Optimized Isolation and Characterization of C57BL/6 Mouse Hepatic Stellate Cells.

To obtain meaningful results of hepatic stellate cell (HSC) function, it is crucial to use highly pure HSC populations. Our aim was to optimize HSC isolation from mice livers without exploiting the characteristically transient vitamin A autofluorescence of HSC. HSCs were isolated from C57BL/6 mice using a two-step collagenase digestion and Nycodenz gradient separation followed by CD11b-negative sorting step in order to remove contaminating macrophages and dendritic cells.

Toll-Interleukin 1 Receptor Domain-Containing Adaptor Protein 180L Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Is Associated With Susceptibility to Recurrent Pneumococcal Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Children.

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are often caused by () and can be recurrent in 8% of children older than 2 years of age. is recognized by pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) of the innate immune system, in particular toll-like receptors (TLRs) 2 and 4. To assess whether a defect somewhere along this TLR signaling pathway increases susceptibility to recurrent pneumococcal LRTI, we conducted a prospective case-control study with 88 healthy individuals and 45 children with recurrent LRTI aged 2-5 years old.

Flow cytometric assessment of Streptococcus mutans viability after exposure to blue light-activated curcumin.

Background: Streptococcus mutans biofilms are considered as primary causative agents of dental caries. Photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) has been recently proposed as a strategy for inactivating dental biofilms. This study aimed to investigate the effect of blue light-activated curcumin on S.