The Presence of Smoking and Alcohol Imaginary in Popular Movies Available in Netflix Online Streaming Platform.

Exposure of tobacco and alcohol consumption in media and filmmaking has been related to promotion of smoking and drinking in adults. Current regulation aims to restrict tobacco and alcohol advertising in order to avoid alcohol consumption and smoking habits. We aimed to assess the impact of smoking and drinking habits in video-on-demand services.

"The Saint" gone good. Smoking and drinking over time in the popular series.

Background: Alcohol-related health and social problems are prevalent in almost all societies that consume alcohol and the presence of alcohol use in the movies is a known issue. The same holds true for smoking prevalence in film-making.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to assess tobacco-related content and alcohol consumption in "The Saint" series and movies.

The Role of Interleukin-6 in the Pathogenesis, Prognosis and Treatment of Severe COVID-19.

A newly identified virus appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, was named severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 presents similarities with two previous coronavirus pandemics, MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) and SARSCoV, concerning phylogenetic origin, structural composition, and clinical symptoms, thus, leading to common pathogenic mechanisms. The purpose of this review is to declare the role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the pathogenesis, prognosis, and treatment of COVID-19 by comparing its effect on SARS-CoV and MERS cases.

The Effect of Dialysis Modality and Membrane Performance on Native Immunity in Dialysis Patients.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is characterized by immune activation with development of chronic inflammation. However, immune deficiency also exists in CKD patients. The number and the activity of Natural Killer cells (NK-cells) are influenced by the biocompatibility of various dialysis membranes.

Hydrogen peroxide signals E. coli phagocytosis by human polymorphonuclear cells; up-stream and down-stream pathway.

Hydrogen peroxide (Η2Ο2) is produced during a variety of cellular procedures. In this paper, the regulatory role of Η2Ο2, in Escherichia coli phagocytosis by the human polymorphonuclears, was investigated. White blood cells were incubated with dihydrorhodamine (DHR) in order to study H2O2 synthesis and E.

Hydrogen peroxide is produced by E. coli challenged haemocytes and regulates phagocytosis, in the medfly Ceratitis capitata. The active role of superoxide dismutase.

Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) participates as a second messenger in cell signaling. In this paper, the role of H(2)O(2) was investigated, in Escherichia coli phagocytosis by the haemocytes of the medfly Ceratitis capitata. Block of H(2)O(2) synthesis by specific enzymic inhibitors, namely N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) for NADPH oxidase and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) for SOD, resulted in the increase of E.

Growth factors and apoptosis-related protein expression in human crescentic nephritis.

Background: Crescentic nephritis is a renal disease that rapidly progresses toward renal failure unless aggressive immunosuppressive treatment is administered. Gene-directed apoptosis is involved in the resolution of renal injury or its progression toward scarring. In the present study, the expressions of growth factors, myofibroblasts [alpha-SMA(+) cells], and apoptosis-related proteins, were estimated to identify their contribution to the organization of crescents and to the clinical course of the disease.

Innate immunity in insects: surface-associated dopa decarboxylase-dependent pathways regulate phagocytosis, nodulation and melanization in medfly haemocytes.

Phagocytosis, melanization and nodulation in insects depend on phenoloxidase (PO) activity. In this report, we demonstrated that these three processes appear to be also dependent on dopa decarboxylase (Ddc) activity. Using flow cytometry, RNA interference, immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence, we demonstrated the constitutive expression of Ddc and its strong association with the haemocyte surface, in the medfly Ceratitis capitata.

Second trimester amniotic fluid endothelin-1 concentrations and subsequent development of intrauterine growth restriction.

Objective: The purpose of this prospective study was to record endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations in the second trimester amniotic fluid and compare these values in women who developed intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) later in pregnancy with those with uneventful pregnancies.

Method: Amniotic fluid was retrieved by amniocentesis from 125 women in the second trimester of pregnancy. The levels of ET1 were measured by a sensitive and specific radioimmunoassay.

Endothelin receptors in the kidney of patients with proteinuric and non-proteinuric nephropathies.

Background: Endothelin-1 (ET-1), which acts via the specific receptors ET-A and ET-B, has been implicated in the development of renal scarring. The activation of the endothelin system was observed in experimental models of glomerular diseases and was attributed to the toxic action of proteinuria on the tubular epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the endothelin system in the kidney is altered in glomerular diseases and possibly related to proteinuria.

Cyclosporin-A in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome: the importance of monitoring C0 (trough) and C2 (two hours after its administration) blood levels.

Cyclosporin-A (CsA) is often used in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome. The effectiveness of CsA and the value of C2 blood levels in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome, due to various glomerular diseases, were studied. Forty-two nephrotic patients (M/F 21/21), with well-preserved renal function (creatinine clearance 87+/-20 ml/min) were included in the study.

Accurate measurement and clinical significance of urinary transforming growth factor-beta1.

Transforming growth factorbeta1 (TGF-beta1) is the main modulator of the healing process after tissue injury. In the kidney, if TGF-beta1 release is not switched off, extracellular matrix components (ECM) are accumulated and tissue fibrosis occurs. Urinary TGF-beta1 levels reflect its renal production and it has been determined in various types of glomerular disease.

Urinary Transforming Growth Factor-beta 1 as a marker of response to immunosuppressive treatment, in patients with crescentic nephritis.

Background: Crescentic nephritis is characterized by formation of cellular crescents that soon become fibrotic and result in irreversible damage, unless an effective immunosuppressive therapy is rapidly commenced. TGF-beta1 is involved in the development of crescents through various pathways. The aim of this study was to identify whether the determination of urinary TGF-beta1 levels in patients with crescentic nephritis could be used as a marker of response to treatment.

Release of endothelin-1 from human endocardium after radiofrequency catheter ablation and coronary angioplasty: comparative results.

Background: Plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) increase after coronary angioplasty (PTCA) due to endothelial injury during the procedure. ET-1 has been found in human endocardial and myocardial cells. It is not known whether ET-1 increases after thermal injury induced by radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA).

MAP kinases mediate phagocytosis and melanization via prophenoloxidase activation in medfly hemocytes.

E. coli phagocytosis by medfly hemocytes, in contrast to mammalian macrophages, associates with E. coli-challenged hemocyte secretion by mitogen activating protein (MAP) kinases.

Uptake of LPS/E. coli/latex beads via distinct signalling pathways in medfly hemocytes: the role of MAP kinases activation and protein secretion.

In response to LPS/E. coli treatment, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is activated in medfly hemocytes. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying LPS/E.

Expression of apoptosis-related proteins bcl-2 and bax along with transforming growth factor (TGF-beta1) in the kidney of patients with glomerulonephritides.

Background: Apoptosis, a gene-directed form of cell death, has been involved in the resolution of renal injury but also in the development of scarring. Bcl-2 and bax are proteins related to apoptotic process that either provides a survival advantage to rapidly proliferating cells (bcl-2) or promote cell death by apoptosis (bax). Various cytokines and growth factors are involved in this process.

Evidence for a LPS-binding protein in medfly hemocyte surface: mediation in LPS internalization but not in LPS signaling.

A doublet of medfly hemocyte proteins with a molecular mass of about 55 and 50 kDa were precipitated with LPS. Antibodies raised against human CD14 recognize the same doublet of proteins. These results support that mammalian CD14 and the doublet of protein bands in medfly hemocytes share common epitopes.

Urinary transforming growth factor-beta1 excretion in renal allograft recipients during the early post-transplantation period.

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), the major fibrogenic growth factor, is implicated in the pathogenesis of renal scarring in experimental and clinical nephropathies as well as in chronic allograft nephropathy. In this study we examined the pattern of changes of TGF-beta1 excretion in the urine and the sites of TGF-beta1 expression in the kidney of transplanted patients during the early post-transplantation period.

Methods: Eighteen renal allograft recipients were included in the study.

Transforming growth factor-beta(1) in the kidney and urine of patients with glomerular disease and proteinuria.

Background: Transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) is the major fibrogenic growth factor implicated in the pathogenesis of renal scarring. Proteinuria is a poor prognostic feature for various types of glomerular disease and its toxic action may be related to the activation of tubular epithelial cells towards increased production of cytokines and chemoattractant peptides. In this work we studied the site of synthesis and expression profile of TGF-beta(1) in the renal tissue of patients with heavy proteinuria and examined the relation of this expression with the urinary excretion of TGF-beta(1).

Apoptosis and myofibroblast expression in human glomerular disease: a possible link with transforming growth factor-beta-1.

Background/aims: The pathophysiological pathways involved in the pathogenesis and evolution of renal fibrosis, have not been fully elucidated. Transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) is involved in the development of renal scarring. Apoptosis is responsible for intrinsic cell deletion observed in end-stage kidney disease.

Detection of haemocyte proteins in the integument of the developing Mediterranean fruit flyCeratitis capitata : Evidence that certain haemocyte proteins serve as tyrosine carriers.

Studies of the synthesis of integumental proteins during the feeding and non-feeding stages ofCeratitis capitata demonstrated stage specificity. The synthetic profile changed dramatically, showing a maximum of protein synthesis just before the larval wandering stage, followed by an abrupt decline. The comparison between synthetic and accumulation profiles indicated that some polypeptides must be internalized into the integument from the haemolymph.