Enhanced expression of the stemness-related factors OCT4, SOX15 and TWIST1 in ectopic endometrium of endometriosis patients

Abstract Background Current evidence suggests that endometrial-derived stem cells, spilled in the peritoneal cavity via retrograde menstruation, are key players in the establishment of endometriotic lesions. The aim of this study was to determine the presence and distribution of the stemness-related factors OCT4, SOX15, TWIST1 and DCAMLK1 in women with and without endometriosis. Methods Immunohistochemical analysis was used to determine stromal and epithelial expression of OCT4, SOX15, TWIST1 and DCAMLK1 in endometriosis patient (EP) endometrium (n = 69) and endometriotic tissue (n = 90) and in control endometrium (n = 50). Quantitative Real-Time PCR of OCT4, SOX15 TWIST1 and DCAMLK1 was performed in paired samples of EP endometrium and endometriotic tissue. Co-immunofluorescence staining was performed for OCT4 and SOX15. For statistical analyses we used unpaired t-test, Fisher combination test and Spearman test. For paired analyses, paired t-test and McNemar test were used. Results We detected a significant correlation between the expression of the established stem cell marker OCT4 and the stemness-related markers SOX15 (p < 0.001) and TWIST1 (p = 0.002) but not DCAMLK1. We showed a colocalization of SOX15 and OCT4 in epithelial and stromal cells of endometriotic tissue by coimmunofluorescence. A concordant expression of OCT4 and SOX15 in the same sample was observed in epithelial cells of the endometriotic tissue (71.7%). The expression of stemness-related factors was not associated with proliferative or secretory phase of the menstrual cycle in endometriosis patients but was found to be differentially expressed during the menstrual cycle in the control group. Increased expression of epithelial OCT4, SOX15 and TWIST1 was detected in endometriotic tissue compared to EP endometrium in paired (p = 0.021, p < 0.001 and p < 0.001) and unpaired analysis (p = 0.040, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001). Conclusion Our findings support the hypothesis that upregulation of stem cell-related factors contribute to the establishment of endometriotic lesions. Trial registration The study was approved by the institutional review board (545/2010 on 6th of May 2014) of the Medical University of Vienna ( http://ethikkommission.meduniwien.ac.at/fileadmin/ethik/media/dokumente/register/alle_2010.pdf )

Post-fire Behaviour of Innovative Shear Connection for Steel-Concrete Composite Structures

YesSteel-concrete composite structures are commonly used in buildings and bridges because it takes advantage of tensile strength of steel and compressive strength of concrete. The two components are often secured by shear connectors such as headed studs to prevent slippage and to maintain composite action. In spite of its popularity, very little research was conducted on steel-concrete composites particularly on headed stud shear connectors in regards to its post-fire behaviour. This research investigates the post-fire behaviour of innovative shear connectors for composite steel and concrete. Three type of connectors were investigated. They are headed stud shear connectors, Blind Bolt 1 and Blind Bolt 2 blind bolts. Push-out test experimental studies were conducted to look at the behaviour and failure modes for each connector. Eighteen push tests were conducted according to Eurocode 4. The push test specimens were tested under ambient temperatures and post fire condition of 200˚C, 400˚C and 600˚C. The results in ambient temperature are used to derive the residual strength of shear connectors after exposing to fire. Findings from this research will provide fundamental background in designing steel-concrete composites where there is danger of fire exposure

An evaluation of a Tai Chi programme with street children in South Africa

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Zululand in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy: Community Psychology in the Department of Psychology, 2008.Increasing amounts of scientific evidence has suggested mat a mind-body exercise, such as Tai Chi, is related to improvements in mental health, emotional well-being and stress reduction. No prior study has examined the effect of Tai Chi exercise amongst street children. Working within the context of community health psychology, the present study evaluated a Tai Chi program with street children within the South African context. The research design was quasi-experimental with the participants from places of safety within the surrounds of Durban attending Tai Chi exercise sessions twice per week for 16 weeks. This programme was pre- and post-tested with a focus group interview and Carol Ryff s standardized psychological well-being scale. Statistically significant improvements in the following measures of psychological well-being were found: autonomy, personal growth, environmental mastery, purpose in life, positive relations with others and total psychological well-being. Qualitative findings revealed an increase in positive feelings, improved physical fitness and mental health, and stress reduction. Further outcome evaluations by stakeholders (child care worker, Department of Health Officials, Tai Chi teacher) supported the qualitative findings, as well as indicating increased self-confidence and a positive synergy within the group.The South African National Research Foundation (NRF

CD3- Leukocytes Present in the Human Uterus During Early Placentation: Phenotypic and Morphologic Characterization of the CD56++ Population

In this study, the CD3- LGL/NK cells present in the pregnant human uterus have been characterized. Phenotypic and morphologic analyses of decidual LGL revealed many similarities to the minor CD56bright+, CD16- subset in peripheral blood, but there were some important differences. The relative surface density of CD56+ is greatly increased on decidual LGL to 22 x that found on the majority of CD56 peripheral blood NK cells. The CD56bright cells in decidua show LGL morphology, whereas in peripheral blood, they are .mainly agranular. Proliferation of CD56+ cells occurs predominantly during the nonpregnant secretory (luteal) phase, indicating these CD56+ uterine LGL do not migrate as terminally differentiated cells. The appearance of CD56 cells was examined at the ultrastructural level using immunoelectron microscopy. Cells with phenotypic characteristics of decidual LGL occur in a higher percentage (1.11%) in the peripheral blood of women of reproductive age than in men (0.66%). On the basis of these results, it is proposed that the CD56bright+ uterine leukocytes represent a distinctive, hormonally regulated subset possibly adapted to control human placentation

A chemical-genetics approach to study the role of atypical Protein Kinase C in Drosophila

Studying the function of proteins using genetics in cycling cells is complicated by the fact that there is often a delay between gene inactivation and the time point of phenotypic analysis. This is particularly true when studying kinases that have pleiotropic functions and multiple substrates. Drosophila neuroblasts (NBs) are rapidly dividing stem cells and an important model system for the study of cell polarity. Mutations in multiple kinases cause NB polarity defects, but their precise functions at particular time points in the cell cycle are unknown. Here, we use chemical genetics and report the generation of an analogue-sensitive allele of Drosophila atypical Protein Kinase C (aPKC). We demonstrate that the resulting mutant aPKC kinase can be specifically inhibited in vitro and in vivo Acute inhibition of aPKC during NB polarity establishment abolishes asymmetric localization of Miranda, whereas its inhibition during NB polarity maintenance does not in the time frame of normal mitosis. However, aPKC helps to sharpen the pattern of Miranda, by keeping it off the apical and lateral cortex after nuclear envelope breakdown.</p

Resonant frequency in polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete (PFRC) with pozzolanic materials

In this study, the resonant frequency of polypropylene fibre reinforced concrete (PFRC) under three different curing conditions was investigated and the influences of fly ash (PFA) and silica fume (SF) on PFRC under the same curing condition were also studied. The experiments were carried out in the Heavy Laboratory of City University of Hong Kong. Four types of concrete mixes were tested. A total of 24 concrete specimens were prepared. Test results show that the resonant frequency can be affected by the presence of polypropylene fibres, partial replacement of cement by silica fume or pulverized fly ash, and curing condition. Frist Published Online: 30 Jul 201

Analyse av tappevannsanlegg i idrettsbygg

I denne oppgaven skal det sees på om dagens varmt- og kaldtvannssystemer som blir levert til idrettsbygg er i henhold til gjeldende regelverk, forskrifter og veiledere. Fokus rettes mot kvaliteten på anlegget, hvordan varmt- og kaldtvannssystemer dimensjoneres, hvordan forebyggingen mot legionellautbrudd i varmtvannssystemer utføres og hvordan kvaliteten på de valgte løsningene er. Det er gjort analyse av Lade Sportsarena som sammenlignes med Heimdalshallen. På anleggene er det utført målinger av trykk, temperatur og vannmengder. Målingene av vannmengder ut ifra dusjene ble gjort med forskjellige antall dusjer påskrudd for å se om de leverer tilfredsstillende vannmengde. På Lade Sportsarena varierer vannmengden fra 0,18 l/s med én dusj på til 0,07 l/s med 27 dusjer på samtidig, mens i Heimdalshallen varierer den fra 0,17 l/s med én dusj på til 0,08 l/s med 8 dusjer på. Det er ca. 1/3 av vannmengden ut ifra dimensjonerende normalvannmengde. Det er gjort en redimensjonering av anleggene på Lade Sportsarena og Heimdalshallen med dimensjoneringsmetoden forenklet dimensjonering og det viser seg at samtlige rørstrekk er underdimensjonert hvis man skal kunne bruke alle dusjene samtidig. Forholdstallet mellom antall dusjer og antall brukere på Lade Sportsarena er ca. 1:10. Oppgaven viser at Lade Sportsarena har for mange dusjer i forhold til det som blir brukt. Dette er funnet ut ved målinger av temperatur og vannforbruk. For å sjekke hvor lang ventetid det er på varmt- og kaldt tappevann er tappetiden målt. Målingene ble gjennomført på ytterste tappested som var blandebatteriet til en utslagsvask. Tappetiden som ble målt på varmtvannsledningen på Lade Sportsarena, viser at det tar 10 sekunder før det kommer 47,3°C varmt vann i utslagsvasken i tredje etasje. På kaldtvannsledningen tar det 10 minutter med tapping til temperaturen er nede på 12.2°C. Det er også funnet ut hvilken form for legionellabehandlingsmetode det er ved Lade Sportsarena og Heimdalshallen. De forskjellige metodene er vurdert om det er i henhold til gjeldende forskrifter og veiledere. I Heimdalshallen er det funnet ut at varmebehandlingsmetoden for forebygging av legionellavekst er løst på en måte som er beskrevet i veilederen fra folkehelseinstituttet. Lade Sportsarena har en slags oppvarmingsmetode for å bekjempe legionella, de har kun oppvarming av vann i sirkulasjonskretsen en gang i uken. Det er i oppgaven kommet med to forslag til hvordan man kan få varmebehandlingsmetoden. Den ene løsningen innebærer å kjøre varmt vann inn på kaldtvannssiden ved å montere inn en slange i mellom fordelerstokkene på varmt- og kaldtvannsledningen. Den andre løsningen vil være å bytte ut alle dusjpanelene til noen som kan kobles opp imot SD-anlegget.This bachelor's thesis looks at domestic hot watersystems in sports buildings. Regulations and guidelines will be used for relevant requirments for the systems. The focus will be towards the quality and the dimensioning of the system, as well as how the impediment of legionnaires' disease and what quality the solutions have. The thesis will be an analysis of Lade Sportsarena, and it will be compared to Heimdalshallen. To make an analysis of the hot water systems, data of water flow, temperatures and pressure has been collected. The water flow was measured from showers with different number of showers in use. The goal was to see if the water flow was acceptable. The water flow at Lade Sportsarena differentiate from 0,18 l/s with one shower in use to 0,07 l/s with 27 showers in use. At Heimdalshallen, the water flow went from 0,17 l/s with one shower to 0,08 l/s with eight showers. The lowest value of the water flow was ca. 1/3 of the water used for dimensioning. The pipes at Lade Sportsarena and Heimdalshallen has been dimensioned all over again. The method used for dimensioning was «forenklet dimensjonering». The dimensioning showed the pipes were too small if all the showers were to be used at the same time. The number of showers at Lade Sportsarena was a ratio of one to ten compared to expected users. Still, the thesis shows that there is likely too many showers compared to how many is used. The waiting time for hot water and cold water was measured at the mixing battery of the utility sink at the third floor. This is because this sink would be one of the installations that need the highest pressure. The data showed that the hot water used approximately ten seconds to reach at temperature of 47,3 ℃. The cold water reached a temperature of 12,2 ℃ after 10 minutes. It was checked what kind of method was used at Lade Sportsarena and Heimdalshallen to impede the growth of legionnaires' diesease. The methods have been compared to relevent regulations and guidelines. At Heimdalshallen, the method was solved in a way that was acceptable regarding the guidelines of the health institute. At Lade Sportsarena, there was a kind of heating method. The water was heated and pushed around in the circulation system once a week. This is not good enough for the standard in the guidelines of the health institute. In the thesis, there has been made two suggestions on how to solve the problem. The first suggestion is to push hot water on both sides of the shower mixer. This will be done by connecting the distributing pieces for hot and cold water with a tube. The other suggestion is to switch out the showers with new showers that can be connected to a BMS

Signaling pathways underlying TGF-β mediated suppression of IL-12A gene expression in monocytes

Transforming growth factor