Background. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is almost always lethal if not treated, but most infections with the causative agents are clinically silent. Mannan-binding lectin (MBL), an opsonin, is a ...candidate molecule for modifying progression to VL because it may enhance infection with intracellular pathogens. Mutations in the MBL2 gene decrease levels of MBL and may protect against development of VL. This case-control study examines genotypes of MBL2 and levels of MBL in individuals presenting with different outcomes of infectionwith Leishmania chagasi. Methods. Genotypes for MBL2 and levels of serum MBL were determined in uninfected control subjects (n=76) and in individuals presenting with asymptomatic infection (n=90) or VL (n=69). Results. Genotypes resulting in high levels of MBL were more frequent (odds ratio OR, 2.5 95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.3–5.0; P=.006) among individuals with VL than among those with asymptomatic infections and were even more frequent (OR, 3.97 95% CI, 1.10–14.38; P=.043) among cases of VL presenting with clinical complications than among those with uneventful courses. Serum levels of MBL were higher (P=.011) in individuals with VL than in asymptomatic infections. Conclusions. Genotypes of the MBL2 gene predict the risk for developing VL and clinical complications in infections with L. chagasi.
•The t(3;7)(q26;q21) juxtaposes MECOM and CDK6 genes. MECOM disruption affects cell differentiation and proliferation.•MECOM overexpression is associated with minimal treatment response and poor ...outcome in adults and children.•We report a child with a fatal myeloid neoplasm. We show a rare karyotype with 3 copies of MECOM with overexpression of the gene.
Myeloid neoplasms are a heterogeneous group of hematologic disorders with divergent patterns of cell differentiation and proliferation, as well as divergent clinical courses. Rare recurrent genetic abnormalities related to this group of cancers are associated with poor outcomes. One such abnormality is the MECOM gene rearrangement that typically occurs in cases with chromosome 7 abnormalities. MECOM encodes a transcription factor that plays an essential role in cell proliferation and maintenance and also in epigenetic regulation. Aberrant expression of this gene is associated with reduced survival. Hence, its detailed characterization provides biological and clinical information relevant to the management of pediatric myeloid neoplasms. In this work, we describe a rare karyotype harboring three copies of MECOM with overexpression of the gene in a child with a very aggressive myeloid neoplasm. Cytogenetic studies defined the karyotype as 46,XX,der(7)t(3;7)(q26.2;q21.2). Array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) revealed a gain of 26.04 Mb in the 3q26.2–3qter region and a loss of 66.6 Mb in the 7q21.2–7qter region. RT-qPCR analysis detected elevated expression of the MECOM and CDK6 genes (458.5-fold and 35.2-fold, respectively). Overall, we show the importance of performing detailed molecular cytogenetic analysis of MECOM to enable appropriate management of high-risk pediatric myeloid neoplasms.
Cell proliferation and apoptosis are hormone-dependent physiological processes involved in endometrial growth and regression. The aims of the present study were: (1) to evaluate endometrial cell ...proliferation using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression; (2) to evaluate the induction of endometrial cell death by the expression of active caspase-3 and the apoptotic phenotype visualised by DNA fragmentation; and (3) to relate these observations to endometrial tissue dynamics in the equine endometrium throughout the oestrous cycle. Endometria were assigned to follicular and luteal phases based on ovarian structures and plasma progesterone. Cell proliferation and active caspase-3-mediated apoptosis were expressed in both phases of the oestrous cycle. In the luteal phase, PCNA expression was higher than in the follicular phase. Highest PCNA activity was noted in the luminal and glandular structures. Active caspase-3 staining was increased in luminal epithelium and deep glandular cells during the luteal phase. However, in the follicular phase, stromal cells showed greater active caspase-3 expression. Only a few apoptotic endometrial cells were detected by terminal deoxyribonucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end-labelling (TUNEL) and these cells were mostly present in luminal and glandular structures. A simultaneous increase in DNA, cell proliferation and protein synthesis was observed in the endometrium during the mid-luteal phase. This suggests that cell hyperplasia occurs at the time the histotroph is needed for eventual embryo nourishment.
•Multiphase VOx thin films were grown by RF magnetron sputtering from V2O5 target.•Computational thermodynamics was used to simulate vanadium–oxygen phase diagram.•The films were deposited in argon ...atmosphere with 0 to 20% oxygen partial pressure.•VOx thin film with TCR of −1.8%K−1 was produced by single step at room temperature.•The developed method is a cheaper alternative to produce bolometer sensitive layers.
Vanadium oxide thin films were grown by RF magnetron sputtering from a V2O5 target at room temperature, an alternative route of production of vanadium oxide thin films for infrared detector applications. The films were deposited on glass substrates, in an argon–oxygen atmosphere with an oxygen partial pressure from nominal 0% to 20% of the total pressure.
X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photon spectroscopy (XPS) analyses showed that the films were a mixture of several vanadium oxides (V2O5, VO2, V5O9 and V2O3), which resulted in different colors, from yellow to black, depending on composition. The electrical resistivity varied from 1mΩcm to more than 500Ωcm and the thermal coefficient of resistance (TCR), varied from −0.02 to −2.51%K−1.
Computational thermodynamics was used to simulate the phase diagram of the vanadium–oxygen system. Even if plasma processes are far from equilibrium, this diagram provides the range of oxygen pressures that lead to the growth of different vanadium oxide phases. These conditions were used in the present work.
Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in angiogenesis and in the regulation of the blood flow. This study was carried out to investigate (i) the effects of endogenous estrogens and progestins and ...exogenous progesterone (P
4) (5
ng/ml or 1
μg/ml) or estradiol 17β (E
2β) (50
pg/ml or 1
μg/ml) on in vitro endometrial NO synthesis; (ii) the presence of different isoforms of NO synthase; (iii) and their relationship to microvascular density in the equine endometrium during the estrous cycle. NOS expression was also evaluated in the myometrium. Expression of endothelial and inducible forms of NOS in the uterus was assessed by Western blot and immunocytochemistry. Vascular density in endometrial tissue was determined on histologic sections. In the luteal phase, compared to the follicular phase, endometrial NO production increased without exogenous hormones and with exogenous E
2β (1
μg/ml). Although immunocytochemistry revealed iNOS and eNOS expression in the endometrium, no positive signal for iNOS was detected by Western blot. Endothelial NOS was observed in endometrial glands, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, blood and lymphatic vessels. Endometrial eNOS expression was the highest in the follicular and mid-luteal phases while it was found to be the lowest in the early luteal phase. In the follicular phase, hyperplasia of endometrial tissue with respect to myometrium was detected. No difference in vascular density was present between phases. All together, NO may play some roles in both proliferative and secretory phases of endometrial development in the mare.
Industrial sustainability has increased, focusing on social, economic, and environmental. The aim of this study is to carry out a systematic bibliometric analysis of the existing literature on ...sustainability indices and artificial intelligence-based tools for measuring and assessing the sustainability of production systems. For this slalislical analysis, three scientific databases - Web of Science, Elsevier's Scopus and Dimensions - were used to identify relevant research articles and explore their temporal and geographical distribution. This data sheds light on the development of sustainable manufacturing and encourages future research in this area. This research aims to increase knowledge about sustainable development.
Steroid hormones act via specific receptors, and these play an important physiological role in the ovary. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cellular distribution of progesterone ...receptors and their staining intensity in different equine luteal structures during the breeding season, as well as their relationship to luteal cell composition, cell proliferation pattern and plasma progesterone (P4) concentration. There was an increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in large luteal cells from the corpus hemorrhagicum (CH) to mid-luteal phase, followed by a decrease toward the late luteal stage. In the CH, the number of large luteal cells was lower than in other structures. Only large luteal cells showed positive staining for P(4) receptors. An increase in staining intensity for P(4) receptors was observed between CH and mid-phase corpus luteum, and CH and late-phase corpus luteum. Synthesis of P(4) started at a very early stage of the luteal structure and was accompanied by an increase in P(4) receptors and PCNA expression, and proliferation of large luteal cells, until mid-luteal phase. These data suggest that large luteal cells might play an important role in the regulation or synthesis of P(4) in equine luteal structures.
Contents
The purpose of this study was to evaluate different parameters of the immune status in the mare, during the follicular and the luteal phases of the oestrous cycle, in two consecutive years. ...Functional competence of peripheral blood neutrophils, such as chemotaxis, phagocytosis and oxidative burst was assessed under physiological cyclic conditions (Exp. I). In the second year of this study (Exp. II), besides peripheral blood neutrophil phagocytosis and oxidative burst analysis, circulating lymphocyte subsets were also characterized. The reproductive status in a total of 17 adult cycling mares was evaluated by ultrasonography and further confirmed by plasma progesterone levels. Chemotaxis tests were performed using porous membranes inserted in transwell chambers. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli and N‐formyl‐Met‐Leu‐Phe (fMLP) were used as chemoattractants. Measurement of phagocytosis and oxidative burst in blood neutrophils were assessed by flow cytometry using commercially available kits. Quantification of T‐lymphocyte subsets was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence staining after incubation with monoclonal antibodies specific for CD2, CD3, CD4 and CD8 cell markers by flow cytometry. Natural killer cells and B cells were estimated mathematically. No significant difference was found in migration, phagocytosis and oxidative burst at either phase of the oestrous cycle. Statistical analysis of total white blood cell counts also showed no significant difference between either phase of the oestrous cycle, although there was a tendency for blood neutrophils to increase in number under the progesterone influence (p = 0.09). Lymphocytic subpopulations did not differ throughout the oestrous cycle. Overall, our results suggest that luteal and follicular phases in cycling mares may not influence the immune status of the mare.
Orthorhombic In sub(2Mo) sub(3)O sub(12 has low negative linear coefficient of thermal expansion ( alpha ) sub(l) = -1.85 x 10super-6 degCsuper-1) as evaluated by X-ray powder diffraction using a ...synchrotron facility. The linear coefficient of thermal expansion for orthorhombic In sub(2Mo) sub(3)O sub(12 is directly dependent on the inherent volume distortion parameter (upsilon) of InO) sub(6). This finding strongly corroborates the recently proposed relationship between the linear coefficient of thermal expansion in A sub(2M) sub(3)O sub(12 compounds ( alpha ) sub(l)) and the distortion level of AO sub(6 polyhedra. With the increase of inherent distortion parameter (upsilon) of AO) sub(6) polyhedra, the linear coefficient of thermal expansion becomes more negative. Another important feature of AO sub(6 polyhedra, including InO) sub(6), is that their distortion increases as a function of temperature. Orthorhombic In sub(2Mo) sub(3)O sub(12 is stable in the studied temperature range, 370-760 degC.)
Orthorhombic In
2Mo
3O
12 has low negative linear coefficient of thermal expansion (
α
l
=
−1.85
×
10
−6
°C
−1) as evaluated by X-ray powder diffraction using a synchrotron facility. The linear ...coefficient of thermal expansion for orthorhombic In
2Mo
3O
12 is directly dependent on the inherent volume distortion parameter (
υ) of InO
6. This finding strongly corroborates the recently proposed relationship between the linear coefficient of thermal expansion in
A
2
M
3O
12 compounds (
α
l) and the distortion level of AO
6 polyhedra. With the increase of inherent distortion parameter (
υ) of AO
6 polyhedra, the linear coefficient of thermal expansion becomes more negative. Another important feature of AO
6 polyhedra, including InO
6, is that their distortion increases as a function of temperature. Orthorhombic In
2Mo
3O
12 is stable in the studied temperature range, 370–760
°C.
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