Effect of insulin on glucose metabolism in the dog after portacaval transposition

The effect of insulin on hepatic glucose metabolism was studied by a multiple-catheter technique in unanesthetized dogs with Eck fistula and with portacaval transposition. With the latter preparation, blood entering and leaving the liver was sampled from peripherally inserted catheters. In the unanesthetized Eck-fistula animals, insulin infusion produced a decrease in the hepatic glucose output. In the dogs with portacaval transposition, a constant infusion of insulin was given alternately by systemic and by intraportal routes. There was no significant difference between the effects of insulin administered by the two routes. During insulin infusion, glucose concentration differences across the liver were reduced, hepatic plasma flow was transiently elevated, and hepatic glucose output was decreased. After discontinuance of insulin, there was a transient rise of hepatic glucose output to above control values. </jats:p

The Preparation Temperature Influences the Physicochemical Nature and Activity of Nanoceria

Cerium oxide nanoparticles, so-called nanoceria, are engineered nanomaterials prepared by many methods that result in products with varying physicochemical properties and applications. Those used industrially are often calcined, an example is NM-212. Other nanoceria have beneficial pharmaceutical properties and are often prepared by solvothermal synthesis. Solvothermally synthesized nanoceria dissolve in acidic environments, accelerated by carboxylic acids. NM-212 dissolution has been reported to be minimal. To gain insight into the role of high-temperature exposure on nanoceria dissolution, product susceptibility to carboxylic acid-accelerated dissolution, and its effect on biological and catalytic properties of nanoceria, the dissolution of NM-212, a solvothermally synthesized nanoceria material, and a calcined form of the solvothermally synthesized nanoceria material (ca. 40, 4, and 40 nm diameter, respectively) was investigated. Two dissolution methods were employed. Dissolution of NM-212 and the calcined nanoceria was much slower than that of the non-calcined form. The decreased solubility was attributed to an increased amount of surface Ce4+ species induced by the high temperature. Carboxylic acids doubled the very low dissolution rate of NM-212. Nanoceria dissolution releases Ce3+ ions, which, with phosphate, form insoluble cerium phosphate in vivo. The addition of immobilized phosphates did not accelerate nanoceria dissolution, suggesting that the Ce3+ ion release during nanoceria dissolution was phosphate-independent. Smaller particles resulting from partial nanoceria dissolution led to less cellular protein carbonyl formation, attributed to an increased amount of surface Ce3+ species. Surface reactivity was greater for the solvothermally synthesized nanoceria, which had more Ce3+ species at the surface. The results show that temperature treatment of nanoceria can produce significant differences in solubility and surface cerium valence, which affect the biological and catalytic properties of nanoceria

Positive correlation of employment and psychological well-being for veterans with major abdominal surgery

Background Intestinal stomas (ostomies) have been associated negatively with multiple aspects of health-related quality of life. This article examines the relationship between employment status and psychological well-being (PWB) in veterans who underwent major bowel procedures with or without ostomy. Methods Veterans from 3 Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers were surveyed using the City of Hope ostomy-specific questionnaire and the Short Form 36 item Veteran’s version (SF-36V). Response rate was 48% (511 of 1,063). Employment and PWB relationship was assessed using multiple regression with age, income, SF-36V physical component summary (PCS), and employment status as independent variables. Results Employed veterans reported higher PWB compared with unemployed veterans (P = .003). Full-time workers also reported higher PWB than part-time or unemployed workers (P = .001). Ostomy was not an independent predictor of PWB. Conclusions Employment among veterans after major abdominal surgery may have intrinsic value for PWB. Patients should be encouraged to return to work, or do volunteer work after recovery

Biokinetics and effects of barium sulfate nanoparticles

Background: Nanoparticulate barium sulfate has potential novel applications and wide use in the polymer and paint industries. A short-term inhalation study on barium sulfate nanoparticles (BaSO4 NPs) was previously published [Part Fibre Toxicol 11:16, 2014]. We performed comprehensive biokinetic studies of 131BaSO4 NPs administered via different routes and of acute and subchronic pulmonary responses to instilled or inhaled BaSO4 in rats. Methods: We compared the tissue distribution of 131Ba over 28 days after intratracheal (IT) instillation, and over 7 days after gavage and intravenous (IV) injection of 131BaSO4. Rats were exposed to 50 mg/m3 BaSO4 aerosol for 4 or 13 weeks (6 h/day, 5 consecutive days/week), and then gross and histopathologic, blood and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid analyses were performed. BAL fluid from instilled rats was also analyzed. Results: Inhaled BaSO4 NPs showed no toxicity after 4-week exposure, but a slight neutrophil increase in BAL after 13-week exposure was observed. Lung burden of inhaled BaSO4 NPs after 4-week exposure (0.84 ± 0.18 mg/lung) decreased by 95% over 34 days. Instilled BaSO4 NPs caused dose-dependent inflammatory responses in the lungs. Instilled BaSO4 NPs (0.28 mg/lung) was cleared with a half-life of ≈ 9.6 days. Translocated 131Ba from the lungs was predominantly found in the bone (29%). Only 0.15% of gavaged dose was detected in all organs at 7 days. IV-injected 131BaSO4 NPs were predominantly localized in the liver, spleen, lungs and bone at 2 hours, but redistributed from the liver to bone over time. Fecal excretion was the dominant elimination pathway for all three routes of exposure. Conclusions: Pulmonary exposure to instilled BaSO4 NPs caused dose-dependent lung injury and inflammation. Four-week and 13-week inhalation exposures to a high concentration (50 mg/m3) of BaSO4 NPs elicited minimal pulmonary response and no systemic effects. Instilled and inhaled BaSO4 NPs were cleared quickly yet resulted in higher tissue retention than when ingested. Particle dissolution is a likely mechanism. Injected BaSO4 NPs localized in the reticuloendothelial organs and redistributed to the bone over time. BaSO4 NP exhibited lower toxicity and biopersistence in the lungs compared to other poorly soluble NPs such as CeO2 and TiO2. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12989-014-0055-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Dispersed Repetitive DNA Has Spread to New Genomes Since Polyploid Formation in Cotton

Polyploid formation has played a major role in the evolution of many plant and animal genomes; however, surprisingly little is known regarding the subsequent evolution of DNA sequences that become newly united in a common nucleus. Of particular interest is the repetitive DNA fraction, which accounts for most nuclear DNA in higher plants and animals and which can be remarkably different, even in closely related taxa. In one recently formed polyploid, cotton (Gossypium barbadense L.; AD genome), 83 non-cross-hybridizing DNA clones contain dispersed repeats that are estimated to comprise about 24% of the nuclear DNA. Among these, 64 (77%) are largely restricted to diploid taxa containing the larger A genome and collectively account for about half of the difference in DNA content between Old World (A) and New World (D) diploid ancestors of cultivated AD tetraploid cotton. In tetraploid cotton, FISH analysis showed that some A-genome dispersed repeats appear to have spread to D-genome chromosomes. Such spread may also account for the finding that one, and only one, D-genome diploid cotton, Gossypium gossypioides, contains moderate levels of (otherwise) A-genome-specific repeats in addition to normal levels of D-genome repeats. The discovery of A-genome repeats in G. gossypioides adds genome-wide support to a suggestion previously based on evidence from only a single genetic locus that this species may be either the closest living descendant of the New World cotton ancestor, or an adulterated relic of polyploid formation. Spread of dispersed repeats in the early stages of polyploid formation may provide a tag to identify diploid progenitors of a polyploid. Although most repetitive clones do not correspond to known DNA sequences, 4 correspond to known transposons, most contain internal subrepeats, and at least 12 (including 2 of the possible transposons) hybridize to mRNAs expressed at readily discernible levels in cotton seedlings, implicating transposition as one possible mechanism of spread. Integration of molecular, phylogenetic, and cytogenetic analysis of dispersed repetitive DNA may shed new light on evolution of other polyploid genomes, as well as providing valuable landmarks for many aspects of genome analysis

Three-tiered approach for standard information requirements for polymers requiring registration under REACH

Polymers are a very large class of chemicals comprising often complex molecules with multiple functions used in everyday products. The EU Commission is seeking to develop environmental and human health standard information requirements (SIRs) for man-made polymers requiring registration (PRR) under a revised Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation. Conventional risk assessment approaches currently used for small molecules may not apply to most polymers. Therefore, we propose a conceptual three-tiered regulatory approach for data generation to assess individual and groups of polymers requiring registration (PRR). A key element is the grouping of polymers according to chemistry, physico-chemical properties and hazard similarity. The limited bioavailability of many polymers is a prominent difference to many small molecules and is a key consideration of the proposed approach. Methods assessing potential for systemic bioavailability are integral to Tier 1. Decisions for further studies are based on considerations of properties and effects, combined with systemic bioavailability and use and exposure considerations. For many PRRs, Tier 1 data on hazard, use and exposure will likely be sufficient for achieving the protection goals of REACH. Vertebrate animal studies in Tiers 2 and 3 can be limited to targeted testing. The outlined approach aims to make use of current best scientific evidence and to reduce animal testing whilst providing data for an adequate level of protection

A comparison of the hypoglycemic effect of insulin with systemic venous and portal venous administration

The hyperglycemic effect of insulin by prolonged intraportal and systemic infusion was measured in unanesthetized dogs with a modified portacaval transposition. There was no significant difference in response with the two routes of administration. The relation of these results to research directed to surgical therapy of diabetes is discussed. © 1963 W. B. Saunders Company

Complications among colorectal cancer survivors: SF-6D preference-weighted quality of life scores

Background Societal preference-weighted health-related quality of life (HRQOL) scores enable comparing multi-dimensional health states across diseases and treatments for research and policy. Objective To assess the effects of living with a permanent intestinal stoma, compared to a major bowel resection, among colorectal cancer (CRC) survivors. Research Design Cross-sectional multivariate linear regression analysis to explain preference-weighted HRQOL scores. Subjects Six-hundred-forty CRC survivors (≥5 years) from three group-model HMOs; ostomates and non-ostomates with colorectal resections for CRC were matched on gender, age (±5 years), time since diagnosis, and tumor site (rectum vs. colon). Measures SF-6D scoring system applied to Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 version 2 (SF-36v2); City of Hope Quality of Life-Ostomy (mCOH-QOL-O); Charlson-Deyo comorbidity index. Methods Survey of CRC survivors linked to respondents’ clinical data extracted from HMO files. Results Response rate was 52%. Ostomates and non-ostomates had similar sociodemographic characteristics. Mean SF-6D score was 0.69 for ostomates, compared to 0.73 for non-ostomates (p <.001), but other factors explained this difference. Complications of initial cancer surgery, and prior-year comorbidity burden and hospital use were negatively associated with SF-6D scores, while household income was positively associated. Conclusions CRC survivors’ SF-6D scores were not associated with living with a permanent ostomy after other factors were taken into account. Surgical complications, comorbidities, and metastatic disease lowered the preference-weighted HRQOL of CRC survivors with and without ostomies. Further research to understand and reduce late complications from CRC surgeries as well as associated depression is warranted

MIxS-BE : a MIxS extension defining a minimum information standard for sequence data from the built environment

© The Author(s), 2013. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in ISME Journal 8 (2014): 1-3, doi:10.1038/ismej.2013.176.The need for metadata standards for microbe sampling in the built environment.We would like to thank the Alfred P Sloan Foundation grant FP047325-01-PR for support for this project

The Gossypium longicalyx genome as a resource for cotton breeding and evolution

Cotton is an important crop that has made significant gains in production over the last century. Emerging pests such as the reniform nematode have threatened cotton production. The rare African diploid specie