28,558 research outputs found
HMOX1 gene promoter alleles and high HO-1 levels are associated with severe malaria in Gambian children.
Full text linkHeme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) is an essential enzyme induced by heme and multiple stimuli associated with critical illness. In humans, polymorphisms in the HMOX1 gene promoter may influence the magnitude of HO-1 expression. In many diseases including murine malaria, HO-1 induction produces protective anti-inflammatory effects, but observations from patients suggest these may be limited to a narrow range of HO-1 induction, prompting us to investigate the role of HO-1 in malaria infection. In 307 Gambian children with either severe or uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, we characterized the associations of HMOX1 promoter polymorphisms, HMOX1 mRNA inducibility, HO-1 protein levels in leucocytes (flow cytometry), and plasma (ELISA) with disease severity. The (GT)(n) repeat polymorphism in the HMOX1 promoter was associated with HMOX1 mRNA expression in white blood cells in vitro, and with severe disease and death, while high HO-1 levels were associated with severe disease. Neutrophils were the main HO-1-expressing cells in peripheral blood, and HMOX1 mRNA expression was upregulated by heme-moieties of lysed erythrocytes. We provide mechanistic evidence that induction of HMOX1 expression in neutrophils potentiates the respiratory burst, and propose this may be part of the causal pathway explaining the association between short (GT)(n) repeats and increased disease severity in malaria and other critical illnesses. Our findings suggest a genetic predisposition to higher levels of HO-1 is associated with severe illness, and enhances the neutrophil burst leading to oxidative damage of endothelial cells. These add important information to the discussion about possible therapeutic manipulation of HO-1 in critically ill patients
Construction and characterization of a Nicotiana plumbaginifolia genomic library in a yeast artificial chromosome.
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The politics and economics of regulatory impact assessment
Full text linkThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the link in this record
Particle simulation of a magnetically enhanced dual-frequency capacitively coupled plasma
No full textOne-dimensional particle-in-cell/Monte Carlo simulations have been carried out to investigate the magnetic field effects on the asymmetric dual-frequency (27 and 2 MHz) capacitive discharge. Variations of the plasma characteristics such as plasma density, electrical property and ion-energy-distribution functions (IEDFs) for the various magnetic fields are examined. The increase in the magnetic field up to a few tens of gauss is found to increase the width of the IEDF and the plasma density. However, for a larger magnetic field less than 125 G, the width of the IEDF is found to be continuously decreasing with the reduction of the high-frequency-averaged sheath potential, while the plasma density increases.X112sciescopu
Concurrent operational modes and enhanced current sensitivity in heterostructure of magnetoelectric ring and piezoelectric transformer
No full textAuthor name used in this publication: Or, Siu Wing.Author name used in this publication: Ho, S. L.2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishedVoR allowe
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