FHL2 regulates hematopoietic stem cell functions under stress conditions.

FHL2, a member of the four and one half LIM domain protein family, is a critical transcriptional modulator. Here, we identify FHL2 as a critical regulator of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that is essential for maintaining HSC self-renewal under regenerative stress. We find that Fhl2 loss has limited effects on hematopoiesis under homeostatic conditions. In contrast, Fhl2-null chimeric mice reconstituted with Fhl2-null bone marrow cells developed abnormal hematopoiesis with significantly reduced numbers of HSCs, hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs), red blood cells and platelets as well as hemoglobin levels. In addition, HSCs displayed a significantly reduced self-renewal capacity and were skewed toward myeloid lineage differentiation. We find that Fhl2 loss reduces both HSC quiescence and survival in response to regenerative stress, probably as a consequence of Fhl2-loss-mediated downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase-inhibitors, including p21(Cip) and p27(Kip1). Interestingly, FHL2 is regulated under the control of a tissue-specific promoter in hematopoietic cells and it is downregulated by DNA hypermethylation in the leukemia cell line and primary leukemia cells. Furthermore, we find that downregulation of FHL2 frequently occurs in myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia patients, raising a possibility that FHL2 downregulation has a role in the pathogenesis of myeloid malignancies

Biodegradation of Crude Oil Polluted Soil by Co-Composting with Agricultural Wastes and Inorganic Fertilizer

Pollution of the environment by petroleum products is inevitable due to oil production,   transportation and distribution activities.   The present study is aimed at examining the extent of bioremediation that can be achieved in crude oil polluted soil after supplementing with organic manure (poultry droppings and goat dung); inorganic fertilizer (NPK 15:15:15) and saw dust respectively. A bioremediation study was carried out on soil experimentally polluted with Bonny Light crude oil by supplementation with organic and inorganic nutrients (poultry manure, goat dung, saw dust and NPK fertilizer). The efficacy of the treatments was monitored for 112days by the measurement of total hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria load and some physico-chemical parameters. The polluted soil (Control) sample had mean bacterial counts of 8.8x104, 9.0x104, 9.2´104, 9.9x104 and 7.6x104 cfu/g respectively. Sample treated with NPK fertilizer had mean bacterial counts of 4.4x104, 4.6x104, 4.7x104, 4.9x104 and 5.2x104 cfu/g on days 0,28,56,84 and 112 respectively; sample treated with poultry manure had mean bacterial counts of 1.6x104, 1.8x104, 2.0x104, 2.4x104 and 2.7x104 cfu/g on days 0, 28,56,84 and 112 respectively; the saw dust treated sample had mean bacterial counts of 2.0x104, 2.3x104, 2.7x104, 2.9x104 and 3.0x104 cfu/g on days 0,28,56,84 and 112 respectively while that treated with goat dung had mean bacterial counts of 9.3x104, 9.5x104, 9.6x104, 9.8x104and 9.9x104 cfu/g on days 0,28,56,84 and 112 respectively.  There were differences in the physico-chemical analyses from the diverse samples. After statistical analysis (P£0.05) there was a significant difference between the different treated samples from the control. The results suggest that nutrient supplementation would be effective in the remediation of crude oil polluted soils. The potentials of various treatment options for the bioremediation of crude oil polluted soils seems to hold the most immediate solution especially for use in areas that would be adversely affected by physical or other removal methods. In this study, the reduction of oil in the treated samples is evident, polluted samples supplemented with fertilizer and poultry manure respectively proved to be the best options during the 112 days study period. This study shows that those organic supplements containing nitrogen and phosphorus have great potentials for the remediation of soils contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbon within a reasonable time. Keywords: Bioremediation, Crude Oil Polluted Soil, Organic Manure (poultry droppings and goat dung); Inorganic fertilizer (NPK 15:15:15), Saw dust

Incidence of fibroid and its effects on fertility in Eleme local government area of Rivers State

Background: Fibroid is a gynaecological problem that affects women of reproductive age across the globe especially among the black race. This study was done to evaluate the incidence of fibroid and its effects on fertility in Eleme Local Government Area.Methods: It is a cross-sectional study with 60 participants aged 18-28 years, 29-39 years, 40-49 years, 50-59 years and >60 years.Results: The study revealed that 90% of the respondents have fibroid and 10% do not have fibroid. The effects range from painful menstruation, heavy menses, irregular menstruation and infertility at the values of 63.3%, 48.3%, 51.7% and 86.8% respectively.Conclusions: Though the effects of fibroids are universal, our study population seems to show some effects more common to them

The use of DiazaConTM to limit fertility in grey squirrels

Mayle, B., Ferryman, M., Peace, A., Yoder, C.A., Miller, L.A., Cowan, D

Champion Teams: An Implementation Strategy to Drive Practice Improvement

Developing collaborative practice is an ongoing process requiring frequent upgrades as team members and processes are added. Recently, faculty in ETSU’s Department of Family Medicine have been experimenting with a mechanism for iterative upgrades to team care practice known as Champion Teams. Champion Teams are based on the Institute of Medicine’s learning health care system approach in which practitioners develop an internal strategy for implementing new evidence based practices on an ongoing basis. In this presentation, our interprofessional team will describe team-based education and practice at ETSU as it relates to the Champion Team concept including its origins, evidence-base, and the logistics of how it functions. We will provide examples of four Champion Team projects including: 1) integrating behavioral health, 2) increasing attendance at medical visits, 3) increasing vaccination rates, and 4) a transition to a new pharmacological regimen for congestive heart failure patients. The exemplars will demonstrate how quality improvement data informed progressive changes and confirmed implementation outcomes. During discussion, we will encourage participants to identify their own targets for champion teams

The impacts of feral boar on woodland flora and fauna in Great Britain

Mayle, B., Harmer, R., Kewitt, A., Peace, A., Straw, N., Williams, D., Upson, M