Protease-activated receptor 1 in the pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis.

Background: The most common cause of death in those with cystic fibrosis (CF) is respiratory failure due to bronchiectasis resulting from repeated cycles of respiratory infection and inflammation. Protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) is a cell surface receptor activated by serine proteases including neutrophil elastase, which is recognised as a potent modulator of inflammation. While PAR1 is known to play an important role in regulating inflammation, nothing is known about any potential role of this receptor in CF pathogenesis.

Astragalus polysaccharide alleviates mastitis disrupted by Staphylococcus aureus infection by regulating gut microbiota and SCFAs metabolism.

Polysaccharides, key bioactive compounds derived from Chinese herbs, are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic potential in modulating gut microbiota to treat various diseases. However, their efficacy in alleviating mammary inflammation and oxidative stress and protecting the blood-milk barrier (BMB) compromised by Staphylococcus aureus (S. au) infection remains uncertain.

Construction of Oxygen-Rich Carbon Foams for Rapid Carbon Dioxide Capture.

As carbon dioxide (CO) adsorbents, porous materials with high specific surface areas and abundant CO-philic groups always exhibit high CO capacities. Based on this consensus, a category of oxygen-rich macroporous carbon foams was fabricated from macroporous resorcinol-formaldehyde resins (PRFs), which were obtained via an oil-in-water concentrated emulsion. By the active effect of potassium hydroxide (KOH) at high temperatures, the resultant carbon foams (ACRFs) possessed abundant micropores with rich oxygen content simultaneously.

Lamin B1 promotes tumor progression and metastasis in primary prostate cancer patients.

To determine the role of lamin B1 (LMNB1) in the progression and metastasis of primary prostate cancer (PC). Two PC cohorts were used to investigate the clinical relationship between expression and tumor progression and metastasis. The qRT-PCR results revealed that expression was markedly increased in patients with aggressive features and was associated with worse prognosis.

Nitrogen-Doped Ketjenblack Carbon Supported CoO Nanoparticles as a Synergistic Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction.

Developing a highly active and cost-effective cathode electrocatalyst with strong stability for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is extremely necessary. In this work, we reported a facile synthetic path to prepare a hybrid nanostructure formed of nitrogen-doped Ketjenblack carbon (N-KC) supported CoO nanoparticles (CoO/N-KC), which could be used as a promising and stable electrocatalyst for ORR. Compared with the physical mixture of CoO and N-KC and pure N-KC samples, the resulting CoO/N-KC nanohybrid afforded remarkably superb ORR activity with a half-wave potential of 0.

Protease-activated Receptor 1 Plays a Proinflammatory Role in Colitis by Promoting Th17-related Immunity.

Background: Proteolytic cleavage of protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) can result in potent downstream regulatory effects on inflammation. Although PAR1 is expressed throughout the gastrointestinal tract and activating proteases are increased in inflammatory bowel disease, the effect of PAR1 activation on colitis remains poorly understood, and has not previously been studied in pediatric disease.

Methods: Expression of PAR1 and inflammatory cytokines in colonic biopsies from pediatric patients with Crohn's disease exhibiting active moderate to severe colitis was measured by quantitative PCR.

Activation of TRIF-dependent and independent immune responses by neisserial heat shock protein complex vaccines.

ASBTRACT Heat shock protein Complex (HspC) vaccines are composed of Hsp purified from pathogenic bacteria along with their chaperoned protein cargo. Mouse studies have shown that HspC vaccines can induce a strong immune response against pathogenic bacteria without addition of an exogenous adjuvant. These vaccines are now entering clinical trials.

β-Cyclodextrin functionalized polystyrene porous monoliths for separating phenol from wastewater.

A β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) functionalized polystyrene porous monolith was prepared by the following procedure: First, β-CD was modified with allyl bromide leading to allyl-β-cyclodextrin (allyl-β-CD); then a concentrated emulsion was prepared using a mixture of allyl-β-CD, styrene, and divinyl benzene as the continuous phase and water as the dispersed phase. In the third step, a β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) functionalized polystyrene porous monolith was obtained by copolymerization of allyl-β-CD and styrene followed by removal of the water phase. Since the allyl-β-CD contained both hydrophilic and hydrophobic groups, it tended to move towards the water/oil interface.

Fabrication of interfacial functionalized porous polymer monolith and its adsorption properties of copper ions.

The interfacial functionalized poly (glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) porous monolith was fabricated and applied as a novel porous adsorbent for copper ions (Cu(2+)). PGMA porous material with highly interconnected pore network was prepared by concentrated emulsion polymerization template. Then polyacrylic acid (PAA) was grafted onto the interface of the porous monolith by the reaction between the epoxy group on PGMA and a carboxyl group on PAA.

Heat shock protein complex vaccination induces protection against Helicobacter pylori without exogenous adjuvant.

Background: The development of a vaccine against the human gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori, the main causative agent of gastric adenocarcinoma, has been hampered by a number of issues, including the lack of a mucosal adjuvant for use in humans. Heat shock proteins (Hsp), highly conserved molecules expressed by both bacteria and mammalian species, possess a range of functions, including acting as chaperones for cellular proteins and the ability to activate innate immune receptors. Hsp complex (HspC) vaccines, containing Hsp derived from pathogenic bacteria, are immunostimulatory without addition of an exogenous adjuvant and can induce immunity against their chaperoned proteins.