Life Sciences Commons^™

Prolactin And Fmri Response To Skf38393 In The Baboon, Brad D. Miller, Lauren A. Marks, Jonathan M. Koller, Blake J. Newman, G Larry Bretthorst, Kevin J. Black

Kevin J. Black, MD

Background: This study’s goal was to provide dose-response data for a dopamine agonist in the baboon using standard methods (replicate measurements at each dose, across a range of doses), as a standard against which to subsequently validate a novel pharmacological MRI (phMRI) method. Dependent variables were functional MRI (fMRI) data from brain regions selected a priori, and systemic prolactin release. Necessary first steps included estimating the magnitude and time course of prolactin response to anesthesia alone and to various doses of agonist. These first steps (“time course studies”) were performed with three agonists, and the results were used to select …

Evaluation Of Higher Plant Virus Resistance Genes In The Green Alga, Chlorella Variabilis Nc64a, During The Early Phase Of Infection With Paramecium Bursaria Chlorella Virus-1, Janet M. Rowe, David D. Dunigan, Guillaume Blanc, James R. Gurnon, Yuannan Xia, James L. Van Etten

David D Dunigan Ph. D.

With growing industrial interest in algae plus their critical roles in aquatic systems, the need to understand the effects of algal pathogens is increasing. We examined a model algal host–virus system, Chlorella variabilis NC64A and virus, PBCV-1. C. variabilis encodes 375 homologs to genes involved in RNA silencing and in response to virus infection in higher plants. Illumina RNA-Seq data showed that 325 of these homologs were expressed in healthy and early PBCV-1 infected (≤60 min) cells. For each of the RNA silencing genes to which homologs were found, mRNA transcripts were detected in healthy and infected cells. C. variabilis, …

Welcome To The Journal Of Evolution And Health, Aaron Blaisdell, Paul Jaminet, David C. Pendergrass

Aaron P Blaisdell

Welcome to the first issue of the Journal of Evolution and Health! The Journal of Evolution and Health is the peer-reviewed, open-access journal of the Ancestral Health Society, a community of scientists, healthcare professionals, and laypersons who collaborate to understand health challenges from an evolutionary perspective.

Elasmobranch Qpcr Reference Genes: A Case Study Of Hypoxia Preconditioned Epaulette Sharks, Kalle T. Rytkönen, Gillian M. C. Renshaw, Kevin J. Ashton, Grant Williams-Pritchard, Erica H. Leder, Mikko Nikinmaa

Kevin Ashton

Background: Elasmobranch fishes are an ancient group of vertebrates which have high potential as model species for research into evolutionary physiology and genomics. However, no comparative studies have established suitable reference genes for quantitative PCR (qPCR) in elasmobranchs for any physiological conditions. Oxygen availability has been a major force shaping the physiological evolution of vertebrates, especially fishes. Here we examined the suitability of 9 reference candidates from various functional categories after a single hypoxic insult or after hypoxia preconditioning in epaulette shark (Hemiscyllium ocellatum).Results: Epaulette sharks were caught and exposed to hypoxia. Tissues were collected from 10 controls, 10 individuals …

Long-Lasting Attenuation Of Amygdala-Kindled Seizures After Convection-Enhanced Delivery Of Botulinum Neurotoxins A And B Into The Amygdala In Rats, Maciej Gasior, Rebecca Tang, Michael A. Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are well recognized to cause potent, selective and long-lasting neuroparalytic actions by blocking cholinergic neurotransmission to muscles and glands. There is evidence that BoNT isoforms can also inhibit neurotransmission in the brain. Here we examined whether locally delivered BoNT/A and BoNT/B can attenuate kindling measures in amygdala-kindled rats. Male rats were implanted with a combination infusion cannula-stimulating electrode assembly into the right basolateral amygdala. Fully-kindled animals received a single infusion of vehicle or BoNT/A or BoNT/B at doses of 1, 3.2, or 10 ng over a 20-min period by convection enhanced delivery (CED). Electrographic (EEG) and behavioral …

Human Monoclonal Antibodies Directed Against Toxins A And B Prevent Clostridium Difficile-Induced Mortality In Hamsters, Gregory Babcock, Teresa Broering, Hector Hernandez, Robert Mandell, Katherine Donahue, Naomi Boatright, Anne Stack, Israel Lowy, Robert Graziano, Deborah Molrine, Donna Ambrosino, William Thomas

William D Thomas Jr

Clostridium difficile is the leading cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and recent outbreaks of strains with increased virulence underscore the importance of identifying novel approaches to treat and prevent relapse of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). CDAD pathology is induced by two exotoxins, toxin A and toxin B, which have been shown to be cytotoxic and, in the case of toxin A, enterotoxic. In this report we describe fully human monoclonal antibodies (HuMAbs) that neutralize these toxins and prevent disease in hamsters. Transgenic mice carrying human immunoglobulin genes were used to isolate HuMAbs that neutralize the cytotoxic effects of either toxin …

Kisspeptin Receptor Agonist (Ftm080) Increased Plasma Concentrations Of Luteinizing Hormone In Anestrous Ewes, Brian K. Whitlock, Kelly A. Chameroy, Rebecca R. Payton, Shinya Oishi, Nobutaka Fujii, Joseph A. Daniel

Brian K Whitlock, PhD, DVM, DACT

Kisspeptin (KP) and the KP receptor (Kiss1r) are integral to central regulation of the gonadotropic-axis. The demonstration that intravenous infusion of KP can stimulate gonadotropin secretion and ovulation in seasonally anestrous female sheep offers a means of manipulating the reproductive axis. However, KP may be of limited clinical use because of the short circulating half-life. Kiss1r agonists with increased half-life and similar efficacy to KP in vitro potentially may provide beneficial applications in breeding management of many species. However, many of these agonists have not been tested in vivo. This study was designed to test and compare the effects of …

Effect Of Meloxicam On Gain And Inflammatory Response Of Calves Castrated By Banding Post-Weaning, Brian K. Whitlock, Peter D. Krawczel, Jeff A. Carroll, Nicole C. Burdick Sanchez, Jeff W. Dailey, Joseph A. Daniel, Johann F. Coetzee

Brian K Whitlock, PhD, DVM, DACT

Castration may detrimentally affect the health and performance of weaned calves, and painful procedures are increasingly becoming a public concern. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of castration (by banding) with or without administration of meloxicam, a non-steroid anti-inflammatory, on performance and inflammatory response in weaned beef calves. Forty-eight (weaned) beef calves [10.0±0.2 mo old; 304±6 kg BW] were blocked by age, BW, wither height, scrotal circumference, and source, then randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments (n=16 calves per treatment: 1) intact bulls (BULL), 2) castration by banding (BAN), or 3) castration by banding with …

Effect Of Meloxicam On Gain And Behavior Of Calves Castrated By Banding Pre-Weaning, Joseph A. Daniel, Peter D. Krawczel, Brian K. Whitlock

Brian K Whitlock, PhD, DVM, DACT

The objective was to determine if oral meloxicam (M; a non-steroid anti-inflammatory) administered at castration of pre-weaning calves affected ADG or behavior. Prior to castration (14 d), Angus bulls were assigned to bull (BULL; n = 7; age 106 ± 6 d; BW = 174.2 ±7.7 kg; scrotal circumference 17.7 ± 0.4 cm), castrated (BAN; n = 12; age = 105 ± 5 d; BW = 144.5 ± 7.6 kg; scrotal circumference = 16 ± 0.4 cm) or castrated with meloxicam (BAN+M; n = 13; age = 121 ± 6 d; BW = 145.8 ± 6 kg; scrotal circumference = …

Meloxicam Mediates Short-Term Behavioral Changes Of Castrated Calves, Peter D. Krawczel, Jeff A. Carroll, Nicole C. Burdick Sanchez, Jeff W. Dailey, Joseph A. Daniel, Johann F. Coetzee, Brian K. Whitlock

Brian K Whitlock, PhD, DVM, DACT

Castration may detrimentally affect the health and performance of weaned calves and painful procedures are increasingly a public concern. Therefore, practical pain mitigation is critical. The objective was to determine the effects of castration (by banding) with or without administration of NSAID, meloxicam, on the behavior of weaned beef calves. Forty-eight (56 d post-weaning) beef calves [10.0 ± 0.2 (mean ± SE) mo old; 304 ± 6 kg BW] were blocked by multiple factors then randomly assigned to 3 treatments (n = 16 calves per treatment: 1) intact bulls (BULL), 2) castration by banding (BAN), or 3) castration by banding …

Encyclopedia Of Animal Behavior, A. Payne, P. Starks, Aviva Liebert

Aviva E Liebert

The Encyclopedia of Animal Behavior has engaged-with great success-the efforts of many of the best behavioral biologists of the 21st century. Section editors drawn from the most accomplished behavioral scientists of their generation have enrolled an international cast of highly respected thinkers and writers-all of whom have taken great care and joy in illuminating every imaginable corner of animal behavior. This comprehensive work covers not only the usual topics such as communication, learning, sexual selection, navigation, and the history of the field, but also emerging topics in cognition, animal welfare, conservation, and applications of animal behavior. The large section on …

Global Analysis Of Gene Expression Changes During Retinoic Acid-Induced Growth Arrest And Differentiation Of Melanoma: Comparison To Differentially Expressed Genes In Melanocytes Vs Melanoma, Mary H. Estler, Goran Boskovic, James Denvir, Sarah Miles, Donald A. Primerano, Richard M. Niles

Goran Boskovic

BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant melanoma has significantly increased over the last decade. Some of these malignancies are susceptible to the growth inhibitory and pro-differentiating effects of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). The molecular changes responsible for the biological activity of RA in melanoma are not well understood. RESULTS: In an analysis of sequential global gene expression changes during a 4-48 h RA treatment of B16 mouse melanoma cells, we found that RA increased the expression of 757 genes and decreased the expression of 737 genes. We also compared the gene expression profile (no RA treatment) between non-malignant melan-a mouse melanocytes and …

Respecting, Rather Than Reacting To, Race In Biomedical Research: A Response To Professors Caulfield And Mwaria, Michael J. Malinowski

Michael J. Malinowski

This Commentary is part of a colloquy on race-based genetics research.

United States Regulation Of Stem Cell Research: Recasting Government's Role And Questions To Be Resolved, Owen C. B. Hughes, Alan L. Jakimo, Michael J. Malinowski

Michael J. Malinowski

This article directly addresses the stem cell controversy, but also the broader history and norms regarding the roles of federal and state government in U.S. science research funding.

Flash4 Dark Reference Images, George Mcnamara

George McNamara

Hamamatsu FLASH4.0 dark reference images, acquired with 10 second exposure times, no light to camera. Camera offset (set by Hamamatsu( is ~100 (the average intensity of the first image is always ~1 intensity level higher - an odd feature, but trivial in practice for a 16-bit camera).

George McNamara, Ph.D.

Single Cells Analyst at L.J.N. Cooper Lab

University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Tca Cycle Inactivation In Staphylococcus Aureus Alters Nitric Oxide Production In Raw 264.7 Cells, Chandirasegaran Massilamany, Arunakumar Gangaplara, Donald Gardner, James Musser, David Steffen, Greg Somerville, Jay Reddy

Greg A. Somerville

Inactivation of the Staphylococcus aureus tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle delays the resolution of cutaneous ulcers in a mouse soft tissue infection model. In this study, it was observed that cutaneous lesions in mice infected with wild-type or isogenic aconitase mutant S. aureus strains contained comparable inflammatory infiltrates, suggesting the delayed resolution was independent of the recruitment of immune cells. These observations led us to hypothesize that staphylococcal metabolism can modulate the host immune response. Using an in vitro model system involving RAW 264.7 cells, the authors observed that cells cultured with S. aureus aconitase mutant strains produced significantly lower amounts …

Genome Sequence Of Lactobacillus Pentosus Kca1: Vaginal Isolate From A Healthy Premenopausal Woman, Kingsley Anukam

Kingsley C Anukam

The vaginal microbiota, in particular Lactobacillus species, play an important role in female health through modulation of immunity, countering pathogens and maintaining a pH below 4.7. We report the isolation and genome sequence of Lactobacillus pentosus strain KCA1 (formally known as L. plantarum) from the vagina of a healthy Nigerian woman. The genome was sequenced using Illumina GA II technology. The resulting 16,920,226 paired-end reads were assembled with the Velvet tool. Contigs were annotated using the RAST server, and manually curated. A comparative analysis with the available genomes of L. pentosus IG1 and L. plantarum WCFS1 showed that over 15% …

Video Codec Performance (Excel Spreadsheet), George Mcnamara

George McNamara

Video codec performance (Excel spreadsheet). Movie was made in 2005-2006 when I worked at City of Hope National Medical Center. VTLF refers to Video Timelapse Light Facility. Videos were outputted from MetaMorph as AVI files. Personally, I always recommend uncompressed video files fro scientific uses. I also encourage posting the original scientific data format (ex. .lsm, .zvi, .lif, .stk).

Pubspectra Tattletales, George Mcnamara

George McNamara

Tattletales for Multiplex Fluorescent Reporters in Single Cells for Metabolomics

George McNamara

As of April 2013: L.J.N. Cooper & D.A. Lee Cellular Immunotherapy Lab, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Email: gtmcnamara@mdanderson.org, geomcnamara@earthlink.net

Tattletales is my concept for spatial multiplexing many fluorescent protein (FP) biosensors in the same live cell. For example, there are excellent FP biosensors to Ca++ ions, pH, glucose, ribose, glutamine, glutamate, ATP, redox, ROS, pyruvate, cAMP, cGMP, IP3, PI(3,4,5)P3, cell cycle indicators (Fucci2), PKA, PKC, photsphatases, caspase(s) [1, 2]. However, these are typically used one biosensor per experiment, due in part to flooding …

Global Quantitative Assessment Of The Colorectal Polyp Burden In Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Using A Web-Based Tool, Patrick M. Lynch, Jeffrey S. Morris, William A. Ross, Miguel A. Rodriguez-Bigas, Juan Posadas, Rossa Khalaf, Diane M. Weber, Valerie O. Sepeda, Bernard Levin, Imad Shureiqi

Jeffrey S. Morris

Background: Accurate measures of the total polyp burden in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) are lacking. Current assessment tools include polyp quantitation in limited-field photographs and qualitative total colorectal polyp burden by video.

Objective: To develop global quantitative tools of the FAP colorectal adenoma burden.

Design: A single-arm, phase II trial.

Patients: Twenty-seven patients with FAP.

Intervention: Treatment with celecoxib for 6 months, with before-treatment and after-treatment videos posted to an intranet with an interactive site for scoring.

Main Outcome Measurements: Global adenoma counts and sizes (grouped into categories: less than 2 mm, 2-4 mm, and greater than 4 mm) were …

Inhibition Of Bacillus Cereus Growth By Bacteriocin Producing Bacillus Subtilis Isolated From Fermented Baobab Seeds (Maari) Is Substrate Dependent, Donatien Kaboré, Dennis S. Nielsen, Hagrétoui Sawadogo-Lingan, Bréhima Diawara, Mamoudou H. Dicko Prof., Mogens Jakobsen, Line Thorsen

Pr. Mamoudou H. DICKO, PhD

Enhanced Transmission Of Higher Order Plasmon Modes With Random Au Nanoparticles In Periodic Hole Arrays, Fang-Tzu Chuang

Fang-Tzu Chuang

The enhanced transmission of higher order plasmon modes with random gold nanoparticles embedded in periodic hole arrays using asymmetric pair aperture as a unit is investigated in the midinfrared regime. Different thicknesses of gold film were deposited inside holes and then annealed to form randomly sized and distributed nanoparticles. The holes deposited with thin gold film exhibit significantly enhanced transmission in higher order modes after thermal annealing. The enormous local electric field around the nanoparticles enhances the scattering effect that contributes to the enhanced infrared transmission. This unique design, which integrates localized and propagating surface plasmons, provides an easy way …

The Intrinsic Severity Hypothesis Of Pharmacoresistance To Antiepileptic Drugs, Michael Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

Pharmacoresistance to antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) is a barrier to seizure freedom for many persons with epilepsy. For nearly two decades, pharmacoresistance has been framed in terms of factors affecting the access of AEDs to their molecular targets in the brain or the actions of the drugs on these targets. Shortcomings in this prevailing view led to the formulation of the intrinsic severity hypothesis of pharmacoresistance to AEDs, which is based on the recognition that there are neurobiologic factors that confer phenotypic variation among individuals with etiologically similar forms of epilepsy and postulates that more severe epilepsy is more difficult to …

Preclinical Pharmacology Of Perampanel, A Selective Non-Competitive Ampa Receptor Antagonist, Michael A. Rogawski, Takahisa Hanada

Michael A. Rogawski

Perampanel [2-(2-oxo-1-phenyl-5-pyridin-2-yl-1,2-dihydropyridin-3-yl) benzonitrile; E2007] is a potent, selective, orally active non-competitive AMPA receptor antagonist developed for the treatment of epilepsy. Perampanel has a 2,3′-bipyridin-6′-one core structure, distinguishing it chemically from other AMPA receptor antagonist classes. Studies in various physiological systems indicate that perampanel selectively inhibits AMPA receptor-mediated synaptic excitation without affecting NMDA receptor responses. Blocking of AMPA receptors occurs at an allosteric site that is distinct from the glutamate recognition site. Radioligand-binding studies suggest that the blocking site coincides with that of the non-competitive antagonist GYKI 52466, believed to be on linker peptide segments of AMPA receptor subunits that transduce …

Glia And Epilepsy: Excitability And Inflammation, Orrin Devinsky, Annamaria Vezzani, Souhel Najjar, Nihal C. De Lanerolle, Michael A. Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

Epilepsy is characterized by recurrent spontaneous seizures due to hyperexcitability and hypersynchrony of brain neurons. Current theories of pathophysiology stress neuronal dysfunction and damage, and aberrant connections as relevant factors. Most antiepileptic drugs target neuronal mechanisms. However, nearly one-third of patients have seizures that are refractory to available medications; a deeper understanding of mechanisms may be required to conceive more effective therapies. Recent studies point to a significant contribution by nonneuronal cells, the glia – especially astrocytes and microglia – in the pathophysiology of epilepsy. This review critically evaluates the role of glia-induced hyperexcitability and inflammation in epilepsy.

Ampa Receptors As A Molecular Target In Epilepsy Therapy, Michael A. Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

Epileptic seizures occur as a result of episodic abnormal synchronous discharges in cerebral neuronal networks. Although a variety of nonconventional mechanisms may play a role in epileptic synchronization, cascading excitation within networks of synaptically connected excitatory glutamatergic neurons is a classical mechanism. As is the case throughout the central nervous system, fast synaptic excitation within and between brain regions relevant to epilepsy is mediated predominantly by AMPA receptors. By inhibiting glutamate-mediated excitation, AMPA receptor antagonists markedly reduce or abolish epileptiform activity in in vitro preparations and confer seizure protection in a broad range of animal seizure models. NMDA receptors may …

Varying-Smoother Models For Functional Responses, Philip T. Reiss, Lei Huang, Huaihou Chen, Stan Colcombe

Philip T. Reiss

This paper studies estimation of a smooth function f(x,v) when we are given functional responses of the form f(x, ·) + error, but scientific interest centers on the collection of functions f(·,v) for different v. The motivation comes from studies of human brain development, in which x denotes age whereas v refers to brain locations. Analogously to varying-coefficient models, in which the mean response is linear in x, the “varying-smoother” models that we consider exhibit nonlinear dependence on x that varies smoothly with v. We discuss three approaches to estimating varying-smoother models: (a) methods that employ a tensor product penalty; …