The development of novel in vitro methods to assess risks of allergic sensitization are essential in reducing animal testing whilst maintaining consumer safety. The main research objectives of this study were to identify novel biomarkers to assess the sensitization predictability of chemicals. Phenotypic and cytokine responses of moDCs and MUTZ-3 cells were investigated following application of...

In this study, our aim is to assess the potential of Fricke and polyacrylamide gel (PAG) dosimeters to quantitatively evaluate the efficiency of potential radiation sensitizers/protectors and antioxidants. These compounds are of importance in radiotherapy as well as in disease prevention and promotion of health. The basic principle of the Fricke dosimeter is the radiation-induced oxidation of F...

Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells (APCs) capable of capturing haptens and to process and present them to T lymphocytes. In order to sensitize T cells for contact hypersensitivity (CHS), skin DCs suffer a maturation process with modifications on their surface molecules. The aim of this work was to evaluate changes induced by two contact sensitizers, 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNF...

New organic dyes that contain variable lengths of conjugation featuring alternating thiophene and fluorene segments have been synthesized and efficient nano-crystalline TiO2 based dye-sensitized solar cells were fabricated using these molecules as light-harvesting sensitizers.

Three alkoxy-wrapped push-pull porphyrins were designed and synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications. Spectral, electrochemical, photovoltaic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy properties of these porphyrin sensitizers were well investigated to provide evidence for the molecular design.

Treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is directed at relieving symptoms of hyperglycemia and reducing the incidence of diabetes-associated pathologies. Complications of atherosclerosis, including myocardial infarction and stroke, are the most common causes of death in diabetic patients. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) represent a relatively recent addition to the arsenal of pharmaceutical option...

Acute Heart failure (AHF), clinical signs of low cardiac output, therapy with positive inotropic drug for cardiac care is mandatory. Three classes of inotropic drugs are currently available, like β-adrenergic agonists (especially dobutamine), phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors (such as milrinone) and Ca sensitizers (levosimendan). The mechanisms of action of these drugs, and important issues re...

BACKGROUND The Australian cushion bush (Leucophyta brownii) of the Compositae family of plants has become a popular pot and container plant. The plant produces the sesquiterpene lactone allergen calocephalin. OBJECTIVES To assess the sensitizing potential of sesquiterpene lactones from cushion bush. PATIENTS/MATERIALS/METHODS Eleven Compositae-sensitive patients were patch tested with seven...

A series of novel bistriphenylamine-based organic sensitizers (coded as RC-dyes) with high molar extinction coefficients (.5.0 6 10 M cm) have been synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). By changing the length of the p-conjugation bridge thiophene from zero to two between the donor and the acceptor part, the range of absorption and its corresponding photon-to-current conversion was...