiados pelo metacolina (MeCh). Ratos Wistar machos foram aleatoriamente divididos em cinco grupos. Grupos 1 e 2, inalando aerossóis de solução salina ou doses crescentes de MeCh (0,5, 1, 2,12, 4,25, 8,5, 17, 34 e 68 mg/L). Os outros grupos recebendo terbutalina (Terb) (250 µg/rato) (10-6M), PACAP-38 (50 µg/rato) (0.1 mM) ou análogo do PACAP-38 (50 µg/rato) associados a MeCh na dose de 4,25 mg/L. A resistência pulmonar total (RL) foi registrada antes e 2 min após a administração de Mech pelo equipamento pneumomultiteste. A administração MeCh induziu aumento significativo e dose dependente (pThe aim of this study was to investigate both functionally and structurally bronchodilator effects of Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP38) and acetyl-[Ala15, Ala20] PACAP38-polyamide, a potent PACAP38 analog, in rats challenged by methacholine (MeCh). Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into five groups. Groups 1 and 2 inhaled respectively aerosols of saline or increasing doses of MeCh (0.5, 1, 2.12, 4.25, 8.5, 17, 34 and 68mg/L). The other groups received terbutaline (Terb) (250 µg/rat) (10-6 M), PACAP38 (50 µg/rat) (0.1 mM) or PACAP38 analog (50 µg/rat) associated to MeCh from the dose of 4.25 mg/L. Total lung resistances (RL) were recorded before and 2 min after MeCh administration by pneumomultitest equipment. MeCh administration induced a significant and a dose-dependent increase (

Astrocyte-Derived Tissue Transglutaminase Interacts with Fibronectin: A Role in Astrocyte Adhesion and Migration?

An important neuropathological feature of neuroinflammatory processes that occur during e.g. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the formation of an astroglial scar. Astroglial scar formation is facilitated by the interaction between astrocytes and extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) such as fibronectin. Since there is evidence indicating that glial scars strongly inhibit both axon growth and (re)myelination in brain lesions, it is important to understand the factors that contribute to the interaction between astrocytes and ECM proteins. Tissue Transglutaminase (TG2) is a multifunctional enzyme with an ubiquitous tissue distribution, being clearly present within the brain. It has been shown that inflammatory cytokines can enhance TG2 activity. In addition, TG2 can mediate cell adhesion and migration and it binds fibronectin with high affinity. We therefore hypothesized that TG2 is involved in astrocyte-fibronectin interactions. Our studies using primary rat astrocytes show that intracellular and cell surface expression and activity of TG2 is increased after treatment with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Astrocyte-derived TG2 interacts with fibronectin and is involved in astrocyte adhesion onto and migration across fibronectin. TG2 is involved in stimulating focal adhesion formation which is necessary for the interaction of astrocytes with ECM proteins. We conclude that astrocyte-derived TG2 contributes to the interaction between astrocytes and fibronectin. It might thereby regulate ECM remodeling and possibly glial scarring

Comparison of ZnO thin films on different substrates obtained by sol-gel process and deposited by spin-coating technique

521-529In the present paper, zinc oxide thin films obtained by sol gel process and deposited on glass, sapphire, Si (100), Si (111) and ZnO substrates by spin-coating technique have been studied. Effects of using different substrates on the structural, morphological and optical properties have been investigated. The structural properties have been analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the recorded patterns indicated that all the deposited films are polycrystalline with a hexagonal Wurtzite structure and exhibit preferentially oriented along the c-axis direction. The surface morphology has been examined by Scanning Electron Microscopy which revealed that the microstructure of the films strongly affected by the nature and orientation of substrate namely grain shape and size. Optical absorbance measurements have been taken using UV-Vis spectrophotometer and the calculated values of the direct band gap energy are around 3, 3.08 and 3.19 eV, for the ZnO films deposited on ZnO, sapphire c and glass substrates, respectively. Photoluminescence measurements taken at 4 K exhibit a near band edge composed by two principal’s peaks situated at 3.36 and 3.31 eV and attributed to the neutral donor bound exciton (D°X) and to the deep acceptor (A°X), their intensity varied with the nature of substrate

Lessons about Causes and Management of an Ebola Outbreak

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is one of the deadliest viral diseases. It is characterized by a high mortality rate due to the lack of effective and safe treatments or vaccines and its ability to spread at an unstoppable pace. The West Africa outbreak ended but the disease may strike again at any time. The latest epidemic was, by far, the deadliest to date. The most concern was why this outbreak was so different from the previous ones. We proposed in this review firstly to summarize the principal causes of its unprecedented spread and secondly to identify the steps for an effective management approach of a future Ebola outbreak. Attributes of the affected populations and insufficient control efforts were the main reasons of its amplification. This was complicated by a delayed international response. The health crisis was ignored for months until it got out of control. The management of Ebola presents a multitude of challenges in terms of preparedness and capacity to face an outbreak. In addition to the need for adequate health care facilities, ongoing surveillance tools, appropriate training of health workers and raising population awareness, readiness requires a large scale and coordinated international intervention to support affected and at-risk nations, to intensify their response activities and to strengthen their capacities. Constant interventions after the outbreak are still needed to ensure that vital health and related service institutions in these countries are fully prepared to respond to an eminent epidemic

Mediterranean spotted fever as a cause of septic shock

Mediterranean spotted fever is a generally benign disease but with the potential of serious manifestations.We report a case of Mediterranean spotted fever in a 56-year–old woman, with pet dog exposure, who presented with a septic shock pattern. Based on clinical symptoms, history, and laboratory results, the diagnosis of Mediterranean spotted fever was suspected and the outcome was favorable with doxycycline treatment.Although rickettsiae remain an uncommon cause of the sepsis syndrome, it is important to consider it, especially as people are now traveling to endemic areas more frequently. Keywords: Mediterranen spotted, Fever, Tick-borne diseases, Septic Shoc