Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Effects Of Lactation And Negative Energy Balance On Kisspeptin-Stimulated Luteinizing Hormone And Growth Hormone In Dairy Cows, Brian K. Whitlock, Joseph A. Daniel, Robyn R. Wilborn, Herris S. Maxwell, Barbara P. Steele, James L. Sartin

Brian K Whitlock, PhD, DVM, DACT

Kisspeptin, a neuroendocrine regulator of gonadotropin releasing hormone, is hypothesized to integrate nutrition and hormones critical to metabolism and the regulation of reproduction. Since the negative energy balance of early lactation is associated with reduced fertility via suppression of gonadotropin secretion and enhanced growth hormone (GH) responsiveness, this experiment was designed to determine the effects of stage of lactation and negative energy balance on kisspeptin-10 (Kp-10) stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) and GH concentrations. Five nonlactating [5.1 ± 0.8 (SEM) years; 577 ± 19 kg body weight (BW)] and five lactating [4.1 ± 0.6 years; 608 ± 11 kg BW] multiparous …

Intrinsic Severity As A Determinant Of Antiepileptic Drug Refractoriness, Michael A. Rogawski, Michael R. Johnson

Michael A. Rogawski

For the most part, resistance to medications in epilepsy is independent of the choice of antiepileptic drug. This simple clinical observation constrains the possible biological mechanisms for drug refractory epilepsy by imposing a requirement to explain resistance for a diverse set of chemical structures that act on an even more varied group of molecular targets. To date, research on antiepileptic drug refractoriness has been guided by the “drug transporter overexpression” and the “reduced drug-target sensitivity” hypotheses. These concepts posit that drug refractoriness is a condition separate from the underlying epilepsy. Inadequacies in both hypotheses mandate a fresh approach to the …

What Clinical Observations On The Epidemiology Of Antiepileptic Drug Intractability Tell Us About The Mechanisms Of Pharmacoresistance, Michael Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

In the past several years, there have been important advances in the clinical epidemiology of antiepileptic drug resistance, as reviewed by Mohanraj and Brodie. It would appear that by and large, intractability is independent of the choice of antiepileptic drug (AED). Many patients will become seizure free on the first agent tried, irrespective of which one their physician decides to pick. Nonresponders to the first drug are in a different category: it is likely that they will continue to have seizures no matter which medicine or combination of medicines is tried. This simple clinical observation puts important constraints on the …

Gene Alterations By Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Agonists In Human Colorectal Cancer Cells, Maria Cekanova, J Yuan, X Li, K B. Kim, Seung J. Baek

Maria Cekanova MS, RNDr, PhD

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) is a nuclear transcription factor that controls the genes involved in metabolism and carcinogenesis. In the present study, we examined the alteration of gene expression in HCT-116 human colorectal cancer cells by PPARgamma agonists: MCC-555 (5 microM), rosiglitazone (5 microM), and 15-deoxy-Delta12,14-prostaglandin J2 (1 microM). The long-oligo microarray data revealed a list of target genes commonly induced (307 genes) and repressed (32 genes) by tested PPARgamma agonists. These genes were analyzed by Onto-Express software and KEGG pathway analysis and revealed that PPARgamma agonists are involved in cell proliferation, focal adhesion, and several signaling pathways. …

Microproteomics: Analysis Of Protein Diversity In Small Samples, Howard B. Gutstein, Jeffrey S. Morris, Suresh P. Annangudi, Jonathan V. Sweedler

Jeffrey S. Morris

Proteomics, the large-scale study of protein expression in organisms, offers the potential to evaluate global changes in protein expression and their post-translational modifications that take place in response to normal or pathological stimuli. One challenge has been the requirement for substantial amounts of tissue in order to perform comprehensive proteomic characterization. In heterogeneous tissues, such as brain, this has limited the application of proteomic methodologies. Efforts to adapt standard methods of tissue sampling, protein extraction, arraying, and identification are reviewed, with an emphasis on those appropriate to smaller samples ranging in size from several microliters down to single cells. The …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Poly(Allyl Methacrylate) Obtained By Free Radical Initiator., Selda Keskin

Allyl methacrylate was polymerized in CCl4 solution by a,a0-azoisobutyronitrile at 50, 60, and 708C. The kinetic curves were autoaccelarated types at 60 and 708C, but almost linear at 508C. Arrhenius activation energy was 77.5 kJ/mol. The polymer was insoluble in common organic solvents. It was characterized by FT-IR, NMR, DSC, TGA and XPS methods. About 98–99% of allyl side groups were remained as pendant even after completion of the polymerization. The spectroscopic and thermal results showed that polymerization is not a cyclopolymerization type, but may have end group cyclization. The high molecular weight is the main cause of a polymer …

The Evaluation Of Some Flexural Properties Of Denture Base Resin Reinforced With Various Aesthetic Fibers, Selda Keskin

No abstract provided.

Dispelling The Myths Of Machine Translation, Uwe Muegge

Uwe Muegge

It is not surprising that myths, half-truths, and misunderstandings abound regarding machine translation: It seems as if the experience most players in the translation field have with this technology does not go beyond toying a little with one of the free online translation tools. Almost every week, I come across an article informing its readers either that machine translation is and always will be a complete waste of time or that machine translation, while being a waste of time today, might actually be useful some time in the distant future. In the hope of setting the record straight, here is …

Sera Of Iga Nephropathy Patients Contain A Heterogeneous Population Of Relatively Cationic Alpha-Heavy Chains, Onn Haji Hashim

Onn Haji Hashim

Sera of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients and normal subjects were analysed by two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis. Densitometric analysis of the 2-D gels of IgAN patients and normal subjects revealed that their protein maps were comparable. There was no shift of pI values in the major alpha-heavy chain spots. However, the volume of the alpha-heavy chain bands were differently distributed. Distribution was significantly lower at the anionic region in IgAN patients (mean anionic:cationic ratio of 1.184 +/- 0.311) as compared to normal healthy controls (mean anionic:cationic ratio of 2.139 +/- 0.538). Our data are in support of the previously reported findings …

Effect Of Traditional Starter Inoculation Rate On Sorghum Beer Quality, Theodore N'Dede Djeni

Theodore N'Dede Djeni

In the way to determine, the effect of inoculation rate of traditional starter on sorghum beer quality, fermentations were initiated with different inoculation rates [0% (control), 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% (w vG1)] at 35°C. Then fermentation parameters such as utilization of sugars and production of CO , alcohol, organic acids and 2 yeast biomass were assayed during the process. At the beginning of the fermentation, sugar consumption rate increased with inoculation rate. But from 8 h of fermentation, all inoculated systems shown similar consumption rate and led to beers with the same sugar content. The lag phase in CO …

Brivaracetam: A Rational Drug Discovery Success Story, Michael Rogawski

Michael A. Rogawski

Levetiracetam, the alpha-ethyl analogue of the nootropic piracetam, is a widely used antiepileptic drug (AED) that provides protection against partial seizures and is also effective in the treatment of primary generalized seizure syndromes including juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Levetiracetam was discovered in 1992 through screening in audiogenic seizure susceptible mice and, 3 years later, was reported to exhibit saturable, stereospecific binding in brain to a approximately 90 kDa protein, later identified as the ubiquitous synaptic vesicle glycoprotein SV2A. A large-scale screening effort to optimize binding affinity identified the 4-n-propyl analogue, brivaracetam, as having greater potency and a broadened spectrum of activity …

New Molecular Targets For Antiepileptic Drugs: Alpha2delta, Sv2a, And Kv7/Kcnq/M Potassium Channels, Michael A. Rogawski, Carl W. Bazil

Michael A. Rogawski

Many currently prescribed antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) act via voltage-gated sodium channels, through effects on gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated inhibition, or via voltage-gated calcium channels. Some newer AEDs do not act via these traditional mechanisms. The molecular targets for several of these nontraditional AEDs have been defined using cellular electrophysiology and molecular approaches. Here, we describe three of these targets: alpha(2)delta, auxiliary subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels through which the gabapentinoids gabapentin and pregabalin exert their anticonvulsant and analgesic actions; SV2A, a ubiquitous synaptic vesicle glycoprotein that may prepare vesicles for fusion and serves as the target for levetiracetam and its analog brivaracetam …

Important, But Odd And Obscure, Reasons To Use The Library, Maxine G. Schmidt

Maxine G Schmidt

No abstract provided.