Dolphin leukocytes exhibit an attenuated cytokine response and increase heme oxygenase activity upon exposure to lipopolysaccharides.

Cetaceans exhibit physiological adaptations that allowed the transition to aquatic life, including a robust antioxidant defense system that prevents injury from repeated exposure to ischemia/reperfusion events associated with breath-hold diving. The signaling cascades that characterize ischemic inflammation in humans are well characterized. In contrast, cetaceans' molecular and biochemical mechanisms that confer tolerance to inflammatory events are poorly understood. Heme oxygenase (HO) is a cytoprotective protein with anti-inflammatory properties. HO catalyzes the first step in the oxidative degradation of heme. The inducible HO-1 isoform is regulated by various stimuli, including hypoxia, oxidant stress, and inflammatory cytokines. The objective of this study was to compare the response of HO-1 and cytokines to a proinflammatory challenge in leukocytes isolated from humans and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). We measured changes in HO activity, and abundance and expression of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) in leukocytes treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 and 48 h. HO activity increased (p < 0.05) in dolphin (48 h) but not human cells. TNF-α expression increased in human (24 h, 48 h), but not dolphin cells following LPS stimulation. LPS-induced cytokine expression was lower in dolphin than in human leukocytes, suggesting a blunted cytokine response in bottlenose dolphin leukocytes treated with LPS. Results suggest species-specific regulation of inflammatory cytokines in leukocytes treated with LPS, which may lead to differential responses to a pro-inflammatory challenge between marine and terrestrial mammals.

Boosting photovoltaic performance for Sb2S3solar cells by ionic liquid-assisted hydrothermal synthesis.

Bulk and surface trap-states in the Sb2S3films are considered one of the crucial energy loss mechanisms for achieving high photovoltaic performance in planar Sb2S3solar cells. Because ionic liquid additives offer interesting physicochemical properties to control the synthesis of inorganic material, in this work we propose the addition of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate (BMIMHS) into a Sb2S3hydrothermal precursor solution as a facile way to fabricate low-defect Sb2S3solar cells. Lower presence of small particles on the surface, as well as higher crystallinity are demonstrated in the BMIMHS-assisted Sb2S3films. Moreover, analyses of dark current density-voltageJ-Vcurves, surface photovoltage transient and intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy have suggested that adding BMIMHS results in high-quality Sb2S3films and a successful defect passivation. Consequently, the best-performing BMIMHS-assisted device exhibits a 15.4% power conversion efficiency enhancement compared to that of control device. These findings show that ionic liquid BMIMHS can effectively be used to obtain high-quality Sb2S3films with low-defects and improved optoelectronic properties.

Psycho-Neuro-Endocrine-Immunology: A Role for Melatonin in This New Paradigm.

Psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology is the area of study of the intimate relationship between immune, physical, emotional, and psychological aspects. This new way of studying the human body and its diseases was initiated in the last century's first decades. However, the molecules that participate in the communication between the immune, endocrine, and neurological systems are still being discovered. This paper aims to describe the development of psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology, its scopes, limitations in actual medicine, and the extent of melatonin within it.

Are electrophysiological and oligodendrocyte alterations an element in the development of multiple sclerosis at the same time as or before the immune response?

Efficient communication between the glial cells and neurons is a bi-directional process that is essential for conserving normal functioning in the central nervous system (CNS). Neurons dynamically regulate other brain cells in the healthy brain, yet little is known about the first pathways involving oligodendrocytes and neurons. Oligodendrocytes are the myelin-forming cells in the CNS that are needed for the propagation of action potentials along axons and additionally serve to support neurons by neurotrophic factors (NFTs). In demyelinating diseases, like multiple sclerosis (MS), oligodendrocytes are thought to be the victims. Axonal damage begins early and remains silent for years, and neurological disability develops when a threshold of axonal loss is reached, and the compensatory mechanisms are depleted. Three hypotheses have been proposed to explain axonal damage: 1) the damage is caused by an inflammatory process; 2) there is an excessive accumulation of intra-axonal calcium levels; and, 3) demyelinated axons evolve to a degenerative process resulting from the lack of trophic support provided by myelin or myelin-forming cells. Although MS was traditionally considered to be a white matter disease, the demyelination process also occurs in the cerebral cortex. Recent data supports the notion that initial response is triggered by CNS injury. Thus, the understanding of the role of neuron-glial neurophysiology would help provide us with further explanations. We should take in account the suggestion that MS is in part an autoimmune disease that involves genetic and environmental factors, and the pathological response leads to demyelination, axonal loss and inflammatory infiltrates.

Conducting Polymers in the Fields of Energy, Environmental Remediation, and Chemical-Chiral Sensors.

Conducting polymers (CPs), thanks to their unique properties, structures made on-demand, new composite mixtures, and possibility of deposit on a surface by chemical, physical, or electrochemical methodologies, have shown in the last years a renaissance and have been widely used in important fields of chemistry and materials science. Due to the extent of the literature on CPs, this review, after a concise introduction about the interrelationship between electrochemistry and conducting polymers, is focused exclusively on the following applications: energy (energy storage devices and solar cells), use in environmental remediation (anion and cation trapping, electrocatalytic reduction/oxidation of pollutants on CP based electrodes, and adsorption of pollutants) and finally electroanalysis as chemical sensors in solution, gas phase, and chiral molecules. This review is expected to be comprehensive, authoritative, and useful to the chemical community interested in CPs and their applications.

Interleukin-17A Levels Vary in Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Association with Their Age, Treatment and the Time of Evolution of the Disease.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was specifically designed to discern the possible existence of subgroups of patients with the relapsing-remitting form of multiple sclerosis (RRMS) depending on their gender, age, disease stage (relapsing or remitting), time of disease evolution and response to different treatments. METHODS: We analyzed samples from patients with RRMS (50 females and 32 males) and healthy individuals (25 matched for age and gender) and determined serum concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-17A. We stratified patients by gender, age, treatment and disease evolution time, and subsequently correlated these independent variables with the concentrations of the previously mentioned cytokines. RESULTS: We provided initial evidence that treatment exerted possible differential effects depending on the time of disease duration. Results evidence the existence of different subgroups of patients with MS, who can be classified as follows: (a) male or female under or over 40 years of age; (b) disease duration according to treatment (under or over 8 years of disease); (c) classification according to fluctuating levels of IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-17A in the following three stages of disease evolution: <5 years, between 5 and 10 years, and >10 years. CONCLUSION: These subgroups must be taken into account for the clinical follow-up of patients with MS in order to provide them with a better and more personalized treatment, and also for a deep and detailed analysis of progressive disease, in an attempt to comprehend fluctuations and clinical variability by means of a better understanding of intrinsically physiological variables of the disease.

The Neuroprotective Effect of Erythropoietin in Rat Hippocampus in an Endotoxic Shock Model.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is characterized by an early systemic inflammation in response to infection. In the brain, inflammation is associated with expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g. tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß and interleukin-6, among others) that may induce an overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. The constitutive expression of cytokines in the brain is low, but may be induced by various stimuli, including lipopolysaccharide, which causes neuronal damage. Erythropoietin, among other effects, acts as a multifunctional neurotrophic factor implicated in neurogenesis, angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and immune regulation in the central nervous system. In an experimental model of endotoxic shock, we studied the neuroprotective capacity of erythropoietin in the rat hippocampus and compared with melatonin, a neurohormone with an important antioxidant and immunomodulatory effect. METHODS: In 21-day-old male Wistar rats divided into eight groups, we administered by intraperitoneal injection lipopolysaccharide, erythropoietin, melatonin, or combinations thereof. The hippocampus was dissected and morphological (histological analysis) and biochemical (cytokine levels) studies were conducted. RESULTS: The number of dead neuronal cells in histological sections in groups treated with lipopolysaccharide was higher compared to the erythropoietin group. There was a greater decrease (70%) in interleukin-1ß concentrations in rats with endotoxic shock that received erythropoietin compared to the lipopolysaccharide group. CONCLUSIONS: The neuronal cell loss caused by endotoxic shock and interleukin-1ß levels were reduced by the administration of the hematopoietic cytokine erythropoietin in this experimental model.

Immunoexpression of NF-ĸB and their inhibitory subunits IĸBα and IĸBß in giant cell lesions of the jaws: implications for their clinical behavior.

BACKGROUND: The unpredictable behavior of giant cell lesions (GCLs) of the jaws parallels its controversial histogenesis. This study evaluated a possible association between the immunohistochemical expression of NF-ĸB, the inhibitory subunits IĸBα/IĸBß, and clinicopathological variables with the behavior of central and peripheral GCLs of the jaws. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Paraffin-embedded samples of GCLs of the jaws (n = 68) were prepared for histological/immunohistochemical assessment. Demographic and clinicopathological parameters were assessed to determine the behavior of the lesions. A staining-intensity-distribution (SID) score was used to assess the immunomarkers reactivity. The association between significant candidate immunohistochemical predictor variables regarding clinical behavior was analyzed individually and adjusted for confounding using a binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: While univariate analysis revealed a positive association of NF-ĸB SID score, NF-ĸB nuclear expression, IĸBα SID score, and NF-ĸB to inhibitors average ratio with the aggressive status of GCLs, after bivariate logistic regression analysis, only NF-ĸB nuclear expression, IĸBα SID score, and NF-ĸB to inhibitors average ratio remained as robust predictors of aggressiveness. Confounding and interaction effects regarding clinicopathological candidate predictor variables were also noted. CONCLUSION: It looks that clinical behavior of GCLs of the jaws may be strong/independently linked to the increased nuclear expression of NF-ĸB, higher NF-ĸB to inhibitors average ratio, and decreased IĸBα SID score. Notwithstanding, there are simultaneously synergistic and opposing interactive effects with respect to age stratum, growth rate, multinucleated giant cells count, and mononuclear stromal cells density in the susceptible host that may increase the tissue destruction observed in aggressive GCLs.

Immunology and oxidative stress in multiple sclerosis: clinical and basic approach.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) exhibits many of the hallmarks of an inflammatory autoimmune disorder including breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), the recruitment of lymphocytes, microglia, and macrophages to lesion sites, the presence of multiple lesions, generally being more pronounced in the brain stem and spinal cord, the predominantly perivascular location of lesions, the temporal maturation of lesions from inflammation through demyelination, to gliosis and partial remyelination, and the presence of immunoglobulin in the central nervous system and cerebrospinal fluid. Lymphocytes activated in the periphery infiltrate the central nervous system to trigger a local immune response that ultimately damages myelin and axons. Pro-inflammatory cytokines amplify the inflammatory cascade by compromising the BBB, recruiting immune cells from the periphery, and activating resident microglia. inflammation-associated oxidative burst in activated microglia and macrophages plays an important role in the demyelination and free radical-mediated tissue injury in the pathogenesis of MS. The inflammatory environment in demyelinating lesions leads to the generation of oxygen- and nitrogen-free radicals as well as proinflammatory cytokines which contribute to the development and progression of the disease. Inflammation can lead to oxidative stress and vice versa. Thus, oxidative stress and inflammation are involved in a self-perpetuating cycle.

Exploring the CO2 photocatalytic evolution onto the CuO (1 1 0) surface: A combined theoretical and experimental study.

A combined theoretical and experimental study was performed to elucidate the photocatalytic potential of tenorite, CuO (1 1 0) and to assess the evolution pathway of carbon dioxide (CO2) evolution pathway. The calculations were performed with density functional theory (DFT) at a DFT + U + J0 and spin polarized level. The CuO was experimentally synthesized and characterized with structural and optical methodologies. The band structure and density of states revealed the rise of band gaps at 1.24 and 1.03 eV with direct and indirect band gap nature, respectively. These values are in accordance with the experimental evidence at 1.28 and 0.96 eV; respectively, which were obtained by UV-Vis DRS. Such a behavior could be related to enhanced photocatalytic activity among copper oxide materials. Experimental evidence such as SEM images and work function measurements were also performed to evaluate the oxide. The redox potential suggests a catalytic character of tenorite (1 1 0) for the CO2 transformation through aldehydes (methanal) intermediate formation. Furthermore, a route through methylene glycol CH2(OH)2 was also explored with the theoretical methodology. The reaction path exhibits an immediate reduction of Image 1 into a •OH radical and an [OH]- anion, in the first step. This •OH radical attacks a double bond (C = O) of Image 2 to form bicarbonate ([Image 3]-) and subsequently, carbonic acid (Image 4). The carbonic acid reacts with other •OH radical to finally form orthocarbonic acid (Image 5).

Immune system in the brain: a modulatory role on dendritic spine morphophysiology?

The central nervous system is closely linked to the immune system at several levels. The brain parenchyma is separated from the periphery by the blood brain barrier, which under normal conditions prevents the entry of mediators such as activated leukocytes, antibodies, complement factors, and cytokines. The myeloid cell lineage plays a crucial role in the development of immune responses at the central level, and it comprises two main subtypes: (1) resident microglia, distributed throughout the brain parenchyma; (2) perivascular macrophages located in the brain capillaries of the basal lamina and the choroid plexus. In addition, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, endothelial cells, and, to a lesser extent, neurons are implicated in the immune response in the central nervous system. By modulating synaptogenesis, microglia are most specifically involved in restoring neuronal connectivity following injury. These cells release immune mediators, such as cytokines, that modulate synaptic transmission and that alter the morphology of dendritic spines during the inflammatory process following injury. Thus, the expression and release of immune mediators in the brain parenchyma are closely linked to plastic morphophysiological changes in neuronal dendritic spines. Based on these observations, it has been proposed that these immune mediators are also implicated in learning and memory processes.

Tuning the band gap of M-doped titanate nanotubes (M = Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu): an experimental and theoretical study.

Herein, we report a systematic experimental and theoretical study about a wide-ranged band gap tuning of protonated titanate nanotubes H2Ti3O7 (Ti-NT) by an easy ion-exchange method using a low concentration (1 wt%) of transition metal cations. To characterize and describe the effect of M doping (M = Cu2+, Ni2+, Co2+, and Fe3+) on the electronic, optical and structural properties, semiconductors were analyzed by a combination of experimental methods and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The nanotube band gap can be modified from 1.5 to 3.3 eV, which opens the possibility to use them in several optoelectronic applications such as photocatalysts under solar light irradiation.

Sb2O3 nanoparticles anchored on N-doped graphene nanoribbons as improved anode for sodium-ion batteries.

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are emerging as a promising alternative to conventional lithium-ion technology, due to the abundance of sodium resources. Still, major drawbacks for the commercial application of SIBs lie in the slow kinetic processes and poor cycling performance of the devices. In this work, a hybrid nanocomposite of Sb2O3 nanoparticles anchored on N-doped graphene nanoribbons (GNR) is implemented as anode material in SIBs. The obtained Sb2O3/N-GNR anode delivers a reversible specific capacity of 642 mA h g-1 after 100 cycles at 0.1 A g-1 and exhibits a good rate capability. Even after 500 cycles at 5 A g-1, the specific capacity is maintained at about 405 mA h g-1. Such good Na storage performance is mainly ascribed to the beneficial effect of N doping for charge transfer and to the improved microstructure that facilitates the Na+ diffusion through the overall electrode.

In silico Characterization of the Heme Oxygenase 1 From Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): Evidence of Changes in the Active Site and Purifying Selection.

Cetacea is a clade well-adapted to the aquatic lifestyle, with diverse adaptations and physiological responses, as well as a robust antioxidant defense system. Serious injuries caused by boats and fishing nets are common in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus); however, these animals do not show signs of serious infections. Evidence suggests an adaptive response to tissue damage and associated infections in cetaceans. Heme oxygenase (HO) is a cytoprotective protein that participates in the anti-inflammatory response. HO catalyzes the first step in the oxidative degradation of the heme group. Various stimuli, including inflammatory mediators, regulate the inducible HO-1 isoform. This study aims to characterize HO-1 of the bottlenose dolphin in silico and compare its structure to the terrestrial mammal protein. Upstream HO-1 sequence of the bottlenose dolphin was obtained from NCBI and Ensemble databases, and the gene structure was determined using bioinformatics tools. Five exons and four introns were identified, and proximal regulatory elements were detected in the upstream region. The presence of 10 α-helices, three 310 helices, the heme group lodged between the proximal and distal helices, and a histidine-25 in the proximal helix serving as a ligand to the heme group were inferred for T. truncatus. Amino acid sequence alignment suggests HO-1 is a conserved protein. The HO-1 "fingerprint" and histidine-25 appear to be fully conserved among all species analyzed. Evidence of positive selection within an α-helix configuration without changes in protein configuration and evidence of purifying selection were found, indicating evolutionary conservation of the coding sequence structure.

Bioactive Compounds in Food as a Current Therapeutic Approach to Maintain a Healthy Intestinal Epithelium.

The intestinal epithelium serves as an effective barrier against the external environment, hampering the passage of potentially harmful substances (such as pathogenic microbes) that could trigger an exacerbated host immune response. The integrity of this barrier is thus essential for the maintenance of proper intestinal homeostasis and efficient protective reactions against chemical and microbial challenges. The principal consequence of intestinal barrier defects is an increase in intestinal permeability, which leads to an increased influx of luminal stressors, such as pathogens, toxins, and allergens, which in turn trigger inflammation and immune response. The fine and fragile balance of intestinal homeostasis can be altered by multiple factors that regulate barrier function, many of which are poorly understood. This review will address the role of gut microbiota as well as food supplements (such as probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics) in modulating gut health and regulating intestinal barrier function. In particular, we will focus on three human pathologies: inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and food allergy.

Understanding the interaction between heteroatom-doped carbon matrix and Sb2S3 for efficient sodium-ion battery anodes.

Increasing the electrochemical performance of electrode materials in sodium ion batteries (NIBs) remains a major challenge. Here, a combined experimental and theoretical investigation on the modification induced by Sb2S3 embedded in a heteroatom-doped 3D carbon matrix (CM) for efficient anodes in NIBs is presented. The structural and chemical characterization demonstrates the successful doping of 3D CM with S and Sb atoms. When evaluated as anode materials for NIBs, the heteroatom-doped nanocomposites delivered a better cycling stability and superior rate capability than those of undoped Sb2S3/CM anodes. First principle calculations were used at the Density Functional Theory level to systematically study the Sb2S3/CM and Sb2S3/heteroatom doped-CM composites, as NIBs anodes. Doping the carbon substrate by heteroatoms improved the adsorption of Sb2S3 on the matrix and allowed for ionic/covalent attraction with the Sb2S3 nanoparticle, respectively. Such results could be used to model the stabilty of the composite architectures observed in the experiment, for superior cycling stability.

Impact of Using a Novel Gastric Feeding Tube Adaptor on Patient's Comfort and Air Leaks During Non-invasive Mechanical Ventilation.

INTRODUCTION: The presence of oral or naso-enteral probes during non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) increases the risk of leakage and patient discomfort. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a novel tube adapter for NIMV (TA-NIMV) in relation to leakage and comfort level. METHODS: A non-randomized quasi-experimental design was performed in an adult intensive care unit of a highly complex hospital, in which patients were their own controls. We included adult patients who required NIV with oronasal mask and who simultaneously had oral or naso-enteric tubes. The interventions were as follows: every participant received two therapies, one with the TA-NIMV and one conventional therapy of NIMV (CT-NIMV). Comfort could be evaluated in 99 patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale of 15. The outcomes of interest was the average percentage of air leak and patient comfort during each intervention. RESULTS: 196 patients were included in the study during a 16-month period. The mean air leak percentage was 9.2% [standard deviation (SD), 7.7] during TA-NIMV and 32.5% (SD, 12.5) during CT-NIMV (p<0.001). 84.9% reported being comfortable or very comfortable during TA-VMNI. 66.7% Uncomfortable or Very uncomfortable during CT-NIMV (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Higher comfort levels and lower air leakage volume percentages were achieved using the TA-NIMV than those achieved by CT-NIMV.

Opioid Preconditioning Modulates Repair Responses to Prevent Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Progression to renal damage by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is the result of the dysregulation of various tissue damage repair mechanisms. Anesthetic preconditioning with opioids has been shown to be beneficial in myocardial IRI models. Our main objective was to analyze the influence of pharmacological preconditioning with opioids in renal function and expression of molecules involved in tissue repair and angiogenesis. Experimental protocol includes male rats with 45 min ischemia occluding the left renal hilum followed by 24 h of reperfusion with or without 60 min preconditioning with morphine/fentanyl. We analyzed serum creatinine and renal KIM-1 expression. We measured circulating and intrarenal VEGF. Immunohistochemistry for HIF-1 and Cathepsin D (CTD) and real-time PCR for angiogenic genes HIF-1α, VEGF, VEGF Receptor 2 (VEGF-R2), CTD, CD31 and IL-6 were performed. These molecules are considered important effectors of tissue repair responses mediated by the development of new blood vessels. We observed a decrease in acute renal injury mediated by pharmacological preconditioning with opioids. Renal function in opioid preconditioning groups was like in the sham control group. Both anesthetics modulated the expression of HIF-1, VEGF, VEGF-R2 and CD31. Preconditioning negatively regulated CTD. Opioid preconditioning decreased injury through modulation of angiogenic molecule expression. These are factors to consider when establishing strategies in pathophysiological and surgical processes.