Nitrogen-functionalized graphene quantum dot incorporated GelMA microgels as fluorescent 3D-tissue Constructs.

Biopolymer microgels present many opportunities in biomedicine and tissue engineering. To understand their behavior in therapeutic interventions, long-term monitoring is critical, which is usually achieved by incorporating fluorescent materials within the hydrogel matrix. Current research is limited due to issues concerning the biocompatibility and instability of the conventional fluorescent species, which also tend to adversely affect the bio-functionality of the hydrogels.

Molecular evolution and expression profile of the chemerine encoding gene RARRES2 in baboon and chimpanzee.

Background: Chemerin, encoded by the retinoic acid receptor responder 2 (RARRES2) gene is an adipocytesecreted protein with autocrine/paracrine functions in adipose tissue, metabolism and inflammation with a recently described function in vascular tone regulation, liver, steatosis, etc. This molecule is believed to represent a critical endocrine signal linking obesity to diabetes. There are no data available regarding evolution of RARRES2 in non-human primates and great apes.

Mathematical modeling of the release of active ingredients from a contraceptive patch: ortho evra(®) as a case study.

Contraceptive patches have become a frequently used contraceptive method. We present a mathematical model that describes the serum concentration profiles of Norelgestromin (NGMN) and Ethinylestradiol (EE) released from the contraceptive patch Ortho Evra(®). We propose a simple one-compartment model based on pharmacokinetics data reported in previous studies.

Human neutrophils synthesize IL-8 in an IgE-mediated activation.

It has been demonstrated that neutrophils are responsible for the release of large amounts of the inflammatory chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8), associated with inflammation. To further define the mechanisms implicated, we have analyzed the response of human neutrophils from allergic patients to specific antigens or challenge with anti-immunoglobulin (Ig)E antibodies. Neutrophils showed a dose- and time-dependent production of IL-8.

A new role for monoamine oxidases in the modulation of macrophage-inducible nitric oxide synthase gene expression.

This report focuses on the modulatory role of endogenous H(2)O(2) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) gene expression in rat peritoneal macrophages. Exogenously added H(2)O(2) was initially found to inhibit the synthesis of NOS2, which prompted us to assess the effect of the activity of monoamine oxidase (MAO) and semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) as H(2)O(2)-forming enzymes on NOS2 gene expression. In the presence of their substrates, tyramine for MAO and benzylamine for SSAO, intracellular synthesis of H(2)O(2) took place with concomitant inhibition of LPS/IFN-gamma-induced NOS2 protein synthesis, as detected by Western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence microscopy analyses.

Oxidative stress is a critical mediator of the angiotensin II signal in human neutrophils: involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase, calcineurin, and the transcription factor NF-kappaB.

Neutrophils are mobilized to the vascular wall during vessel inflammation. Published data are conflicting on phagocytic nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activation during the hypertensive state, and the capacity of angiotensin II (Ang II) to modulate the intracellular redox status has not been analyzed in neutrophils. We here describe that Ang II highly stimulates endogenous and extracellular O2- production in these cells, consistent with the translocation to the cell membrane of the cytosolic components of NADPH oxidase, p47phox, and p67phox.

Activation of phagocytic cell NADPH oxidase by norfloxacin: a potential mechanism to explain its bactericidal action.

The mechanisms underlying the bactericidal power of fluoroquinolones against intracellular parasites in host macrophages remain poorly understood. We have analyzed the effect of norfloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, on the production of reactive oxygen intermediates (O(2)(*-) and H(2)O(2)) and NADPH oxidase activity in mouse macrophages. The generation of anion superoxide (O(2)(*-)) was found to be significantly greater in macrophages incubated with norfloxacin than in untreated controls.