Since human gingival fibroblasts are the major cells in periodontal tissues, we hypothesized that gingival fibroblasts are endowed with receptors for bacterial components, which induce innate immune ...responses against invading bacteria. We found clear mRNA expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR)1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, MD-2, MyD88, NOD1, and NOD2 in gingival fibroblasts. Gingival fibroblasts constitutively expressed these molecules. Upon stimulation with chemically synthesized ligands mimicking microbial products for these receptors, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, was markedly up-regulated. Furthermore, the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines induced by TLR and NOD ligands was significantly inhibited by an RNA interference assay targeted to NF-κB. These findings indicate that these innate immunity-related molecules in gingival fibroblasts are functional receptors involved in inflammatory reactions in periodontal tissues, which might be responsible for periodontal pathogenesis.
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CMK, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
► Plastic resin pellets collected from 4 Greek coasts were chemically analyzed. ► PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, and PAHs concentrations showed different spatial pattern. ► Pellets from industrial areas had more ...PCBs than those from remote areas. ► This study demonstrated the utility of pellet watch for local monitoring of POPs.
Plastic pellets found stranded on beaches are hydrophobic organic materials and thus, they are a favourable medium for persistent organic pollutants to absorb to. In the present study, plastic pellets are used to determine the diffuse pollution of selected Greek beaches. Samples of pellets were taken from these beaches and were analyzed for PCBs, DDTs, HCHs, and PAHs. The observed differences among pellets from various sampling sites are related to the pollution occurring at each site. Plastic pellets collected in Saronikos Gulf beaches demonstrate much higher pollutant loading than the ones collected in a remote island or close to an agricultural area. Based on data collected in this study and the International Pellet Watch program, pollution in Saronikos Gulf, Greece, is comparable to other heavily industrialized places of the world. The present study demonstrates the potential of pellet watch to be utilized as a detailed-scale monitoring tool within a single country.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Plastic marine debris is a global problem, but due to its widespread and patchy distribution, gathering sufficient samples for scientific research is challenging with limited ship time and human ...resources. Taking advantage of public interest in the impact of plastic on the marine environment, successful Citizen Science (CS) programs incorporate members of the public to provide repeated sampling for time series as well as synoptic collections over wide geographic regions. A key challenge with any CS program is to ensure standardized methods and quality control so that the samples and data can legitimately be compared and used in peer-reviewed research. This article describes several successful examples and outlines suggestions for projects cooperating with citizen scientists to provide reliable samples and accurate data, with benefits to science, citizen scientists, and society in general.
Plastic marine debris is a global problem, but due to its widespread and patchy distribution, gathering sufficient samples for scientific research is challenging with limited ship time and human resources.
It is undeniable that as people get older, they become progressively more susceptible to neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Memory loss is a prominent symptom of this ...condition and can be exacerbated by uneven levels of certain metals. This study used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to examine the levels of metals in the blood plasma, frontal cortex, and hippocampus of Wistar rats with AD induced by streptozotocin (STZ). It also tested the effects of the antioxidant hydroxytyrosol (HT) on metal levels. The Barnes maze behavior test was used, and the STZ group showed less certainty and greater distance when exploring the Barnes maze than the control group. The results also indicated that the control group and the STZ + HT group exhibited enhanced learning curves during the Barnes maze training as compared to the STZ group. The ICP-MS analysis showed that the STZ group had lower levels of cobalt in their blood plasma than the control group, while the calcium levels in the frontal cortex of the STZ + HT group were higher than in the control group. The most important finding was that copper levels in the frontal cortex from STZ-treated animals were higher than in the control group, and that the STZ + HT group returned to equivalent levels to the control group. The antioxidant HT can restore copper levels to their basal physiological state. This finding may help explain HT’s potential beneficial effect in AD-patients.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Oral epithelium is the first barrier against oral bacteria in periodontal tissue. Oral epithelial cells constitutively express Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and NOD1/2, functional receptors which induce ...the production of antibacterial factors such as peptidoglycan recognition proteins (PGRPs) and β-defensin 2, but not pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-8. In this study, we hypothesized that innate immune responses in the oral epithelium are enhanced in inflamed tissue. We found that NOD1 and NOD2 agonists, in combination with TLR agonists, synergistically induced production of PGRPs and of β-defensin 2 in human oral epithelial cells via NF-κB. In contrast, co-stimulation with NOD1/2 and TLR ligands had no effect on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1). These findings indicate that, in innate immune responses to invading microbes, a combination of signaling through TLRs and NODs leads to the synergistic activation of antibacterial responses in the oral epithelium.
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Sedation impairs full visualization of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and Z line (the squamocolumnar junction) during esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). The aim of this study was to determine ...whether induction of esophageal peristalsis could improve the ability to evaluate the Z line in children and adolescents.
Study 1: Consecutive patients (10-15 years) undergoing EGD with propofol or midazolam sedation were enrolled. The proportion of Z line observed was compared between the two groups. Study 2: The effect of an air infusion near the EGJ following deflation of the stomach to induce esophageal peristalsis was investigated in the patients (15-18 years), undergoing EGD with propofol sedation. The proportion of Z line observed was compared between the stimulated group and control group.
Study 1: 149 patients were evaluated; 87 received propofol (43 boys; average age 13.2 years (range, 10-15)) and 62 received midazolam (30 boys; average age 12.8 years (range, 10-15)). The proportion of the Z line visualized was low but was greater with propofol vs. midazolam sedation (36.8% vs 16.1%, P=0.0059). Study 2: 102 patients were evaluated; 62 had induction of peristalsis (34 boys; average age 16.2 years (range, 15-18)) and 40 controls (20 boys; average age 16.8 years (range, 15-18)). Complete visualization of the Z line achieved in 95% (59 of 62) following induction of peristalsis vs. 37.5% (15 of 40) of controls (P>0.001).
Induction of esophageal peristalsis greatly improved visualization of the Z line during sedated EGD in children and adolescents.
Abstract
In ungulate assemblages, although interspecific differences in body size and gregariousness are thought to have a direct impact on winning or losing in interference competition, this has not ...been fully investigated. We observed a total of 64 instances of interspecific contact between larger-gregarious sika deer and smaller-solitary Japanese serows over eight years field observations. Deer-to-serow aggression were never observed. Whereas, serows showed antagonistic behaviour, such as walk push and chasing, to deer, but could rarely displace deer. Serows showed higher alertness to deer than deer did to serows. These results suggest that larger-gregarious ungulates do not necessarily exclude smaller-solitary ones and serows are sensitive to the presence of deer. Differences in aggressiveness and alertness between deer and serows may reflect differences in territoriality: serows may be more sensitive to the invasion of deer into their territory. Serows’ sensitivity to deer may have a negative effect on their population.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Impaired microcirculation can cause lymphatic leakage which leads to a chronic swelling in the tissues of the body. However, no successful treatment gives any protection against lymphedema due to the ...lack of well-revealed pathophysiology of secondary lymphedema. Binary image of laminin immunohistochemical expression revealed that distribution of laminin expression localized during surgically induced lymphedema. 67 kDa laminin receptor (67LR) mRNA expression showed a peak at during lymphedema exacerbation. Since the response of 67LR molecules may affect the prevention of inflammation and edema, here we have hypothesized that 67LR ligand of YIGSR peptide could permit reconstructive environment for amelioration of lymphedema and evaluated the effect of YIGSR in a mouse tail model of lymphedema. Indeed, intra-abdominal injections of YIGSR for the first 3 days after inducing lymphedema in the mouse tail model reduced the tail lymphedema on day 14 by 27% (P = 0.035). Histology showed that YIGSR treatment protected lymphedema impairment in epidermis and dermis, and it also inhibited the expansion of intercellular spaces and enhanced especially cell adhesion in the basement membrane as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. Interestingly, the treatment also reduced the local expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)β. Further elucidation of the mechanisms of 67LR-facilitated lymphangiogenesis contributes to find potential targets for the treatment of lymphedema.
•Laminin peptide YIGSR-NH2 may create a permissive environment for lymphedema amelioration.•67 kDa laminin receptor is useful as a marker for sustained inflammation and tissue remodeling.•YIGSR-NH2 reduced the expression of TGFβ and enhanced cell-cell adhesion to restore epidermis and vessel barrier function.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Oral epithelium might be the first barrier against oral bacteria in periodontal tissue. We hypothesized that oral epithelium is endowed with innate immune receptors for bacterial components, which ...play roles in host defense against bacterial infection without being accompanied by excessive inflammatory responses. We found clear expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 as well as TLR2, and strong expression of NOD1 and NOD2 in normal oral epithelial tissues by immunohistochemical analysis. We also showed that primary oral epithelial cells in culture expressed these molecules using PCR, flow cytometry, and immunostaining. In inflamed oral epithelium, cell-surface localizations of TLR2 and TLR4 were more clearly observed than in healthy tissue. Upon stimulation with synthetic ligands for these receptors, the expression of β-defensin 2 was markedly up-regulated. These findings indicate that these molecules in oral epithelial cells are functional receptors that induce antibacterial responses.
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