Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) engages Toll-like receptors (TLR) 2 and 4 when found in the extracellular compartment and contributes to inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ...Since there is growing evidence for the genetic risk factors for COPD, the gene expression of HSP70, TLR2 and TLR4 was determined, as well as the association between HSP70, TLR2 and TLR4 single nucleotide polymorphisms, (SNPs) and COPD. The gene expression was assessed in peripheral blood cells of 137 COPD patients and 95 controls by a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), while a total of nine SNPs were genotyped by TaqMan allelic discrimination real-time PCR. HSP70 and TLR2 gene expression was increased in COPD patients compared to the controls, regardless of the disease severity and smoking status of participants. The rs6457452 SNP of HSP70 was associated with COPD, indicating the protective role of the T allele (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.24–0.89, p = 0.022). Furthermore, COPD C/T heterozygotes showed a decreased HSP70 mRNA level compared to COPD C/C homozygotes. In conclusion, HSP70 and TLR2 may have a role in the pathogenesis of COPD, and the HSP70 rs6457452 variant might influence the genetic susceptibility to COPD in the Croatian population.
Background and Purpose: Logging is an example of the strongest human influence on forest environment because it causes damages to the forest soil and residual trees. The damages that occur during ...logging are more frequent in the skidding phase compared to the felling and processing phase.
Material and Methods: The research was conducted in mixed stands of fir and spruce in the area of eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Felling was conducted by chainsaw and extraction by animals, i.e. by two oxen. The following data were collected: tree species, diameter at breast height, pre-bunching zone (0-30 m or 30-60 m), presence of damages, presence of old damages, number of damages, type of damage, damage position and the size of damage.
Results: Damages were recorded on 3.32% of residual trees. The average number of damages per damaged tree was 1.08. The same percentage share of damages was recorded on butt end and root collar (38.46%), while damages on root have a share of 23.08%. Stem damages were not recorded. The most common type of damage was debarked tree (61.54%), then squashed bark (23.08%) and debarked and damaged tree (15.38%). It was recorded that the size of damages varied between 60 and 570 cm2. The average size of damage was 222.54 cm2. Statistical analysis using χ2 test showed significant difference in the proportion of damaged trees among different pre-bunching methods, and did not show significant difference in the proportion of damaged trees between different pre-bunching zones.
Conclusions: It can be assumed that oxen logging causes insignificant damages to residual trees. The results of research will be used as a basis for future studies of residual trees’ damaging during wood skidding.
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We have previously demonstrated the nucleic acid binding capacity of phenanthridine derivatives (PHTs). Because nucleic acids are potent inducers of innate immune response through ...Toll-like receptors (TLRs), and because PTHs bear a structural resemblance to commonly used synthetic ligands for TLR7/8, we hypothesized that PHTs could modulate/activate immune response. We found that compound M199 induces secretion of IL-6, IL-8 and TNFα in human PBMCs and inhibits TLR3/9 activation in different cellular systems (PBMCs, HEK293 and THP-1 cell lines).
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is considered as the strongest independent risk factor for lung cancer (LC) development, suggesting an overlapping genetic background in both diseases. A ...common feature of both diseases is aberrant immunity in respiratory epithelia that is mainly regulated by Toll-like receptors (TLRs), key regulators of innate immunity. The function of the flagellin-sensing TLR5 in airway epithelia and pathophysiology of COPD and LC has remained elusive. We performed case−control genetic association and functional studies on the importance of TLR5 in COPD and LC development, comparing Caucasian COPD/LC patients (n = 974) and healthy donors (n = 1283). Association analysis of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs725084, rs2072493_N592S, and rs5744174_F616L) indicated the minor allele of rs2072493_N592S to be associated with increased risk for COPD (OR = 4.41, p < 0.0001) and NSCLC (OR = 5.17, p < 0.0001) development and non-small cell LC risk in the presence of COPD (OR = 1.75, p = 0.0031). The presence of minor alleles (rs5744174 and rs725084) in a co-dominant model was associated with overall survival in squamous cell LC patients. Functional analysis indicated that overexpression of the rs2072493_N592S allele affected the activation of NF-κB and AP-1, which could be attributed to impaired phosphorylation of p38 and ERK. Overexpression of TLR5N592S was associated with increased chemosensitivity in the H1299 cell line. Finally, genome-wide transcriptomic analysis on WI-38 and H1299 cells overexpressing TLR5WT or TLR5N592S, respectively, indicated the existence of different transcription profiles affecting several cellular pathways potentially associated with a dysregulated immune response. Our results suggest that TLR5 could be recognized as a potential biomarker for COPD and LC development with functional relevance.
Previously chemically characterized Juniperus communis essential oil (EO) and post-distillation waste (PDW) were tested for cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity against food contaminants. ...Microdilution assay showed that PDW induced moderate antifungal (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values, ranging between 0.118-0.900 mg mL-1), and an antibacterial effect against Listeria monocytogenes (MIC and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were 0.39 and 0.74 mg mL-1, respectively). Combinations of EO/PDW with selected antibiotics induced synergistic antilisterial activity in the checkerboard assay. The MTT assay determined that cytotoxicity against colon cancer cells was high for the EO but negligible for PDW (IC50 values were 0.087-0.106 and 1.450-6.840 mg mL-1, respectively). The selectivity indices indicated high selectivity of PDW against tested fungi and L. monocytogenes. In the adhesion-inhibition assay, PDW reduced in vitro adhesion of L. monocytogenes to colon cells (29-62% of inhibition). In conclusion, PDW exhibited an antimicrobial effect against important food spoilage and poisoning fungi and L. monocytogenes, and also reduced in vitro adhesion of L. monocytogenes to colon cells. The results indicate that J. communis PDW could be considered as natural preservative against food spoilage and poisonous fungi, and as an adjuvant to conventional therapy of listeriosis.
A platform for in situ and real-time measurement of protein-induced conformational changes in dsDNA is presented. We combine electrical orientation of surface-bound dsDNA probes with an optical ...technique to measure the kinetics of DNA conformational changes. The sequence-specific Escherichia coli integration host factor is utilized to demonstrate protein-induced bending upon binding of integration host factor to dsDNA probes. The effects of probe surface density on binding/bending kinetics are investigated. The platform can accommodate individual spots of microarrayed dsDNA on individually controlled, lithographically designed electrodes, making it amenable for use as a high throughput assay.
Im Rahmen dieses Aufsatzes werden einige wichtige Aspekte des ästhetischen Lernens bei der transkulturellen Vermittlung von Literatur dargestellt, mit dem Ziel zu zeigen, wie die systematische ...Interpretation ausgezeichneter literarischer Werke in der Ausbildung von
Lehrenden zur humanistischen Bildung bzw. transkulturellen Vermittlung humanistischer Werte beiträgt, während gleichzeitig die Sprachkompetenzen der Lernenden gefördert werden. Die vorliegende Untersuchung fand im Rahmen eines universitären Unterrichtsprojektes statt. Sie zeigt auf, wie die ästhetische Erfahrung bei der literarischen Übersetzung durch den spielerischen Umgang mit Sprache ermöglicht wird sowie durch die Auseinandersetzung mit gelungenen sprachlich vermittelten Bildern, Sinnbildern und Metaphern, die nicht unbedingt kulturologisch geprägt sind, sondern vielmehr mit der Transformation von der persönlichen zur universal-menschlichen Erfahrung
zu tun haben.
The paper deals with some important aspects of aesthetic learning within the transcultural teaching of literature aiming to show how the systematic interpretation of the best literary works as part of teacher education contributes to humanistic education or rather the transcultural mediation of humanistic values while at the same time language skills of learners being encouraged. The research was conducted as part of the university teaching project. It has shown how the playful use of language within the literary translation enables the aesthetic experience. Moreover, the evaluation confirmed that dealing with linguistically successful conveyed images, symbols and metaphors that are not necessarily culturally shaped, but rather related to conversion of personal to universal human experience fosters the transformation of aesthetic experience into cognition about the universal values beyond national borders.
Im Rahmen dieses Aufsatzes werden einige wichtige Aspekte des ästhetischen Lernens bei der transkulturellen Vermittlung von Literatur dargestellt, mit dem Ziel zu zeigen, wie die systematische ...Interpretation ausgezeichneter literarischer Werke in der Ausbildung von Lehrenden zur humanistischen Bildung bzw. transkulturellen Vermittlung humanistischer Werte beiträgt, während gleichzeitig die Sprachkompetenzen der Lernenden gefördert werden. Die vorliegende Untersuchung fand im Rahmen eines universitären Unterrichtsprojektes statt. Sie zeigt auf, wie die ästhetische Erfahrung bei der literarischen Übersetzung durch den spielerischen Umgang mit Sprache ermöglicht wird sowie durch die Auseinandersetzung mit gelungenen sprachlich vermittelten Bildern, Sinnbildern und Metaphern, die nicht unbedingt kulturologisch geprägt sind, sondern vielmehr mit der Transformation von der persönlichen zur universalmenschlichen Erfahrung zu tun haben.
A diverse group of soil bacteria found in the rhizosphere which can colonize plant roots and improve plant growth are designated as plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. The aim of this study was ...isolation and screening of different rhizobacterial strains for plant growth promoting characteristics and their ability to improve growth of two grass species, orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis Huds.). The strains investigated, belonging to the genera Azotobacter, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and rhizobial bacteria, showed various plant growth promoting traits, such as phosphate solubilisation, siderophore production, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production. Co-inoculation of meadow fescue with Azotobacter chroococcum A2 and Sinorhizobium meliloti or Pseudomonas sp., and A. chroococcum A5 with S. meliloti, significantly increased shoot dry weight (SDW)(25-33%), as well as total N (26-33%), P (24-31%) and K (26-28%) contents in plants (mg pot-1), compared to uninoculated control. In addition, inoculation of orchardgrass with A. chroococcum strain A1, as well as co-inoculation with B. megaterium and A. chroococcum A1 or A31, significantly increased SDW (51-59%) and total N (54-59%), P (51-74%) and K (49-55%) contents, compared to uninoculated control. Nitrogen percentage in SDW was slightly higher than sufficiency ranges, while K percentage was optimal in all treatments in both species. Phosphorous percentage was lower than sufficiency ranges as a consequence of very low soil P content. The results emphasize the potential of particular rhizobacteria to improve the growth of forage grasses.
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