Protective role of selenium on thyroid morphology in iodine-induced autoimmune thyroiditis in Wistar rats.

Excess iodine may induce and exacerbate autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) in humans and animals. In order to assess the potential protective mechanisms of selenium (Se) in thyroid autoimmunity, the effects of inorganic Se (sodium selenite) administration on thyroid morphology and follicular cytology were investigated in adult Wistar rats with iodine-induced AIT. A total of 48 adult Wistar rats (24 females, 24 males) were allocated to one of four dietary regimens: C0, control; C1, only potassium iodine (KI); C2, concomitant KI and Se; C3, only KI initially, followed by Se administration.

Atelocollagen-based Hydrogels Crosslinked with Oxidised Polysaccharides as Cell Encapsulation Matrix for Engineered Bioactive Stromal Tissue.

Tissue stroma is responsible for extracellular matrix (ECM) formation and secretion of factors that coordinate the behaviour of the surrounding cells through the microenvironment created. It's inability to spontaneously regenerate makes it a good candidate for research studies such as testing various tissue engineered products capable of replacing the stroma in order to assure normal tissue regeneration and function. In this study, a bioactive stroma was obtained considering two main components: 1) the artificial ECM formed using atelocollagen-oxidized polysaccharides hydrogels in which the polysaccharide compound (oxidised gellan or pullulan) has the role of crosslinker and 2) encapsulated stromal cells (dermal fibroblasts, ovarian theca-interstitial and granulosa cells).

SELENIUM STATUS IN AUTOIMMUNE THYROIDITIS.

Unlabelled: Selenium (Se) is an important element that exerts its effects through selenoproteins. The thyroid gland has the highest Se concentration and specific selenoprotein enzymes families are crucial in the thyroid hormone metabolism. There is little evidence on the link between Se and thyroid autoimmune disease, therefore future studies are required to elucidate the nature of this associ ation.

[Considerations on in vitro and in vivo magnetic nanoparticles hemocompatibility testing].

The aim of this paper is to summarize few aspects and underline some difficulties that hemocompatibility testing come up. The purpose of hemocompatibility testing is to look for possible undesirable changes in the blood caused directly by a medical device, by chemicals leaching from a device or biomaterials. Undesirable effects of device materials on the blood may include alterations in coagulation parameters, thrombus formation, hemolysis, and immunological changes.

[Production of chemoattractant-induced reactive oxygen species in human neutrophils--role of protein kinase C isoforms].

Unlabelled: The aim of our study was to characterize the priming effect of extracellular nucleotides on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production induced by formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP), interleukin-8 (IL-8), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and platelet activating factor (PAF). Also, we investigated the roles played by different protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in nucleotide-induced priming. ROS production was determined by an isoluminol-based assay.