Lead Activation of a Developmentally Regulated Calcium Channel in Rat Hippocampal Nerve Terminals

Low level lead (Pb2+) exposure may produce lasting deficits in learning and memory by altering calcium (Ca2+) dependent processes. Isolated presynaptic nerve terminals from rat hippocampus were loaded with the intracellular (Ca2+) indicator Fura-2. The changes in cytoplasmic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) were measured by stopped-flow fluorescence spectroscopy following depolarization with elevated potassium on a millisecond time scale (Lentzner et al., 1992). Depolarization promoted a rapid increase in Ca2+i which occured in two kinetically distinguishable phases: a fast component, representing the activity of rapidly inactivating Ca2+ channels (τ ~ 60 msec), and a slow component, which is comprised of slowly inactivating Ca2+ channels (τ ~ 1sec) and Na+/Ca2+ exchange operating in the reverse mode. Low concentrations of Pb2+ (0.1-0.5 μΜ ) blocked competitively both the rapidly and slowly inactivating channels. At higher concentrations (≥1μΜ) , Pb2+ permeated the rapidly inactivating channels. Pb2+ permeation was accompanied by a subsequent rise in intracellular Ca2+ even in the absence of extracellular Ca2+. The rise in Ca2+ was reduced by thapsigargin, suggesting Pb2+ activates the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, possibly an IP3 sensitive store. The Ca2+ release was greatest in younger animals and gradually declined during postnatal development

Intermediate follow-up following intravascular stenting for treatment of coarctation of the aorta

Background : We report a multiinstitutional study on intermediate-term outcome of intravascular stenting for treatment of coarctation of the aorta using integrated arch imaging (IAI) techniques. Methods and Results : Medical records of 578 patients from 17 institutions were reviewed. A total of 588 procedures were performed between May 1989 and Aug 2005. About 27% (160/588) procedures were followed up by further IAI of their aorta (MRI/CT/repeat cardiac catheterization) after initial stent procedures. Abnormal imaging studies included: the presence of dissection or aneurysm formation, stent fracture, or the presence of reobstruction within the stent (instent restenosis or significant intimal build-up within the stent). Forty-one abnormal imaging studies were reported in the intermediate follow-up at median 12 months (0.5–92 months). Smaller postintervention of the aorta (CoA) diameter and an increased persistent systolic pressure gradient were associated with encountering abnormal follow-up imaging studies. Aortic wall abnormalities included dissections ( n = 5) and aneurysm ( n = 13). The risk of encountering aortic wall abnormalities increased with larger percent increase in CoA diameter poststent implant, increasing balloon/coarc ratio, and performing prestent angioplasty. Stent restenosis was observed in 5/6 parts encountering stent fracture and neointimal buildup ( n = 16). Small CoA diameter poststent implant and increased poststent residual pressure gradient increased the likelihood of encountering instent restenosis at intermediate follow-up. Conclusions : Abnormalities were observed at intermediate follow-up following IS placement for treatment of native and recurrent coarctation of the aorta. Not exceeding a balloon:coarctation ratio of 3.5 and avoidance of prestent angioplasty decreased the likelihood of encountering an abnormal follow-up imaging study in patients undergoing intravascular stent placement for the treatment of coarctation of the aorta. We recommend IAI for all patients undergoing IS placement for treatment of CoA. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57392/1/21191_ftp.pd

Oligonucleotide Sequence Motifs as Nucleosome Positioning Signals

To gain a better understanding of the sequence patterns that characterize positioned nucleosomes, we first performed an analysis of the periodicities of the 256 tetranucleotides in a yeast genome-wide library of nucleosomal DNA sequences that was prepared by in vitro reconstitution. The approach entailed the identification and analysis of 24 unique tetranucleotides that were defined by 8 consensus sequences. These consensus sequences were shown to be responsible for most if not all of the tetranucleotide and dinucleotide periodicities displayed by the entire library, demonstrating that the periodicities of dinucleotides that characterize the yeast genome are, in actuality, due primarily to the 8 consensus sequences. A novel combination of experimental and bioinformatic approaches was then used to show that these tetranucleotides are important for preferred formation of nucleosomes at specific sites along DNA in vitro. These results were then compared to tetranucleotide patterns in genome-wide in vivo libraries from yeast and C. elegans in order to assess the contributions of DNA sequence in the control of nucleosome residency in the cell. These comparisons revealed striking similarities in the tetranucleotide occurrence profiles that are likely to be involved in nucleosome positioning in both in vitro and in vivo libraries, suggesting that DNA sequence is an important factor in the control of nucleosome placement in vivo. However, the strengths of the tetranucleotide periodicities were 3–4 fold higher in the in vitro as compared to the in vivo libraries, which implies that DNA sequence plays less of a role in dictating nucleosome positions in vivo. The results of this study have important implications for models of sequence-dependent positioning since they suggest that a defined subset of tetranucleotides is involved in preferred nucleosome occupancy and that these tetranucleotides are the major source of the dinucleotide periodicities that are characteristic of positioned nucleosomes

Passive Immunization Reduces Behavioral and Neuropathological Deficits in an Alpha-Synuclein Transgenic Model of Lewy Body Disease

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's Disease (PD) are common causes of motor and cognitive deficits and are associated with the abnormal accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn). This study investigated whether passive immunization with a novel monoclonal α-syn antibody (9E4) against the C-terminus (CT) of α-syn was able to cross into the CNS and ameliorate the deficits associated with α-syn accumulation. In this study we demonstrate that 9E4 was effective at reducing behavioral deficits in the water maze, moreover, immunization with 9E4 reduced the accumulation of calpain-cleaved α-syn in axons and synapses and the associated neurodegenerative deficits. In vivo studies demonstrated that 9E4 traffics into the CNS, binds to cells that display α-syn accumulation and promotes α-syn clearance via the lysosomal pathway. These results suggest that passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies against the CT of α-syn may be of therapeutic relevance in patients with PD and DLB

Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality and Organ Support in Patients With Severe COVID-19: The REMAP-CAP COVID-19 Corticosteroid Domain Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Evidence regarding corticosteroid use for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is limited. Objective: To determine whether hydrocortisone improves outcome for patients with severe COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: An ongoing adaptive platform trial testing multiple interventions within multiple therapeutic domains, for example, antiviral agents, corticosteroids, or immunoglobulin. Between March 9 and June 17, 2020, 614 adult patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 were enrolled and randomized within at least 1 domain following admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) for respiratory or cardiovascular organ support at 121 sites in 8 countries. Of these, 403 were randomized to open-label interventions within the corticosteroid domain. The domain was halted after results from another trial were released. Follow-up ended August 12, 2020. Interventions: The corticosteroid domain randomized participants to a fixed 7-day course of intravenous hydrocortisone (50 mg or 100 mg every 6 hours) (n = 143), a shock-dependent course (50 mg every 6 hours when shock was clinically evident) (n = 152), or no hydrocortisone (n = 108). Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was organ support-free days (days alive and free of ICU-based respiratory or cardiovascular support) within 21 days, where patients who died were assigned -1 day. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model that included all patients enrolled with severe COVID-19, adjusting for age, sex, site, region, time, assignment to interventions within other domains, and domain and intervention eligibility. Superiority was defined as the posterior probability of an odds ratio greater than 1 (threshold for trial conclusion of superiority >99%). Results: After excluding 19 participants who withdrew consent, there were 384 patients (mean age, 60 years; 29% female) randomized to the fixed-dose (n = 137), shock-dependent (n = 146), and no (n = 101) hydrocortisone groups; 379 (99%) completed the study and were included in the analysis. The mean age for the 3 groups ranged between 59.5 and 60.4 years; most patients were male (range, 70.6%-71.5%); mean body mass index ranged between 29.7 and 30.9; and patients receiving mechanical ventilation ranged between 50.0% and 63.5%. For the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively, the median organ support-free days were 0 (IQR, -1 to 15), 0 (IQR, -1 to 13), and 0 (-1 to 11) days (composed of 30%, 26%, and 33% mortality rates and 11.5, 9.5, and 6 median organ support-free days among survivors). The median adjusted odds ratio and bayesian probability of superiority were 1.43 (95% credible interval, 0.91-2.27) and 93% for fixed-dose hydrocortisone, respectively, and were 1.22 (95% credible interval, 0.76-1.94) and 80% for shock-dependent hydrocortisone compared with no hydrocortisone. Serious adverse events were reported in 4 (3%), 5 (3%), and 1 (1%) patients in the fixed-dose, shock-dependent, and no hydrocortisone groups, respectively. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with severe COVID-19, treatment with a 7-day fixed-dose course of hydrocortisone or shock-dependent dosing of hydrocortisone, compared with no hydrocortisone, resulted in 93% and 80% probabilities of superiority with regard to the odds of improvement in organ support-free days within 21 days. However, the trial was stopped early and no treatment strategy met prespecified criteria for statistical superiority, precluding definitive conclusions. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02735707

Functional significance of the conserved residues in the flexible hinge region of the myosin motor domain

Analysis of the three-dimensional crystal structure of the Dictyostelium myosin motor domain revealed that the myosin head is required to bend at residues Ile-455 and Gly-457 to produce the conformation changes observed in the ternary complexes that resemble the pre- and post-hydrolysis states (Fisher, A. J., Smith, C. A., Thoden, J. B., Smith, R., Sutoh, K., Holden, H. M., and Rayment, I. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 8960-8972). Asp-454, Ile-455, and Gly-457 of smooth muscle myosin were substituted by Ala, Met, and Ala, respectively, and the mechano-enzymatic activities were determined to study the role of these residues in myosin motor function. Whereas the basal steady-state Mg2+-ATPase activity of D454A was higher than that of the wild type, the rate of the hydrolytic step is reduced approximately 2,000-fold and becomes rate-limiting. M-ATP rather than M-ADP-P is the predominant steady-state intermediate, and the initial Pi burst and the ATP-induced enhancement of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence are absent in D454A. D454A binds actin in the absence of ATP but is not dissociated from actin by ATP. Moreover, actin inhibits rather than activates the ATPase activity; consequently, D454A does not support actin translocating activity. I455M has normal actin-activated ATPase activity, Pi burst, and ATP-induced enhancement of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, suggesting that the enzymatic properties are normal. However, the actin translocating activity was completely inhibited. This suggests that the side chain at Ile-455 is critical for myosin motor activity but not for relatively normal enzymatic function, which indicates an apparent uncoupling between enzymatic activity and motile function. Although G457A has normal ATP-dependent actin dissociation, ATP hydrolytic step is reduced by approximately 10(5)-fold in the presence or absence of actin; consequently, G457A does not have actin translocating activity. These results indicate the importance of these conserved residues at the hinge region for normal myosin motor function

Effects of mutations in the gamma-phosphate binding site of myosin on its motor function

The role of the highly conserved residues in the gamma-phosphate binding site of myosin upon myosin motor function was studied. Each of five residues (Ser181, Lys185, Asn235, Ser236, and Arg238) in smooth muscle myosin was mutated. K185Q has neither a steady state ATPase nor an initial Pi burst. Although ATP and actin bind to K185Q, it is not dissociated from actin by ATP. These results indicate that the hydrolysis of bound ATP by K185Q is inhibited. S236T has nearly normal basal Mg2+-ATPase activity, initial Pi burst, ATP-induced enhancement of intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence, and ATP-induced dissociation from actin. However, the actin activation of the Mg2+-ATPase activity and actin translocation of S236T were blocked. In contrast S236A has nearly normal enzymatic properties and actin-translocating activity. These results indicate that 1) the hydroxyl group of Ser236 is not critical as an intermediary of proton transfer during the ATP hydrolysis step, and 2) the bulk of the extra methyl group of the threonine residue in S236T blocks the acceleration of product release from the active site by actin. Arg238, which interacts with Glu459 at the Switch II region, was mutated to Lys and Ile, respectively. R238K has essentially normal enzymatic activity and motility. In contrast, R238I does not hydrolyze ATP or support motility, although it still binds ATP. These results indicate that the charge interaction between Glu459 and Arg238 is critical for ATP hydrolysis by myosin. Other mutants, S181A, S181T, and N235I, showed nearly normal enzymatic and motile activity

Supply of an ecosystem service—Farmers’ willingness to adopt riparian buffer zones in agricultural catchments

peer-reviewedTeagasc Agricultural Catchments Programme Phase 1 (2008-2011) and Phase 2 (2012-2015)In the European Union, mitigation measures to abate diffuse pollution from agricultural land are implemented under the direction of the EU Nitrates and Water Framework Directives. As these measures are implemented in national policies, a review process will look at the efficacy of the measures with a view to recommending further measures as necessary and following scientific and stakeholder consultation. Riparian buffer zones, beyond those zones used as mandatory set back distances for fertiliser and organic manure spreading, have been used as filters in some countries to attenuate nutrient rich runoff and may be proposed as supplementary measures elsewhere. Notwithstanding the ongoing research on the physio-chemical efficiency of riparian buffer zones, this study examined the willingness of farmers to adopt such features on agricultural land. The sample size was 247 farmers in 12 catchments (approximately 4-12km2) in the Republic of Ireland. The survey was based on a proposal to install a 10 metre deep riparian buffer zone on a five year scheme and the analysis was based on principal components analysis, contingent valuation methodology and a Generalized Tobit Interval model. Results from this analysis indicated that famers’ willingness to supply a riparian buffer zone depended on a mix of economic, attitudinal and farm structural factors. A total of 53% of the sample indicated a negative preference for provision. Principle constraints to adoption include interference with production, nuisance effects and loss of production in small field systems. Of those willing to engage with supply, the mean willingness to accept based cost of provision for a 10 metre riparian buffer zone was estimated to be €1513 ha-1 per annum equivalent to €1.51 per linear metre of riparian area.Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marin