פרסומים

Direct interaction of $\alpha$9$\beta$1 integrin with nerve growth factor (NGF) has been previously reported to induce pro-proliferative and pro-survival activities of non-neuronal cells. We investigated participation of p75(NTR) in $\alpha$9$\beta$1 integrin-dependent cellular response to NGF stimulation. Using selective transfection of glioma cell lines with these receptors, we showed a strong, cation-independent association of $\alpha$9 integrin subunit with p75(NTR) on the cellular membrane by selective immunoprecipitation experiments. The presence of the $\alpha$9/p75(NTR) complex increases NGF-dependent cell adhesion, proliferation and migration. Other integrin subunits including $\beta$1 were not found in complex with p75(NTR). FRET analysis indicated that p75(NTR) and $\alpha$9 integrin subunit are not closely associated through their cytoplasmic domains, most probably because of the molecular interference with other cytoplasmic proteins such as paxillin. Interaction of $\alpha$9$\beta$1 integrin with another ligand, VCAM-1 was not modulated by the p75(NTR). $\alpha$9/p75(NTR) complex elevated NGF-dependent activation of MAPK Erk1/2 arty for integrin that may create active complexes with other types of receptors belonging to the TNF superfamily.

Background Research supports the importance of sports for people with intellectual disability (ID); however, the unique experience of the Special Olympics (SO) World Games has rarely been examined. The aim of this study was to examine how the SO World Games have affected athletes with ID, their parents and siblings, and the relations between their family members.Method Twenty-three semistructured interviews were conducted with athletes, parents, and siblings within 9 families upon their return from the World Games held in Athens in 2011. Data were analysed using thematic analysis.Results Four themes were found. The first theme dealt with the World Games role in developing the athletes self-identity. The second theme related to the World Games positive impact on their family's quality of life. The third theme related to the World Games positive impact on siblings, and the fourth theme related to the importance of participation in the World Games in improving community awareness and inclusion for the 3 groups: athletes, parents, and siblings.ConclusionsThe results are discussed and practical implications are highlighted, including the need to increase knowledge and awareness of the SO.

tives and their involvement in the pathogenesis of chronic granulomatous inflammation is briefly reviewed. It can be speculated that in humans, leukocytes laden with intracellular bacteria and their non-degraded highly-phlogistic cell-walls may be translocated from inflamed gums (periodontal disease) and from infected dental pulps (pulpitis, periapical granulomas) to remote sites such as damaged heart valves (causing endocarditis) and injured joints (causing chronic arthritis). This phenomenon maybe important, clinically and is in line with the old “Focus of infection theory” from the nineteen twenties, which is no longer considered and discussed in the modern literature.

We show that the Aumann-Davis-Maschler bargaining set and the Mas-Colell bargaining set of a non-leveled NTU game that is either ordinal convex or coalition merge convex coincides with the core of the game. Moreover, we show by means of an example that the foregoing statement may not be valid if the NTU game is marginal convex.

Sol–gel materials have a number of properties that make them ideal for supporting heterogeneous catalysis. This chapter focuses on the use of organic molecules to affect the catalytic properties of sol-gel materials (e.g., tailoring-specific porosity); on the use of organically modified precursors; on the entrapment of organometallic catalysts; and briefly on the entrapment of enzymes and catalytic antibodies. All of these utilize the special property of sol-gel materials, namely, that they are prepared at convenient temperatures. The chapter brings an example of how the stereochemistry of a catalytic reaction was controlled by sol-gel imprinting with the desired stereoisomer. It mentions the enantioselective reduction of itaconic acid by a number of entrapped chiral organometallic catalysts. The chapter also discusses industrial success stories of sol–gel-based catalysis.

Accusations of political bias in the mass media, academia, the courts and various other institutions are common in many democracies. However, despite the prevalence of these accusations and the public attention they have received, research on the effects of perceived ideological distance on perceptions of political bias is lacking. Focusing on perceptions of political bias in academia, and drawing on a survey of 1,257 students in social science and law faculties in five Israeli universities, we show that the perceived ideological distance between a student and her set of professors increases perceptions of politically biased behavior of professors, and that the effects of 'left-wing' and 'right-wing' ideological distances are not symmetric. Possible implications and directions for further research are then suggested.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-22 (IL-22), a cytokine with important functions in anti-microbial defense and tissue repair, has been recently suggested to have beneficial effects in obesity and metabolic syndrome in some but not in other studies. Here, we re-examined the effects of IL-22 on obesity, insulin resistance, and hepatic glucose metabolism. RESULTS: Genetic deletion of IL-22 did not affect high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced obesity and insulin resistance. IL-22 transgenic mice with relatively high levels of circulating IL-22 ($\sim$600 pg/ml) were completely resistant to Concanavalin A-induced liver injury but developed the same degree of high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and fatty liver as the wild-type littermate controls. Similarly, chronic treatment with recombinant mouse IL-22 (rmIL-22) protein did not affect HFD-induced obesity and the associated metabolic syndrome. In vivo treatment with a single dose of rmIL-22 downregulated the hepatic expression of gluconeogenic genes and subsequently inhibited hepatic gluconeogenesis and reduced blood glucose levels both in HFD-fed and streptozotocin (STZ)-treated mice without affecting insulin production. In vitro exposure of mouse primary hepatocytes to IL-22 suppressed glucose production and the expression of gluconeogenic genes. These inhibitory effects were partially reversed by blocking STAT3 or the AMPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSION: Biologically active, high levels of IL-22 do not affect obesity and the associated metabolic syndrome. Acute treatment with IL-22 inhibits hepatic gluconeogenesis, which is mediated via the activation of STAT3 and AMPK in hepatocytes.