14 research outputs found
Adiponectin expression in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy indicates favourable outcome and inflammation control
Aims Circulating adiponectin (APN) is an immunomodulatory, pro-angiogenic, and anti-apoptotic adipocytokine protecting against acute viral heart disease and preventing pathological remodelling after cardiac injury. The purpose of this study was to describe the regulation and effects of APN in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy (DCMi). Methods and results Adiponectin expression and outcome were assessed in 173 patients with DCMi, 30 patients with non-inflammatory DCM, and 30 controls. Mechanistic background of these findings was addressed in murine experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), a model of human DCMi, and further elucidated in vitro. Adiponectin plasma concentrations were significantly higher in DCMi compared with DCM or controls, i.e. 6.8 ± 3.9 µg/mL vs. 5.4 ± 3.6 vs. 4.76 ± 2.5 µg/mL (P< 0.05, respectively) and correlated significantly with cardiac mononuclear infiltrates (CD3+: r2= 0.025, P= 0.038; CD45R0+: r2= 0.058, P= 0.018). At follow-up, DCMi patients with high APN levels showed significantly increased left ventricular ejection fraction improvement, decreased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and reduced cardiac inflammatory infiltrates compared with patients with low APN levels. A multivariate linear regression analysis implicated APN as an independent prognostic factor for inhibition of cardiac inflammation. In accordance with these findings in human DCMi, EAM mice exhibited elevated plasma APN. Adiponectin gene transfer led to significant downregulation of key inflammatory mediators promoting disease. Mechanistically, APN acted as a negative regulator of T cells by reducing antigen specific expansion (P< 0.01) and suppressed TNFα-mediated NFκB activation (P< 0.01) as well as release of reactive oxygen species in cardiomyocytes. Conclusion Our results implicate that APN acts as endogenously upregulated anti-inflammatory cytokine confining cardiac inflammation and progression in DCM
The Golden Age of European Cabaret
Program for the second annual RISD Cabaret held in the Cellar in the Pit. Design and layout by Anne Johnson, Susan Sellers and Georgie Stout.https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/liberalarts_cabaret_programs/1001/thumbnail.jp
The Ox on the Roof (Le Boeuf Sur le Toit)
Program for the third annual RISD Cabaret held in the Cellar of the Providence Art Club. Design and layout by Treva Offutt.https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/liberalarts_cabaret_programs/1002/thumbnail.jp
Adiponectin expression in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy indicates favourable outcome and inflammation control
Aims Circulating adiponectin (APN) is an immunomodulatory, pro-angiogenic, and anti-apoptotic adipocytokine protecting against acute viral heart disease and preventing pathological remodelling after cardiac injury. The purpose of this study was to describe the regulation and effects of APN in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy (DCMi). Methods and results Adiponectin expression and outcome were assessed in 173 patients with DCMi, 30 patients with non-inflammatory DCM, and 30 controls. Mechanistic background of these findings was addressed in murine experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM), a model of human DCMi, and further elucidated in vitro. Adiponectin plasma concentrations were significantly higher in DCMi compared with DCM or controls, i.e. 6.8 ± 3.9 µg/mL vs. 5.4 ± 3.6 vs. 4.76 ± 2.5 µg/mL (P< 0.05, respectively) and correlated significantly with cardiac mononuclear infiltrates (CD3+: r2= 0.025, P= 0.038; CD45R0+: r2= 0.058, P= 0.018). At follow-up, DCMi patients with high APN levels showed significantly increased left ventricular ejection fraction improvement, decreased left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, and reduced cardiac inflammatory infiltrates compared with patients with low APN levels. A multivariate linear regression analysis implicated APN as an independent prognostic factor for inhibition of cardiac inflammation. In accordance with these findings in human DCMi, EAM mice exhibited elevated plasma APN. Adiponectin gene transfer led to significant downregulation of key inflammatory mediators promoting disease. Mechanistically, APN acted as a negative regulator of T cells by reducing antigen specific expansion (P< 0.01) and suppressed TNFα-mediated NFκB activation (P< 0.01) as well as release of reactive oxygen species in cardiomyocytes. Conclusion Our results implicate that APN acts as endogenously upregulated anti-inflammatory cytokine confining cardiac inflammation and progression in DCM
Adiponectin expression in patients with inflammatory cardiomyopathy indicates favourable outcome and inflammation control
Identification of Ultrafast Relaxation Processes As a Major Reason for Inefficient Exciton Diffusion in Perylene-Based Organic Semiconductors
The
exciton diffusion length (<i>L</i><sub>D</sub>) is
a key parameter for the efficiency of organic optoelectronic devices.
Its limitation to the nm length scale causes the need of complex bulk-heterojunction
solar cells incorporating difficulties in long-term stability and
reproducibility. A comprehensive model providing an atomistic understanding
of processes that limit exciton trasport is therefore highly desirable
and will be proposed here for perylene-based materials. Our model
is based on simulations with a hybrid approach which combines high-level
ab initio computations for the part of the system directly involved
in the described processes with a force field to include environmental
effects. The adequacy of the model is shown by detailed comparison
with available experimental results. The model indicates that the
short exciton diffusion lengths of α-perylene tetracarboxylicdianhydride
(PTCDA) are due to ultrafast relaxation processes of the optical excitation
via intermolecular motions leading to a state from which further exciton
diffusion is hampered. As the efficiency of this mechanism depends
strongly on molecular arrangement and environment, the model explains
the strong dependence of <i>L</i><sub>D</sub> on the morphology
of the materials, for example, the differences between α-PTCDA
and diindenoperylene. Our findings indicate how relaxation processes
can be diminished in perylene-based materials. This model can be generalized
to other organic compounds
C/EBPε mediates nicotinamide-enhanced clearance of Staphylococcus aureus in mice
10.1172/JCI62070Journal of Clinical Investigation12293316-3329JCIN