Life Sciences Commons^™

Altered Microrna Expression In Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration With Tdp-43 Pathology Caused By Progranulin Mutations, Jannet Kocerha, Naomi Kouri, Matt Baker, Nicole Finch, Mariely Dejesus-Hernandez, John Gonzalez, Kumaravel Chidamparam, Keith A. Josephs, Bradley F. Boeve, Neill R. Graff-Radford, Julia Crook, Dennis W. Dickson, Rosa Rademakers

Jannet Kocerha

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that can be triggered through genetic or sporadic mechanisms. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have become a major therapeutic focus as their pervasive expression and powerful regulatory roles in disease pathogenesis become increasingly apparent. Here we examine the role of miRNAs in FTLD patients with TAR DNA-binding protein 43 pathology (FTLD-TDP) caused by genetic mutations in the progranulin (PGRN) gene.

Results

Using miRNA array profiling, we identified the 20 miRNAs that showed greatest evidence (unadjusted P < 0.05) of dysregulation in frontal cortex of eight FTLD-TDP patients carrying PGRN mutations when compared to 32 FTLD-TDP patients with no apparent genetic abnormalities. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses provided technical validation of the differential expression for 9 of the 20 miRNAs in frontal cortex. Additional qRT-PCR analyses showed that 5 out of 9 miRNAs (miR-922, miR-516a-3p, miR-571, miR-548b-5p, and miR-548c-5p) were also significantly dysregulated (unadjusted P < 0.05) in cerebellar tissue samples of PGRN mutation carriers, consistent with a systemic reduction in PGRN levels. We developed a list of gene targets for the 5 candidate miRNAs and found 18 genes dysregulated in a reported FTLD mRNA study to exhibit anti-correlated miRNA-mRNA patterns in affected cortex and cerebellar tissue. Among the targets is brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 3, which was recently identified as an important player in synapse biology.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that miRNAs may contribute to the pathogenesis of FTLD-TDP caused by PGRN mutations and …

Effects Of Training And Testosterone On Muscle-Fiber Types And Locomotor Performance In Male Six-Lined Racerunners (Aspidoscelis Sexlineata), Jennifer L. O'Conner, Lance D. Mcbrayer, Timothy E. Higham, Jerry F. Husak, Ignacio T. Moore, David C. Rostal

Department of Biology Faculty Publications

Testosterone (T) is thought to affect a variety of traits important for fitness, including coloration, the size of sexual ornaments, aggression, and locomotor performance. Here, we investigated the effects of experimentally elevated T and locomotor training on muscle physiology and running performance in a nonterritorial male lizard species (Aspidoscelis sexlineata). Additionally, several morphological attributes were quantified to examine other characters that are likely affected by T and/or a training regimen. Neither training alone nor training with T supplementation resulted in increased locomotor performance. Instead, we found that T and training resulted in a decrease in each of three …

Eschar-Associated Spotted Fever Rickettsiosis, Bahia, Brazil, Nanci Silva, Marina Eremeeva, Tatiana Rozental, Guilherme S. Ribeiro, Christopher D. Paddock, Eduardo Antonio G. Ramos, Alexsandra R.M. Favacho, Mitermayer G. Reis, Gregory A. Dasch,, Elba R.S. De Lemos, Albert I. Ko

Marina E. Eremeeva

In Brazil, Brazilian spotted fever was once considered the only tick-borne rickettsial disease. We report eschar-associated rickettsial disease that occurred after a tick bite. The etiologic agent is most related to Rickettsia parkeri, R. africae, and R. sibirica and probably widely distributed from São Paulo to Bahia in the Atlantic Forest.

Emergence Of A Novel Human Ehrlichia-Muris Like Organism In North America – Wisconsin And Minnesota, Bobbi S. Pritt, Lynne M. Sloan, Diep K. Hoang-Johnson, Ulrike G. Munderloh, Susan M. Paskewitz, Kristina M. Mcelroy, Jevon D. Mcfadden, Matthew J. Binnicker, David F. Neitzel, Gongping Liu, William L. Nicholson, Curtis M. Nelson, Joni J. Franson, Scott A. Martin, Scott A. Cunningham, Christopher R. Steward, Kay Bogumill, Mary E. Bjorgaard, Jeffrey P. Davis, Jennifer H. Mcquiston, David M. Warshauer, Mark P. Wilhelm, Robin Patel, Vipul A. Trivedi, Marina Eremeeva

Marina E. Eremeeva

Background: Ehrlichiosis is a clinically important, emerging zoonosis. Only Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. ewingii have been thought to cause ehrlichiosis in humans in the United States. Patients with suspected ehrlichiosis routinely undergo testing to ensure proper diagnosis and to ascertain the cause.

Methods: We used molecular methods, culturing, and serologic testing to diagnose and ascertain the cause of cases of ehrlichiosis.

Results: On testing, four cases of ehrlichiosis in Minnesota or Wisconsin were found not to be from E. chaffeensis or E. ewingii and instead to be caused by a newly discovered ehrlichia species.

All patients had fever, …

Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever In Panama: A Cluster Description, Maribel Tribaldos, Yamitzel Zaldivar, Sergio Bermudez, Franklyn Samudio, Yaxelis Mendoza, Alexander A. Martinez, Rodrigo Villalobos, Marina Eremeeva, Christopher D. Paddock, Kathleen Page, Rebecca E. Smith, Juan Miguel Pascale

Marina E. Eremeeva

Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a tick-borne infection caused by Rickettsia rickettsii. We report a cluster of fatal cases of RMSF in 2007 in Panama, involving a pregnant woman and two children from the same family. The woman presented with a fever followed by respiratory distress, maculopapular rash, and an eschar at the site from which a tick had been removed. She died four days after disease onset. This is the second published report of an eschar in a patient confirmed by PCR to be infected with R. rickettsii. One month later, the children presented within days of one …

Analysis Of Heel Raise Exercise With Three Foot Positions, Kimberly J. Arnsdorff, G. Ken Limbaugh, Bryan L. Riemann

Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology Faculty Publications

Prior research revealed activation differences between the medial (MG) and lateral (LG) gastrocnemius when performing heel raise exercise with neutral (N), internally-rotated (IR) and externally-rotated (ER) foot positions. Studying underlying biomechanics may help explain activation differences. The purpose was to compare ankle (AN), knee (KN), and hip (HI) contributions (initial joint angles) to attaining each initial foot position, ankle flexion-extension range of motion, ankle mechanical energy expenditure, repetition time, and percent cycle concentric-eccentric transition between N, IR, and ER foot positions. Twenty healthy subjects (11 male, 9 female) with resistance training experience performed twelve repetitions of free-weight (135% body mass) …

Anaplasmataceae As Human Pathogens : Biology, Ecology And Epidemiology, Marina E. Eremeeva, Gregory A. Dasch

Environmental Health Sciences Faculty Publications

This review describes the biology, ecology, and epidemiology of known human pathogens in the family Anaplasmataceae that are transmitted by ticks and belong to the genus Anaplasma and genus Ehrlichia. We discuss the current status of diagnosis and surveillance of the diseases they cause, and address the challenges and new perspectives raised due to continuous recognition of new emerging human pathogens in the family Anaplasmataceae.

The Relationships Between Optimism And Pessimism And Burnout In Youth Soccer Players, Brandy A. Rentz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sport related burnout has become a concern for many athletes, coaches, and sport psychologists. Although burnout in sport is receiving more attention, the research still remains relatively limited (Capel, 1986; Dale & Weinberg, 1990; Fender, 1989; Gould, Udry, Tuffey, & Loehr, 1996). Dale and Weinberg (1990) indicated a need for future research concerning the identification of characteristics that may predispose athletes to burnout. No past research was found that investigated the relationship between optimism/pessimism and sport burnout. The primary purpose of this investigation was to examine the relationships between optimism and pessimism with burnout. A secondary purpose was to determine …

Analysis Of The Performance Of Peanut Fame In A Single Cylinder Idi Engine And Investigations Of Neat Methyl Ester Influence On Fuel Quality, Jeffery Lewis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Author's abstract: To meet evolving standards set forth by the U.S. EPA and U.S. Energy Policy it is necessary to consider a variety of feedstock for biofuels synthesis and to understand the role individual fatty acids contribute to the overall performance. It is the belief of the authors that excess peanut production would provide an excellent source for high quality biodiesel feedstock, and the complete property and combustion analysis of the fatty acid components will provide insight for future biofuel developments. The preliminary investigations of the project focused on the combustion performance and thermal efficiency of peanut FAME and its …