Penetration of human skin by the cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni : an investigation of the effect of multiple cercarial applications

It has previously been postulated that L-arginine emitted by penetrating Schistosoma mansoni cercariae serves as an intraspecific signal guiding other cercariae to the penetration site. It was suggested that penetrating in groups offers a selective advantage. If this hypothesis is correct and group penetration at one site on the host offers an advantage, it would follow that at such a site, successive groups of cercariae would be able to penetrate skin in either greater numbers or at a faster rate. This prediction was tested by the use of an in vitro model of cercarial penetration based on the Franz cell and using human skin. It was demonstrated that there was no increase in the percentage of cercariae able to penetrate the skin with subsequent exposures. Consequently, it seems unlikely that the release of L-arginine by cercariae during penetration could have evolved as a specific orientation system based on a selective advantage offered by group penetration.Peer reviewe

Ultrafast Dynamics of Vibrational Symmetry Breaking in a Charge-ordered Nickelate

The ability to probe symmetry breaking transitions on their natural time scales is one of the key challenges in nonequilibrium physics. Stripe ordering represents an intriguing type of broken symmetry, where complex interactions result in atomic-scale lines of charge and spin density. Although phonon anomalies and periodic distortions attest the importance of electron-phonon coupling in the formation of stripe phases, a direct time-domain view of vibrational symmetry breaking is lacking. We report experiments that track the transient multi-THz response of the model stripe compound La$_{1.75}$Sr$_{0.25}$NiO$_{4}$, yielding novel insight into its electronic and structural dynamics following an ultrafast optical quench. We find that although electronic carriers are immediately delocalized, the crystal symmetry remains initially frozen - as witnessed by time-delayed suppression of zone-folded Ni-O bending modes acting as a fingerprint of lattice symmetry. Longitudinal and transverse vibrations react with different speeds, indicating a strong directionality and an important role of polar interactions. The hidden complexity of electronic and structural coupling during stripe melting and formation, captured here within a single terahertz spectrum, opens new paths to understanding symmetry breaking dynamics in solids.Comment: 21 pages, 4 figures; updated version with journal re

Shape-memory properties of magnetically active triple-shape nanocomposites based on a grafted polymer network with two crystallizable switching segments

Thermo-sensitive shape-memory polymers (SMP), which are capable of memorizing two or more different shapes, have generated significant research and technological interest. A triple-shape effect (TSE) of SMP can be activated e.g. by increasing the environmental temperature (Tenv), whereby two switching temperatures (Tsw) have to be exceeded to enable the subsequent shape changes from shape (A) to shape (B) and finally the original shape (C). In this work, we explored the thermally and magnetically initiated shape-memory properties of triple-shape nanocomposites with various compositions and particle contents using different shape-memory creation procedures (SMCP). The nanocomposites were prepared by the incorporation of magnetite nanoparticles into a multiphase polymer network matrix with grafted polymer network architecture containing crystallizable poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) side chains and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) crosslinks named CLEGC. Excellent triple-shape properties were achieved for nanocomposites with high PEG weight fraction when two-step programming procedures were applied. In contrast, single-step programming resulted in dual-shape properties for all investigated materials as here the temporary shape (A) was predominantly fixed by PCL crystallites

Ball Comparison between Three Sixth Order Methods for Banach Space Valued Operators

Three methods of sixth order convergence are tackled for approximating the solution of an equation defined on the finitely dimensional Euclidean space. This convergence requires the existence of derivatives of, at least, order seven. However, only derivatives of order one are involved in such methods. Moreover, we have no estimates on the error distances, conclusions about the uniqueness of the solution in any domain, and the convergence domain is not sufficiently large. Hence, these methods have limited usage. This paper introduces a new technique on a general Banach space setting based only the first derivative and Lipschitz type conditions that allow the study of the convergence. In addition, we find usable error distances as well as uniqueness of the solution. A comparison between the convergence balls of three methods, not possible to drive with the previous approaches, is also given. The technique is possible to use with methods available in literature improving, consequently, their applicability. Several numerical examples compare these methods and illustrate the convergence criteria.This project was funded by the Deanship of Scientific Research (DSR) at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, under Grant No. D-540-130-1441. The authors, therefore, acknowledge with thanks DSR for technical and financial support.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 in Naturally Infected Turkey Breeder Hens: Virus Distribution, Histopathology, and Host Immune Gene Expression

The outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) in 2014- 2015 was by far the largest animal disease outbreak in United States history. The turkey industry was the most affected as nearly 70% of the confirmed cases were in turkeys. This project examined viral distribution, semi-quantitative viral load, histological viral lesions, and gene expression of several immune components in 8 tissues of naturally infected turkey breeder hens during the outbreak. Tissues from clinically and sub-clinically affected turkeys, as well as negative controls were obtained: brain, heart, GI, liver, lung, reproductive tract, spleen, and trachea. Changes in the gene expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, CCL-5, CXCLi-2, Mx, OASL, IFN-γ, IFIH1, FasL and TRAIL were described. The matrix gene was detected in all 8 of the tissues collected from the clinical and sub-clinical groups. The clinically affected turkeys had significantly higher levels of matrix gene detected in the brain, GI, spleen, and trachea. Histological viral lesions were in general very mild and insignificant. The majority of the histological changes were confined to the trachea and liver and primarily consisted of the infiltration of small numbers of heterophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages. This particular virus was able to evade the host’s immune response using several tactics. It was able to avoid initial detection by suppressing IFIH1 expression, the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6, and the antiviral component IFN-γ in the trachea. Undetected, the virus quickly disseminated throughout the body and replicated rapidly. The widespread downregulation of IFN-γ and upregulation of CCL-5 and OASL likely contributed to the pathogenesis. Virus was detected in all of the tissues collected on the positive premise, regardless of clinical status thus illustrating its extreme infectivity. Generally, histological lesions were minimal and cytokine responses were not excessive. Death does not appear to be the result of organ damage/necrosis or even cytokine storm, but purely from immune evasion and excessive viral load in the tissues. Consequently the high viral loads in the tissues resulted in organ failure

Rhinacanthus nasutus Extracts Prevent Glutamate and Amyloid-β Neurotoxicity in HT-22 Mouse Hippocampal Cells: Possible Active Compounds Include Lupeol, Stigmasterol and β-Sitosterol

The Herb Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz, which is native to Thailand and Southeast Asia, has become known for its antioxidant properties. Neuronal loss in a number of diseases including Alzheimer’s disease is thought to result, in part, from oxidative stress. Glutamate causes cell death in the mouse hippocampal cell line, HT-22, by unbalancing redox homeostasis, brought about by a reduction in glutathione levels, and amyloid-β has been shown to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Here in, we show that ethanol extracts of R. nasutus leaf and root are capable of dose dependently attenuating the neuron cell death caused by both glutamate and amyloid-β treatment. We used free radical scavenging assays to measure the extracts antioxidant activities and as well as quantifying phenolic, flavonoid and sterol content. Molecules found in R. nasutus, lupeol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol are protective against glutamate toxicity

Prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes

 Background: Diabetes mellitus, a leading cause of death worldwide, is the most common endocrine disorder. Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) and Thyroid Dysfunction (TD) often present together and complicate each other at many levels. Recent studies find out the prevalence of TD in T2D in Malwa Region. Objective of the purpose of this study was to find out the prevalence of TD in patients with T2D.Methods: A match cross-sectional study design was conducted at Department of Medicine, Sri Aurobindo Medical College, from March 2018 to April 2019. Source populations were all patients who live in Malwa Region, Indore. A total of 150 cases were enrolled in this study, 75 cases (TD in T2D) and 75 controls were taken into study.Results: There was no significant difference in age and body mass index (BMI) between groups. The average duration of diabetes was 7.76±5.57 years and mean Hemoglobin A1c (HBA1c) was 8.17±1.66%. Only 29(38.6%) of patients had HbA1c below 7%. There was significant difference (p=0.001) in HbA1c. Prevalence of TD in T2D was significantly more in females. Out of TD in T2D patients, sub-clinical hypothyroid was present in 14.6% hypothyroidism was present in 8% patients and sub-clinical hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroidism was present in 1.3% patients.Conclusions: This study reveals about one in four people living with T2D are suffering from TD in Malwa Region. TD is common in T2D patients and can produce significant metabolic disturbances

Protein quality control during aging involves recruitment of the macroautophagy pathway by BAG3

The Hsc/Hsp70 co-chaperones of the BAG (Bcl-2-associated athanogene) protein family are modulators of protein quality control. We examined the specific roles of BAG1 and BAG3 in protein degradation during the aging process. We show that BAG1 and BAG3 regulate proteasomal and macroautophagic pathways, respectively, for the degradation of polyubiquitinated proteins. Moreover, using models of cellular aging, we find that a switch from BAG1 to BAG3 determines that aged cells use more intensively the macroautophagic system for turnover of polyubiquitinated proteins. This increased macroautophagic flux is regulated by BAG3 in concert with the ubiquitin-binding protein p62/SQSTM1. The BAG3/BAG1 ratio is also elevated in neurons during aging of the rodent brain, where, consistent with a higher macroautophagy activity, we find increased levels of the autophagosomal marker LC3-II as well as a higher cathepsin activity. We conclude that the BAG3-mediated recruitment of the macroautophagy pathway is an important adaptation of the protein quality control system to maintain protein homeostasis in the presence of an enhanced pro-oxidant and aggregation-prone milieu characteristic of aging

Chemokine Expression Is Upregulated in Chondrocytes in Diabetic Fracture Healing

Chemokines are thought to play an important role in several aspects of bone metabolism including the recruitment of leukocytes and the formation of osteoclasts. We investigated the impact of diabetes on chemokine expression in normal and diabetic fracture healing. Fracture of the femur was performed in streptozotocin-induced diabetic and matched normoglycemic control mice. Microarray analysis was carried out and chemokine mRNA levels in vivo were assessed. CCL4 were examined in fracture calluses by immunohistochemistry and the role of TNF in diabetes-enhanced expression was investigated by treatment of animals with the TNF-specific inhibitor, pegsunercept. In vitro studies were conducted with ATDC5 chondrocytes. Diabetes significantly upregulated mRNA levels of several chemokines in vivo including CCL4, CCL8, CCL6, CCL11, CCL20, CCL24, CXCL2, CXCL5 and chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4. Chondrocytes were identified as a significant source of CCL4 and its expression in diabetic fractures was dependent on TNF (P \u3c 0.05). TNF-α significantly increased mRNA levels of several chemokines in vitro which were knocked down with FOXO1 siRNA (P \u3c 0.05). CCL4 expression at the mRNA and proteins levels was induced by FOXO1 over-expression and reduced by FOXO1 knockdown. The current studies point to the importance of TNF-α as a mechanism for diabetes enhanced chemokine expression by chondrocytes, which may contribute to the accelerated loss of cartilage observed in diabetic fracture healing. Moreover, in vitro results point to FOXO1 as a potentially important transcription factor in mediating this effect