Association of anticardiolipin, antiphosphatidylserine, anti-β2 glycoprotein I, and antiphosphatidylcholine autoantibodies with canine immune thrombocytopenia

β2GPI expression and identification. (PDF 159 kb

Conflict resolution under uncertainty

Rubinstein's alternating offer bargaining model is extended to uncertain situations. When the players do not have complete information on the feasible payoff set, the bargaining is based on the players' own estimations on the Pareto frontier. It has been proved that there always exists a unique stationary fictitious subgame perfect equilibrium (SPE) if the estimates of the Pareto frontier are close to each other. Monotonicity and convergence properties of the stationary subgame perfect equilibria (SPEs) are next examined. It has been shown that the convergence of the disagreement payoff vector and the break-down probabilities implies the convergence of the SPEs as well. The controllability of the resulting dynamic systems is examined and it is shown that by selecting an appropriate disagreement payoff vector and a break-down probability, any desired outcome or maximize payoffs can be reached. The bargaining processes with time-varying Pareto frontiers are also analyzed. Four examples are provided to illustrate how to use the general model to design optimal negotiation strategy. The results of the dissertation provide schemes that can be applied to design and conduct future negotiations

Resveratrol protects against diet-induced atherosclerosis by reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and inhibiting inflammation in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Objective(s):Resveratrol (RES) is a polyphenol compound that has been shown a promising cardioprotective effect. However, some reports have yielded conflicting findings. Herein, we investigated the anti-atherosclerotic effects of RES in apolipoprotein E (apo E)-deficient mice on a high cholesterol diet. Materials and Methods: Firstly, atherosclerosis was induced by feeding a high cholesterol diet to apo E-deficient mice. Then, we examined its effects on weight control, and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels and used histopathological methods to analyze morphology and inflammatory marker of atherosclerotic lesions in mice orally supplemented with high (25 mg/kg/day) and low (5 mg/kg/day) doses of RES for 8 weeks. Results: Mice with high dose of RES had reduced epididymal fat pads, and lower serum IL-6 levels compared with those of control mice. Moreover, RES in high doses also decreased the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and atherogenic index (LDL-C/HDL-C) in the mice. Dissection of high-dose RES-treated mice revealed a marked reduction in fat deposition, percentage of mice with atherosclerotic lesion, and intima/media ratio in the aortic areas.Theexpressions of macrophage-specific marker F4/80 and cardiovascular inflammatory marker NF-κB in atherosclerotic vessels were both diminished in the atherosclerotic vessels of high-dose RES-supplementated apo E-deficient mice. Conclusion: These results suggest that RES prevented the effects of a high cholesterol diet onthe rate of accretion in atherosclerosis progression by reducing the LDL-C levels and suppressing atherosclerotic inflammation. RES can therefore be valuable in the development of new anti-atherosclerotic agents

Exercise Affects Blood Glucose Levels and Tissue Chromium Distribution in High-Fat Diet-Fed C57BL6 Mice

Obesity is commonly associated with hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes and negatively affects chromium accumulation in tissues. Exercise prevents and controls obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, little information is available regarding chromium changes for regulating glucose homeostasis in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed animals/humans who exercise. Therefore, this study explored the effects of exercise and whether it alters chromium distribution in obese mice. Male C57BL6/J mice aged 4 weeks were randomly divided into two groups and fed either an HFD or standard diet (SD). Each group was subgrouped into two additional groups in which one subgroup was exposed to treadmill exercise for 12 weeks and the other comprised control mice. HFD-fed mice that exercised exhibited significant lower body weight gain, food/energy intake, daily food efficiency, and serum leptin and insulin levels than did HFD-fed control mice. Moreover, exercise reduced fasting glucose and enhanced insulin sensitivity and pancreatic β-cell function, as determined by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-insulin resistance and HOMA-β indices, respectively. Exercise also resulted in markedly higher chromium levels within the muscle, liver, fat tissues, and kidney but lower chromium levels in the bone and bloodstream in obese mice than in control mice. However, these changes were not noteworthy in SD-fed mice that exercised. Thus, exercise prevents and controls HFD-induced obesity and may modulate chromium distribution in insulin target tissues

Fecal reproductive steroid profiles for monitoring reproductive patterns in female Formosan black bears (Ursus thibetanus formosanus)

Fecal sexual estradiol (E(2)) and progesterone (P(4)) analyses were conducted on three adult female Formosan black bears in order to establish non-invasive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for describing the endocrine profile in a simulated natural breeding environment. Moreover, we investigated whether the Formosan black bear living in subtropical habitats in Taiwan is a seasonal breeder with delayed embryo implantation, ovulation pattern, and maternal perinatal fasting. Our results indicate that mating behavior occurred both before and after the fecal E(2) peak of March June. Fecal P(4) concentrations initially increased after mating, then decreased to lower levels, and finally increased again, which is indicative of a delayed embryo-implantation. Fecal P(4) levels decreased postpartum. Peaks of fecal P(4) levels were also observed in unmated female bears housed with male bears without coitus: their annual fecal P(4) levels were higher from winter to spring, similar to the pregnant female bear: Interestingly, only pregnant female bears displayed a physiological state of fasting before and after parturition. These results suggest that Formosan black bears' breeding is seasonal and takes place from spring to early summer. Delayed implantation, maternal perinatal fasting and induced ovulation from male stimulation independent of coital stimulation alone are typical for the species

Antimicrobial Peptide Mastoparan-AF Kills Multi-Antibiotic Resistant <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 via Multiple Membrane Disruption Patterns and Likely by Adopting 3–11 Amphipathic Helices to Favor Membrane Interaction

We investigated the antimicrobial activity and membrane disruption modes of the antimicrobial peptide mastoparan-AF against hemolytic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Based on the physicochemical properties, mastoparan-AF may potentially adopt a 3–11 amphipathic helix-type structure, with five to seven nonpolar or hydrophobic amino acid residues forming the hydrophobic face. E. coli O157:H7 and two diarrheagenic E. coli veterinary clinical isolates, which are highly resistant to multiple antibiotics, are sensitive to mastoparan-AF, with minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) ranging from 16 to 32 μg mL−1 for E. coli O157:H7 and four to eight μg mL−1 for the latter two isolates. Mastoparan-AF treatment, which correlates proportionally with membrane permeabilization of the bacteria, may lead to abnormal dents, large perforations or full opening at apical ends (hollow tubes), vesicle budding, and membrane corrugation and invagination forming irregular pits or pores on E. coli O157:H7 surface. In addition, mRNAs of prepromastoparan-AF and prepromastoparan-B share a 5′-poly(A) leader sequence at the 5′-UTR known for the advantage in cap-independent translation. This is the first report about the 3–11 amphipathic helix structure of mastoparans to facilitate membrane interaction. Mastoparan-AF could potentially be employed to combat multiple antibiotic-resistant hemolytic E. coli O157:H7 and other pathogenic E. coli