A biodegradable antibiotic delivery system based on poly-(trimethylene carbonate) for the treatment of osteomyelitis

Background and purpose Many investigations on biodegradable materials acting as an antibiotic carrier for local drug delivery are based on poly(lactide). However, the use of poly(lactide) implants in bone has been disputed because of poor bone regeneration at the site of implantation. Poly(trimethylene carbonate) (PTMC) is an enzymatically degradable polymer that does not produce acidic degradation products. We explored the suitability of PTMC as an antibiotic releasing polymer for the local treatment of osteomyelitis

Lack of the Long Pentraxin PTX3 Promotes Autoimmune Lung Disease but not Glomerulonephritis in Murine Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The long pentraxin PTX3 has multiple roles in innate immunity. For example, PTX3 regulates C1q binding to pathogens and dead cells and regulates their uptake by phagocytes. It also inhibits P-selectin-mediated recruitment of leukocytes. Both of these mechanisms are known to be involved in autoimmunity and autoimmune tissue injury, e.g. in systemic lupus erythematosus, but a contribution of PTX3 is hypothetical. To evaluate a potential immunoregulatory role of PTX3 in autoimmunity we crossed Ptx3-deficient mice with Fas-deficient (lpr) C57BL/6 (B6) mice with mild lupus-like autoimmunity. PTX3 was found to be increasingly expressed in kidneys and lungs of B6lpr along disease progression. Lack of PTX3 impaired the phagocytic uptake of apoptotic T cells into peritoneal macrophages and selectively expanded CD4/CD8 double negative T cells while other immune cell subsets and lupus autoantibody production remained unaffected. Lack of PTX3 also aggravated autoimmune lung disease, i.e. peribronchial and perivascular CD3+ T cell and macrophage infiltrates of B6lpr mice. In contrast, histomorphological and functional parameters of lupus nephritis remained unaffected by the Ptx3 genotype. Together, PTX3 specifically suppresses autoimmune lung disease that is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. Vice versa, loss-of-function mutations in the Ptx3 gene might represent a genetic risk factor for pulmonary (but not renal) manifestations of systemic lupus or other autoimmune diseases

Regulation of the Fruit-Specific PEP Carboxylase SlPPC2 Promoter at Early Stages of Tomato Fruit Development

The SlPPC2 phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC; EC 4.1.1.31) gene from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is differentially and specifically expressed in expanding tissues of developing tomato fruit. We recently showed that a 1966 bp DNA fragment located upstream of the ATG codon of the SlPPC2 gene (GenBank AJ313434) confers appropriate fruit-specificity in transgenic tomato. In this study, we further investigated the regulation of the SlPPC2 promoter gene by analysing the SlPPC2 cis-regulating region fused to either the firefly luciferase (LUC) or the β-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene, using stable genetic transformation and biolistic transient expression assays in the fruit. Biolistic analyses of 5′ SlPPC2 promoter deletions fused to LUC in fruits at the 8th day after anthesis revealed that positive regulatory regions are mostly located in the distal region of the promoter. In addition, a 5′ UTR leader intron present in the 1966 bp fragment contributes to the proper temporal regulation of LUC activity during fruit development. Interestingly, the SlPPC2 promoter responds to hormones (ethylene) and metabolites (sugars) regulating fruit growth and metabolism. When tested by transient expression assays, the chimeric promoter:LUC fusion constructs allowed gene expression in both fruit and leaf, suggesting that integration into the chromatin is required for fruit-specificity. These results clearly demonstrate that SlPPC2 gene is under tight transcriptional regulation in the developing fruit and that its promoter can be employed to drive transgene expression specifically during the cell expansion stage of tomato fruit. Taken together, the SlPPC2 promoter offers great potential as a candidate for driving transgene expression specifically in developing tomato fruit from various tomato cultivars

Análisis melódico del habla: protocolo para la automatización de la obtención de los datos de la curva estándar

Màster de Recerca en Didàctica de la Llengua i la Literatura.Màster, Universitat de Barcelona. Facultat de Formació del Professorat, curs 2009-2010, Director: Francisco José Cantero Serena[cat]Aquest treball presenta una eina que permeti als investigadors l'estudi de fenòmens fònics relacionats amb el paràmetre de la freqüència fonamental dels sons (F0). S'ha fet en el marc del model Anàlisi Melòdic de la Parla, model i mètode que fem nostre pel posterior estudi de l'entonació de les varietats dialectals del espanyol. Aquest mètode pot ser utilitzat amb altre tipus de notacions prosòdiques. Presentem, doncs, el programa que hem desenvolupat en PRAAT ¿software de referència pel que fa a l'anàlisi acústica -, els resultats de la seva validació experimental(satisfactoris) i el protocol per poder utilitzar-lo. Aquesta automatització de l'extracció de dades tonals ha de permetre que els esforços dels investigadors es centrin en l'anàlisi, descripció e interpretació del fenomen entonatiu, facilitant doncs tant l'ensenyament com l'aprenentatge.[spa]Este trabajo se centra en el desarrollo de una herramienta que facilite a los investigadores el estudio de fenómenos relacionados con la frecuencia fundamental de los sonidos (F0). Concebido en el marco del modelo Análisis Melódico del Habla, ya que es el modelo y método que adoptaremos para nuestro estudio de la entonación de las variedades dialectales del español, puede no obstante utilizarse con otro tipo de notaciones prosódicas. Presentamos, pues, el programa desarrollado en PRAAT ¿software de referencia en el análisis acústico-, los resultados de su validación experimental (satisfactorios) y el protocolo para su utilización. La automatización de la extracción de datos ha de permitir centrar los esfuerzos en el análisis, descripción e interpretación del fenómeno entonativo, facilitando de esta forma su enseñanza y aprendizaje.[eng]This paper presents a tool that allows researchers to study phenomena related phonic parameter of the fundamental frequency of sounds (F0). Has been made under the model "Análisis Melódico del Habla", model and method we do for our subsequent study of the intonation of the dialects of Spanish. We present then the program developed in PRAAT - software reference for acoustic analysis - the results of its experimental validation (satisfactory) and the protocol to use the program accurately. The automation of data extraction must allow to focus on the analysis, description and interpretation of intonational phenomenon, thereby facilitating teaching and learning

In vivo degradation of copolymers prepared from l-lactide, 1,3-trimethylene carbonate and glycolide as coronary stent materials

International audienc

Type grouping in rat skeletal muscle after crush injury

Object. Accuracy of reinnervation is an important factor that determines outcome after nerve injury and repair. Type grouping-the clustering of muscle fibers of the same type after reinnervation-can be used to investigate the accuracy of reinnervation. In this study, the degree of type grouping after crush injury in rats was compared with the clustering of muscle fibers after autografting or single-lumen nerve grafting. Methods. Twelve weeks after sciatic nerve crush injury in rats, clustering of Type I muscle fibers was analyzed in the target muscle with adenosine 5'-triphosphatase staining. In addition, the number of regenerated axons was determined in the nerve distal to the crush injury. Results were compared with that of the authors' previous study. Results. Type grouping was more abundant after crush injury than after autograft or single-lumen nerve graft repair. Conclusions. Crush injury leads to more clustered innervation of muscle fibers, probably because the Schwann cell basal lamina tubes are not interrupted as they are in autograft or artificial nerve graft repair. This finding adds to understanding the processes playing a role in nerve regeneration. (DOI: 10.3171/2010.9.JNS091656)Stem cells & developmental biolog