Lung eQTLs to help reveal the molecular underpinnings of asthma.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified loci reproducibly associated with pulmonary diseases; however, the molecular mechanism underlying these associations are largely unknown. The objectives of this study were to discover genetic variants affecting gene expression in human lung tissue, to refine susceptibility loci for asthma identified in GWAS studies, and to use the genetics of gene expression and network analyses to find key molecular drivers of asthma. We performed a genome-wide search for expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) in 1,111 human lung samples.

Evaluation of early biomarkers of muscle anabolic response to testosterone.

BACKGROUND: Early biomarkers of skeletal muscle anabolism will facilitate the development of therapies for sarcopenia and frailty. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined plasma type III collagen N-terminal propeptide (P3NP), skeletal muscle protein fractional synthesis rate, and gene and protein expression profiles to identify testosterone-induced changes in muscle anabolism. Two placebo-controlled studies enrolled community-dwelling men (study 1, 60-75 years; study 2, 18-40 years) with low to normal testosterone levels.

N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen as a biomarker of anabolic response to recombinant human GH and testosterone.

Context: Biomarkers that predict musculoskeletal response to anabolic therapies should expedite drug development. During collagen synthesis in soft lean tissue, N-terminal propeptide of type III procollagen (P3NP) is released into circulation. We investigated P3NP as a biomarker of lean body mass (LBM) and muscle strength gains in response to testosterone and GH.

fMRI investigation of the effect of local and systemic lidocaine on noxious electrical stimulation-induced activation in spinal cord.

Spinal cord fMRI offers an excellent opportunity to quantify nociception using neuronal activation induced by painful stimuli. Measurement of the magnitude of stimulation-induced activation, and its suppression with analgesics can provide objective measures of pain and efficacy of analgesics. This study investigates the feasibility of using spinal cord fMRI in anesthetized rats as a pain assay to test the analgesic effect of locally and systemically administered lidocaine.