A Study of RET Dependent Transcriptional Changes of Cell Signaling Proteins in Neuroblastoma Cells

The ret proto-oncogene codes for a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in the pathogenesis of numerous developmental defects, particularly those in neural crest-derived structures leading to the regulation of cell proliferation, migration, differentiation and survival during embryogenesis. Constitutive activation or inactivation of the RET receptor results in the cancer syndrome Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia or Hirschsprung\u27s disease, respectively. The importance of RET in these disease states has been well established. However, while many proteins associated with the RET signaling pathway have been identified, the transcriptional changes induced by the wild type receptor, particularly with respect to these signaling proteins in neuroblastoma cells, is less clear. In order to better understand the transcriptional changes that occur in response to RET activation, SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells were treated with 100 ng/ml GDNF and the RNA isolated. Focusing on the changes in transcription of specific genes that occur in response to the activation of RET, including Etv4, Spryl and Shp2, primers for these genes were designed and the genes characterized using standard RT-PCR and then further analyzed using real-time PGR. Some of these genes promote and control branching in kidney morphology while others, when mutated, are associated with several human diseases. Analyzing the expression levels of each gene in response to the activation of RET will aid in elucidating RET-mediated mechanisms that contribute to these diseases and understanding the role of RET on downstream signaling and cellular function. These findings show quantitatively minimal effect on Spryl, Shp2 and Etv4 expression in response to 4-hour GDNF treatment in neuroblastoma cells by real-time PGR. Because the fold changes observed were not remarkable, the data suggests that expression regulation of these proteins may not be dependent on RET activation. Future studies include analyzing transcriptional changes of these signaling proteins in response to RET activation with longer GDNF treatments or by combination of different ligand stimulation to help further elucidate the possible role of RET on these signaling proteins

Dietary Glycemic Index, Dietary Glycemic Load, Blood Lipids, and Coronary Heart Disease

Objective. To examine the associations of dietary glycemic index (GI) and dietary glycemic load (GL) with blood lipid concentrations and coronary heart disease (CHD) in nondiabetic participants in the Health Worker Cohort Study (HWCS). Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional analysis was performed, using data from adults who participated in the HWCS baseline assessment. We collected information on participants' socio-demographic conditions, dietary patterns and physical activity via self-administered questionnaires. Dietary GI and dietary GL were measured using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometric and clinical measurements were assessed with standardized procedures. CHD risk was estimated according to the sex-specific Framingham prediction algorithms. Results. IIn the 5,830 individuals aged 20 to 70 who were evaluated, dietary GI and GL were significantly associated with HDL-C, LDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio, and triglycerides serum levels. Subjects with high dietary GI have a relative risk of 1.56 (CI 95%; 1.13–2.14), and those with high dietary GL have a relative risk of 2.64 (CI 95%; 1.15–6.58) of having an elevated CHD risk than those who had low dietary GI and GL. Conclusions. Our results suggest that high dietary GI and dietary GL could have an unfavorable effect on serum lipid levels, which are in turn associated with a higher CHD risk

The impact of networks and the concept of reception on asset accumulation strategies of Latino newcomers in new settlement communities in the Midwest

Includes bibliographical references.The heartland of America is experiencing unprecedented demographic changes as more Latino newcomers move to rural communities. Our goal is to understand the factors that contribute to the integration and economic contributions of Latino newcomers to the Midwest, using a sustainable livelihood strategies model to focus especially on the roles of identity, acculturation, social capital, and context of reception

Weight-loss practices among university students in Mexico

To evaluate the prevalence of weight-loss practices among university students from Tlaxcala, Mexico. A cross-sectional study of 2,651 university students was conducted. Logistic regression tests were used to estimate the probability of students trying to lose weight and successfully achieving weight loss. Nearly 40% of students attempted to lose weight, though only about 7% lost more than 10% of their body weight and maintained this weight loss during the time of the study. The methods used most were exercise and dieting, and those who dieted were more successful at losing weight. The high prevalence of weight-loss attempts and the poor outcomes with these weight-loss methods among this sample of university students is a public health concern. Universities should provide students with healthy weight-control approaches, which include offering information about healthier lifestyles, access to healthy food and opportunities to be physically active

PROCESSING SPEED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SCHIZOPHRENIA AND SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER: A PILOT STUDY

We aimed to compare processing speed (PS) and its subcomponents in schizophrenia (SC) and schizoaffective disorder (SA). Thirty-five patients were divided into two groups (SC=18; SA=17). PS tasks from the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery Central/South America version were used. Additional PS subcomponents were analyzed (i.e., behavioral execution, response processing, and accuracy). SA obtained significant higher scores than SC in response processing, verbal fluency and the PS general domain. Our results indicate that PS is a potential cognitive marker to differentiate between SC and SA. Further research with larger samples must be conducted

Perspectives of work among Mexican Immigrants

Presented at the American Psychological Association Convention, New Orleans, August 10-13, 2006.Includes bibliographical references.In this pilot study, four Mexican immigrants who have lived in the United States from one to five years were interviewed about their experiences with work in the U.S. Interview data were analyzed using consensual qualitative research methods (Hill, Thompson, & Williams, 1997). Themes associated with their work experiences were motivation for working in U.S., barriers to working, access to working, attitudes toward work, conceptions of work, work goals and expectations, work climate, and information for others. Implications of the results for vocational psychologists and suggestions for future research are discussed

Microbial Communities in Pre-Columbian Coprolites

The study of coprolites from earlier cultures represents a great opportunity to study an “unaltered” composition of the intestinal microbiota. To test this, pre-Columbian coprolites from two cultures, the Huecoid and Saladoid, were evaluated for the presence of DNA, proteins and lipids by cytochemical staining, human and/or dog-specific Bacteroides spp. by PCR, as well as bacteria, fungi and archaea using Terminal Restriction Fragment analyses. DNA, proteins and lipids, and human-specific Bacteroides DNA were detected in all coprolites. Multidimensional scaling analyses resulted in spatial arrangements of microbial profiles by culture, further supported by cluster analysis and ANOSIM. Differences between the microbial communities were positively correlated with culture, and SIMPER analysis indicated 68.8% dissimilarity between the Huecoid and Saladoid. Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and methanogens were found in all coprolite samples. Propionebacteria, Shewanella and lactic acid bacteria dominated in the Huecoid samples, while Acidobacteria, and peptococci were dominant in Saladoid samples. Yeasts, including Candida albicans and Crypotococcus spp. were found in all samples. Basidiomycetes were the most notable fungi in Huecoid samples while Ascomycetes predominated in Saladoid samples, suggesting differences in dietary habits. Our study provides an approach for the study of the microbial communities of coprolite samples from various cultures

Site-Selective Aliphatic C–H Chlorination Using N -Chloroamides Enables a Synthesis of Chlorolissoclimide

Methods for the practical, intermolecular functionalization of aliphatic C-H bonds remain a paramount goal of organic synthesis. Free radical alkane chlorination is an important industrial process for the production of small molecule chloroalkanes from simple hydrocarbons, yet applications to fine chemical synthesis are rare. Herein, we report a site-selective chlorination of aliphatic C-H bonds using readily available N-chloroamides and apply this transformation to a synthesis of chlorolissoclimide, a potently cytotoxic labdane diterpenoid. These reactions deliver alkyl chlorides in useful chemical yields with substrate as the limiting reagent. Notably, this approach tolerates substrate unsaturation that normally poses major challenges in chemoselective, aliphatic C-H functionalization. The sterically and electronically dictated site selectivities of the C-H chlorination are among the most selective alkane functionalizations known, providing a unique tool for chemical synthesis. The short synthesis of chlorolissoclimide features a high yielding, gram-scale radical C-H chlorination of sclareolide and a three-step/two-pot process for the introduction of the β-hydroxysuccinimide that is salient to all the lissoclimides and haterumaimides. Preliminary assays indicate that chlorolissoclimide and analogues are moderately active against aggressive melanoma and prostate cancer cell lines