LDD175 (4-chloro-7-trifluoromethyl-10H-benzo[4,5]furo[3,2-b]indole-1-carboxylic acid) is a benzofuroindole compound characterized previously as a potent opener of the large conductance calcium activated (BK(Ca)) channels. Activators of the BK(Ca) channels are potential therapies for smooth muscle hyperactivity disorders. The present study investigates the influence of LDD175 on the mechanical a...

In contrast to single frequency conventional eddy current technique (ECT), in pulse ECT the coil is excited by repetitive broadband pulse. The pulsed excitation contains wide spectrum of frequencies. Each frequency has different penetrability and hence using pulsed eddy current (PEC) technique, large areas of structure with multiple variations in thickness can be scanned without the need for pa...

Efficient and therapeutically safe delivery of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2) continues to be a central issue in bone tissue engineering. Recent evidence indicates that layer-by-layer self-assembly of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) can be used to recreate synthetic matrix environments that would act as tuneable reservoirs for delicate biomolecules and cells. Although...

Hydrogen production from water splitting using solar energy based on photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells has attracted increasing attention because it leaves less of a carbon footprint and has economic superiority of solar and hydrogen energy. Oxide semiconductors such as ZnO possessing high stability against photocorrosion in hole scavenger systems have been widely used to build photoanodes of PE...

The models for addressing the delivery of an eye-care service in sub-Saharan Africa have seen considerable revision in the last 30 years, and the on-going challenges, as well as the future needs, will probably require many more changes and new systems. There is a need to assess the different models that are currently employed, in order to ensure that all potential contributions to the eliminati...

Studies have shown that certain cells of the glomerular tuft begin to express proteins considered unique to other cell types upon injury. Little is known about the response of parietal epithelial cells (PEC) to injury. To determine whether PECs change their phenotype upon injury to also express proteins traditionally considered podocyte specific, the following four models of glomerular disease ...

The role of the mononuclear-macrophage system in the production of transcobalamm II (TCII), the vitamin B12 transport protein that delivers the vitamin to the tissues, was investigated in mice. Of all the organs examined for TCII content in unstimulated mice, highest TCll levels were found in the bone marrow. A considerable amount of TCll was present in peripheral blood monocytes. Small amounts...

The aim of our study was to evaluate the relevance of tissue- and species-specific endothelial cells (EC) to study EC-dependent mechanisms in inflammatory-mediated tissue injury. We established an isolation protocol for highly purified EC (pEC) preparations of different origin and compared EC-specific inflammatory responses. Fluorescence-activated cell separation was used to obtain pEC cultures...

Meat is one of the most challenging food products in the context of maintaining quality and safety. The aim of this work was to improve the quality of raw/cooked meat by coating it with sodium alginate (A), chitosan (C), and sodium alginate-chitosan polyelectrolyte complex (PEC) hydrosols. Antioxidant properties of A, C, and PEC hydrosols were determined. Subsequently, total antioxidant capacit...

Podocyte loss is the initial event in the development of glomerulosclerosis, the structural hallmark of progressive proteinuric nephropathies. Understanding mechanisms underlying glomerular injury is the key challenge for identifying novel therapeutic targets. In mice with protein-overload induced by bovine serum albumin (BSA), we evaluated whether the alternative pathway (AP) of complement med...