Development of a novel guinea pig model of allergic airways disease

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:DX183098 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Applications of high repetition rate tabletop soft X-ray lasers become a reality in several fields

For many years researchers have envisioned the development of compact high repetition rate tabletop soft x-ray lasers that could be routinely used in application in numerous disciplines. With demonstrated average powers of several mW and millijoule-level pulse energy at 46.9nm, the Ne-like Ar capillary discharge-pumped laser is the first compact laser to reach this goal. In this paper we summarize the development status of high repetition rate tabletop soft x-ray lasers based on capillary discharge excitation, and give examples of their successful use in several applications. Results of the use of a capillary discharge pumped 46.9nm laser in dense plasma interferometry, soft x-ray reflectometry for the determination of optical constants, characterization of diffraction gratings, laser ablation of materials, and plasma generation are described. The observation of lasing at 52.9nm line in Ne-like Cl with output pulse energy up to 10 µJ is also reported

Plantas medicinais utilizadas por idosos com diagnóstico de Diabetes mellitus no tratamento dos sintomas da doença Medicinal plants used by elderly people with Diabetes mellitus in the treatment of the disease symptoms

Este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar as plantas medicinais utilizadas por idosos assistidos em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde de Pelotas-RS, com diagnóstico de Diabetes mellitus, como terapia complementar no tratamento dos sintomas da doença. Caracterizou-se por pesquisa qualitativa, realizada em julho de 2009, no município de Pelotas-RS. Foram entrevistados 18 idosos com idade entre 60 e 77 anos, sendo 14 do sexo feminino. Os participantes citaram 20 plantas medicinais utilizadas como terapia complementar no tratamento do Diabetes mellitus. Entre estas, as mais citadas utilizadas para diminuir os níveis de glicose no sangue foram Sphagneticola trilobata, Bauhinia spp. e Syzygium cumini, sendo que para as duas últimas há comprovação científica do efeito hipoglicemiante. A infusão foi a forma de preparo predominante. Considera-se importante a realização de estudos farmacológicos que investiguem os efeitos das plantas utilizadas pela população, a fim de que o uso proporcione os benefícios desejados e não cause danos à saúde.<br>This study aimed to investigate medicinal plants used as complementary therapy by the elderly with diabetes mellitus, assisted by a Health Basic Unit in Pelotas (RS, Brazil). This qualitative research was conducted in July 2009. Eighteen 60 to 77 years old elderly (14 of them female) were interviewed. The participants identified 20 medicinal plants used as complementary therapies in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Among these, the most used ones to reduce the levels of glucose in the blood were Sphagneticola trilobata, Bauhinia spp. and Syzygium cumini. For the last two plants, there are scientific proofs of hypoglycemic effects. The infusion was the predominant form of preparation. Studies to investigate the pharmacological effects of plants used by the population have become very important, for providing scientific information on their possible health benefits and side effects

Eosinophils: Biological properties and role in health and disease

Eosinophils are pleiotropic multifunctional leukocytes involved in initiation and propagation of diverse inflammatory responses, as well as modulators of innate and adaptive immunity. In this review, the biology of eosinophils is summarized, focusing on transcriptional regulation of eosinophil differentiation, characterization of the growing properties of eosinophil granule proteins, surface proteins and pleiotropic mediators, and molecular mechanisms of eosinophil degranulation. New views on the role of eosinophils in homeostatic function are examined, including developmental biology and innate and adaptive immunity (as well as their interaction with mast cells and T cells) and their proposed role in disease processes including infections, asthma, and gastrointestinal disorders. Finally, strategies for targeted therapeutic intervention in eosinophil-mediated mucosal diseases are conceptualized