Photoactivatable genetically encoded calcium indicators for targeted neuronal imaging.

Circuit mapping requires knowledge of both structural and functional connectivity between cells. Although optical tools have been made to assess either the morphology and projections of neurons or their activity and functional connections, few probes integrate this information. We have generated a family of photoactivatable genetically encoded Ca(2+) indicators that combines attributes of high-contrast photolabeling with high-sensitivity Ca(2+) detection in a single-color protein sensor. We demonstrated in cultured neurons and in fruit fly and zebrafish larvae how single cells could be selected out of dense populations for visualization of morphology and high signal-to-noise measurements of activity, synaptic transmission and connectivity. Our design strategy is transferrable to other sensors based on circularly permutated GFP (cpGFP)

Evaluation of a mental health information and referral service

This paper reports on the application of a method for evaluating public health programs to a mental health intake and referral service of a suburban county of a midwestern state. The method involves measurement of program objectives and subobjectives in order to ascertain program effectiveness. Evaluation provided useful information with regard to the agencies using the service, the flow of patients through the program, and the subsequent flow, through a hospital outpatient clinic, of a majority of patients referred for diagnosis or treatment. The effect of treatment was not included in the evaluation .Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44323/1/10597_2005_Article_BF01434660.pd

Discovery of a potent nanoparticle P‐selectin antagonist with anti‐inflammatory effects in allergic airway disease

The severity of allergic asthma is dependent, in part, on the intensity of peribronchial inflammation. P‐selectin is known to play a role in the development of allergen‐induced peribronchial inflammation and airway hyperreactivity. Selective inhibitors of P‐selectin‐ mediated leukocyte endothelial‐cell interactions may therefore attenuate the inflammatory processes associated with allergic airway disease. Novel P‐selectin inhibitors were created using a polyvalent polymer nanoparticle capable of displaying multiple synthetic, low molecular weight ligands. By assembling a particle that presents an array of groups, which as monomers interact with only low affinity, we created a construct that binds extremely efficiently to P‐ selectin. The ligands acted as mimetics of the key binding elements responsible for the high‐ avidity adhesion of P‐selectin to the physiologic ligand, PSGL‐1. The inhibitors were initially evaluated using an in vitro shear assay system in which interactions between circulating cells and P‐selectin‐coated capillary tubes were measured. The nanoparticles were shown to preferentially bind to selectins expressed on activated endothelial cells. We subsequently demonstrated that nanoparticles displaying P‐selectin blocking arrays were functionally active in vivo, significantly reducing allergen‐induced airway hyperreactivity and peribronchial eosinophilic inflammation in a murine model of asthma.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154265/1/fsb2fj030166fje-sup-0001.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154265/2/fsb2fj030166fje.pd

Stem cell factor and its soluble receptor (c-kit) in serum of asthmatic patients- correlation with disease severity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>SCF (stem cell factor) is a pleiotropic cytokine exerting its role at different stages of bone marrow development and affecting eosinophil activation, mast cells and basophil chemotaxis and survival. The aim of the study was to assess concentration of SCF and its soluble receptor c-kit (sc-kit) in peripheral blood of patients with asthma referring it to asthma severity and phenotype.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study involved 107 patients with bronchial asthma, well characterized with respect to severity and 21 healthy controls. Concentration of SCF and sc-kit in the patients serum were measured by ELISA method.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean serum SCF level in the group of asthmatics (n = 88) was significantly higher as compared to healthy controls (1010 pg/ml ± 37 vs 799 ± 33; p < 0,001). The level of SCF was higher in patients with severe asthma as compared to patients with non-severe asthma (1054 +/- 41 pg/ml vs 819 +/- 50; p < 0,01) and correlated with dose of inhaled glucocorticosteroids taken by the patients to achieve asthma control (R = 0,28; p < 0,01). The mean sc-kit serum level did not differ between asthmatic patients and healthy controls, however the level of sc-kit in non-severe asthmatics was significantly higher as compared to patients with severe asthma and healthy controls. In asthmatic patients (n = 63) the level of sc-kit correlated positively with FEV1% predicted value (R = 0,45; p < 0,001) and MEF25% predicted value (R = 0,33; p < 0,01). The level of sc-kit inversely correlated with the dose of inhaled glucocorticosteroids taken by the patients (R = -0,26; p < 0,01).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Serum levels of SCF and its soluble receptor c-kit seem to be reflect asthma severity suggesting a role for these molecules in asthmatic inflammation.</p

A Soluble Phase Field Model

The kinetics of an initially undercooled solid-liquid melt is studied by means of a generalized Phase Field model, which describes the dynamics of an ordering non-conserved field phi (e.g. solid-liquid order parameter) coupled to a conserved field (e.g. thermal field). After obtaining the rules governing the evolution process, by means of analytical arguments, we present a discussion of the asymptotic time-dependent solutions. The full solutions of the exact self-consistent equations for the model are also obtained and compared with computer simulation results. In addition, in order to check the validity of the present model we confronted its predictions against those of the standard Phase field model and found reasonable agreement. Interestingly, we find that the system relaxes towards a mixed phase, depending on the average value of the conserved field, i.e. on the initial condition. Such a phase is characterized by large fluctuations of the phi field.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, RevTeX 3.1, submitted to Physical Review

Iranian Herbalists, But Not Cooks, Are Better at Naming Odors Than Laypeople

Odor naming is enhanced in communities where communication about odors is a central part of daily life (e.g., wine experts, flavorists, and some hunter-gatherer groups). In this study, we investigated how expert knowledge and daily experience affect the ability to name odors in a group of experts that has not previously been investigated in this context—Iranian herbalists; also called attars—as well as cooks and laypeople. We assessed naming accuracy and consistency for 16 herb and spice odors, collected judgments of odor perception, and evaluated participants' odor meta-awareness. Participants' responses were overall more consistent and accurate for more frequent and familiar odors. Moreover, attars were more accurate than both cooks and laypeople at naming odors, although cooks did not perform significantly better than laypeople. Attars' perceptual ratings of odors and their overall odor meta-awareness suggest they are also more attuned to odors than the other two groups. To conclude, Iranian attars—but not cooks—are better odor namers than laypeople. They also have greater meta-awareness and differential perceptual responses to odors. These findings further highlight the critical role that expertise and type of experience have on olfactory functions

Nicotine Replacement Therapy during Pregnancy and Child Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review

Tobacco smoking in pregnancy is a worldwide public health problem. A majority of pregnant smokers need assistance to stop smoking. Most scientific societies recommend nicotine re- placement therapy (NRT) during pregnancy but this recommendation remains controversial because of the known fetal toxicity of nicotine. The objective of this systematic review was to provide an overview of human studies about child health outcomes associated with NRT use during pregnancy. The electronic databases MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database, Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from the inception of each database until 26 December 2020. A total of 103 articles were identified through database searching using combination of keywords. Out of 75 screened articles and after removal of duplicates, ten full-text articles were assessed for eligibility and five were included in the qualitative synthesis. NRT prescription seems to be associated with higher risk of infantile colic at 6 months as in case of smoking during pregnancy, and with risk of attention- deficit/hyperactivity disorder. No association between NRT during pregnancy and other infant health disorders or major congenital anomalies has been reported. Well-designed controlled clinical trials with sufficient follows-up are needed to provide more information on the use of NRT or other pharmacotherapies for smoking cessation during pregnancy on post-natal child health outcomes.</div