bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Altered Mitochondrial Morphology Elucidates Cell Death Mechanisms in the Aged Female Rat Heart
Authors: Diaz Carlos , Machikas Alexandra , Ball Richard W , Lopez Veronica , Korzick Donna H 
Published: June 2021

BackgroundAcute myocardial infarction and associated ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains a leading cause of death in older post‐menopausal women. I/R injury triggers mitochondrial dysfunction leading to necrosis, apoptosis, and/or autophagy.PurposeTo determine if age‐associated estrogen deficiency alters mitochondrial morphology in conjunction with vulnerability to I/R injury.MethodsMitochondrial morphology was assessed through electron microscopy in border zone regions following coronary artery ligation (55 min I and 4–6 hr R) or sham in adult (6 mo) ovary‐intact, aged (24 mo) ovary‐intact and aged ovariectomized (OVX) female F344 rats. Necrosis was assessed by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, apoptosis by DNA laddering and TUNEL, and markers of autophagy by western blotting.ResultsLoss of mitochondrial matrix following I/R was greatest in aged OVX. Mitochondrial area was less in aged vs adult in conjunction with increased mitochondrial number and marked Z line streaming. Reduced DNA laddering and TUNEL, combined with increased beclin‐1 and cathepsinD in aged vs adult, further support a dominant role for necrosis underlying cell death in aged females (n=4–5/group).ConclusionMorphological alterations in mitochondria with aging are likely contributory in necrotic cell death mechanisms associated with I/R injury in post‐menopausal women.
Whole‐body heat stress increases mitochondrial enzyme activity in mice skeletal muscle
Authors: Tamura Yuki , Matsunaga Yutaka , Masuda Hiroyuki , Takahashi Yumiko , Takahashi Yuki , Takashima Satoshi , Minagawa Hidehiro , Hoshino Daisuke , Hatta Hideo 
Published: June 2021

PURPOSEThe purposes of present study were to investigate i) the chronic effects of whole‐body heat stress (WHS) on adaptation of mitochondrial enzyme activity and ii) the acute effects of WHS on kinase phosphorylation known to mediate mitochondrial biogenesis in mice skeletal muscle.METHODSICR mice were divided into sedentary or WHS group. Mice in WHS group were exposed to hot environment chamber (30 × 20 × 13 cm, ambient temperature: 40 °C) for 30 min on each experiment day. In chronic experiment, we examined the effects of 3 weeks (Frequency: 5 days/week) WHS on maximal citrate synthase (CS) and 3‐Hydroxyacyl‐CoA dehydrogenase (3‐HAD) activities in plantaris muscle. In acute experiment, we studied the effects of a single WHS on phosphorylation of AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK), p38 mitrogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMK II) in plantaris muscle.RESULTSIn chronic experiment, both maximal CS and 3‐HAD activities were increased in WHS group (CS: +35%, P<0.01, 3‐HAD: +49%, P<0.01). In acute experiment, phosphorylation of AMPK in WHS group was decreased (−43%, P<0.05). Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was increased in WHS group (+252%, P<0.05). Phosphorylation of CaMK II was not different between groups.CONCLUSIONChronic whole‐body heat stress increased mitochondrial enzyme activities.
School foodservice managers’ positive support for school nutrition encourages healthy food environment
Authors: Meredith Catherine Angela , Kennedy Tay , Hildebrand Deana 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveOur objective is to understand school foodservice managers’ support for school nutrition programs and marketing strategies to promote an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption.MethodsData was collected using an online survey sent to all Oklahoma middle and junior high schools. The survey questions included the school and foodservice manager demographics, food‐service managers beliefs and perceptions of barriers to marketing strategies in school nutrition programs, what strategies schools were already using, successes in implementing nutrition marketing programs, and factors influencing decisions to change.Results98–100% of participants believed school nutrition was important to academic performance, and that it is the school foodservice's responsibility to provide healthy meals that appeal to students. The implementation of behavioral marketing strategies were seen in >;60% of schools, and even 33% of those using less popular strategies would continue their use. Financing impacted 86% of participants’ decisions to change, and delivery schedule of fruits and vegetables impacted 84% of decisions for change.ConclusionsSchool foodservice managers are highly committed to supporting school nutrition and are willing to implement (if not doing so already) marketing strategies to help promote healthy food choices for students.
LPS increase of ciliary beat frequency in respiratory ciliated cells.
Authors: Carreno Daniela Veronica , Llados Carmen , Rios Mariana , Cohen Noam , Villalon Manuel 
Published: June 2021

Mucociliary clearence constitutes a barrier against contaminants and microorganisms inhaled from the environment. Its efficiency depends mainly on the frequency of ciliary beat (CBF). Airways contaminants like lyposaccharide (LPS) activate a specific toll like receptors (TLR4) of the immune system that produce an inflammatory response associated to the production of cytokines by the airway epithelium. However, the effect of LPS in the effectiveness of mucociliary clearance it is unknown so we studied the effect of LPS in frequency of CBF and the mechanism involved.Primary cultures of mouse (Balbc) tracheal epithelium were incubated with different concentrations of LPS and P2×7 and pannexin‐1 inhibitors,(oATP, KN‐62, Probenecid and Carbenoxolone), CBF was determined using a microphotodensitometric technique (n >; 3). ATP was measured in culture medium using luciferin‐luceferase reagent and. All these experiments were statistically analyzed with ANOVA, and post‐test Tukey.LPS induce an increase in CBF in a dose response manner that was blocked by the incubation of all inhibitors used. LPS produce a raise in ATP concentration in culture media after 20min of incubation with 10 μg/ml.These results indicate that LPS affect ciliary activity in the airways by releasing ATP to the extracellular where P2×7 and pannexin‐1 could be involved.
A simple dynamical model of the oxygen uptake in the human pulmonary acinus
Authors: KANG Min‐Yeong , FOUCQUIER Aurelie , FILOCHE Marcel , SAPOVAL Bernard 
Published: June 2021

We have developed a mathematical model called a “machine acinus.” The machine acinus has the size and configuration of a real acinus and operates under realistic dynamics. All the complexity of O2 trapping and blood saturation are merged into a parameter called the integrative permeability, Ω, whose value is linked to the alveolar pressure, PA,O2, and the O2 uptake, VO2 (Foucquier et al., Respir Physiol Neurobiol, 2013).Dynamic convection‐diffusion equations for the machine acinus are solved numerically for rest and peak exercise. Besides the adaptation at rest to the cardiac output, the results demonstrate the necessity of a hypoxic vasoconstriction adaptation to diffusion limitations. We show that a healthy adult's breathing can be predicted, at rest and exercise, with only two parameters: the threshold pressure for vasoconstriction (close to 100 mmHg) and Ω. If we model emphysema and pulmonary edema as a loss of acinar surface and a decrease in the permeability, respectively, we find that a safety margin against these diseases exists at rest. For instance, VO2 preserves 90% of its normal value under 50% surface reduction. In addition, our model predicts that the acinar region where the diseases take place is important. When the surface loss is concentrated in a distal region, VO2 is significantly reduced compared to that with the loss in the proximal region.This work was supported by Air Liquide Santé International.
Navigation within the cellular monolayer
Authors: Kim Jae Hun , Serra‐Picamal Xavier , Tambe Dhananjay T , Park Chan Young , Sadati Monirosadat , Butler James P , Trepat Xavier , Fredberg Jeffrey J 
Published: June 2021

Confronted by a cell‐free gap, a cellular monolayer ordinarily extends its free edge until the gap is filled. Although this process is arguably the simplest of all dynamical patterning modules, governing physical principles that might explain this process remain obscure. To expose physical forces that cause constituent cells to move as they do, we placed in the path of an advancing epithelial cell sheet an island upon which cells could not adhere. The monolayer impacts but cannot cover this island, and is therefore said to become frustrated. Systematic components of the resulting nonuniform velocity field and underlying force fields reveal striking dynamical features. Far from the frustrated edge, local traction forces pull systematically along the local migration velocity vector. Near the frustrated edge, however, local traction forces veer away from the local velocity vector by angles approaching 90°. At the frustrated edge itself, traction forces pull systematically normal to that edge, but generate no normal displacements. Corresponding intercellular stresses reveal unanticipated but fundamental dynamical patterning modules that call for a new physical picture of monolayer dynamics.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (BFU2009–07595), the European Research Council (Grant Agreement 242993) and the National Institutes of Health (R01HL102373, R01HL107561).
Neutrophil‐Derived Microparticles as Novel Effectors in Joint Disease
Authors: Headland Sarah Emily , Dell'Accio Francesco , Perretti Mauro 
Published: June 2021

Microparticles (MPs) are small membrane‐bound vesicles released by cells upon activation. Numerous reports have detected MPs in the synovial fluid of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients. Whilst Tcell‐ derived MPs activate synoviocytes, recent reports have shed light on the possible anti‐inflammatory phenotype of neutrophilderived MPs, challenging the linear model of inflammation. The aim of the study is to unveil the role of neutrophil‐derived MPs in RA, particularly in the context of cartilage biology. Microparticles generated from human neutrophils were characterised by flow cytometry and tested for chondroprotective efficacy in a C28/I2 micromass model of cartilage turnover. These experiments revealed protective actions. Investigation in whole cartilage explants indicated chondroprotection (demonstrated by safranin O staining) as studied over a seven‐day period. Microparticle entry into cartilage was also investigated using confocal microscopy. In conclusion, we report novel biological functions of neutrophil MPs with potential relevance to cartilage biology and arthritis.Supported by Oliver Bird Studentship Scheme QMUL/KCL
PDB as a public resource for enabling protein science
Authors: Berman Helen M. 
Published: June 2021

The Protein Data Bank (PDB) was established in 1971 as a archive for the three dimensional structures of biological macromolecules. The PDB provides a repository for scientists who generate the data, as well as as an access point for researchers and students to find the information needed to drive additional studies.Today, the PDB contains and supports online access to more than 85,000 biomacromolecules that help researchers understand aspects of biology, including medicine, agriculture, and biological energy. The growth in the number and complexity of the structures in the archive is a result of marked changes in technology, structure determination methods, and community involvement.The PDB archive is managed by the Worldwide Protein Data Bank (wwPDB), as supported by: RCSB PDB (NSF DBI 0829586, NIGMS, DOE, NLM, NCI, NINDS, and NIDDK), PDBe (EMBLEBI, Wellcome Trust, BBSRC, NIGMS, and EU), PDBj (NBDCJST) and BMRB (NLM).
Employing the Water Balance Questionnaire for the evaluation of water balance in adults, pregnant women and elderly
Authors: Kapsokefalou Maria , Malisova Olga , Zampelas Antonis , Bountziouka Vassiliki , Panagiotakos Demosthenes 
Published: June 2021

Water balance is a euhydration index reflecting water intake and loss. It may be evaluated with the Water Balance Questionnaire (WBQ), a practical validated new tool that estimates intake from frequency intake of foods, beverages and drinking water and loss from excretion of sweat, urine and feces.The objective was to apply the WBQ for the assessment of water balance in adults (18–65y, stratified for age and sex, n=485 in summer and n=412 in winter), pregnant women (n=300, 100 from each trimester) and elderly (aged 65–95y, n=200) in Athens, Greece.In adults, in winter water balance was −63±1478 ml/day, intake 2892 ± 987 ml/day and loss 2637 (1810, 3922) ml/day. In summer water balance was −58 ± 2150 ml/day, intake was 3875 ± 1373 ml/day and loss 3635 (2365, 5258) ml/day. In pregnant women water balance was 203 (−577, 971) ml/day, intake was 2917 (2187, 3544) ml/day and loss 2658 (2078, 3391) ml/day; these did not differ between pregnant and non pregnant women or among the three trimesters. Similarly, results in the elderly are reported.Using the WBQ we observed that a) in summer water needs were higher than those in winter by approximately 1L b) pregnant women have higher water intake than adult women c) various sources contribute to water and energy intake d) beverages contribute approximately 1/5 of total energy intake.Supported partially by Coca Cola and the European Hydration Institute
Spatial and temporal expression of histone H3 Lysine 9 trimethylation foci by methylseleninic acid treatment
Authors: Rouse Jallah J , Cheng Wen‐Hsing 
Published: June 2021

We have recently shown that selenium compounds can induce a senescence response in a manner depending on ataxia‐telangiectasia mutated (ATM), DNA‐dependent protein kinase (DNA‐PK), p53 and reactive oxygen species (ROS). To test the hypothesis that the selenium‐induced senescence response involves epigenetic changes in senescence‐associated heterochromatin foci (SAHF), we determined the expression of histone H3 Lysine 9 trimethylation (H3K9me3), a marker of SAHF, in human primary MRC‐5 cells treated with methylseleninic acid (MSeA, 2 μM) for 2 days, followed by a 7‐day recovery, in the presence or absence of KU55933 (10 μM), an ATM kinase inhibitor, and NU7026 (10 μM), a DNA‐PK kinase inhibitor. Our results showed that MSeA treatment induced the formation of SAHF and H3K9me3 foci. Pre‐treatment of the cells with KU55955 or NU7026 resulted in numerous and smaller foci, and they did not co‐localize with the MSeA‐induced SAHF. These results suggest that the MSeA‐induced senescence response involves epigenetic changes of H3K9me3 in a manner depending on ATM and DNA‐PK.Grant Funding Source: UMCP
Cruciferous and apiaceous vegetable intake protect colon and prostate against PhIP genotoxicity in Wistar rats
Authors: Kim Jae Kyeom , Warnert Marissa , Gallaher Daniel D , Trudo Sabrina P 
Published: June 2021

Apiaceous vegetables inhibit cytochrome P4501As (CYP1As) which activate 2‐amino‐1‐methyl‐6‐phenylimidazo[4,5‐b]pyridine (PhIP), while cruciferous vegetables induce both PhIP‐activating and PhIP‐detoxifying enzymes (CYP1As and uridine 5¡Ç‐diphosphophate glucuronosyl transferases (UGTs)). In the present study, we fed male Wistar rats diets supplemented with three different vegetable combinations: cruciferous only (21% wt:wt), apiaceous only (21% wt:wt), and both combined (10.5% wt:wt of cruciferous, and 10.5% wt:wt of apiaceous). After six days of feeding, rats were injected with PhIP (10 mg PhIP/kg body wt, dissolved in DMSO) and colon, and prostate tissues were collected for measurement of PhIP‐DNA adducts by LC‐MS/MS. Compared to the control group, apiaceous feeding reduced PhIP‐DNA adducts in the colon by approximately 20% (P<0.05) and in the prostate by approximately 30% (P=0.02). Cruciferous feeding only reduced colonic PhIP‐DNA adducts by 17% with borderline statistical significance (P=0.07). No effect was noted in the combined vegetable group. Although cruciferous and apiaceous vegetables combined did not exhibit synergistic effects, significant effects against PhIP genotoxicity in Wistar rats were achieved from each vegetable group individually at realistic doses in the human diet.Funding: Healthy Foods, Healthy Lives Institute, U of MN
Longitudinal and secular trends in dietary supplement use: Nurses¡ Health Study and Health Professionals Follow‐up Study, 1986–2006
Authors: Kim Hyun Ja , Giovannucci Edward , Willett Walter C. , Cho Eunyoung 
Published: June 2021

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to describe the longitudinal and secular trend of dietary supplement use over the past 20 years in two large prospective cohorts.MethodsData on use of dietary supplements has been repeatedly collected every 4 years from 1986 to 2006 in the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS) and the Health Professionals Follow‐up Study (HPFS).ResultsIn 1986, 74,194 women aged 40–65 years in the NHS and 50,497 men aged 40–75 years in the HPFS responded to a questionnaire about their use of dietary supplements. Prevalence of use of any supplement increased among both women (71.3% to 88.3%) and men (56.4% to 80.7%) from 1986 to 2006. Longitudinal increases in the prevalence of use of vitamin D (2.2 to 32.2% for women and 1.1 to 6.7% for men), folic acid (0.8 to 10.7% for women and 1.1 to 13.8% for men), and fish oil (1.6 to 18.1% for women and 3.3 to 22.2% for men) supplements were observed from 1990 to 2006. However, the use of vitamin A, β‐carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin E supplements peaked in 1994 or 1998 then declined steadily. A secular increase in use of multivitamins, vitamin D, folic acid, and fish oil across same age group was noted.ConclusionsThe use of many types of dietary supplements has increased over time, but the use of antioxidant supplements has continued to decline. The secular increase in the prevalence of use of multivitamins, vitamin D, folic acid, and fish oil supplements across same age group suggests that aging of the population is not the primary reason for the increase.Grant Funding Source: research grant CA87969 and CA55075 from the National Institutes of Health
Environmental Hygiene, Food Safety and Growth in less than Five Year Old Children in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia
Authors: Ngure Francis Muigai , Humphrey Jean H , Menon Purnima , Stoltzfus Rebecca 
Published: June 2021

Childhood stunting remains a significant public health challenge with adverse developmental and health outcomes in life and over generations. This study explored novel causes of poor growth in infants and young children. Using in‐depth observation methods, soil and chicken feces ingestion were identified as key pathways for fecal‐oral transmission of bacteria in infants and young children in rural Zimbabwe. In a cross‐sectional survey, poor environmental hygiene was associated with linear growth faltering (p =0.032), independent of socioeconomic status, infant feeding and recent morbidity, in 24–59 month old Ethiopian children. Significant aflatoxin exposure in mothers was associated with severe stunting in 6 to 59 months old Zimbabwean children in a dose response manner (p=0.035). We identified poor environmental hygiene and aflatoxin exposure as two novel causes of stunting in African children. Existing WASH interventions are not sufficient to protect infants and young children from fecal bacteria ingestion through soil and poultry feces. In addition, existing hygiene interventions do not directly address improving household environmental hygiene. Our findings raise the need for low cost strategies for aflatoxin control and a holistic approach in designing context‐ and age‐specific hygiene interventions to prevent childhood stunting.Grant Funding Source: Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development (CIIFAD); the Department for International Development (DFID), UK and Borlaug Leadership in Agriculture Enhancement Program (LEAP), UC, Davis, USA; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Frequency and determinants of marginal vitamin B12 deficiency in childbearing‐aged women of South Asian and European descent in Metro Vancouver
Authors: Quay Teo A. W. , Schroder Theresa H. , Devlin Angela M. , Barr Susan I. , Lamers Yvonne 
Published: June 2021

Low maternal vitamin B12 (B12) status has been associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) and insulin resistance. It was estimated that 34 % of NTD cases in Canada may be linked to low B12 status in the era of folic acid fortification. Due to the early effects of B12 status on pregnancy outcome, it is crucial for women to be B‐vitamin adequate before conception. South Asians are one of the most vulnerable ethnic groups for B12 inadequacy and are one of the largest ethnic minorities in Vancouver.The objectives of this study are to assess whether South Asian women of childbearing age are more likely to be marginally B12 deficient than women of European descent in the Metro Vancouver area and to determine whether select demographic, dietary, and genetic determinants increase a woman's risk to be marginally B12 deficient.In a convenience sample of 300 healthy non‐pregnant females (19 – 35 y), B12 status is assessed using serum B12, holotranscobalamin, and plasma methylmalonic acid. Sociodemographic status, supplement use, and usual eating habits are assessed by questionnaires.The frequency of marginal B12 deficiency was estimated to be 16% with a trend for higher frequency in South Asian women. The research outcomes will aid in identifying risk factors of B12 deficiency by ethnicity and contribute to the evaluation of periconceptional supplement recommendations.Grant Funding Source: ‘FNH Vitamin Research Fund’ UBC
miR‐21 inhibition overcomes ethanol suppression of rat liver regeneration
Authors: Juskeviciute Egle , Dippold Rachael P. , Swarup Aditi , Hoek Jan B. 
Published: June 2021

miR‐21 has been identified as a pro‐proliferative miRNA. It is overexpressed in many types of tumors. miR‐21 also increases its expression during liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy (PHx) in the rat in apparent agreement with this pro‐proliferative role. However, chronic ethanol treated animals which have impaired liver regeneration show even stronger up‐regulation of miR‐21 expression than their corresponding pair‐fed calorie‐matched controls or chow fed animals (Dippold et al., 2012).To investigate the role of miR‐21 in liver regeneration, we treated rats with a locked oligonucleotide antisense to miR‐21 (AM21). Injection of AM21 72 h prior to PHx followed by a second injection immediately after the surgery suppressed expression of miR‐21 by >;95% in the regenerating rat liver. Inhibition of miR‐21 resulted in up‐regulation of expression of such validated miR‐21 targets as RhoB, E2f1, Il6ra, Nfib and Tgfbr2. AM21 treatment did not have any significant effect on cell cycle progression markers, such as cyclins D, E, A, PCNA either at the mRNA or the protein level in chow fed animals. Remarkably, however, AM21 treatment promoted cell cycle progression and allowed recovery of DNA synthesis 24h after PHx in chronically ethanol treated animals. Thus, miR‐21 is not required for normal progression of liver regeneration after PHx in the rat.Supported by AA008714, AA018873, AA007463, and AA017261.