Cold storage for Iowa apples

Under present conditions of apple growing in Iowa temporary gluts are common in very many local markets from the time the earliest fruits begin to ripen till early autumn or mid autumn followed usually by an immediate shortage as soon as the early fruit passes out of season. This holds true to a constantly increasing extent from south central Iowa to the north boundary of the State. The result is low prices locally for much of the early fruit with high prices usually prevailing from mid autumn to the end of the season. Even though prices are high very often the available supply of winter apples is not first-class fruit. The experiments demonstrate that certain desirable fall apples which are hardy enough to be grown sucessfully even in northern Iowa, can be held in good market condition through the winter months if handled carefully and stored quickly. This makes it possible to maintain a supply of home-grown fruit till late winter or early spring even in those parts of Iowa where practically none but early apples are now grown

Imaging Modalities for Cervical Spondylotic Stenosis and Myelopathy

Cervical spondylosis is a spectrum of pathology presenting as neck pain, radiculopathy, and myelopathy or all in combination. Diagnostic imaging is essential to diagnosis and preoperative planning. We discuss the modalities of imaging in common practice. We examine the use of imaging to differentiate among central, subarticular, and lateral stenosis and in the assessment of myelopathy

Multiple Myeloma: A Review of Imaging Features and Radiological Techniques

The recently updated Durie/Salmon PLUS staging system published in 2006 highlights the many advances that have been made in the imaging of multiple myeloma, a common malignancy of plasma cells. In this article, we shall focus primarily on the more sensitive and specific whole-body imaging techniques, including whole-body computed tomography, whole-body magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission computed tomography. We shall also discuss new and emerging imaging techniques and future developments in the radiological assessment of multiple myeloma

In vitro development of chemotherapy and targeted therapy drug-resistant cancer cell lines: a practical guide with case studies

The development of a drug-resistant cell line can take from 3 to 18 months. However, little is published on the methodology of this development process. This article will discuss key decisions to be made prior to starting resistant cell line development; the choice of parent cell line, dose of selecting agent, treatment interval, and optimizing the dose of drug for the parent cell line. Clinically relevant drug-resistant cell lines are developed by mimicking the conditions cancer patients experience during chemotherapy and cell lines display between two- and eight-fold resistance compared to their parental cell line. Doses of drug administered are low, and a pulsed treatment strategy is often used where the cells recover in drug-free media. High-level laboratory models are developed with the aim of understanding potential mechanisms of resistance to chemotherapy agents. Doses of drug are higher and escalated over time. It is common to have difficulty developing stable clinically relevant drug-resistant cell lines. A comparative selection strategy of multiple cell lines or multiple chemotherapeutic agents mitigates this risk and gives insight into which agents or type of cell line develops resistance easily. Successful selection strategies from our research are presented. Pulsed-selection produced platinum or taxane-resistant large cell lung cancer (H1299 and H460) and temozolomide-resistant melanoma (Malme-3M and HT144) cell lines. Continuous selection produced a lapatinib-resistant breast cancer cell line (HCC1954). Techniques for maintaining drug-resistant cell lines are outlined including; maintaining cells with chemotherapy, pulse treating with chemotherapy, or returning to master drug-resistant stocks. The heterogeneity of drug-resistant models produced from the same parent cell line with the same chemotherapy agent is explored with reference to P-glycoprotein. Heterogeneity in drug-resistant cell lines reflects the heterogeneity that can occur in clinical drug resistance

Syndecan-3 is selectively pro-inflammatory in the joint and contributes to antigen-induced arthritis in mice

INTRODUCTION: Syndecans are heparan sulphate proteoglycans expressed by endothelial cells. Syndecan-3 is expressed by synovial endothelial cells of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients where it binds chemokines, suggesting a role in leukocyte trafficking. The objective of the current study was to examine the function of syndecan-3 in joint inflammation by genetic deletion in mice and compare with other tissues. METHODS: Chemokine C-X-C ligand 1 (CXCL1) was injected in the joints of syndecan-3-/-and wild-type mice and antigen-induced arthritis performed. For comparison chemokine was administered in the skin and cremaster muscle. Intravital microscopy was performed in the cremaster muscle. RESULTS: Administration of CXCL1 in knee joints of syndecan-3-/-mice resulted in reduced neutrophil accumulation compared to wild type. This was associated with diminished presence of CXCL1 at the luminal surface of synovial endothelial cells where this chemokine clustered and bound to heparan sulphate. Furthermore, in the arthritis model syndecan-3 deletion led to reduced joint swelling, leukocyte accumulation, cartilage degradation and overall disease severity. Conversely, CXCL1 administration in the skin of syndecan-3 null mice provoked increased neutrophil recruitment and was associated with elevated luminal expression of E-selectin by dermal endothelial cells. Similarly in the cremaster, intravital microscopy showed increased numbers of leukocytes adhering and rolling in venules in syndecan-3-/-mice in response to CXCL1 or tumour necrosis factor alpha. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows a novel role for syndecan-3 in inflammation. In the joint it is selectively pro-inflammatory, functioning in endothelial chemokine presentation and leukocyte recruitment and cartilage damage in an RA model. Conversely, in skin and cremaster it is anti-inflammatory

Youths with asthma and their experiences of self-management education: a qualitative systematic review protocol

REVIEW QUESTION: What are the experiences of youths with asthma in self-management education

High-fat diet effects on contractile performance of isolated mouse soleus and extensor digitorum longus when supplemented with high dose vitamin D

YesEvidence suggests vitamin D3 (VD) supplementation can reduce accumulation of adipose tissue and inflammation and promote myogenesis in obese individuals, and thus could mitigate obesity-induced reductions in skeletal muscle (SkM) contractility. However, this is yet to be directly investigated. This study, using the work-loop technique, examined effects of VD (cholecalciferol) supplementation on isolated SkM contractility. Female mice (n = 37) consumed standard low-fat diet (SLD) or high-fat diet (HFD), with or without VD (20,000 IU/kg-1 ) for 12 weeks. Soleus and EDL (n = 8-10 per muscle per group) were isolated and absolute and normalized (to muscle size and body mass) isometric force and power output (PO) were measured, and fatigue resistance determined. Absolute and normalized isometric force and PO of soleus were unaffected by diet (P > 0.087). However, PO normalized to body mass was reduced in HFD groups (P  0.588). HFD reduced EDL isometric stress (P = 0.048) and absolute and normalized PO (P  0.493). Cumulative work during fatiguing contractions was lower in HFD groups (P  0.060). This study uniquely demonstrated that high-dose VD had limited effects on SkM contractility and did not offset demonstrated adverse effects of HFD. However, small and moderate effect sizes suggest improvement in EDL muscle performance and animal morphology in HFD VD groups. Given effect sizes observed, coupled with proposed inverted U-shaped dose-effect curve, future investigations are needed to determine dose/duration specific responses to VD, which may culminate in improved function of HFD SkM. NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? Can vitamin D supplementation alleviate detrimental effects of high-fat diet (HFD) consumption on contractile performance of isolated skeletal muscles? What is the main finding and its importance? The present study is the first to examine the synergistic effects of HFD consumption and vitamin D supplementation on the contractile performance of isolated skeletal muscle. These findings suggest high dose vitamin D has limited effects on force, power or fatigue resistance of isolated mouse soleus and extensor digitorum longus

Youths with asthma and their experiences of self-management education: A systematic review of qualitative evidence

AIMS: To identify and synthesize the available evidence of youths with asthma and their experience of self-management education. DESIGN: Systematic literature review of qualitative studies with meta-synthesis of findings. DATA SOURCES: We searched five databases, CINAHL Complete, Embase, MEDLINE (EBSCO) PsycINFO, ASSIA and the Global Index Medicus (formerly the WHOLIS). Initial search in September 2019 and updated in July 2020 and July 2022. REVIEW METHODS: The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the JBI methodology for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. Qualitative data were extracted, meta-summarized and then meta-synthesized. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were identified for inclusion in this review and three themes were identified: The theory and practice gap, contemporary health-seeking preferences and the psychosocial impacts of living with asthma. CONCLUSION: The needs of youths with asthma are specific and must be measurable against the change in asthma outcomes for this group. They have unmet self-management educational needs that stakeholders, involved in their care and support, should address. Education and practice policy should focus on youth-centric approaches. Through meaningful engagement with youths, stakeholders can identify their support needs, requirements and preferences to successfully underpin the theory and practice of self-management education. IMPACT: This review synthesized evidence of youths with asthma and their experiences of self-management education, highlighting their specific self-management information needs. The findings highlight several implications for healthcare professionals in education, practice and research. This age profile is under-explored and further research into this population would work towards filling the theory and practice gap and highlighting the identified psychosocial issues faced by this group

MARCKS phosphorylation is modulated by a peptide mimetic of MARCKS effector domain leading to increased radiation sensitivity in lung cancer cell lines

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in the United States. Kinase hyperactivation is a known mechanism of tumorigenesis. The phosphorylation status of the plasma membrane-associated protein myristoylated alanine rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) effector domain (ED) was previously established as being important in the sensitivity of lung cancer to radiation. Specifically, when MARCKS ED was in a non-phosphorylated state, lung cancer cells were more susceptible to ionizing radiation and experienced prolonged double-strand DNA breaks. Additional studies demonstrated that the phosphorylation status of MARCKS ED is important for gene expression and in vivo tumor growth. The present study used a peptide mimetic of MARCKS ED as a therapeutic intervention to modulate MARCKS phosphorylation. Culturing A549, H1792 and H1975 lung cancer cell lines with the MARCKS ED peptide led to reduced levels of phosphorylated MARCKS and phosphorylated Akt serine/threonine kinase 1. Further investigation demonstrated that the peptide therapy was able to reduce lung cancer cell proliferation and increase radiation sensitivity. In addition, the MARCKS peptide therapy was able to prolong double-strand DNA breaks following ionizing radiation exposure. The results of the present study demonstrate that a peptide mimetic of MARCKS ED is able to modulate MARCKS phosphorylation, leading to an increase in sensitivity to radiation. Keywords: lung cancer, myristoylated alanine rich C-kinase substrate, radiation sensitivity, effector domain, peptide mimeti