Search results for " mixtures"
showing 10 items of 885 documents
Cigarette smoke extract activates human bronchial epithelial cells affecting non-neuronal cholinergic system signalling in vitro.
2010
Abstract Aims Acetylcholine (ACh) is synthesized by Choline Acetyl-Transferase (ChAT) that exerts its physiological effects in airway epithelial cells via muscarinic receptor (MR) activation. We evaluate the effect of ACh stimulation on human bronchial epithelial cells (16-HBE) and test whether cigarette smoke extract (CSE) can modify the basal cellular response to ACh affecting the non-neuronal cholinergic system signalling. Main methods ACh stimulated 16-HBE were tested for ACh-binding, Leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ) release and ERK1/2 and NFkB pathway activation. Additionally, we investigated all the aforementioned parameters as well as ChAT and MR proteins and mRNA expression and endogenous A…
Lysine triggers apoptosis through a NADPH oxidase-dependent mechanism in human renal tubular cells
2012
Progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in lysinuric protein intolerance (LPI), a primary inherited aminoaciduria characterized by massive Lysine excretion in urine. However, by which mechanisms Lysine may cause kidney damage to tubule cells is still not understood. This study determined whether Lysine overloading of human proximal tubular cells (HK-2) in culture enhances apoptotic cell loss and its associated mechanisms. Overloading HK-2 with Lysine levels reproducing those observed in urine of patients affected by LPI (10 mM) increased apoptosis (+30%; p < 0.01 vs.C), as well as Bax and Apaf-1 expressions (+30-50% p < 0.05), while downregulated Bcl-2 (-40% p < 0.05). Apoptosis …
Differential blockade by nifedipine and ω-conotoxin GVIA of α1- and β1-adrenoceptor-controlled calcium channels on motor nerve terminals of the rat
1990
Electrically evoked release of [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) from the rat phrenic nerve and its facilitation by stimulation of presynaptic alpha 1- and beta 1-adrenoceptors were investigated in the absence and presence of nifedipine and omega-conotoxin GVIA. Both calcium channel antagonists did not modify electrically evoked [3H]ACh release, but selectively blocked the effect triggered by both facilitatory adrenergic receptors. The increase in [3H]ACh release mediated via beta 1-adrenoceptor activation was abolished by low concentrations (1 nM) of omega-conotoxin GVIA, whereas nifedipine (100 nM) abolished the facilitatory effect mediated via alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation. Therefore, the b…
Comparative study of oral micronucleated cell frequency in oral submucous fibrosis patients and healthy individuals
2011
Objectives: To determine the frequency of micronucleated cells and micronuclei in oral submucous fibrosis patients and to compare with healthy individuals. Study design: Twenty patients with oral submucous fibrosis and twenty age-sex-matched healthy individuals as control group participated in this study. Exfoliated cells were obtained by scraping from right and left buccal mucosa and were screened for micronucleated cells and micronuclei. Frequencies were compared between oral submucous fibrosis and control group. Also comparison was made between chewing site and non-chewing site of buccal mucosa. Results: Frequency of micronucleated cells and micronuclei in oral submucous fibrosis patient…
Medicated hydrogels of hyaluronic acid derivatives for use in orthopedic field.
2013
Physical hydrogels have been obtained from hyaluronic acid derivatized with polylactic acid in the presence or in the absence of polyethylene glycol chains. They have been extemporarily loaded with antibacterial agents, such as vancomycin and tobramycin. These medicated hydrogels have been used to coat titanium disks (chosen as simple model of orthopedic prosthesis) and in vitro studies in simulated physiological fluid have been performed as a function of time and for different drug loading and polymer concentration values. Sterilization process performed on the hydrogels does not change their rheological behavior and release properties as well as the chemical structure of starting copolyme…
Cigarette smoke alters non-neuronal cholinergic system components inducing MUC5AC production in the H292 cell line.
2013
Abstract Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) affects the expression of Choline Acetyl-Transferase (ChAT), muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, and mucin production in bronchial epithelial cells. Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC), muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M3, ChAT expression, acetylcholine levels and acetylcholine binding were measured in a human pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma cell line (H292) stimulated with CSE. We performed ChAT/RNA interference experiments in H292 cells stimulated with CSE to study the role of ChAT/acetylcholine in MUC5AC production. The effects of Hemicholinium-3 (HCh-3) (50 μM) (a potent and selective choline uptake blocker) and Tiotropium bromide (Spiriva ® ) (100 nM), alone o…
Quality Control for Medicinal Plants
2012
The scientific basis of evidence-based medicine is still poor in herbal medicine. For the integration of herbal medicine into western medicine, internationally accepted standards are necessitated, including quality control of herbal products as well as preclinical and clinical evidence of safety and efficacy. In recent years, thriving innovative technologies emerged in phytotherapy research, e.g. DNA-based technologies for the authentication of plant species, good practice guidelines for standardized experimentations. High-quality herbal materials should undergo rigorous examination by analytical techniques for chemoprofiling of medicinal herbs, as well as toxicological methods to detect co…
Regulation by oestrogens of tachykinin NK3 receptor expression in the rat uterus.
1997
The expression of the tachykinin NK3 receptor and its regulation by ovarian steroids were analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in uteri from ovariectomized rats. A single transcript corresponding to the 325-bp product expected for the tachykinin NK3 receptor was detected in uteri from olive oil-treated (control) ovariectomized rats. The level of tachykinin NK3 receptor mRNA in progesterone-treated animals was similar to that observed in uteri from control ones. Tachykinin NK3 receptor mRNA levels were significantly smaller in uteri from oestrogen-treated ovariectomized rats, with approximately a 32-fold decrease. These findings suggest that oestrogen, but not…
Comparison of adjuvant and adjuvant-free murine experimental asthma models
2009
Introduction The most widely used protocol for the induction of experimental allergic airway inflammation in mice involves sensitization by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of the antigen ovalbumin (OVA) used in conjunction with the adjuvant aluminium hydroxide (alum). Although adjuvants are frequently used, there are questions regarding the necessity of alum for murine asthma studies due to the non-physiological nature of this chemical. Objective The objective of this study was to compare experimental asthma phenotypes between adjuvant and adjuvant-free protocols of murine allergic airway inflammation in an attempt to develop a standardized alternative to adjuvant use. Method An adjuvant-…
Is there a microbial sub alpha-diversity at soil microscale ?
2012
The distribution of the soil microbial diversity depends on a broad range of environmental filters nested in spatial scales from continent to millimeter. Although microbial biogeography studies have recently shown the influence of environmental factors (texture/pH/plant cover and land-use) on soil microbial abundance and diversity, little is still known about spatial heterogeneity at a micro-scale within soil. Our study aims at describing and understanding the distribution of abundance and diversity of soil microbial communities between different soil microenvironments. Four soils were selected on the basis of differences in physico-chemical properties and historical land-management practic…