Urticarial Rash in a Patient with Alpha-Gal Syndrome Caused by Subcutaneous Heparin at Prophylactic Dosing: A Case Report

Introduction: We report a patient with a history of red meat allergy, or alpha-gal syndrome, who had an urticarial rash after exposure to unfractionated heparin at a dose typically used for prophylaxis of deep venous thrombosis. Although anaphylactic reactions have been reported with systemic intravenous heparin, we believe this case is the first report of an immunoglobulin E–mediated reaction to subcutaneous heparin at prophylactic dosing. Clinical Findings: An 85-year-old male had a 3-year history of red meat allergy and was intolerant of pork and beef. He developed an immunoglobulin E–mediated allergic reaction to subcutaneous heparin at a dose of 5000 units twice daily. Clinical Course: The patient presented to the emergency department after a fall. He had back pain and was diagnosed with a compression fracture. He was admitted to the hospital because he was unable to safely ambulate. He was treated with subcutaneous unfractionated heparin to prevent deep venous thrombosis as part of routine care. Twenty-four hours after exposure to heparin, he developed an urticarial rash. The rash resolved promptly after discontinuing heparin and excluding other potential allergic triggers. Conclusions: In patients with alpha-gal syndrome, unfractionated heparin via a subcutaneous route at prophylactic dosing can precipitate immunoglobulin E–mediated systemic reactions and should be avoided

Pediatric Penicillin Allergy De-Labeling: Barriers and Opportunities

Date of Presentation: January 12th, 2023 Presented By: Russell Behmer, MD PGY-4, Medicine-Pediatrics Resident The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center CME available for 1 year after presentation CME Text Code: 84161https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/pediatrics_gr/1011/thumbnail.jp

H2A.Z.1 Monoubiquitylation Antagonizes BRD2 to Maintain Poised Chromatin in ESCs

Summary: Histone variant H2A.Z occupies the promoters of active and poised, bivalent genes in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to regulate developmental programs, yet how it contributes to these contrasting states is poorly understood. Here, we investigate the function of H2A.Z.1 monoubiquitylation (H2A.Z.1ub) by mutation of the PRC1 target residues (H2A.Z.1K3R3). We show that H2A.Z.1K3R3 is properly incorporated at target promoters in murine ESCs (mESCs), but loss of monoubiquitylation leads to de-repression of bivalent genes, loss of Polycomb binding, and faulty lineage commitment. Using quantitative proteomics, we find that tandem bromodomain proteins, including the BET family member BRD2, are enriched in H2A.Z.1 chromatin. We further show that BRD2 is gained at de-repressed promoters in H2A.Z.1K3R3 mESCs, whereas BRD2 inhibition restores gene silencing at these sites. Together, our study reveals an antagonistic relationship between H2A.Z.1ub and BRD2 to regulate the transcriptional balance at bivalent genes to enable proper execution of developmental programs. : Shedding light on the contrasting functions of the histone variant H2A.Z.1 in gene regulation, Surface et al. show that H2A.Z.1 monoubiquitylation is required for the transcriptional repression of developmental promoters in mESCs by antagonizing downstream transcriptional activators including the BET bromodomain family member BRD2

H2A.Z.1 Monoubiquitylation Antagonizes BRD2 to Maintain Poised Chromatin in ESCs

Histone variant H2A.Z occupies the promoters of active and poised, bivalent genes in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) to regulate developmental programs, yet how it contributes to these contrasting states is poorly understood. Here, we investigate the function of H2A.Z.1 monoubiquitylation (H2A.Z.1ub) by mutation of the PRC1 target residues (H2A.Z.1[superscript K3R3]). We show that H2A.Z.1[superscript K3R3] is properly incorporated at target promoters in murine ESCs (mESCs), but loss of monoubiquitylation leads to de-repression of bivalent genes, loss of Polycomb binding, and faulty lineage commitment. Using quantitative proteomics, we find that tandem bromodomain proteins, including the BET family member BRD2, are enriched in H2A.Z.1 chromatin. We further show that BRD2 is gained at de-repressed promoters in H2A.Z.1[superscript K3R3] mESCs, whereas BRD2 inhibition restores gene silencing at these sites. Together, our study reveals an antagonistic relationship between H2A.Z.1ub and BRD2 to regulate the transcriptional balance at bivalent genes to enable proper execution of developmental programs.National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Pre-doctoral Training Grant T32GM007287)Massachusetts Institute of Technology. School of Science (Fellowship in Cancer Research)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Core Grant Award P30-CA14051)National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Bench to Bassinet Program (U01HL098179)Massachusetts Life Sciences Cente

Bumblebees adjust protein and lipid collection rules to the presence of brood

International audienceAnimals have evolved foraging strategies to acquire blends of nutrients that maximize fitness traits. In social insects, nutrient regulation is complicated by the fact that few individuals, the foragers, must address the divergent nutritional needs of all colony members simultaneously, including other workers, the reproductives, and the brood. Here we used 3D nutritional geometry design to examine how bumblebee workers regulate their collection of 3 major macronutrients in the presence and absence of brood. We provided small colonies artificial nectars (liquid diets) and pollens (solid diets) varying in their compositions of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates during 2 weeks. Colonies given a choice between nutritionally complementary diets self-selected foods to reach a target ratio of 71% proteins, 6% carbohydrates, and 23% lipids, irrespective of the presence of brood. When confined to a single nutritionally imbalanced solid diet, colonies without brood regulated lipid collection and over-collected protein relative to this target ratio, whereas colonies with brood regulated both lipid and protein collection. This brood effect on the regulation of nutrient collection by workers suggests that protein levels are critical for larval development. Our results highlight the importance of considering bee nutrition as a multidimensional phenomenon to better assess the effects of environmental impoverishment and malnutrition on population decline

Substituição do farelo de soja pela mistura raspa de mandioca e uréia em dietas para vacas mestiças em lactação Replacement of soybean meal with urea plus cassava scrapings in diets for crossbred lactating cows

Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da substituição do farelo de soja pela mistura raspa de mandioca+uréia sobre o desempenho, o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes em dietas à base de palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus indica, Mill) e silagem de sorgo, oito vacas mestiças Holandês:Gir (60&plusmn;30 dias em lactação e 491 kg de PV inicial) foram distribuídas em dois quadrados latinos (4 &times; 4). A mistura raspa de mandioca+uréia substituiu 0, 33, 67 e 100% do farelo de soja nas dietas. Os consumos de matéria seca (expressos em kg/dia, % do PV, g/kg0,75 do PV), MO, PB, EE, FDN e CHOT diminuíram linearmente com a inclusão da raspa de mandioca. As ingestões de FDN (%PV), FDA, CNF e NDT não foram afetadas pelos níveis de raspa de mandioca+uréia nas dietas. A inclusão de raspa de mandioca+uréia influenciou a digestibilidade aparente de todos os nutrientes, sendo descrita por função quadrática. A produção de leite, a produção de leite corrigida para 4,0% de gordura e a produção de gordura diminuíram linearmente em 30, 20 e 0,8 g/dia, respectivamente, enquanto o teor de gordura e a eficiência alimentar, em kg de leite corrigido para 4,0% de gordura/kg de MS, não foram influenciadas pelos níveis de substituição do farelo de soja na dieta.<br>This trial was conducted to investigate the replacement of soybean meal with a mixture of urea plus cassava scrapings on nutrient intake, digestibility, and production of crossbred lactating cows fed diets containing forage cactus (Opuntia ficus indica, Mill), sorghum silage, and concentrate. Eight crossbred holstein:zebu cows averaging 60&plusmn;30 days in milk and initial body weight (BW) of 491 kg were randomly assigned to two replicated 4 &times; 4 Latin squares and were fed diets with increasing levels of urea plus cassava scrapings: 0, 33, 67 or 100%. Replacing soybean meal with urea plus cassava scrapings linearly decreased the intakes of DM (kg, % BW and g/BW kg0.75), OM, CP, EE, NDF, and TC. However, the increasing dietary levels of urea plus cassava sacrapings did not affetc the intakes of NDF (% BW), ADF, NFC, and TDN. Apparent digestibilities of all nutrients showed significant quadratic effects with increasing urea plus cassava scrapings. Milk yield, milk yield corrected for 4.0% fat and milk fat yield all decreased linearly by 30, 20 and, 0.8 g/day, respectively, while fat content and feed efficiency, expressed as kg of 4.0% fat corrected milk/kg of DM, were not changed by decreasing soybean meal in the diet

Associational effects and the maintenance of polymorphism in plant defense against herbivores: review and evidence

Many plant species have evolved defense traits against herbivores. Associational effects (AEs) refer to a kind of apparent interaction where the herbivory risk to a focal plant species depends on the composition of other plant species in a neighborhood. Despite ample evidence for AEs between different plant species, this point of view has rarely been applied to polymorphism in defense traits within a plant species. The purpose of this review is to highlight an overlooked role of conspecific AEs in maintaining polymorphism in antiherbivore defense. First, I present a general review of AE between plant species and its role in the coexistence of plant species. This viewpoint of AE can be applied to genetic polymorphism within a plant species, as it causes frequency‐ and density‐dependent herbivory between multiple plant types. Second, I introduce a case study of conspecific AEs in the trichome‐producing (hairy) and glabrous plants of Arabidopsis halleri subsp. gemmifera. Laboratory and semi‐field experiments illustrated that AEs against the brassica leaf beetle Phaedon brassicae mediate a minority advantage in defense and fitness between hairy and glabrous plants. Combined with a statistical modeling approach, field observation revealed that conspecific AEs can maintain the trichome dimorphism via negative frequency‐dependent selection in a plant population. Finally, I discuss spatial and temporal scales at which AEs contribute to shaping genetic variation in antiherbivore defense in a plant metapopulation. Based on the review and evidence, I suggest that AEs play a key role in the maintenance of genetic variation within a plant species