Control of electroporation efficiency by measuring the conductivity of the tissues

The method for measuring the efficiency of the electroporation process for living tissue is offered. The method consists in measuring the conductivity of tissue before and after the electroporation process. The measurements confirmed the efficiency of the method

Age-related synaptic loss of the medial olivocochlear efferent innervation

Age-related functional decline of the nervous system is consistently observed, though cellular and molecular events responsible for this decline remain largely unknown. One of the most prevalent age-related functional declines is age-related hearing loss (presbycusis), a major cause of which is the loss of outer hair cells (OHCs) and spiral ganglion neurons. Previous studies have also identified an age-related functional decline in the medial olivocochlear (MOC) efferent system prior to age-related loss of OHCs. The present study evaluated the hypothesis that this functional decline of the MOC efferent system is due to age-related synaptic loss of the efferent innervation of the OHCs. To this end, we used a recently-identified transgenic mouse line in which the expression of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP), under the control of neuron-specific elements from the thy1 gene, permits the visualization of the synaptic connections between MOC efferent fibers and OHCs. In this model, there was a dramatic synaptic loss between the MOC efferent fibers and the OHCs in older mice. However, age-related loss of efferent synapses was independent of OHC status. These data demonstrate for the first time that age-related loss of efferent synapses may contribute to the functional decline of the MOC efferent system and that this synaptic loss is not necessary for age-related loss of OHCs

Hyperadiponectinemia During Infliximab Induction Therapy in Pediatric Crohn Disease

Objectives: The inflammatory process in Crohn disease (CD) involves the visceral fat, characterized by adipocyte hyperplasia and altered adipose tissue and serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), leptin, adiponectin and resistin. We investigated the effect of anti-TNF therapy with infliximab (IFX) on serum adipokine levels in pediatric CD. Methods: Serum concentrations of resistin (ng/mL), leptin (ng/mL), and total adiponectin (mu g/mL) were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in 18 pediatric CD patients (mean age 15.0 +/- 1.5 years) before first, second, and fourth IFX infusion (weeks 0, 2, and 14) and compared with baseline values from sex- and BMI-matched healthy controls (HC, mean age 13.4 +/- 1.6 years). Results: At baseline, CD patients (mean age 15.0 +/- 1.5 years, 10 of 18 boys) compared with HC (13.4 +/- 1.6 years, 7 of 15 boys) had higher resistin levels (median 14.7 ng/mL, range 5.1-50.5 vs 7.3 ng/mL, 0.5-14.5);P = 0.0002). At weeks 2 and 14, resistin decreased to 6.9 ng/mL (2.9-16.8) (P < 0.0001) and 9.2 ng/mL (4.1-20.6;P = 0.0011), respectively. Leptin and adiponectin were comparable between patients and HC at baseline. Leptin increased in girls from 9.5 ng/mL (4.0-30.1) to 16.0 ng/mL (7.9-35.2;P = 0.0156) and 17.2 ng/mL (10.8-26.8;P = 0.1953) at weeks 0, 2, and 14 respectively;with a trend in boys from 2 (0.6-12.9) to 2.8 (1.7-8.6;P = 0.0840) and 3.3 (1.34.6;P = 0.1309). Adiponectin peaked initially from 7.8 mu g/mL (4.6-11.9) at week 0 to 9.2 mu g/mL (4.1-20.7;P = 0.0005) at week 2 and thereafter fell to 6.5 mu g/mL (3.0-12.7;P = 0.0182) at week 14. Conclusions: TNF blockade is associated with changes in circulating adipokines. The marked early increase of the potent anti-inflammatory adiponectin may contribute to the rapid response to IFX in CD

Site 502: Colombia Basin, Western Caribbean

Our specific objective at Site 502 was to recover an undisturbed, complete section that could be used as a Neogene and Quaternary reference section. A complete record such as this would allow intercorrelations between (1) paleomagnetic stratigraphy, (2) calcareous biostratigraphy, (3) cyclic accumulation of sediment, (4) paleoceanographic changes, (5) oxygen and carbon isotope stratigraphies, (6) the chronology of Central American volcanism, (7) the timing and effects of the emergence of the Isthmus of Panama, and (8) the timing and effects of the initiation of Northern Hemisphere glaciation

Site 503: Eastern Equatorial Pacific

Our primary objective at Site 503 (Fig. 1) was to re- cover a complete, undisturbed Neogene and Quaternary section in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Site 503 is located near Site 83 in an area that contains an almost continuous pelagic record of the past 10 m.y. (Hays et al., 1972). Unfortunately, Site 83 was only spot-cored, and the recovered sediment is so badly disturbed by rotary drilling that most of the detailed record is lost. The section has an average sedimentation rate of 2.0 to 2.5 cm/k.y. with good-to-moderate preservation of all the major microfossil groups. We returned to Site 83 to core the same section, using the Hydraulic Piston Corer (HPC) to obtain an undisturbed, continuous section for high-resolution stratigraphic studies