The Embryonic Stem Cell Test as Tool to Assess Structure-Dependent Teratogenicity: The Case of Valproic Acid

Teratogenicity can be predicted in vitro using the embryonic stem cell test (EST). The EST, which is based on the morphometric measurement of cardiomyocyte differentiation and cytotoxicity parameters, represents a scientifically validated method for the detection and classification of chemicals according to their teratogenic potency. Furthermore, an abbreviated protocol applying flow cytometry of intracellular marker proteins to determine differentiation into the cardiomyocyte lineage is available. Although valproic acid (VPA) is in worldwide clinical use as antiepileptic drug, it exhibits two severe side effects, i.e., teratogenicity and hepatotoxicity. These limitations have led to extensive research into derivatives of VPA. Here we chose VPA as model compound to test the applicability domain and to further evaluate the reliability of the EST. To this end, we study six closely related congeners of VPA and demonstrate that both the standard and the molecular flow cytometry-based EST are well suited to indicate differences in the teratogenic potency among VPA analogs that differ only in chirality or side chain length. Our data show that identical results can be obtained by using the standard EST or a shortened protocol based on flow cytometry of intracellular marker proteins. Both in vitro protocols enable to reliably determine differentiation of murine stem cells toward the cardiomyocyte lineage and to assess its chemical-mediated inhibition

Expanding the Trumpet Repertoire: A Pedagogical Exploration of Four Diverse Works for Trumpet by Bertold Hummel, James Miley, Karl Pilss, and Joseph Turrin

The objective of my lecture is to expand the trumpet repertoire through the addition of four diverse works. This lecture recital will include live performance examples, pedagogical reasoning, background information about the composers and pieces, and some ways to make the works more accessible. Karl Pilss’ Sonata for Trumpet and Piano is an authentic German Romantic work for trumpet, which is extremely unique. Pilss’ sonata is also very useful as a study piece for intermediate to advanced students. Joseph Turrin is a prolific composer for trumpet, and his Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra, his first major work for trumpet, deserves to be better known and performed more often. Interesting chamber music for trumpet is difficult to come by, but Bertold Hummel’s Trio op. 82a for Trumpet in C, Percussion, and Piano is an excellent piece in a rare medium and has a unique sound. {this is} for trumpet and piano by James Miley is an example of the future of trumpet repertoire. It was commissioned by myself in 2008, and is a classical piece written by a composer with a significant jazz background. It utilizes many different stylistic influences of the composer including jazz, classical, pop, and rock music, however, {this is} is still very accessible to players that don’t have a jazz background

Sympathy in the context of mother child and teacher child relationships

Two studies were carried out to investigate relations between socialization influences, person variables, and sympathy as well as prosocial behavior in 5-year-old preschool children. Of special interest were the interactions between child characteristics (sex, inhibition toward strangers) and socialization practice of child care teachers (Study 1) and mothers caregiving style (Study 2). Participants in Study 1 were 105 five-year-old children who were confronted with the simulated distress of a puppet; 25 teachers were observed while interacting with the children during free play and 93 parents rated their childs inhibition. Participants in study 2 were 79 5-year-old children and their mothers. As in study 1, the childrens reactions to distress were observed. The mothers rated their childs inhibition and participated in an interview to assess the quality of their caregiving style. Positive, albeit weak, relations occurred between child care teachers warmth and childrens sympathetic-prosocial relations to distress; no direct effects emerged for maternal behavior. Negative, albeit weak, associations were found between inhibition and sympathetic-prosocial reactions. These relations improved when interactions between sex, inhibition, and the caregiving style of the teachers (but not of the mothers) were taken into account. The results are discussed with regards to the context specificity of socialization