Effects of flow lamination on aerosolized drug delivery through spatial barriers.

In this study we evaluated the effects of flow lamination on aerosol flow dynamics and deposition at the exit point in testing models with spatial barriers (narrowing or curving).We compared ModiFlow (MF) to an idealized Standard Spacer (SS) in their efficiency of delivery of aerosolized medication (fluticasone) across different types of spatial barriers. Fluticasone propionate HFA Inhaler from Prasco Labs 220 µg per actuation was used to deliver 1 spray in each test tube.

Electromagnetic Fields Generated by the IteraCoil Device Differentiate Mesenchymal Stem Progenitor Cells Into the Osteogenic Lineage.

Rapid advances in mesenchymal stem progenitor cells (MSPCs) have rendered impetus into the area of cell therapy and regenerative medicine. The main promise of future stem cell therapies is their reliance on autologous stem cells derived from adipose tissue, which also includes treatments of bone fractures and degeneration. The effectiveness of different electric devices utilized to reprogram MSPCs toward osteogenic differentiation has provided varying degrees of effectiveness for clinical use.

HIV infection modulates IL-1β response to LPS stimulation through a TLR4-NLRP3 pathway in human liver macrophages.

IL-1β is an important mediator of innate inflammatory responses and has been shown to contribute to liver injury in a number of etiologies. HIV patients have increased necroinflammation and more rapid fibrosis progression in chronic liver injury compared to non-HIV-infected patients. As the resident liver macrophage is critical to the IL-1β response to microbial translocation in chronic liver disease, we aim to examine the impact of HIV-1 and LPS stimulation on the IL-1β response of the resident hepatic macrophages.

Frontline Science: HIV infection of Kupffer cells results in an amplified proinflammatory response to LPS.

End-stage liver disease is a common cause of non-AIDS-related mortality in HIV patients, despite effective anti-retroviral therapies (ARTs). HIV-1 infection causes gut CD4 depletion and is thought to contribute to increased gut permeability, bacterial translocation, and immune activation. Microbial products drain from the gut into the liver via the portal vein where Kupffer cells (KCs), the resident liver macrophage, clear translocated microbial products.

Prothymosin-α Variants Elicit Anti-HIV-1 Response via TLR4 Dependent and Independent Pathways.

Background: Prothymosin α (ProTα) (isoform 2: iso2) is a widely distributed, small acidic protein with intracellular and extracellular-associated functions. Recently, we identified two new ProTα variants with potent anti-HIV activity from CD8+ T cells and cervicovaginal lavage. The first is a splice variant of the ProTα gene known as isoB and the second is the product of ProTα pseudogene 7 (p7).