Search results for "nap"

Dual specificity phosphatase 1 knockout mice show enhanced susceptibility to anaphylaxis but are sensitive to glucocorticoids.

2007

Dual specificity phosphatase DUSP1 (otherwise known as mitogen-activated phosphatase 1 or MKP-1) dephosphorylates MAPKs, particularly p38, and negatively regulates innate immunity. Recent studies have shown that the DUSP1 gene is transcriptionally up-regulated by glucocorticoids (GCs) and that the antiinflammatory action of GCs is impaired in DUSP1-/- mice. Here we show that GC-mediated dephosphorylation of ERK-1 and ERK-2 activated by IgE receptor cross-linking is unimpaired in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) of DUSP1-/- mice. Dephosphorylation of phospho-p38 MAPK is impaired but only at early times of GC treatment. Proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine gene expression (CCL2, IL-6,…

Snapshot multi-spectral-line imaging for applications in dermatology and forensics

2019

Performance of multi-spectral imaging critically depends on image acquisition time and working spectral bandwidths. Ultimate performance can be achieved if a set of monochromatic (single-wavelength) spectral images is obtained by a single snapshot - a technique provisionally called “snapshot multi-spectral-line imaging” or SMSLI. The SMSLI principle and the developed prototype devices for 3, 4 and 5 spectral line snapshot imaging are described. Two potential practical applications of SMSLI are discussed – for fast mapping of the main in-vivo skin chromophores and for detection of counterfeit banknotes and documents.

Laser illumination designs for snapshot multi-spectral-line imaging

2019

For multi-spectral imaging, both acquisition time of the spectral image set and the spectral bandwidth of each image have to be minimized. Ultimate performance can be achieved if the set of monochromatic (single-wavelength) spectral images is obtained with a single snapshot — a technique provisionally called "snapshot multi-spectral-line imaging" or SMSLI. Using contemporary RGB colour cameras, up to three spectral line images can be extracted from a snapshot image data cube at specific illumination that comprises only three spectral lines, each of them positioned within one of the detection bands (R, G or B) [1]. Techniques able to provide more spectral line images are under development, a…

Single snapshot RGB multispectral imaging at fixed wavelengths: proof of concept

2014

A concept of single snapshot multispectral imaging by standard RGB image sensors under spectrally-specific illumination comprising a fixed number of narrow spectral lines is discussed and experimentally validated. The limiting conditions, RGB band spectral crosstalk corrections and potential applications for parametric mapping of skin are regarded, along with the preliminary results of the proof-of-concept measurements.

Failure of opioids to affect excitation and contraction in isolated ventricular heart muscle

1989

The opioid agonists morphine (selective for mu-receptors) and ethylketocyclazocine (selective for kappa-receptors), at concentrations evoking strong effects in neuronal structures, did not significantly affect the configuration of the intracellularly recorded action potential and the force of contraction in ventricular heart muscle isolated from guinea pigs, rabbits and man. These results suggest that any changes of heart functions in vivo in response to opioid-like drugs are probably not mediated postsynaptically at the myocardial cell membrane but rather presynaptically, influencing the release of noradrenaline and/or acetylcholine from the nerve terminals.

Facilitatory and inhibitory muscarine receptors on the rat phrenic nerve: effects of pirenzepine and dicyclomine

1988

Neuronal transmitter stores of the rat phrenic nerve were labelled by an incubation with [3H]choline. Release of [3H]acetylcholine was elicited either by a short (100 pulses, 5 Hz) or by a long (1500 pulses, 5 or 25 Hz) period of electrical nerve stimulation. Pirenzepine and dicyclomine enhanced transmitter release evoked by the short stimulation period. Both antagonists reduced transmitter release evoked by the long stimulation period. Pirenzepine reduced transmitter release at low concentrations (1 nmol/l) whereas a higher concentration was necessary for the enhancing effect; the opposite pattern was found for dicyclomine. A low concentration of oxotremorine (10 nmol/l) enhanced and a hig…

Effects of nicotine receptor agonists on acetylcholine release from the isolated motor nerve, small intestine and trachea of rats and guinea-pigs

1992

The effects of nicotine receptor agonists on the release of [3H]acetylcholine from the phrenic nerve, the small intestine and the trachea were investigated to characterize neuronal nicotine receptors within the peripheral nervous system. Contraction of the indirectly-stimulated hemidiaphragm was recorded to investigate desensitization of the postsynaptic muscular nicotine receptors. Nicotine, cytisine, 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium and 2-(4-aminophenyl)-ethyl-trimethyl-ammoniumiodide caused a concentration-dependent (0.1-30 microM) increase in evoked [3H]acetylcholine release from the phrenic nerve, whereby bell-shaped concentration-response curves were obtained. The rank order of decre…

Angiotensin converting enzyme gene polimorfism and central obesity: relationship with blood pressure and left ventricular structure and function

2001

Toxicity effects of the organic UV-filter 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor in zebrafish embryos

2019

Abstract Ultraviolet (UV) filters are widely used in personal care products and due to their lipophilicity these chemicals tend to bioaccumulate in the aquatic biota. 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) is one of the most used UV-filters, and it is commonly detected in freshwater fish tissues. This substance is suspected to be an endocrine disruptor due to its interaction with Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Gonadal (HPG) and HP-Thyroid (HPT)-axis. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of 4-MBC on apical endpoints, biochemical markers and on genes involved in endocrine pathways in Danio rerio. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to 4-MBC (0.083–0.77 mg/l) from 0 to 96 h post-fertil…

Effects of ovariectomy and steroid replacement on GABAA receptor binding in female rat brain.

1991

Abstract The specific binding of tritiated muscimol to γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor sites was studied in distinct brain areas of female rats during different endocrine states. In diestrous rats with intact ovaries the highest receptor densities were found in the cortex (10.24 pmol/mg protein) and the lowest concentrations in the mediobasal hypothalamus (3.29 pmol/mg protein). Four weeks after removal of the ovaries, the number of binding sites was enhanced up to 2.4-fold in all brain areas investigated: the preoptic brain area, mediobasal hypothalamus, corticomedial amygdala, and cerebral cortex. The affinity of the binding sites remained unchanged. Substitution of estradiol and prog…