Oxidative stress and inflammation response after nanoparticle exposure : differences between human lung cell monocultures and an advanced three-dimensional model of the human epithelial airways

Combustion-derived and manufactured nanoparticles (NPs) are known to provoke oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in human lung cells; therefore, they play an important role during the development of adverse health effects. As the lungs are composed of more than 40 different cell types, it is of particular interest to perform toxicological studies with co-cultures systems, rather than with monocultures of only one cell type, to gain a better understanding of complex cellular reactions upon exposure to toxic substances. Monocultures of A549 human epithelial lung cells, human monocyte-derived macrophages and monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) as well as triple cell co-cultures consisting of all three cell types were exposed to combustion-derived NPs (diesel exhaust particles) and to manufactured NPs (titanium dioxide and single-walled carbon nanotubes). The penetration of particles into cells was analysed by transmission electron microscopy. The amount of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a and interleukin (IL)-8 were quantified. The results of the monocultures were summed with an adjustment for the number of each single cell type in the triple cell co-culture. All three particle types were found in all cell and culture types. The production of ROS was induced by all particle types in all cell cultures except in monocultures of MDDCs. The TAC and the (pro-)inflammatory reactions were not statistically significantly increased by particle exposure in any of the cell cultures. Interestingly, in the triple cell co-cultures, the TAC and IL-8 concentrations were lower and the TNF-a concentrations were higher than the expected values calculated from the monocultures. The interplay of different lung cell types seems to substantially modulate the oxidative stress and the inflammatory responses after NP exposure. [Authors]

Opening statement by Mr Michael Scanlan, Secretary General of the Department of Health & Children at the meeting of the DÃil Committee of Public Accounts on 7th May 2009

Opening statement by Mr Michael Scanlan, Secretary General of the Department of Health & Children at the meeting of the Dáil Committee of Public Accounts on 7th May 2009 Click here to download PDF 37kb

"Michael's Game," a card game for the treatment of psychotic symptoms.

Objective: "Michael's Game" is a card game which aims at familiarizing healthcare professionals and patients with cognitive therapy of psychotic symptoms. The present study tests the feasibility and the impact of the intervention in naturalistic settings.Methods: 135 patients were recruited in 11 centres. They were assessed pre- and post-tests with the Beck Cognitive Insight Scale (BCIS) and the Peters Delusion Inventory-21 items (PDI-21).Results: Data about 107 patients were included in the entire analyses. Significant improvements were observed on BCIS subscales as well as a reduction of severity of conviction and preoccupation scores on the PDI-21. The intervention has a moderate effect on the PDI-21 preoccupation and conviction as well as the BCIS subscales. Patients who benefit the most from the program are patients who have a low degree of self-reflectiveness and patients who are concomitantly preoccupied by their symptoms.Conclusion: The present study supports the feasibility and effectiveness of "Michael's Game" in naturalistic settings.Practical implications: The game seems to be a useful tool for patients with psychotic disorders. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Formas de exclusión al derecho de propiedad de la población campesina indígena en Argentina: una aproximación al pensamiento de Michael Foucault

En septiembre del año 2010, el Movimiento Nacional Campesino Indígena celebraba su Primer Congreso. Bajo el lema “Somos tierra para alimentar a los pueblos” compartieron y debatieron durante tres días. De este modo, reafirmaron su lucha por la Reforma Agraria Integral y la Soberanía Alimentaria. Se manifestaron por las calles de Buenos Aires para hacer visible “el otro campo”: el de los marginados, ocultados, los pobres, los excluidos del imaginario social, nacional, y también del acceso a los bienes necesarios para el desarrollo una vida digna

Estudi de les addicions de Michael i aza-Michael. I, Catalitzades per lantànids. II, Catalitzades per un nou organocatalitzador suportat en nanopartícules d'or

Aquesta memòria es centra en un gran tema de la química orgànica que és la catàlisi asimètrica de les addicions de Michael. Més concretament, en aquest treball s’estudia la enantioselectivitat que proporcionen dos lligand en qüestió, un d’ells basat en metalls i l’altre organocatalític, en unes reaccions de Michael. Així doncs, s’estudiaren dos tipus de sistemes. El primer cas és l’addició de Michael entre 2-tert-butoxicarbonil-1-indanona i tres acceptors de Michael diferents com són la metilvinilcetona, el Nacriloïloxazolidinona i l’azodicarboxilat de di-tert-butil, catalitzat per combinacions de metalls lantànids (majoritariament Yb) amb lligands quirals de tipus pybox. La segona part de la memòria es centra en l’estudi d’enantioinducció que proporciona un nou organocatalitzador en les addicions de Michael esmentades en l’apartat anterior. Aquest catalitzador està format pel derivat de la cincona 11-(9-mercaptononiltio)-10,11-dihidrocinconina suportat en nanopartícules d’or.

Fatty acid ketodienes and fatty acid ketotrienes: Michael addition acceptors that accumulate in wounded and diseased Arabidopsis leaves.

Physical damage and disease are known to lead to changes in the oxylipin signature of plants. We searched for oxylipins produced in response to both wounding and pathogenesis in Arabidopsis leaves. Linoleic acid 9- and 13-ketodienes (KODEs) were found to accumulate in wounded leaves as well as in leaves infected with the pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst). Quantification of the compounds showed that they accumulated to higher levels during the hypersensitive response to Pst avrRpm1 than during infection with a Pst strain lacking an avirulence gene. KODEs are Michael addition acceptors, containing a chemically reactive alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl group. When infiltrated into leaves, KODEs were found to induce expression of the GST1 gene, but vital staining indicated that these compounds also damaged plant cells. Several molecules typical of lipid oxidation, including malonaldehyde, also contain the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl reactivity feature, and, when delivered in a volatile form, powerfully induced the expression of GST1. The results draw attention to the potential physiological importance of naturally occurring Michael addition acceptors in plants. In particular, these compounds could act directly, or indirectly via cell damage, as powerful gene activators and might also contribute to host cell death.

Sentences du bailliage et capitainerie de la varenne des Tuileries des 10 octobre 1740 et 16 juillet 1742 (concernant les sentiers et chemins de traverse)

[Acte. 1740-10-10. Paris]

Incipit liber phisionomiae quem compilavit magister Michael Scotus ([Reprod.])

[Liber physiognomiae (latin). 1486]

Incipit liber phisionomiae quem compilavit magister Michael Scotus ([Reprod.])

[Liber physiognomiae (latin). 1477]