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Intra-Arterial Renal Infusion of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibits TLR4-NF-κB-NLRP3-Mediated Pyroptosis in Doxorubicin Nephropathy Rats
No full textBackground: Doxorubicin nephropathy (DRN) is a well-known chronic kidney disease (CHKD) model. Doxorubicin (Dox)-induced nephrotoxicity involves high oxidative stress, apoptosis, and necrosis. However, it is still unclear if Dox causes DRN to undergo pyroptosis (PYT), a particular inflammatory-mediated form of cell death. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) have therapeutic potential in improving the structure and function of DRN. However, whether BMMSCs regulate PYT in DRN is also not clear. Objective: Our study was to investigate the possibility of BMMSCs in inhibiting TLR4 (toll-like receptor 4)/NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B)/NLRP3 (nucleotide oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors 3) inflammasome-mediated PYT in the DRN rat model. Methods: The rat treatments consisted of four groups (n = 8 rats each): Group A (Nor), normal rats treated with equivalent DMEM (dulbeccos modified eagles medium) medium; Group B (Con), normal rats receiving no treatment; Group C (Dox), DRN rats treated with phosphate buffer; Group D (Dox + BMMSCs). On days 1 and 15, tail vein injections of Dox (4 mg/kg) were used to develop the rat chronic renal disease model (DRN). By the end of week 11, the DRN model was effectively produced, and it had been successfully treated with a single BMMSC injection in the right renal artery through the carotid artery dissection method. By using Western blotting and ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), the levels of TLR4, NF-κB, NLRP3, Caspase-1, GSDM-D (gasdermin-D), TNF (tumor necrosis factor), MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1), TGF-1 (transforming growth factor 1), α-SMA (α smooth muscle actin), IL-1 (interleukin-1), IL-18, and IL-6 in the kidney tissues of the animals were determined 8 weeks after the second Dox treatment. Results: Our experimental results showed that the levels of TNF-α, MCP-1, TGF-β1, and rats in the BMMSCs treatment (group D) had considerably lower levels of α-SMA than untreated (group C) rats (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In a DRN rat model, Dox could induce pyrogenic cell death, but the mortality was attenuated by treating with BMMSCs. Our results bring new insights into the use of the anti-inflammatory activity of BMMSCs as an effective alternative therapy for CHKD
Evaluating the Role of Flaxseed Oil in Improving Neurological Impairments in Rat Pups Intoxicated by Aluminum
No full textBackground: This study aims to examine the potential neuroprotective effects of flaxseed oil (FSO) on the brain activity of rat pups sired by females intoxicated with aluminum (Al). The brain is known to be particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of aluminum, which promotes oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. FSO is a rich source of omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids (FA), essential components of neuronal membranes and neurotransmission. Methods: After collecting 36 offspring aged three weeks from a control group and an intoxicated female group that received an intraperitoneal injection of aluminum chloride (AlCl3) (75 mg/kg body weight, twice a week) in the morning for 30 days. Six subgroups of pup rats for each group (n = 6) were used, with control groups having free access to food and water and two experimental groups receiving low and high doses of FSO administered by gavage (0.5 and 2 mL/kg b.wt.). An intoxicated group was also tested with rats receiving low and high FSO concentrations and free access to water. The study appears to focus on the effect of omega-3 in the FSO on the brains development of young rats a neurobehavioral study was carried out, followed by estimation of prooxidant parameters and neurotransmitter activity of the brain, and a lipid composition was carried out on the brain membrane by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Results: The FA profile of FSO revealed domination by ω-3 type (86.9%). The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging capability was found at half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 18.12 g/mL. Neurobehavioral experiments showed significant hyperactivity and memory loss in intoxicated young rats, with decreased levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO) and a significant increase in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain. However, ameliorative results were found in both concentrations of FSO administration when compared with intoxicated groups. GC-MS analysis of the brain membrane FA profile revealed the presence of elaidic acid in both the AL and AL+FSO. Neurobehavioral experiments showed significant hyperactivity and memory loss in intoxicated young rats, with decreased levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO) and a significant increase in acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the brain. However, ameliorative results were found in both concentrations of FSO administration when compared with intoxicated groups. GC-MS analysis of the brain membrane FA profile revealed the presence of elaidic acid in both the AL and AL+FSO” groups. In contrast, only the AL+FSO group had eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) areas. Conclusions: Our results suggest that FSO supplementation at low concentrations has neuroprotective effects on developing rat brains, correcting and ameliorating the abnormalities brought on by embryo/fetal aluminum chloride toxicity
The utilizability of non-flammable R471A with low-GWP in air-conditioning systems
Get PDFThe utilizability of non-flammable refrigerant R471A with low-GWP is theoretically investigated in an air-conditioning system. In this context, R410A, R32, and R471A are compared for the evaporation temperatures of 4, 8, and 12 ℃ with the condenser temperatures of 40 and 50 ℃. The results indicate that both the mass flow rate and power consumption of R471A are higher compared to R410A and R32. Although COP of R471A is determined to be smaller than R410A and R32 by about 19% and 22%, R471A can satisfy the restrictions for air-conditioning systems due to its considerable low-GWP compared to R410A and R32 (GWP of R471A is lower by 78% and 93% in comparison with R32 and R410A, respectively). Hence, it should be possible to suppress global warming through the reduction of carbon emissions as a result of using R471A in these systems. Additionally, since R471A is non-flammable, it can be safely used for systems requiring a high amount of refrigerant charge without violating the restrictions
The Research on Causes of Megacity Problem Based on Spatial Disequilibrium
Get PDFBy using spatial models with lag and error and through many experiments, this paper uses distance threshold which can maximize spatial autocorrelation, instead of setting spatial weight matrix by adjacent boundaries, making measurement better suit the features of our country’s cities distribution to explore the reasons for big city disease empirically. It finds that distribution of public service distribution and spatial non-equilibrium are factors for excessive population agglomeration and therefore big city disease, and provides solutions for the factors mentioned above
Heart as an endocrine-metabolic organ
Get PDFHistorically, the heart has been considered a vital organ due to its function as an impeller and aspirating blood pump, allowing the fi siological perfusion to every corner of the human body. However, behind this pump role lies a little-discussed function, that is, the endocrine-metabolic role of the heart, as a hormone synthesizing organ and, because of its pump function, a distributor of hormones foreign to it. Understanding the incidence of peptides synthesized in the heart offers a new perspective on the relevance of the heart in homeostasis and how cardiovascular disease can alter metabolism. The present work aims to review the most current information on the role of natriuretic peptides produced in the heart and their endocrine-metabolic function. These are atrial, brain and C-type natriuretic peptides. It is concluded that the conception of the heart as an organ of endocrine-metabolic regulation, whose hormones are essential for the homeostasis of the organism, is fundamental for the medicine of this century and for future advances in new therapeutic strategies to improve the quality of life of patients
Incidence of renal cell carcinoma in Santiago de Cuba
Get PDFIntroduction: renal parenchymal tumors account for approximately 2-3% of tumors in adults' patients and in turn the 85% of primary kidney tumors. An increased incidence of renal parenchymal tumors has been observed around the world and in Cuba in the last years. It is the most deadly cancer in the urinary tract worldwide. Objective: to identify incidence and the clinical- epidemiological and histopathological features of renal cell carcinoma in the province of Santiago de Cuba. Method: a descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted concerning renal adenocarcinoma in 88 patients from Santiago de Cuba. Period of study was from January 1, 2012 throughout January 1, 2017. The diagnosis was based on histopathological studies from patients who underwent surgery and died due to this disease. Variables studies were as follow: incidence, age, sex, risk factors, symptoms and signs, histologic type and cancer staging. Results: it was more frequent between the fifth and sixth decades of life and in males. Smoking was the main risk factor. More than 50% of cases were diagnosed incidentally and asymptomatically, although symptoms such as flank pain, hematuria, general symptoms and palpable abdominal mass appeared. Clear cell tumor was the histologic variety most affected. They were diagnosed mainly in stage T3a. Conclusions: family physicians, clinicians, urologists and radiologists are involved in the diagnosis of renal carcinoma, so it is important to be aware of this illness since it can present in the most unsuspected way
Research progress on the relationship between fibroblast growth factor 23 and chronic kidney disease
Get PDFChronic kidney disease(CKD)is now a global public health problem. In chronic kidney disease(CKD)patients，almost all have complications such as calcium and phosphorus metabolism disorders，hyperparathyroidism，cardiovascular disease，anemia，and inflammation，which seriously affect the progress and prognosis of CKD. Fibroblast growth factor 23(FGF23) is a bone-derived hormone that regulates the metabolism of phosphate and vitamin D. In the past，FGF23 was generally considered to play only an important role in the regulation of calcium and phosphorus metabolism. In recent years FGF23has been found to be associated with the occurrence or progression of various CKD complications. This opens up new horizons for studying the role of FGF23 in the course of chronic kidney disease. FGF23 is expected to become a new therapeutic target in the future，improving the prognosis of patients with CKD. This article will review the biological characteristics of FGF23 and its role in the progression of CKD. And briefly discuss its potential future role in chronic kidney disease
Characterization of Ecuadorian feldspar by instrumental analytical techniques and statistical calculation of uncertainty for the reliability of results
Get PDFThe present study has as objective the analysis and characterization of a sample of an Ecuadorian feldspar, by means of XRD, SEM and TGA techniques, for the microstructural analysis of mineral phase and chemical composition. Qualitative and quantitative X-ray diffraction analysis by Rietveld refinement revealed that this feldspar is composed of 33.31% Albite, 15.70% Quartz and a large percentage by weight of 50.99% amorphous material. To validate these results, the uncertainty of the measurement was investigated and calculated by statistical analysis of standard deviation, giving as results an uncertainty error of ±0.87 wt%, ±0.23 wt% and ±0.89 wt% respectively for the percentages by weight of the minerals found in this analysis. The result by SEM shows the presence of Albite in the feldspar exhibiting laminar twinning and characterized by randomly dispersed spherical quartz and plagioclase inclusions
Content creation or interpolation: AI generative digital art in the classroom
Get PDFThe integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in art and design has disrupted the traditional creative landscape, leading to debates on the legitimacy of AI-generated art and the emergence of new markets such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The US Copyright Office’s February 21, 2023, ruling withdrawing copyright protection for AI-generated comic artwork, while protecting the accompanying text and arrangement, highlights the contested nature of AI art and suggests that significant human intervention in the creative process will be required for monetization. Whether considered content interpolation or content creation, AI generative content for the creation of art and design is here with human-AI collaboration. To explore the potential of AI tools in creative practice, this study introduced students in a digital art course to Craiyon and Midjourney generative AI tools, with DALL-E 2 selected as the primary tool due to its varied output. The students were tasked with selecting a preferred prompt from one tool and then reproducing the output from both tools. The results revealed significant variations in replicating the outputs of different AI tools and limited exploration of prompt engineering, leading to restrictions in the iterative process of artmaking. The students agreed that generative AI tools are not a substitute for human creativity and should be used for final projects. The study demonstrates the potential and limitations of integrating AI tools in art and design and suggests the need for further research in developing effective prompt engineering strategies
Life, death, and AI: Exploring digital necromancy in popular culture—Ethical considerations, technological limitations, and the pet cemetery conundrum
Get PDFThis article explores the rise of generative AI, particularly ChatGPT, and the combination of large language models (LLM) with robotics, exemplified by Ameca the Robot. It addresses the need to study the ethical considerations and potential implications of digital necromancy, which involves using AI to reanimate deceased individuals for various purposes. Reasons for desiring to engage with a disembodied or bodied replica of a person include the preservation of memories, emotional closure, cultural heritage and historical preservation, interacting with idols or influential figures, educational and research purposes, and creative expression and artistic endeavors. As such, this article examines historical examples of the practice in hologram concerts, CGI characters, and others in order to analyze the ethical concerns related to privacy, consent, and commercial gain. It delves into the challenges of accurately representing individual personalities, misrepresenting cultural context, and the limitations of available data. Furthermore, it explores the Pet Cemetery conundrum and its impact on the grieving process, mental health, and the moral implications of using AI to generate interactions with the deceased. By contemplating future use cases like interactive virtual assistants and realistic historical reenactments, the article highlights the importance of addressing ethical implications as these technologies continue to advance and contributes to the discourse on the responsible and ethical use of generative AI, LLM, and robotics in the context of digital resurrection, calling for ongoing discussions and considerations of AI rights, social dynamics, and the grieving process