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Consequent Development (consequent + development)
Selected AbstractsToll-like receptors, endogenous ligands, and systemic autoimmune diseaseIMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2005Ian R. Rifkin Summary:, The critical role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) as mediators of pathogen recognition by the innate immune system is now firmly established. Such recognition results in the initiation of an inflammatory immune response and subsequent instruction of the adaptive immune system, both of which are designed to rid the host of the invading pathogen. More controversial is the potential role of TLRs in the recognition of endogenous ligands and what effect this might have on the consequent development of autoimmune or other chronic sterile inflammatory disorders. An increasing number of studies implicate TLRs as being involved in the immune response to self-molecules that have in some way been altered from their native state or accumulate in non-physiologic sites or amounts, although questions have been raised about possible contaminants in certain of these studies. In this review, we discuss the evidence for endogenous ligand,TLR interactions with particular emphasis on mammalian chromatin, systemic lupus erythematosus, and atherosclerosis. Overall, the data support the general concept of a role for TLRs in the recognition of endogenous ligands. However, the precise details of the interactions and the extent to which they may contribute to the pathogenesis of human disease remain to be clarified. [source] Electrical Remodeling and Atrial Dilation During Atrial Tachycardia are Influenced by Ventricular Rate: Role of Developing TachycardiomyopathyJOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 12 2001BAS A. SCHOONDERWOERD M.D. Atrial Remodeling in Tachycardiomyopathy. Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and congestive heart failure (CHF) are two clinical entities that often coincide. Our aim was to establish the influence of concomitant high ventricular rate and consequent development of CHF on electrical remodeling and dilation during atrial tachycardia. Methods and Results: A total of 14 goats was studied. Five goats were subjected to 3:1 AV pacing (A-paced group, atrial rate 240 beats/min, ventricular rate 80 beats/min). Nine goats were subjected to rapid 1:1 AV pacing (AV-paced group, atrial and ventricular rates 240 beats/min). During 4 weeks, right atrial (RA) and left ventricular (LV) diameters were measured during sinus rhythm. Atrial effective refractory periods (AERP) and inducibility of AF were assessed at three basic cycle lengths (BCL). After 4 weeks of rapid AV pacing, RA and LV diameters had increased to 151% and 113% of baseline, whereas after rapid atrial pacing alone, these parameters were unchanged. Right AERP (157 ± 10 msec vs 144 ± 16 msec at baseline with BCL of 400 msec in the A-paced and AV-paced group, respectively) initially decreased in both groups, reaching minimum values within 1 week. Subsequently, AERP partially recovered in AV-paced goats, whereas AERP remained short in A-paced goats (79 ± 7 msec vs 102 ± 12 msec after 4 weeks; P < 0.05). Left AERP demonstrated a similar time course. Inducibility of AF increased in both groups and reached a maximum during the first week in both groups, being 20% and 48% in the A-paced and AV-paced group, respectively. Conclusion: Nature and time course of atrial electrical remodeling and dilation during atrial tachycardia are influenced by concurrent high ventricular rate and consequent development of CHF. [source] Steam reactivation of a spent sorbent for enhanced SO2 capture in FBCAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 12 2006Fabio Montagnaro Abstract The regeneration by steam hydration of the sulfur capture ability of spent sorbent particles from Fluidized Bed Combustion (FBC) is addressed. The process is characterized in terms of effectiveness of sorbent reactivation, hydration degree, particle sulfation pattern, development of accessible porosity, and extent of particle attrition and fragmentation. Steam reactivation experiments were carried out in a lab-scale atmospheric FBC at 250°C for 10, 30, and 180 min with 0.05 MPa steam partial pressure. The effectiveness of sorbent reactivation was assessed by reinjecting the reactivated material into the FB reactor operated at 850°C under simulated desulfurization conditions and following the degree of calcium conversion and the attrition rate along with resulfation. The experimental results indicated that steam reactivation is effective in renewing the SO2 uptake ability of the exhausted sorbent particles. The regeneration mechanism based on the swelling upon hydration of the unreacted core, the generation of fissures and cracks, and the consequent development of accessible porosity is confirmed for the limestone under scrutiny. In addition to this, a remarkable result was that steam hydration induces, for the sorbent under investigation, a pronounced sulfur redistribution throughout the particle cross-section, which provides another pathway to the enhancement of the sulfur capture ability of the reactivated sorbent. © 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2006 [source] Interleukin-18 is High in the Serum of IVF Pregnancies with Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 5 2004Guy Gutman Problem:, The presence of interleukin-18 (IL-18) in serum and pre-ovulatory follicular fluid (FF) and its possible correlation to in-vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF/ET) outcome and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) development. Method of study:, A prospective study was carried out. Assays for serum and pooled pre-ovulatory FF levels of IL-18 were performed on 30 patients who underwent oocyte retrieval for IVF/ET. Results:, Mean serum and FF levels of IL-18 were 370.4 ± 224 and 228.9 ± 208 pg/mL, respectively (r = 0.77, P < 0.0001). Levels of FF IL-18 were comparable between the two ovaries (right = 221 ± 166.8 pg/mL, left = 237 ± 171.9 pg/mL; r = 0.7550, P = 0.49). A positive correlation was found between IL-18 FF levels and number of retrieved oocytes (r = 0.45; P = 0.019). In three patients (10%) who developed OHSS, the mean serum level of IL-18 at day of ovum pickup was significantly higher compared with patients without OHSS (620 ± 196 pg/mL versus 345 ± 251 pg/mL, respectively, P = 0.04). Conclusions:, Both pre-ovulatory FF and serum levels of IL-18 correlate with the number of retrieved oocytes. The serum IL-18 level at day of ovum pickup may predict consequent development of OHSS. Further investigations are warranted to determine the role of IL-18 in the folliculogenesis and OHSS pathogenesis. [source] |