bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geometric Morphometric Analysis of the Macaque Basicranium with Special Reference to the Ectotympanic Tube
Authors: Fricano Ellen E. I. 
Published: June 2021

The primate ectotympanic tube is a widely used phylogenetic indicator in biological anthropology and paleontology. Despite its noted importance in fossil classification and catarrhine evolution, the precise nature of the feature is poorly understood. This study examines the intra‐taxon variation in this characteristic and the types of cranial structural processes that are correlated with it.The basicrania of 76 individuals representing five species of Macaca (M. nemestrina, M. fuscata, M. fascicularis, M. mulatta, and M. sinica) were landmarked using a combination of real (Type I and II) and constructed landmarks. Intra‐landmark distances were also taken for bivariate comparisons. A partial Procrustes fit and principal components analysis were undertaken to illustrate the shape variation.Consistent with previous two‐dimensional results, ectotympanic length is correlated with structural changes in the cranium. Displacement of the external auditory meati due to lateral brain growth is significantly correlated with increasing relative length of the ectotympanic tube. A second structural correlate identified in this analysis involves the angle of the ectotympanic tube relative to the midline. Longer ectotympanic tubes are significantly correlated a more inferior posterior orientation. As with many aspects of primate cranial morphology, the size and shape of the brain is key to understanding the ectotympanic tube.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Immunofluorescence Study of Ocular Mucin 5AC Expression 28 Days Post Sulfur Mustard Exposure
Authors: Gordon Marion K. , Zhou Peihong , Hahn Rita A. , Schaefer Jennifer , Gerecke Donald R. 
Published: June 2021

Ocular sulfur mustard (SM) injuries can lead to the sloughing off of corneal epithelial cells by the formation and fusion of microbullae. Previous ex vivo work has shown that activation of MMP9 and ADAM17 lead to this sloughing. This type of injury also occurs in Dry Eye Syndrome (DES). By treating vesicant exposed eyes with a FDA approved drug for DES (Restasis) the integrity of the corneal epithelium to the underlying stroma can be salvaged/rescued. This study looks further to examine the expression pattern of Mucin5AC (a goblet cell marker) upon 28d post Sulfur Mustard (SM) exposed rabbit eyes. Fifteen rabbits were incorporated into the study at MRIGlobal. Three rabbits were used as Restasis controls, receiving one drop of Restasis (right eye) every 12 hours for 28 days. Twelve rabbits were exposed to 0.4ul of neat SM (right eye). After 2hours of SM exposure, 6 of these 12 rabbits received Restasis treatment (right eye) every 12 hours for 28 days; the other 6 SM exposed rabbits received no Restasis treatment. (Note: all left eyes served as unexposed controls.) Eyes were photographed at days 1, 3, 7, 14, 16, 21, and 28. At 28 days, rabbits were euthanized, eyes were enucleated, corneas isolated, placed in OCT medium, and frozen for further analysis. Unexposed and SM exposed +/− Restasis treated corneas were sectioned (~10μm) and Mucin5AC antibody applied for evaluation. In unexposed and Restasis only corneas, Mucin5AC is present only at the most distal ends of the corneal tissue. However, for SM exposed corneas, mucin5AC signal was present at intervals across the cornea proper. This suggests conjunctivalization of the cornea. Li, Wang and Li (Mol Vis 2010) demonstrated that corneas exposed to nerve growth factor can promote differentiation of limbal stem cell into conjunctival goblet cells. Our ocular SM exposures may create a similar or related phenomenon. This corneal conjunctivalization may explain some of the delayed adverse phenotypes seen after ocular mustard exposures.Support or Funding InformationNIH U54 AR055073This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Morphometry and Frequency of the Pyramidalis Muscle in Adult Humans
Authors: Kogima Rudolph Octaviano , Simões Pedro , de Paula Santos Lesley Miriam , Hojaij Flávio , Andrade Mauro , Akamatsu Flávia Emi , Jacomo Alfredo Luiz 
Published: June 2021

The pyramidalis muscle is a small triangular muscle located in the inferior part of the anterior abdominal wall. It can be bilateral, unilateral, duplicated in one or both sides, or also absent, and its incidence and morphometry vary between populations. Moreover, although its function is not well known, there are still few researches describing that it. Therefore, considering the literary scarceness regarding the pyramidalis and the inexistence of morphometric data of such muscle in Brazil, it becomes considerably relevant collecting that data in brazilian people. Thus, this study describes the pyramidalis muscle morphometry in a sample of brazilian population, verifying its dimensions, frequency, bilaterality, unilaterality, and other anatomical variations that may be found. Then, we compare the values obtained with other studies. With it, besides deepening knowledge about pyramidalis' functions, some medical procedures could be done in a more rationalized way, such as abdominal incisions, e.g. Pfannenstiel, once the pyramidalis' can be used as reference to these incisions; and grafts, once the absence of the pyramidalis doesn't cause notable disfunction.The study comprised 21 cadavers of individuals older than 18 years (SVOC/FMUSP). Each one of them was dissected, exposing the pyramidalis muscles (if present), without releasing it from its original place, allowing to take photos for posterior measuring (pyramidalis medial border length and width in its origin/base) in image processing program Image.Out of the 21 cadavers, 7 were females and 14 males. The pyramidalis muscle was present bilaterally in 16/21 (76.19%) of the cadavers, present unilaterally in 2/21 (9.52%) and absent in 3/21 (14.28%). The size of the medial border of the left and right‐sided pyramidalis ranged from 3.50–10.67 cm; and the size of the pyramidalis basis' length ranged from 0.91–2.93 cm in the left side, and from 1.10–2.50 cm in the right side. The mean size of the medial border of the pyramidalis was 6.30 ± 1.97 cm in the left side and 6.69 ± 2.07 cm in the right side. The mean size of the pyramidalis basis' width was 1.99 ± 0.23 cm in the left side and 1.90 ± 0.35 cm in the right side.We found out that, in this sample, males presented longer and wider Pyramidalis than females. Besides that, the incidence of the pyramidalis in this sample of the brazilian population was one of the lowest, comparing to other populations . And, lastly, comparing the dimensions in women, in the present study the pyramidalis was wider and usually longer than in women from other populations .This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Prostatic Neurovascular Anatomical Variation May Explain Radical Prostatectomy Outcomes
Authors: Hung Jun , Patel Akash , Castro Monica , Hall Margaret I. , Plochocki Jeffrey H. 
Published: June 2021

Radical prostatectomy is a common surgical option to excise primary tumors of the prostate. However, one common complication is erectile dysfunction thought to be caused by traction or severing of the cavernous nerves that course near the prostate and have erectile functionality. Specialized surgical approaches, such as laparoscopic robot‐assisted nerve‐sparing techniques, attempt to minimize nerve damage. Yet, the majority of studies show postsurgical potency rates among the prostatectomy approaches are highly variable and 2‐month potency recovery is no better for specialized approaches than traditional ones. We hypothesize that the variability in outcomes may be explained by variability in the course and anatomical relationships of the cavernous nerves. To test this hypothesis, we conducted detailed prostatic dissections using an 8 diopter, 4x LED magnifying lamp in human male cadavers (n=5). For these dissections, the urinary bladder, prostate, and proximal penis were dissected along with accompanying neurovasculature in the lateral prostatic fascia. The neurovascular bundle (NVB) containing the cavernous nerves was isolated and its branches were followed along the prostate. Although our study was limited to five prostatic dissections, we found the course of the NVB and its branches differed in each individual, sometimes being enveloped by prostatic tissue, other times coursing along the prostatic surface with only minor adherence. The results of our preliminary investigation suggest variation in prostatic neurovascular anatomy may help explain variation in radical prostatectomy outcomes observed across multiple surgical approaches.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Orthostatic Hypotension in People with Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Authors: Rosario Martin G. , Gonzalez Maryvi 
Published: June 2021

People diagnosed with HIV may exhibit orthostatic hypotension (OH) as a consequence of infection and secondary effects of medications. Such impairments are attributed to autonomic nervous system (ANS) impairments deficiencies. The purpose of this study is to assess OH during a balance sensory condition test and evaluate the role of the cardiac autonomic system, regarding blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR), during this balancing task. We hypothesized that blood pressure and heart rate would rise with an increase in postural instability, thus revealing orthostatic hypotension.MethodsNine diagnosed HIV subjects were recruited from a community health center in the San Juan Puerto Rico Area. BP and HR were measured after 5 minutes sitting, immediately after standing up and (1 minute after) during the sensory condition test (STC). Comparisons were made between sitting versus standing, sitting versus STC and standing versus STC. A T‐test was used to assess all comparisons.ResultsParticipants showed an increased (p<.05) of systolic BP from sitting (M=136.5, SD=17.8) and standing (M=139.4, SD=16.1) when individually compared to STC (M=153.7, SD=16.5). Also, an increase of diastolic BP (p<.05) from sitting (M=86.7, SD=8.4) to STC (M=98.5, SD=11.7). Furthermore, HR standing (M=78.8, SD=14.4) versus STC (M=109.7, SD=33.9) & sitting (M=73.8, SD=10.1) versus STC (M=109.7, SD=33.9) was significantly increased (p<.05) among the participants. In conclusion, this study shows alteration in the ANS in people with HIV when orthostatic hypotension is assessed.Support or Funding InformationNoneThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Mice expressing human apolipoprotein E4e exhibit altered thoracic ascending aortic elastic properties
Authors: Talley Nicholas , Jones T. Bucky , Alexander Tia , Vallejo‐Elias Johana , Esfandiarei Mitra 
Published: June 2021

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized with the progressive loss of cognitive abilities that typically presents in the elderly population, therefore most research has focused primarily on the brain. Hypertension, obesity and atherosclerosis are often comorbidities that present with AD patients. Per the American Heart Association, by 2035 nearly half of the US population will suffer from some type of vascular disease. Despite that, peripheral vascular dysfunction within the progression of AD has not been studied in detail. Apolipoprotein‐ɛ (ApoE) is a lipid‐binding protein that is a major factor in cholesterol metabolism in the brain and periphery. ApoE is polymorphic and the expression of the ApoE4 allele is associated with late onset AD. Conversely, the ApoE3 allele has been shown to likely prevent neurodegeneration, suggesting a protective role for ApoE3 protein in the brain. In this study we investigated the functional (vasoconstriction & vasodilation) and structural (elastin fiber organization and elasticity) properties of the aorta in 18‐month old mice expressing human ApoE4 or ApoE3, and wild type C57BL/6 mice using wire myography and conventional histological staining. Our data shows that phenylephrine‐induced contraction and acetylcholine‐induced vasodilation is not different among experimental groups. However, elastin fiber fragmentation and disorganization were observed within the aortic wall in ApoE4 mice as compared to age‐ and sex‐matched ApoE3 and C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, the stretch‐induced wall stress and reversibility of elasticity were significantly reduced in aortic segments isolated from ApoE4 mice indicating an increase in aortic wall stiffness in ApoE4 mice. These data present the first evidence that neurodegenerative pathology in ApoE4 mice is associated with pathologic changes in the aortic wall that leads to increased vascular wall stiffness and reduced elasticity. This will establish a new direction aimed at studying the relationship between observed brain pathology in AD and abnormal changes in peripheral vascular function and structure that occur in a relevant mouse model for the disease.Support or Funding InformationThis study is supported by funding from Midwestern University Alzheimer's Advisory Committee.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Synemin is Important for the Health of Skeletal Muscle, Heart and Bone
Authors: PELAGIO KARLA , Buo Atum , Chen Ling , Joca Humberto , Moorer Megan , Lederer Jonathan , Stain Joseph , Ward Christopher , Bloch Robert 
Published: June 2021

Synemin is a type IV intermediate filament (IF) protein that associates with of desmin and keratin IFs, costameric proteins, and alpha‐actinin in Z‐disks. It is also an A‐kinase anchoring protein (AKAP). Here, we report that genetic ablation of synemin in mice results in abnormalities in bone, skeletal, and cardiac muscle. We found osteopenia with reduction in trabecular and cortical bone fraction associated with changes in osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Skeletal muscle in null mice have a mild phenotype denoted by decreased fiber size and force production, and increased sarcolemmal deformability and susceptibility to injury. In the heart, the absence of synemin causes left ventricular systolic dysfunction associated with hypertrophy and dilatation, and alterations in calcium handling in isolated cardiomyocytes. Thus, synmein plays important roles bone and striated muscles.Support or Funding InformationSupported partially by APS‐Physiological Genomics Fellowship and UNAM‐PAPIIT (IA 207818) to KPGP; NIH to JPS (R01‐AR063631), AMB (F31‐AR064673), CWW (R01 AR062554), WJL (R01 HL105239, U01 HL116321) and RJB (R01 AR 055928).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
The Effect of (−)‐Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) on Cell Viability and Protein Expression in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells (Panc‐1) and Rat Osteosarcoma Cell Cultures (UMR 106‐01 BSP)
Authors: Bolivar Samuel , Fong Kelly , Joseph Eugene 
Published: June 2021

Traditional treatment of cancer includes surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. There are many studies regarding how cancer cells respond to various treatments. However, not many studies have been done on how cancer cells respond to natural compounds such as (−)‐Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG), a potent ingredient of green tea. In this study, it was hypothesized that EGCG inhibits cell viability of both human pancreatic (Panc‐1) and rat osteosarcoma, UMR 106‐01 BSP (UMR) cell cultures, inhibits the expression of Panc‐1 CXCR‐4 and VEGF‐A proteins in Panc‐1 cell cultures, and the expression of the oncoproteins MYC and PD‐L1 in UMR cell cultures. Briefly, Panc‐1 and UMR cell cultures were routinely passaged, treated with different concentrations of EGCG (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μM) in 6 well plates, then incubated for 48 hours at 37 degrees Celsius under humidification and 5% carbon dioxide infusion. At the end of the experiment, all cells were counted using the LUNA Automated Cell Counter (Logos Biosystems). Upon electrophoresis of experimental samples, Western blotting technique was employed to identify the expression of the Panc‐1 proteins (CXCR‐4, VEGFA) and the UMR oncoproteins (MYC and PD‐L1). F test ANOVA was used to compare variances and all values in the results were expressed as means ±SD. Cell viability results from the Panc‐1 and UMR cell lines showed a decrease at the higher concentrations (80 and 100 μM EGCG). The results of the Western blotting technique showed that the expression of Panc‐1 proteins and UMR oncoproteins were inhibited when treated with EGCG. The cell viability results suggest that EGCG may provide a therapeutic effect on both cancer cells lines at higher concentrations. Results of the Western blotting suggest that EGCG may exert its inhibitory effects on Panc‐1 and UMR cell viability through the regulation of Panc‐1 proteins and UMR oncoproteins.Support or Funding InformationThis work was made possible by support from the Ryckman Endowment Student Research Fund of the Biology Department of La Sierra University.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
SM22 is needed for actin‐rich structures formed by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Chua Michael Dominic , Hipolito Kevin Jay , Solway Julian , Guttman Julian Andrew 
Published: June 2021

Food‐borne bacterial pathogens colonize the intestinal epithelia and cause various diseases. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) remains extracellular and uses disease‐causing bacterial proteins to generate membrane‐bound actin protrusions on the host cell surface. These protrusions, called pedestals are crucial for disease and allow the bacteria to surf atop the intestinal epithelia ultimately leading to progressive changes to the tissue that cause diarrhea in the host. On the other hand, Listeria monocytogenes enters intestinal cells. Once within the cells these microbes initially form of branched networks of actin filaments around the bacterium called an actin cloud. These actin filaments then concentrate to one end of the microbe forming a comet tail that allows the bacterium to move within the host cell. L. monocytogenes can then use its comet tail to spread from cell‐to‐cell and infect various organs in the host. Through a previous mass spectrometry analysis of EPEC pedestals, we found that the actin bundling protein SM22 was concentrated through the full length of the pedestal. Because SM22 was enriched in EPEC pedestals, we then hypothesized that SM22 plays a crucial role in actin‐rich structures formed by both EPEC and other bacteria that hijack the actin filaments of the host during their disease processes. To test this, we initially used immunolocalization with L. monocytogenes infected cultured cells and found SM22 concentrated at L. monocytogenes actin clouds and comet tails. Using small interfering RNA, we depleted SM22 expression levels in host cells and found that fewer EPEC pedestals were able to form and less L. monocytogenes bacteria formed comet tails. The average comet tail length was also significantly shorter. As the reduction of SM22 diminished the abundance of actin‐rich structures generated by both EPEC and L. monocytogenes, we then determined if expressing EGFP‐tagged SM22 would increase the amount of EPEC pedestals and L. monocytogenes comet tails. Although EPEC pedestal formation was unchanged in cells overexpressing SM22, more comet tails were formed in L. monocytogenes‐infected cells and those comet tails were longer. Taken together, EPEC pedestals and L. monocytogenes comet tails rely on SM22 for their formation and the disease process and identify SM22 as a target for regulating these infections.Support or Funding InformationThis study was funded through NSERC.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Klebsiella pneumoniae disassembles microtubules and kills vinca alkaloid resistant lung cancer cells
Authors: Chua Michael Dominic , Bogdan Alexander Constantine , Walker Brittany Dominique , Guttman Julian Andrew 
Published: June 2021

Microtubules play an important role in maintaining cell shape, protein and organellar transport, and cell division. The integrity of the microtubule network is crucial for the viability of mammalian cells. Consequently, the cell has evolved many regulatory mechanisms to ensure the proper regulation of microtubules, especially during the cell cycle. The katanin family of microtubule severing proteins maintain microtubule lengths during interphase. When mitosis occurs, these katanins are recruited to the microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs) to facilitate DNA separation. Previously, we have shown that the microtubules networks in lung epithelia were disassembled by the bacterial pathogen Klebsiella pneumoniae. Because the microtubules were targeted by disease‐causing proteins originating from K. pneumoniae, we hypothesized that K. pneumoniae has devised strategies to manipulate the katanin microtubule severing enzymes to ultimately cause cell cycle arrest. To test this hypothesis, we infected A549 lung cells with K. pneumoniae and immunolocalized the katanin proteins ‐ katanin catalytic subunit A1 protein (KATNA1), katanin catalytic subunit like protein A1 like protein (KATNAL1), katanin regulatory subunit B1 (KATNB1), and katanin regulatory subunit B1 like protein (KATNBL1). In uninfected cells, these proteins immunolocalized to the MTOCs and the cleavage furrow during cell division, but in infected dividing cells, these proteins were absent. This suggested that mitosis was halted. Thus, we examined if these infected cells were still viable and able to proliferate. Using a live/dead staining kit, we found that at this point of the infections, the cells were non‐viable and cell death has occurred. Given that host cells could be killed by the microbes and that microtubules were disassembled during the infections, we investigated whether microtubules could be destroyed in vincristine‐ and vinblastine‐resistant H69AR lung cancer epithelial cells. Microtubule disassembly occurred in these H69AR cells and taken together, we have identified a potent mechanism for destroying the microtubule cytoskeleton and ultimately killing lung cancer cells that are resistant to conventional therapeutics.Support or Funding InformationThis study was funded by SFU institutional funds.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.