IGF axis expression and activity in differentiating dental pulp cells

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis comprises two growth factors (IGF-I and IGF-II), two cell surface receptors (IGF1R and IGF2R), six high affinity soluble IGF binding proteins (IGFBP1-6) and various families of IGFBP proteases. The IGF axis acts co-ordinately to control several cellular processes including mitogenesis, apoptosis, cell migration and differentiation. In this latter respect the IGFs are the most abundant growth factors present in bone matrix and the IGF axis is believed to play an important role in the differentiation of osteoblast precursors and also to control bone accretion and resorption which occurs throughout adult life. There is much interest in the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) as a resource for tissue engineering approaches in the restoration of bone and other hard tissue lesions. As such a thorough knowledge of the effects of the IGF axis on osteogenic differentiation is essential to the success of such tissue engineering approaches. In our laboratories we use dental pulp/stromal cells (DPCs) as a source of precursor cells which can be differentiated to an osteogenic phenotype by culture under appropriate conditions. In order to address some of the issues raised above we have examined the expression and activity of the IGF axis in DPCs which have been induced to differentiate to an osteogenic/matrix mineralising phenotype in vitro. We found that DPCs express all components of the IGF axis (except IGF-I and IGFBP-1) under both basal and osteogenic conditions. With respect to IGFBPs we report that IGFBP protein concentrations in DPC conditioned medium closely follow mRNA levels prepared from DPCs. IGFBP-4 is the most abundant IGFBP in both basal and osteogenic DPCs and levels are not altered between basal and osteogenic cultures. IGFBP-4 and -5 inhibit IG-I and IGF-II stimulated osteogenic differentiation in DPCs. Of some interest although IGFBP-4 expression is not altered by differentiation of DPCs IGFBP-4 proteolysis is enhanced under osteogenic conditions. Subsequently we found that pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) is the sole IGFBP-4 protease in DPC conditioned medium and its concentration is increased under osteogenic conditions. Further IGF-II (an activator of PAPP-A) and stanniocalcin-2 (STC2- an inhibitor of PAPP-A) concentrations are respectively increased and decreased during osteogenic differentiation of DPCs. We suggest that our data may represent a series of coordinated changes in IGF axis expression and activity which represent a novel osteogenic “signature” of differentiating DPCs

Differences weighted composition operators acting between kind of weighted Bergman-type spaces and the Bers-type space -I-

Let $\mathcal{O}(\mathbb{D})$ denote the class of all analytic or holomorphic functions on the open unit disk $\mathbb{D}$ of $\mathbb{C}$. Let $\varphi$ and $\psi$ are an analytic self-maps of $\mathbb{D}$ and $u, v\in \mathcal{O}(\mathbb{D}).$ The difference of two weighted composition operators is defined by $T_{\varphi, \psi}f(z): = \bigg(W_{\varphi, \;u}f- W_{\psi, \;v}f\bigg)(z) = u (z)(f\circ \varphi)(z) -v(z)(f\circ \psi)(z), \ f \in \mathcal{O}(\mathbb{D})\;\hbox{and}\;z\in \mathbb{D}.$ The boundedness and compactness of the differences of two weighted composition operators from ${\cal H}_{\alpha}^\infty(\mathbb{D})$ spaces into $\mathcal{N}_{K}(\mathbb{D})$ spaces (resp. from $\mathcal{N}_{K}(\mathbb{D})$ into ${\cal H}_{\alpha}^\infty (\mathbb{D})$) are investigate in this paper

Barley yield formation under abiotic stress depends on the interplay between flowering time genes and environmental cues

Abstract Since the dawn of agriculture, crop yield has always been impaired through abiotic stresses. In a field trial across five locations worldwide, we tested three abiotic stresses, nitrogen deficiency, drought and salinity, using HEB-YIELD, a selected subset of the wild barley nested association mapping population HEB-25. We show that barley flowering time genes Ppd-H1, Sdw1, Vrn-H1 and Vrn-H3 exert pleiotropic effects on plant development and grain yield. Under field conditions, these effects are strongly influenced by environmental cues like day length and temperature. For example, in Al-Karak, Jordan, the day length-sensitive wild barley allele of Ppd-H1 was associated with an increase of grain yield by up to 30% compared to the insensitive elite barley allele. The observed yield increase is accompanied by pleiotropic effects of Ppd-H1 resulting in shorter life cycle, extended grain filling period and increased grain size. Our study indicates that the adequate timing of plant development is crucial to maximize yield formation under harsh environmental conditions. We provide evidence that wild barley alleles, introgressed into elite barley cultivars, can be utilized to support grain yield formation. The presented knowledge may be transferred to related crop species like wheat and rice securing the rising global food demand for cereals

Effects of Feeding Periods of High Cholesterol and Saturated Fat Diet on Blood Biochemistry and Hydroxyproline Fractions in Rabbits

Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia are considered as important risk factors during the atherosclerotic process. The aim of the present investigation was to study the total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglyceride (TG), platelet levels and hydroxyproline fractions during the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. For this purpose, twenty five 12-weeks, New Zealand white male rabbits, were purchased, individually caged, and divided into either control group or cholesterol-fed group. The control group (n = 10) was fed 100 g/day of normal diet, ORC-4 (Oriental Yeast Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) for a period of 15 weeks. The cholesterol-fed group (n = 15) was fed a high cholesterol and saturated fat diet of ORC-4 containing 1% cholesterol plus 1% olive oil (100 g/day) for periods of 5 (group 1), 10 (group 2) and 15 (group 3) weeks. Blood sample from each animal was taken at the end of the experimental period for the biochemical analysis. The results of the present study showed that TC, LDLC, TG, HDLC and platelets were significantly (P < 0.01) increased in cholesterol-fed rabbits as compared with control rabbits. The serum hydroxyproline (Hyp) in rabbits belonging to group 1 showed no significant alteration when compared to control group. Group 2 rabbits showed a significant increase of 103% (P < 0.01) and 100% (P < 0.001) in free and protein—bound hydroxyproline fractions respectively when compared to control rabbits. However, there was no significant change in peptide—bound and total serum hydroxyproline levels as compared to the control group (P > 0.05). There was no significant (P > 0.05) decrease of free serum hydroxyproline in group 3 rabbits when compared to control rabbits. On the other hand, group 3 rabbits showed a significant increase in peptide–bound and protein-bound Hyp by 517% (P < 0.05) and 100% (P < 0.01) respectively when compared to control rabbits. However, total serum Hyp in group 3 rabbits showed no significant (P > 0.05) change when compared to control rabbits. These results suggest that feeding rabbits high cholesterol and saturated fat diet for feeding periods of 5, 10 and 15 weeks induced significant change in TC, LDLC, HDL, TG, platelet levels and various Hyp fractions in serum without any significant change in the total Hyp content

The changes in various hydroxyproline fractions in aortic tissue of rabbits are closely related to the progression of atherosclerosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The most important function of collagen and elastin is to induce several mechanical parameters which are known to play a dominant role in governing mechanical properties of the blood vessels. The aortic tissue of rabbit is one of the important sources of collagen and elastin. The effects of high fat diet (HFD) on the hydroxyproline (Hyp) fractions in serum and aortic tissues of rabbits and collagen content in the aortic tissues of rabbits have not been documented before. The present study was undertaken to investigate the changes in Hyp fractions in serum and aortic tissues of rabbits and collagen content in the aortic tissues of rabbits during the progression of atherosclerosis. The atherosclerotic model used in this study was the New Zealand white rabbit (male; 12 weeks old). Twenty five rabbits were individually caged, and divided into control group (NOR; n = 10) and HFD group (CHO; n = 15). The control group was fed (100 g/day) of normal (NOR) diet for a period of 15 weeks. The HFD group was fed normal diet supplemented with 1.0% cholesterol plus 1.0% olive oil (100 g/day) for the same period of time.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that the TC, LDLC, and TG (mg/dl) were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits with percentage normalized changes of 1198%, 1591%, and 710%, respectively. The peptide-bound Hyp in the serum was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits with percentage normalized change of 517% while it significantly (P < 0.01) decreased in aortic tissues of HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits with percentage normalized change of 65%. The protein-bound Hyp in the serum was significantly (P < 0.01) increased in HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits with percentage normalized change of 100%; the protein-bound Hyp in the aortic tissues of control rabbits was 235.30 ± 55.14 (Mean ± SD) while it was not detectable (ND) in HFD rabbits. Total serum Hyp showed no significant (P < 0.05) change in HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits while it was significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in aortic tissues of HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits with percentage normalized change of 73%. The total collagen was significantly (p < 0.01) decreased in aortic tissues of HFD rabbits compared with control rabbits with percentage normalized change of 73% which was supported by histological study.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results suggest that percentage decrease in various Hyp fractions in aortic tissue of HFD rabbits are closely related to percentage decrease of collagen content in aortic tissues of HFD rabbits. These results also suggest that it may be possible to use the changes in various Hyp fractions in aortic tissues of rabbits as an important risk factor during the progression of atherosclerosis.</p

Artificial Intelligence Applications in Nursing

The nursing profession is complex and flexible, able to adjust to the unique needs of each patient. These days, artificial intelligence (AI) is integrating with this flexible architecture to bring a range of new technologies that have the potential to significantly improve operational workflows and patient care. This paper explores the new role artificial intelligence (AI) is playing in nursing, with a particular emphasis on how it is being incorporated into traditional clinical tasks including patient support, diagnosis, and treatment administration. It looks at how AI might affect various fields and provides supporting information about its real-world uses. This study offers a critical overview of artificial intelligence\u27s potential impact on nursing in the future, giving administrators, physicians, and the general public information on how this rapidly developing technology is expected to develop. Artificial intelligence is the computerized performance of tasks that conventionally need human intelligence. Artificial Intelligence is already in use in many areas of our daily lives, including the home, job, and educational system. There are two types of AI: strong and weak. While the weak AI argument advocates for the replication of human cognition by machines, the strong AI proposal contends that it is possible for machines to express intelligence. Nowadays, the latter, \u27weak\u27 version of AI predominates in the field. Many people use artificial intelligence (AI)-powered devices in their homes, frequently without realizing it. Voice recognition is used by technologies such as MacSIRI and Windows Cortana for routine tasks like text messaging, online navigation, and reminder setting. But as technology developed, it was used more and more in medicine to do increasingly complex tasks. Watson from IBM is a prime example. Watson uses machine learning and natural language processing to glean insights from enormous unstructured data volumes. As a result, Watson has the capacity to analyze and interpret vast amounts of medical material, which could help with forecasting and provide direction in complex decision-making situations. Its application extends to health sciences education as well as a number of healthcare sectors. Watson is a significant tool for nurses because of its ability to facilitate complex clinical decision-making

Magnitude and Time Trend of Acute Respiratory Infections (Aris) Among Male School Students and Employees in Aleith

A setting-based descriptive study was conducted to study magnitude and time trend of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among male school students and employees in Aleith. Data about Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) among school students and employees in Aleith during the last three years were collected by reviewing monthly and annual reports in school health units. The proportion of acute reparatory infections in the last three years among male student and employees in Aleith was high in year 1435 which was 50.2%, followed by the year 1437 which was 47% and 1436 was 43.3%. The time distribution of acute respiratory infections illustrates that the percentage of infection occurred during Jumada-Al-Thani (21.9%) in the year 1435, Moharam and Rabi-Al-Thani (17.3%) in the year 1436 and Jumada-Al-Awwal (18%) in the year 1437. In the year 1435, acute respiratory infection among student was 811(63.7%) and among employees was 462 (36.3%); in the year 1436, the disease was 1177 (71.4%) in students while in employees was 471 (28.6%) and in the year1437, the percentage was 747(64.7%) in students and 408(35.3%) in employees. The high percentages of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARIs) occurred among primary school students was high 35.6%, 45.5% and 48.1% in the years 1435, 1436 and 1437 respectively. The peak of ARIs occurred during the year 1435 and the minimum proportion rate of cases was found in 1436. The study concluded that ARIs were still high and more frequent in winter months

The Attitudes of Male and Female Teachers Towards Using the Madrasati Platform During the Corona Pandemic

The study aimed to know the attitudes of male and female teachers in Al-Baha region towards using the Madrasati platform during the Corona pandemic, and it also aimed to test the extent to which there are statistically significant differences between the responses of the study sample due to the variables of gender, academic qualification and teaching stage. The study used the descriptive approach; An electronic questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of (141) male and female teachers, with (44) male and female teachers (97) from all levels of public education. The results of the study revealed that there are significantly positive attitudes among male and female teachers towards using the Madrasati platform. The results also revealed that there were statistically significant differences in the attitudes towards using the Madrasati platform due to gender, in favor of the female teachers. In addition, there were statistically significant differences in the attitudes towards using the Madrasati platform due to the academic qualification in favor of the bachelor&rsquo;s qualification, while the results showed that there are no statistically significant differences in the attitudes towards the use of the Madrasati platform due to the teaching stage

Treated oil shale ash and its capacity to remove Cd and Pb from aqueous solutions

Cadmium (Cd) is the most highly toxic heavy metal even at a trace level. In this study, the oil shale ash treated material was used as an adsorbent to remove cadmium and lead (Pb) metals/ions from aqueous solutions. The absorbent treated oil shale material was characterized prior to experimental work using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The effects of multiple factors on percent metal removal, including contact time, initial ions concentration and pH, are investigated. Results show that the adsorption capacities of Pb and Cd are 29.15 and 23.81 mggâ1, whereas removal efficiencies are 56% and 48% in 10 minutes, respectively. Removal efficiency and time of equilibrium are affected by the metal atomic weight (Pb 207.2 u and Cd 112.4 u) and pH values. The equilibrium isotherms were analyzed using Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm models and described by the Freundlich isotherm model indicating a heterogeneous surface of the adsorbent. The calculated Langmuir adsorption constant and maximum adsorption capacity of adsorbent, KL and qmax, are 1.313*10â2 and 25.25, respectively. The Freundlich adsorption constant KF and the characteristic constant of the Freundlich isotherm n are 0.5234 and 1.39, respectively

Patients with Cardiac Conditions\u27 Awareness and Impression of Cardiovascular Physical Therapy in Saudi

Worldwide, cardiovascular illnesses account for 30% of all deaths. It is common knowledge that cardiovascular physiotherapy plays an important part in the treatment of cardiac conditions. Despite this, there is evidence to show that many of these individuals do not stick to their treatment plans. This study provides valuable insight into the perspectives of cardiac patients on cardiovascular physiotherapy by revealing the extent to which they are aware of the therapy\u27s significance and its potential effects on their condition. Patients with a cardiac diagnosis at different Saudi hospitals filled out a self-designed questionnaire, which was analyzed descriptively using Microsoft Excel. Poor awareness was found among Saudi patients with heart conditions, according to this research. Despite the generally favorable opinions held by the general public, most people with heart problems never see a physiotherapist. Reasons for this low rate of adherence include issues such as expensive price, long commute, fear, and lack of time