The paradigm of T helper-1 (Th-1) and Th-2 cells developing from non-committed naive precursors is firmly established. Th1 cells are characterized by IFNgamma production and, in mice, the selective switching to IgG2a. Conversely IL-4 production and selective switching to IgG1 and IgE characterize Th2 cells. Analysis of Th2 induction in vitro indicates that this polarization develops gradually i...

The generation of epithelial cell polarity is a key process during development. Although the induction and orientation of cell polarity by cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions is well established, the molecular mechanisms by which signals from the ECM control cell polarity in developing epithelial tissues remain poorly understood. Here, we have used the follicular epitheli...

Background Ginsenosides have been reported to have many health benefits, including anti-inflammatory effects, and the resolution of inflammation is now considered to be an active process driven by M2-type macrophages. In order to determine whether ginsenosides modulate macrophage phenotypes to reduce inflammation, 11 ginsenosides were studied with respect to macrophage polarization and the reso...

Macrophage polarization contributes to a number of human pathologies. This is exemplified for tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), which display a polarized M2 phenotype, closely associated with promotion of angiogenesis and suppression of innate immune responses. We present evidence that induction of apoptosis in tumor cells and subsequent recognition of apoptotic debris by macrophages particip...

Dietary intervention using nondigestible oligosaccharides, short-chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS)/long-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (lcFOS), in combination with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V prevents allergic disease involving galectin-9. In addition, apical TLR9 signaling contributes to intestinal homeostasis. We studied the contribution of galectin-9 secreted by intestinal epithelial cel...

distribution of magnetic fields in the quiet-sun internetwork areas has been affected by weak polarization (in particular stokes q and u) signals. to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (snr) of the weak polarization signals, several approaches, including temporal integrations, have been proposed in the literature. in this study, we aim to investigate a proper temporal-integration time with which...

role of labor induction has increased in the last decade due to the ‎early detection of fetal jeopardy. although very useful, oxytocin alone is not always successful for induction of ‎labor. in a randomized clinical ‎trial we compared vaginal dinoprostone plus oxytocin with oxytocin alone for ‎induction of labor in 91 ‎pregnant women at 40 weeks or greater gestation with bishop scores ≤ 4. fort...

Terahertz functional devices with high-Q factor play an important role in spectral sensing, security imaging, and wireless communication. The reported terahertz based on the electromagnetic induction transparency (EIT) effect cannot meet needs of practical applications due to low-Q factor. Therefore, increase Q-factor resonance, researchers introduced concept bound state continuum (BIC). In qua...