Collagenases are useful in enzymatic wound debridement. Clostridial collagenase, marketed as Collagenase Santyl Ointment (CSO), is FDA approved for such use. Building on the scientific premise that collagenases as well as collagen degradation products may regulate immune cell function, we sought to investigate the potential role of CSO in wound inflammation. We tested the hypothesis that in addition to enacting debridement, CSO contributes to the resolution of persistent wound inflammation. Wound macrophages were isolated from PVA sponges loaded with CSO or petrolatum and implanted in mice. Significant increase in pro-reparative and decrease in pro-inflammatory polarization was noted in macrophages of acute as well as diabetic wounds. Wound macrophages from CSO-treated group displayed increased production of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β, and decreased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β. The active ingredient of CSO, CS-API, induced the expression of mϕheal /M(IL-4) polarization markers ex vivo. CS-API treatment attenuated transactivation of NF-κB and significantly induced STAT6 phosphorylation. A significant role of a novel PGE2-EP4 pathway in CS-API induced STAT6 activation and the mϕheal /M(IL-4) polarization was identified. Taken together, findings of this work reposition CSO as a potential agent that may be effective in resolving wound inflammation, including diabetic wounds.
This paper summarizes a national representative survey of 1,000 employers about the impact of traffic congestion on their business activities. About one third of those surveyed viewed traffic congestion as a moderate or major problem. Most surveyed believed that traffic congestion had increased in the past 5 years. Most employers received or shipped materials regularly, required some workers to drive on the job, and hosted customers. The average employer handled about 28 shipments per week, but large employers often handled several hundred per week. About 12% of shipments were thought to be delayed by local traffic congestion, which cost about $5.3 billion nationally in annual lost time. Some workers drove regularly as part of their jobs; this task amounted to about 23 billion hours nationally in annual transit. About 16% reported congestion delays, which totaled 3.8 billion hours annually and cost about $76 billion, estimates that were similar to those for commuter delay. To reduce these impacts, employers used e-mail, third-party carriers, consolidated shipments, driver assistance, flexibility in work and meeting schedules, and work at home days. Few employers provided transit passes. Access was a key, valued feature of location, and employers deemed it the top advantage of current sites. Only 16% of employers reported that they would consider relocation. However, of those employers that had experienced major congestion problems, 27% had considered relocation, and so had 75% of smaller employers whose workers drove extensively on the job. The study concluded that the impact of traffic congestion on employers was substantial and similar to that on commuters. As an often overlooked dimension of congestion, the impact of traffic congestion on employers needs more attention in transportation plans.
A study on the genesis of dairy based farmer producer companies was carried out in five companies of Kerala. From each company 24 members were randomly selected. Reasons behind the formation of company were analyzed statistically. The study revealed that 96.66 percent of respondents viewed better price realization through direct sale of farm produce by eliminating middleman as the foremost reason of company formation followed by availability of farm inputs at reasonable rate (90.83%) and benefits from various government schemes (90.83%) through producer company. Other important reasons were upgraded technology, reducing risk in farming, upliftment of women, value addition, capacity building and storage facility.
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