1 Although carcinoma was unlikely in this 23-year-old man with a

1 Although carcinoma was unlikely in this 23-year-old man with a 2-year history of colon disease, endoscopic findings were strongly suggestive of malignancy and so extended right hemicolectomy selleck kinase inhibitor was performed. Giant inflammatory polyposis is broadly considered a benign

entity.5 In our literature review, we found only one reported case of an occult carcinoma8 and another with dysplasia9 arising in localized GIP. As most patients present with obstructive symptoms, surgery is usually the first approach. However, nonsurgical management may be an option. There is a case report of a rectal GIP successfully treated with budesonide.10 Initial proper diagnosis and familiarization IWR-1 chemical structure with this entity may allow medical treatment with steroids.11 We truly recognize that further studies on medical treatment are required. Six months after surgery, our patient had no colon lesions and was symptom free. Although some authors advocate that residual disease may predict potential recurrence,7 we suggest an individualized

approach on long-term follow-up. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. “
“Desde a primeira descrição da neoplasia do ducto pancreático principal produtor de muco por Ohashi et al.1 em 1982, o reconhecimento de lesões similares aumentou de forma notória. Com diferentes terminologias ao longo do tempo, é somente em 1996 que a World Health Organization veio uniformizar os conceitos, designando esta patologia como neoplasia mucinosa papilar intraductal (NMPI) que,

juntamente com as neoplasias quísticas mucinosas (NQM), fariam parte das neoplasias pancreáticas quísticas produtoras de mucina 2. De facto, a compreensão desta entidade como patologia bem definida e o aumento da realização de exames imagiológicos abdominais de alta resolução levaram ao aumento da identificação de novos casos sendo atualmente, em alguns centros cirúrgicos, a segunda principal indicação para cirurgias pancreáticas logo atrás do adenocarcinoma ductal pancreático 3 and 4. As NMPI são caracterizadas pela proliferação do epitélio ductal pancreático, frequentemente de aspeto this website papilar, com hipersecreção de mucina e consequente dilatação quística do ducto principal e/ou seus ramos secundários, sem evidência contudo de estroma tipo ovárico característico das NQM5. Estas são consideradas lesões pré-malignas, podendo apresentar diferentes graus de atipia cito-arquitetural: lesões benignas (adenoma/baixo grau de displasia), borderline (displasia moderada) e malignas (carcinoma in situ/displasia de alto grau ou carcinoma invasivo) 5 and 6. Topograficamente, estas lesões subdividem-se em NMPI do ducto principal (20%), ramos secundários (40%) ou mistos (40%), dependendo dos ductos envolvidos 7.

1) The NSTCC is typically located at 24°N extending from 130°E t

1). The NSTCC is typically located at 24°N extending from 130°E to 160°W, shifting slightly north towards the east. The HLCC extends from about 150°E to approximately 160°W and is centered

at about 20°N (Kobashi and Kawamura, 2002). The month of minima for TA and ΩTA occurs in August–September as the easterly transport of the NSTCC weakens, and in January to May as the HLCC flow weakens (Kobashi and Kawamura, 2002). In the Southern Hemisphere, values of ΩTA are minimum from January to March, corresponding to times of lower TA. Over this period, seasonal precipitation tends to be greatest (Bingham et al., 2010) and the westward flow of SEC waters, which have high TA, is weakest (Johnson et al., 2002). Both processes are expected to result in lower TA values in the January to March period. The upwelling in the CEP is also weak over the same period, and less CFTR activator high TA water from below the mixed layers will be upwelled during these months. Further west in the SECC, the months of TA and ΩTA minima correlate with the austral summer (December–February) when high precipitation (Brown et al., 2010) will lower surface salinity and TA (Eq. (2)). As shown in the following sections, TCO2 Selleckchem PARP inhibitor is a major driver in Ωar variability throughout the region. The ΩTCO2 values are low in winter months when surface TCO2 is higher due to deeper mixed layers, potentially greater net respiration in some regions (Ishii et al., 2001)

or lower net primary production (Behrenfeld et al., 2005), and possibly the advection of CO2 rich waters into a region. Values of ΩTCO2 vary by more than 0.3 in the equatorial zone and in the subtropical gyres where the seasonal variability of TCO2 is greater than 20 μmol kg− 1. For the remainder of the study area, seasonal changes of less than 20 μmol kg− 1 occur in TCO2 in the WPWP, SECC and NECC and result in seasonal changes of less than 0.3 ΩTCO2. These are regions of relatively low wind

and high precipitation that contribute to low salinity surface and a thickening Epothilone B (EPO906, Patupilone) of the barrier layer, inhibiting the exchange of CO2 between the deep and surface oceans (Ishii et al., 2001). We now describe and discuss the relative contribution of TCO2, TA, SST and SAL changes to the seasonal Ωar variability in the Pacific sub-regions of 1) WPWP and NECC, 2) the CEP, and 3) the SEC. This sensitivity analysis uses Eq. (3) with plots for each subregion shown in Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10 and Fig. 11. The variabilities of TCO2 and TA, and SST and SAL are paired for scaling convenience and shown in the top and middle panels respectively. These are calculated as the deviation of the monthly average values from the annual mean of each parameter. The sensitivity of Ωar to the respective parameter variability is shown in the bottom panel. The variability in Ωar relative to the annual mean is low in the WPWP (± 0.04, Fig. 8) and in the NECC (± 0.06, Fig. 9) subregions.

The format is based on the industry standard XML markup language

The format is based on the industry standard XML markup language and benefits from the existence of standard validation, generation and parsing tools in all major programming languages. It is our hope that it would facilitate

the storage and exchange of spin system data, particularly with the recently created protein-scale simulation tools [17]. The associated graphical user interface provides a user-friendly way of setting up complicated spin systems as well as a convenient way of importing magnetic interaction data from electronic structure theory packages. We are grateful to Alice Bowen, Marina Carravetta, Jean-Nicolas Dumez, Luke Edwards, Robin Harris, Paul Hodgkinson, Peter Hore, Edmund Howard, Malcolm Levitt, Ivan Maximov, Niels Christian Nielsen, Konstantin Pervushin, Giuseppe Pileio, Vadim Slynko, Christiane Timmel, Zdenek Tosner, and Thomas Vosegaard for useful feedback BLZ945 cost during SpinXML and GUI development. This project is supported by EPSRC (EP/F065205/1, EP/H003789/1). “
“Ultrashort echo time (UTE) [1] imaging is a valuable technique for imaging short this website T2 and T2* samples, however, its implementation is challenging and acquisition times can be long.

Although the UTE pulse sequence is simple in theory, successful implementation requires accurate timing and a detailed understanding of the hardware performance [2]. This paper outlines a method to implement and optimize UTE to achieve accurate slice selection. The pulse sequence is also combined with compressed sensing (CS) [3] to reduce the acquisition time and potentially enable the study of dynamic systems. UTE imaging was introduced to enable imaging of tissues

in the body Parvulin with short T2 materials [1]. UTE has been used to study cartilage, cortical bone, tendons, knee meniscus and other rigid materials that would produce little or no signal from conventional imaging techniques [4], [5], [6], [7] and [8]. However, few studies have been shown outside of medical imaging, despite widespread interest in short T2 and T2* materials. Many materials of interest in science or engineering applications will present short T2 and T2* relaxation times due to heterogeneity. These systems could include chemical reactors, plants in soil, shale rock, or polymeric materials. In a polymer network the T2* can range from the order of 10 μs to 1 ms depending on the rigidity of the network [9]. The other systems present similarly short relaxation times. Thus, UTE will open new possibilities for studying a range of materials outside of the medical field. Chemical reactors, such as fluidized beds [10] and [11], are particularly challenging to study as they are dynamic and thus require short acquisition times.

The locations of the peaks and the angular

spreading are

The locations of the peaks and the angular

spreading are the following functions of the frequency ω equation(28) θm1(ω)={7.50forω<ωp12exp[5.453−2.75(ωωp)−1]forω≥ωpand equation(29) σθ(ω)={11.38+5.357(ωωp)−7.929forω<ωp32.13−15.39(ωωp)−2forω≥ωp. Ewans & van der selleck inhibitor Vlugt (1999) discovered that the bimodality of the directional spectrum is also visible for the wave conditions occurring during tropical cyclones. Such sea states consist largely of a cyclone-generated swell component and a local wind sea. Following Kuik et al. (1988), they defined the so-called unimodal/bimodal parameter, which is a function of the skewness and kurtosis of the directional distribution. Using the data from the wave buoy deployed south-west of the North Rankin A platform, approximately 123 km off the north-west coast of Australia, they found that the bimodal directional distribution is associated particularly with the more energetic sea states prevailing during tropical cyclones. When the significant wave height is below 2 m, the contribution of the bimodal sea states to the total variance is somewhat less than 60 percent. In the region of the peak frequency of the spectrum, the components

are generally unimodal, and the number of bimodal distributions increases at frequencies both above and below the peak frequencies. A similar directional spreading was observed by Young et al. (1995) during experiments on Lake George, Australia. The lake has a depth of 2 m, and the reported waves were in the range 1.7 ZD1839 < U10/Cp < 3. Directional spreading was narrowest in the before region of the spectral peak ωp and broadened at frequencies both higher and lower than ωp. At frequencies of approximately ω > 2ωp, the spreading

function develops into a bimodal form. The existence of the bimodal directional form was supported by Banner & Young’s (1994) theoretical analysis, in which the full solution of the nonlinear spectral energy balance equation indicates that directional spreading in the high frequency region is controlled by the non-linear spectral transfer of energy through wave-wave interactions. Note that Ewans’ (1998) results showed no dependence of the bi-modal distribution parameters on wave age. This means that the bimodal directional distribution is an invariant property of the wind-generated wave field. Wang & Hwang (2001) supported this conclusion, stating that directional biomodality is a very robust feature also occurring in waves generated by an unsteady wind in both deep and shallow waters, and that the frequency parameters of the bimodal directional distribution are invariant with respect to wave age during the transient wave growth period.

1 μg kg−1 body weight day−1, which translates to 1 μg g−1 in hair

1 μg kg−1 body weight day−1, which translates to 1 μg g−1 in hair ([39], [15] and [16]), to the recommendation of the World Health Organization

of 20 μg g−1 in hair [40]. The statistical models used are simplified representations, and describe possible associations between the dependent variable ([THg]) and the independent variables (BMI, exposure to tobacco smoke, ingestion of fish) with a probabilistic component, which involves the inclusion of variability due to unknown random factors [27] and [30]. Although the ingestion of fish seems to be the main variable that participates in the explanation of [THg] in the hair of the women in BCS, through multi-variable analysis, a possible association with other factors was identified. The co-variables adjusting the [THg] in the model were BMI, fish consumption (never and once a month), and tobacco exposure (passive exposure) (Table Ganetespib 4). Although, there is no relationship between [THg] and smoking status (Table 2), when developing the generalized linear models, exposure to tobacco smoke adjusts the model in conjunction with fish consumption and BMI in 43% of the explained [THg] in hair. Tobacco exposure is positively related to [THg] in hair, especially in the passive exposure. A similar situation

was previously reported in Spanish children [41], in which a decrease in [THg] related to BMI was reported. The outcomes of this study, namely passive smoking contributing to hair [THg] with no

influence from smoking status, parallel the results of Park et al. [42]. Possible explanations for Selleck Metformin this are the contribution of heavy metals in the smoke impregnating the hair of the passive smoker, and/or activation of detoxification processes [cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferase, for further discussion see Gaxiola-Robles et al. [29]; Gaxiola-Robles et al. [1]] in those women who do smoke. The combined findings indicate that BMI interacts with heavy metal toxicants in a manner that may alter toxicodynamics within the body that reduces [THg] in hair [42] and [43]. In addition, there is likely an interaction between BMI and/or tobacco exposure that requires further investigation related to [THg] in hair that is independent of fish consumption. Therefore, the actual [THg] associated NADPH-cytochrome-c2 reductase to frequency of fish intake may be lower than initially assumed because of possible BMI and tobacco physiologically-based interactions. The data from this study suggest that the ingestion of fish is a key factor, along with smoke exposure and BMI, in determining [THg] in hair of pregnant women. Nevertheless, there are other factors which were not analyzed, but which might be related to the results reported in this study. These include those cited in the literature: beauty products such as creams to lighten the skin tone, hair dyes, home remedies, and dental fillings with amalgam, among many others [5].

The biomarker signature of 200 genes with the most discriminatory

The biomarker signature of 200 genes with the most discriminatory power to separate between skin sensitisers and non-sensitisers was obtained by employing an algorithm for backward elimination (Johansson et al., 2011). To test a substance, cells are treated for 24 h with a maximum concentration of 500 μM for highly soluble Proteases inhibitor non-toxic substances or a concentration yielding 90% viability for toxic substances as measured with PI. Following cell stimulation, the transcriptional levels of the 200 genes, collectively termed the predictive biomarker signature, is evaluated using a whole genome array (Johansson et al., 2013). Classifications of unknown compounds as sensitisers or non-sensitisers are performed www.selleckchem.com/products/MK-2206.html with

a support vector machine (SVM) model, trained on the 38 reference chemicals used for GARD development, and the output is a decision value as compared to the classification threshold. Key event 3 is covered with this test method. SensiDerm™ aims to discriminate sensitisers and non-sensitisers based

on pathway-specific biomarker proteins induced in the MUTZ-3 cell line. The biomarker panel comprises the following ten proteins which have been shown to be differentially expressed in MUTZ-3 cells in response to sensitisers compared to non-sensitisers during the assay development: glucose-6-phosphate-1-dehydrogenase, 6-phosphoglucote dehydrogenase, heat shock protein A8, myeloperoxidase (light/heavy chain), S100A4 protein,

S100A8 protein, S100A9 protein, 4F2 cell surface antigen heavy chain, superoxide dismutase, thymosin beta-4-like protein. MUTZ-3 cells are exposed to non-toxic concentrations (>80% viability) of the test substance for 24 h with a maximum concentration of 100 μg/mL. The cellular proteins are then extracted and analysed by mass spectrometry procedure based on selective reaction monitoring. The results of Idelalisib the tests are provided as a ratio of protein expression between the exposed cells and cells grown in a control medium, which is then subjected to a polynomial model that provides a score with a threshold to discriminate sensitisers from non-sensitisers (Thierse et al., 2011). This method addresses key event 3 in the skin sensitisation AOP. In order to obtain a common data set for all test methods, ten substances were selected (see Table 2 for identities). The chemicals were purchased from Sigma–Aldrich with at least 95% purity, with the exception of Lactic acid (approx. 90%), then coded and distributed to the test method developers by Cosmetics Europe. They comprised three non-sensitisers including SLS, which is positive in the LLNA, and seven sensitisers covering all sensitiser potency classes as defined by the LLNA (1 weak, 3 moderate, 2 strong, 1 extreme) including the poorly water-soluble lauryl gallate as a specifically challenging substance. Test methods developed by member companies of Cosmetics Europe (i.e.

C 3 1 1 4) are regarded as one of the most important protein cla

C. 3.1.1.4) are regarded as one of the most important protein classes. PLA2s are enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of 2-acyl ester bonds of 3-sn-phospholipids producing fatty acids and lysophospholipids ( Gutiérrez and Lomonte, 1997). In addition to their catalytic role, they show a wide variety of pharmacological activities, such as neurotoxicity, myotoxicity, anticoagulant and cardiotoxicity ( de Paula et al., 2009). An analysis of the B. jararacussu venom gland transcriptome

showed that 35% of transcripts are PLA2s with 83% encoding BthTX-I (Bothropstoxin-I, a basic Lys49-PLA2), 8% BthTX-II (Bothropstoxin-II, a basic Asp49-PLA2) and 9% BthA-I (Acidic Asp49-PLA2) ( Kashima et al., 2004). A large number of PLA2s have been purified, characterized and several three dimensional structures have been solved for PLA2s from the Bothrops genus http://www.selleckchem.com/products/Rapamycin.html (revised by Stábeli et al., 2012). Correlative studies have been performed with the predicted structures to understand the sites of pharmacological activity ( Soares et al., 2001, Lomonte et al., 2003, Soares and Giglio, 2003, Murakami et al., 2007, Montecucco et al., 2008 and Teixeira et al., 2011). The PLA2s as a family are intriguing because despite the significant sequence and structural BMS-354825 manufacturer similarities between members, they present a diverse spectrum of activities, which may or may not be related to their

primary catalytic activity ( Higuchi et al., 2007 and Tsai et al., 2007). This diverse pharmacological profile is suggested to have been acquired through evolution by a positive darwinian selection in the protein-coding exons by an accelerated evolutionary process that has resulted in many variants with diverse pharmacological effects ( Ohno et al., 1998). The superfamily of PLA2 can be divided into five principal groups of enzymes: the secreted PLA2s (sPLA2s), the cytosolic PLA2s (cPLA2s), the Ca2+-independent PLA2s (iPLA2s), the platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolases (PAF-AH) and the lysosomal PLA2s (Schaloske and Dennis, 2006). The sPLA2s are further subdivided into seventeen classifications according to their molecular mass and the number

of disulfide bonds (Schaloske and Dennis, 2006). The next snake (Viperidae) venom PLA2s (svPLA2s) are classified as GIIA, which contain seven disulfide bonds and have a molecular mass around 13–15 kDa (Schaloske and Dennis, 2006). The GIIA svPLA2s can be further subdivided into two main types according to the amino acid residue in the 49th position: Asp49-PLA2 and Lys49-PLA2 (Arni and Ward, 1996). The Asp49-PLA2s are the enzymes responsible for cellular membrane disruption through Ca2+-dependent hydrolysis of phospholipids with myotoxicity activity or not. The Lys49-PLA2s do not display catalytic activity, but can exert a pronounced and localized myotoxic effect that is not neutralized by antivenom therapy (Howard and Gundersen, 1980 and Chang, 1985). In 1911, Brazil demonstrated that the action of the B.

Such recognition provided a major thrust for further research at

Such recognition provided a major thrust for further research at the cutting edge of marine pollution and ecotoxicology research, in order to make a real and significant contribution to managing the Hong Kong marine environment, whilst extending research boundaries beyond China and to the region. The 7th Conference on Marine Pollution and Ecotoxicology aimed to advance our present understanding of global marine pollution, with the hope that such problems may be more easily solved in the future. To this end,

the meeting focused on several key areas. The first of these, climate change and marine ecosystems has, in many parts of the world, invoked controversial opinions. It is however, beyond doubt that major changes are occurring in our global

environments, which are strongly correlated http://www.selleckchem.com/products/AZD2281(Olaparib).html with temperature changes and ocean acidification. The ubiquitous worldwide occurrence of endocrine disrupting chemicals and chemicals of emerging concern and their effects on marine biota and public health, albeit at very low concentrations, have also become a major concern. Understanding the long-term effects of these chemicals, Selleck INCB024360 their environmental fates as well as controlling their disposal, is of vast importance. A thorough scientific evaluation of their toxicity and ecological risks in marine environments is urgently needed. Hypoxia and eutrophication continue to cause major changes in marine ecosystems around Ribonucleotide reductase the world, as well as considerable economic losses to

fisheries. These long standing problems may be exacerbated in the coming years due to global warming, especially in developing countries where construction of waste treatment facilities lags well behind ever-increasing population demands. Alarmingly, the number of hypoxic “dead zones” has doubled every decade, and some 400 dead zones have been found all over the world by the United Nations, including the deltas of the Yangtse and Pearl Rivers, two of the three largest estuaries in China. In recent years, there have been considerable developments in innovative technologies for pollution monitoring and control. Recent advances in a wide variety of techniques (including microarrays, gene probes, genomics, proteomics and metabolomics, flow cytometry, biomarkers, biosensors, molecular imprinting, remote sensing and telemetry) offer great promise in revolutionizing the detection of impending environmental problems. Risk assessment and management has now become a mainstay of environmental management. Indeed, since most of our concerns relate to public or ecosystem health, chemical and physical measurements must therefore be related to, or able to predict biological effects at the population level to enable the assessment and management of environmental risks.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, for spectral measurements The biologi

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, for spectral measurements. The biological part buy Anti-diabetic Compound Library of this work was supported by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India. “
“Traditional medicine system is in practice across the world since time immemorial and is still providing a source of active molecules for the treatment of various diseases. Studies have indicated that more than 40% of the population across world relies on the traditional medicine system or plants for their healthcare.1 and 2 India is represented by a very rich natural biodiversity, which offers unique and wide opportunity for drug discovery researchers. Ayurveda is one of the traditional medicinal

system followed in India which describes many plants for the treatment of different human ailments because of their medicinal properties.3 and 4 Use of medicinal plants for treating human ailments dates back to 200 BC and it has been well

recorded in Ayurveda and other systems. Our GPCR Compound Library ancestors have effectively used a number of plants not only for the treatment of several common ailments such as fever, cold, cough, but also for various bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. Many of the plant derived or originated compounds have been effectively used for the treatment of several human diseases such as malaria (chloroquine and artemisinin), and cancer (vincristine and vinblastine). The use of neem and basil plant as an antibacterial

is very well established and several compounds of interest have been isolated from these plants.5 and 6 Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are various forms of activated oxygen responsible for oxidative damage produced due to various biochemical reactions which include lipid peroxidation, oxidative DNA damage and protein oxidation PJ34 HCl and thus leading to severe damage. ROS includes various molecules such as superoxide anion radical (O−2), hydroxyl radicals (OH−) and non-free radical species such as H2O2 which are different forms of activated oxygen. These molecules impair factors responsible for cellular injury and aging process. Hence current attention has been primarily focused on natural antioxidants mainly from plant sources due to their associated health benefits.2, 7, 8 and 9 Plants comprising of flavonoids, phenolics and good number of alkaloids have been reported to possess very good antioxidant property. Screening of medicinal plants for their active components is increasing because of the acceptance of herbal medicine as an alternative form of health care and these plant extracts with novel molecules are being employed for further chemical and pharmacological investigations.10, 11, 12 and 13 Several plants have been proved to be the potential sources of natural antioxidants and are sources of compounds to neutralize the effect of ROS.

Benefits offered by PLL over other polycations include the ease a

Benefits offered by PLL over other polycations include the ease and rapid ability by which it binds with DNA, and versatility to undergo chemical modification allowing successful delivery of genes [4] and [5]. Key factors that affect polyplex uptake in DCs should be considered in regards to vaccine design. One parameter is the influence of pDNA topology. Plasmids R428 solubility dmso naturally confer to a dense compact form referred to as supercoiled (SC), whereas a single strand nick can generate an open circular (OC) conformation. Restriction digestion of the double stranded pDNA results in a linearised form [6]. Few studies have analysed the effect of pDNA topology on polyplex gene expression, with some identifying superior

reporter gene expression for SC-pDNA [6], [7] and [8]. We have previously reported DNA topology dependent uptake of polyplexes within Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) Selleck 5-Fluoracil cells [9]. However polyplex uptake and the influence of DNA topology in DCs have not been studied in great depth. This study addresses polyplex uptake within DCs to deduce whether parameters such as pDNA topology affect uptake, gene expression and DC phenotype, which are important considerations for vaccine design. The plasmid; pSVβ – 6.8 kb (Promega, Southampton,

UK) was propagated within Eschericheria coli (E. coli) DH5α cells. Plasmids were purified and quantified as previously reported by Dhanoya et al. [9]. Purified supercoiled find more (SC)-pDNA samples were both nicked and digested to generate open circular (OC) and linear topologies respectively. This method was carried out according to our protocol, previously reported in Dhanoya et al. [9]. Plasmids were bound with poly-l-lysine hydrobromide (PLL) (Sigma) of molecular weight, 9600 according to Dhanoya et al. [9]. A total volume of 100 μl was used for polyplexes prior to the addition of cells for transfection. PLL was labelled with Oregon Green 488, succinimidyl ester (Invitrogen) according to a previous study

[10]. Unbound dye was removed by spin column purification in accordance to the manufacturer’s protocol (Invitrogen). Naked pDNA was labelled via the nucleic acid fluorescent stain; TOTO-3 (Dimeric Cyanine Nucleic Acid Stains–Invitrogen) at a final concentration of 4 μM as carried out by Dhanoya et al. [9]. The fluorescent stain exhibits excitation and emission spectra of 642 and 660 nm, respectively for analysis via confocal microscopy. This study was approved by the joint University College London/University College London Hospitals National Health Service Trust Human Research Ethics Committee and written informed consent was obtained from all participants. Venous blood was sampled in heparinized tubes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained by density-gradient centrifugation using Lymphoprep (Axis-Shield). Monocytes were isolated through magnetic positive selection using CD14 MACS MicroBeads (Miltenyi Biotech) according to manufacturer’s instructions.