l-Cystathionine Inhibits the Mitochondria-Mediated Macrophage Apoptosis Induced by Oxidized Low Density Lipoprotein

This study was designed to investigate the regulatory role of l-cystathionine in human macrophage apoptosis induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and its possible mechanisms. THP-1 cells were induced with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and differentiated into macrophages. Macrophages were incubated with ox-LDL after pretreatment with l-cystathionine. Superoxide anion, apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening were examined. Caspase-9 activities and expression of cleaved caspase-3 were measured. The results showed that compared with control group, ox-LDL treatment significantly promoted superoxide anion generation, release of cytochrome c (cytc) from mitochondrion into cytoplasm, caspase-9 activities, cleavage of caspase-3, and cell apoptosis, in addition to reduced mitochondrial membrane potential as well as increased MPTP opening. However, 0.3 and 1.0 mmol/L l-cystathionine significantly reduced superoxide anion generation, increased mitochondrial membrane potential, and markedly decreased MPTP opening in ox-LDL + l-cystathionine macrophages. Moreover, compared to ox-LDL treated-cells, release of cytc from mitochondrion into cytoplasm, caspase-9 activities, cleavage of caspase-3, and apoptosis levels in l-cystathionine pretreated cells were profoundly attenuated. Taken together, our results suggested that l-cystathionine could antagonize mitochondria-mediated human macrophage apoptosis induced by ox-LDL via inhibition of cytc release and caspase activation.     

The impact of family and community violence on children’s depression trajectories: Examining the interactions of violence exposure, family social support, and gender.

This longitudinal study used multilevel modeling to examine the relationships between witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV), community and school violence exposure (CSVE), family social support, gender, and depression over 2 years within a sample of 100 school-aged children. We found significant between-child differences in both the initial levels of depression and the trajectories of depression; depression over time was positively associated with change in witnessing IPV and CSVE and negatively associated with change in support. Two significant 3-way interactions were found: Gender and initial support, as well as gender and initial witnessing IPV, both significantly moderated the effect of change in witnessing IPV on the children’s depression over time. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contributions of sibling relations to the adaptation of youths with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Associations among sibling relations and the psychosocial and illness-specific adaptation of youths (N?=?66) with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) were examined. The findings suggest that sibling relations, especially sibling conflict, contribute an independent source of variance above and beyond that contributed by demographic characteristics, sibling constellation variables, and important dimensions of family relations in predicting the youths' adaptation. High family-life stress and high sibling status/power contributed unique variance in predicting internalizing behaviors, and male gender and sibling conflict contributed independently to externalizing problems. Sibling conflict also contributed unique variance to the youths' general self-esteem, along with social class and family cohesion, and to their adjustment to IDDM. Data suggest that parent–child dyads and sibling dyads represent interrelated and independent subsystems within the family, and that both subsystems may influence the psychosocial functioning of youths with IDDM. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Teaching parents to use research-supported systematic strategies to tutor their children in reading.

This study investigated the efficacy of a method of parent training and parent reading tutoring that built on past research. Parents of five first-grade children who were reading below grade level participated. Parents were trained to implement a tutoring procedure that included modeling, practice, phonics, fluency building, accuracy building, comprehension, and reinforcement components. Assessment of audiotape recordings and permanent products indicated high levels of treatment integrity. A multiple baseline across participants design was used to assess the results. Four of the five children exhibited an increase in words read correctly per minute on tutored reading passages. Issues that arose in the implementation of this study are discussed, as well as research regarding how to tailor home tutoring procedures to parent-child dyads. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

A communication-based intervention for nonverbal children with autism: What changes? Who benefits?

Objective: This article examines the form and function of spontaneous communication and outcome predictors in nonverbal children with autism following classroom-based intervention (Picture Exchange Communication System [PECS] training). Method: 84 children from 15 schools participated in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of PECS (P. Howlin, R. K. Gordon, G. Pasco, A. Wade, & T. Charman, 2007). They were aged 4–10 years (73 boys). Primary outcome measure was naturalistic observation of communication in the classroom. Multilevel Poisson regression was used to test for intervention effects and outcome predictors. Results: Spontaneous communication using picture cards, speech, or both increased significantly following training (rate ratio [RR] =1.90, 95% CI [1.46, 2.48], p     

Performance analysis of radial-inflow turbine of ORC: New combined approach of preliminary design and 3D CFD study

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - A new methodology for the aerothermodynamic design of radial-inflow turbines used in organic Rankine cycles is presented. Initially, a fully detailed...     

The Role of Sulfur Dioxide in the Regulation of Mitochondrion-Related Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis in Rats with Isopropylarterenol-Induced Myocardial Injury

The authors investigated the regulatory effects of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) on myocardial injury induced by isopropylarterenol (ISO) hydrochloride and its mechanisms. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control group, ISO group, ISO plus SO₂ group, and SO₂ only group. Cardiac function was measured and cardiomyocyte apoptosis was detected. Bcl-2, bax and cytochrome c (cytc) expressions, and caspase-9 and caspase-3 activities in the left ventricular tissues were examined in the rats. The opening status of myocardial mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) and membrane potential were analyzed. The results showed that ISO-treated rats developed heart dysfunction and cardiac injury. Furthermore, cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the left ventricular tissues was augmented, left ventricular tissue bcl-2 expression was down-regulated, bax expression was up-regulated, mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly reduced, MPTP opened, cytc release from mitochondrion into cytoplasm was significantly increased, and both caspase-9 and caspase-3 activities were increased. Administration of an SO₂ donor, however, markedly improved heart function and relieved myocardial injury of the ISO-treated rats; it lessened cardiomyocyte apoptosis, up-regulated myocardial bcl-2, down-regulated bax expression, stimulated mitochondrial membrane potential, closed MPTP, and reduced cytc release as well as caspase-9 and caspase-3 activities in the left ventricular tissue. Hence, SO₂ attenuated myocardial injury in association with the inhibition of apoptosis in myocardial tissues, and the bcl-2/cytc/caspase-9/caspase-3 pathway was possibly involved in this process.     

Catalytic aspects of the steam reforming of hydrocarbons in internal reforming fuel cells

Steam reforming of hydrocarbons such as natural gas is an attractive method of producing the hydrogen fuel gas required by fuel cells. It may be carried out external to the fuel cell or internally. The two types of fuel cell in which internal reforming is most appropriate are the molten carbonate (MCFC), operating at ca. 650°C and the solid oxide (SOFC) which currently operates above 800°C. At such temperatures, the heat liberated by the electrochemical reactions within the cell can be utilised by the endothermic steam reforming reaction. This paper reviews some of the catalytic aspects of internal reforming in these two types of cell. In the MCFC the major catalyst issue is that of long term activity in the presence of a corrosive alkaline environment produced by the cell's electrolyte. In Europe, this is being addressed by British Gas and others, in a programme part-funded by the European Commission. In this programme, potential catalysts for the direct internal reforming MCFC were evaluated in ‘out-of-cell’ tests. This has led to the demonstration of a 1 kW proof-of-concept DIR-MCFC stack and the start of a European ‘Advanced DIR-MCFC’ project. For the SOFC, it has been shown that state-of-the-art nickel cermet anodes can provide sufficient activity for steam reforming without the need for additional catalyst. However, anode degradation may occur when steam reforming is carried out for long periods. New anode materials could therefore offer significant benefits.