E. Ferretti¹

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.6, No.3, pp. 227-244, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmes.2004.006.227

Abstract Defining the crack path in brittle and non-brittle crack is not easy, due to several unknowns. If the direction of crack propagation can be computed by means of one of the existing criteria, it is not known whether this direction will remain constant during crack propagation. A crack initiation leads to an enhanced stress field at crack tip. During propagation, the enhanced tip stress field propagates into the solid, locally interacting with the pre-existing stress field. This interaction can lead to modifications of the propagation direction, depending on the domain and crack geometry. Moreover, trajectory… More >

D. P. Ghosh¹, S. Gopalakrishnan²

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.1, No.3, pp. 213-228, 2004, DOI:10.3970/cmc.2004.001.213

Abstract Anhysteretic, coupled, linear and nonlinear constitutive relationship for magnetostrictive material is studied in this paper. Constitutive relationships of magnetostrictive material are represented through two equations, one for actuation and other for sensing, both of which are coupled through magneto-mechanical coefficient. Coupled model is studied without assuming any explicit direct relationship with magnetic field. In linear-coupled model, which is assumed to preserve the magnetic flux line continuity, the elastic modulus, the permeability and magneto-elastic constant are assumed as constant. In nonlinear-coupled model, the nonlinearity is decoupled and solved separately for the magnetic domain and mechanical domain More >

Diane Damotte^1,3, Claire Goulvestre², Jeannine Charreire², Claude Carnaud¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 52-59, 2003

Abstract Although adjuvants are essential for the initiation of experimental autoimmune diseases, their precise contribution to the pathological manifestations is still poorly understood. Experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) is interesting in that respect because it can be initiated with the help of two different adjuvants — Freund’s complete or LPS — which may initiate independent pathogenic pathways. In the present study, we have compared Freund’s-induced versus LPS-induced EAT with respect to their dependence upon CD8⁺ T cells, which are considered as major actors in the pathogenesis of thyroiditis. Our results reveal that whereas CD8+ T cells are mandatory More >

Stéphane Bécart, Katia Boniface, Marie Cherrier, Olivia Lanvin, Valérie Soulard, Frédéric Toulza

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 115-119, 2003

Abstract The annual meeting of the Société Française d‘immunologie (SFI) took place in Strasbourg 27‐29th November 2002. The following is a brief synopsis of the key points from presentations in the plenary sessions and symposia, and demonstrates the diversity of subjects addressed in the course of this conference. More >

John K. A. Tetteh¹, Mark M. Addae¹, Naruhiko Ishiwada², Sena M. Yempewu¹, Shinya Yamaguchi¹, David Ofori-Adjei¹, Hitoshi Kamiya⁴, Yoshihiro Komada³, Bartholomew D. Akanmori^1,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 109-113, 2003

Abstract To understand the pathogenesis of vaccine-modified measles (VMM), we measured plasma levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 (Th1 cytokines), IL-4 and IL-10 (Th2 cytokines), IL-12, TNF-α and TGF-β1 in children with uncomplicated measles, who had anti-measles IgG antibodies and with a history of immunization on admission (day 0), day 14 and day 60. We compared these to levels in healthy, age-matched, immunized children. Plasma levels of IFN-γ, IL-2 and IL-12 were significantly higher in VMM patients on day 0 compared to healthy controls (p = 0.023; p = 0.018; p = 0.001) respectively. In contrast, plasma… More >

Paolo Ruggiero^1,*, Silvio Flati², Vito Di Cioccio¹, Giovanni Maurizi², Giovanni Macchia¹, Alberto Facchin¹, Roberto Anacardio¹, Antonio Maras³, Marilena Lucarelli⁴, Diana Boraschi⁴

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 91-96, 2003

Abstract The human chemokine CCL2 gene was expressed in the yeast P.pastoris and gave rise to a mixture of differently glycosylated recombinant proteins. In comparison to non-glycosylated E.coli-derived CCL2, glycosylated yeast CCL2L was 4-20 times less active in a chemotactic assay in vitro. However, CCL2L could maintain full activity upon prolonged incubation at 37°C, whereas the non-glycosylated chemokine readily lost activity. It could be hypothesized that glycosylation is a mechanism used by the organism to modulate CCL2 stability. The partial loss of specific activity due to glycosylation is balanced by the advantage of prolonging the effectiveness of More >

Caroline Diveu, Anne-Hélène Lagrue Lak-Hal, Hugues Gascan

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 195-197, 2003

Abstract Auteur(s) : Caroline Diveu, Anne-Hélène Lagrue Lak-Hal and Hugues Gascan INSERM U564, CHU, 4, rue Larrey, 49033 Angers Cedex 01, France In May of this year, the annual cytokine meeting, organized by the French Society of Immunology, was held for the third time, in Le Croisic on the coast of Brittany. Current events involving cytokines, relationships between cytokines and tumors, cytokines in immune deficiency, IRFs and STATs in the signal transduction and cytokines in TH1/TH2 responses were [...] More >

Dariusz P. Olszyna^1,2, Annelies Verbon², John P. Pribble³, Terence Turner³, Tim Axtelle³, Sander J. H. van Deventer¹, Tom van der Poll^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 158-162, 2003

Abstract To determine the role of CD14 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of chemokines, 16 humans were injected with LPS (4 ng/kg) preceded (– 2 h) by intravenous IC14, an anti-human CD14 monoclonal antibody, or placebo. LPS elicited increases in interleukin (IL)-8 concentrations in plasma and in lysates of red blood cell (RBC), polymorphonuclear cell and mononuclear cell fractions, which were all reduced by IC14. LPS also induced rises in the plasma and RBC levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, which were diminished by IC14. Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1a and MIP-1β, chemokines that in contrast to IL-8 More >

A. Veronica Araya¹, Violeta Pavez², Claudio Perez³, Fermin Gonzalez³, Alicia Colombo³, Adam Aguirre³, Irene Schiattino⁴, Juan C. Aguillón³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 128-133, 2003

Abstract Several studies have demonstrated that diabetes is a risk factor for developing periodontal disease, increasing its prevalence and severity. Furthermore, periodontitis may impair the metabolic control and adequate treatment of diabetic patients. LPS from Gram-negative bacteria penetrates the periodontal tissues and subsequently recruits and activates immune cells. Progression to severe periodontitis with loss of supporting structures is mediated by several factors, including secretion of a broad spectrum of inflammatory and destructive mediators such as cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), chemokines (IL-8) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂).
The aim of this work is to investigate differences in the… More >

Saadou Issifou¹, Elie Mavoungou^1,2, Steffen Borrmann^1,2, Marielle K. Bouyou-Akotet¹, Pierre-Blaise Matsiegui^1,2, Peter G. Kremsner^1,2, Francine Ntoumi^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 238-241, 2003

Abstract To investigate if severe malarial anemia is associated with specific cytokine overproduction, we evaluated serum levels of soluble Fas ligand (sFasL), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) from three groups of young children with Plasmodium falciparum infection (asymptomatic cases, uncomplicated malaria cases and severe malarial anemia cases), in a hyperendemic area of Gabon. In uncomplicated cases, only TNF levels were significantly (p < 0.001) increased in comparison to asymptomatic cases with P. falciparum infection. High levels of sFasL, TNF-α and IL-10 were associated with low hemoglobin concentrations, sFasL levels were significantly higher in children with severe More >