455 research outputs found
Severe COVID-19—A Review of Suggested Mechanisms Based on the Role of Extracellular Matrix Stiffness
No full textThe severity of COVID-19 commonly depends on age-related tissue stiffness. The aim was to review publications that explain the effect of microenvironmental extracellular matrix stiffness on cellular processes. Platelets and endothelial cells are mechanosensitive. Increased tissue stiffness can trigger cytokine storm with the upregulated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin IL-6, and tissue integrity disruption, leading to enhanced virus entry and disease severity. Increased tissue stiffness in critically ill COVID-19 patients triggers platelet activation and initiates plague formation and thrombosis development. Cholesterol content in cell membrane increases with aging and further enhances tissue stiffness. Membrane cholesterol depletion decreases virus entry to host cells. Membrane cholesterol lowering drugs, such as statins or novel chitosan derivatives, have to be further developed for application in COVID-19 treatment. Statins are also known to decrease arterial stiffness mitigating cardiovascular diseases. Sulfated chitosan derivatives can be further developed for potential use in future as anticoagulants in prevention of severe COVID-19. Anti-TNF-α therapies as well as destiffening therapies have been suggested to combat severe COVID-19. The inhibition of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells pathway must be considered as a therapeutic target in the treatment of severe COVID-19 patients. The activation of mechanosensitive platelets by higher matrix stiffness increases their adhesion and the risk of thrombus formation, thus enhancing the severity of COVID-19
Garry Neill Kennedy: Printed Matter / Imprimés 1971-2009, by Peter Trepanier [book review]
No full textThe article reviews the book "Garry Neill Kennedy: Printed Matter/Imprimés 1971-2009" by Peter Trepanier, part of the "Occasional Papers" book series.Peer reviewedreview article
The participation of women employed in traditionally male dominated occupations including plumbing: 1975–2013
No full textAuthor Garry Cruickshank investigates the gender gap in New Zealand’s plumbing profession. Having established that the proportion of female plumbers is almost unchanged since 1975, Cruickshank compares this information with data gathered from other trades and exposes the widespread nature of this trend across traditionally male dominated industries. The author reflects on what could to be done to alter this situation
Crimson clover
No full textprepared by Dr. Don Ball (Extension Agronomist/Alumni Professor, Auburn University) and Dr. Garry Lacefield (Extension Agronomist/Professor, University of Kentucky).Title from PDF front panel (viewed on February 5, 2020).Covers OCLC #1139336431, OCLC #1139347191Includes bibliographical references.Mode of access: Internet from the Oregon Government Publications Collection.Text in English
Putting clovers in grass pastures
No full textauthors: Dr. Garry Lacefield, Professor Emeritus, University of Kentucky, Dr. Don Ball, Professor Emeritus, Auburn University.Title from PDF front panel (viewed on February 5, 2020).This archived document is maintained by the State Library of Oregon as part of the Oregon Documents Depository Program. It is for informational purposes and may not be suitable for legal purposes.Includes bibliographical references.Mode of access: Internet from the Oregon Government Publications Collection.Text in English
The Potential of Chitosan and Its Derivatives in Prevention and Treatment of Age-Related Diseases
No full textAge-related, diet-related and protein conformational diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, cancer, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases are common in the elderly population. The potential of chitosan, chitooligosaccharides and their derivatives in prevention and treatment of age-related dysfunctions is reviewed and discussed in this paper. The influence of oxidative stress, low density lipoprotein oxidation, increase of tissue stiffness, protein conformational changes, aging-associated chronic inflammation and their pathobiological significance have been considered. The chitosan-based functional food also has been reviewed
Nanocomposite Hydrogels and Extracellular Matrix—Advantages and Associated Risks
No full textHydrogels can be considered as mimics of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Through integrins, the cytoskeleton is connected to the ECM, and cytoskeleton tension depends on ECM stiffness. A number of age-related diseases depend on cellular processes related to cytoskeleton function. Some examples of cancer initiation and progression and heart disease in relation to ECM stiffness have been analyzed. The incorporation of rigid particles into the ECM can increase ECM stiffness and promote the formation of internal residual stresses. Water migration, changes in water binding energy to biomactomolecules, and changes in the state of water from tightly bound water to free and loosely bound water lead to changes in the stiffness of the ECM. Cardiac tissue engineering, ECM stiffness and cancer, the equivalence of ECM stiffness, oxidative stress, inflammation, multi-layer polyelectrolyte complex hydrogels and bioprinting, residual internal stresses, viscoelastic hydrogels, hydrogel nanocomposites, and the effect of water have been reported. Special attention has been paid to the role of bound water and internal stresses in ECM stiffness. The risks related to rigid particle incorporation into the ECM have been discussed. The potential effect of polyphenols, chitosan, and chitosan oligosaccharide on ECM stiffness and the potential for anti-TNF-α and anti-NF-κB therapies have been discussed
Role of Changes in State of Bound Water and Tissue Stiffness in Development of Age-Related Diseases
No full textAn essential effect of environmental stiffness on biological processes in cells at present is generally accepted. An increase in arterial stiffness with advanced age has been reported in many publications. The aim of the present review is to summarize current information about possible chemical reactions and physical processes that lead to tissue stiffening and result in age-related diseases in order to find methods that can prevent or retard time-dependent tissue stiffening. The analysis of published data shows that bound water acts as a plasticizer of biological tissues, a decrease in bound water content results in an increase in biological tissue stiffness, and increased tissue stiffness leads to NF-kB activation and triggered actin polymerization—NF-kB activation is associated with age-related diseases. It can be suggested that changes in bound water content through changing tissue stiffness can affect cellular processes and the development of pathologies related to aging. Both age-related diseases and COVID-19 may be associated with tight-junction disruption and increased tissue stiffness and permeability
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