Role of mitochondrial DNA level in epidural-related maternal fever: a single-centre, observational, pilot study.

Introduction: Epidural analgesia has been associated with intrapartum maternal fever development. Epidural-related maternal fever (ERMF) is believed to be based on a non-infectious inflammatory reaction. Circulating cell-free mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (mtDNA) is one of the possible triggers of sterile inflammatory processes; however, a connection has not been investigated so far.

The oral contraceptive cycle and its influences on maximal and submaximal endurance parameters in elite handball players.

The usage of the oral contraceptive pill is widespread among athletes of various levels. However, there is limited knowledge on how the intake of the pill alters the submaximal and maximal endurance parameters between the oral contraceptive phases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine potential differences between the pill intake and withdrawal phase on endurance-related parameters in first-division handball players.

Reduced Monocyte and Neutrophil Infiltration and Activation by P-Selectin/CD62P Inhibition Enhances Thrombus Resolution in Mice.

Background: Venous thromboembolism is a major health problem. After thrombus formation, its resolution is essential to re-establish blood flow, which is crucially mediated by infiltrating neutrophils and monocytes in concert with activated platelets and endothelial cells. Thus, we aimed to modulate leukocyte function during thrombus resolution post-thrombus formation by blocking P-selectin/CD62P-mediated cell interactions.

Neutrophil extracellular traps induce persistent lung tissue damage via thromboinflammation without altering virus resolution in a mouse coronavirus model.

Background: During infection, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are associated with severity of pulmonary diseases such as acute respiratory disease syndrome. NETs induce subsequent immune responses, are directly cytotoxic to pulmonary cells, and are highly procoagulant. Anticoagulation treatment was shown to reduce in-hospital mortality, indicating thromboinflammatory complications.

Association of telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number, two biomarkers of biological aging, with the risk of venous thromboembolism.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the third most common cardiovascular disease and occurs in all age groups, albeit the risk increases considerably with age. Previous research indicates mitochondrial dysfunction and telomere shortening in cardiovascular aging. However, in the context of VTE this has not been investigated in detail.

Staphylococcus aureus extracellular adherence protein (Eap) reduces immune cell phenotype in developing but not in established atherosclerotic lesions.

Atherosclerosis is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the vessel wall where triggered immune cells bind to inflamed endothelium, extravasate and sustain local inflammation. Leukocyte adhesion and extravasation are mediated by adhesion molecules expressed by activated endothelial cells, like intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1). Extracellular adherence protein (Eap) from Staphylococcus aureus binds to a plethora of extracellular matrix proteins, including ICAM-1 and its ligands macrophage-1 antigen (Mac-1, αβ) and lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1, αβ), thereby disrupting the interaction between leukocytes and endothelial cells.

Interleukin-4 receptor alpha signaling regulates monocyte homeostasis.

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) and its receptors (IL-4R) promote the proliferation and polarization of macrophages. However, it is unknown if IL-4R also influences monocyte homeostasis and if steady state IL-4 levels are sufficient to affect monocytes. Employing full IL-4 receptor alpha knockout mice (IL-4Rα ) and mice with a myeloid-specific deletion of IL-4Rα (IL-4Rα LysM ), we show that IL-4 acts as a homeostatic factor regulating circulating monocyte numbers.

Quantitative and Functional Assessment of the Influence of Routinely Used Cryopreservation Media on Mononuclear Leukocytes for Medical Research.

Quantitative and functional analysis of mononuclear leukocyte populations is an invaluable tool to understand the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of a disease. Cryopreservation of mononuclear cells (MNCs) is routinely used to guarantee similar experimental conditions. Immune cells react differently to cryopreservation, and populations and functions of immune cells change during the process of freeze-thawing.

PI3-kinase inhibition as a strategy to suppress the leukemic stem cell niche in Ph+ chronic myeloid leukemia.

Recent data suggest that the disease-associated microenvironment, known as the leukemic stem cell (LSC) niche, is substantially involved in drug resistance of LSC in BCR-ABL1 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Attacking the LSC niche in CML may thus be an effective approach to overcome drug resistance. We have recently shown that osteoblasts are a major site of niche-mediated LSC resistance against second- and third-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in CML.

The plasminogen receptor Plg-R regulates adipose function and metabolic homeostasis.

Background: Plg-R , a unique transmembrane plasminogen receptor, enhances the activation of plasminogen to plasmin, and localizes the proteolytic activity of plasmin on the cell surface.

Objectives: We investigated the role of Plg-R in adipose function, metabolic homeostasis, and obesity.

Methods: We used adipose tissue (AT) sections from bariatric surgery patients and from high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice together with immunofluorescence and real-time polymerase chain reaction to study adipose expression of Plg-R .

MiRNA Let-7a and Let-7d Are Induced by Globotriaosylceramide via NF-kB Activation in Fabry Disease.

Background: Fabry disease is a hereditary genetic defect resulting in reduced activity of the enzyme α-galactosidase-A and the accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in body fluids and cells. Gb3 accumulation was especially reported for the vascular endothelium in several organs.

Methods: Three Fabry disease patients were screened using a micro-RNA screen.

Strength Performance Across the Oral Contraceptive Cycle of Team Sport Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Oral contraceptive pills (OCP) are very popular in female athletes not only for contraceptive effects but also due to the possibility of cycle manipulation. Moreover, it is debatable whether the manipulation of the menstrual cycle has a beneficial effect on exercise performance. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate potential differences in knee-extensor and flexor strength performance of first division team sport athletes between phases of the oral contraceptive cycle.

Pharmacological inhibition of fatty acid oxidation reduces atherosclerosis progression by suppression of macrophage NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Background: Inflammation is a key process during atherosclerotic lesion development and propagation. Recent evidence showed clearly that especially the inhibition of interleukin (IL)-1β reduced atherosclerotic adverse events in human patients. Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) was previously demonstrated to interact with the NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) pathway which is required for mature IL-1β secretion.

Effects of Nicorandil on Inflammation, Apoptosis and Atherosclerotic Plaque Progression.

Nicorandil, a balanced vasodilator, is used in the second-line therapy of angina pectoris. In this study, we aimed to illuminate the effects of nicorandil on inflammation, apoptosis, and atherosclerotic plaque progression. Twenty-five LDL-R -/- mice were fed a high-fat diet for 14 weeks.

Circulating MicroRNAs and Monocyte-Platelet Aggregate Formation in Acute Coronary Syndrome.

Background:  Monocyte-platelet aggregates (MPAs) are a sensitive marker of in vivo platelet activation in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and associated with clinical outcomes. MicroRNAs (miRs) play an important role in the regulation of platelet activation, and may influence MPA formation. Both, miRs and MPA, could be influenced by the type of P2Y12 inhibitor.

Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Degradation by Differently Polarized Macrophage Subsets.

Objective: Macrophages are immune cells, capable to remodel the extracellular matrix, which can harbor extracellular DNA incorporated into neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). To study the breakdown of NETs we studied the capability of macrophage subsets to degrade these structures in vitro and in vivo in a murine thrombosis model. Furthermore, we analyzed human abdominal aortic aneurysm samples in support of our in vitro and in vivo results.

Alternative activation of human macrophages enhances tissue factor expression and production of extracellular vesicles.

Macrophages are versatile cells that can be polarized by the tissue environment to fulfill required needs. Proinflammatory polarization is associated with increased tissue degradation and propagation of inflammation whereas alternative polarization within a Th2 cytokine environment is associated with wound healing and angiogenesis. To understand if polarization of macrophages can lead to a procoagulant macrophage subset we polarized human monocyte derived macrophages to a proinflammatory and an alternative activation state.

Protease-Activated Receptors 1 and 3 are Differentially Expressed on Human Monocyte Subsets and are Upregulated by Lipopolysaccharide Ex Vivo and In Vivo.

Monocytes are activated in inflammatory conditions via a variety of cytokine receptors as well as in a procoagulatory setting through thrombin, acting upon protease-activated receptors (PARs). This study investigated the expression pattern of PAR1 and PAR3 on human monocyte subsets. Furthermore, a possible regulation of the expression of PAR1 and PAR3 in these cells by inflammatory activation were studied.

Feasibility of methyl mercaptane as probe molecule for supported gold nanoparticle surface area determination.

Abstract: Gold nanoparticles supported on TiO2 were probed by adsorption of methyl mercaptane (MM), and the process was quantified gravimetrically. This method allowed discrimination between weakly adsorbed (physisorbed) and strongly bound (chemisorbed) methyl mercaptane. Strong adsorption of MM occured on exposed Au faces, while low-temperature pre-treatment (30 degrees C) completely suppressed adsorption of MM on the TiO2 support.

Chemisorption of methyl mercaptane on titania-supported Au nanoparticles: Viability of Au surface area determination.

Well-characterized Au nanoparticles were deposited on commercial TiO(2) (P25, Degussa) and analyzed by means of STEM and thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectrometry (TG-MS). The adsorption was studied on Au/TiO(2) samples with Au loadings in the range of 1.1-9.

A versatile in situ spectroscopic cell for fluorescence/transmission EXAFS and X-ray diffraction of heterogeneous catalysts in gas and liquid phase.

A new spectroscopic cell suitable for the analysis of heterogeneous catalysts by fluorescence EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure), transmission EXAFS and X-ray diffraction during in situ treatments and during catalysis is described. Both gas-phase and liquid-phase reactions can be investigated combined with on-line product analysis performed either by mass spectrometry or infrared spectroscopy. The set-up allows measurements from liquid-nitrogen temperature to 973 K.

SOx storage materials under Lean-Rich cycling conditions--Part II: influence of Pt, H2O, and cycling time.

The role of Pt and the influence of the reaction conditions during lean-rich cycling experiments were studied on a second generation SOx trapping material. The combination of the Generalized 2-D Correlation Analysis, 2-D Sample-Sample Correlation Analysis, and Factor Analysis using the MCR-ALS technique was applied to identify the reactive species. Transient surface sulfate species were formed under oxidative reaction conditions (lean mode) and decomposed under reducing reaction conditions (rich operation mode).