1,720,993 research outputs found

    DIFFERENT SIGNALS INDUCE MAST CELL INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY: INHIBITORY EFFECT OF VITAMIN E

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    Vitamin supplementation in disease reduces morbidity and mortality in humans by promoting the activation of different genes which influence several pathways. The purpose of this article is to clarify the role of vitamin E in mast cell inflammation. Vitamin E is a fat soluble antioxidant which protects from low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Vitamin E promotes a barrier function and anti-inflammatory responses by binding the regulatory domain of protein kinase C alpha (PKC alpha) (a regulator and antagonist of heart failure) and decreases the activation of NF-kappa B, a proinflammatory transcription factor, causing the generation of cytokines/chemokines and mast cell activation. Mast cells participate in innate and acquired immunity and inflammation. Several factors, including cytokines and chemokines, regulate the development and migration of activated mast cells. Mast cells generate and release inflammatory compounds in asthma and allergic diseases and have a detrimental effect on the vessel wall, which can be inhibited by vitamin E. Vitamin E inhibits histamine release generated in activated mast cells, increases calcium Ca2+ uptake and prevents the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids. Vitamin E is relatively non-toxic, however, administered at very high doses may suppress normal hematological response as well as causing other adverse effects. Therefore, vitamin E may be beneficial in the prevention of diseases mediated by mast cells and can have special value in the treatment of asthma and allergic diseases; however, the exact mechanism by which vitamin E acts is still unclear, thus warranting future research

    Mast cell virus infection and inflammatory cytokines

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    Mast cells (MCs) are hematopoietic cells developed from bone marrow progenitors in response to the ligand stem cell factor, a trans-membrane tyrosine kinase kit receptor. MCs are located virtually in all vascularized tissues and in proximity to neurons and play a decisive role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Their activation is involved in oxidative stress correlated with infection and inflammation. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are secreted by MCs after physiologic and psychological stress due to virus infection, including SARS-CoV-2. MCs, along with macrophages and pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells, are the main targets attacked by the coronavirus. COVID-19 induced by SARS-CoV-2 causes inflammatory stress which activates MCs to secrete corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), SP, IL-6, TNF, and IL-1. Toll-like receptor (TLR) virus activation in MCs leads to pro-inflammatory cytokine generation without degranulation, an effect that can be inhibited by IL-10, IL-4, IL-1Ra and IL-37. TLR has the ability to recognize extracellular PAMPs by causing the transcription of NLRP, pro-IL-1, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. The multi-protein complex, comprising pro-caspase-1, activates caspase-1 which in turn activates pro-IL-1 that is transformed into highly inflammatory mature IL-1. In COVID-19, viral RNA is specifically recognized by TLR, followed by recruiting the signal transfer proteins MyD88, IRAK, IKK and TRAF6 which can activate the NF-κB, resulting in transcription of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF, responsible for the “cytokine storm” phenomenon. Meanwhile, a new variant of the coronavirus-19 called C.1.2. has been discovered in the United States in the past few days, the effects of which are unknown, and it is therefore of great concern. Researchers are now testing it on immune cells to see if they react and are comparing it to a delta variant. Thus, from the existing data in biomedical literature, we can conclude that the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in viral infections (including COVID-19) mediated by MCs represents a promising therapy not only in this field of medicine, but also in autoimmune, allergic, and cardiovascular disorders, as well as tumor inflammation where MCs play a key role

    Mast cell virus infection and inflammatory cytokines

    No full text
    Mast cells (MCs) are hematopoietic cells developed from bone marrow progenitors in response to the ligand stem cell factor, a trans-membrane tyrosine kinase kit receptor. MCs are located virtually in all vascularized tissues and in proximity to neurons and play a decisive role in both innate and adaptive immune responses. Their activation is involved in oxidative stress correlated with infection and inflammation. Pro-inflammatory cytokines are secreted by MCs after physiologic and psychological stress due to virus infection, including SARS-CoV-2. MCs, along with macrophages and pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells, are the main targets attacked by the coronavirus. COVID-19 induced by SARS-CoV-2 causes inflammatory stress which activates MCs to secrete corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), SP, IL-6, TNF, and IL-1. Toll-like receptor (TLR) virus activation in MCs leads to pro-inflammatory cytokine generation without degranulation, an effect that can be inhibited by IL-10, IL-4, IL-1Ra and IL-37. TLR has the ability to recognize extracellular PAMPs by causing the transcription of NLRP, pro-IL-1, and other pro-inflammatory cytokines. The multi-protein complex, comprising pro-caspase-1, activates caspase-1 which in turn activates pro-IL-1 that is transformed into highly inflammatory mature IL-1. In COVID-19, viral RNA is specifically recognized by TLR, followed by recruiting the signal transfer proteins MyD88, IRAK, IKK and TRAF6 which can activate the NF-κB, resulting in transcription of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1 and TNF, responsible for the “cytokine storm” phenomenon. Meanwhile, a new variant of the coronavirus-19 called C.1.2. has been discovered in the United States in the past few days, the effects of which are unknown, and it is therefore of great concern. Researchers are now testing it on immune cells to see if they react and are comparing it to a delta variant. Thus, from the existing data in biomedical literature, we can conclude that the suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in viral infections (including COVID-19) mediated by MCs represents a promising therapy not only in this field of medicine, but also in autoimmune, allergic, and cardiovascular disorders, as well as tumor inflammation where MCs play a key role

    Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis

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    The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed

    Mast cells and virus

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    Mast cells (MCs) are hematopoietic cells that reside ubiquitously in all vascularized tissues. They are potential sources of a wide variety of biologically active secreted compounds, including diverse cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. In addition, they participate in innate and adaptive immune responses. MCs are the most important cells in immediate reactions and chronic IgE-associated allergic disorders and enhance the host resistance to certain biological agents, including viruses. Therefore, MCs influence many biological responses to viruses and other microbiological agents. Viruses activate MCs through TLR4 leading to the generation of several pro-inflammatory cytokines, including those of the IL-1 family. Here, we report how viruses can activate MCs producing severe inflammation and how these interesting cells can activate the immune system by carrying out a protective action for our organism

    Variations on the Author

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    “Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship

    Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis

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    We provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis

    Induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and IL-6) and lung inflammation by COVID-19: anti-inflammatory strategies

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    Coronavirus-19 (COVI-19) involves humans as well as animals and may cause serious damage to the respiratory tract, including the lung: coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This pathogenic virus has been identified in swabs performed on the throat and nose of patients who suffer from or are suspected of the disease. When COVI-19 infect the upper and lower respiratory tract it can cause mild or highly acute respiratory syndrome with consequent release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6. The binding of COVI-19 to the Toll Like Receptor (TLR) causes the release of pro-IL-1β which is cleaved by caspase-1, followed by inflammasome activation and production of active mature IL-1β which is a mediator of lung inflammation, fever and fibrosis. Suppression of pro-inflammatory IL-1 family members and IL-6 have been shown to have a therapeutic effect in many inflammatory diseases, including viral infections. Cytokine IL-37 has the ability to suppress innate and acquired immune response and also has the capacity to inhibit inflammation by acting on IL-18Rα receptor. IL-37 performs its immunosuppressive activity by acting on mTOR and increasing the adenosine monophosphate (AMP) kinase. This cytokine inhibits class II histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules and inflammation in inflammatory diseases by suppressing MyD88 and subsequently IL-1β, IL-6, TNF and CCL2. The suppression of IL-1β by IL-37 in inflammatory state induced by coronavirus-19 can have a new therapeutic effect previously unknown. Another inhibitory cytokine is IL-38, the newest cytokine of the IL-1 family members, produced by several immune cells including B cells and macrophages. IL-38 is also a suppressor cytokine which inhibits IL-1β and other pro-inflammatory IL-family members. IL-38 is a potential therapeutic cytokine which inhibits inflammation in viral infections including that caused by coronavirus-19, providing a new relevant strategy

    Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts

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    We conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more sophisticated methods
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