Limpet feeding rate and the consistency of physiological response to temperature

Thermal reaction norms are fundamental relationships for geographic comparisons of organism response to temperature. They are shaped by an organism’s environmental history and provide insights into both the global patterns of thermal sensitivity and the physiological mechanisms underlying temperature response. In this study we conducted the first measure of the thermal reaction norm for feeding, comparing the radula rasping rate of two tropical and one polar limpet species. The consistency of thermal response was tested through comparisons with limpet duration tenacity. Feeding and duration tenacity of limpets are ecologically important muscular mechanisms that rely on very different aspects of muscle physiology, repeated concentric (shortening) and isometric (fixed length) contraction of muscles, respectively. In these limpets the thermal reaction norms of feeding limpets were best described by a single break point at a maximum temperature with linear declines at higher (Siphonaria atra) or lower temperatures (Nacella concinna and Cellana radiata) rather than a bell-shaped curve. The thermal reaction norms for duration tenacity were similar in the two tropical limpets. However, the rasping rate in Antarctic N. concinna increased linearly with temperature up to a maximum at 12.3 °C (maximal range 8.5–12.3 °C) when feeding stopped. In contrast, duration tenacity in N. concinna was maximal at 1.0 °C (−0.6 to 3.8 °C) and linearly decreased with increasing temperature. The thermal reaction norms of muscular activity were, therefore, inconsistent within and between species, indicating that different mechanisms likely underlie different aspects of species sensitivities to temperature

Neutrophils as one of the major haptoglobin sources in mastitis affected milk

The antioxidant haptoglobin (Hp) is an acute-phase protein responsive to infectious and inflammatory diseases. Hp and somatic cell counts (SCC) are sharply elevated in bovine milk following intramammary administration of endotoxin or bacteria. However, the sources of milk Hp responsible for such increases are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to define the source of milk Hp from dairy cows with naturally occurring mastitis. Quarter milk samples selected from 50 dairy cows were separated into four groups according to SCC as group A: < 100 (n = 19); B: 100–200 (n = 10); C: 201–500 (n = 10); and D: > 500 × 103 (n = 11) cells/mL. Our results reveal that milk Hp concentrations were correlated with SCC (r = 0.742; P < 0.01), and concentrations in group D were ~10-fold higher than in group A. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis indicates that the milk somatic cells from group D were not only capable of synthesizing Hp but could also markedly increase Hp mRNA expression. Western blot, immunocytochemistry, double confocal immunofluorescence, and Hp releasing experiments demonstrate that neutrophils were associated with the biosynthesis and release of Hp in milk. It further shows that Hp was significantly elevated in the epithelium of mammary gland tissue with mastitis and was also expressed in the cultured mammary epithelial cells. We propose that neutrophils and epithelial cells may play an essential role in elevating milk Hp in addition to previous suggestions that Hp may be derived from mammary tissues and circulation

Bacteremic pneumonia caused by Nocardia veterana in an HIV-infected patient

SummaryDisseminated Nocardia veterana infection has rarely been reported. We describe the first reported case of N. veterana bacteremic pneumonia in an HIV-infected patient. The isolate was confirmed by 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. The patient initially responded well to trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole treatment (minimum inhibitory concentration 0.25μg/ml), but died of ventilator-associated pneumonia

Gold nanoparticles as high-resolution X-ray imaging contrast agents for the analysis of tumor-related micro-vasculature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Angiogenesis is widely investigated in conjunction with cancer development, in particular because of the possibility of early stage detection and of new therapeutic strategies. However, such studies are negatively affected by the limitations of imaging techniques in the detection of microscopic blood vessels (diameter 3-5 μm) grown under angiogenic stress. We report that synchrotron-based X-ray imaging techniques with very high spatial resolution can overcome this obstacle, provided that suitable contrast agents are used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We tested different contrast agents based on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) for the detection of cancer-related angiogenesis by synchrotron microradiology, microtomography and high resolution X-ray microscopy. Among them only bare-AuNPs in conjunction with heparin injection provided sufficient contrast to allow <it>in vivo </it>detection of small capillary species (the smallest measured lumen diameters were 3-5 μm). The detected vessel density was 3-7 times higher than with other nanoparticles. We also found that bare-AuNPs with heparin allows detecting symptoms of local extravascular nanoparticle diffusion in tumor areas where capillary leakage appeared.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although high-Z AuNPs are natural candidates as radiology contrast agents, their success is not guaranteed, in particular when targeting very small blood vessels in tumor-related angiography. We found that AuNPs injected with heparin produced the contrast level needed to reveal--for the first time by X-ray imaging--tumor microvessels with 3-5 μm diameter as well as extravascular diffusion due to basal membrane defenestration. These results open the interesting possibility of functional imaging of the tumor microvasculature, of its development and organization, as well as of the effects of anti-angiogenic drugs.</p

Quantitative analysis of nanoparticle internalization in mammalian cells by high resolution X-ray microscopy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Quantitative analysis of nanoparticle uptake at the cellular level is critical to nanomedicine procedures. In particular, it is required for a realistic evaluation of their effects. Unfortunately, quantitative measurements of nanoparticle uptake still pose a formidable technical challenge. We present here a method to tackle this problem and analyze the number of metal nanoparticles present in different types of cells. The method relies on high-lateral-resolution (better than 30 nm) transmission x-ray microimages with both absorption contrast and phase contrast -- including two-dimensional (2D) projection images and three-dimensional (3D) tomographic reconstructions that directly show the nanoparticles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Practical tests were successfully conducted on bare and polyethylene glycol (PEG) coated gold nanoparticles obtained by x-ray irradiation. Using two different cell lines, EMT and HeLa, we obtained the number of nanoparticle clusters uptaken by each cell and the cluster size. Furthermore, the analysis revealed interesting differences between 2D and 3D cultured cells as well as between 2D and 3D data for the same 3D specimen.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of our method, proving that it is accurate enough to measure the nanoparticle uptake differences between cells as well as the sizes of the formed nanoparticle clusters. The differences between 2D and 3D cultures and 2D and 3D images stress the importance of the 3D analysis which is made possible by our approach.</p

Efficacy and toxicities of doxorubicin plus ifosfamide in the second-line treatment of uterine leiomyosarcoma

PurposeUterine leiomyosarcoma is a rare and aggressive tumor known for its drug resistance and metastatic potential. The standard first-line treatment typically involves anthracycline-based chemotherapy or a combination of gemcitabine and docetaxel; however, there is currently no established second-line treatment. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of doxorubicin plus ifosfamide as a potential second-line treatment for uterine leiomyosarcoma.Materials and methodsThis is a retrospective, single-center, single-arm study. We reviewed the tumor registry data from January 2010 to December 2022 and identified patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma who had previously received first-line salvage or adjuvant treatment involving gemcitabine and taxotere, and later experienced tumor recurrence. Patients who met these criteria were included in the study. The primary endpoint was the efficacy of doxorubicin and ifosfamide as a second-line treatment for uterine leiomyosarcoma, as measured by progression-free survival, 1-year overall survival, and response rate. The secondary endpoint was the adverse events associated with this regimen.ResultsFifty-two patients were diagnosed with uterine leiomyosarcoma during the study period, nine of whom were included in the data analysis. All patients had previously received gemcitabine-docetaxel as first-line adjuvant therapy, with a median progression-free survival period of 8.4 months. Doxorubicin-ifosfamide was administered as second-line treatment, with a median progression-free survival of 6.0 months (range: 2.7-79.9 months). The clinical benefit rate of the second-line treatment was 66.7%, with a median overall survival of 33.0 months, and a 1-year overall survival rate of 83.3%. Previous reports have shown that the median progression-free survival for second-line treatments using other regimens ranged from 1.4-5.6 months. The most common adverse event was myelosuppression, with five patients requiring granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and one patient requiring a blood transfusion. No patient discontinued treatment due to unmanageable adverse events.ConclusionUse of doxorubicin with ifosfamide may be a promising and reasonable second-line treatment with manageable adverse events for patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma

Results of Fabry Disease Screening in Male Pre-End Stage Renal Disease Patients with Unknown Etiology Found Through the Platform of a Chronic Kidney Disease Education Program in a Northern Taiwan Medical Center

Background/Aims: Fabry disease (FD), a rare x-lined genetic disorder is a cause of renal deterioration. The phenotype of FD is highly variable and nonspecific, and correct diagnosis has always been delayed. We aimed to explore the prevalence and clinical presentation of FD in this high-risk male population in a Northern Taiwan medical center. Methods: This is the first study to survey the incidence of FD in this high-risk population through the platform of a chronic kidney disease (CKD) education program in Asia. A total of 1,012 male patients with unknown CKD causes were screened using an assay of alpha-galactosidase A activity (α-Gal A) by dried blood spots (DBS). A final GLA gene analysis was also done for those with low enzyme activity. Results: We identified two new patients with classic FD and four patients with late-onset FD. One novel GLA mutation with c.413 G&#x3e;A was found in one classic FD patient (index 5). The prevalence of FD is about 0.59 % (6 in 1,012) in the high-risk population group with CKD. The clinical symptoms of FD patients are nonspecific except in those with various degrees of renal failure. Those patients’ correct diagnosis was delayed, taking years and even decades. Three patients received enzyme replacement therapy and one started regular hemodialysis due to persistent renal function deterioration. Another two patients were found from family screening through a new index. In addition, a false negative result occurred in one patient who was proved to have FD by his kidney pathology as determined by this screening. Conclusion: FD is not such as rare a disease and its prevalence is greater in this high-risk male population. Clinicians need to be aware that FD should be included in the differential diagnosis in CKD with unknown etiology

Nationwide Surveillance of Influenza during the Pandemic (2009–10) and Post-Pandemic (2010–11) Periods in Taiwan

INTRODUCTION: Although WHO declared the world moving into the post-pandemic period on August 10, 2010, influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus continued to circulate globally. Its impact was expected to continue during the 2010-11 influenza season. This study describes the nationwide surveillance findings of the pandemic and post-pandemic influenza periods in Taiwan and assesses the impact of influenza A(H1N1) 2009 during the post-pandemic period. METHODS: The Influenza Laboratory Surveillance Network consisted of 12 contract laboratories for collecting and testing samples with acute respiratory tract infections. Surveillance of emergency room visits and outpatient department visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) were conducted using the Real-Time Outbreak and Disease Surveillance system and the National Health Insurance program data, respectively. Hospitalized cases with severe complications and deaths were reported to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System. RESULTS: During the 2009-10 influenza season, pandemic A(H1N1) 2009 was the predominant circulating strain and caused 44 deaths. However, the 2010-11 influenza season began with A(H3N2) being the predominant circulating strain, changing to A(H1N1) 2009 in December 2010. Emergency room and outpatient department ILI surveillance displayed similar trends. By March 31, 2011, there were 1,751 cases of influenza with severe complications; 50.1% reported underlying diseases. Of the reported cases, 128 deaths were associated with influenza. Among these, 93 (72.6%) were influenza A(H1N1) 2009 and 30 (23.4%) A(H3N2). Compared to the pandemic period, during the immediate post-pandemic period, increased number of hospitalizations and deaths were observed, and the patients were consistently older. CONCLUSIONS: Reemergence of influenza A(H1N1) 2009 during the 2010-11 influenza season had an intense activity with age distribution shift. To further mitigate the impact of future influenza epidemics, Taiwan must continue its multifaceted influenza surveillance systems, remain flexible with antiviral use policies, and revise the vaccine policies to include the population most at risk

Genome-Wide Association Study of Treatment Refractory Schizophrenia in Han Chinese

We report the first genome-wide association study of a joint analysis using 795 Han Chinese individuals with treatment-refractory schizophrenia (TRS) and 806 controls. Three loci showed suggestive significant association with TRS were identified. These loci include: rs10218843 (P = 3.04×10−7) and rs11265461 (P = 1.94×10−7) are adjacent to signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family member 1 (SLAMF1); rs4699030 (P = 1.94×10−6) and rs230529 (P = 1.74×10−7) are located in the gene nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells 1 (NFKB1); and rs13049286 (P = 3.05×10−5) and rs3827219 (P = 1.66×10−5) fall in receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 4 (RIPK4). One isolated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs739617 (P = 3.87×10−5) was also identified to be associated with TRS. The -94delATTG allele (rs28362691) located in the promoter region of NFKB1 was identified by resequencing and was found to associate with TRS (P = 4.85×10−6). The promoter assay demonstrated that the -94delATTG allele had a significant lower promoter activity than the -94insATTG allele in the SH-SY5Y cells. This study suggests that rs28362691 in NFKB1 might be involved in the development of TRS