Sustained CTL activation by murine pulmonary epithelial cells promotes the development of COPD-like disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lethal progressive lung disease culminating in permanent airway obstruction and alveolar enlargement. Previous studies suggest CTL involvement in COPD progression; however, their precise role remains unknown. Here, we investigated whether the CTL activation receptor NK cell group 2D (NKG2D) contributes to the development of COPD. Using primary murine lung epithelium isolated from mice chronically exposed to cigarette smoke and cultured epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract in vitro, we demonstrated induced expression of the NKG2D ligand retinoic acid early tran - script 1 (RAET1)as well as NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity. Furthermore, a genetic model of inducible RAET1 expression on mouse pulmonary epithelial cells yielded a severe emphysematous phenotype characterized by epithelial apoptosis and increased CTL activation, which was reversed by blocking NKG2D activation. We also assessed whether NKG2D ligand expression corresponded with pulmonary disease in human patients by staining airway and peripheral lung tissues from never smokers, smokers with normal lung function, and current and former smokers with COPD. NKG2D ligand expression was independent of NKG2D receptor expression in COPD patients, demonstrating that ligand expression is the limiting factor in CTL activation. These results demonstrate that aberrant, persistent NKG2D ligand expression in the pulmonary epithelium contributes to the development of COPD pathologies.

Study of selenocompounds from selenium-enriched culture of edible sprouts

Selenium is recognised as an essential micronutrient for humans and animals. One of the main sources of selenocompounds in the human diet is vegetables. Therefore, this study deals with the Se species present in different edible sprouts grown in Se-enriched media. We grew alfalfa, lentil and soy in a hydroponic system amended with soluble salts, containing the same proportion of Se, in the form of Se(VI) and Se(IV). Total Se in the sprouts was determined by acidic digestion in a microwave system and by ICP/MS. Se speciation was carried out by enzymatic extraction (Protease XIV) and measured by LC-ICP/MS. The study shows that the Se content of plants depends on the content in the growth culture, and that part of the inorganic Se was biotransformed mainly into SeMet. These results contribute to our understanding of the uptake of inorganic Se and its biotransformation by edible plants.

Implementação do protocolo TRS-398 para feixes de elétrons no Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein

OBJETIVO: A fim de simplificar a utilização das tabelas correspondentes aos fatores de qualidade no TRS-398 da International Atomic Energy Agency na calibração cruzada da câmara de placas paralelas por comparação com uma câmara cilíndrica calibrada em um feixe de elétrons de qualidade Qcross, é introduzida uma energia intermediária e arbitrária Qint na qual a câmara de placas paralelas deverá ser calibrada. O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em avaliar a escolha desta energia intermediária. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Uma câmara de placas paralelas da Scanditronix, modelo NACP-02, e uma câmara PTW Markus foram calibradas em dois aceleradores lineares da Varian, Clinac 2100C e Clinac 23EX, nas energias de 16 e 20 MeV, respectivamente. Como câmara de referência foi utilizada uma câmara da Nuclear Enterprises, modelo 2571, previamente calibrada em termos de Dw no Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, para um feixe de 60Co. RESULTADOS: Os fatores de calibração N D,w assim obtidos apresentam uma variação de 0,07%, o que pode ser considerado desprezível. Os valores de dose absorvida na água determinados no Clinac 2100C para uma Qint de 16 MeV apresentam uma variação de 0,04% para a menor energia (4 MeV) e de 2,6% para a maior energia (16 MeV), em relação ao protocolo TRS-381. Já para uma Qint de 20 MeV, as variações observadas são de 1,3% e 3,5%. Por outro lado, as doses determinadas no Clinac 23EX para as Qint de 16 MeV e de 20 MeV são de 1,9% e 2,0% e de 2,8% e 3,0%, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A escolha de Qint não é tão crítica assim, principalmente quando não de dispõem de feixes de elétrons que tenham na prática um valor de R50 exatamente igual a 7,5 g.cm-2.

Efecto de un protocolo de acogida sobre la encuesta de satisfacción familiar en una unidad de cuidados intensivos

Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto de un protocolo de acogida destinado a familiares de pacientes en nuestra unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) sobre el nivel de satisfacción familiar, al alta del paciente. Métodos: Estudio prospectivo cuasi-experimental. Sujetos del estudio: cuidadores principales y pacientes ingresados >24 h en la UCI. Durante dos meses, el grupo control (n=50) recibió la información y la orientación usuales del personal médico y de enfermería. Durante los dos meses siguientes, al grupo intervención (n=65) se le aplicó un protocolo de acogida estructurado y multidisciplinar, proveído en las primeras 24 h tras el ingreso. A ambos grupos (n=115) se les ofreció la Encuesta de Satisfacción Familiar en la UCI (FS-ICU©) en castellano. Resultados: El índice de respuesta del grupo control fue del 90%, frente al 70,7% del grupo intervención. Un total de 87 encuestas se consideraron válidas (>70% de ítems contestados). Observamos que el nivel de satisfacción general (FS-Total), y los niveles de satisfacción con los cuidados (FS-Cuidados) y con la toma de decisiones (FS-TD), en nuestra UCI, parecen muy altos. La mayoría de las puntuaciones de los distintos ítems de la encuesta en ambos grupos (83,3% frente al 79,1%) superaron el 75% en la escala 0-100%. La comparación de niveles de satisfacción entre grupos no muestra diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Conclusiones: Este estudio no demostró que esta intervención haya contribuido a una mejora significativa de la calidad percibida por los familiares en nuestra UCI, medidos con la encuesta FS-ICU© en castellano. Sin embargo, destaca cuestiones metodológicas para considerar en futuros estudios sobre este tema.

Protected maleimide building blocks for the decoration of peptides, peptoids and peptide nucleic acids

Monomers allowing for the introduction of [2,5-dimethylfuran]-protected maleimides into polyamides such as peptides, peptide nucleic acids, and peptoids were prepared, as well as the corresponding oligomers. Suitable maleimide deprotection conditions were established in each case. The stability of the adducts generated by Michael-type maleimide-thiol reaction and Diels-Alder cycloaddition to maleimide deprotection conditions was exploited to prepare a variety of conjugates from peptide and PNA scaffolds incorporating one free and one protected maleimide. The target molecules were synthesized by using two subsequent maleimide-involving click reactions separated by a maleimide deprotection step. Carrying out maleimide deprotection and conjugation simultaneously gave better results than performing the two reactions subsequently.

Oligonucleotide cyclization: The thiol-maleimide reaction revisited

A novel method to synthesize cyclic oligonucleotides (5- to 26-mer) using the thiol-maleimide reaction is described. The target molecules were obtained after subsequent removal of thiol and maleimide protecting groups from 5′-maleimido-3′-thiol-derivatized linear precursors. Retro-Diels-Alder conditions deprotecting the maleimide simultaneously promoted cyclization cleanly and in high yield.

Bulletin de l'ami des arts / publié par MM. Techener et Guillemin... ; réd. par Albert de la Fizelière...

1843 (A1).

Bulletin de l'ami des arts / publié par MM. Techener et Guillemin... ; réd. par Albert de la Fizelière...

1843 (A1,T1).

Bulletin de l'ami des arts / publié par MM. Techener et Guillemin... ; réd. par Albert de la Fizelière...

Périodicité : Bi-mensuel (1843) ; Trois fois par mois (irrégulier) (1844-1845)

Bulletin de l'ami des arts / publié par MM. Techener et Guillemin... ; réd. par Albert de la Fizelière...

1845 (A3,VOL3).

Bulletin de l'ami des arts / publié par MM. Techener et Guillemin... ; réd. par Albert de la Fizelière...

1844 (A2,T2).

Bulletin de l'ami des arts / publié par MM. Techener et Guillemin... ; réd. par Albert de la Fizelière...

1844/07 (A3,T3)-1845/07.

Bulletin de l'ami des arts / publié par MM. Techener et Guillemin... ; réd. par Albert de la Fizelière...

1844 (A2,T2).