University of Coimbra

About: University of Coimbra is a education organization based out in Coimbra, Portugal. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 14318 authors who have published 43067 publications receiving 994733 citations. The organization is also known as: UC & Universidade dos Estudos Gerais.

Limits on spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon cross sections from the XENON10 experiment.

Abstract: XENON10 is an experiment to directly detect weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), which may comprise the bulk of the nonbaryonic dark matter in our Universe. We report new results for spin-dependent WIMP-nucleon interactions with 129Xe and 131Xe from 58.6 live days of operation at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso. Based on the nonobservation of a WIMP signal in 5.4 kg of fiducial liquid xenon mass, we exclude previously unexplored regions in the theoretically allowed parameter space for neutralinos. We also exclude a heavy Majorana neutrino with a mass in the range of approximately 10 GeV/c2-2 TeV/c2 as a dark matter candidate under standard assumptions for its density and distribution in the galactic halo.

European contribution to the study of ROS : a summary of the findings and prospects for the future from the COST action BM1203 (EU-ROS)

Abstract: The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) provides an ideal framework to establish multi-disciplinary research networks COST Action BM1203 (EU-ROS) represents a consortium of researchers from different disciplines who are dedicated to providing new insights and tools for better understanding redox biology and medicine and, in the long run, to finding new therapeutic strategies to target dysregulated redox processes in various diseases This report highlights the major achievements of EU-ROS as well as research updates and new perspectives arising from its members The EU-ROS consortium comprised more than 140 active members who worked together for four years on the topics briefly described below The formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is an established hallmark of our aerobic environment and metabolism but RONS also act as messengers via redox regulation of essential cellular processes The fact that many diseases have been found to be associated with oxidative stress established the theory of oxidative stress as a trigger of diseases that can be corrected by antioxidant therapy However, while experimental studies support this thesis, clinical studies still generate controversial results, due to complex pathophysiology of oxidative stress in humans For future improvement of antioxidant therapy and better understanding of redox-associated disease progression detailed knowledge on the sources and targets of RONS formation and discrimination of their detrimental or beneficial roles is required In order to advance this important area of biology and medicine, highly synergistic approaches combining a variety of diverse and contrasting disciplines are needed

The inflammatory response in mild and in severe psoriasis

Abstract: Summary Background Psoriasis is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disease. The inflammatory response represents a fundamental ability of the organism to protect itself from infectious agents and from injury. Objectives To evaluate the inflammatory response in mild and in severe psoriasis, to evaluate the endogenous systems counterbalancing the deleterious effects of the inflammation products, and to establish values of prognostic significance. Methods The study was performed in a control group (n = 40) and in 60 patients with psoriasis vulgaris, half presenting with mild psoriasis, and the other half with severe psoriasis. We evaluated total and differential leucocyte count; elastase, lactoferrin and lipid peroxidation as markers of neutrophil activation; total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAS), transferrin, ceruloplasmin, α1-antitrypsin and α2-macroglobulin as markers of the endogenous antioxidant and antiprotease systems; and fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin, C3 and C4 complement proteins as markers of inflammation. Results Our data suggested that psoriasis is an inflammatory condition in which neutrophils seem to play a crucial role by contributing to the development of oxidative and proteolytic stress. The worsening of the disease seemed to be linked to the enhancement of the inflammatory response and of the imbalance between neutrophil activation products and their inhibitors. Conclusions We propose values for elastase, CRP, elastase/α2-macroglobulin, elastase/α1-antitrypsin, thiobarbituric acid/TAS and elastase/neutrophil ratios with prognostic significance for the worsening of psoriasis.

Cationic liposomes for gene delivery.

Abstract: Cationic liposome-DNA complexes (lipoplexes) constitute a potentially viable alternative to viral vectors for the delivery of therapeutic genes. This review will focus on various parameters governing lipoplex biological activity, from their mode of formation to in vivo behaviour. Particular emphasis is given to the mechanism of interaction of lipoplexes with cells, in an attempt to dissect the different barriers that need to be surpassed for efficient gene expression to occur. Aspects related to new trends in the formulation of lipid-based gene delivery systems aiming at overcoming some of their limitations will be covered. Finally, examples illustrating the potential of cationic liposomes in clinical applications will be provided.