Serous Glands in the Skin of the Tungara Frog, <i>Engystomops pustulosus</i> (Cope, 1864) (Anura, Leptodactylidae): Degenerated Secretory Units are Selectively Removed by Macrophages

The cutaneous apparatus of Engystomops pustulosus (Cope, 1864) (the Tungara frog) includes serous glands that show impressive patterns of degeneration in their syncytial secretory units, and thus represent suitable organ models to investigate the role of macrophages in renewal processes of multicellular structures. The present case report exploits this chance and highlights that: (a) degenerating glands pertain to the Ia line of the polymorphic serous gland assortment in Tungara skin; (b) resident macrophages migrate from spongy dermis and remove syncytium debris; (c) secretory syncytium collapse results from impairment of the equilibrium between serous product manufacturing/storage and merocrine release into the dermal environment; (d) Intercalated tract (or gland neck) and myoepithelium (included its ortho-sympathetic nerve supply), are neither involved in degeneration nor affected by macrophage response. According to present evidence and current literature, it is concluded that the scavenger activity of macrophages prepares secretory unit renewal, performed by stem cells from the neck. In addition, gland functional rehabilitation may rely on effectiveness of the preexisting neuromuscular apparatus to achieve secretory bulk release onto the cutaneous surface.

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Antioxidants in Fish Sperm and the Potential Role of Melatonin

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10010036 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 36

Author(s):

Francisca Félix ◽

Catarina C. V. Oliveira ◽

Elsa Cabrita

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Fish Cell ◽

Cell Protection ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Fish Sperm ◽

Scavenger Activity ◽

Stress Damage ◽

Novel Antioxidants ◽

Aquaculture Production

In recent years, the effects of novel antioxidants have played an important role in the research focusing on fish cell protection. As food demand grows, aquaculture production becomes more intensive, and fish are more exposed to oxidative stress conditions, like high densities, temperature shifting, frequent fish handling and samplings, and prophylactic or disease treatments, which expose fish to a different environment. Particularly in reproduction, germ cells lose antioxidant capacity with spermatogenesis, as spermatozoa are more prone to oxidative stress. Antioxidants have been used in a variety of fish physiological problems including in reproduction and in the establishment of cryopreservation protocols. From the most used antioxidants to natural plant food and herbs, and endogenously produced antioxidants, like melatonin, a review of the literature available in terms of their effects on the protection of fish spermatozoa is presented here in a classified structure. Several direct and indirect approaches to improve gamete quality using antioxidants administration are mentioned (through feed supplementation or by adding in cryopreservation media), as well as factors affecting the efficiency of these molecules and their mechanisms of action. Special attention is given to the unclear melatonin pathway and its potential scavenger activity to prevent and counteract oxidative stress damage on fish spermatozoa.

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Differential Activation of Fetal Hofbauer Cells in Primigravidas Is Associated with Decreased Birth Weight in Symptomatic Placental Malaria

Malaria Research and Treatment ◽

10.1155/2019/1378174 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Stephanie L. Gaw ◽

Bethann S. Hromatka ◽

Sadiki Ngeleza ◽

Sirirak Buarpung ◽

Nida Ozarslan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Birth Weight ◽

Placental Malaria ◽

Perinatal Outcomes ◽

Protective Role ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Macrophage Response ◽

Hofbauer Cells ◽

Infant Birth ◽

First Time

Background. Placental malaria is a leading global cause of low birth weight neonates, especially in first-time mothers. To better understand the role of innate immunity in placental malaria, we investigated the relationships between histopathological markers of placental malaria, fetal and maternal macrophage responses, and perinatal outcomes in a cross-sectional case control study of pregnant women presenting with symptomatic malaria at the time of delivery. Results. Primigravidas showed increased hemozoin deposition in placental villi (p=0.02), syncytiotrophoblasts (p=0.01), and fetal Hofbauer cells (p=0.01). The percentage of hemozoin-positive villi negatively correlated with infant birth weight (regression coefficient [b] = -0.03 kg decrease in birth weight per % increase in hemozoin-positive villi, p=0.035). Malaria-infected placentas showed a twofold increase in Hofbauer cells (p<0.001) and maternal macrophages (p<0.001). Placental malaria was associated with a threefold increase in the percentage of M2 maternal macrophages (19.2% vs 6.4%, p=0.01). Primigravidas showed a significant decrease in the Hofbauer cell M2-percentage in placental malaria (92.7% vs. 97.0%, p=0.04), which was predictive of infant birth weight (b=0.08 kg increase in birth weight per % increase in M2 Hofbauer cells, p=0.001). There was no association between maternal macrophage response and infant birth weights. Conclusions. Placentas with malarial infection had increased numbers of fetal Hofbauer cells in the villous stroma and maternal macrophages in the intervillous space. In primigravidas, decreased anti-inflammatory M2-type Hofbauer cells were predictive of lower birth weight. M2-type maternal macrophages were increased in placental malaria, but there was no association with gravidity or birth weight. These results suggested a protective role of M2 Hofbauer cells in fetal growth restriction.

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Inhibitor of C1q secretion suppresses the macrophage response to Lipid A for nitric oxide but not for TNF production: Evidence for a role of C1q in autocrine binding of TNF

Immunobiology ◽

10.1016/s0171-2985(11)80233-0 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 188 (3) ◽

pp. 242-258 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Richard W. Leu ◽

Charles A. Stewart ◽

Mary J. Herriott ◽

David J. Fast ◽

John A. Rummage

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Lipid A ◽

Macrophage Response

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Neurogenic Control of Cerebral Circulation

Cephalalgia ◽

10.1177/03331024850050s205 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 5 (2_suppl) ◽

pp. 25-33 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

G Burnstock

Keyword(s):

Substance P ◽

Sensory Nerve ◽

Sympathetic Nerves ◽

Purine Nucleotides ◽

Axon Reflex ◽

Calcitonin Gene ◽

Perivascular Nerves ◽

Neuromuscular Apparatus ◽

Perivascular Nerve Plexus

The cerebral vascular neuromuscular apparatus consists of a varicose perivascular nerve plexus at the adventitial-medial border and smooth muscle cells in the medial coat that are functionally connected. In addition to noradrenaline and acetylcholine, a number of putative non-adrenergic, non-cholingergic neurotransmitters have been identified in cerebral perivascular nerves, including serotonin, substance P, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, gastrinreleasing peptide, cholecystokinin, somatostatin, neurotensin, calcitonin gene-related peptide and neuropeptide Y. The role of adenosine-5'-triphosphate as a cotransmitter with noradrenaline in some perivascular sympathetic nerves, and of endothelial cells in mediating the vasodilatation produced by some neurohumoral agents is discussed. Speculations are made about the relation between vascular neuroeffector mechanisms and migraine, including the possiblity of local vasospasm by serotoninergic nerves, reactive hyperaemia involving purine nucleotides and nucleosides, release of substance P from sensory nerve collaterals during antidromic ('axon reflex') impulses and secondary release of local agents such as prostanoids, histamine and bradykinin.

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Impact of a near-death experience and religious conversion on the mental health of a criminal: case report and literature review

Trends in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy ◽

10.1590/s2237-60892013000100010 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 81-84 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Camilla C. Braghetta ◽

Glícia P. Santana ◽

Quirino Cordeiro ◽

Sergio P. Rigonatti ◽

Giancarlo Lucchetti

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Case Report ◽

Religious Conversion ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Present Case Report ◽

Death Experience ◽

Psychological Events ◽

Near Death Experiences ◽

Near Death Experience

OBJECTIVE: Near-death experiences have been defined as profound psychological events that may occur to a person while close to death or in a situation of extreme physical or emotional distress. These experiences seem to have an important effect on the patients’ mental health and may occur in several situations despite their cultural and religious beliefs. CASE DESCRIPTION: The present case report describes the positive impact of a near-death experience (Greyson scale > 7) followed by religious conversion on the mental health of a former prisoner. COMMENTS: Investigation of the role of near-death experiences by the scientific community could shed light on the coping mechanisms and moral/ethical transformations that take place in these individuals.

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Notch-1 Signaling Modulates Macrophage Polarization and Immune Defense against Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis Infection in Inflammatory Diseases

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8071006 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (7) ◽

pp. 1006 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Esra’a Keewan ◽

Saleh A. Naser

Keyword(s):

Inflammatory Response ◽

Notch Signaling ◽

Mycobacterium Avium ◽

Macrophage Polarization ◽

Immune Defense ◽

Notch 1 ◽

Macrophage Response ◽

Mycobacterium Avium Paratuberculosis ◽

Vitro Effect

Despite the extensive research on Notch signaling involvement in inflammation, its specific role in macrophage response in autoimmune disease and defense mechanisms against bacterial infection, such as Mycobacterium avium paratuberculosis (MAP), remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the molecular role of Notch-1 signaling in the macrophage response during MAP infection. In particular, we measured the in vitro effect of MAP on Notch-1 signaling and downstream influence on interleukin (IL)-6 and myeloid cell leukemia sequence-1 (MCL-1) and consequent cellular apoptosis, MAP viability, and macrophage polarization. Overall, the data show significant upregulation in Notch-1, IL-6, and MCL-1 in MAP-infected macrophages, parallel with a decrease in apoptosis and elevated pro-inflammatory response in these infected cells. On the contrary, blocking Notch signaling with γ-secretase inhibitor (DAPT) decreased MAP survival and burden, increased apoptosis, and diminished the pro-inflammatory response. In particular, the treatment of infected macrophages with DAPT shifted macrophage polarization toward M2 anti-inflammatory phenotypic response. The outcome of this study clearly demonstrates the critical role of Notch signaling in macrophage response during infection. We conclude that MAP infection in macrophages activates Notch-1 signaling and downstream influence on IL-6 which hijack MCL-1 dependent inhibition of apoptosis leading to its chronic persistence, and further inflammation. This study supports Notch-1 signaling as a therapeutic target to combat infection in autoimmune diseases such as Crohn’s disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis.

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Weaving seams with data: Conceptualizing City APIs as elements of infrastructures

Big Data & Society ◽

10.1177/2053951719827619 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 205395171982761 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Christoph Raetzsch ◽

Gabriel Pereira ◽

Lasse S Vestergaard ◽

Martin Brynskov

Keyword(s):

Data Science ◽

Technological Development ◽

Smart Cities ◽

Data Sources ◽

Renewal Processes ◽

Application Programming Interfaces ◽

Information Infrastructures ◽

Application Programming ◽

Programming Interfaces

This article addresses the role of application programming interfaces (APIs) for integrating data sources in the context of smart cities and communities. On top of the built infrastructures in cities, application programming interfaces allow to weave new kinds of seams from static and dynamic data sources into the urban fabric. Contributing to debates about “urban informatics” and the governance of urban information infrastructures, this article provides a technically informed and critically grounded approach to evaluating APIs as crucial but often overlooked elements within these infrastructures. The conceptualization of what we term City APIs is informed by three perspectives: In the first part, we review established criticisms of proprietary social media APIs and their crucial function in current web architectures. In the second part, we discuss how the design process of APIs defines conventions of data exchanges that also reflect negotiations between API producers and API consumers about affordances and mental models of the underlying computer systems involved. In the third part, we present recent urban data innovation initiatives, especially CitySDK and OrganiCity, to underline the centrality of API design and governance for new kinds of civic and commercial services developed within and for cities. By bridging the fields of criticism, design, and implementation, we argue that City APIs as elements of infrastructures reveal how urban renewal processes become crucial sites of socio-political contestation between data science, technological development, urban management, and civic participation.

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