Production of Nitric Oxide and Expression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Ovarian Cystic Tumors

Tumor sections from nonneoplastic (n = 15), benign (n = 28), and malignant ovarian tumors (n = 20) were obtained from 63 women. Immunohistochemistry of the tumor sections demonstrated that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression was increased in ovarian cancer samples compared to nonneoplastic or benign tumor samples. Using the Griess method, nitric oxide (NO) metabolite levels were also found to be elevated in malignant tumor samples compared to benign tumor samples (P < .05). For stage I ovarian cancer, intracystic NO levels >80 μM were more frequent than NO levels <80 μM, and iNOS expression in well-differentiated carcinomas was greater than in moderately/poorly differentiated carcinomas (P < .05). These data suggest an important role for NO in ovarian carcinogenesis

Survey on the main defects in ancient buildings constructed mainly with natural raw materials

Many of the existing buildings constructed mostly with natural raw materials, in European sites, are frequently lacking proper maintenance and, therefore, a high degree of de-gradation is verified in these buildings compromising their integrity and reducing their lifetime probability. Often in the rehabilitation or reconstruction of old buildings the solution adopted is the partial or integral demolition and substitution of several building components. The aims of this study are to describe the most common constructive solutions in Portuguese buildings con-structed with raw natural materials, to specify the principal problems that affect each building component, and to present possible solutions to correct each defect. This study is focused on the principal elements that compose the building structures in Portugal, including load-bearing walls, wooden floor and roof structures. The corrective solutions presented and studied privi-leges the adoption of materials and techniques similar and most compatible with the original ones

Circulating Cytokines and Nitric Oxide are Involved in the Inhibition of Neutrophil Migration in Patients with Uterine Cervical Neoplasia

Aim To verify if patients with cervical neoplasia produce mediators that reduce leukocyte function. Methods Control neutrophils incubated with normal serum or serum from pre-invasive or invasive neoplasia patients were assayed for chemotaxis. Mediators were assayed in serum and in leukocyte supernatants. Experiments were also performed in random patients after surgery. Results Neutrophils incubated with patient sera, but not normal sera, failed to migrate towards the chemoattractants. In invasive neoplasia compared to controls, IL-6 and IL-8, and IL-10 and TNF-α were elevated in serum and in neutrophil supernatants, respectively. Nitrite levels were elevated in mononuclear cell supernatants from patients than controls. After surgery, serum cytokine levels were reduced, mainly in pre-invasive patients. Neutrophils treated with serum from pre-invasive patients undergone surgery had restored migration. Conclusion Patients with cervical neoplasia produce mediators, predominantly induced by tumor cells, able to impair the inflammatory response at very early stages of disease

Caracterização de marcadores inflamatórios associados a pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico em tratamento

ResumoObjetivoCaracterizar os perfis inflamatórios de pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) que recebiam o tratamento padrão em comparação com controles saudáveis.Pacientes e métodosColetou‐se o sangue venoso periférico de pacientes com LES (n = 14) e controles (n = 18) no momento da entrada no estudo. As amostras de sangue foram usadas para quantificação, por citometria de fluxo, da expressão dos antígenos de superfície CD11b (integrina) e CXCR2 em neutrófilos e linfócitos, enquanto as citocinas foram avaliadas em amostras de soro. Avaliou‐se a capacidade dos neutrófilos purificados de fagocitar zimosan opsonizado com plasma humano.ResultadosOs pacientes apresentavam uma pontuação mediana (intervalo interquartil) no Sledai de 1 (0‐2), característica de pacientes em remissão. As concentrações séricas de IL‐6 e IL‐10 foram significativamente maiores no grupo de pacientes em comparação com os controles; o índice de fagocitose de neutrófilos circulantes estava significativamente reduzido nos pacientes em comparação com os controles. Os níveis de IL‐2, IL‐5, IL‐8 e TNF‐α não diferiram significativamente entre pacientes e controles. A análise da citometria de fluxo revelou que os níveis de expressão de CD11b estavam reduzidos nos linfócitos (mas não nos neutrófilos) obtidos de pacientes com LES, enquanto a expressão do receptor de superfície CXCR2 foi semelhante em neutrófilos e linfócitos.ConclusãoOs pacientes com LES que recebiam tratamento padrão apresentaram níveis sistêmicos elevados de IL‐6 e IL‐10, redução na capacidade fagocítica dos neutrófilos e redução da expressão de CD11b em linfócitos, mesmo quando os sintomas estavam em remissão. Essas alterações nos componentes da imunidade inata podem colocar esses indivíduos em maior risco de adquirir infecções.AbstractObjectiveTo characterize the inflammatory profiles of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receiving standard treatment compared to healthy controls.Patients and methodsPeripheral venous blood was collected from SLE patients (n = 14) and controls (n = 18) at enrollment. Blood samples were used for quantification, by flow cytometry, of CD11b (integrin) and CXCR2 expression surface antigen in neutrophils and lymphocytes, while cytokines were assayed in serum samples. Purified neutrophils were assayed by their ability to phagocytize human plasma‐opsonized zymosan.ResultsPatients had a median (interquartile range) SLEDAI score of 1.0 (0 ‐ 2.0) characteristic of patients in remission. IL‐6 and IL‐10 serum concentrations were significantly higher in the patient group compared to controls and the phagocytic index of circulating neutrophils was significantly reduced in patients compared to controls. The levels of IL‐2, IL‐5, IL‐8 and TNF‐ α did not significantly differ between patients and controls. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that the CD11b expression levels were reduced in lymphocytes (but not in neutrophils) obtained from SLE patients, while surface expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR2 was similar in both neutrophils and lymphocytes.ConclusionSLE patients receiving standard treatment presented with elevated systemic levels of IL‐6 and IL‐10, reduced neutrophil phagocytic capacity, and reduced lymphocyte expression of CD11b even when symptoms were in remission. These alterations to innate immune components may put these individuals at a greater risk for acquiring infections

Building with sugar and corn

Two alternative and highly sustainable building techniques are presented and described. The techniques are sugar reinforcement of earth based material and corncob based thermal isolation material. Some experimental results highlight the advantages and disadvantages of these two proposed techniques whose study is still beginning. The water resistance of earth based materials may be increased by adding a certain amount of sugar. On the other hand, corn cob material may have a similar thermal behavior as the common thermal insulation materials currently used in the building industry

Macrophage-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor is involved in the neutrophil recruitment inhibitory activity present in the supernatants of LPS-stimulated macrophages

In a previous study, we demonstrated the presence of a neutrophil recruitment inhibitory factor (NRIF) in the supernatants of LPS-stimulated macrophages. Recently, the purification of a 54 kDa protein, identified as the macrophage-derived neutrophil chemotactic factor (MNCF) was reported. Since NRIF and MNCF are obtained under the same conditions, and, since the intravenous administration of TNF-α and IL-8 inhibits neutrophil migration, we have investigated whether MNCF could be responsible for this inhibitory activity. After affinity chromatography of the macrophage supernatants on a D-galactose column, the inhibitory activity was recovered in both the unbound (D-gal−) and bound (D-gal+) fractions, with MNCF being found in the D-gal+ fraction. Further gel filtration of the latter on Superdex 75 yielded a single peak containing both activities. In a cytotoxicity assay, most of the TNF found in the crude supernatants was recovered in the D-gal− fraction. Furthermore, the incubation of the D-gal− fraction with anti-TNF-α plus anti-IL-8 antisera partially prevents its inhibitory effect on neutrophil migration, but had no effect on the D-gal+ activity. Overall, these results suggest that the D-gal− inhibitory effect is partially mediated by TNF-α and IL-8, and that MNCF accounts for the inhibition of neutrophil migration in vivo by the D-gal+ fraction

Neutrophil recruitment inhibitory factor: a possible candidate for a novel cytokine

Inhibitory effect upon neutrophil migration to the inflammatory focus was previously detected in the cell-free incubation fluid of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage monolayers. In the present study we showed that the neutrophil recruitment inhibitory activity from this supernatant was mainly detected in a fraction (P2) obtained by gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-300. P2 fraction was able to inhibit ‘in vivo’ neutrophil emigration induced by different inflammatory stimuli, but it did not affect ‘in vitro’ neutrophil chemotaxis induced by FMLP. When injected intravenously, P2 inhibited oedema induced by carrageenin or immunological stimulus but not the oedema induced by dextran, thus affecting cell-dependent inflammatory responses. It was observed that P2 also induced neutrophil migration when injected locally in peritoneal cavities. This activity was significantly reduced by pretreatment of the animals with dexamethasone. Cytokines, such as IL-8 and TNF-α that are known to exhibit inhibitory effect upon neutrophil migration, were not detected in P2 fraction by highly sensitive assays. Overall the results suggest the existence of a novel cytokine exhibiting ‘in vivo’ neutrophil inhibitory activity, referred as NRIF

Limitations and Management of Static-guided Endodontics Failure

Endodontic treatment in severely calcified canals is always a challenging task because it can result in accidents such as deviations or perforations. Recently, guided endodontics has become an alternative approach for pulp canal calcification, facilitating the location of root canals more predictably through the combined use of cone-beam computed tomographic imaging, oral scanning, and endodontic access guides. Although several reports have shown that guided endodontics is safer, faster and can be performed without an operating microscope and by less experienced operators, the technique has limitations, and iatrogenesis may occur. This article describes the limitations of static-guided endodontics and possible causes of failures. In the present case, not fixing the guide to the bone and inaccuracies generated by manually performing mesh merger software led to root perforation. Endodontic microsurgery was effective in resolving this case and should be considered the treatment of choice when guided endodontics cannot be used safely or when it fails

Intimacy and attachment in dating relationships: implications from case studies for violence prevention

Experiências de apego seguro na infância podem impactar comportamentos de busca de intimidade ao longo da vida, consistindo em um dos fatores de proteção para a qualidade das relações amorosas. Este estudo, baseado na teoria do apego, teve o propósito de examinar vivências de intimidade nas relações de namoro. Realizou-se um estudo de casos múltiplos com entrevistas semiestruturadas, conduzidas com três jovens, duas mulheres e um homem, com idades entre 16 e 23 anos. Os resultados apontam singularidades na vivência da intimidade, com níveis elevados de intimidade associados à troca de apoio social entre os parceiros e sensibilidade às necessidades do outro, e níveis ameaçados de intimidade associados à esquiva da busca de suporte junto ao parceiro e estratégias negativas de resolução de conflitos. Os dados corroboram a teoria do apego, segundo a qual disponibilidade e acessibilidade do parceiro são a via central para se promover proximidade emocional nas relações amorosas. Conclui-se que ações preventivas devem enfocar a receptividade e acessibilidade ao outro, habilidades para busca e oferta de ajuda, habilidades de regulação das emoções em situações de manejo de conflitos e o uso de recursos internos, do parceiro e do contexto para ressignificar legados emocionais parentais que sustentam a esquiva e a ansiedade em relações íntimas. Palavras-chave: apego, violência pelo parceiro íntimo, relacionamento interpessoal, intimidade, qualidade conjugal. Experiences of secure attachment in childhood can impact life intimacy seeking behaviors, consisting of one of the protective factors for the quality of love relationships. This study, based on attachment theory, aimed to examine intimacy experiences in dating relationships. A multiple cases study was conducted with semi-structured interviews with three young people, two women and one man, aged between 16 and 23 years old. The results point to singularities in the intimacy experience, with high levels of intimacy associated with the exchange of social support between the partners and sensitivity to the needs of the other, and levels of threatened intimacy associated with the avoidance of seeking support from the partner and negative resolution strategies of conflicts. Results corroborate the attachment theory, according to which availability and accessibility of the partner are the central way to promote emotional closeness in love relationships. We concluded that preventive actions should address the receptivity and accessibility to the partner, help seeking and help giving skills, emotional regulation skills in conflict management and the utilization of internal, partner’s and contextual resources to attribute new meaning to parental emotional legacy that sustains avoidance and anxiety in intimate relations. Keywords: Attachment, intimate partner violence, interpersonal relationship, intimacy, marital quality