Depletion of Branched-Chain Aminotransferase 2 (BCAT2) Enzyme Impairs Myoblast 3 Survival and Myotube Formation

Much is known about the positive effects of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) in regulating muscle protein metabolism. Comparatively much less is known about the effects of these amino acids and their metabolites in regulating myotube formation. Using cultured myoblasts, we showed that although leucine is required for myotube formation, this requirement is easily met by α-ketoisocaproic acid, the ketoacid of leucine. We then demonstrated increases in the expression of the first two enzymes in the catabolism of the three BCAA, branched-chain amino transferase (BCAT2) and branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKD), with ~3× increase in BCKD protein expression (p < .05) during differentiation. Furthermore, depletion of BCAT2 abolished myoblast differentiation, as indicated by reduction in the levels of myosin heavy chain-1, troponin and myogenin. Supplementation of incubation medium with branched-chain α-ketoacids or related metabolites derivable from BCAT2 functions did not rescue the defects. However, co-depletion of BCKD kinase partially rescued the defects. Collectively, our data indicate a requirement for BCAA catabolism during myotube formation and that this requirement for BCAT2 likely goes beyond the need for this enzyme to generate the α-ketoacids of the BCAA.York University Librarie

Disruption of Branched-Chain Amino Acid Catabolism Impairs Rat Myoblast Survival and Differentiation

This study investigates the role of branched-chain amino acid catabolism in rat myoblast differentiation. The branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), particularly leucine, have been consistently shown to possess anabolic and anti-catabolic effects in regards to skeletal muscle hypertrophy and skeletal muscle differentiation. Metabolites of branched-chain amino acid catabolism have also been shown to induce similar effects, suggesting that production of these metabolites may mediate the effect of BCAA presence. Our study confirms that the leucine metabolite alpha-ketoisocaproate (KIC) can positively regulate rat myoblast differentiation, and ameliorate conditions of leucine deprivation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that impairing the enzymes BCAT2 and BCKD that produce KIC and other BCAA metabolites results in impaired myoblast differentiation and proliferation. Lastly, we show that myoblasts that have impaired BCAA catabolism become apoptotic and programmed for cell death. Conclusively, our findings demonstrate that BCAA catabolism is an essential process that facilitates myoblast survival and differentiation

Towards building a theory of Lean implementation in healthcare

Includes bibliographical references.Lean, a management system based on the Toyota Production System, is increasingly being applied to healthcare contexts with mixed outcomes. While there are many case studies reporting on the outcomes of Lean implementation, there is little empirical evidence indicating which factors influence Lean implementation. Furthermore, there is an absence of critical and theory building research of Lean implementation. This study specifically addressed these gaps by identifying some of the enablers and inhibitors of Lean implementation, using empirical methods

Critical Risk Assessment and Management in Pharmaceutical Industry

Background Proper implementation of principles of project risk management is well known to minimize the impact of threats to any project. However, the determination of critical success factors which threat the success of pharmaceutical projects at baseline are usually uncertain. Methods Data was collected using self-administered structured questionnaire generated solely for the purpose of the current research. The questionnaire was administered via e-mail to professionals employed in the pharmaceutical industry located in Boston area using www.surveymonkey.com. The introduction and purpose of the questionnaire was described in the message accompanying the questionnaire. Results: Out of the 14 critical success factors listed in the questionnaire , respondents ranked good communication on the top with weighted average (2.00) followed by Clear communication/ feedback (1.92) and Organizational adaptation/ culture/ structure (1.92). Conclusion Good leadership and clear communication and organization culture were determined to be the most important critical success factors for implementation of risk assessment management practices

A pattern of research in Coronaviruses in Saudi Arabia from 2014-2018

The aim: to observe the contribution of authors and the collaboration of institutes functioning in Saudi Arabia through the bibliometric review of literature in Coronaviruses. Design/Methods/Approach: Authors as solo or corroborators in research are the main sources to retrieve the material of their original articles, case reports and review articles published from 2014–2018 in PubMed indexed journals for estimation and tabulation. Results: Total 895; 3.5 % institutes (522; 58.3 % functioning locally and 373; 41.6 % internationally) in Saudi Arabia with the support of 1878; 7.4 % authors produced 253 articles from 2014 to 2018. Position of the author always matters in research, 207; 81.8 % authors had the first position followed by 28; 11 % as a second. Majority 72; 28.4 % articles published by single institute followed 46; 18.1 % and 49; 19.3 % by two and three institutes. Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia publish 57; 6.3 % stand on lead followed by the Ministry of Health (All Regions) Kingdome of Saudi Arabia and King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah & Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Community & General Medicine and Hospital Administration & Health Informatics were major disciplines of publications. Three journals, Journal of Infectious and Public Health, International Journal of Infectious Diseases and American Journal of Infection Control grab 147; 58.1 % share of publishing research. Conclusion: This study illustrates the determinations of the Saudi public and private healthcare sectors to handle the epidemic situation and uphold the esteem of people residing in catchment areas by means of technical, logistical and financial aid to managers and decision-makers

Research productivity of the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association published during the period 1978 - 2017.

aim: The aim of this study was, to calculate the amount and decade-wise growth of scientific articles publish under the caption of original and review articles, case and short reports, and special and short communications in the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association (JPMA) during the period of 1978 – 2017. Methods: The data of 480 issues of JPMA was manually retrieved and collected to tabulate in Microsoft Excel 2010 from the website of the journal for the period 1978 - 2017. Results: This study showed that 5796 articles were published (n=1449 per decade, 120.7 per annum) during the period of 1978 – 2017. Original articles 3750; 7.8% were published as per issue and take the highest position followed by 1281; 266 per issue and short communications 114; 0.23 take the least position in the space in four decades of publishing period. The fourth decade produced 72% more publications than first, 53.2% second and 40.8% a third decade. Conclusion: This study showed that the remarkable inclusion of articles in the decade to decade. The new decade produced more research instead of a previous decade. It is helpful to researchers for contributions to research in health sciences

Make an institutional repository with zero budget and easy steps on Google Scholar: An innovative approach for library professionals.

An institutional repository (IR) is a digital collection that archives and provides access to an institution\u27s scholarly and creative output, such as a university, research organization, or museum. The purpose of an IR is to collect, preserve, and share the intellectual work of an institution, making it accessible to a wider audience. An IR typically includes research articles, conference papers, theses and dissertations, preprints, reports, datasets, multimedia, and other scholarly and creative works produced by faculty, staff, and students. An institutional profile in Google Scholar can function as an institutional repository. While it may not have all the features and functionalities of a traditional institutional repository, it can still provide a platform for institutions to share and showcase their research output

Stanovení nebezpečných koncentrací rizikových látek v textiliích

Tato disertační práce posuzuje míru rizika založeného na procesech s účelem rozhodnout, zda je riziko nízké a přijatelné ze zdravotního hlediska. Není možné stanovit a vyčíslit všechny zbytky pesticidů všech typů bavlny v rámci dostupných zdrojů. Takže pro porovnání vzorků z obou zemědělských oblastí byla zvolena analýza jejich toxických účinků. V úvahu byly vzaty všechny důležité faktory, jako je výběr řádných vzorků, manipulace, předprava (kryogenní homogenizace), extrakce a analýza. Tato práce je kombinací studia výsledků kvalitativních a kvantitativních analytických měření. Pro kvalitativní analýzu byla použita metoda přístupu biosenzorů a také interakce se zelenými řasami. To bylo zkoumáno měřením bioelektrických signálů způsobených inhibicí enzymatické acetyl-cholinesterázy (AChE) s použitím Analyzátoru biosensorové toxicity (BTA) a Mini Termostatu (MT-1) a sledováním změn signálů způsobených interakcí biologických látek a reziduí. Všechny veličiny podílející se na aktivitě AChE inhibici byly studovány a optimalizovány, jako enzymy a koncentrace substrátu, pufr, pH a doba inkubace. Metoda se používá na vzorky pravé bavlny extrahované různými rozpouštědly. Nejenže jsme schopni odhadnout % inhibice každého jednotlivého vzorku, ale také můžeme porovnávat tuto inhibici se standardními kontrolními body. Zvláštností této metody je, že všechny vzorky spolu s kontrolními body mohou být testovány v jednom běhu. Celkový čas jednoho kompletního testu byl přibližně 50 - 55 minut. Je to metoda, která nám nabízí snadný způsob, jak zjistit přítomnost organofosforových a karbamátových pesticidů. Byla provedena další metoda založená na biotestu k identifikaci rizik. Tato metoda studuje interakce zbytkových analytů a zelených řas pro stanovení působících predátorů, kteří ovlivňují jejich běžný životní cyklus měřením inhibice kyslíku vznikajícím fotosyntézou. V této studii jsme viděli změnu chování extraktů z bavlněných vzorků z různých regionů, jež souvisela s variací druhů řas a jejich reakci na toxické látky.The dissertation is a study of risk assessment based on processes in order to decide if the risk is low and acceptable in scientific terms. It is not possible to identify and quantify all residues of these pesticides on all the types of cotton within available resources. So a comparison of selected cotton samples of both modes of agriculture from the field has been analyzed in terms of their toxic effects. All the important factors for analytical process like proper sampling, handling, pre-treatment (cryogenic homogenization), extraction and analysis have been taken into account. The thesis is a combination of study of qualitative and quantitative analytical measurements. For qualitative analysis, Biosensor approach and Interaction with algae have been implemented. Measurements of bio-electrical signals caused by enzymatic inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) with the use of Biosensor Toxicity Analyzer (BTA) and Mini Thermostat (MT-1) have been studied and the monitoring of changes in signals caused by the interaction of biological substances and residues were evaluated. All the variables involved in AChE inhibition activity have been studied and optimized such as enzyme & substrate concentrations, buffer, pH and incubation time. The method is utilized for real cotton samples extracted with different solvents. We are not only able to estimate the inhibition % of each individual sample but also we can compare this inhibition with the standard control points. The speciality of this method is that all the samples along with the control points can be tested in one run, The total time utilized for one complete test was approximately 50 55 minutes. It is a method that offers to different investigators an easy way to detect the presence of organophosphorous and carbamate pesticides. Another method based on the bioassay for hazard identification has been implemented. The interaction of residual analytes and the green algae has been studied for the determination of intervening predators affecting their normal life cycle by measuring the photosynthetic inhibition of oxygen. In this study a variation in the behaviour of extracts from the cotton samples of different regions has been observed which was related to the variation of algal species in their response to toxic chemicals

Analysis of fabric defect

Air-jet texturing is a well-established filament yarn processing technology that has been around for more than half a century. This project analyzed a serious warp streak problem in a woven fabric produced for car seats composed of 100 % Polyester air textured yarn. Yarn variability regarding stress-strain properties, force elongation relation, yarn diameter variations, thermal shrinkage and the structural behavior of two samples of yarn is being investigated. One of the yarn samples was producing these defects in the fabric and the other not producing this defect. Moreover the comparison of the influence of these parameters on both the samples is also being monitored. Variation in the behavior of these samples is observed