Effects of PDE4 inhibitors on lipopolysaccharide-induced priming of superoxide anion production from human mononuclear cells.

AIMS: Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors have been described as potent anti-inflammatory compounds, involving an increase in intracellular levels of cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (AMP). The aim of this study was to compare the effects of selective PDE4 inhibitors, rolipram and RP 73-401 with the cell permeable analogue of cyclic AMP, dibutyryl-cyclic AMP (db-cAMP) and the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) on superoxide anion production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells preincubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). MAJOR FINDINGS: We report that, after incubation of the cells with LPS, a large increase in superoxide anion production was observed. Rolipram or RP 73-401 (10(-8) to 10(-5) M) induced significant reductions of fMLP-induced superoxide anion production in cells incubated with or without LPS. The db-cAMP (10(-5) to 10(-3) M) also elicited dose-dependent inhibitions of the fMLP-induced superoxide anion production. In contrast, IL-10 (1 or 10 ng/ml) did not elicit a reduction in fMLP-induced superoxide anion production in both conditions. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the inhibitory activity of PDE4 inhibitors on fMLP-induced production of superoxide anion production is mediated by db-cAMP rather than IL-10

Study of 19^{19} Na at SPIRAL

NESTERInternational audienceThe excitation function for the elastic-scattering reaction p18Ne, p18Ne was measured with the first radioactive beam from the SPIRAL facility at the GANIL laboratory and with a solid cryogenic hydrogen target. Several broad resonances have been observed, corresponding to new excited states in the unbound nucleus 19Na. In addition, two-proton emission events have been identified and are discussed

WS17.3 Alteration of human macrophage functions in cystic fibrosis

International audienc

Alpha decay of 114Ba^{114}Ba

AbstractThe neutron-deficient isotope 114Ba was produced through the 58Ni(58Ni,2n) reaction, separated as a 114Ba19F+ beam, implanted into a stopper foil, and studied by using silicon-detector telescopes for decay spectroscopy. We measured for the first time the α-particle energy (3410±40 keV) of 114Ba, the half-life (160+290−60 ms) of its daughter nucleus 110Xe, and the α-decay branching ratios and widths for these two isotopes. The Q values resulting for α-decay, the Q value for 12C decay of 114Ba and the α-decay widths are discussed in comparison with theoretical predictions. The search for 113Ba yielded a negative result

Constraints on the Martian lithosphere from gravity and topography data

Localized spectral admittances of the large Martian volcanoes are modeled by assuming that surface and subsurface loads are elastically supported by the lithosphere. In order to model the case where the load density differs from that of the crust, a new method for calculating gravity anomalies and lithospheric deflections is developed. The modeled gravity anomalies depend upon the elastic thickness, crustal thickness, load density, and crustal density, and these parameters were exhaustively sampled in order to determine their effect on the misfit between the observed and modeled admittance function. We find that the densities of the Martian volcanoes are generally well constrained with values of 3200 ± 100 kg m−3, which is considerably greater than those reported previously. These higher densities are consistent with those of the Martian basaltic meteorites, which are believed to originate from the Tharsis and Elysium volcanic provinces. The crustal density is constrained only beneath the Elysium rise to be 3270 ± 150 kg m−3. If this value is representative of the northern lowlands, then Pratt compensation is likely responsible for the approximately 6-km elevation difference between the northern and southern hemispheres. The elastic thicknesses of the major Martian volcanoes (when subsurface loads are ignored) are found to be the following: Elysium rise (56 ± 20 km), Olympus Mons (93 ± 40 km), Alba Patera (66 ± 20 km), and Ascraeus Mons (105 ± 40 km). We have also investigated the effects of subsurface loads, allowing the bottom load to be located either in the crust as dense intrusive material or in the mantle as less dense material. We found that all volcanoes except Pavonis are better modeled with the presence of less dense material in the upper mantle, which is indicative of either a mantle plume or a depleted mantle composition. An active plume beneath the major volcanoes is consistent with recent analyses of cratering statistics on Olympus Mons and the Elysium rise, which indicate that some lava flows are as young as 10–30 Myr, as well as with the crystallization ages of the Shergottites, of which some are as young as 180 Myr