HI in four star-forming low-luminosity E/S0 and S0 galaxies

We present HI data cubes of four low-luminosity early-type galaxies which are currently forming stars. These galaxies have absolute magnitudes in the range M_B=-17.9 to -19.9 (H_o=50 km/s/Mpc). Their HI masses range between a few times 10^8 and a few times 10^9 M_sun and the corresponding values for M_HI/L_B are between 0.07 and 0.42, so these systems are HI rich for their morphological type. In all four galaxies, the HI is strongly centrally concentrated with high central HI surface densities, in contrast to what is typically observed in more luminous early-type galaxies. In two galaxies (NGC 802 and ESO 118-G34), the kinematics of the HI suggests that the gas is in a strongly warped disk, which we take as evidence for recent accretion of HI. In the other two galaxies (NGC 2328 and ESO 027-G21) the HI must have been part of the systems for a considerable time. The HI properties of low-luminosity early-type galaxies appear to be systematically different from those of many more luminous early-type galaxies, and we suggest that these differences are due to a different evolution of the two classes. The star formation history of these galaxies remains unclear. Their UBV colours and Halpha emission-line strengths are consistent with having formed stars at a slowly-declining rate for most of the past 10^10 years. However, the current data do not rule out a small burst of recent star formation overlaid on an older stellar population.Comment: To appear in AJ, LateX, figures in gif format, paper also available at http://www.nfra.nl/~morganti/LowLu

Voluntary Exercise Reduces Alzheimer’s-like Pathology After Inflammation in Mice

Current global statistics estimate that 44.4 million people are afflicted with dementia, and that 50%-75% of these patients suffer from Alzheimer’s disease (AD; Prince et al. 2013). AD, a progressive disorder categorized by neuronal and behavioral deterioration, is the 6th leading cause of death in America (Alz facts and figure 2012). One hallmark pathology of AD is the presence of amyloid-beta (Aβ) in the brain, which can limit cell-to-cell communication, leading to cognitive deficits, and neuronal cell death. Although the exact origins of this disease still remain unknown, one possible catalyst of AD pathology is inflammation. Our lab has previously shown that 7 consecutive peripheral injections of a bacterial mimetic led to systemic inflammation, increased levels of Ab in the brain, and cognitive dysfunction (Kahn et al., 2012; Weintraub et al., 2013). Currently there are very few effective treatments that diminish AD symptomology. One documented way to decrease inflammation without the use of pharmaceuticals is through regular physical exercise (Cho et al., 2003; Cotman & Berchtold, 2002; Cotman et al., 2007). The present study tested the hypothesis that voluntary exercise would decrease the level of brain Ab following inflammation. Interestingly, we found that two weeks of voluntary wheel running after inflammation led to a reduction of Ab when compared to sedentary recovery. These results indicate that exercise may be an effective modality to reduce AD-like pathology, and that these effects appear to be facilitated by higher versus lower levels of exercise, as measured by total distance run

Salt Reduction Initiatives around the World – A Systematic Review of Progress towards the Global Target

Objective To quantify progress with the initiation of salt reduction strategies around the world in the context of the global target to reduce population salt intake by 30% by 2025. Methods A systematic review of the published and grey literature was supplemented by questionnaires sent to country program leaders. Core characteristics of strategies were extracted and categorised according to a pre-defined framework. Results A total of 75 countries now have a national salt reduction strategy, more than double the number reported in a similar review done in 2010. The majority of programs are multifaceted and include industry engagement to reformulate products (n = 61), establishment of sodium content targets for foods (39), consumer education (71), front-of-pack labelling schemes (31), taxation on high-salt foods (3) and interventions in public institutions (54). Legislative action related to salt reduction such as mandatory targets, front of pack labelling, food procurement policies and taxation have been implemented in 33 countries. 12 countries have reported reductions in population salt intake, 19 reduced salt content in foods and 6 improvements in consumer knowledge, attitudes or behaviours relating to salt. Conclusion The large and increasing number of countries with salt reduction strategies in place is encouraging although activity remains limited in low- and middle-income regions. The absence of a consistent approach to implementation highlights uncertainty about the elements most important to success. Rigorous evaluation of ongoing programs and initiation of salt reduction programs, particularly in low- and middle- income countries, will be vital to achieving the targeted 30% reduction in salt intake

2017 Research & Innovation Day Program

A one day showcase of applied research, social innovation, scholarship projects and activities.https://first.fanshawec.ca/cri_cripublications/1004/thumbnail.jp

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Identification of novel genes associated with endocrine resistance in breast cancer

The overall aims of this project were to identify rnRNAs overexpressed or underexpressed as MCF7 human breast cancer cells progress to growth pathways independent of oestrogen and resistant to the antioestrogen, fulvestrant. Growth of oestrogen maintained and long-term oestrogen deprived MCF7,cells with or without la-8M l7p-oestradiol for 7 days enabled the comparison of expression profiles to identify a number of oestrogen regulated genes, in addition to a number of genes differentially expressed in long-term oestrogen deprived cells compared to cells which had been deprived of oestrogen for just? days. Comparison of expression profiles for oestrogen maintained and oestrogen deprived cells following long-term exposure to fulvestrant revealed large alterations in a number of gene expression levels, particularly in the oestrogen maintained cells. Adrenomedullin may have a role in tumour survival and angiogenesis and consistent upregulation of adrenomedulin mRNA was observed during progression to oestrogen insensitivity in duplicate microarray experiments. Real-time RTPCR was able to confirm the increase in mRNA levels in long-term oestrogen deprived cells. Immunofluorescent staining using a monoclonal antibody specific for adrenomedullin showed an increase in the amount of protein in long-term oestrogen deprived cells. Following short and long-term treatment with tamoxifen and fulvestrant the abundance of adrenomedullin rnRNA was increased in oestrogen maintained cells but not in the long-term oestrogen deprived cells. Real time RT-PCR analysis of the GAiA family of transcription factors revealed a reciprocal relationship between GATA3 and GATA6 in ER positive cells and ER negative cells where GATA6 showed highest expression in the ER negative cells and GATA3 was highly expressed in the ER positive cells. Changes were observed in levels of all six of the GATA factors following long-term oestrogen deprivation indicating a functional role for these transcription factors in progression to endocrine resistance. Many potential targets have been identified by the use of microarrays but further validation of cell lines and tumour samples is required to examine the importance of these as possible markers of endocrine resistance in breast tumours.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

G6B-b ITIM/ITSMs show preferential binding to SHP-1 and SHP-2.

<p>Immobilised peptides were incubated with equimolar quantities of either SHP-2 (A) or SHP-1 (B) tandem SH2 domains. Unbound material was separated from the bound material and equal volumes loaded onto 4–12% NuPage Bis-Tris gels. Protein was visualised with Simply Blue Coomassie stain (Invtirogen). (C) Quantification of bound SH2 domain material to G6B-b phosphopeptides (n = 3, SEM, ** denotes p<0.01, * denotes p<0.05). G6B-b associates with SH2 domains from SHP-1 (D) and SHP-2 (E) in washed human platelet lysates activated for 90 s with either 1 µg/ml CRP or 0.5 U/ml thrombin.</p

G6B-b can associate with both Syk and the regulatory subunit of PI3K.

<p>(A) Representative SPR trace demonstrating Syk/G6B-b association. Inset shows summary of binding data (n = 3, SEM). (B) Representative trace for PI3K p85 SH2 domain association with G6B-b phosphopeptides by SPR. Inset shows data summary (n = 3, SEM).</p

FcRγ can compete for Syk binding to G6B-b.

<p>(A) Syk binds weakly to G6B-b as shown by direct binding assay. Syk exhibits robust binding to FcRγ. (B) FcRγ can compete with phosphorylated G6B-b for Syk binding <i>in vitro</i>. Equimolar quantities of G6B-b and Syk were incubated in the presence of either unphosphorylated or dual phosphorylated FcRγ peptides. (C) Representative example of peptide competition by direct binding assay (arrow indicates Syk tandem (N+C) SH2 domains).</p

Association and disassociation constants for SHP-1 and SHP-2 binding to G6B-b phosphopeptides.

<p>K_on and K_off (s-1) were determined using Prism 5 software (GraphPad Software, California, U.S.A) at a variety of concentrations from Biacore 3000 runs carried out on three different days. K_d values = M.</p