Bronchiolitis obliterans.

Bronchiolitis obliterans in the adult patient is a relatively uncommon and vexing clinical entity. This confusion results because this pathologic finding occurs in a variety of diverse clinical settings. Bronchiolitis obliterans is a fibrotic process that primarily affects the small conducting airways. The lesion results from damage to the bronchiolar epithelium and the repair process leads to excessive proliferation of granulation tissue. The alveoli adjacent to the small airway are almost always involved; however, a considerable portion of the interstitium is usually spared. The findings in these patients may physiologically and radiographically mimic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). On the other hand, some of the processes associated with bronchiolitis obliterans result in restrictive or mixed restrictive and obstructive ventilatory defects; consequently, they may be confused with other diffuse infiltrative lung disorders. This review will focus principally on bronchiolitis obliterans in adults, which, until recently, was considered rare. There has been heightened interest in this process in adults because of its association with the connective tissue diseases, its development following toxic fume exposure, its occurrence as a result of chronic graft versus host reactions, and the increasing recognition of patients with idiopathic forms of the disease that have an insidious onset often confused with more common problems such as COPD or idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Role of transferrin, transferrin receptors, and iron in macrophage listericidal activity.

It is not yet known what properties distinguish macrophages which can kill facultative intracellular bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes, from those which cannot. Listeria is an organism which requires iron for growth, yet macrophage listericidal mechanisms are also likely to be iron dependent. We show here that resident peritoneal macrophages and thioglycollate-elicited macrophages cannot kill listeria, but proteose peptone-elicited and FCS-elicited macrophages can. All these cell populations phagocytose listeria. Transferrin receptor expression is low on resident cells, intermediate on peptone- and FCS-elicited cells, and high on thioglycollate-elicited cells. Transferrin transports iron into cells via the transferrin receptor: thus, iron content of resident cells is low, of peptone- and FCS-elicited cells is intermediate, and of thioglycollate-elicited cells is high. Moreover, antibody to transferrin, which prevents it binding its receptor, inhibits listericidal macrophages from killing this bacterium. Finally, nonlistericidal cells with high transferrin receptor expression and high intracellular iron become listericidal if they are incubated with apotransferrin, an iron-free ligand which prevents iron uptake by cells. These data suggest that macrophages must have enough available intracellular iron to support listericidal mechanisms, but too much iron favors growth of the bacterium, which no longer can be killed by the macrophage

Sequence similarity of a hornet (D. maculata) venom allergen phospholipase A1 with mammalian lipases

AbstractWe have determined the sequence of a venom allergen phospholipase A1 from white-faced hornet (Dolichovespula maculata) by cDNA and protein sequencings. This protein of 300 amino acid residues (Dol m I) has no sequence similarity with other known phospholipases. But it has sequence similarity with mammalian lipases; about 40% identity in overlaps of 123 residues. Tests suggest that hornet phospholipase has weak lipase activity. Hornet venom has 3 major allergens, and another hornet allergen antigen 5 (Dot m V) was previously found to have sequence similarity with a mammalian testis protein and a plant leaf protein

Consulting with Māori during development of a point-of-care device; translational and experiential findings.

Aim: To consult with Māori on the design and development of a direct-to-consumer point-of-care (POC) device and gather views on point-of-care testing and biotechnology. Method: One-on-one interviews and small group hui with self-identified Māori university staff and students (n = 6) conducted by an early-career Māori scientist.   Results: Key themes were the importance of achieving improved health outcomes for Māori through addressing known socioeconomic, geographic, and cultural factors that perpetuate health disparities. Other findings were the value of recognising the diversity in modern Māori identities, perspectives, and communities, as well as views on using synthetic biomolecules in medical devices and perceptions of biotechnology, and the potential for cultural over-engagement or misplaced focus in consultation.     Conclusion: In this article, we describe our approach and experience of consultation led by a Māori lab-based scientist, and report unique perspectives of biotechnology from non-expert Māori academics for the first time. Direct-to-consumer POC testing may promote kaupapa Māori values such as tino rangatiratanga, whakawhanaungatanga and tikanga, which may help Māori overcome barriers to health care and testing, a key step in achieving improved health outcomes

The Potential Interplay of Adipokines with Toll-Like Receptors in the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are not only crucial to the initiation of the immune system, but also play a key role in several human inflammatory diseases. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among those human cancers, which arise from sites of chronic inflammation. Therefore, a number of studies have explored the potential contribution of TLRs to HCC occurrence, which is initiated by exposure to chronic hepatic inflammation of different etiologies (including ethanol, and chronic B and C viral infections). Recent epidemiological data have shown the association of obesity and HCC development. Given the fact that adipose tissues can produce a variety of inflammation-related adipokines, obesity has been characterized as a state of chronic inflammation. Adipokines are therefore considered as important mediators linking inflammation to several metabolic diseases, including cancers. More recently, many experts have also shown the bridging role of TLRs between inflammation and metabolism. Hopefully, to retrieve the potential interaction between TLRs and adipokines in carcinogenesis of HCC will shed a new light on the therapeutic alternative for HCC. In this paper, the authors first review the respective roles of TLRs and adipokines, discuss their mutual interaction in chronic inflammation, and finally anticipate further investigations of this interaction in HCC development

Poiseuille geometry shear flow apparatus for small-angle scattering experiments

Published versio

The Effects of Popularity: An Online Store Perspective

Recently, internet is widely used in our daily life, caused online customer growing rapidly, then the amount of online store rising quickly. Therefore, it is an important issue for online stores to stand out from the crowd, even boost sales and profit. Many enterprises had invested resource on online store, but great amount of stores were closedown. The major reason is operator spend many efforts on valueless marketing campaign, caused popularity and repeat purchase intention raising ineffectively, finally folded up online store. Consequently, this research summarizing the critical factors for online store operating, and using structural equation model (SEM) to establish “Online Store Popularity Effect Model”. Through the model, this research can understand (1) relationship between online store popularity and marketing campaign, service quality, product power, website design; (2) effect between purchase intention and customer value, brand image; (3) moderating impact of consumption ability. This result not only indicates the critical point that enterprise should call more attention, but draws a whole new perspective for academic researcher

Suicide & Supervision: Issues for Probation Practice

Suicides by offenders in the community have been relatively under-researched in comparison with prison suicides. This study examined in-depth the events and experiences of 28 service users under probation supervision, based on continuous records from the start of their sentence to their death by suicide. The study presents novel findings through mapping suicidal behaviour on to the probation supervision process, and demonstrates the complex pathways leading to suicide in this population.Key issues identified include missed appointments, the impact of legal proceedings,changes in supervision, and the importance of recording risk

Dilemma in Online Shopping How to Select Online Shopping Platform

Although many scholars had proposed lots research results about online shopping, they are quite vague and hard for enterprisers to practice it. Hence, this research observes the online store policies, services, functions, and activities among 17 online shopping platforms in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. And, this research (1) finds online stores assessment items by literature review; (2) establishes “online shopping platform for selecting decision table”; (3) applys Fuzzy Delphi and Multiple Attribute Decision Making to decide the priority of selecting decision categories. This research result can translate vague concept into physical principle, and even assist enterprisers to select online shopping platform.DOR: 98.1000/1726-8125.2015.0.17.0.0.68.10

Older men gardening on the marae: Everyday practices for being Māori

Like indigenous peoples globally, Māori are over- represented among the homeless population due to processes of colonialism, disruptions and continued socio- economic marginalization. This article explores how, through gardening and other everyday practices, a group of older Māori men who are homeless find respite, reconnection, a sense of belonging, and remember Māori ways of being. We consider how the regular participation of these men also contributes to the reconciliation of the marae (communal complex used for everyday Māori life) space that has been reclaimed by Ngāti Whātua (local Auckland tribe) after a lengthy hiatus. Our analysis foregrounds the importance of core values of manaakitanga (care for others), whanaungatanga (relationships based on shared experience or kinship) and wairuatanga (spirituality) for responses to Māori homelessness