540 research outputs found
A review of volunteered geographic information quality assessment methods
No full textWith the ubiquity of advanced web technologies and location-sensing hand held devices, citizens regardless of their knowledge or expertise, are able to produce spatial information. This phenomenon is known as volunteered geographic information (VGI). During the past decade VGI has been used as a data source supporting a wide range of services, such as environmental monitoring, events reporting, human movement analysis, disaster management, etc. However, these volunteer-contributed data also come with varying quality. Reasons for this are: data is produced by heterogeneous contributors, using various technologies and tools, having different level of details and precision, serving heterogeneous purposes, and a lack of gatekeepers. Crowd-sourcing, social, and geographic approaches have been proposed and later followed to develop appropriate methods to assess the quality measures and indicators of VGI. In this article, we review various quality measures and indicators for selected types of VGI and existing quality assessment methods. As an outcome, the article presents a classification of VGI with current methods utilized to assess the quality of selected types of VGI. Through these findings, we introduce data mining as an additional approach for quality handling in VGI
IGF-1 and PDGF-bb suppress IL-1β-induced cartilage degradation through down-regulation of NF-κB signaling: involvement of Src/PI-3K/AKT pathway.
No full textInterleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis (OA). Growth factors (GFs) capable of antagonizing the catabolic actions of cytokines may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of OA. Herein, we investigated the potential synergistic effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-bb) on different mechanisms participating in IL-1β-induced activation of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) and apoptosis in chondrocytes.
Primary chondrocytes were treated with IL-1β to induce dedifferentiation and co-treated with either IGF-1 or/and PDGF-bb and evaluated by immunoblotting and electron microscopy.
Pretreatment of chondrocytes with IGF-1 or/and PDGF-bb suppressed IL-1β-induced NF-κB activation via inhibition of IκB-α kinase. Inhibition of IκB-α kinase by GFs led to the suppression of IκB-α phosphorylation and degradation, p65 nuclear translocation and NF-κB-regulated gene products involved in inflammation and cartilage degradation (COX-2, MMPs) and apoptosis (caspase-3). GFs or BMS-345541 (specific inhibitor of the IKK) reversed the IL-1β-induced down-regulation of collagen type II, cartilage specific proteoglycans, β1-integrin, Shc, activated MAPKinase, Sox-9 and up-regulation of active caspase-3. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of IGF-1 or/and PDGF-bb on IL-1β-induced NF-κB activation were sensitive to inhibitors of Src (PP1), PI-3K (wortmannin) and Akt (SH-5), suggesting that the pathway consisting of non-receptor tyrosine kinase (Src), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and protein kinase B must be involved in IL-1β signaling.
The results presented suggest that IGF-1 and PDGF-bb are potent inhibitors of IL-1β-mediated activation of NF-κB and apoptosis in chondrocytes, may be mediated in part through suppression of Src/PI-3K/AKT pathway, which may contribute to their anti-inflammatory effects
Distribution of the AQP4 water channel in normal human tissues: protein and tissue microarrays reveal expression in several new anatomical locations including the prostate gland and seminal vesicles
No full textAquaporins facilitate osmotically driven water movement across cell membranes. Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is a major water channel in the central nervous system where it participates in cerebral water balance. AQP4 is also present in basolateral membranes of lower respiratory tract airway and renal collecting duct epithelial cells, gastric parietal cells and skeletal muscle cells. However, the distribution of AQP4 in many other tissues he is still unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the expression and relative abundance of AQP4 in human Tissue MicroArrays (TMAs) and human protein microarrays by immunohistochemistry and chemiluminescence. In the central nervous system AQP4 was abundantly expressed in the cerebral cortex, cerebellar cortex (purkinje/granular layer), ependymal cell layer, hippocampus and spinal cord. Lower levels were detected in choroid plexus, white matter and meninges. In the musculoskeletal system AQP4 was highly expressed in the sarcolemma of skeletal muscle from the chest and neck. In the male genital system AQP4 was moderately expressed in seminiferous tubules, seminal vesicles, prostate and epidiymis. In the respiratory system AQP4 was moderately expressed in lung and bronchus. AQP expression was abundant in the kidney. In the gastrointestinal system AQP4 was moderately present in basolateral membranes of parietal cells at the base of gastric glands. AQP4 was also detected in salivary glands, adrenals, anterior pituitary, prostate and seminal vesicles. Human protein microarrays verified the TMA data. Our findings suggest that AQP4 is expressed more widely than previously thought in human organs and may be involved in prostatic and seminal fluid formation
Scientific Evidence and Rationale for the Development of Curcumin and Resveratrol as Nutraceutricals for Joint Health
No full textpeer reviewe
Biomarkers of fitness and welfare in dairy cattle: healthy productivity
No full textMilk production intensification has led to several unwanted aspects, such as sustainability
issues and environmental pollution. Among these, increased milk outputs that have been
achieved over the last 70 years have led to several health and pathophysiological conditions
in high yielding dairy animals, including metabolic diseases that were uncommon in the
past. Increased occurrence of diverse metabolic diseases in cattle and other domestic animals
is a key feature of domestication that not only affects the animals’ health and productivity, but
also may have important and adverse health impacts on human consumers through the
elevated use of drugs and antibiotics. These aspects will influence economical and ethical
aspects in the near future. Therefore, finding and establishing proper biomarkers for early
detection of metabolic diseases is of great interest. In the present review, recent work on
the discovery of fitness, stress and welfare biomarkers in dairy cows is presented, focusing
in particular on possible biomarkers of energy balance and oxidative stress in plasma and
milk, and biomarkers of production-related diseases and decreased fertility
Biomarkers of fitness and welfare in dairy animals: healthy living
No full textIncreased animal productivity has reduced animal fitness, resulting in increased susceptibilityto infectious and metabolic diseases, locomotion problems and subfertility. Future animalbreeding strategies should focus on balancing high production levels with health status mon-itoring and improved welfare. Additionally, understanding how animals interact with theirinternal and external environment is essential for improving health, fitness, and welfare. Inthis context, the continuous validation of existing biomarkers and the discovery and fieldimplementation of new biomarkers will enable us to understand the specific physiological pro-cess and regulatory mechanisms used by the organism to adapt to different environmentalconditions. Thus, biomarkers may be used to monitor welfare and improve managementand breeding strategies. In this article, we describe major achievements in the establishmentof biomarkers in dairy cows and small ruminants. This review mainly focuses on the physio-logical biomarkers used to monitor animal responses to, and recovery from, environmentalperturbations. We highlight future avenues for research in this field and present a timely posi-tioning document to the scientific communit
Biosensors for the multiplex detection of inflammatory disease biomarkers
No full textA biosensor is an analytical device used for the real-time detection and measurement of a chemical or biochemical substance [...
Intersection of inflammation and herbal medicine in the treatment of osteoarthritis
No full textHerbal remedies and dietary supplements have become an important area of research and clinical practice in orthopaedics and rheumatology. Understanding the risks and benefits of using herbal medicines in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatic diseases, and musculoskeletal complaints is a key priority of physicians and their patients. This review discusses the latest advances in the use of herbal medicines for treating osteoarthritis (OA) by focusing on the most significant trends and developments. This paper sets the scene by providing a brief introduction to ethnopharmacology, Ayurvedic medicine, and nutrigenomics before discussing the scientific and mechanistic rationale for targeting inflammatory signalling pathways in OA by use of herbal medicines. Special attention is drawn to the conceptual and practical difficulties associated with translating data from in-vitro experiments to in-vivo studies. Issues relating to the low bioavailability of active ingredients in herbal medicines are discussed, as also is the need for large-scale, randomized clinical trial
Neuroscience and Neuroimmunology Solutions for Osteoarthritis Pain: Biological Drugs, Growth Factors, Peptides and Monoclonal Antibodies Targeting Peripheral Nerves
No full textNeuroscience is a vast discipline that deals with the anatomy, biochemistry, molecular biology, physiology and pathophysiology of central and peripheral nerves. Advances made through basic, translational, and clinical research in the field of neuroscience have great potential for long-lasting and beneficial impacts on human and animal health. The emerging field of biological therapy is intersecting with the disciplines of neuroscience, orthopaedics and rheumatology, creating new horizons for interdisciplinary and applied research. Biological drugs, growth factors, therapeutic peptides and monoclonal antibodies are being developed and tested for the treatment of painful arthritic and rheumatic diseases. This concise communication focuses on the solutions provided by the fields of neuroscience and neuroimmunology for real-world clinical problems in the field of orthopaedics and rheumatology, focusing on synovial joint pain and the emerging biological treatments that specifically target pathways implicated in osteoarthritis pain in peripheral nerves
Introduction: Methods for Studying the Plasma Membrane and the Surfaceome
No full textAbstract
The cell surface, or surfaceome, plays a critical role in cell communication, adhesion, and signaling. This volume provides a comprehensive collection of protocols designed to explore the dynamic nature of the surfaceome. Encompassing both established and emerging techniques, this collection equips researchers with methods for isolating and characterizing surface proteins, analyzing protein–protein interactions, and investigating posttranslational modifications. It also includes protocols for advanced approaches, such as single-channel recordings and mass spectrometry–based analyses. Detailed instructions and troubleshooting tips empower researchers of all levels of experience to investigate the intricacies of the surfaceome. This collection serves as a resource for researchers in cell biology, biochemistry, and medicine aiming to understand the complexities of biological membranes and surfaceomes in health and disease.Abstract
The cell surface, or surfaceome, plays a critical role in cell communication, adhesion, and signaling. This volume provides a comprehensive collection of protocols designed to explore the dynamic nature of the surfaceome. Encompassing both established and emerging techniques, this collection equips researchers with methods for isolating and characterizing surface proteins, analyzing protein–protein interactions, and investigating posttranslational modifications. It also includes protocols for advanced approaches, such as single-channel recordings and mass spectrometry–based analyses. Detailed instructions and troubleshooting tips empower researchers of all levels of experience to investigate the intricacies of the surfaceome. This collection serves as a resource for researchers in cell biology, biochemistry, and medicine aiming to understand the complexities of biological membranes and surfaceomes in health and disease
- …
