Risk factors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in Asia-Pacific and consequences of inappropriate initial antimicrobial therapy: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: Treating infections of Gram-negative pathogens, in particular Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is a challenge for clinicians in the Asia-Pacific region owing to inherent and acquired antimicrobial resistance. This systematic review and meta-analysis provides updated information on risk factors for P. aeruginosa infection in Asia-Pacific as well as the consequences (e.

Differential role of pannexin-1/ATP/P2X axis in IL-1β release by human monocytes.

IL-1β release is integral to the innate immune system. The release of mature IL-1β depends on 2 regulated events: the induction of pro-IL-1β, generally NF-κB-dependent transduction pathways; and the assembly and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome. This latter step is reliant on active caspase-1, pannexin-1, and P2X receptor activation.

COX-2 protects against atherosclerosis independently of local vascular prostacyclin: identification of COX-2 associated pathways implicate Rgl1 and lymphocyte networks.

Cyxlo-oxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors, including traditional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are associated with increased cardiovascular side effects, including myocardial infarction. We and others have shown that COX-1 and not COX-2 drives vascular prostacyclin in the healthy cardiovascular system, re-opening the question of how COX-2 might regulate cardiovascular health. In diseased, atherosclerotic vessels, the relative contribution of COX-2 to prostacyclin formation is not clear.

Role of prostacyclin in pulmonary hypertension.

Prostacyclin is a powerful cardioprotective hormone released by the endothelium of all blood vessels. Prostacyclin exists in equilibrium with other vasoactive hormones and a disturbance in the balance of these factors leads to cardiovascular disease including pulmonary arterial hypertension. Since it's discovery in the 1970s concerted efforts have been made to make the best therapeutic utility of prostacyclin, particularly in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Differential COX-2 induction by viral and bacterial PAMPs: Consequences for cytokine and interferon responses and implications for anti-viral COX-2 directed therapies.

Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX)-2 is induced by bacterial and viral infections and has complex, poorly understood roles in anti-pathogen immunity. Here, we use a knock-in luciferase reporter model to image Cox2 expression across a range of tissues in mice following treatment with the either the prototypical bacterial pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP), LPS, which activates Toll-like receptor (TLR)4, or with poly(I:C), a viral PAMP, which activates TLR3. LPS induced Cox2 expression in all tissues examined.

Cyclooxygenase and cytokine regulation in lung fibroblasts activated with viral versus bacterial pathogen associated molecular patterns.

Cyclooxygenase (COX) is required for prostanoid (e.g. prostaglandin PGE2) production.

Development of heterogeneous catalysts for the conversion of levulinic acid to γ-valerolactone.

γ-Valerolactone (GVL) has been identified as a potential intermediate for the production of fuels and chemicals based on renewable feedstocks. Numerous heterogeneous catalysts have been used for GVL production, alongside a range of reaction setups. This Minireview seeks to outline the development of heterogeneous catalysts for the targeted conversion of levulinic acid (LA) to GVL.

Inflammatory transcriptome profiling of human monocytes exposed acutely to cigarette smoke.

Background: Cigarette smoking is responsible for 5 million deaths worldwide each year, and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular and lung diseases. Cigarette smoke contains a complex mixture of over 4000 chemicals containing 10(15) free radicals. Studies show smoke is perceived by cells as an inflammatory and xenobiotic stimulus, which activates an immune response.

Application of molybdenum bis(imido) complexes in ethylene dimerisation catalysis.

In combination with EtAlCl(2) (Mo : Al = 1 : 15) the imido complexes [MoCl(2)(NR)(NR')(dme)] (R = R' = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3) (1); R = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3), R' = Bu(t) (3); R = R' = Bu(t) (4); dme = 1,2-dimethoxyethane) and [Mo(NHBu(t))(2)(NR)(2)] (R = 2,6-Pr(i)(2)-C(6)H(3) (5); R = Bu(t) (6)) each show moderate TON, activity, and selectivity for the catalytic dimerisation of ethylene, which is influenced by the nature of the imido substituents. In contrast, the productivity of [MoCl(2)(NPh)(2)(dme)] (2) is low and polymerisation is favoured over dimerisation. Catalysis initiated by complexes 1-4 in combination with MeAlCl(2) (Mo : Al = 1 : 15) exhibits a significantly lower productivity.

Transition metal catalysed ammonia-borane dehydrogenation in ionic liquids.

Significant advantages result from combining the disparate hydrogen release pathways for ammonia-borane (AB) dehydrogenation using ionic liquids (ILs) and transition metal catalysts. With the RuCl(2)(PMe(3))(4) catalyst precursor, AB dehydrogenation selectivity and extent are maximized in an IL with a moderately coordinating ethylsulfate anion.

Exploring the reactivity of tungsten bis(imido) dimethyl complexes with methyl aluminium reagents: implications for ethylene dimerization.

The reaction of [WCl2(NAr)2(DME)] (1) with excess Me3Al affords the dimethyl complex [WMe2(N{Ar}AlMe2{mu-Cl})(NAr)] (2), which on treatment with THF or MeAlCl2 yields [WMe2(NAr)2(THF)] (3) and [WMe2(N{Ar}AlMe(Cl){mu-Cl})(NAr)] (5), respectively. Complex 3 is unstable in solution dissociating to form [WMe2(NAr)2] (4) that may be isolated as an adduct with PMe3, [WMe2(NAr)2(PMe3)] (6). While complex 2 is inert towards ethylene, complex 3 reacts rapidly to afford a mixture of methane and but-1-ene (1:4).