Implementing an Innovative Educational Program Delivery Strategy to Teach 2014 Farm Bill Changes to Ohio Farmers and Landowners

The timing and complexity of the 2014 Farm Bill required quick dissemination of technical information to allow participants to make decisions affecting risk management strategies for their farms. Using existing organizational structures and incorporating a team approach allowed Ohio State University Extension educators to successfully meet the educational needs of Ohio\u27s farmers and landowners. Program success followed due to Extension\u27s commitments to providing proper training, support, and reward to educators and to working cooperatively with external agencies to achieve the identified outcomes

Short term effects of exercise training on exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: protocol for a randomised controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Advances in the understanding and management of pulmonary arterial hypertension have enabled earlier diagnosis and improved prognosis. However, despite best available therapy, symptoms of exertional dyspnoea and fatigue are commonly reported and result in a reduced capacity to perform daily activities and impaired quality of life. Exercise training has demonstrated efficacy in individuals with other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Historically, however, exercise training has not been utilised as a form of therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension due to the perceived risk of sudden cardiac death and the theoretical possibility that exercise would lead to worsening pulmonary vascular haemodynamics and deterioration in right heart function. Now, with the advances in pharmaceutical management, determining the safety and benefits of exercise training in this population has become more relevant. Only three studies of supervised exercise training in pulmonary arterial hypertension have been published. These studies demonstrated improvements in exercise capacity and quality of life, in the absence of adverse events or clinical deterioration. However, these studies have not utilised an outpatient-based, whole body exercise training program, the most common format for exercise programs within Australia. It is uncertain whether this form of training is beneficial and capable of producing sustained benefits in exercise capacity and quality of life in this population.</p> <p>Design/Methods</p> <p>This randomised controlled trial will determine whether a 12 week, outpatient-based, supervised, whole body exercise training program, followed by a home-based exercise program, is safe and improves exercise capacity and quality of life in individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension. This study aims to recruit 34 subjects who will be randomly allocated to the exercise group (supervised exercise training 3 times a week for 12 weeks, followed by 3 sessions per week of home exercise for 12 weeks) or the control group (usual medical care). Subjects will be assessed at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This study will determine whether outpatient-based, whole body exercise training is beneficial and safe in individuals with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Additionally, this study will contribute to clinical practice guidelines for this patient population.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR): <a href="http://www.anzctr.org.au/ACTRN12609000502235.aspx">ACTRN12609000502235</a></p

Identification of CBX3 and ABCA5 as Putative Biomarkers for Tumor Stem Cells in Osteosarcoma

<div><p>Recently, there has been renewed interest in the role of tumor stem cells (TSCs) in tumorigenesis, chemoresistance, and relapse of malignant tumors including osteosarcoma. The potential exists to improve osteosarcoma treatment through characterization of TSCs and identification of therapeutic targets. Using transcriptome, proteome, immunophenotyping for cell-surface markers, and bioinformatic analyses, heterogeneous expression of previously reported TSC or osteosarcoma markers, such as CD133, nestin, POU5F1 (OCT3/4), NANOG, SOX2, and aldehyde dehydrogenase, among others, was observed <em>in vitro.</em> However, consistently significantly lower CD326, CD24, CD44, and higher ABCG2 expression in TSC-enriched as compared with un-enriched osteosarcoma cultures was observed. In addition, consistently higher CBX3 expression in TSC-enriched osteosarcoma cultures was identified. ABCA5 was identified as a putative biomarker of TSCs and/or osteosarcoma. Lastly, in a high-throughput screen we identified epigenetic (5-azacytidine), anti-microtubule (vincristine), and anti-telomerase (3,11-difluoro-6,8,13-trimethyl- 8H-quino [4,3,2-kl] acridinium methosulfate; RHPS4)-targeted therapeutic agents as candidates for TSC ablation in osteosarcoma.</p> </div

Differential profile of stem cell biology-implicated transcription factors in ALDH+/− and ABCG2+/− cells sorted from CHA59 spheres.

<p>(A) ALDH+/− subpopulations were sorted from CHA59 spheres using ALDEFLUOR staining and FACS. Subsequently, expression of various genes was measured in the sorted population by real-time RT-PCR analysis. *p<0.05. (B) ABCG2+/− subpopulations were sorted from CHA59 spheres using an anti-ABCG2 antibody and FACS. Thereafter, expression of various genes was measured in the sorted population by real-time RT-PCR analysis. *p<0.05.</p

Differential transcript and protein expression in monolayers and spheres.

<p>(A) Nestin (NES) transcript in CHA59 monolayers and spheres measured by microarray analysis, * p<0.05. (B) Nestin (NES), (C) vimetin (VIME), and (D) chromobox protein homolog 3 (CBX3) protein expression in CHA59, Saos-2, and HuO9 cells tested by western blotting. ‘M’ represents monolayers, ‘S’ represents spheres. (E) Immunophenotype of monolayers and spheres probed by flow cytometry. CHA59 and Saos-2 immunophenotype reported as a cumulative of 6-color panel (CD326, CD166, CD133, CD24, CD44, excludes ABCB1) and 3-color panel (ABCB1, ABCC1, ABCG2). HuO9 immunophenotype reported as a cumulative of 6-color panel (CD326, CD166, CD133, CD24, CD44, ABCB1) and 2-color panel (ABCC1, ABCG2). p value calculated for monolayers vs. spheres for each cell line. ‘M’ represents monolayers, ‘S’ represents spheres.</p

Spheres demonstrated increased clonogenicity and tumorigenicity compared with monolayers.

<p>(A) CHA59, Saos-2, and HuO9 monolayers generated spheres in FBS-free, SS media. Phase contrast images taken with a 40× objective. (B) CHA59 spheres formed colonies in both FBS-A (Fetal Bovine Serum-Agarose) and SS-A (KnockOut Serum Replacement-Agarose). Images taken with a 10× objective. C) CHA59 spheres demonstrated significantly higher clonogenicity as compared with monolayers in FBS-A and SS-A, * p<0.05. (D) CHA59 Spheres demonstrated higher tumorigenicity than monolayers. 10 NOD/SCID mice injected with cells per group. A xenograft of ≥150 mg was counted positive for take rate.</p