The Role of NAD\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e and NAD\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e-Boosting Therapies in Inflammatory Response by IL-13

The essential role of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide+ (NAD+) in redox reactions during oxidative respiration is well known, yet the coenzyme and regulator functions of NAD+ in diverse and important processes are still being discovered. Maintaining NAD+ levels through diet is essential for health. In fact, the United States requires supplementation of the NAD+ precursor niacin into the food chain for these reasons. A large body of research also indicates that elevating NAD+ levels is beneficial for numerous conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular health, inflammatory response, and longevity. Consequently, strategies have been created to elevate NAD+ levels through dietary supplementation with NAD+ precursor compounds. This paper explores current research regarding these therapeutic compounds. It then focuses on the NAD+ regulation of IL-13 signaling, which is a research area garnering little attention. IL-13 is a critical regulator of allergic response and is associated with Parkinson’s disease and cancer. Evidence supporting the notion that increasing NAD+ levels might reduce IL-13 signal-induced inflammatory response is presented. The assessment is concluded with an examination of reports involving popular precursor compounds that boost NAD+ and their associations with IL-13 signaling in the context of offering a means for safely and effectively reducing inflammatory response by IL-13

First look at the Fomalhaut debris disk with the Spitzer Space Telescope

We present Spitzer Space Telescope early release observations of Fomalhaut, a nearby A-type star with dusty circumstellar debris. The disk is spatially resolved at 24, 70, and 160 � m using the Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS). While the disk orientation and outer radius are comparable to values measured in the submillimeter, the disk inner radius cannot be precisely defined: the central hole in the submillimeter ring is at least partially filled with emission from warm dust, seen inSpitzerInfrared Spectrograph (IRS) 17.5‐34 � m spectra and MIPS 24 � m images. The disk surface brightness becomes increasingly asymmetric toward shorter wavelengths, with the south-southeast ansa always brighter than the north-northwest one. This asymmetry may reflect perturbations on the disk by an unseen interior planet. Subject headingg circumstellar matter — infrared: stars — planetary systems — stars: individual (Fomalhaut

A database of marine phytoplankton abundance, biomass and species composition in Australian waters

There have been many individual phytoplankton datasets collected across Australia since the mid 1900s, but most are unavailable to the research community. We have searched archives, contacted researchers, and scanned the primary and grey literature to collate 3,621,847 records of marine phytoplankton species from Australian waters from 1844 to the present. Many of these are small datasets collected for local questions, but combined they provide over 170 years of data on phytoplankton communities in Australian waters. Units and taxonomy have been standardised, obviously erroneous data removed, and all metadata included. We have lodged this dataset with the Australian Ocean Data Network (http://portal.aodn.org.au/) allowing public access. The Australian Phytoplankton Database will be invaluable for global change studies, as it allows analysis of ecological indicators of climate change and eutrophication (e.g., changes in distribution; diatom:dinoflagellate ratios). In addition, the standardised conversion of abundance records to biomass provides modellers with quantifiable data to initialise and validate ecosystem models of lower marine trophic levels

An endocannabinoid mechanism for stress-induced analgesia

Acute stress suppresses pain by activating brain pathways that engage opioid or non-opioid mechanisms. Here we show that an opioid-independent form of this phenomenon, termed stress-induced analgesia, is mediated by the release of endogenous marijuana-like (cannabinoid) compounds in the brain. Blockade of cannabinoid CB(1) receptors in the periaqueductal grey matter of the midbrain prevents non-opioid stress-induced analgesia. In this region, stress elicits the rapid formation of two endogenous cannabinoids, the lipids 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) and anandamide. A newly developed inhibitor of the 2-AG-deactivating enzyme, monoacylglycerol lipase, selectively increases 2-AG concentrations and, when injected into the periaqueductal grey matter, enhances stress-induced analgesia in a CB1-dependent manner. Inhibitors of the anandamide-deactivating enzyme fatty-acid amide hydrolase, which selectively elevate anandamide concentrations, exert similar effects. Our results indicate that the coordinated release of 2-AG and anandamide in the periaqueductal grey matter might mediate opioid-independent stress-induced analgesia. These studies also identify monoacylglycerol lipase as a previously unrecognized therapeutic target

Protecting Human Research Subjects: A Jurisdictional Analysis

The most recent speech from the throne contained a pledge from the federal government to work with provinces to implement a national system for the governance of research involving humans, including national research ethics and standards. This commitment signals a desire on the part of the federal government to address concerns about the inadequacies of the current governance of health research involving humans (RIH). To this end, Health Canada\u27s Ethics Division is currently exploring the ways in which such a national governance system for RIH might be implemented. It is important for the federal government, as it moves toward making good on its Throne Speech pledge, to have clarity concerning the jurisdictional authority to legislate with regard to RIH. Specifically, it needs to be clear about whether the constitutional jurisdiction over RIH rests with the federal government, the provinces or whether it is divided or shared between them. The answer to this jurisdictional question will shape the federal government\u27s approach to any negotiations with the provinces concerning the creation and implementation of a national system of governance for RIH. Addressing the jurisdictional issues is an important precursor to any negotiation process for two reasons. First, the scope of federal and provincial power over RIH is key both to the design and implementation of a comprehensive national system of regulation over RIH. It is necessary to determine which sphere of government has the power to do what before deciding how to go about creating a national governance system. Second, knowing the extent and the scope of federal jurisdiction with respect to RIH might strengthen the negotiating position of the federal government vis a vis the provinces. It will provide clarity as to what the federal government could do in terms of regulating RIH if the provinces are unwilling to cooperate. In short, it will make clear whether, and to what extent, the federal government needs provincial agreement to regulate RIH and what options are available to the federal government if such agreement is not attained

Protecting Human Research Subjects: A Jurisdictional Analysis

The most recent speech from the throne contained a pledge from the federal government to work with provinces to implement a national system for the governance of research involving humans, including national research ethics and standards. This commitment signals a desire on the part of the federal government to address concerns about the inadequacies of the current governance of health research involving humans (RIH). To this end, Health Canada\u27s Ethics Division is currently exploring the ways in which such a national governance system for RIH might be implemented. It is important for the federal government, as it moves toward making good on its Throne Speech pledge, to have clarity concerning the jurisdictional authority to legislate with regard to RIH. Specifically, it needs to be clear about whether the constitutional jurisdiction over RIH rests with the federal government, the provinces or whether it is divided or shared between them. The answer to this jurisdictional question will shape the federal government\u27s approach to any negotiations with the provinces concerning the creation and implementation of a national system of governance for RIH. Addressing the jurisdictional issues is an important precursor to any negotiation process for two reasons. First, the scope of federal and provincial power over RIH is key both to the design and implementation of a comprehensive national system of regulation over RIH. It is necessary to determine which sphere of government has the power to do what before deciding how to go about creating a national governance system. Second, knowing the extent and the scope of federal jurisdiction with respect to RIH might strengthen the negotiating position of the federal government vis a vis the provinces. It will provide clarity as to what the federal government could do in terms of regulating RIH if the provinces are unwilling to cooperate. In short, it will make clear whether, and to what extent, the federal government needs provincial agreement to regulate RIH and what options are available to the federal government if such agreement is not attained

Heteroduplex mobility assay as a tool for predicting phylogenetic affiliation of environmental ribosomal RNA clones

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