scholarly journals Exposure assessment using biomonitoring

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-98
Author(s):  
Andreea Cozea ◽  
◽  
Gheorghita Tanase ◽  
Mihaela Neagu ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Tissue Level ◽  
The Body ◽  
Antioxidant Compounds ◽  
Structural Class ◽  
Physiological Level ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Irreversible Effects ◽  
Controlled Exposure

Complex studies were performed combining macroscopic and biochemical analyzes of selected biomonitors, exposed in exposure systems outdoor with mixtures of pollutants as well as controlled exposure with certain concentrations of pollutants in fumigation chambers. In this study, the following plant species were used as bioindicators: Nicotiana tabacum, Petunia hybrida, Ricinus comunis, Trifolium pretense. The exposure plant samples were compared with control samples of biomonitors maintained under standardized conditions in the climate chamber. Classical methods of biochemistry combined with those of exposure biomonitoring have led to the completion of knowledge about the ways of action of plants to pollution. The analysis of some of the antioxidant compounds that are representing a structural class of chemicals (enzymes) with a wide range of biological functions, with the role of free radical inhibition, was performed. Many of the constituent compounds in certain cell types, also called active compounds, in this case, polyphenols are present in the body of some plant species. Polyphenol's presence in organisms, that are not usually present or are in normal quantities, is caused by stress, (pollution being a stress factor). Large amounts of polyphenols in plants are also given by the presence of pollutants in the environment. Through these extensive combined studies, it has been demonstrated that pollution can be a degenerative factor at the biochemical and physiological level, at the plant tissue level, with irreversible effects.

scholarly journals Beat the heat: Culex quinquefasciatus regulates its body temperature during blood-feeding

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna M. Reinhold ◽  
Ryan Shaw ◽  
Chloé Lahondère
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Body Temperature ◽  
Culex Quinquefasciatus ◽  
Evaporative Cooling ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
The Body ◽  
List Type ◽  
Physiological Level ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Warm Blood

AbstractMosquitoes are regarded as one of the most dangerous animals on earth. As they are responsible for the spread of a wide range of both human and animal diseases, research of the underlying mechanisms of their feeding behavior and physiology is critical. Among disease vector mosquitoes, Culex quinquefasciatus, which is a known carrier of West Nile virus and Western Equine Encephalitis, remains relatively understudied. As blood sucking insects, adaptations (either at the molecular or physiological level) while feeding on warm blood is crucial to their survival, as overheating can result in death due to heat stress. Our research aims to study how Cx. quinquefasciatus copes with heat associated with the ingestion of a warm blood-meal and to possibly uncover the adaptations this species uses to avoid thermal stress. Through the use of thermographic imaging, we analyzed the body temperature of Cx. quinquefasciatus while blood feeding. Infrared thermography has allowed us to identify a cooling strategy, evaporative cooling via the production of fluid droplets, and an overall low body temperature in comparison to the blood temperature during feeding. Understanding Cx. quinquefasciatus’ adaptations and various strategies that they employ to reduce their body temperature while blood-feeding constitutes the first step towards the discovery of potential targets of opportunity for their control.HighlightsMosquitoes have evolved to cope with heat stress associated with warm blood ingestionCulex quinquefasciatus displays heterothermy while blood-feedingThe abdominal temperature decreases due to evaporative cooling using urine dropletsOverall, the mosquito body temperature is much cooler than the ingested blood

scholarly journals Structure and function of the immune system in the spleen

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (33) ◽  
pp. eaau6085 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M. Lewis ◽  
Adam Williams ◽  
Stephanie C. Eisenbarth
Keyword(s):  
Cell Types ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Lymphoid Organ ◽  
The Body ◽  
Human Spleen ◽  
Cell Clearance ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Abnormal Cells ◽  
Cell Organization ◽  
And Function

The spleen is the largest secondary lymphoid organ in the body and, as such, hosts a wide range of immunologic functions alongside its roles in hematopoiesis and red blood cell clearance. The physical organization of the spleen allows it to filter blood of pathogens and abnormal cells and facilitate low-probability interactions between antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and cognate lymphocytes. APCs specific to the spleen regulate the T and B cell response to these antigenic targets in the blood. This review will focus on cell types, cell organization, and immunologic functions specific to the spleen and how these affect initiation of adaptive immunity to systemic blood-borne antigens. Potential differences in structure and function between mouse and human spleen will also be discussed.

scholarly journals Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers of Epigenetic Drift within the Cardiovascular Compartment

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Wallace ◽  
Laura C. Twomey ◽  
Marc-Antoine Custaud ◽  
Niall Moyna ◽  
Philip M. Cummins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Fluids ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Lifestyle Changes ◽  
The Body ◽  
Direct Function ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Markers Of Inflammation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Alternative Means ◽  
New Biomarkers

Biomarkers encompass a wide range of different measurable indicators, representing a tangible link to physiological changes occurring within the body. Accessibility, sensitivity, and specificity are significant factors in biomarker suitability. New biomarkers continue to be discovered, and questions over appropriate selection and assessment of their usefulness remain. If traditional markers of inflammation are not sufficiently robust in their specificity, then perhaps alternative means of detection may provide more information. Epigenetic drift (epigenetic modifications as they occur as a direct function with age), and its ancillary elements, including platelets, secreted microvesicles (MVs), and microRNA (miRNA), may hold enormous predictive potential. The majority of epigenetic drift observed in blood is independent of variations in blood cell composition, addressing concerns affecting traditional blood-based biomarker efficacy. MVs are found in plasma and other biological fluids in healthy individuals. Altered MV/miRNA profiles may also be found in individuals with various diseases. Platelets are also highly reflective of physiological and lifestyle changes, making them extremely sensitive biomarkers of human health. Platelets release increased levels of MVs in response to various stimuli and under a plethora of disease states, which demonstrate a functional effect on other cell types.

scholarly journals The Role of Extracellular Vesicles in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Autoimmune Disorders

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengrou Lu ◽  
Emma DiBernardo ◽  
Emily Parks ◽  
Hannah Fox ◽  
Si-Yang Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Autoimmune Diseases ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
The Body ◽  
Physiological Effects ◽  
Disease Pathogenesis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Promising Avenue

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are important players in autoimmune diseases, both in disease pathogenesis and as potential treatments. EVs can transport autoimmune triggers throughout the body, facilitating the process of antigen presentation. Understanding the link between cellular stress and EV biogenesis and intercellular trafficking will advance our understanding of autoimmune diseases. In addition, EVs can also be effective treatments for autoimmune diseases. The diversity of cell types that produce EVs leads to a wide range of molecules to be present in EVs, and thus EVs have a wide range of physiological effects. EVs derived from dendritic cells or mesenchymal stem cells have been shown to reduce inflammation. Since many autoimmune treatments are focused only on symptom management, EVs present a promising avenue for potential treatments. This review looks at the different roles EVs can play in autoimmune diseases, from disease pathology to diagnosis and treatment. We also overview various methodologies in isolating or generating EVs and look to the future for possible applications of EVs in autoimmune diseases.

scholarly journals Bone remodeling: A tissue-level process emerging from cell-level molecular algorithms

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clemente F. Arias ◽  
Miguel A. Herrero ◽  
Luis F. Echeverri ◽  
Gerardo E. Oleaga ◽  
José M. López
Keyword(s):  
Signaling Pathways ◽  
Bone Remodeling ◽  
Bone Cells ◽  
Large Degree ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Tissue Level ◽  
The Body ◽  
Human Skeleton ◽  
Individual Decisions ◽  
Single Bone

AbstractHuman skeleton undergoes constant remodeling during the whole life. By means of such process, which occurs at a microscopic scale, worn out bone is replaced by new, fully functional one. Multiple bone remodeling events occur simultaneously and independently throughout the body, so the whole skeleton is completely renewed about every ten years.Bone remodeling is performed by groups of cells called Bone Multicellular Units (BMU). BMUs consist of different cell types; some are specialized in destroying old bone, whereas others produce new bone to replace the former. The whole process is tightly regulated so that the amount of new bone produced exactly balances that of old one removed and bone microscopic structure is maintained.To date, many regulatory molecules involved in bone remodeling have been identified, but the precise mechanism of BMU operation remains to be fully elucidated. Given the complexity of the signaling pathways already known, the question arises of ascertaining whether such complexity is an inherent requirement of the process, or a consequence of operational redundancy.In this work we propose a minimal model of BMU function which involves a small number of signals and accounts for fully functional BMU operation. Our main assumptions are i) at any given time, any cell within a BMU can select only one among a reduced choice of decisions: divide, die, migrate or differentiate, ii) such decision is irreversibly determined by depletion of an appropriate internal inhibitor and iii) the dynamics of any such inhibitor is coupled to that of a few external mediators. It is shown that efficient BMU operation then unfolds as an emergent property, which results from individual decisions taken by cells in the BMU unit in the absence of any external planning.Author summaryOur skeleton is a living organ that is being renewed throughout our life. This task is accomplished by teams of bone cells termed as Bone Multicellular Units (BMUs) that are recruited when and where needed, to operate at places where bone has lost functionality either for an excess of mechanical stress or because loss of activity. Once assembled, BMU remove old bone and replace it by new one, and disband as soon as their mission has been accomplished. No single bone evades BMU screening, so that the whole human skeleton is completely renewed approximately every ten years.It is natural to wonder how such robust and fascinating process is regulated. Many signaling pathways involved in bone remodeling have been identified so far, but whether all of them are necessary for BMU operation remains unclear. In this work we show that just a reduced number of such signals could suffice for that purpose. This suggests that a large degree of redundancy might have been kept in place, perhaps as a consequence of different convergent strategies developed in the course of evolution.

Creating the Wind

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 14-31
Author(s):  
Élodie Dupey García
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Communities ◽  
The Body ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Natural Behavior ◽  
Sensory Experiences ◽  
Identity And Agency ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Late Postclassic ◽  
Comparative Examination ◽  
Meteorological Phenomenon

This article explores how the Nahua of late Postclassic Mesoamerica (1200–1521 CE) created living and material embodiments of their wind god constructed on the basis of sensory experiences that shaped their conception of this divinized meteorological phenomenon. In this process, they employed chromatic and design devices, based on a wide range of natural elements, to add several layers of meaning to the human, painted, and sculpted supports dressed in the god’s insignia. Through a comparative examination of pre-Columbian visual production—especially codices and sculptures—historical sources mainly written in Nahuatl during the viceregal period, and ethnographic data on indigenous communities in modern Mexico, my analysis targets the body paint and shell jewelry of the anthropomorphic “images” of the wind god, along with the Feathered Serpent and the monkey-inspired embodiments of the deity. This study identifies the centrality of other human senses beyond sight in the conception of the wind god and the making of its earthly manifestations. Constructing these deity “images” was tantamount to creating the wind because they were intended to be visual replicas of the wind’s natural behavior. At the same time, they referred to the identity and agency of the wind god in myths and rituals.

scholarly journals Advances and Applications of Water Phytoremediation: A Potential Biotechnological Approach for the Treatment of Heavy Metals from Contaminated Water

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 5215
Author(s):  
Cristián Raziel Delgado-González ◽  
Alfredo Madariaga-Navarrete ◽  
José Miguel Fernández-Cortés ◽  
Margarita Islas-Pelcastre ◽  
Goldie Oza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Pollution Sources ◽  
Water Contaminants ◽  
Biotechnological Approach ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Great Relevance ◽  
Multidisciplinary Perspective ◽  
Viable Method

Potable and good-quality drinking water availability is a serious global concern, since several pollution sources significantly contribute to low water quality. Amongst these pollution sources, several are releasing an array of hazardous agents into various environmental and water matrices. Unfortunately, there are not very many ecologically friendly systems available to treat the contaminated environment exclusively. Consequently, heavy metal water contamination leads to many diseases in humans, such as cardiopulmonary diseases and cytotoxicity, among others. To solve this problem, there are a plethora of emerging technologies that play an important role in defining treatment strategies. Phytoremediation, the usage of plants to remove contaminants, is a technology that has been widely used to remediate pollution in soils, with particular reference to toxic elements. Thus, hydroponic systems coupled with bioremediation for the removal of water contaminants have shown great relevance. In this review, we addressed several studies that support the development of phytoremediation systems in water. We cover the importance of applied science and environmental engineering to generate sustainable strategies to improve water quality. In this context, the phytoremediation capabilities of different plant species and possible obstacles that phytoremediation systems may encounter are discussed with suitable examples by comparing different mechanistic processes. According to the presented data, there are a wide range of plant species with water phytoremediation potential that need to be studied from a multidisciplinary perspective to make water phytoremediation a viable method.

Development and Validation of a New Scoring Tool to Evaluate the Clinical Evolution of Adult Patients with Nonsegmental Vitiligo

Dermatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
María Luisa Peralta-Pedrero ◽  
Denisse Herrera-Bringas ◽  
Karla Samantha Torres-González ◽  
Martha Alejandra Morales-Sánchez ◽  
Fermín Jurado Santa-Cruz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Surface ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Clinical Evolution ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Extreme Groups

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Vitiligo has an unpredictable course and a variable response to treatment. Furthermore, the improvement of some vitiligo lesions cannot be considered a guarantee of a similar response to the other lesions. Instruments for patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) can be an alternative to measure complex constructions such as clinical evolution. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The aim of this study was to validate a PROM that allows to measure the clinical evolution of patients with nonsegmental vitiligo in a simple but standardized way that serves to gather information for a better understanding of the disease. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> The instrument was created through expert consensus and patient participation. For the validation study, a prospective cohort design was performed. The body surface area affected was measured with the Vitiligo Extension Score (VES), the extension, the stage, and the spread by the evaluation of the Vitiligo European Task Force assessment (VETFa). Reliability was determined with test-retest, construct validity through hypothesis testing, discriminative capacity with extreme groups, and response capacity by comparing initial and final measurements. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Eighteen semi-structured interviews and 7 cognitive interviews were conducted, and 4 dermatologists were consulted. The instrument Clinical Evolution-Vitiligo (CV-6) was answered by 119 patients with a minimum of primary schooling. A wide range was observed in the affected body surface; incident and prevalent cases were included. The average time to answer the CV-6 was 3.08 ± 0.58 min. In the test-retest (<i>n</i> = 53), an intraclass correlation coefficient was obtained: 0.896 (95% CI 0.82–0.94; <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001). In extreme groups, the mean score was 2 (2–3) and 5 (4–6); <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001. The initial CV-6 score was different from the final one and the change was verified with VES and VETFa (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05, <i>n</i> = 92). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The CV-6 instrument allows patient collaboration, it is simple and brief, and it makes it easier for the doctor to focus attention on injuries that present changes at the time of medical consultation.

scholarly journals Extracellular-Vesicle-Based Coatings Enhance Bioactivity of Titanium Implants—SurfEV

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1445
Author(s):  
Taisa Nogueira Pansani ◽  
Thanh Huyen Phan ◽  
Qingyu Lei ◽  
Alexey Kondyurin ◽  
Bill Kalionis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Titanium Surface ◽  
Wound Closure ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Extracellular Vesicle ◽  
Tissue Growth ◽  
Titanium Implants ◽  
The Body ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
And Migration

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles released by cells that contain a multitude of biomolecules, which act synergistically to signal multiple cell types. EVs are ideal candidates for promoting tissue growth and regeneration. The tissue regenerative potential of EVs raises the tantalizing possibility that immobilizing EVs on implant surfaces could potentially generate highly bioactive and cell-instructive surfaces that would enhance implant integration into the body. Such surfaces could address a critical limitation of current implants, which do not promote bone tissue formation or bond bone. Here, we developed bioactive titanium surface coatings (SurfEV) using two types of EVs: secreted by decidual mesenchymal stem cells (DEVs) and isolated from fermented papaya fluid (PEVs). For each EV type, we determined the size, morphology, and molecular composition. High concentrations of DEVs enhanced cell proliferation, wound closure, and migration distance of osteoblasts. In contrast, the cell proliferation and wound closure decreased with increasing concentration of PEVs. DEVs enhanced Ca/P deposition on the titanium surface, which suggests improvement in bone bonding ability of the implant (i.e., osteointegration). EVs also increased production of Ca and P by osteoblasts and promoted the deposition of mineral phase, which suggests EVs play key roles in cell mineralization. We also found that DEVs stimulated the secretion of secondary EVs observed by the presence of protruding structures on the cell membrane. We concluded that, by functionalizing implant surfaces with specialized EVs, we will be able to enhance implant osteointegration by improving hydroxyapatite formation directly at the surface and potentially circumvent aseptic loosening of implants.

scholarly journals Hydromechanics of low-Reynolds-number flow. Part 2. Singularity method for Stokes flows

1975 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 787-815 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen T. Chwang ◽  
T. Yao-Tsu Wu
Keyword(s):  
Exact Solutions ◽  
Stokes Flow ◽  
Fundamental Solutions ◽  
The Body ◽  
Circular Cylinders ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Flow Problems ◽  
Singularity Method ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Body Shapes

The present study further explores the fundamental singular solutions for Stokes flow that can be useful for constructing solutions over a wide range of free-stream profiles and body shapes. The primary singularity is the Stokeslet, which is associated with a singular point force embedded in a Stokes flow. From its derivatives other fundamental singularities can be obtained, including rotlets, stresslets, potential doublets and higher-order poles derived from them. For treating interior Stokes-flow problems new fundamental solutions are introduced; they include the Stokeson and its derivatives, called the roton and stresson.These fundamental singularities are employed here to construct exact solutions to a number of exterior and interior Stokes-flow problems for several specific body shapes translating and rotating in a viscous fluid which may itself be providing a primary flow. The different primary flows considered here include the uniform stream, shear flows, parabolic profiles and extensional flows (hyper-bolic profiles), while the body shapes cover prolate spheroids, spheres and circular cylinders. The salient features of these exact solutions (all obtained in closed form) regarding the types of singularities required for the construction of a solution in each specific case, their distribution densities and the range of validity of the solution, which may depend on the characteristic Reynolds numbers and governing geometrical parameters, are discussed.

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