Hyaluronic acid influence on platelet-induced airway smooth muscle cell proliferation

Abstract Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and is expressed throughout the body including the lung and mostly in areas surrounding proliferating and migrating cells. Furthermore, platelets have been implicated as important players in the airway remodeling process, e.g. due to their ability to induce airway smooth muscle cell (ASMC) proliferation. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of HA, the HA-binding surface receptor CD44 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in plateletinduced ASMC proliferation. Proliferation of ASMC was measured using the MTS-assay, and we found that the CD44 blocking antibody and the HA synthase inhibitor 4-Methylumbelliferone (4-MU) significantly inhibited platelet-induced ASMC proliferation. The interaction between ASMC and platelets was studied by fluorescent staining of F-actin. In addition, the ability of ASMC to synthesise HA was investigated by fluorescent staining using biotinylated HA-binding protein and a streptavidin conjugate. We observed that ASMC produced HA and that a CD44 blocking antibody and 4-MU significantly inhibited platelet binding to the area surrounding the ASMC. Furthermore, the FAK-inhibitor PF 573228 inhibited platelet-induced ASMC proliferation. Co-culture of ASMC and platelets also resulted in increased phosphorylation of FAK as detected by Western blot analysis. In addition, 4-MU significantly inhibited the increased FAK-phosphorylation. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that ECM has the ability to influence platelet-induced ASMC proliferation. Specifically, we propose that HA produced by ASMC is recognised by platelet CD44. The platelet/HA interaction is followed by FAK activation and increased proliferation of co-cultured ASMC. We also suggest that the mitogenic effect of platelets represents a potential important and novel mechanism that may contribute to airway remodelling

Spatial and temporal assessment of rural-urban land-use gradient effects on water quality and periphyton communities in tributaries of Durham Region, Ontario

This study examines the effects of longitudinal and local land-use gradients on water quality and periphyton within four watersheds representing varying rural-urban land-use types and intensities. Although numerous studies have identified how specific land-use gradients (e.g., urban or agricultural land-use) affect water quality and periphyton, it is not fully understood how varying intensities and types of rural-urban land-use gradients affect water quality and algae both within and across watersheds sharing similar physiography and climate. Therefore, this study aimed to determine how variation in rural-urban land-use gradients affect water quality and periphyton along the cumulative flow path of tributaries (i.e., longitudinal), as well as across tributaries where sites were approximately matched for distance from headwaters. To assess spatial variation without the confounding effects of seasonality, I analysed water quality, algal biomass, and community composition from a set of algal growth substrates that were deployed in all study creeks (Lynde, Oshawa, Bowmanville and Soper) during May, 2015. Additionally, I examined the spatial and temporal variation of water quality and algal community structure in all tributaries from May ??? August, 2015

A Genetic Basis of Susceptibility to Acute Pyelonephritis

For unknown reasons, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are clustered in certain individuals. Here we propose a novel, genetically determined cause of susceptibility to acute pyelonephritis, which is the most severe form of UTI. The IL-8 receptor, CXCR1, was identified as a candidate gene when mIL-8Rh mutant mice developed acute pyelonephritis (APN) with severe tissue damage.We have obtained CXCR1 sequences from two, highly selected APN prone patient groups, and detected three unique mutations and two known polymorphisms with a genotype frequency of 23% and 25% compared to 7% in controls (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively). When reflux was excluded, 54% of the patients had CXCR1 sequence variants. The UTI prone children expressed less CXCR1 protein than the pediatric controls (p<0.0001) and two sequence variants were shown to impair transcription.The results identify a genetic innate immune deficiency, with a strong link to APN and renal scarring

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Kvalitet i vård- och omsorgsutbildningen ur ett vårdlärarperspektiv

Krav på adekvat utbildning är beroende på yrkesområde. Inom vårdområdet finns legitimationskrav för vissa yrkeskategorier men inte för undersköterskor. Trots detta finns det krav på att den vård som undersköterskor ger ska vara av god kvalitet. Syftet med denna studie är att belysa hur vårdlärare som undervisar vuxna inom vård- och omsorgsutbildningen ser på begreppet kvalité i vårdutbildning. Studien bygger på kvalitativa semistruktuerade telefonintervjuer med 9 vårdlärare med minst två års erfarenhet av undervisning i vård- och omsorgsutbildning för vuxna. Frågeställningar rör vad vårdläraren anser att kvalitet är, samt hur de arbetar med kvalitetsfrågor i utbildningen. I resultatet framkom tre teman - Engagemang och stöd i elevens hela skolsituation, Undervisning och individuell anpassning samt Ansvar för att eleverna tillgodogör sig undervisning med kvalité

Kvalitet i vård- och omsorgsutbildningen ur ett vårdlärarperspektiv

Krav på adekvat utbildning är beroende på yrkesområde. Inom vårdområdet finns legitimationskrav för vissa yrkeskategorier men inte för undersköterskor. Trots detta finns det krav på att den vård som undersköterskor ger ska vara av god kvalitet. Syftet med denna studie är att belysa hur vårdlärare som undervisar vuxna inom vård- och omsorgsutbildningen ser på begreppet kvalité i vårdutbildning. Studien bygger på kvalitativa semistruktuerade telefonintervjuer med 9 vårdlärare med minst två års erfarenhet av undervisning i vård- och omsorgsutbildning för vuxna. Frågeställningar rör vad vårdläraren anser att kvalitet är, samt hur de arbetar med kvalitetsfrågor i utbildningen. I resultatet framkom tre teman - Engagemang och stöd i elevens hela skolsituation, Undervisning och individuell anpassning samt Ansvar för att eleverna tillgodogör sig undervisning med kvalité

Akupressur - Komplement till traditionell terapi vid postoperativt illamående och kräkningar

Postoperativt illamående och kräkningar, PONV, har sedan anestesins begynnelse vållat patienten stort lidande. Tillståndet kan förlänga den postoperativa vistelsen och är en av de vanligaste orsakerna till oplanerad inläggning av patienter i samband med dagkirurgi. Syftet med föreliggande arbete var att undersöka den förebyggande effekten av akupressur som ensam intervention eller i kombination med viss farmakologisk antiemetisk terapi vid postoperativt illamående och kräkningar hos vuxna patienter efter allmänkirurgi. En systematisk litteraturstudie genomfördes och tio vetenskapliga artiklar inkluderades och kvalitetsbedömdes. Sökning utfördes i databaserna PubMed, EBSCO HOST och Cochrane Library. Dessutom genomfördes manuell sökning. Resultatet visade att akupressur på en speciell triggerpunkt, P6, har en förebyggande effekt mot PONV. Ondansetron och akupressur är lika effektivt mot PONV, medan Droperidol verkar ha bättre effekt än akupressur. Slutsatsen var att akupressur har en plats som profylaktisk antiemetika för att förebygga PONV.Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has since the beginning of anesthesia caused the patient great suffering. It can prolong the post-operative stay and is one of the most common reasons for unplanned admittance of patients in connection to day surgery. The aim of this work was to study the preventive effect of acupressure as the lone intervention or in combination with certain pharmacological antiemetic therapies for post-operative nausea and vomiting in adult patients who have undergone general surgery. A systematic literature review was conducted and ten articles were included and each study subjected to a quality assessment. A PubMed, EBSCO HOST and Cochrane Library Database were conducted and a manual search of the literature references completed the search.The results showed that acupressure at the P6 meridian point has a preventive effect against PONV and that Ondansetron and acupressure are similarly effective against PONV, while Droperidal seems to have a better effect than acupressure. The conclusion was that acupressure can be used prophylactic to prevent PONV

Akupressur - Komplement till traditionell terapi vid postoperativt illamående och kräkningar

Postoperativt illamående och kräkningar, PONV, har sedan anestesins begynnelse vållat patienten stort lidande. Tillståndet kan förlänga den postoperativa vistelsen och är en av de vanligaste orsakerna till oplanerad inläggning av patienter i samband med dagkirurgi. Syftet med föreliggande arbete var att undersöka den förebyggande effekten av akupressur som ensam intervention eller i kombination med viss farmakologisk antiemetisk terapi vid postoperativt illamående och kräkningar hos vuxna patienter efter allmänkirurgi. En systematisk litteraturstudie genomfördes och tio vetenskapliga artiklar inkluderades och kvalitetsbedömdes. Sökning utfördes i databaserna PubMed, EBSCO HOST och Cochrane Library. Dessutom genomfördes manuell sökning. Resultatet visade att akupressur på en speciell triggerpunkt, P6, har en förebyggande effekt mot PONV. Ondansetron och akupressur är lika effektivt mot PONV, medan Droperidol verkar ha bättre effekt än akupressur. Slutsatsen var att akupressur har en plats som profylaktisk antiemetika för att förebygga PONV.Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has since the beginning of anesthesia caused the patient great suffering. It can prolong the post-operative stay and is one of the most common reasons for unplanned admittance of patients in connection to day surgery. The aim of this work was to study the preventive effect of acupressure as the lone intervention or in combination with certain pharmacological antiemetic therapies for post-operative nausea and vomiting in adult patients who have undergone general surgery. A systematic literature review was conducted and ten articles were included and each study subjected to a quality assessment. A PubMed, EBSCO HOST and Cochrane Library Database were conducted and a manual search of the literature references completed the search. The results showed that acupressure at the P6 meridian point has a preventive effect against PONV and that Ondansetron and acupressure are similarly effective against PONV, while Droperidal seems to have a better effect than acupressure. The conclusion was that acupressure can be used prophylactic to prevent PONV