Anti-invasive and anti-adhesive activities of a recombinant disintegrin, r-viridistatin 2, derived from the Prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis)

Snake venom disintegrins inhibit platelet aggregation and have anti-cancer activities. In this study, we report the cloning, expression, and functional activities of a recombinant disintegrin, r-viridistatin 2 (GenBank ID: JQ071899), from the Prairie rattlesnake. r-Viridistatin 2 was tested for anti-invasive and anti-adhesive activities against six different cancer cell lines (human urinary bladder carcinoma (T24), human fibrosarcoma (HT-1080), human skin melanoma (SK-Mel-28), human colorectal adenocarcinoma (CaCo-2), human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231) and murine skin melanoma (B16F10)). r-Viridistatin 2 shares 96% and 64% amino acid identity with two other Prairie rattlesnake medium-sized disintegrins, viridin and viridistatin, respectively. r-Viridistatin 2 was able to inhibit adhesion of T24, SK-MEL-28, HT-1080, CaCo-2 and MDA-MB-231 to various extracellular matrix proteins with different affinities. r-Viridistatin 2 decreased the ability of T24 and SK-MEL-28 cells to migrate by 62 and 96% respectively, after 24 h of incubation and the invasion of T24, SK-MEL-28, HT-1080 and MDA-MB-231 cells were inhibited by 80, 85, 65 and 64% respectively, through a reconstituted basement membrane using a modified Boyden chamber. Finally, r-viridistatin 2 effectively inhibited lung colonization of murine melanoma cells in BALB/c mice by 71%, suggesting that r-viridistatin 2 could be a potent anti-cancer agent in vivo

USA WOMENS RUGBY SEVENS CONTACT INJURY RISK FACTORS

The purpose of the study was to identify the rates and causes of contact injuries in U.S. women’s Rugby-7s tournament players (2010-2015) and present guidelines for injury prevention to reduce the risk of injury in this emerging female contact-sport athlete. Data were captured using the Rugby Injury Survey & Evaluation (RISE) methodology. Contact injuries were frequent over the study period (direct=56%; indirect=38%, unknown=6%). Contact injuries overall were similar among positions (

BIOMECHANICAL CONTACT INJURY INFLUENCES IN USA MENS RUGBY-7S

The aim of this study was to prospectively report injury incidence and contact mechanisms in U.S. men’s under-19 to elite Rugby-7s players (n=852) over 2010-2015, using the Rugby Injury Survey & Evaluation (RISE) methodology. Contact injuries occurred with frequency (Overall, including time-loss and medical attention=55.4/1000ph; time-loss=17.2/1000ph;

Perfluorinated alkyl acids and fecundity assessment in striped mullet (\u3ci\u3eMugil cephalus\u3c/i\u3e) at Merritt Island national wildlife refuge

This study investigated wild caught striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) for levels of 15 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) in tandem with individual fecundity measurements (Oocyte sub-stage 2 late, n=42) and oocyte reproductive stages (Stages 1–5, n=128). PFAAmeasurementswere quantified in stripedmullet liver (n=128),muscle (n=49), and gonad (n=10). No significant negative impacts of liver PFAA burden on wild-caught,mullet fecundity endpoints were observed in this study; however, changes in PFAAwere observed in the liver asmullet progressed through different sub-stages of oocyte development. Of the PFAA with significant changes by sub-stage of oocyte development, the carboxylic acids (perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorotridecanoic acid) increased in the liver with increasing sub-stage while the sulfonic acid and its precursor (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide, respectively) decreased in the liver with increasing sub-stage of oocyte development. This is a unique find and suggests PFAA change location of compartmentalization as mullet progress towards spawning. Investigations also revealed higher than expected median muscle and gonad levels of PFOS in striped mullet collected at MINWR (9.01 ng/g and 80.2 ng/g, respectively)

Regulation of uric acid metabolism and excretion

AbstractPurines perform many important functions in the cell, being the formation of the monomeric precursors of nucleic acids DNA and RNA the most relevant one. Purines which also contribute to modulate energy metabolism and signal transduction, are structural components of some coenzymes and have been shown to play important roles in the physiology of platelets, muscles and neurotransmission. All cells require a balanced quantity of purines for growth, proliferation and survival. Under physiological conditions the enzymes involved in the purine metabolism maintain in the cell a balanced ratio between their synthesis and degradation. In humans the final compound of purines catabolism is uric acid. All other mammals possess the enzyme uricase that converts uric acid to allantoin that is easily eliminated through urine. Overproduction of uric acid, generated from the metabolism of purines, has been proven to play emerging roles in human disease. In fact the increase of serum uric acid is inversely associated with disease severity and especially with cardiovascular disease states. This review describes the enzymatic pathways involved in the degradation of purines, getting into their structure and biochemistry until the uric acid formation

Laboratory Abnormalities in Pregnancy-Associated Hypertension: Frequency and Association With Pregnancy Outcomes

To estimate the frequency of abnormal laboratory test results in pregnancy-associated hypertension and relationship with pregnancy outcomes

Factors Associated with Revision Surgery after Internal Fixation of Hip Fractures

Background: Femoral neck fractures are associated with high rates of revision surgery after management with internal fixation. Using data from the Fixation using Alternative Implants for the Treatment of Hip fractures (FAITH) trial evaluating methods of internal fixation in patients with femoral neck fractures, we investigated associations between baseline and surgical factors and the need for revision surgery to promote healing, relieve pain, treat infection or improve function over 24 months postsurgery. Additionally, we investigated factors associated with (1) hardware removal and (2) implant exchange from cancellous screws (CS) or sliding hip screw (SHS) to total hip arthroplasty, hemiarthroplasty, or another internal fixation device. Methods: We identified 15 potential factors a priori that may be associated with revision surgery, 7 with hardware removal, and 14 with implant exchange. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses in our investigation. Results: Factors associated with increased risk of revision surgery included: female sex, [hazard ratio (HR) 1.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.25-2.50; P = 0.001], higher body mass index (fo

Perfluorinated alkyl acids and fecundity assessment in striped mullet (\u3ci\u3eMugil cephalus\u3c/i\u3e) at Merritt Island national wildlife refuge

This study investigated wild caught striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR) for levels of 15 perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) in tandem with individual fecundity measurements (Oocyte sub-stage 2 late, n=42) and oocyte reproductive stages (Stages 1–5, n=128). PFAAmeasurementswere quantified in stripedmullet liver (n=128),muscle (n=49), and gonad (n=10). No significant negative impacts of liver PFAA burden on wild-caught,mullet fecundity endpoints were observed in this study; however, changes in PFAAwere observed in the liver asmullet progressed through different sub-stages of oocyte development. Of the PFAA with significant changes by sub-stage of oocyte development, the carboxylic acids (perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorononanoic acid, and perfluorotridecanoic acid) increased in the liver with increasing sub-stage while the sulfonic acid and its precursor (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide, respectively) decreased in the liver with increasing sub-stage of oocyte development. This is a unique find and suggests PFAA change location of compartmentalization as mullet progress towards spawning. Investigations also revealed higher than expected median muscle and gonad levels of PFOS in striped mullet collected at MINWR (9.01 ng/g and 80.2 ng/g, respectively)

Un meta-análisis de la perturbación causada por drones en aves que anidan

The use of drones for monitoring nesting birds is rapidly increasing given their affordability and efficiency in bird detection and quantification across habitats. Reports of disturbance caused by drones on different bird species have been mixed, with no consensus on the degree to which different factors affect disturbance responses. Given the lack of systematic assessments of disturbance from drones on nesting birds, we conducted a formal meta-analysis to quantify the degree of disturbance caused by multi-rotor drones on nesting birds, with a particular focus on the effects of altitude of flights and species nesting traits. Seventeen studies met our criteria for inclusion in the analysis, from which we extracted 31 effect sizes in the form of log-odds ratio. Drones showed a small disturbance effect (-1.54; 95% CI: -2.83, -0.26) on nesting birds overall, but heterogeneity was large. Drone flights > 50 m showed no evidence of disturbance on nesting birds. Conversely, flights at lower altitudes (≤ 50 m) showed stronger evidence of disturbance effects, with the largest odds of disturbance observed on ground solitary and non-ground solitary nesters. Only ground colonial nesters showed no evidence of disturbance regardless of the drone altitude. We conclude that the use of drones can be an efficient and safe means of surveying nesting birds if altitude and nesting traits are considered in survey protocols. RESUMEN. El uso de drones para monitorear las aves que anidan está aumentando rápidamente dada su asequibilidad y eficiencia en la detección y cuantificación de aves en todos los hábitats. Los informes de perturbaciones causadas por drones en diferentes especies de aves han sido mixtos, sin consenso sobre el grado en que los diferentes factores afectan las respuestas de perturbación. Dada la falta de evaluaciones sistemáticas de la perturbación de los drones en las aves que anidan, realizamos un metanálisis formal para cuantificar el grado de perturbación causada por drones multirotor en las aves que anidan, haciendo foco en particular en los efectos de la altitud de los vuelos y los rasgos de anidación de las especies. Diecisiete estudios cumplieron los criterios de inclusión en el análisis, de los cuales se extrajeron 31 tamaños del efecto en forma de relación logarítmica de probabilidades. Los drones mostraron un pequeño efecto de perturbación (-1,54; IC del 95%: -2,83, -0,26) en las aves que anidan en general, pero la heterogeneidad fue grande. Los vuelos de drones > 50 m no mostraron evidencia de perturbación en las aves que anidan. Por el contrario, los vuelos a altitudes más bajas (≤ 50m) mostraron una mayor evidencia de efectos de perturbación, con las mayores probabilidades de perturbación observadas en anidadores solitarios y no terrestres. Solo los anidadores coloniales terrestres no mostraron evidencia de perturbación, independientemente de la altitud del dron. Concluimos que el uso de drones puede ser un medio eficiente y seguro para inspeccionar las aves que anidan si la altitud y los rasgos de anidación se consideran en los protocolos de monitoreo.The authors were supported by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The authors thank the editors and two anonymous reviewers for their detailed feedback and constructive comments. Funding for publication costs was provided by the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Mary and Jeff Bell Library, the Division of Research and Innovation, and the Office of the Provost