BACKGROUND Colonization by Aspergillus fumigatus in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) can cause A fumigatus sensitization and/or allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), which affects pulmonary function and clinical outcomes. Recent studies show that specific allergens upregulate the surface-expressed basophil marker CD203c in sensitized subjects, a response that can be readily measured...

Recent progress in quantum dot (QD) sensitized solar cells has demonstrated the possibility of low-cost and efficient photovoltaics. However, the standard device structure based on n-type materials often suffers from slow hole injection rate, which may lead to unbalanced charge transport. We have fabricated efficient p-type (inverted) QD sensitized cells, which combine the advantages of convent...

OBJECTIVE Pharmacological effects of carvacrol such as its anti-inflammatory activities have been shows. In this study the effects of carvacrol on serum levels of total protein (TP), phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and histamine in sensitized guinea pigs was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sensitized guinea pigs were given drinking water alone (group S), drinking water containing three concentration...

We evaluated the effects of chronic allergic airway inflammation and of treadmill training (12 weeks) of low and moderate intensity on muscle fiber cross-sectional area and mRNA levels of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 in the mouse tibialis anterior muscle. Six 4-month-old male BALB/c mice (28.5 +/- 0.8 g) per group were examined: 1) control, non-sensitized and non-trained (C); 2) ovalbumin sensitized (OA...

To establish whether allergic asthma could be induced experimentally in a nonhuman primate using a common human allergen, three female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were sensitized with house dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) allergen (HDMA) by subcutaneous injection, followed by four intranasal sensitizations, and exposure to allergen aerosol 3 hours per day, 3 days per week for up to 13 ...

Light scattering is a method that has been employed in dye-sensitized solar cells for optical absorption enhancement. In conventional dye-sensitized solar cells, large TiO(2) particles with sizes comparable to the wavelength of visible light are used as scatterers by either being mixed into the nanocrystalline film to generate light scattering or forming a scattering layer on the top of the nan...

As expected, skin implants placed in the anterior chamber of the eye of rats systemically sensitized with alloantigen from the antigen specific (second party) donor implants are rapidly rejected, indicating that the anterior chamber offers no barrier to the efferent immune response. However, during our studies it was noted that antigen nonspecific (third party) skin implants placed in the anter...

We assessed effects of passive sensitization on human bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) response to mechanical stretching in vitro. Bronchial rings were sham (control) or passively sensitized overnight by using sera from donors demonstrating sensitivity to Dermatophagoides farinae and having immunoglobulin E (IgE) concentrations of 2,600 +/- 200 U/ml. Tissues were fixed isometrically to force trans...

In this paper, to improve the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of quantum dot-sensitized solar cells (QDSSCs) based on CdS-sensitized TiO2 nanotube (TNT) electrodes, two methods are employed on the basis of our previous work. First, by replacing the traditional single-sided working electrodes, double-sided transparent TNT/ITO (DTTO) electrodes are prepared to increase the loading amount of ...

In the present study, we demonstrate delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to homologous type I collagen that cross-reacts with type IV collagen. Mice immunized with native or denatured type I collagens and challenged with these same antigens or native type IV collagen develop a peak DTH response on day 7. Challenge with denatured type IV collagen or collagenase-treated type IV collagen failed to...