Action Of Different Groups Research Articles

Saponins from Panax notoginseng ameliorate steroid resistance in lupus nephritis through regulating lymphocyte-derived exosomes in mice.

Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common and severe type of organ damage and an important primary disease in end-stage renal failure in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Clinical guidelines recommend steroid treatment, but steroid resistance has become a major factor leading to treatment failure and affecting prognosis. Our previous study demonstrated that Saponins from Panax Notoginseng (Panax ginseng saponins, PNS) could reverse steroid resistance of lymphocytes by downregulating P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression and provide renal protection in LN mice, but the mechanism by which lymphocytes transmit these related messages to renal lamina propria cells is not clear. Therefore, we further elucidated this mechanism through holistic experiments. In this study, low-dose methylprednisolone (0.8 mg/kg/day, MP) was used to induce a steroid-resistant lupus nephritis (SR-LN) mouse model in weeks one to four, and a therapeutic steroid dosage (MP 12 mg/kg/day) or a combined PNS (PNS 100 mg/kg/day) treatment was administered from week five to eight. Lymphocyte-derived exosomes (Lyme-Exos) were isolated from the spleens of mice and injected into untreated homozygous LN mice for 14 days via the tail vein. At the end of the experiment, the efficacy and mechanism of action of different groups of Lyme-Exos on LN mice were observed. The results revealed that exogenously injected Lyme-Exos were effectively taken up by the kidney and affected the progression of kidney disease. Steroid-resistant lymphocyte-derived exosomes intervented with PNS significantly downregulated the levels of silent information regulator-related enzyme 1 (Sirt1), multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR1), and P-gp in the renal cortex and glomerular endothelial cells (GECs); reduced serum autoantibody [antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)] levels and inflammatory markers (WBC, PCR, and PCT); improved renal function; and attenuated urinary microalbumin excretion. Additionally, renal histopathological damage (HE staining) and fibrosis (Masson staining) were improved, and immune complex (IgG) deposition and membrane attack complex (C5b-9) production were significantly reduced; the gene levels of inflammatory factors (INF-γ, MCP-1, IL-8, IL-17, vWF, VCAM-1, IL-1β, IL-6, PTX3) in the renal cortex were downregulated. Taken together, this study showed that PNS may alleviate steroid resistance in GEC by interfering with steroid-resistant Lyme-Exos to ameliorate LN progression, which will likely provide insights into developing a new LN treatment.

Data‐Driven Facial Simulation

AbstractIn Visual Effects, the creation of realistic facial performances is still a challenge that the industry is trying to overcome. Blendshape deformation is used to reproduce the action of different groups of muscles, which produces realistic static results. However, this is not sufficient to generate believable and detailed facial performances of animated digital characters.To increase the realism of facial performances, it is possible to enhance standard facial rigs using physical simulation approaches. However, setting up a simulation rig and controlling material properties according to the performance is not an easy task and could take a lot of time and iterations to get it right.We present a workflow that allows us to generate an activation map for the fibres of a set of superficial patches we call pseudo‐muscles. The pseudo‐muscles are automatically identified using k‐means to cluster the data from the blendshape targets in the animation rig and compute the direction of their contraction (direction of the pseudo‐muscle fibres). We use an Extended Position–Based Dynamics solver to add physical simulation to the facial animation, controlling the behaviour of simulation through the activation map. We show the results achieved using the proposed solution on two digital humans and one fantastic cartoon character, demonstrating that the identified pseudo‐muscles approximate facial anatomy and the simulation properties are properly controlled, increasing the realism while preserving the work of animators.

Mobilization of stem cell: past, present and future

This article reflects the main stages of development of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell as an effective method of treatment of various hematological, oncological and hereditary diseases. It describes the development of the research beginning with the discovery of the stem cells by A.A Maksimov to the contemporary ways to elaborate them into blood; it reflects the basic mechanisms of action of different groups of drugs on complex biochemical cascades close interaction with hematopoietic cells of the bone marrow microenvironment, which, in turn, determines their further destiny and lead to a loss of hematopoietic stem cells in peripheral blood. However, in spite of the current approaches to improve ways of harvesting stem cell, there is a certain percentage of patients in whom it is impossible to collect adequate for quick recovery of hematopoiesis after high-dose chemotherapy number of cells. This percentage will vary according to various literature sources, 5 to 40 %. Therefore, the development and application of new drugs, growth factors and cytokines, which would overcome the problem of poor mobilization is an important issue in modern medicine. The article presents data on the use of a new mobilizing agent plerixafor, the use of which in practice improves the successful mobilization of 40 %. The study of its combined action of various growth factors, including pegylated filgrastim, is a promising direction, because can be a good option for patients with poor mobilization activity for which the previous regimen mobilization proved ineffective. The research of plerixafor interacting with various growth factors including pegylated filgrastim is considered to be the most promising direction. This method is believed to help patients with low mobilizing activity where all other means have failed to improve it.

Formação de professoras e Escolas Normais paulistas: um estudo da disciplina Biologia Educacional

Este trabalho apresenta resultados de pesquisa sobre a história da disciplina Biologia Educacional (1933 a 1970), no âmbito da Escola Normal paulista. As elaborações dessa disciplina inseriram-se em projetos de renovação educacional em desenvolvimento no país desde a década de 1920, produzindo determinadas necessidades para o processo de formação de docentes e para suas futuras práticas. Esse processo, bem como os objetivos e as finalidades sociais da disciplina, foi analisado mediante o exame da atuação de diferentes grupos de interesses sociais, políticos e profissionais. Também foram investigadas as formas sob as quais o conhecimento científico disponível à época foi recriado para servir a esse processo de formação. Tomando como referência teórica os escritos de André Chervel e Ivor Goodson, pressupõe-se o caráter criativo das produções do sistema escolar, levando em conta suas possibilidades de reelaborar conhecimentos acadêmicos e de formar os indivíduos e também uma cultura escolar, produzindo padrões que se estendem a outras esferas sociais. A investigação baseou-se em análises de planos e programas de ensino, manuais didáticos, documentação arquivística e depoimentos de professoras. Foram identificadas várias formas de organização de conteúdos, com destaque para o padrão de maior sucesso, calcado no binômio hereditariedade e meio, dado como facilitador do conhecimento das individualidades humanas e, conseqüentemente, do trabalho do educador no sentido de disciplinar seus alunos para a máxima eficiência física e mental. Verificou-se também a construção de perfis de atuação social, em referência às crianças, mães e donas de casa, bem como de um ideal de desempenho profissional considerado moderno.

REVERSIBLE MARTENSITE STRAIN IN SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS WITH ALLOWANCE FOR STRUCTURAL TRANSFORMATION

A generalization of a phenomenological two-level model for nonlinear strain in polycrystal is considered; the model takes into account transformation of the material dislocation structure during cyclic martensite transformations and the action of different groups of residual microstresses.

Biopesticides

Ed. by F. R. Hall and J. J. Menn. 626 pages. Totowa, NJ, USA: Humana Press, 1999. h/b. ISBN 089603 515 8 This fifth volume in the series Methods in biotechnology addresses the basic biology of key organisms, examples of their use, the development of recombinant biopesticides and the potential for the joint action of different groups. The full range of biopesticides is considered, from biologically derived forms of pest control, such as neem, pheromones and transgenic plants, to the more traditional viruses, bacteria, fungi and nematodes. Particularly useful information on the registration of biopesticides is given, although much relates to the USA, and there are general overviews of opportunities for the development of biopesticides in Europe, North America and the Developing World. The chapters on delivery systems and strategies for resistance management are particularly good and thought-provoking. If I have any criticism it is that there is no chapter dealing solely with potential environmental impact. Nontarget impact of biological control agents in the classical sense is attracting increasing scrutiny. This aspect of microbial pesticides is often only briefly covered, however, is undoubtedly an issue that will eventually need to be addressed. As is often the case in a book of wide scope and short extent, there is a tendency to deal rather briefly with issues and data, and to rely on other reviews, rather than primary source material. Biopesticides – use and delivery provides a good starting point for anyone interested in biopesticides in the broadest sense and the wide range of urgent issues that they raise.

PHYSIOLOGIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GENERIC AND INDIVIDUALLY ACQUIRED AUTOMATIC ASSOCIATED MOVEMENTS

It is not our purpose to enter a disputatious field. We shall not, at the moment, concern ourselves with the essential nature of volition, motion or any other contemporarily insoluble issue. While the basic character and even the existence of the so-called automatic associated movements are admittedly in dispute, we believe that a working definition of them can be given. By associated movements we mean those resulting from the combined action of different groups of muscles producing simultaneous and related motion of two or more well separated parts of the body, such as the two arms. Prime examples are the normal swinging of the arms, which is a part of walking, and the motions of one leg as related to those of the other in walking. Such phenomena as the extension of the wrist during grasping do not fall definitely into the group we are considering. In our use of

The Influence of Certain Factors on the Methylene Blue Reduction Test for Determining the Number of Bacteria in Milk

Summary The importance of the bacterial content of milk in determining its quality is discussed and the need of some simple and inexpensive method for the bacteriological analysis of milk is presented. The methylene blue reduction test seems to meet the need. The literature treating of the reduction test has been reviewed and a study has been made of a number of factors which influence the results obtained with the test. In the work herein reported attention has been directed to the influence of the concentration of the dye, to the age of the solution of the dye, and to the source or brand of the methylene blue. The influence of temperature on the reduction time has been investigated. The direct dependence of the test on the vital activities of the cells is shown by the effect of heating the milk to relatively low temperatures and by the effect of antiseptics. The relationships which may exist between different groups of bacteria are discussed and data are presented to illustrate the effect of these relationships in influencing the reduction time. The reducing action of different groups of milk bacteria has been studied as well as the relation of reduction time to keeping quality. Directions for making the test are given.