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"Harrison, R"
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Vitamin D, Autoimmune Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Vitamin D has been reported to influence physiological systems that extend far beyond its established functions in calcium and bone homeostasis. Prominent amongst these are the potent immunomodulatory effects of the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)
2
D3). The nuclear vitamin D receptor (VDR) for 1,25-(OH)
2
D3 is expressed by many cells within the immune system and resulting effects include modulation of T cell phenotype to suppress pro-inflammatory Th1 and Th17 CD4+ T cells and promote tolerogenic regulatory T cells. In addition, antigen-presenting cells have been shown to express the enzyme 1α-hydroxylase that converts precursor 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD3) to 1,25-(OH)
2
D3, so that immune microenvironments are able to both activate and respond to vitamin D. As a consequence of this local, intracrine, system, immune responses may vary according to the availability of 25-OHD3, and vitamin D deficiency has been linked to various autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this review is to explore the immune activities of vitamin D that impact autoimmune disease, with specific reference to RA. As well as outlining the mechanisms linking vitamin D with autoimmune disease, the review will also describe the different studies that have linked vitamin D status to RA, and the current supplementation studies that have explored the potential benefits of vitamin D for prevention or treatment of RA. The overall aim of the review is to provide a fresh perspective on the potential role of vitamin D in RA pathogenesis and treatment.
Journal Article
The Carnegie Curve
The Earth’s fair weather atmospheric electric field shows, in clean air, an average daily variation which follows universal time, globally independent of the measurement position. This single diurnal cycle variation (maximum around 19UT and minimum around 03UT) is widely known as the Carnegie curve, after the geophysical survey vessel of the Carnegie Institution of Washington on which the original measurement campaigns demonstrating the universal time variation were undertaken. The Carnegie curve’s enduring importance is in providing a reference variation against which atmospheric electricity measurements are still compared; it is believed to originate from regular daily variations in atmospheric electrification associated with the different global disturbed weather regions. Details of the instrumentation, measurement principles and data obtained on the Carnegie’s seventh and final cruise are reviewed here, also deriving new harmonic coefficients allowing calculation of the Carnegie curve for different seasons. The additional harmonic analysis now identifies changes in the phasing of the maximum and minimum in the Carnegie curve, which shows a systematic seasonal variation, linked to the solstices and equinoxes, respectively.
Journal Article
Activation of a transient progenitor state in the epicardium is required for zebrafish heart regeneration
The epicardium, a mesothelial cell tissue that encompasses vertebrate hearts, supports heart regeneration after injury through paracrine effects and as a source of multipotent progenitors. However, the progenitor state in the adult epicardium has yet to be defined. Through single-cell RNA-sequencing of isolated epicardial cells from uninjured and regenerating adult zebrafish hearts, we define the epithelial and mesenchymal subsets of the epicardium. We further identify a transiently activated epicardial progenitor cell (aEPC) subpopulation marked by
ptx3a
and
col12a1b
expression. Upon cardiac injury, aEPCs emerge from the epithelial epicardium, migrate to enclose the wound, undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and differentiate into mural cells and
pdgfra
+
hapln1a
+
mesenchymal epicardial cells. These EMT and differentiation processes are regulated by the Tgfβ pathway. Conditional ablation of aEPCs blocks heart regeneration through reduced
nrg1
expression and mesenchymal cell number. Our findings identify a transient progenitor population of the adult epicardium that is indispensable for heart regeneration and highlight it as a potential target for enhancing cardiac repair.
The epicardium supports heart regeneration, though precisely how is unclear. Here the authors define an activated epicardial progenitor population as the source of essential cell types and paracrine factors for successful heart regeneration in zebrafish.
Journal Article
Effects of plasma squareness on RMP response in MAST-U
The effect of the squareness of the plasma boundary shape on the plasma response to the applied n = 2 ( n is the toroidal mode number) resonant magnetic perturbation, and consequently on controlling the edge-localized mode (ELM) in MAST-U in the double-null configuration, is numerically systematically investigated. The modeling is performed utilizing three different plasma response models: the single-fluid model, the two-fluid model and the magnetohydrodynamic-kinetic hybrid model. The effect of the plasma squareness on ELM control is found to depend on the equilbrium kinetic profiles. Fixing the equilibrium radial profiles to that from a recent MAST-U discharge, the experimental plasma shape is found to be close to optimal for ELM control in terms of squareness. The optimal coil phasing does not significantly vary with varying plasma squareness. These findings robustly hold with (i) two figures of merit (FoMs) defined for predicting the ELM control feasibility, and (ii) three plasma response models employed for evaluating these FoMs.
Journal Article
Cece loves science and adventure
When Cece and her Adventure Girls troop face a sudden thunderstorm, they use science, technology, engineering, and math to solve problems and make their way safely back to camp.
Book
A review of acquired blepharoptosis: prevalence, diagnosis, and current treatment options
Blepharoptosis (ptosis) is among the most common disorders of the upper eyelid encountered in both optometric and ophthalmic practice. The unilateral or bilateral drooping of the upper eyelid that characterises ptosis can affect appearance and impair visual function, both of which can negatively impact quality of life. While there are several known forms of congenital ptosis, acquired ptosis (appearing later in life, due to a variety of causes) is the predominant form of the condition. This review summarises the prevalence, causes, identification, differential diagnosis, and treatment of acquired ptosis. Particular attention is paid to the differential diagnosis of acquired ptosis and emerging treatment options, including surgical and pharmacologic approaches.
Journal Article