Glucagon- and insulin-immunopositive endocrine cells in porcine extrahepatic bile ducts and gallbladder.

Introduction: Pancreatic β-cells and α-cells have been found in the murine extrahepatic biliary ducts but not in the gallbladder. However, there has been no information reported in the specialized literature about the presence of glucagon- and insulin-expressing endocrine cells in porcine bile ducts and gallbladder.

Aim: We aimed to perform an immunohistochemical study to identify glucagon- and insulin-positive cells and their distribution in the porcine extrahepatic biliary ducts and gallbladder.

Pulmonary Protein Oxidation and Oxidative Stress Modulation by L. in Progressive Bleomycin-Induced Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Bleomycin (BLM) administration is associated with multifunctional proteins inflammations and induction of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Lemna minor L. extract, a free-floating monocot macrophyte possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential.

Tripeptidyl peptidase I activity in porcine lumbar spinal ganglia - a histochemical study.

Distribution of tripeptidyl peptidase I (TPPI) activity in the structures of porcine lumbar spinal ganglia (LSG) was studied by enzyme histochemistry on cryostat sections from all the ganglia using the substrate glycyl-L-prolyl-L-methionyl-5-chloro-1-anthraquinonyl hydrazide (GPM-CAH) and 4-nitrobenzaldehyde (NBA) as visualization factor. Light microscopic observations showed TPPI activity in almost all the LSG structures. The enzyme reaction in different cell types was compared semi-quantitatively.

Nanoparticle-driven self-assembling injectable hydrogels provide a multi-factorial approach for chronic wound treatment.

Chronic wounds represent a major health burden and drain on medical system. Efficient wound repair is only possible if the dressing materials target simultaneously multiple factors involved in wound chronicity, such as deleterious proteolytic and oxidative enzymes and high bacterial load. Here we develop multifunctional hydrogels for chronic wound management through self-assembling of thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) and bioactive silver-lignin nanoparticles (Ag@Lig NPs).

Zeroth- and first-order long range non-diffracting Gauss-Bessel beams generated by annihilating multiple-charged optical vortices.

We demonstrate an alternative approach for generating zeroth- and first-order long range non-diffracting Gauss-Bessel beams (GBBs). Starting from a Gaussian beam, the key point is the creation of a bright ring-shaped beam with a large radius-to-width ratio, which is subsequently Fourier-transformed by a thin lens. The phase profile required for creating zeroth-order GBBs is flat and helical for first-order GBBs with unit topological charge (TC).

Controllable beam reshaping by mixing square-shaped and hexagonal optical vortex lattices.

In the present work we show experimentally and by numerical calculations a substantial far-field beam reshaping by mixing square-shaped and hexagonal optical vortex (OV) lattices composed of vortices with alternatively changing topological charges. We show that the small-scale structure of the observed pattern results from the OV lattice with the larger array node spacing, whereas the large-scale structure stems from the OV lattice with the smaller array node spacing. In addition, we demonstrate that it is possible to host an OV, a one-dimensional, or a quasi-two-dimensional singular beam in each of the bright beams of the generated focal patterns.

Enzymatic synthesis of a thiolated chitosan-based wound dressing crosslinked with chicoric acid.

This work describes the enzymatic synthesis of multifunctional hydrogels for chronic wound treatment using thiolated chitosan and the natural polyphenol chicoric acid. Gelation was achieved by laccase-catalyzed oxidation of chicoric acid, a natural compound used for the first time as a homobifunctional crosslinker, reacting subsequently with nucleophilic thiol and amino groups from the chitosan derivative. This approach allowed for twice as fast gelation at a three-fold reduced crosslinking reagent concentration, compared to reported enzymatic synthesis of hydrogels using gallic acid as a phenolic provider.

Multifunctional Enzymatically Generated Hydrogels for Chronic Wound Application.

The healing of chronic wounds requires intensive medical intervention at huge healthcare costs. Dressing materials should consider the multifactorial nature of these wounds comprising deleterious proteolytic and oxidative enzymes and high bacterial load. In this work, multifunctional hydrogels for chronic wound application were produced by enzymatic cross-linking of thiolated chitosan and gallic acid.

Histochemical Study of Heparin-positive Mast Cells in the Terminal Part of Porcine Ductus Choledochus and Papilla Duodeni Major.

The study presented in detail the localization and density of mast cells (MCs) in the intramural part of the common bile duct (CBD) and in the major duodenal papilla (MDP) of domestic swine. MCs' density (number/mm(2) ) in different layers of both of the duct and papilla was evaluated after toluidine blue staining. Their number was higher in the lamina propria mucosae than in the tunica muscularis of the studied structures.

S-100 protein-positive mast cells in canine paranal sinus (Sinus paranalis).

The aim of this study was to establish the immunocytochemical expression of S-100 protein in mast cells, localized in the wall of dog's paranal sinus. Control serial sections were used for immunocytochemical detection of tryptase-positive mast cells. It was observed that S-100-positive cells have the same morphology and localization as the tryptase-positive mast cells, which indicated that S-100-positive cells are most probably mast cells with abilities as dendritic cells.

Towards combinatorial spectroscopy: the case of minor milk fatty acids determination.

Chemometrical models for determination of milk fatty acids (FA) are typically developed using spectral data from a single spectroscopy technique, e.g., mid-infrared spectroscopy in milk control.

Evaluation of FT-NIR and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy techniques for determination of minor odd- and branched-chain saturated and trans unsaturated milk fatty acids.

Determination of nutritionally important trans MUFA, CLA, and OBCFA milk fatty acids (often present in amounts lower than 1.0 g/100 g of total fat) using fast and nondestructive analytical methods would enhance their use as diagnostic tools in dairy herd and human health management. Here, PLS regression using ATR/FTIR spectra indicated potential for determination of trans-11 C18:1 and trans-12 C18:1 (Rcv² ≥ 0.

Determining milk isolated and conjugated trans-unsaturated fatty acids using fourier transform Raman spectroscopy.

The feasibility of Raman spectroscopy in combination with partial least-squares (PLS) regression for the determination of individual or grouped trans-monounsaturated fatty acids (trans-MUFA) and conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) in milk fat is demonstrated using spectra obtained at two temperature conditions: room temperature and after freezing at -80 °C. The PLS results displayed capability for direct semiroutine quantification of several individual CLA (cis-9,trans-11 and trans-10,cis-12 C18:2) and trans-MUFA (trans-4-15 C18:1) in minor concentrations (below 1.0 g/100 g of milk fat).

NADPH-d-positive mast cells in the canine paranal sinus.

This study aimed to investigate the enzyme histochemical expression of NADPH-d in mast cells in the wall of the paranal sinus in male and female dogs. NADPH-d-positive cells with weak, medium and strong enzyme histochemical expression were observed in the stroma of the sinus near the blood vessels of the microcirculatory bed and around the apocrine and sebaceous glands. In the same areas, mast cells with similar dimensions and morphology were demonstrated by metachromasia on paraffin and cryostat cross-sections and stained with 0.

Analysis of milk odd- and branched-chain fatty acids using Fourier transform (FT)-Raman spectroscopy.

Fourier transform (FT)-Raman spectra of pure C13:0, C15:0, C17:0, iso C14:0, iso C15:0, and ante C15:0 fatty acid methyl ester standards (FAMESs) and 75 milk fat samples from 6 different dietary experiments were acquired at room temperature (RT) and immediately after freezing at -80 °C (FT). The latter generally included much more well-defined and sharper scattering bands than those obtained at RT. Further, the spectra at FT revealed additional acuate bands in the vicinity of peculiar wavenumber regions, as well as an increase of Raman scattering intensity, which was sometimes associated with a shift of the peak.

Connection between black-hole quasinormal modes and lensing in the strong deflection limit.

The purpose of the current Letter is to give some relations between gravitational lensing in the strong-deflection limit and the frequencies of the quasinormal modes of spherically symmetric, asymptotically flat black holes. On the one side, the relations obtained can give a physical interpretation of the strong-deflection limit parameters. On the other side, they also give an alternative method for the measurement of the frequencies of the quasinormal modes of spherically symmetric, asymptotically flat black holes.

Ion-implanted polymethyl methacrylate beam splitter/coupler for 1.55 microm applications.

The applicability of layers of ion-implanted polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for beam splitting of laser light at the telecommunications wavelength of 1.55 mum is examined. Bulk PMMA is studied, subjected to low-energy (50 keV) silicon ion implantation at various ion fluences in the range from 10(14) to 10(17) cm(-2).

The luminescence response of Eu(III)-thenoyltrifluoroacetonate complexes upon preresonant excitation with femtosecond laser pulses.

The luminescence of thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (TTA) coordination complexes of trivalent europium ion (Eu(III)) in aqueous solutions and in solid-state polymeric films is probed upon single- and two-photon preresonant excitation with Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser. Particularly, diamine-liganded Eu(III)(TTA)(3) and poly(oxyethylene phosphate)tris(beta-diketonate)Eu(III) complexes are examined aiming their possible applications as luminescent labels for sensing and imaging of biological molecules. Even at a pre-resonance, the excitation of these compounds with high-intensity, broadband light of frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser centered around 400 nm results in a luminescence response suitable for fluorometric applications.

Immunohistochemical study of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in dog's perianal sinus.

In this study, the localization of 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) activity in the wall of canine perianal sinus (PS) was determined. The 3 beta-HSD activity was found out both in the cytoplasm of cells, situated in the propria and forming clusters adjacently to apocrine glands and in the cytoplasm of some epithelial cells in apocrine cells' glands. The results obtained about the 3 beta-HSD activity allowed us to propose a role of this enzyme in PS development and possibly, in tumourogenesis.

The luminescence response of diamine-liganded europium complexes upon resonant and pre-resonant excitation.

The luminescence of four europium thenoyltrifluoroacetonate complexes containing diamine ligands is studied in solutions. The compounds are resonantly excited in the ligand absorption band by means of high-power nanosecond UV laser pulses. Additionally, a continuous light source is also used for resonant, as well as pre-resonant excitation of the complexes.

2S storage protein gene of Douglas-fir: characterization and activity of promoter in transgenic tobacco seeds.

To date a few sequences regulating expression of conifer seed-specific genes have been reported. To characterize Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb] Franco) 2S albumin storage protein genes, a genomic DNA sequence containing upstream promoter sequences was isolated by screening a Douglas-fir genomic library. Sequence analysis of the Douglas-fir gPm2S1 promoter revealed the presence of RY-repeated elements (GCATGC), and multiple E-box motifs (CANNTG) and ACGT-core elements, features characteristic of 2S storage protein genes in angiosperms.

Effect of cadmium treatment on the expression of chimeric genes in transgenic tobacco seedlings and calli.

Transgenic tobacco plants and calli bearing the bacterialuid A gene under the transcriptional control ofrbcS, mas and CaMV35S promoter(s) were exposed to different concentrations of cadmium. The transcriptional activity of the promoters was monitored using p-nitrophenyl β-D-g1ucuronide as a substrate for the β-glucuronidase (uidA) reporter enzyme. Therbc S promoter was repressed by high concentrations of cadmium.