163 research outputs found

    Роль социологических опросов в изучении водопотребления населения

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    Доказано, що соціологічні опитування є важливим інструментам формування програм соціальної та екологічної скерованості. Вони дозволяють отримати не лише суб'єктивну, але і об'єктивну оцінку стану довкілля, інформацію про ефективність муніципальних та державних програм, можуть бути використані для проведення маркетингових досліджень.It is shown that sociological questionnaire are the important tool at formation of the programs of a social and ecological orientation, allow to receive not only subjective, but also objective estimation of a condition of an environment, allow to receive the information not only about efficiency of the municipal and state programs, but also to be used for realization of marketing researches

    PLGA, PLGA-TMC and TMC-TPP Nanoparticles Differentially Modulate the Outcome of Nasal Vaccination by Inducing Tolerance or Enhancing Humoral Immunity

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    Development of vaccines in autoimmune diseases has received wide attention over the last decade. However, many vaccines showed limited clinical efficacy. To enhance vaccine efficacy in infectious diseases, biocompatible and biodegradable polymeric nanoparticles have gained interest as antigen delivery systems. We investigated in mice whether antigen-encapsulated PLGA (poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid), PLGA-TMC (N-trimethyl chitosan) or TMC-TPP (tri-polyphosphate) nanoparticles can also be used to modulate the immunological outcome after nasal vaccination. These three nanoparticles enhanced the antigen presentation by dendritic cells, as shown by increased in vitro and in vivo CD4+ T-cell proliferation. However, only nasal PLGA nanoparticles were found to induce an immunoregulatory response as shown by enhanced Foxp3 expression in the nasopharynx associated lymphoid tissue and cervical lymph nodes. Nasal administration of OVA-containing PLGA particle resulted in functional suppression of an OVA-specific Th-1 mediated delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, while TMC-TPP nanoparticles induced humoral immunity, which coincided with the enhanced generation of OVA-specific B-cells in the cervical lymph nodes. Intranasal treatment with Hsp70-mB29a peptide-loaded PLGA nanoparticles suppressed proteoglycan-induced arthritis, leading to a significant reduction of disease. We have uncovered a role for PLGA nanoparticles to enhance CD4+ T-cell mediated immunomodulation after nasal application. The exploitation of this differential regulation of nanoparticles to modulate nasal immune responses can lead to innovative vaccine development for prophylactic or therapeutic vaccination in infectious or autoimmune diseases

    Survival time and prognostic factors in canine leishmaniosis in a non-endemic country treated with a two-phase protocol including initial allopurinol monotherapy

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    Background: Leishmania infantum is an intracellular protozoan parasite which is endemic in countries of the Mediterranean Basin. Leishmaniosis is increasingly diagnosed in non-endemic areas due to the relocation of dogs from endemic areas and the travel of dogs to and from these areas. The prognosis of leishmaniosis in these dogs may differ from that of those in endemic areas. The aims of this study were (1) to determine the Kaplan–Meier estimated survival time for dogs with leishmaniosis in the Netherlands (a non-endemic country), (2) to determine if clinicopathological variables at the time of diagnosis predicted the survival of these dogs, and (3) to evaluate the effect of a two-phase therapy protocol of allopurinol monotherapy followed by meglumine antimoniate and/or miltefosine in the case of incomplete remission or relapse. Methods: The database of the Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University was investigated for leishmaniosis patients. Patient records were reviewed for signalment and clinicopathological data at the time of diagnosis. Only treatment-naive patients were included. Follow-up was performed during the study by phone contact and included treatment received and date and cause of death. Univariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results: The estimated median Kaplan–Meier survival time was 6.4 years. In the univariate analysis, increases in monocyte, plasma urea and creatinine concentrations, and urine protein to creatinine ratio were all significantly associated with decreased survival time. The majority of patients only received allopurinol monotherapy. Conclusions: Canine leishmaniosis patients in our study population in the Netherlands, which is non-endemic for the disease, had an estimated Kaplan–Meier median survival time of 6.4 years, which is comparable to the outcome of other reported therapy protocols. Increased plasma urea and creatinine concentrations and monocyte concentration were statistically associated with an increased risk of death. We conclude that initial allopurinol monotherapy for 3 months should be effective in more than half of canine leishmaniosis cases, provided there is adequate follow-up, and that meglumine antimoniate or miltefosine therapy should be started as the second phase of the protocol in cases where remission is incomplete or there is a relapse. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.

    Особенности немецкого языка переселенцев из бывшего СССР в Германии

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    Previous studies have suggested that murine peritoneal cavity-derived B-1a cells possess similarities with described regulatory B cell subsets. The aim of the current study was to examine the potential immunoregulatory function of peritoneal cavity-derived B(-1a) cells. In vitro activation of peritoneal cavity-derived B- and B-1a cells shows that activation of these B cells with anti-CD40 and LPS induces these cells to secrete more IL-10, IL-6 and IgM as compared to splenic B cells. In a suppression assay, CD40/TLR4-activated peritoneal cavity B cells possess regulatory B cell functions as they inhibit the capacity of CD4(+) T cells to produce both tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ. Splenic B cells did not show this, whereas non-activated peritoneal cavity B cells augmented the capacity of CD4(+) T cells to produce tumor necrosis factor-α, while the ability to produce interferon-γ was not altered. The current paper compares splenic B cells to peritoneal cavity B(-1a) cells in an in vitro activation- and an suppression-assay and concludes that peritoneal cavity B(-1a) cells possess properties that appear similar to splenic autoimmune-suppressive regulatory B cell subsets described in the literature

    The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Hsp70

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    Immune responses to heat shock proteins (Hsp) develop in virtually all inflammatory diseases; however, the significance of such responses is only now becoming clear. In experimental disease models, Hsp administration can prevent or arrest inflammatory damage, and in initial clinical trials in patients with chronic inflammatory diseases, Hsp peptides have been shown to promote the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines, indicating immunoregulatory potential of Hsp. Therefore, the presence of immune responses to Hsp in inflammatory diseases can be seen as an attempt of the immune system to correct the inflammatory condition. Hsp70 can modulate inflammatory responses in models of arthritis, colitis and graft rejection, and the mechanisms underlying this effect are now being elucidated. Incubation with microbial Hsp70 was seen to induce tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs) and to promote a suppressive phenotype in myeloid-derived suppressor cells and monocytes. These DC could induce regulatory T cells (Tregs), independently of the antigens they presented. Some Hsp70 family members are associated with autophagy, leading to a preferential uploading of Hsp70 peptides in MHC class II molecules of stressed cells. Henceforth, conserved Hsp70 peptides may be presented in these situations and constitute targets of Tregs, contributing to downregulation of inflammation. Finally, an interfering effect in multiple intracellular inflammatory signaling pathways is also known for Hsp70. Altogether it seems attractive to use Hsp70, or its derivative peptides, for modulation of inflammation. This is a physiological immunotherapy approach, without the immediate necessity of defining disease-specific auto-antigens. In this article, we present the evidence on anti-inflammatory effects of Hsp70 and discuss the need for experiments that will be crucial for the further exploration of the immunosuppressive potential of this protein

    Heat Shock Proteins Can Be Surrogate Autoantigens for Induction of Antigen Specific Therapeutic Tolerance in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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    Technologies that enable induction of therapeutic tolerance may revolutionize the treatment of autoimmune diseases by their supposed potential to induce drug-free and lasting disease remission. In combination with diagnostic tests that screen for individuals at risk, these approaches may offer chances to halt disease before serious damage in the tissues can occur. In fact, for healthy individuals at risk, this could lead to a preventive form of vaccination. For therapeutic tolerance to re-instate natural self-tolerance it seems essential to induce tolerance for the critical autoantigens involved in disease. However, for most autoimmune diseases such antigens are poorly defined. This is the case for both disease inciting autoantigens and antigens that become involved through epitope spreading. A possible source of surrogate auto-antigens expressed in tissues during inflammation are heat shock proteins (HSP) or stress proteins. In this mini-review we discuss unique characteristics of HSP which provide them with the capacity to inhibit inflammatory processes. Various studies have shown that epitopes of HSP60 and HSP70 molecules can function as vaccines to downregulate a variety of autoimmune inflammatory diseases. Currently, several research groups are developing cell therapies with the intention to reach therapeutic tolerance. In this review, in which we are proposing to ex vivo load tolerant dendritic cells with a Treg inducing HSP70 derived peptide called B29, we are discussing the chances to develop this as an autologous tolDC therapeutic tolerance therapy for rheumatoid arthritis

    The interplay between salmonella and intestinal innate immune cells in chickens

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    Salmonellosis is a common infection in poultry, which results in huge economic losses in the poultry industry. At the same time, Salmonella infections are a threat to public health, since contaminated poultry products can lead to zoonotic infections. Antibiotics as feed additives have proven to be an effective prophylactic option to control Salmonella infections, but due to resistance issues in humans and animals, the use of antimicrobials in food animals has been banned in Europe. Hence, there is an urgent need to look for alternative strategies that can protect poultry against Salmonella infections. One such alternative could be to strengthen the innate immune system in young chickens in order to prevent early life infections. This can be achieved by administration of immune modulating molecules that target innate immune cells, for example via feed, or by in-ovo applications. We aimed to review the innate immune system in the chicken intestine; the main site of Salmonella entrance, and its responsiveness to Salmonella infection. Identifying the most important players in the innate immune response in the intestine is a first step in designing targeted approaches for immune modulation.The Punjab Educational Endowment Fund, Punjab, Pakistan.https://www.mdpi.com/journal/pathogensam2022Veterinary Tropical Disease

    Hsp70 and nf-kb mediated control of innate inflammatory responses in a canine macrophage cell line

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    The pathogenesis of many inflammatory diseases is associated with the uncontrolled activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in macrophages. Previous studies have shown that in various cell types, heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) plays a crucial role in controlling NF-κB activity. So far, little is known about the role of Hsp70 in canine inflammatory processes. In this study we investigated the potential anti-inflammatory effects of Hsp70 in canine macrophages as well as the mechanisms underlying these effects. To this end, a canine macrophage cell line was stressed with arsenite, a chemical stressor, which upregulated Hsp70 expression as detected by flow cytometry and qPCR. A gene-edited version of this macrophage cell line lacking inducible Hsp70 was generated using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. To determine the effects of Hsp70 on macrophage inflammatory properties, arsenite-stressed wild-type and Hsp70 knockout macrophages were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and levels of phosphorylated NF-κB were determined by qPCR and Western Blotting, respectively. Our results show that non-toxic concentrations of arsenite induced Hsp70 expression in canine macrophages; Hsp70 upregulation significantly inhibited the LPS-induced expression of the pro-inflammatory mediators TNF-α and IL-6, as well as NF-κB activation in canine macrophages. Furthermore, the gene editing of inducible Hsp70 by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing neutralized this inhibitory effect of cell stress on NF-κB activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Collectively, our study reveals that Hsp70 may regulate inflammatory responses through NF-κB activation and cytokine expression in canine macrophages.http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijmspm2021Veterinary Tropical Disease

    Perforin and granzyme A release as novel tool to measure NK cell activation in chickens

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    Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that are present in the circulation but also in many organs including spleen and gut, where they play an important role in the defense against infections. Interaction of NK cells with target cells leads to degranulation, which results in the release of perforin and granzymes in the direct vicinity of the target cell. Chicken NK cells have many characteristics similar to their mammalian counterparts and based on similarities with studies on human NK cells, surface expression of CD107 was always presumed to correlate with granule release. However, proof of this degranulation or in fact the actual presence of perforin (PFN) and granzyme A (GrA) in chicken NK cells and their release upon activation is lacking. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to determine the presence of perforin and granzyme A in primary chicken NK cells and to measure their release upon degranulation, as an additional tool to study the function of chicken NK cells. Using human specific antibodies against PFN and GrA in fluorescent and confocal microscopy resulted in staining in chicken NK cells. The presence of PFN and GrA was also confirmed by Western blot analyses and its gene expression by PCR. Stimulation of NK cells with the pectin SPE6 followed by flow cytometry resulted in reduced levels of intracellular PFN and GrA, suggesting release of PFN and GrA. Expression of PFN and GrA reversely correlated with increased surface expression of the lysosomal marker CD107. Finally it was shown that the supernatant of activated NK cells, containing the NK cell granule content including PFN and GrA, was able to kill Escherichia coli. This study correlates PFN and GrA release to activation of chicken NK cells and establishes an additional tool to study activity of cytotoxic lymphocytes in chickens

    Two canine CD1a proteins are differentially expressed in skin

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    Lipid antigens are presented to T cells by the CD1 family of proteins. In this study, we characterize the complete dog (Canis familiaris) CD1 locus, which is located on chromosome 38. The canine locus contains eight CD1A genes (canCD1A), of which five are pseudogenes, one canCD1B, one canCD1C, one canCD1D, and one canCD1E gene. In vivo expression of canine CD1 proteins was shown for canCD1a6, canCD1a8, and canCD1b, using a panel of anti-CD1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). CanCD1a6 and canCD1a8 are recognized by two distinct mAbs. Furthermore, we show differential transcription of the three canCD1A genes in canine tissues. In canine skin, the transcription level of canCD1A8 was higher than that of canCD1A6, and no transcription of canCD1A2 was detected. Based on protein modeling and protein sequence alignment, we predict that both canine CD1a proteins can bind different glycolipids in their groove. Besides differences in ectodomain structure, we observed the unique presence of three types of cytoplasmic tails encoded by canCD1A genes. cDNA sequencing and expressed sequence tag sequences confirmed the existence of a short, human CD1a-like cytoplasmic tail of four amino acids, of an intermediate length form of 15 amino acids, and of a long form of 31 amino acids
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