Prostaglandin E2 Receptor 4 (EP4) Affects Trophoblast Functions via Activating the cAMP-PKA-pCREB Signaling Pathway at the Maternal-Fetal Interface in Unexplained Recurrent Miscarriage

Implantation consists of a complex process based on coordinated crosstalk between the endometrium and trophoblast. Furthermore, it is known that the microenvironment of this fetal–maternal interface plays an important role in the development of extravillous trophoblast cells. This is mainly due to the fact that tissues mediate embryonic signaling biologicals, among other molecules, prostaglandins. Prostaglandins influence tissue through several cell processes including differentiation, proliferation, and promotion of maternal immune tolerance. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential pathological mechanism of the prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 (EP4) in modulating extravillous trophoblast cells (EVTs) in unexplained recurrent marriage (uRM). Our results indicated that the expression of EP4 in EVTs was decreased in women experiencing uRM. Furthermore, silencing of EP4 showed an inhibition of the proliferation and induced apoptosis in vitro. In addition, our results demonstrated reductions in β- human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), progesterone, and interleukin (IL)-6, which is likely a result from the activation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)- cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA)-phosphorylating CREB (pCREB) pathway. Our data might provide insight into the mechanisms of EP4 linked to trophoblast function. These findings help build a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of EP4 on the trophoblast at the fetal–maternal interface in the first trimester of pregnancy.     

Combining selective sequential extractions,X-ray absorption spectroscopy,and principal component analysis for quantitative zinc speciation in soil

Selective sequential extractions (SSE) and, more recently, X-ray absorption fine-structure IXAFS) spectroscopy have been used to characterize the speciation of metal contaminants in soils and sediments. However, both methods have specific limitations when multiple metal species coexist in soils and sediments. In this study, we tested a combined approach, in which XAFS spectra were collected after each of 6 SSE steps, and then analyzed by multishell fitting, principal component analysis (PCA) and linear combination fits (LCF), to determine the Zn speciation in a smelter-contaminated, strongly acidic soil. In the topsoil, Zn was predominately found in the smelter-emitted minerals franklinite (60%) and sphalerite (30%) and as aqueous or outer-sphere Zn2+ (10%). In the subsoil, aqueous or outer-sphere Zn2+ prevailed (55%), but 45% of Zn was incorporated by hydroxy-Al interlayers of phyllosilicates. Formation of such Zn-bearing hydroxy-interlayers, which has been observed here for the first time, may be an important mechanism to reduce the solubility of Zn in those soils, which are too acidic to retain Zn by formation of inner-sphere sorption complexes, layered double hydroxides or phyllosilicates. The stepwise removal of Zn fractions by SSE significantly improved the identification of species by XAFS and PCA and their subsequent quantification by LCF. While SSE alone provided excellent estimates of the amount of mobile Zn species, it failed to identify and quantify Zn associated with mineral phases because of nonspecific dissolution and the precipitation of Zn oxalate. The systematic combination of chemical extraction, spectroscopy, and advanced statistical analysis allowed us to identify and quantify both mobile and recalcitrant species with high reliability and precision.     

Mortality in burned children with acute renal failure

BACKGROUND: During the past 13 years, mortality from acute renal failure in burned children has been on the decline. OBJECTIVE: To determine which new burn therapies contributed to the decrease in mortality. DESIGN: The medical records of burned children admitted from February 1966 to January 1997 were reviewed, and the outcome of changes in the treatment of burned children were compared. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty children with acute renal failure were identified. These children were divided into those admitted from 1966 to 1983 (n=24) and those admitted from 1984 to 1997 (n=36). They were compared with matched control subjects from the same period without renal failure. Values are presented as means+/-SEMs. Statistical analysis was by the Student t test or chi2 analysis. RESULTS: Mortality rates in burned children with acute renal failure decreased from 100% before 1983 to 56% after 1984 (P<.001). The time between a burn injury and the initiation of intravenous fluid resuscitation was 8.6+/-1.7 hours before 1983 compared with 3.0+/-0.5 hours after 1984 (P<.005). The time between a burn injury and complete early wound excision decreased from 228+/-37 hours before 1983 to 40+/-7 hours after 1984 (P<.001). The incidence of sepsis decreased from 71% to 44% in these periods (P<.05). After 1984, survivors had a shorter time delay for fluid resuscitation than nonsurvivors (1.7+/-0.5 hours vs 4.8+/-0.9 hours; P<.005) and a lower incidence of sepsis (19% vs 60%; P<.05). From 1984 to 1997, burned children with acute renal failure who did not require dialysis had significantly shorter delays for fluid resuscitation (2.2+/-0.5 hours vs 4.4+/-0.9 hours) and complete wound excision (29+/-6 hours vs 49+/-7 hours) compared with those requiring dialysis (P<.05 for both). CONCLUSION: Early adequate fluid resuscitation, early wound excision, and better infection control may reduce mortality in burned children with acute renal failure.     

Prediction of Chronic Inflammation for Inhaled Particles: the Impact of Material Cycling and Quarantining in the Lung Epithelium

On a daily basis, people are exposed to a multitude of health-hazardous airborne particulate matter with notable deposition in the fragile alveolar region of the lungs. Hence, there is a great need for identification and prediction of material-associated diseases, currently hindered due to the lack of in-depth understanding of causal relationships, in particular between acute exposures and chronic symptoms. By applying advanced microscopies and omics to in vitro and in vivo systems, together with in silico molecular modeling, it is determined herein that the long-lasting response to a single exposure can originate from the interplay between the newly discovered nanomaterial quarantining and nanomaterial cycling between different lung cell types. This new insight finally allows prediction of the spectrum of lung inflammation associated with materials of interest using only in vitro measurements and in silico modeling, potentially relating outcomes to material properties for a large number of materials, and thus boosting safe-by-design-based material development. Because of its profound implications for animal-free predictive toxicology, this work paves the way to a more efficient and hazard-free introduction of numerous new advanced materials into our lives.     

Risk Governance of Emerging Technologies Demonstrated in Terms of its Applicability to Nanomaterials

Nanotechnologies have reached maturity and market penetration that require nano‐specific changes in legislation and harmonization among legislation domains, such as the amendments to REACH for nanomaterials (NMs) which came into force in 2020. Thus, an assessment of the components and regulatory boundaries of NMs risk governance is timely, alongside related methods and tools, as part of the global efforts to optimise nanosafety and integrate it into product design processes, via Safe(r)‐by‐Design (SbD) concepts. This paper provides an overview of the state‐of‐the‐art regarding risk governance of NMs and lays out the theoretical basis for the development and implementation of an effective, trustworthy and transparent risk governance framework for NMs. The proposed framework enables continuous integration of the evolving state of the science, leverages best practice from contiguous disciplines and facilitates responsive re‐thinking of nanosafety governance to meet future needs. To achieve and operationalise such framework, a science‐based Risk Governance Council (RGC) for NMs is being developed. The framework will provide a toolkit for independent NMs' risk governance and integrates needs and views of stakeholders. An extension of this framework to relevant advanced materials and emerging technologies is also envisaged, in view of future foundations of risk research in Europe and globally.     

Evidence for ciliary pigment localization in colored ciliates and implications for their photosensory transduction chain: a confocal microscopy study

In this study we report for the first time the localization of a photoreceptor pigment in the cilia of the colored heterotrich ciliates Blepharisma japonicum red and blue form, Fabrea salina, and Stentor coeruleus, as result of a confocal microscopy investigation. Optical sectioning confocal microscopy has been used for studying the spatial distribution of the pigment in the cell body, surprisingly showing that, besides its expected presence in the cortical region immediately below the cell membrane, it is located in the cilia too. In order to ascertain possible differences in the pigment fluorescence properties along the cell body, we have measured emission spectra from different parts of it (anterior, posterior, and cilia). Our results clearly indicate that in all cases the spectra are the same, within experimental errors. Finally, we have evaluated the pigment relative fluorescence efficiency of these ciliates. In an ordered scale from lower to greater efficiency, we have S. coeruleus, B. japonicum blue, B. japonicum red, and F. salina. The possible implications of our findings for the process of photosensory transduction are discussed.     

Effects of Nylon 6,6 nanofibrous mats on thermal properties and delamination behavior of high performance CFRP laminates

Nylon 6,6 electrospun nanofibrous membranes interleaved in “high performance” Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) laminates have been proposed as a means to provide a high threshold value to delamination on structural sites where composites are more prone to develop such failure. A model, highly crosslinked, thus inherently brittle, epoxy matrix was selected for its high Young's modulus and glass transition temperature exceeding 250°C. The influence of the Nylon 6,6 nanofibers on the curing behavior of the matrix and on the thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of the cured resin was investigated. These properties were related to the features of the epoxy resin and of the resin impregnated nanofibrous mat. Finally, the delamination behavior of the composite laminates interleaved with Nylon interleaves with different thicknesses was studied through Mode I delamination tests on Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) samples. The results show that the initial Mode I fracture toughness was increased up to about 50% by the presence of the thin mat interleaf. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1303–1313, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

LTI models for 3-iodothyronamine time dynamics: a multiscale view

3-Iodothyronamine (T(1)AM) is a novel relative of thyroid hormone that plays a role in critical body regulatory processes such as glucose metabolism, thermal regulation, and heart beating. This paper was aimed at characterizing time dynamics of T(1)AM and its catabolite 3-iodothyroacetic acid (TA(1)) in different biological scales with linear time-invariant models. Culture medium samples coming from culture of H9c2 murine cells and perfusion liquid samples from perfused rat heart were collected after the injection of a T(1)AM bolus. T(1)AM and TA(1) concentrations in the samples were assayed with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. Kinetic constants relative to T(1)AM transport and conversion were estimated with weighted least-squares method. We found that these constants can be related with an allometric power law depending on mass, with a negative exponent of -0.27 ± 0.19, implying that the velocity of conversion and internalization of T(1)AM decreases with increasing of system mass.     

Fast analysis of proteins in wines by capillary gel electrophoresis

Wine proteins play an important role in different characteristics of wine (e.g., aroma and body, foaming in sparkling wines). They can also cause a number of technological problems during vinification and may be responsible for the appearance of turbidity in bottled wine. These important features of proteins in wine have made necessary the development of new and fast analytical methods that can provide deeper knowledge about these biopolymers. However, separation and characterization of wine proteins is difficult and time-consuming mainly due to their low concentration and large number of interfering compounds. Besides, long sample preparation protocols can bring about protein decomposition. This paper proposes a new and fast method for carrying out the analysis of the protein fraction of wines. The procedure consists of direct treatment of wine using a centrifugal filter device (CFD), denaturation of the proteinaceous fraction with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-mercaptoethanol, and subsequent CGE analysis of SDS-proteins. Results on the molecular weight (Mw) and relative quantity of proteins of wines are attained in about 1 h with this procedure. The method is applied to analyze different wines from Canary Islands. To our knowledge, this is the first report of separation of wine proteins according to their Mw by CGE.