Auslegung: A journal of philosophy, volume 17, number 1 (winter, 1991) book review

Review of Lloyd L. Weinreb's "Natural Law and Justice

Opposite effects of two zinc(II) dithiocarbamates on NF-kB pathway

Inhibiting nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB) activation in anticancer and antiinflammatory therapy is of topical interest. Current research in molecular biology has dramatically advanced in the understanding of the cellular events involved in NF-kB induction. Dithiocarbamates, in particular diethyldithiocarbamate and pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, have been known and widely used as strong inhibitors of NF-kB signaling pathway for more than ten years. Their activity is frequently thought to be due to chelating of zinc or copper present in serum supplemented in the culture medium. Zinc(II) diethyldithiocarbamate (Et2Zn) and zinc(II) dibenzyldithiocarbamate (Bz2Zn) were prepared by direct synthesis in aqueous millieu. They were structurally characterized by X-ray analysis (solid phase) and mass spectrometry (aqueous conditions). Et2Zn and Bz2Zn both in 20 micromolar concentration were applied to HeLa cells. The status of NF-kB signaling was assessed as nuclear translocation of p65 subunit. Surprisingly, Et2Zn activated NF-kB pathway, while TNF-dependent activation of NF-kB was inhibited by Bz2Zn. Our results are preliminary

Monitoring of CRT-D devices during radiation therapy in vitro

Background: Using of active cardiac medical devices increases steadily. In Europe, there were 183 implants of ICD and 944 implants of PM, 119 of biventricular ICD and 41 of biventricular PM, all per million inhabitants in 2014. Healthcare environments, including radiotherapy treatment rooms, are considered challenging for these implantable devices. Exposure to radiation may cause the device to experience premature elective replacement indicator, decreased pacing amplitude or pacing inhibition, inappropriate shocks or inhibition of tachyarrhythmia therapy and loss of device function. These impacts may be temporary or permanent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of linear accelerator ionizing radiation dose of 10 Gy on the activity of the biventricular cardioverter-defibrillator in different position in radiation beam. Methods: Two identical wireless communication devices with all three leads were used for the measurement. Both systems were soused into solution saline and exposed in different position in the beam of linear accelerator per 10 Gy fractions. In comparison of usually used maximum recommended dose of 2 Gy, the radiation doses used in test were five times higher. Using the simultaneous monitoring wireless communication between device and its programmer allowed watching of the devices activities, noise occurrence or drop of biventricular pacing on the programmer screen, observed by local television loop camera. Results: At any device position in radiation beam, there were no influences of the device activity at dose of 10 Gy neither a significant increase of a solution saline temperature in any of the measured positions of CRT-D systems in linear accelerator. Conclusions: The results of the study indicated, that the recommendation dose for treating the patients with implantable devices are too conservative and the risk of device failure is not so high. The systems can easily withstand the dose fractions of tens Gy, which would allow current single-dose-procedure treatment in radiation therapy. Even though the process of the random alteration of device memory and electrical components by scatter particles not allowed to specify a safe dose during ionizing radiation, this study showed that the safe limit are above the today used dose fractions.Web of Science15art. no. 2

Histomorphological Analysis of the Osteophytic Appositions in Patients with Lumbar Lateral Recess Syndrome

Patients with lumbar lateral recess syndrome (LRS) can be successfully cured by removing osseous excrescences that grow on the peripheral edge of articular surface of the facet joint. They cause narrowing of the lateral recess and compress a root of the spinal nerve. Their appearance is related to the instability of respective dynamic vertebral segment. The aim of this study was to analyze the osteophytic composition morphohistochemically and elucidate cellular processes that lead to this new formation appearance. It is necessary to find a possible causative-consequential relation between the osteophyte and instability. The ideal object to explore was the osteophyte in the lateral recess because it had to be removed during operative treatment. The group of 30 patients with clinical feature of LRS was chosen. Each patient had clinically verified LRS with consequential radiculopathy. Bony outgrowths were removed surgically and analyzed by histological and immunohistochemical methods: toluidine blue, Goldner trichrome, TRAP, indirect peroxidase with antibodies against BMP 3 and BMP 7. The outgrowths that caused lateral recess stenosis were composed of fibrous and hyaline cartilage and cancellous bone. The changes in cartilage and bone, and occurrence of intramembranous bone formation in sense of enlargement of trabeculae, leads to the conclusion that marginal osteophytic formations could be an adaptation to changed conditions in the dynamic vertebral segment and an attempt to stabilize this segment by enlargement of articular surface

Both MC1 and MC3 Receptors Provide Protection From Cerebral Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Neutrophil Recruitment.

Objective Neutrophil recruitment is a key process in the pathogenesis of stroke, and may provide a valuable therapeutic target. Targeting the melanocortin receptors (MC) has previously shown to inhibit leukocyte recruitment in peripheral inflammation, however it is not known whether treatments are effective in the unique cerebral microvascular environment. Here, we provide novel research highlighting the effects of the melanocortin peptides on cerebral neutrophil recruitment, demonstrating important yet discrete roles for both MC1 and MC3. Approach and Results Using intravital microscopy, in two distinct murine models of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury we have investigated melanocortin control over neutrophil recruitment. Following global I/R, pharmacological treatments suppressed pathological neutrophil recruitment. MC1 selective treatment rapidly inhibited neutrophil recruitment while a non-selective MC agonist provided protection even when co-administered with an MC3/4 antagonist, suggesting the importance of early MC1 signaling. However by 2h reperfusion, MC1 mediated effects were reduced, and MC3 anti-inflammatory circuits predominated. Mice bearing a non-functional MC1 displayed a transient exacerbation of neutrophil recruitment following global I/R, which diminished by 2h. However importantly, enhanced inflammatory responses in both MC1 mutant and MC3 -/- mice resulted in increased infarct size and poor functional outcome following focal I/R. Furthermore we utilized an in vitro model of leukocyte recruitment to demonstrate these anti-inflammatory actions are also effective in human cells. Conclusions These studies reveal for the first time melanocortin control over neutrophil recruitment in the unique pathophysiological context of cerebral I/R, whilst also demonstrating the potential therapeutic value of targeting multiple MCs in developing effective therapeutics

The effect of the body mass index on calcaneal quantitative ultrasound parameters in women of the City of Rijeka

Cilj: Žene u menopauzi zbog nedostatka hormona estrogena izložene su ubrzanom gubitku koštane mase, što dovodi do bolesti koštanog defi cita kakva je osteoporoza. Smanjenju koštane mase u menopauzi mogu pridonijeti i neki drugi faktori rizika kao što su to nizak indeks tjelesne mase, neuravnotežena prehrana i tjelesna neakti vnost. Cilj ovoga rada bio je ispitati ako i u kojem opsegu, s obzirom na hormonski status, antropometrijski parametri i starosna dob predviđaju vrijednosti parametara kvanti tati vnog ultrazvuka petne kosti u žena. Istraživanjem je obuhvaćeno 499 žena grada Rijeke. Metode: Periferna gustoća petne kosti mjerena je pomoću ultrazvučnog aparata Clinical Bone Sonometar Sahara Hologic (Hologic Inc., Massachussets, SAD). Mjerenje je izvršeno u sjedećem stavu ispitanica, na konstantnom mjestu (desno stopalo). Rezultati : Stati sti čkom obradom svih ispitanica utvrđeno je da prediktorske varijable (menopauza, starosna dob, antropometrijski parametri) značajno predviđaju vrijednosti parametara kvanti tati vnog ultrazvuka petne kosti. U žena koje su više od 5 godina u menopauzi utvrđeno je da iste prediktorske varijable s izuzetkom menopauze statistički značajno predviđaju vrijednosti parametara kvantitativnog ultrazvuka petne kosti. Zaključak: U menopauzi izostaje povoljan utjecaj hormona na fiziološke procese u koštanom tkivu koji zbog toga postaju katabolični. U takvim uvjeti ma posti gnuta tjelesna masa ostaje jedina rezerva koja čuva koštani sustav od bolesti koštanog defi cita kakve su osteoporoza i osteopenija.Aim: Menopausal women, due to lack of hormones-estrogen are exposed to accelerated bone loss leading to bone defi ciency diseases, such as osteoporosis. In menopause, other risk factors such as: low body mass index, unbalanced diet and physical inactivity may reduce bone mass. The aim of this study was to examine whether, and to what extent anthropometric parameters and age predict the value of quanti tati ve ultrasound parameters of the calcaneus in women with respect to hormonal status. The study included 499 women of the City of Rijeka. Methods: Peripheral density of the calcaneus was measured using an ultrasound machine Clinical Bone Sonometar Sahara Hologic (Hologic Inc., Massachusett s, USA). The measurements were performed in sitting subjects, at a constant location (right foot). Results: Stati sti cal analysis of all subjects has determined that independent variables (age, menopause, anthropometric parameters) signifi cantly predict the value of quanti tati ve ultrasound parameters of the calcaneus. In women who are more than 5 years of menopause, the same independent variables, with the excepti on of menopause significantly predicted the value of quanti tati ve ultrasound parameters of the calcaneus. Conclusion: In menopause, the beneficial effect of hormones on the physiological processes in bone ti ssue is absent, which therefore become catabolic. In such conditi ons, achieved body mass remain the only backup system that preserves skeletal system from bone deficiency diseases such as osteoporosis and osteopenia

Digital Humanities between Technology and Labor

In this essay I offer a reflection on a conspicuous absence in digital humanities discourse. Engaging with the manifold ways in which the digital sphere shapes culture and society, the interests and methods of digital humanities appear indispensable in contemporary academia. However, it is my contention that digital humanities systematically omits dealing with the ways in which issues of technology converge with our labor in humanities today. Viewed in the context of an increasing adaptation of research and higher education to the market form, this disciplinary blind spot reveals technological instrumentality as a structuring principle of both digital humanities and its institutional setting, the “university of excellence.

Policing Social Media: Balancing the Interests of Schools and Students and Providing Universal Protection for Students\u27 Rights

The increasing popularity of social media, especially among schoolaged children, has created new legal issues within the school setting. School administrators are tasked with maintaining order within their schools, while dealing with these emerging issues. In some schools, student social media activity has spurred a new set of policies that allow administrators to monitor such activity by requesting students\u27 access information, observing the students\u27 social media accounts, allowing third parties to monitor the students\u27 accounts, and other similar activities. Prompted by the current trend of Americans\u27 frequent use of social networking sites and the potential invasion of individual privacy caused by educators\u27 undefined ability to investigate student accounts, states have begun to legislate on this important issue. However, legislators seem to be in disagreement about the required extent of the coverage of these protections, as demonstrated by the lack of uniformity in the existing state statutes. This Comment will first balance the legitimate interests of school administrators in maintaining order, safety, and discipline within their schools against the interests of students in keeping their social media accounts private and maintaining their First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, and privacy rights. Next, this Comment will compare the operation and effects of the four major provisions-scope, retaliation prohibitions, enforcement mechanisms, and exceptions-in the existing 15 state statutes that protect students\u27 social media privacy rights. Finally, this Comment will suggest uniform federal legislation as a way to both remedy the disparate treatment of the existing state statutes and balance the legitimate interests of both schools and students in social media monitoring