Cyclic ADP Ribose-Dependent Ca2+ Release by Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Acutely Dissociated Rat Hippocampal Neurons

Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (group I mGluRs; mGluR1 and mGluR5) exert diverse effects on neuronal and synaptic functions, many of which are regulated by intracellular Ca2+. In this study, we characterized the cellular mechanisms underlying Ca2+ mobilization induced by (RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG; a specific group I mGluR agonist) in the somata of acutely dissociated rat hippocampal neurons using microfluorometry. We found that DHPG activates mGluR5 to mobilize intracellular Ca2+ from ryanodine-sensitive stores via cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose (cADPR), while the PLC/IP3 signaling pathway was not involved in Ca2+ mobilization. The application of glutamate, which depolarized the membrane potential by 28.5±4.9 mV (n = 4), led to transient Ca2+ mobilization by mGluR5 and Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels. We found no evidence that mGluR5-mediated Ca2+ release and Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels interact to generate supralinear Ca2+ transients. Our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms of intracellular Ca2+ mobilization by mGluR5 in the somata of hippocampal neurons

Beneficial Effects of Highly Palatable Food on the Behavioral and Neural Adversities induced by Early Life Stress Experience in Female Rats

This study examined the effects of highly palatable food during adolescence on the psycho-emotional and neural disturbances caused by early life stress experience in female rats. Female Sprague-Dawley pups were separated from dam for 3 h daily during the first two weeks of birth (MS) or left undisturbed (NH). Half of MS females received free access to chocolate cookies in addition to ad libitum chow from postnatal day 28. Pups were subjected to the behavioral tests during young adulthood. The plasma corticosterone response to acute stress, ΔFosB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the brain regions were analyzed. Total caloric intake and body weight gain during the whole experimental period did not differ among the experimental groups. Cookie access during adolescence and youth improved anxiety-/depression-like behaviors by MS experience. ΔFosB expression was decreased, but BDNF was increased in the nucleus accumbens of MS females, and ΔFosB expression was normalized and BDNF was further increased following cookie access. Corticosterone response to acute stress was blunted by MS experience and cookie access did not improve it. Results suggest that cookie access during adolescence improves the psycho-emotional disturbances of MS females, and ΔFosB and/or BDNF expression in the nucleus accumbens may play a role in its underlying neural mechanisms. © 2015 Ivyspring International Publisher.1

Combination therapy of vitamin C and thiamine for septic shock in a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, controlled study (ATESS): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background Septic shock is a life-threatening condition with underlying circulatory and cellular/metabolic abnormalities. Vitamin C and thiamine are potential candidates for adjunctive therapy; they are expected to improve outcomes based on recent experimental and clinical research. The aim of the Ascorbic Acid and Thiamine Effect in Septic Shock (ATESS) trial is to evaluate the effects of early combination therapy with intravenous vitamin C and thiamine on recovery from organ failure in patients with septic shock. Methods This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial in adult patients with septic shock recruited from six emergency departments in South Korea. Patients will be randomly allocated into the treatment or control group (1:1 ratio), and we will recruit 116 septic shock patients (58 per group). For the treatment group, vitamin C (50 mg/kg) and thiamine (200 mg) will be mixed in 50 ml of 0.9% saline and administered intravenously every 12 h for a total of 48 h. For the placebo group, an identical volume of 0.9% saline will be administered in the same manner. The primary outcome is the delta Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (ΔSOFA = initial SOFA at enrolment – follow-up SOFA after 72 h). Discussion This trial will provide valuable evidence about the effectiveness of vitamin C and thiamine therapy for septic shock. If effective, this therapy might improve survival and become one of the main therapeutic adjuncts for patients with septic shock. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03756220. Registered on 5 December 2018.This work was supported by a National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korean government (No. 2018R1C1B6006821). The government did not have any role in the study design; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of data; writing of the report; and the decision to submit the report for publication

A simple VOC prioritization method to determine ventilation rate for indoor environment based on building material emissions

Building material emissions could be the major indoor air pollution source in low-occupant-density spaces, e.g., a private office. Lowest Concentration of Interest (LCI) schemes can be used to predict ventilation requirements based on building material emissions. However, it is not practical to obtain emission information on hundreds of chemicals with LCIs. 28 building materials selected from the NRC database were subjected to emission modelling, resulting in 101 VOCs as a starting VOC pool. A method was proposed to generate VOC priority lists. Three priority lists were obtained based on three LCI schemes, i.e., AFSSET, AgBB and EU-LCI, and each consisted of 17 - 21 VOCs, i.e., about 10% of the total substances in the schemes. This paper demonstrated the role of indoor VOCs in determining ventilation requirements and illustrated a way to predict the ventilation rate based on a simplified list of VOCs.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Environmental Compatibility of Lightweight Aggregates from Mine Tailings and Industrial Byproducts

A lightweight aggregate was produced by sintering the mixture of gold mine tailings, red mud, and limestone at 1150 °C. The physical (i.e., skid resistance, abrasion resistance, and bond strength) and environmental (i.e., leachability) feasibility of this aggregate was assessed to consider its potential use as a construction material for bicycle lanes. The skid resistance (British pendulum number of 71) and bond strength (1.5 N·mm−2) of the aggregate were found to be appropriate for this use. However, the abrasion loss value of the aggregate was found to be 290 mg, which exceeds the limit of Korean Standard KS F 281 (200 mg). Heavy metals were found to not leach from the aggregate in various leaching tests. These include Korean (Korea Standard Method for Solid Waste), American (Toxic Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP)), and European (BS EN 12457-1) leaching tests, despite the raw materials containing significant amounts of Pb, As, and F. However, leachate extracted from the aggregate exhibited an aquatic toxicity to Daphnia magna of 13.94 TU24hr and 14.25 TU48hr, most likely due to a high pH and Ca concentration originating from the free CaO present in the aggregate. The data suggests that the physical properties of the reconstructed aggregate are appropriate for use in bicycle lane construction, however the dissolution of Ca and the pH level of the leachate need to be controlled to protect aquatic ecosystems

Screening-level estimates of indoor exposure to volatile organic compounds emitted from building materials

Knowing the value of the key mass-transfer model parameters is a critical requirement for evaluating volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from indoor materials. The key parameters are diffusion coefficient (D), partition coefficient (K), and initial material-phase emittable concentration (C0). Although these parameters can be individually measured in the laboratory, the required time and expense are substantial. A simple method of determining D and C0 using data from ventilated chamber tests and dimensionless analysis is proposed and then validated using VOC emission data from the material emissions database developed by National Research Council Canada (NRC). The primary application of this method is to provide a rapid screening-level estimate of inhalation exposure to VOCs in building materials. Two standard scenarios using the NRC database are employed to demonstrate the value of the approach to indoor air quality assessment. The method could be a useful screening tool for assessing material emissions or environmental exposures. \ua9 2014 Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Highly palatable food access during adolescence increased anxiety-/depression-like behaviors in male, but not in female, rats

Objectives: This study was conducted to examine the sexual dimorphic effects of highly palatable food (HPF) access during adolescence on the neurochemistry and depression-/anxiety-like behaviors of rats. Methods: Male and female Sprague–Dawley pups had free access to chocolate cookie rich in fat (HPF) from postnatal day 28 in addition to ad libitum chow, and the control groups received only chow. The food conditions were continued throughout the entire experimental period, and the neurochemical and behavioral measurements were performed during young adulthood. Rats were subjected to the ambulatory activity, elevated plus maze, and forced swim tests. Corticosterone levels during 2 h of restraint stress were analyzed with radioimmunoassay, and ΔFosB and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) with Western blot analysis. Results: Cookie access did not affect body weight gain and total caloric intake in both sexes; however, it increased retroperitoneal fat depot only in males. The time spent in open arms during elevated plus maze test was decreased and immobility during forced swim test was increased in cookie-fed males, but not in cookie-fed females. Main effect of food condition on the stress-induced corticosterone increase was observed in males, but not in females, and cookie access increased BDNF expression in the NAc only in males. Conclusions: Increased BDNF expression in the NAc and fat depot, in addition to the stress axis dysfunction, may play roles in the pathophysiology of depression- and/or anxiety-like behaviors induced by cookie access. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group1