Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation characterises stable and exacerbated COPD and correlates with airflow limitation.

Background: COPD is a progressive disease of the airways that is characterized by neutrophilic inflammation, a condition known to promote the excessive formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The presence of large amounts of NETs has recently been demonstrated for a variety of inflammatory lung diseases including cystic fibrosis, asthma and exacerbated COPD.

Objective: We test whether excessive NET generation is restricted to exacerbation of COPD or whether it also occurs during stable periods of the disease, and whether NET presence and amount correlates with the severity of airflow limitation.

The initial inflammatory response to bioactive implants is characterized by NETosis.

Implants trigger an inflammatory response, which is important for osseointegration. Here we studied neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) release of human neutrophils in response to sandblasted large-grit acid etched (SLA) implants using fluorescent, confocal laser scanning and scanning electron microscopy. Our studies demonstrate that human neutrophils rapidly adhered to SLA surfaces, which triggered histone citrullination and NET release.

New aspects on the structure of neutrophil extracellular traps from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and in vitro generation.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils have in recent years attracted new attention due to their ability to release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). These web-like extracellular structures deriving from nuclear chromatin have been depicted in ambiguous roles between antimicrobial defence and host tissue damage. NETs consist of DNA strands of varying thickness and are decorated with microbicidal and cytotoxic proteins.

Fibrin mimics neutrophil extracellular traps in SEM.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are extracellular web-like structures produced by activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils. NETs kill bacteria extracellularly, but their role in human pathology remains largely unclear. One possible way of studying NETs is through the SEM approach.

Neutrophil fate in gingival crevicular fluid.

The fate of the neutrophils within the inflammatory exudate in the periodontal crevice and their possible participation in the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are of clinical interest. However, the cytological analysis of clinical samples of inflammatory exudate is restricted by the obtainable quantities, which do not enable employing the routine approaches. Clinical examinations, ACLAR strip sampling, scanning electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy were employed to analyze purulent crevicular exudate and gingival crevicular fluid in periodontitis.

Antiproliferative properties of Padma Lax and its components ginger and elecampane.

Background: Padma Lax (PL) is a multi-component herbal laxative, derived from traditional Tibetan medicine. It has been used in the treatment of constipation dominant irritable bowel syndrome. Beyond its purgative and bowel-regulating properties we found it to exhibit antiproliferative properties.