Chemotaxis in : Evaluation by the two-chamber capillary assay.

Chemotactic responses play a significant role during differentiation through its life cycle and during infection. The aim of this description has been to portray the modified "two-chamber capillary chemotaxis assay" as a technique useful for quantitative evaluation of chemotaxis after reviewing the methods described until now to assess chemotaxis in . This valued simple and reproducible method convenient for parasite migration determination, was tested by the use of controlled changes in monosaccharide (D-glucose and D-fructose) concentrations as referent ligands.

Seasonal Antimicrobial Activity of the Airway: Post-Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Trial.

Background: It is widely unknown why respiratory infections follow a seasonal pattern. Variations in ultraviolet B (UVB) light during seasons affects cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D. Serum vitamin D concentration influences the expression of airway surface liquid (ASL) antimicrobial peptides such as LL-37.

30% Ethanol Locks Are Effective in Preventing Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Pediatric Intestinal Failure: A Pilot Study.

Background: Complications related to central venous lines (CVLs) are common in intestinal failure (IF), including central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). Replacing heparin with 70% ethanol locks can reduce infection rates; however, concerns exist about potential negative effects on catheter integrity. We hypothesized that a lower ethanol concentration combined with citrate would prevent catheter-related complications, including CLABSIs.

Airway surface liquid from smokers promotes bacterial growth and biofilm formation via iron-lactoferrin imbalance.

Background: Smoking is a leading cause of respiratory infections worldwide. Tobacco particulate matter disrupts iron homeostasis in the lungs and increases the iron content in the airways of smokers. The airway epithelia secrete lactoferrin to quench iron required for bacteria to proliferate and cause lung infections.

Development of a polarized pancreatic ductular cell epithelium for physiological studies.

Pancreatic ductular epithelial cells comprise the majority of duct cells in pancreas, control cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-dependent bicarbonate ([Formula: see text]) secretion, but are difficult to grow as a polarized monolayer. Using NIH-3T3-J2 fibroblast feeder cells and a Rho-associated kinase inhibitor, we produced well-differentiated and polarized porcine pancreatic ductular epithelial cells. Cells grown on semipermeable filters at the air-liquid interface developed typical epithelial cell morphology and stable transepithelial resistance and expressed epithelial cell markers (zona occludens-1 and β-catenin), duct cell markers (SOX-9 and CFTR), but no acinar (amylase) or islet cell (chromogranin) markers.

Effect of vitamin D on the antimicrobial activity of human airway surface liquid: preliminary results of a randomised placebo-controlled double-blind trial.

Introduction: Vitamin D supplementation has been reported to prevent lung infections and increase the gene expression of antimicrobial peptides such as cathelicidin. We investigated the effect of vitamin D supplementation on the antimicrobial activity of airway surface liquid (ASL) in human subjects. Since smoking can increase the risk of respiratory infections, we also investigated the effect of smoking in the cathelicidin response to vitamin D in human airway epithelia in vitro.

Effects of Coal Fly Ash Particulate Matter on the Antimicrobial Activity of Airway Surface Liquid.

Background: Sustained exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is a global cause of mortality. Coal fly ash (CFA) is a byproduct of coal combustion and is a source of anthropogenic PM with worldwide health relevance. The airway epithelia are lined with fluid called airway surface liquid (ASL), which contains antimicrobial proteins and peptides (AMPs).

Glycaemic regulation and insulin secretion are abnormal in cystic fibrosis pigs despite sparing of islet cell mass.

Diabetes is a common and significant co-morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF). The pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis related diabetes (CFRD) is incompletely understood. Because exocrine pancreatic disease is similar between humans and pigs with CF, the CF pig model has the potential to contribute significantly to the understanding of CFRD pathogenesis.