Characterization of the transverse relaxation rates in lipid bilayers

The 2H NMR transverse relaxation rates of a deuterated phospholipid bilayer reflect slow motions in the bilayer membrane. A study of dimyristoyl lecithin specifically deuterated at several positions of the hydrocarbon chains indicates that these motions are cooperative and are confined to the hydrocarbon chains of the lipid bilayer. However, lipid head group interactions do play an important role in modulating the properties of the cooperative fluctuations of the hydrocarbon chains (director fluctuations), as evidenced by the effects of various lipid additives on the 2H NMR transverse relaxation rates of the dimyristoyl lecithin bilayer

Radiology for the People: A Basic Radiological System for Health Care in Developing Nations

This editorial discusses the need for diagnostic imaging in developing nations and the potential of the basic radiographic system (BRS) as proposed by the World Health Organization to address this need and work towards providing appropriate imaging resources on a global scale

“Managing a Department, Working with the School Dean and Staying Research Active.”

This session will consider and discuss the literature regarding academic chairperson/dean management styles, and best department management practices. The session will involve consideration of typical fictional scenarios potentially faced by department chairs and deans and brainstorming to flesh out management strategies that allow time for both a well-managed department and quality research by the department chairperson and other faculty. The program will involve interactive (fictional) fact-based exercises

Proposition 12 and a New Paradigm for Federal Law: Toward more humane and Ethical Farm Animal Practices in California and the U.S.

This paper explores California’s Proposition 12, a ballot measure designed to im-prove factory farmed animal welfare and marginally, the conditions for those who work on such farms. The Proposition bans cruelty in farm animal confinement within California and calls for specific space requirements. Proposition 12 also re-quires that animals raised outside the state and sold within the state comply with the more humane housing standards in the law. Based on a recent ruling upholding Proposition 12 by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the introduction of multiple other state laws banning the most inhumane practices in the meat, poultry, and egg laying industry, this paper makes the case that factory farming is on the verge of great change. The paper concludes that the time is also ripe for uniform federal legislation requiring humane housing for all farm animals in the U.S, and improved conditions for farm animals in life and death. Additionally, this paper suggests that government incentives prompting more humane animal agriculture could hasten a burgeoning corporate and consumer move in this direction

ACCEPTABILITY OF A VAGINAL RING TO PREVENT HIV AND PREGNANCY: INTEGRATING MULTIPLE QUALITATIVE METHODS

Heterosexual vaginal sex can simultaneously put women at risk for unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV, disproportionately impacting poor women around the world. Both unintended pregnancy and HIV are persistent public health concerns associated with negative outcomes for mothers, families and communities. The current mix of prevention tools available to women to protect against unintended pregnancy and HIV is limited. Multipurpose Prevention Technologies (MPTs) are innovative products that simultaneously offer protection against pregnancy and HIV. However, MPTs will only be effective in reducing unintended pregnancy and incident HIV if women are willing to use them. With an understanding that product use relies on some level of product acceptability, I designed my dissertation study to produce a conceptual model of women’s acceptability of an MPT intravaginal ring (IVR). Toward this end, I used grounded theory methodology and multiple qualitative methods (in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and card sort data) with 18-45 year old women in the US, in the context of a Phase 1 trial of an antiretroviral IVR, to explore acceptability of an MPT in vaginal ring form. Concurrent to the conceptual analysis necessary for model development, I conducted a methodological assessment of the three forms of data to increase overall validity and complexity of findings in the new model. I integrated conceptual findings generated from the interviews, card sorts and focus groups with insights generated from evaluation of features inherent to each method. The emergent model “Dynamic Considerations for Acceptability and Likely Use of an MPT Ring” identified a narrative of acceptability and use that includes three main constructs. The first construct related to product acceptability was “Episodic Factors”, which includes MPT product, use, and sexual encounter attributes that women consider per life episode (e.g. a sexual encounter). A second construct is “The Priority Triad”, which is a core process within the model that drives both women’s acceptability and commitment to use an IVR MPT. This triad describes how women (re)prioritize, (re)shift and (re)balance their acceptability of an IVR MPT based on the dynamic needs of relationships, partners and the self. A third construct describes the “Rationale for Need” of an MPT, based on women’s perceived risk of HIV and/or fertility desires. Women who determine there is no rationale for needing an MPT will be unlikely to use one, regardless of triadic priorities or episodic considerations. The conceptual components of this newly developed model were generally comparable across all three data collection methods, and data triangulation efforts demonstrated strong complementary results. The new model elucidates the complexity of women’s acceptability and expected use of a vaginal ring for simultaneous prevention of HIV and pregnancy. The integration of multiple qualitative methods adds validity, depth and further insight into this model. Results from this study can inform clinicians and clinical guidelines for improving decision-making about prevention methods that is woman-centered but also partner- and relationship-aware. Product developers should not develop a ‘best’ product, but rather a suite of MPTs that can fit a woman’s needs at different moments in her life. New MPT study designs should consider involvement of both partners; assessment of use during menstruation and sex; and should include women in different types of relationships, with varied perceptions of HIV risk and fertility desires. Study designs that incorporate multiple or mixed methods should embrace the inherent benefits of the respective data collection methods for deeper contextualization and meaning-making of conceptual findings. Future research efforts should test, augment and clarify this new model conceptually, as more MPTs are developed and evaluated and in different populations

Dual mTOR/PI3K inhibition limits PI3K-dependent pathways activated upon mTOR inhibition in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by the development of kidney cysts leading to kidney failure in adulthood. Inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) slows polycystic kidney disease (PKD) progression in animal models, but randomized controlled trials failed to prove efficacy of mTOR inhibitor treatment. Here, we demonstrate that treatment with mTOR inhibitors result in the removal of negative feedback loops and up-regulates pro-proliferative phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt and PI3K-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling in rat and mouse PKD models. Dual mTOR/PI3K inhibition with NVP-BEZ235 abrogated these pro-proliferative signals and normalized kidney morphology and function by blocking proliferation and fibrosis. Our findings suggest that multi-target PI3K/mTOR inhibition may represent a potential treatment for ADPKD

Mutations in the IMD Pathway and Mustard Counter Vibrio cholerae Suppression of Intestinal Stem Cell Division in Drosophila

ABSTRACT Vibrio cholerae is an estuarine bacterium and an intestinal pathogen of humans that causes severe epidemic diarrhea. In the absence of adequate mammalian models in which to study the interaction of V. cholerae with the host intestinal innate immune system, we have implemented Drosophila melanogaster as a surrogate host. We previously showed that immune deficiency pathway loss-of-function and mustard gain-of-function mutants are less susceptible to V. cholerae infection. We find that although the overall burden of intestinal bacteria is not significantly different from that of control flies, intestinal stem cell (ISC) division is increased in these mutants. This led us to examine the effect of V. cholerae on ISC division. We report that V. cholerae infection and cholera toxin decrease ISC division. Because IMD pathway and Mustard mutants, which are resistant to V. cholerae, maintain higher levels of ISC division during V. cholerae infection, we hypothesize that suppression of ISC division is a virulence strategy of V. cholerae and that accelerated epithelial regeneration protects the host against V. cholerae. Extension of these findings to mammals awaits the development of an adequate experimental model