Mutual stimulatory signaling between human myogenic cells and rat cerebellar neurons

Abstract Insight into the bidirectional signaling between primary human myogenic cells and neurons is lacking. For this purpose, human myogenic cells were derived from the semitendinosus and gracilis muscles of five healthy individuals and co‐cultured with cerebellar granule neurons from two litters of 7‐day‐old Wistar rat pups, in muscle medium or neural medium, alongside monocultures of myogenic cells or neurons. RT‐PCR was performed to determine human mRNA levels of GAPDH, Ki67, myogenin, and MUSK, and the acetylcholine receptor subtypes CHRNA1, CHRNB1, CHRNG, CHRND, and CHRNE, and rat mRNA levels of GAPDH, Fth1, Rack1, vimentin, Cdh13, and Ppp1r1a. Immunocytochemistry was used to evaluate neurite outgrowth (GAP43) in the presence and absence of myogenic cells. Co‐culture with primary neurons lead to higher myogenic cell gene expression levels of GAPDH, myogenin, MUSK, CHRNA1, CHRNG, and CHRND, compared to myogenic cells cultured alone. It appeared that neurons preferentially attached to myotubes and that neurite outgrowth was enhanced when neurons were cultured with myogenic cells compared to monoculture. In neural medium, rat mRNA levels of GAPDH, vimentin, Cdh13, and Ppp1r1a were greater in co‐culture, versus monoculture, whereas in muscle medium co‐culture lead to lower levels of Fth1, Rack1, vimentin, and Cdh13 than monoculture. These findings demonstrate mutually beneficial stimulatory signaling between rat cerebellar granule neurons and human myogenic cells, providing support for an active role for both the neuron and the muscle cell in stimulating neurite growth and myogenesis. Bidirectional muscle nerve signaling

Measurement properties of UCLA Activity Scale for hip and knee arthroplasty patients and translation and cultural adaptation into Danish

Background and purpose — The UCLA Activity Scale (UCLA) is a questionnaire assessing physical activity level from 1 (low) to 10 (high) in patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty (HA/KA). After translation and cultural adaptation, we evaluated the measurement properties of the Danish UCLA. Patients and methods — After dual panel translation, cognitive interviews were performed among 55 HA/KA patients. An orthopedic surgeon and a physiotherapist estimated UCLA scores for 80 KA patients based on short interviews. Measurement properties were evaluated in 130 HA and 134 KA patients preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively. Results — To suit Danish patients of today, several adaptations were required. Prior to interviews, 4 patients were excluded, and 11 misinterpreted the answer options. Examiners rated the remaining 65 patients (mean age 67 years) 0.2–1.6 UCLA levels lower than patients themselves. The 130 HA and 134 KA patients (mean age 71/68 years) changed from 4.3 (SD 1.9)/4.5 (1.8) preoperatively to 6.6 (1.8)/6.2 (1.0) at 1-year follow-up. 103 (79%) HA and 89 (66%) KA patients reported increased activity. Effect sizes were large (1.2/0.96). Knee patients reaching minimal important change (MIC, ≥ 8 Oxford Knee Score points) had higher 1-year UCLA scores than patients not reaching MIC. Interpretation — Original scale development was undocumented. Content validity was questionable, and there was discrepancy between patient and examiner estimates. UCLA appears valuable for measuring change in self-reported physical activity on a group level. 4 out of 5 HA patients and 2 out of 3 KA patients were more physically active 1 year after joint replacement surgery

Synthesis of fluorine-18 labeled GABA uptake inhibitors

The first syntheses of fluorine-18 labeled inhibitors of GABA reuptake [(R,S)-1-{2-{4-[18F]fluorophenyl}phenyl}methoxyethyl]piperidine-3-carboxylic acid, (R,S)-1-{2-(4-[18F]fluorophenyl)(4-fluorophenyl)methoxyethyl}piperidine-3-carboxylic acid, and (R,S)-1-[2-{(4-[18F]trifluoromethyl)phenyl} {(4-trifluoromethyl)phenyl}-methoxyethyl]piperidine-3-carboxylic acid] are described. These N-substituted nipecotic acid derivatives were prepared in no-carrier-added form by the condensation of the appropriately substituted [18F]benzhydryl chlorides (prepared in three steps from [18F]fluoride ion) with N-(2-hydroxyethyl)nipecotic acid ethyl ester, followed by ester hydrolysis. Overall radiochemical yields were 17-28% (corrected, 150 min synthesis time). A simple new method for synthesis of a [18F]trifluoromethyl group by the nucleophilic substitution of a bromodifluoromethyl substituent has also been developed.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/28921/1/0000758.pd