Visual function due to regeneration of optic nerve or optic tract through peripheral nerve homografts

Segments of sciatic nerve from one leg were used to induce regeneration of transected optic nerve (ON) or tract in Syrian hamsters. In the first group, the nerve graft was sutured to the stump of the transected ON of the right eye in young adult animals, and the other end was placed below the surface of the ipsilateral superior colliculus (SC); the opposite eye was removed. In one animal, orienting movements in the wrong direction were elicited and recorded on videotape, beginning when the animal was more than 1.5 yr old, over 1 yr after surgery. In the second group, a similar procedure was used but with the nerve going to the contralateral SC. In 3 of 4 long-term survivors, visually elicited turning was obtained and recorded, most reliably in the final 4 mo of their 2-yr life. Regenerating retinofugal axons were traced and their terminations in SC reconstructed using a CT-B procedure and immunohistochemistry (secondary AB conjugated to Alexa-488) and fluorescence microscopy. The visually unresponsive animal had no regeneration, and the most responsive animal had the greatest amount of regeneration. In a 3rd procedure, the right brachium of SC was transected, and 2 or 3 segments of sciatic nerve were implanted as bridges to elicit optic tract regeneration. The first 3 of these animals were operated at age 13-19 days; considerable regeneration was verified anatomically in each case, after behavioral demonstration of visual orienting. Supported by NIH grant EY00126.published_or_final_versio

Expanding the Substrate Scope of N- and O-Methyltransferases from Plants for Chemoselective Alkylation

Methylation reactions are of significant interest when generating pharmaceutically active molecules and building blocks for other applications. Synthetic methylating reagents are often toxic and unselective due to their high reactivity. S‐Adenosyl‐l‐methionine (SAM)‐dependent methyltransferases (MTs) present a chemoselective and environmentally friendly alternative. The anthranilate N‐MT from Ruta graveolens (RgANMT) is involved in acridone alkaloid biosynthesis, methylating anthranilate. Although it is known to methylate substrates only at the N‐position, the closest relatives with respect to amino acid sequence similarities of over 60 % are O‐MTs catalysing the methylation reaction of caffeate and derivatives containing only hydroxyl groups (CaOMTs). In this study, we investigated the substrate range of RgANMT and a CaOMT from Prunus persica (PpCaOMT) using compounds with both, an amino‐ and hydroxyl group (aminophenols) as possible methyl group acceptors. For both enzymes, the reaction was highly chemoselective. Furthermore, generating cofactor derivatives in situ enabled the transfer of other alkyl chains onto the aminophenols, leading to an enlarged pool of products. Selected MT reactions were performed at a preparative biocatalytic scale in in vitro and in vivo experiments resulting in yields of up to 62 %

Higher media multi-tasking activity is associated with smaller gray-matter density in the anterior cingulate cortex

Media multitasking, or the concurrent consumption of multiple media forms, is increasingly prevalent in today’s society and has been associated with negative psychosocial and cognitive impacts. Individuals who engage in heavier media-multitasking are found to perform worse on cognitive control tasks and exhibit more socio-emotional difficulties. However, the neural processes associated with media multi-tasking remain unexplored. The present study investigated relationships between media multitasking activity and brain structure. Research has demonstrated that brain structure can be altered upon prolonged exposure to novel environments and experience. Thus, we expected differential engagements in media multitasking to correlate with brain structure variability. This was confirmed via Voxel-Based Morphometry (VBM) analyses: Individuals with higher Media Multitasking Index (MMI) scores had smaller gray matter density in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Functional connectivity between this ACC region and the precuneus was negatively associated with MMI. Our findings suggest a possible structural correlate for the observed decreased cognitive control performance and socio-emotional regulation in heavy media-multitaskers. While the cross-sectional nature of our study does not allow us to specify the direction of causality, our results brought to light novel associations between individual media multitasking behaviors and ACC structure differences

Balance algorithm for cluster randomized trials

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Within cluster randomized trials no algorithms exist to generate a full enumeration of a block randomization, balancing for covariates across treatment arms. Furthermore, often for practical reasons multiple blocks are required to fully randomize a study, which may not have been well balanced within blocks.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We present a convenient and easy to use randomization tool to undertake allocation concealed block randomization. Our algorithm highlights allocations that minimize imbalance between treatment groups across multiple baseline covariates.</p> <p>We demonstrate the algorithm using a cluster randomized trial in primary care (the PRE-EMPT Study) and show that the software incorporates a trade off between independent random allocations that were likely to be imbalanced, and predictable deterministic approaches that would minimise imbalance. We extend the methodology of single block randomization to allocate to multiple blocks conditioning on previous allocations.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The algorithm is included as Additional file <supplr sid="S1">1</supplr> and we advocate its use for robust randomization within cluster randomized trials.</p> <suppl id="S1"> <title> <p>Additional File 1</p> </title> <text> <p><b>Cluster randomization allocation algorithm version 1.</b> Algorithms scripted in R to provide robust cluster randomization.</p> </text> <file name="1471-2288-8-65-S1.zip"> <p>Click here for file</p> </file> </suppl

Definitions, Criteria and Global Classification of Mast Cell Disorders with Special Reference to Mast Cell Activation Syndromes: A Consensus Proposal

Activation of tissue mast cells (MCs) and their abnormal growth and accumulation in various organs are typically found in primary MC disorders also referred to as mastocytosis. However, increasing numbers of patients are now being informed that their clinical findings are due to MC activation (MCA) that is neither associated with mastocytosis nor with a defined allergic or inflammatory reaction. In other patients with MCA, MCs appear to be clonal cells, but criteria for diagnosing mastocytosis are not met. A working conference was organized in 2010 with the aim to define criteria for diagnosing MCA and related disorders, and to propose a global unifying classification of all MC disorders and pathologic MC reactions. This classification includes three types of `MCA syndromes' (MCASs), namely primary MCAS, secondary MCAS and idiopathic MCAS. MCA is now defined by robust and generally applicable criteria, including (1) typical clinical symptoms, (2) a substantial transient increase in serum total tryptase level or an increase in other MC-derived mediators, such as histamine or prostaglandin D 2, or their urinary metabolites, and (3) a response of clinical symptoms to agents that attenuate the production or activities of MC mediators. These criteria should assist in the identification and diagnosis of patients with MCAS, and in avoiding misdiagnoses or overinterpretation of clinical symptoms in daily practice. Moreover, the MCAS concept should stimulate research in order to identify and exploit new molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base

Label-free TOF-SIMS imaging of sulfur producing enzymes inside microglia cells following exposure to silver nanowires

There are no methods sensitive enough to detect enzymes within cells, without the use of analyte labelling. Here we show that it is possible to detect protein ion signals of three different H2S-synthesizing enzymes inside microglia after pre-treatment with silver nanowires (AgNW) using time of flight-secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). Protein fragment ions, including the fragment of amino acid (C4H8N+ - 70 amu), fragments of the sulfur producing cystathionine-containing enzymes and the Ag+ ion signal could be detected without the use of any labels; the cells were mapped using the C4H8N+ amino acid fragment. Scanning electron microscopy imaging and energy dispersive x-ray chemical analysis showed that the AgNWs were inside the same cells imaged by TOF-SIMS and transformed chemically into crystalline Ag2S within cells in which the sulfur producing proteins were detected. The presence of these sulfur producing cystathionine-containing enzymes within the cells was confirmed by Western Blots and confocal microscopy images of fluorescently labelled antibodies against the sulfur producing enzymes. Label-free ToF-SIMS is very promising for the label-free identification of H2S-contributing enzymes and their cellular localization in biological systems. The technique could in future be used to identify which of these enzymes are most contributory

Reliability of infrared thermography in skin temperature evaluation of wheelchair users

To examine the reliability of infrared thermography (IRT) in wheelchair users (WCUs), as a noninvasive and risk-free technique to detect the natural thermal radiation emitted by human skin and to allow subsequent interpretations of temperature distributions

Impact of Forest Seral Stage on use of Ant Communities for Rapid Assessment of Terrestrial Ecosystem Health

Bioassessment evaluates ecosystem health by using the responses of a community of organisms that integrate all aspects of the ecosystem. A variety of bioassessment methods have been applied to aquatic ecosystems; however, terrestrial methods are less advanced. The objective of this study was to examine baseline differences in ant communities at different seral stages from clear cut to mature pine plantation as a precursor to developing a broader terrestrial bioassessment protocol. Comparative sampling was conducted at nine sites having four seral stages: clearcut, 5 year recovery, 15 year recovery, and mature stands. Soil and vegetation data were also collected at each site. Ants were identified to genus. Analysis of the ant data indicated that ants respond strongly to habitat changes that accompany ecological succession in managed pine forests, and both individual genera and ant community structure can be used as indicators of successional change. Ants exhibited relatively high diversity in both early and mature seral stages. High ant diversity in mature seral stages was likely related to conditions on the forest floor favoring litter dwelling and cold climate specialists. While ants may be very useful in identifying environmental stress in managed pine forests, adjustments must be made for seral stage when comparing impacted and unimpacted forests

Time-course of exercise and its association with 12-month bone changes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exercise has been shown to have positive effects on bone density and strength. However, knowledge of the time-course of exercise and bone changes is scarce due to lack of methods to quantify and qualify daily physical activity in long-term. The aim was to evaluate the association between exercise intensity at 3, 6 and 12 month intervals and 12-month changes in upper femur areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and mid-femur geometry in healthy premenopausal women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Physical activity was continuously assessed with a waist-worn accelerometer in 35 healthy women (35-40 years) participating in progressive high-impact training. To describe exercise intensity, individual average daily numbers of impacts were calculated at five acceleration levels (range 0.3-9.2 <it>g</it>) during time intervals of 0-3, 0-6, and 0-12 months. Proximal femur aBMD was measured with dual x-ray absorptiometry and mid-femur geometry was evaluated with quantitative computed tomography at the baseline and after 12 months. Physical activity data were correlated with yearly changes in bone density and geometry, and adjusted for confounding factors and impacts at later months of the trial using multivariate analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Femoral neck aBMD changes were significantly correlated with 6 and 12 months' impact activity at high intensity levels (> 3.9 <it>g</it>, <it>r </it>being up to 0.42). Trochanteric aBMD changes were associated even with first three months of exercise exceeding 1.1 <it>g </it>(<it>r </it>= 0.39-0.59, <it>p </it>< 0.05). Similarly, mid-femoral cortical bone geometry changes were related to even first three months' activity (<it>r </it>= 0.38-0.52, <it>p </it>< 0.05). In multivariate analysis, 0-3 months' activity did not correlate with bone change at any site after adjusting for impacts at later months. Instead, 0-6 months' impacts were significant correlates of 12-month changes in femoral neck and trochanter aBMD, mid-femur bone circumference and cortical bone attenuation even after adjustment. No significant correlations were found at the proximal or distal tibia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The number of high acceleration impacts during 6 months of training was positively associated with 12-month bone changes at the femoral neck, trochanter and mid-femur. These results can be utilized when designing feasible training programs to prevent bone loss in premenopausal women.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Clinical trials.gov NCT00697957</p