Microalgae Cultivation and Biomass Quantification in a Bench-Scale Photobioreactor with Corrosive Flue Gases.

Photobioreactors are illuminated cultivation systems for experiments on phototrophic microorganisms. These systems provide a sterile environment for microalgal cultivation with temperature, pH, and gas composition and flow rate control. At bench-scale, photobioreactors are advantageous to researchers studying microalgal properties, productivity, and growth optimization.

The novel cytokine interleukin-33 activates acinar cell proinflammatory pathways and induces acute pancreatic inflammation in mice.

Background: Acute pancreatitis is potentially fatal but treatment options are limited as disease pathogenesis is poorly understood. IL-33, a novel IL-1 cytokine family member, plays a role in various inflammatory conditions but its role in acute pancreatitis is not well understood. Specifically, whether pancreatic acinar cells produce IL-33 when stressed or respond to IL-33 stimulation, and whether IL-33 exacerbates acute pancreatic inflammation is unknown.

Systemic inflammation with multiorgan dysfunction is the cause of death in murine ligation-induced acute pancreatitis.

Background: We have previously shown that distal pancreatic duct ligation-induced acute pancreatitis in mice is associated with substantial mortality.

Methods: We examined the cause of death in duct ligation-induced acute pancreatitis in mice by serial examination of multiple parameters in three experimental groups: distal pancreatic duct ligation (PD), bile duct ligation alone (BD), and sham operation (S).

Results: BD and S had no mortality, while PD had 94% mortality with most deaths between days 2 and 4.

A novel model of severe gallstone pancreatitis: murine pancreatic duct ligation results in systemic inflammation and substantial mortality.

Background: Suitable experimental models of gallstone pancreatitis with systemic inflammation and mortality are limited. We developed a novel murine model of duct-ligation-induced acute pancreatitis associated with multiorgan dysfunction and severe mortality.

Methods: Laparotomy was done on C57/BL6 mice followed by pancreatic duct (PD) ligation, bile duct (BD) ligation without PD ligation, or sham operation.

Dominant negative p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase expression inhibits NF-kappaB activation in AR42J cells.

Background: The role of the p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in acute pancreatitis pathogenesis is controversial. We hypothesize that p38 plays a role in regulating NF-kappaB activation in exocrine pancreatic cells.

Methods: AR42J cells incorporating an NF-kappaB-responsive luciferase reporter, with and without adenoviral transduction of DNp38, were stimulated with cholecystokinin (CCK) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) prior to measuring NF-kappaB activation.