Localization of the human dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase gene (DLD) to 7q31→q32

The gene for human dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLD) has been localized to the long arm of chromosome 7, within bands q31→q32, by gel-blot hybridization analysis with DNA from a panel of somatic cell hybrids containing various portions of human chromosome 7.published_or_final_versio

Antenatal and postnatal corticosteroid and resuscitation induced lung injury in preterm sheep

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Initiation of ventilation using high tidal volumes in preterm lambs causes lung injury and inflammation. Antenatal corticosteroids mature the lungs of preterm infants and postnatal corticosteroids are used to treat bronchopulmonary dysplasia.</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>To test if antenatal or postnatal corticosteroids would decrease resuscitation induced lung injury.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>129 d gestational age lambs (n = 5-8/gp; term = 150 d) were operatively delivered and ventilated after exposure to either 1) no medication, 2) antenatal maternal IM Betamethasone 0.5 mg/kg 24 h prior to delivery, 3) 0.5 mg/kg Dexamethasone IV at delivery or 4) Cortisol 2 mg/kg IV at delivery. Lambs then were ventilated with no PEEP and escalating tidal volumes (<it>V</it>_T) to 15 mL/kg for 15 min and then given surfactant. The lambs were ventilated with <it>V</it>_T8 mL/kg and PEEP 5 cmH₂0 for 2 h 45 min.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>High V_Tventilation caused a deterioration of lung physiology, lung inflammation and injury. Antenatal betamethasone improved ventilation, decreased inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression and alveolar protein leak, but did not prevent neutrophil influx. Postnatal dexamethasone decreased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, but had no beneficial effect on ventilation, and postnatal cortisol had no effect. Ventilation increased liver serum amyloid mRNA expression, which was unaffected by corticosteroids.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Antenatal betamethasone decreased lung injury without decreasing lung inflammatory cells or systemic acute phase responses. Postnatal dexamethasone or cortisol, at the doses tested, did not have important effects on lung function or injury, suggesting that corticosteroids given at birth will not decrease resuscitation mediated injury.</p

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Meeting abstrac

An everted repeat mediates retinoic acid induction of the γF-crystallin gene: Evidence of a direct role for retinoids in lens development

The vertebrate lens is a classical system for examining mechanisms of tissue determination and differentiation, yet little is known about the signaling molecules controlling its development. Here, we report that retinoic acid (RA), a substance known for its teratogenic effects on the eye and as a natural endogenous morphogenetic agent, acts as a regulator of gene expression in the lens. We have identified a novel type of RA response element (RARE) within the lens-specific mouse γF-crystallin promoter, consisting of two (A/G)GGTCA motifs in an everted arrangement spaced by 8 nucleotides. This element (γF-RARE) mediates activation of the γF-crystallin promoter by ligand-activated endogenous lens cell RA receptors (RARs) and confers RA responsiveness when linked to a heterologous promoter. γF-RARE is bound in vitro by RAR/RXR heterodimers, and both receptors cooperate in vivo to trans-activate this element. These observations demonstrate a direct effect of RA on lens-specific gene expression and reveal a novel role for retinoids in the development and homeostasis of the mammalian eye.link_to_OA_fulltex

Quantitation of human cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II (CRABP-II) RNA from cultured human skin fibroblast cells and human skin biopsies treated with retinoic acid.

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method has been validated for the quantitation of retinoic acid (RA) induction of cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II (CRABP-II) RNA from cultured human skin fibroblasts and human skin biopsies. The method utilizes reverse transcription and PCR (RT-PCR) to compare cellular CRABP-II RNA with a known amount of added internal standard RNA generated from a modified CRABP-II cDNA containing a 42 bp deletion. Thus, after RT-PCR of cellular and standard CRABP-II RNA in the same tube, the resulting DNA bands could be distinguished by size on ethidium bromide-stained, nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel. Serial dilutions of cellular RNA were co-amplified with a fixed amount of internal standard CRABP-II RNA, and the ratio of intensities of the two DNA bands was determined by computerized image analysis of the gel photograph. A linear relationship was found between the logs of this ratio and the input RNA. Absolute quantitation of cellular CRABP-II RNA was determined from the 'equivalence point', the dilution at which band intensities from cellular and standard RNAs were identical. Using this quantitative assay, the amount of CRABP-II RNA in cultured fibroblasts was 24 attomoles per microgram total RNA. A 4.2-fold increase in CRABP-II RNA was seen following 24 hours treatment with 10(-6) M RA. CRABP-II RNA content in skin biopsies taken from 3 human subjects ranged from 16 to 25 attomole/micrograms RNA. Topical treatment with 0.1% RA cream resulted in induction ranging from 3.9- to 12-fold over vehicle treatment. The method described here offers a rapid, sensitive and quantitative assay of specific RNAs, and should be especially useful for the measurement of RNA levels from small solid-tissue biopsies

Reproductive performance of arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) females of different behaviour type

Celem badań było określenie wpływu typu zachowań samic lisa polarnego określonego na podstawie testu ołówkowego, i pokarmowego na wyniki ich użytkowania reprodukcyjnego. Materiałem badawczy było 485 samic lisa polarnego, które pochodziły z trzech ferm zlokalizowanych w województwie wielkopolskim. Samice poddano dwóm testom: ołówkowemu i pokarmowemu. Na podstawie wyników testów zakwalifikowano samice do poszczególnych typów zachowań. W analizowanych cechach użytkowości reprodukcyjnej badanych samic w zależności od typu zachowań ustalonych na podstawie testu ołówkowego nie stwierdzono istnienia różnic statystycznych. W każdej fermie samice określonych typów zachowań wykazywały odmienny poziom wartości ocenianych cech użytkowości reprodukcyjnej. W świetle przeprowadzonych badań można stwierdzić, że test pokarmowy jest bardziej adekwatnym testem służącym do określenia typu zachowań lisów polarnych, niż test ołówkowy. Samice ufne (typ zachowań określony na podstawie testu pokarmowego) charakteryzowały się statystycznie istotnie wyższą plennością od samic bojaźliwych. Poziom użytkowości reprodukcyjnej samic łagodnych (typ zachowań określony na podstawie testu ołówkowgo) odbiegał od podawanej w literaturze.The aim of this study was to asses an influence of behaviour type (determined with pencil and feeding tests) of arctic fox females on their reproductive performance. The total number of 485 vixens kept in 3 farm in Wielkopolska was studied. The pencil and feeding tests were conducted and vixens were classified on the basis of tests results. Reproductive performance did not differ statistically in females of different behaviour type determined with pencil test. Vixen of the same behaviour type kept in different farms differed in levels of reproductive traits. Reproductive performance of trustful females (pencil test) given here is different than reported in the literature. On the other hand, reproductive performance (number of cubs in the litter) was better in trustful vixens than in apprehensive ones (behaviour types determined with feeding test). On the basis of conducted research it was stated that feeding test is more suitable to determine behaviour type of arctic foxes than pencil test