The toughness of a polymer glass is determined by the interplay of yielding, strain softening, and strain hardening. Molecular-dynamics simulations of a typical polymer glass, atactic polystyrene, under the influence of active deformation have been carried out to enlighten these processes. It is observed that the dominant interaction for the yield peak is of interchain nature and for the strain...

BACKGROUND Cancer cachexia is associated with increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour potential. We investigated the modulation of antioxidants, cytokines and cell death by C. asiatica ethanolic leaf extract (CLE) in leukaemic THP-1 cells and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC's). METHODS...

The effect of fasting for 12, 36 and 72 h was studied in twenty-nine healthy subjects (seventeen women and twelve men). Measurements were made of cardiovascular variables, metabolic rate, respiratory exchange ratio, plasma metabolites, insulin, thyroid hormones and catecholamines. During starvation there were no significant changes in blood pressure, whilst heart rate (beats/min) increased at 3...

Trichoderma spp. are common soil fungi which influence tile development of plant-pathogenic fungi in the soil (1, 8). Yang et al. (9) found that T. harzianum influenced the severity of Fusarium wilt of cotton in the presence of Meloidogyne incognita. We report herein that the survival of two other plant-parasitic nematodes also was influenced by addit ion of cornminuted cultures of Trichoderrna...

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of C1q/TNF related protein 3 (CTRP3), a novel adipokine, on the expression and secretion of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, and apelin in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The effect of insulin resistance on the impact was also investigated. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with different concentrations (0, 10, 50, 250, 1250 ng/mL) CTRP3 for 12 h, and wit...

OBJECTIVE Endotoxin (LPS)-induced acute cardiac failure during sepsis is associated with alterations in G protein mediated signal transduction. We therefore examined the expression of the G proteins G(i), G(q), and G(s) and of four 'regulators of G protein signaling' (RGS) proteins, RGS1, RGS4, RGS5, and RGS16 in rat hearts. METHODS For in vivo experiments, Wistar rats were treated with 600 m...

We have investigated the effects of glucocorticoid treatment on lipid lateral diffusion and cholesterokphospholipid ratios in the plasma mem branes of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-responsive murine B-cell leuke mia (BCL,). Exposure to LPS for 24 h at concentrations of 50 ¿tg/ml, 100 Mg/ml, and 250 Mg/ml caused a 42% reduction in the lateral diffusion of the lipid probe 3,3'-dioctadecylindocarb...

We have investigated the effects of glucocorticoid treatment on lipid lateral diffusion and cholesterol:phospholipid ratios in the plasma membranes of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-responsive murine B-cell leukemia (BCL1). Exposure to LPS for 24 h at concentrations of 50 micrograms/ml, 100 micrograms/ml, and 250 micrograms/ml caused a 42% reduction in the lateral diffusion of the lipid probe 3,3...

Background and objectives: Leishmaniasis is caused by the genus Leishmania. Medications such as antimony compounds for the treatment of the disease are associated with limitations along with several side effects and disease recurrence; thus, evaluation of natural compounds with history of antimicrobial properties such as   Pleurotus ostreatus, is of a great im...

OBJECTIVES The dentin matrix servers as a reservoir of growth factors, sequestered during dentinogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess the viability and proliferation of dental pulp stem cells in the presence of dentin matrix-derived non-collagenous proteins and two growth factors; platelet-derived growth factor BB and transforming growth factor beta 1. MATERIAL AND METHODS The dental ...