bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Expression of enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism in the blood vessel. (LB697)
Authors: Bautista Rocio , Del Valle‐Mondragón Leonardo , Cano‐Mártinez Agustina , Mercado Adriana , Franco Martha , Pérez‐Méndez Oscar 
Published: June 2021

Background: Sphingolipids represent a class of diverse bioactive lipid molecules that are increasingly appreciated as key modulators of diverse physiologic and pathophysiologic processes that include cell growth, cell death, autophagy, angiogenesis, and stress and inflammatory responses. The cellular contents of the various sphingolipid species are controlled by enzymes involved in their metabolic pathways: sphingomyelinase (neutral‐SMase), Ceramidase (neutral‐CDase), Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) and Sphingosine kinase 2 (SPHK2). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the expression of enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism in the blood vessel of kidney and heart as well as in aorta.Methods: The expression of neutral‐SMase, neutral‐CDase, SPHK1, SPHK2, α‐actin (Smooth muscle cells marker) and PECAM (endothelial cell marker) were measured by Immunofluorescence and Confocal Microscopy.Results: neutral‐SMase, neutral‐CDase, SPHK1 and SPHK2 immunoreactivity were found to have a widespread distribution in the blood vessel of kidney and heart as well as in aorta.Conclusions: The blood vessel express neutral‐SMase, neutral‐CDase, SPHK1 and SPHK2, enzymes involved in the sphingolipid metabolism and can therefore endogenously form sphingomyelin metabolites in the vasculature.
Quantitative analysis of transcriptional responses of the porcine small and large intestines to lipopolysaccharide challenge (LB745)
Authors: Hou Yongqing , Yi Dan , Zhao Di , Long Minhui , Ding Binying , Wang Lei , Wu Guoyao 
Published: June 2021

BACKGROUNDS &amp; AIMS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) causes intestinal dysfunction, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study determined transcriptional responses of four different porcine intestinal segments (the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon) to LPS challenge. METHODS: Intestinal mucosal samples were collected from 47‐day‐old pigs at 24 h post LPS injection to quantify the mRNA levels for 28 genes involved in intestinal integrity and function using quantitative real‐time PCR assays. RESULTS: LPS administration affected expression of genes related to intestinal growth, absorption, defense, transport, and energy metabolism in the four different intestinal segments. Specifically, expression of the genes encoding for tight junction proteins, insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1), aquaporin 8 (AQP‐8), regenerating islet‐derived protein 3 alpha (REG3A), and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP‐2) was decreased (P < 0.05), whereas expression of porcine β‐defensins 1 (pBD‐1), AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), and HSP70 was enhanced (P < 0.05). Expression of the gene for cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) was reduced in the ileum, but increased in the colon, post LPS challenge. In addition, differences in expression of genes (EGF, AR, IGF‐1, Caspase‐3, Occludin, pBD‐1, pBD‐2, SGLT‐1, REG3A, ALP, HSP70, AMPK, Sirt1, and UCP2) observed among the four intestinal segments. CONCLUSIONS: There are regional differences in gene expression profiles along the porcine intestine after LPS challenge.
Changes in gene expression relative to unchallenged controls within each intestinal segment

Items
Duodenum fold‐change
Jejunum fold‐change
Ileum fold‐change
Colon fold‐change

IGF‐1
0.76
0.72*
0.65*
0.68*

Claudin‐1
0.64*
0.74*
0.69*
0.48*

AQP‐8
0.22**
0.34**
0.29**
0.48**

REG3A
0.41**
0.07**
0.33**
NA

UCP2
0.56*
0.39**
0.43**
0.66*

Sirt1
0.91
0.79*
0.79*
0.93

pBD‐1
2.43**
3.65**
2.19**
3.01**

AMPK
1.28*
1.33*
1.12
1.31*

HSP70
2.53**
3.18**
2.69**
2.60**

Grant Funding Source: Supported by National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2012CB126305), National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31372319 )
Intestinal permeability as measured by lactulose mannitol ratio continues to decrease during infancy after 3 months of age for both control infants and infants at high risk for autism spectrum disorders (LB751)
Authors: Penn Alexander , Lai Tiffany , Carver Leslie , Taylor Sharon , Schmid‐Schönbein Geert , Dobkins Karen 
Published: June 2021

Approximately 40% of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have hyperpermeable intestines as measured by lactulose/mannitol absorption ratio. This could be the cause or symptom of the gastrointestinal co‐morbidity associated with ASD. It is not known if this increased permeability is present prior to ASD diagnosis. The objective of this study was to determine intestinal permeability in both infants at high‐risk (HR) of developing ASD (due to having an older sibling with ASD their risk of developing ASD is increased from ~0.9% to ~20%) and in low‐risk (LR, no family history) controls, given that no studies of intestinal permeability have been done in infants greater than approximately 3 months of age. Using a commercial assay we measured lactulose/mannitol absorption ratio (L/M) in infants ranging from 3 months to 36 months of age (the majority less than 15 months) and determined their diet at the time by parental questionnaire. We observed a negative correlation between L/M and age (HR: ‐0.39, LR: ‐0.34) and a significantly higher L/M in infants between 3 and 7 months of age versus infants greater than 7 months for both HR and LR infants. Interestingly, HR infants had significantly lower L/M than LR infants, an effect that appeared to be driven by a significantly higher permeability in LR infants on a mixed diet of breast milk and other foods compared to HR infants on a mixed diet or LR infants on a no breast milk diet. Only one HR infant demonstrated hyperpermeability. These results suggest that intestinal permeability continues to decrease even after 3 months as part of typical development and that hyperpermeability is a later event in ASD and may not appear in the first year of life.Grant Funding Source: NIH NS071580 and GM85072
Negative regulation of the adenosine‐generating ectoenzyme CD73 by a novel splice variant that is upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (LB752)
Authors: Snider Natasha , Altshuler Peter , Wan Shanshan , Welling Theodore , Omary M. Bishr 
Published: June 2021

Background and aim: Ecto‐5’‐nucleotidase (CD73) is a ubiquitously‐expressed plasma membrane glycoprotein that functions as the major enzymatic source of extracellular adenosine. CD73 inhibition has been implicated as a potential approach in cancer immunotherapy, but the mechanisms of CD73 regulation are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to characterize a novel splice variant of CD73, which encodes a shorter protein. Methods: The activity and expression of canonical CD73, referred to as CD73‐long (CD73) and expression of the newly‐identified variant, CD73‐short (CD73S), were examined in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors and normal control livers, as well as HepG2 and Huh7 human HCC cell lines . A rabbit polyclonal antibody was made against CD73S to examine its expression by Western blot. The subcellular distribution and biochemical properties of CD73S were studied in an over‐expression cell culture system. Results: Basal expression of CD73S in normal liver is 400‐fold lower compared to CD73L. In contrast, CD73S mRNA levels increase 10 fold, whereas CD73L mRNA levels decrease 10‐fold in HCC relative to normal liver. CD73S protein is present in HCC surgical specimens, but not in normal human livers. Further studies revealed that CD73S is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)‐associated glycoprotein that complexes with the ER chaperone calnexin and lacks enzymatic activity due to its inability to form a functional dimer. CD73S also associates with CD73L and decreases CD73L expression in a proteasome‐dependent manner. Conclusion: CD73S is a hitherto unappreciated variant isoform of CD73 that may modulate CD73 function in cancer.Grant Funding Source: Supported by DK093776 and DK052951
Salivary melatonin levels and quality of sleep in second year medical students Antenor Orrego Private University of Trujillo ‐ Peru (LB753)
Authors: Fernández Rodríguez Lissett , Bardales Zuta Victor , Hilario Vargas Julio 
Published: June 2021

The goals were to determine the salivary melatonin levels and sleep quality in second year students of Human Medicine of the Antenor Orrego Private University. Of the 268 medical students enrolled in the semester 2013 ‐ I, 40 students were selected by simple random method and met the inclusion criteria. Saliva samples were taken at the beginning, middle and end of the academic semester on Wednesday and Thursday at home at 23:30 and 24 hours. Melatonin levels were determined by ELISA and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was applied to students. A total of 40 individuals were included in the study: 27 women, 13 men with mean age of 18.45 years (range 16 ‐ 24). Melatonin levels at the start ‐ half 23:30 to 24 hours (p <0.05), start ‐ end 23:30 (p <0.05) and mid ‐ end (p <0.01). The PSQI presented a Cronbach's alpha of 0.553 and averages were 5.9 at the beginning of the semester, middle 7.175 and end 7.475 (p <0.05). Melatonin levels decreased at the beginning and end of the academic semester and according to the PSQI, medical students have poor sleep quality.Grant Funding Source: Antenor Orrego Private University
Test‐retest reliability of eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea test performance and pre‐post spirometry in elite swimmers (LB783)
Authors: Kennedy Michael , Steinback Craig , Skow Rachel , Parent Eric 
Published: June 2021

Test‐retest reliability of eucapnic voluntary hyperpnea test performance and pre‐post spirometry in elite swimmers Michael D. Kennedy1, Craig D. Steinback1, Rachel Skow1, Eric C. Parent2. 1Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, 2Department of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Exercise induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) is common in “high ventilation” athletes and a 6 min Eucapnic Voluntary Hyperpnea (EVH) airway provocation (30 breaths/min; Tidal Volume (TV) of 85% FEV1; 100% dry medical air) is the standard EIB screen. Sensitivity of EVH is well documented; however, test‐retest reliability of spirometry measurements and EVH performance has not been determined.Swimmers (n=11; 5/6 m/f) with 蠅13 yrs of competitive experience completed spirometry (FEV1) before and 45 sec, 5, 10, 20 min after an EVH test on 2 consecutive days.Overall pre‐test FEV1 was decreased on Day 2 (Day 1 4.6±0.8 vs. Day 2 4.5±0.7L, p = 0.04) and this pre‐test FEV1 decrease occurred in 9/11 swimmers (range ‐ 370 (6.8%) to ‐ 30ml (0.6%); with excellent agreement in pre‐test FEV1 between days (ICC 0.97 (0.90 ‐ 0.99, 95% confidence interval). Swimmers achieved 85±9% and 87±9% of target TV on Day 1 and 2 respectively (p = 0.45; ICC 0.57 (0.00 – 0.86)) resulting in a total ventilation of 687 vs 684L (p = 0.89, ICC 0.89 (0.65 – 0.97)) equating to 82±8% and 84±9% of predicted total volume (ICC 0.54 (0.00 – 0.85) between Day 1 and Day 2. Day 1 and 2 post‐test FEV1 were not different at any time point however 4 swimmers were positive for EIB (> 15% fall in pre‐post FEV1) and these swimmers post‐test FEV1 was 10.6 to 1.9% less on Day 2. Post‐test ICC for FEV1 were 0.97 (0.91‐0.99), 0.97 (0.89‐0.99), 0.97 (0.88‐0.99) and 0.94 (0.81‐0.98) at 45s, 5min, 10min, and 20 min respectively.Overall, strong test‐retest reliability was found for FEV1 and total ventilation; despite a significant decrease in pre‐test FEV1 on Day 2. Post‐test FEV1 is likely more reliable early post‐test (45s, 5min, 10min) than at 20min post‐test.
Adenosine receptor blockade impairs the ability of rat pups to autoresuscitate from primary apnea during repeated exposure to hypoxia (LB790)
Authors: Lun Rongzhi , Zhang Chunfen , Fewell James 
Published: June 2021

Autoresuscitation (AR) failure from hypoxic‐induced apnea by gasping has been suggested to play a role in sudden infant death. Little is known, however, about the factors that influence gasping and its ability to effect autoresuscitation in the newborn. The present experiments were carried out on 18 5‐6 day‐old rat pups to investigate the role of adenosine acting via A1 receptors in mediating AR from hypoxic‐induced apnea by gasping. DPCPX (20 mg/kg; a selective adenosine A1‐receptor antagonist) attenuated the heart rate response to hypoxia and decreased the number of hypoxic episodes tolerated before AR failure (DPCPX 10±2 (n=9) versus vehicle 17±5 (n=9); p<0.001). Following vehicle, death was preceded most often by AV dissociation whereas following DPCPX death was preceded most often by an isoelectric electrocardiogram. Thus, our data provide evidence that adenosine acting via A1 receptors plays an important role in promoting AR from hypoxic‐induced apnea by gasping.Grant Funding Source: CIHR
NF‐κB activation in hindlimb muscles from adult and old mice at rest and following contractile activity (LB814)
Authors: Pollock Natalie , Vasilaki Aphrodite , Lightfoot Adam , Jackson Malcolm , McArdle Anne 
Published: June 2021

Skeletal muscle adapts following contractions by increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) leading to the detection of activation of redox‐responsive transcription factors (TFs) such as nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB) by electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA). This TF activation is reduced in muscles from old mice and humans1,2. Additional studies from our laboratory have demonstrated that NF‐κB binding activity of quiescent muscles from old wild‐type (WT) mice was significantly increased compared with adult WT mice1. However, the significance of these findings to changes in transcriptional processes is unclear due to the ex‐vivo nature of EMSA analyses. This study used NF‐κB1 luciferase reporter mice to determine the transcriptional effect of this NF‐κB activation in hindlimb muscles from adult and old mice at rest or following an isometric contraction protocol 1 using immunofluorescence antibody staining of luciferase in transverse frozen sections of tibialis anterior (TA) muscles. Muscles were also examined for evidence of changes in the expression of cytokines known to be under the transcriptional control of NF‐κB. Luciferase staining was observed in all muscle sections with a patchwork distribution between fibres, showing as more intense overall staining in the quiescent muscles from old compared with adult mice. Immediately following the contraction protocol, the luciferase staining was increased in muscles from adult NF‐κB1 mice. In contrast, no increase was seen in the muscles from old mice following contractions compared with quiescent muscle from old mice. The chronic activation of NF‐κB was associated with increased muscle mRNA levels of a number of cytokines. These data confirm previous EMSA observations and suggest that the chronic activation of NF‐κB in muscle from old mice is associated with the generation of a pro‐inflammatory environment and this may restrict the ability in muscles of old mice to further adapt following contractile activity.Grant Funding Source: Supported by BBSRC and NIA/NIH (AG‐020591)
TWEAK causes cell death in cultured primary myotubes (LB816)
Authors: Ogura Yuji , Kumar Ashok 
Published: June 2021

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is a proinflammatory cytokine belonging to TNF super family. TWEAK produces a variety of cellular responses through binding to fibroblast growth factor inducible 14 (Fn14), a member of TNF receptor superfamily. Although Fn14 lacks a death domain, TWEAK has been found to induce apoptosis in some cell types by perturbing the activity of certain pathway such as TNFα‐TNF receptor signaling. TWEAK is also known to regulate proliferation and differentiation of myogenic cells. We have previously reported that TWEAK‐Fn14 system causes muscle atrophy both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, it has been reported that TWEAK mediates muscle atrophy in disuse conditions such as denervation. However, it remains unknown whether TWEAK can affect the viability of muscle cells. To address this issue, we have studied the effects of recombinant TWEAK protein on survival of cultured mouse primary myotubes. Our results demonstrate that TWEAK reduces myotube viability in a dose‐dependent manner evident by increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in culture supernatants. TWEAK also increased the number of the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)‐positive nuclei in cultured myotubes. Furthermore, we have found that the levels of cleaved poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) are increased upon treatment with TWEAK for 48 and 72h. These results provide initial evidence that in addition to causing atrophy, TWEAK can also diminish skeletal muscle mass by affecting the survival of myofibers in different catabolic conditions.Grant Funding Source: Supported by NIH RO1AG029623
Transcriptional regulation of dual‐specificity phosphatase 4 (Dusp4) by muscle‐specific RING finger 1 (MuRF1) (LB822)
Authors: Haddock Ashley , Waddell David 
Published: June 2021

Skeletal muscle wasting is a consequence of numerous physiological conditions, including denervation, corticosteroid treatment, and aging. The E3 ubiquitin ligase, MuRF1, is induced under most atrophy conditions and is believed to play a key role in protein degradation in atrophying muscle. However, the preliminary data described in this study provides new evidence that MuRF1 may also act as a transcriptional modulator of atrophy‐induced gene activity, including the regulation of Dusp4 expression. In order to characterize the transcriptional regulation of Dusp4, reporter gene constructs containing fragments of the proximal promoter region of this gene were developed, transfected into C2C12 cells with or without a MuRF1 expression plasmid and analyzed for differences in reporter gene activity.The Dusp4 reporters showed repressed activity in cells ectopically expressing MuRF1 compared to cells that did not overexpress MuRF1. Furthermore, ectopic expression of the myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), MyoD1 and myogenin, also caused repression of the Dusp4 reporter constructs, while co‐overexpression of MuRF1 with MyoD1 or Myogenin resulted in additional cooperative repression of reporter gene activity. To further characterize the role of MuRF1 in the repression of Dusp4 expression, a MuRF1 RING domain mutant was created. The MuRf1 RING mutant was overexpressed in combination with MyoD1 or Myogenin and Dusp4 reporter gene activity was assessed. The MuRF1 RING mutant failed to cooperate with the MRFs to repress the Dusp4 reporter gene, suggesting that ubiquitin ligase activity is required for MuRF1 transcriptional regulatory effects. These data offer evidence that MuRF1 may act as a transcriptional modulator of atrophy‐induced gene expression.
The nuclear protein Fam60a is essential for proper her6 and ascl1b expression and thalamus development in zebrafish (LB825)
Authors: Ricciardi Filomena , Patra Chinmoy , Engel Felix 
Published: June 2021

Vertebrate organogenesis is a highly complex and strictly orchestrated process which is dependent on the correct spatiotemporal expression of genes. Gene expression can be regulated by a variety of proteins such as histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases; however the conduction of these processes during organ development is still poorly understood. The small nuclear protein FAM60A has been described to be a component of the SIN3‐HDAC1 complex regulating gene expression via histone deacetylation. Here we describe the role of Fam60a during zebrafish development where its depletion leads to severe brain and heart defects. Hdac1 has been shown to promote proneural gene expression such as ascl1b and neurod4. We find that morpholino‐mediated loss of fam60a causes expanded her6 and reduced ascl1b expression in the zebrafish brain. Furthermore, we show that FAM60A possesses a functional Nuclear Localization Signal (NLS) which is essential for its correct function in brain development.Grant Funding Source: Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
The effect of exercising intensity on learning and memory in humans (LB828)
Authors: Doyle Brendan , Zimmer Mary 
Published: June 2021

There is conflicting research regarding the effect of exercise on learning and memory; some studies show no effect, enhanced effects or impaired effects on learning and memory. The objective of this study was to determine if there was an optimal target heart rate range which would provide the greatest improvements in learning and memory. Human subjects (ages 18‐35) were divided into 4 groups: control, low intensity (35‐50% of maximum heart rate (MxHR)), medium intensity (50‐65% MxHR), and high intensity (65‐80% MxHR). Subjects performed a 30min exercise bout on an ergometer within their specified HR range or controls rested. Verbal and visual memory tests were given immediately following the exercise (or rest period in controls), and again 30min later to measure long term memory recall. Heart rate, blood pressure and perceived rate of exertion were measured throughout the protocol. Preliminary results suggest that medium intensity exercise improves immediate learning of verbal associations and the retrieval of word associations from long term storage compared to controls. High intensity exercise appears to impair learning new verbal associations immediately after exercise, but retrieval of long term memory was not affected compared to controls. Finally, preliminary results suggest that medium intensity exercise may slightly improve the ability to recall visual information. These results suggest that high intensity exercise impairs learning and memory, whereas moderate exercise may be beneficial in terms of enhancing memory.Grant Funding Source: Supported by a Ferris Faculty Research Grant
Effect of upper body resistance training on memory (LB829)
Authors: Jackowski Aaron , Harp Sarah , Zimmer Mary 
Published: June 2021

Multiple studies have shown that cardiovascular exercise improves both short and long‐term memory retention, however, very few studies have examined the effect of resistance training or callisthenic exercises on short and long‐term memory. The objective of this study was to determine if upper body resistance training, otherwise known as weight lifting, and calisthenics, which are physical exercises using one’s natural body weight, possess the ability to enhance cognition performance and improve memory retention in humans. Human subjects were placed into either an exercise or control group. The exercise group underwent 3 rounds of upper‐body weight lifting/calisthenics circuit training; each round included a max set of pull‐ups, ten bicep curls per arm, 15 standing dumbbell upright rows, 10 bent over one arm dumbbell rows per arm, 15 dumbbell bench‐press, and a max set of pushups. Exercise subjects had a break of 2 minutes between each round and then repeated the circuit two more times. After exercise, the participants were given a series of verbal and visual memory tests. After a 30 minute rest period another series of verbal and memory tests were given to measure delayed recall. The memory tests measured immediate recall and delayed recall using a verbal paragraph test, and the visual memory test measured immediate and delayed content and spatial memory. Control subjects took the memory tests separated by a 30 minute rest period. Preliminary results suggest that upper‐body resistance training improves both immediate and delayed recall of verbal information. The preliminary results also suggest that upper‐body resistance training may enhance visual content memory but spatial memory was not affected. These results suggest that upper body resistance training may improve learning and memory.Grant Funding Source: Supported by a Ferris Faculty Research Grant