Alginate hydrogel beads are widely used as an encapsulation medium for biomedical, bioprocessing, and pharmaceutical applications. The size and shape of the beads are often critically controlled ...since in many usages the beads are monodisperse in size and spherical in shape. Extrusion dripping is a well‐known method to produce alginate beads. Nevertheless, the production of beads of desired size and spherical shape is often achieved based on one's experience or trial and error. An overview is provided on alginate properties, formulation and preparation of alginate and gelling solutions, production conditions, and post‐production treatment that may influence the bead size and shape. Various methods of bead size and shape measurement are also discussed.
The influence of significant process variables like alginate properties, formulation and preparation of alginate and gelling solutions, production conditions, and post‐production treatment on size and shape of Ca‐alginate beads is reviewed. Various methods for bead size determination and shape analysis are described in detail and discussed.
ABSTRACT
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella serotypes isolated from 7 chicken meat brands produced by different integrated broiler operations in Korea were determined. In ...total, 210 samples were collected from retail supermarkets in Seoul, South Korea, and analyzed for the presence of Salmonella. Of 210 chicken meat samples, overall Salmonella prevalence was 22.4%. Salmonella Enteritidis was the dominant serovar, with an isolation rate of 57.4% from the Salmonella-positive chickens, followed by Salmonella Montevideo. Salmonella isolates frequently were resistant to various antibiotics, including 100% to erythromycin, 87% to cephalothin, 85% to nalidixic acid, and 70% to streptomycin. Of the 47 isolates, 41 (87.2%) isolates were resistant to 3 or more antibiotics. Moreover, the Salmonella profiles of each chicken meat brand were different by broiler operation. Brand A showed the highest prevalence of Salmonella (18 isolates, 60%), whereas brand G showed the lowest prevalence (one isolate, 3.3%). Eight among the 18 isolates of brand A were resistant to 11 antibiotics, whereas 5 of the 6 brand C isolates were resistant to only 2 antibiotics. This study demonstrates that a high proportion of chicken meat in Korea is contaminated with Salmonella and the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella of chicken meat differ significantly according to the integrated broiler operation.
•Testosterone maintains BTB, meiosis, Sertoli–spermatid adhesion and spermiation.•Testosterone acts via classical and non-classical pathways.•Testosterone regulates PTM, Leydig, and Sertoli cells via ...the androgen receptor.•The combined regulation of many genes by testosterone supports spermatogenesis.
Testosterone is essential for maintaining spermatogenesis and male fertility. However, the molecular mechanisms by which testosterone acts have not begun to be revealed until recently. With the advances obtained from the use of transgenic mice lacking or overexpressing the androgen receptor, the cell specific targets of testosterone action as well as the genes and signaling pathways that are regulated by testosterone are being identified. In this review, the critical steps of spermatogenesis that are regulated by testosterone are discussed as well as the intracellular signaling pathways by which testosterone acts. We also review the functional information that has been obtained from the knock out of the androgen receptor from specific cell types in the testis and the genes found to be regulated after altering testosterone levels or androgen receptor expression.
To cite this article: Hong S-W, Kim M-R, Lee E-Y, Kim JH, Kim Y-S, Jeon SG, Yang J-M, Lee B-J, Pyun B-Y, Gho YS, Kim Y-K. Extracellular vesicles derived from Staphylococcus aureus induce atopic ...dermatitis-like skin inflammation. Allergy 2011; 66: 351-359. ABSTRACT: Background: Recently, we found that Staphylococcus aureus produces extracellular vesicles (EV) that contain pathogenic proteins. Although S. aureus infection has been linked with atopic dermatitis (AD), the identities of the causative agents from S. aureus are controversial. We evaluated whether S. aureus-derived EV are causally related to the pathogenesis of AD. Methods: Extracellular vesicles were isolated by the ultracentrifugation of S. aureus culture media. The EV were applied three times per week to tape-stripped mouse skin. Inflammation and immune dysfunction were evaluated 48 h after the final application in hairless mice. Extracellular vesicles-specific IgE levels were measured by ELISA in AD patients and healthy subjects. Results: The in vitro application of S. aureus EV increased the production of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, and eotaxin) by dermal fibroblasts. The in vivo application of S. aureus EV after tape stripping caused epidermal thickening with infiltration of the dermis by mast cells and eosinophils in mice. These changes were associated with the enhanced cutaneous production of IL-4, IL-5, IFN-γ, and IL-17. Interestingly, the serum levels of S. aureus EV-specific IgE were significantly increased in AD patients relative to healthy subjects. Conclusion: These results indicate that S. aureus EV induce AD-like inflammation in the skin and that S. aureus-derived EV are a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for the control of AD.
Aim
To assess the biological effects, including odontoblastic differentiation of a novel light‐curable material (TheraCal), on human dental pulp cells (hDPCs).
Methodology
The hDPCs were isolated ...from freshly extracted, caries‐free third molars. Ten discs of TheraCal and MTA (8 mm in diameter and 3 mm in height) were incubated in α‐minimum essential medium (α‐MEM) and the supernatant collected. Viability of hDPCs in response to TheraCal and MTA was measured using the WST‐1 assay. RT‐PCR and real‐time PCR were used to detect the gene expression of dentine sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and dentine matrix protein‐1 (DMP‐1). ALP staining and Alizarin red S staining were used to evaluate the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and mineralization behaviour. One‐way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test were used to determine the statistically significant differences as a result of the variation in test materials (P < 0.05).
Results
The effects of TheraCal and MTA on cell viability were similar except at the highest concentration. The mRNA level of DSPP increased significantly in the MTA group relative to the control at day 1 and 3 (P < 0.05). Also, the mRNA level of DSPP increased significantly in the TheraCal group relative to the control at day 3 (P < 0.05). The increased mRNA level of DMP‐1 was 2.5‐fold and 2.3‐fold each in the MTA and TheraCal groups relative to the control (P < 0.05). Cells exposed to MTA exhibited a 1.4‐fold increase of ALP staining relative to control (P < 0.05). In the mineralization assay, increased calcium nodule formation was twofold and 1.3‐fold each in the MTA and TheraCal groups compared to the control (P < 0.05).
Conclusions
TheraCal and MTA had the ability to induce odontoblastic differentiation and mineralization of hDPCs.
Summary
Background
Asthma in the elderly (aged ≥ 65 years old) is a significant concern with high morbidity, but the pathophysiology remains unclear particularly in late‐onset asthma. Recent studies ...suggest staphylococcal enterotoxin IgE (SE‐IgE) sensitization to be a risk factor for asthma in general populations; however, the associations have not been examined in late‐onset elderly asthma.
Objective
We aimed to examine the associations of SE‐IgE sensitization with late‐onset asthma in the elderly, using a database of elderly asthma cohort study.
Methods
A total of 249 elderly patients with asthma and 98 controls were analysed. At baseline, patients were assessed for demographics, atopy, induced sputum profiles and comorbidities including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Serum total IgE and SE‐IgE levels were measured. Asthma severity was assessed on the basis of asthma outcomes during a 12‐month follow‐up period.
Results
At baseline, serum SE‐IgE concentrations were significantly higher in patients with asthma than in controls median 0.16 (interquartile range 0.04–0.53) vs. 0.10 (0.01–0.19), P < 0.001. Elderly asthma patients with high SE‐IgE levels had specific characteristics of having more severe asthma, sputum eosinophilia and CRS, compared to those with lower SE‐IgE levels. In multivariate logistic regression analyses, the associations between serum SE‐IgE concentrations and severe asthma were significant, independently of covariables SE‐IgE‐high (≥ 0.35 kU/L) vs. negative (< 0.10 kU/L) group: odds ratio 7.47, 95% confidence interval 1.86–30.03, P = 0.005. Multiple correspondence analyses also showed that high serum SE‐IgE level had close relationships with severe asthma, CRS and sputum eosinophilia together.
Conclusions and Clinical Relevance
This is the first report on the significant associations of SE‐IgE sensitization with late‐onset asthma in the elderly, particularly severe eosinophilic asthma with CRS comorbidity. Our findings indicate a potential implication of SE in the high morbidity burden of elderly asthma and suggest clues to the pathogenesis of severe late‐onset eosinophilic asthma in the elderly.
Androgen receptor roles in spermatogenesis and infertility O'Hara, Laura, Ph.D; Smith, Lee B., Ph.D
Baillière's best practice and research in clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Baillière's best practice & research. Clinical endocrinology & metabolism,
08/2015, Volume:
29, Issue:
4
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Androgens such as testosterone are steroid hormones essential for normal male reproductive development and function. Mutations of androgen receptors (AR) are often found in patients with disorders of ...male reproductive development, and milder mutations may be responsible for some cases of male infertility. Androgens exert their action through AR and its signalling in the testis is essential for spermatogenesis. AR is not expressed in the developing germ cell lineage so is thought to exert its effects through testicular Sertoli and peri-tubular myoid (PTM) cells. AR signalling in spermatogenesis has been investigated in rodent models where testosterone levels are chemically supressed or models with transgenic disruption of AR. These models have pinpointed the steps of spermatogenesis that require AR signalling, specifically maintenance of spermatogonial numbers, blood-testis barrier integrity, completion of meiosis, adhesion of spermatids and spermiation, together these studies detail the essential nature of androgens in the promotion of male fertility.
Literature review.
Update the global maps for traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and incorporate methods for extrapolating incidence data.
An initiative of the International Spinal Cord Society ...(ISCoS) Prevention Committee.
A search of Medline/Embase was performed (1959-Jun/30/2011). Enhancement of data-quality 'zones' including individual data-ranking as well as integrating regression techniques to provide a platform for continued regional and global estimates.
A global-incident rate (2007) is estimated at 23 TSCI cases per million (179,312 cases per annum). Regional data are available from North America (40 per million), Western Europe (16 per million) and Australia (15 per million). Extrapolated regional data are available for Asia-Central (25 per million), Asia-South (21 per million), Caribbean (19 per million), Latin America, Andean (19 per million), Latin America, Central (24 per million), Latin America-Southern (25 per million), Sub-Saharan Africa-Central (29 per million), Sub-Saharan Africa-East (21 per million).
It is estimated that globally in 2007, there would have been between 133 and 226 thousand incident cases of TSCI from accidents and violence. The proportion of TSCI from land transport is decreasing/stable in developed but increasing in developing countries due to trends in transport mode (transition to motorised transport), poor infrastructure and regulatory challenges. TSCIs from low falls in the elderly are increasing in developed countries with ageing populations. In some developing countries low falls, resulting in TSCI occur while carrying heavy loads on the head in young people. In developing countries high-falls feature, commonly from trees, balconies, flat roofs and construction sites. TSCI is also due to crush-injuries, diving and violence.
The online global maps now inform an extrapolative statistical model, which estimates incidence for areas with insufficient TSCI data. The accuracy of this methodology will be improved through the use of prospective, standardised-data registries.
This volume empowers analysts with the right information to safely and effectively employ portable X-ray fluorescence as part of their analytical toolkit.
Highlights • Tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells link angiogenesis and immune tolerance to drive tumor growth. • Hypoxia fuels proangiogenic and immune-suppressive programming of myeloid cells in ...tumors. • Immune-suppressive myeloid cells can drive tumor resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. • Antiangiogenic therapy efficacy may partly depend on promoting an immune-stimulating environment.
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