Skin Carotenoid Status Over Time and Differences by Age and Sex Among Head Start Children (3-5 years) Living in Eastern North Carolina

OBJECTIVE: Examine differences in skin carotenoid status (SCS) based on time, age, and sex of preschool-aged children (PSAC) enrolled in Head Start (HS) in North Carolina (NC). DESIGN: Data were collected using surveys from participating families. PSAC’s SCS were measured 3 times over a 6-month period. SETTING: 3 HS centers in NC PARTICIPANTS: 112 children aged 3-5 years old, enrolled in HS MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Differences in SCS assessed using the Veggie Meter® based on time, sex and age ANALYSIS: One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to assess SCS at Time 1 between sex and age (n=112). Repeated measures ANOVA with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction to assess SCS over time (n=45) using Bonferroni correction(b). RESULTS: On average, children were 4 years old, African American (81.3%), male (57%) and mean SCS 266 (SD 82.9). SCS were significantly different over time (p<.001). Significant differences were observed between ages (p=.01) and sex (p=.01). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The Veggie Meter® is a promising tool to assess fruit and vegetable intake but needs to be validated in PSAC as has in adults. Sex and age are potential confounders which should be assessed in future studies using the Veggie Meter®

Alterations of renal phenotype and gene expression profiles due to protein overload in NOD-related mouse strains

BACKGROUND: Despite multiple causes, Chronic Kidney Disease is commonly associated with proteinuria. A previous study on Non Obese Diabetic mice (NOD), which spontaneously develop type 1 diabetes, described histological and gene expression changes incurred by diabetes in the kidney. Because proteinuria is coincident to diabetes, the effects of proteinuria are difficult to distinguish from those of other factors such as hyperglycemia. Proteinuria can nevertheless be induced in mice by peritoneal injection of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). To gain more information on the specific effects of proteinuria, this study addresses renal changes in diabetes resistant NOD-related mouse strains (NON and NOD.B10) that were made to develop proteinuria by BSA overload. METHODS: Proteinuria was induced by protein overload on NON and NOD.B10 mouse strains and histology and microarray technology were used to follow the kidney response. The effects of proteinuria were assessed and subsequently compared to changes that were observed in a prior study on NOD diabetic nephropathy. RESULTS: Overload treatment significantly modified the renal phenotype and out of 5760 clones screened, 21 and 7 kidney transcripts were respectively altered in the NON and NOD.B10. Upregulated transcripts encoded signal transduction genes, as well as markers for inflammation (Calmodulin kinase beta). Down-regulated transcripts included FKBP52 which was also down-regulated in diabetic NOD kidney. Comparison of transcripts altered by proteinuria to those altered by diabetes identified mannosidase 2 alpha 1 as being more specifically induced by proteinuria. CONCLUSION: By simulating a component of diabetes, and looking at the global response on mice resistant to the disease, by virtue of a small genetic difference, we were able to identify key factors in disease progression. This suggests the power of this approach in unraveling multifactorial disease processes

The EpsE Flagellar Clutch Is Bifunctional and Synergizes with EPS Biosynthesis to Promote Bacillus subtilis Biofilm Formation

Many bacteria inhibit motility concomitant with the synthesis of an extracellular polysaccharide matrix and the formation of biofilm aggregates. In Bacillus subtilis biofilms, motility is inhibited by EpsE, which acts as a clutch on the flagella rotor to inhibit motility, and which is encoded within the 15 gene eps operon required for EPS production. EpsE shows sequence similarity to the glycosyltransferase family of enzymes, and we demonstrate that the conserved active site motif is required for EPS biosynthesis. We also screen for residues specifically required for either clutch or enzymatic activity and demonstrate that the two functions are genetically separable. Finally, we show that, whereas EPS synthesis activity is dominant for biofilm formation, both functions of EpsE synergize to stabilize cell aggregates and relieve selective pressure to abolish motility by genetic mutation. Thus, the transition from motility to biofilm formation may be governed by a single bifunctional enzyme

Skin Carotenoid Levels Over Time and Differences by Age, Sex, and Race Among Head Start Children (3-5 years) Living in Eastern North Carolina

Objective: Examine differences in skin carotenoid levels (SCL) based on time, age, sex, and race of preschool-aged children (PSAC) enrolled in Head Start (HS) in North Carolina (NC). Design: Data were collected using surveys from participating families. PSAC's SCL were measured 3 times over a 6-month period. Setting: 3 HS centers in NC Participants: 112 children aged 3-5 years old, enrolled in HS Main Outcome Measure(s): Differences in SCL assessed using the Veggie Meter[registered] based on time, sex, race, and age Analysis: Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with a Greenhouse-Geisser correction to assess SCL at Time 1 between sex, race, and age (n=112). Repeated measures ANOVA to assess SCL over time (n=45) using Bonferroni correction(b). Results: On average, children were 4 years old, African American (81.3%), male (57%) and mean SCL 266 (SD 82.9). SCL were significantly different over time (p[less-than].001). Significant differences were observed between ages (p=.01) and sex (p=.01), but not between race. Conclusions and Implications: The Veggie Meter[registered] is a promising tool to assess fruit and vegetable intake but needs to be validated in PSAC as has in adults. Sex, age, and race are potential confounders which should be assessed in future studies using the Veggie Meter[registered]

Mechanisms of Cigarette Smoke Effects on Human Airway Smooth Muscle.

Cigarette smoke contributes to or exacerbates airway diseases such as asthma and COPD, where airway hyperresponsiveness and airway smooth muscle (ASM) proliferation are key features. While factors such as inflammation contribute to asthma in part by enhancing agonist-induced intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) responses of ASM, the mechanisms by which cigarette smoke affect ASM are still under investigation. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that cigarette smoke enhances the expression and function of Ca(2+) regulatory proteins leading to increased store operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) and cell proliferation. Using isolated human ASM (hASM) cells, incubated in the presence and absence cigarette smoke extract (CSE) we determined ([Ca(2+)]i) responses and expression of relevant proteins as well as ASM proliferation, reactive oxidant species (ROS) and cytokine generation. CSE enhanced [Ca(2+)]i responses to agonist and SOCE: effects mediated by increased expression of TRPC3, CD38, STIM1, and/or Orai1, evident by attenuation of CSE effects when siRNAs against these proteins were used, particularly Orai1. CSE also increased hASM ROS generation and cytokine secretion. In addition, we found in the airways of patients with long-term smoking history, TRPC3 and CD38 expression were significantly increased compared to life-long never-smokers, supporting the role of these proteins in smoking effects. Finally, CSE enhanced hASM proliferation, an effect confirmed by upregulation of PCNA and Cyclin E. These results support a critical role for Ca(2+) regulatory proteins and enhanced SOCE to alter airway structure and function in smoking-related airway disease

Ontogenetic Diet Shifts of Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) in a Mid-Ocean Developmental Habitat

Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) arrive on the geographically isolated Bermuda platform as small juveniles and remain until they are approaching sexual maturity, at which point individuals depart for distant feeding and nesting sites. It has been reported that younger green turtles generally tend to carnivory or omnivory and that seagrasses become a significant food source as the turtles grow. Evidence indicates that grazing by green sea turtles in Bermuda is negatively impacting seagrass beds, thus understanding their diets is important to both conserving the turtles and their food. Stable isotope methods were used to investigate ontogenetic diet shifts of green sea turtles and to determine reliance on seagrass by larger turtles. Skin samples from 157 individual turtles and samples of known turtle foods, plants and animals, were collected for determination of consumer and food δ13C and δ15N values. A Bayesian stable isotope mixing model analysis indicated a wide range among individual turtles’ diets, with the greatest differences occurring between small and large turtles; larger turtles consumed seagrass almost exclusively. We also examined diet changes in 12 turtles captured in two successive years; these recapture data confirmed the changes in diet suggested by the relationship between size of turtles and diet composition. Very limited evidence was found of any diet variation among larger turtles that would indicate a shift away from declining seagrasses as their major food source