Differences in memory performance: The effects of sex and reproductive experience on object recognition memory in high- and low-yawning Sprague‒Dawley rats.

The novel object recognition (NOR) test is an efficient way to measure nonspatial memory in rodents. The NOR performance of female and male rats is sexually dimorphic because memory performance is better in the former than in the latter. In females, maternal experience enhances spatial memory.

Selective Late-Stage Functionalization of Tryptophan-Containing Peptides To Facilitate Bioorthogonal Tetrazine Ligation.

Site-selective modification of complex peptides and the functionalization of their C-H bonds hold great promise for expanding their use in therapeutics and biomedical research. Herein, we leverage the power of late-stage chemoenzymatic catalysis using an indole prenyltransferase (IPT) enzyme and alkyl diphosphates to specifically modify the indole ring of tryptophan in clinically relevant peptides. Furthermore, the installed handle enables bioorthogonal click chemistry through an inverse electron-demand Diels-Alder (IEDDA) reaction with a biotin-conjugated tetrazine probe.

Systematic Analysis of Metabolic Bottlenecks in the Methylerythritol 4-Phosphate (MEP) Pathway of Zymomonas mobilis.

Zymomonas mobilis is an industrially relevant aerotolerant anaerobic bacterium that can convert up to 96% of consumed glucose to ethanol. This highly catabolic metabolism could be leveraged to produce isoprenoid-based bioproducts via the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, but we currently have limited knowledge concerning the metabolic constraints of this pathway in Z. mobilis.

Mating-induced analgesia is dependent of copulatory male pattern in high- and low- yawning male rats.

Mating behavior in rodents can modulate pain sensations in both sexes. In males, the execution of mounts, intromissions, and ejaculations induced a progressive increase in their vocalization thresholds induced by tail shocks and other types of noxious stimuli. We selectively inbred two sublines from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats that differed in their spontaneous yawning frequency.

Screening for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Within a Psychiatric Hospital and Considerations for Limiting Transmission Within Residential Psychiatric Facilities - Wyoming, 2020.

In the United States, approximately 180,000 patients receive mental health services each day at approximately 4,000 inpatient and residential psychiatric facilities (1). SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), can spread rapidly within congregate residential settings (2-4), including psychiatric facilities. On April 13, 2020, two patients were transferred to Wyoming's state psychiatric hospital from a private psychiatric hospital that had confirmed COVID-19 cases among its residents and staff members (5).

Comparison of nucleic acid extraction methods for next-generation sequencing of avian influenza A virus from ferret respiratory samples.

Influenza A virus is a negative-sense RNA virus with a segmented genome consisting of eight RNA segments. Avian influenza A virus (AIV) primarily infects avian hosts and sporadically infects mammals, which can lead to adaptation to new species. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of emerging AIV genomes extracted from respiratory samples collected on sequential days from animal models and clinical patients enables analysis of the emergence of evolutionary variants within the virus population over time.

The Neural Signals of the Superior Ovarian Nerve Modulate in an Asymmetric Way the Ovarian Steroidogenic Response to the Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide.

The superior ovarian nerve (SON) provides neuropeptide-Y, norepinephrine and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) to the ovaries. Ovarian steroidogenesis is modulated by the SON. In the cyclic rat, the acute steroidogenic response to ovarian microinjection of VIP is asymmetric and varies during the estrous cycle.

Hemi-ovariectomies promote a decrease in the dendritic lengths of CA1 and CA3 neurons: A dimorphic effect of the cerebral hemispheres.

Certain structures of the central nervous system (CNS) are morphologically and functionally related to the ovaries. Ovariectomy has been used to study the functional role of the ovaries in the CNS, as well as the role of the CNS on the reproductive system. In the present study, the effects of left and right hemi-ovariectomy on the morphology of pyramidal neurons from the CA1 and CA3 regions of the ventral hippocampus were studied.

Unilaterally blocking the muscarinic receptors in the suprachiasmatic nucleus in proestrus rats prevents pre-ovulatory LH secretion and ovulation.

Background: The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) and the cholinergic system of various regions of the hypothalamus participate in the regulation of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and gonadotropin secretion, which are necessary for the occurrence of ovulation. In the present study, our goal was to analyse the effects of unilaterally blocking the muscarinic receptors in the SCN on ovulation and steroid secretion.

Methods: Cyclic rats were randomly allotted to one of the experimental groups.

Endothelial cell derived angiocrine support of acute myeloid leukemia targeted by receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition.

In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), refractory disease is a major challenge and the leukemia microenvironment may harbor refractory disease. Human AML cell lines KG-1 and HL-60 expressed receptors also found on endothelial cells (ECs) such as VEGFRs, PDGFRs, and cKit. When human AML cells were co-cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and primary bone marrow endothelial cell (BMECs), the AML cells were more resistant to cytarabine chemotherapy, even in transwell co-culture suggesting angiocrine regulation.

In the pubertal rat, the regulation of ovarian function involves the synergic participation of the sensory and sympathetic innervations that arrive at the gonad.

Background: The present study investigates sectioning the superior ovarian nerve (SON) in rats with functional sensorial denervation induced by capsaicin administration at birth and the effects on the establishment of puberty, ovulation, serum progesterone, and estradiol concentrations.

Methods: The animals were allotted randomly to one of the following experimental groups. Groups of 8-10 rats were injected at birth with capsaicin or vehicle, and on day 20 or 28 of life, they were submitted to a sham operation (SO).

Asymmetric steroidogenic response by the ovaries to the vasoactive intestinal peptide.

In vitro the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) stimulates progesterone, androgens, and estradiol secretion, and the effects are time-dependent. The present study analyzed the acute (1 h) and sub-acute (24 h) effects of unilateral injection of VIP into the ovarian bursa on each day of the estrous cycle on progesterone, testosterone, and estradiol serum levels. Cyclic 60-day-old virgin female rats on diestrus-1, diestrus-2, proestrus, or estrus were injected with saline or VIP 10(-6) M into the left or right ovarian bursa.

The effects of sensorial denervation on the ovarian function, by the local administration of capsaicin, depend on the day of the oestrous cycle when the treatment was performed.

There is evidence that sensory innervation plays a role in the regulation of puberty. The present study investigates the effects of functional sensorial desensitisation induced by capsaicin administration to adult female rats in the days of diestrus 1, diestrus 2, pro-oestrus or oestrus on ovulation and serum oestradiol and progesterone concentration. The animals were allotted at random to one of the following groups: (1) animals with capsaicin administration into the bursa ovarica (local administration) (2) animals with vehicle administration into the bursa ovarica and (3) untreated animals group.

Lack of sensorial innervation in the newborn female rats affects the activity of hypothalamic monoaminergic system and steroid hormone secretion during puberty.

There is evidence that sensory innervation plays a role regulating ovarian functions, including fertility.Since sensory denervation by means of capsaicin in newborn female rats results in a lower response togonadotropins, the present study analyzed the effects that sensory denervation by means of capsaicin in neonatal rats has on the concentration of monoamines in the anterior(AH) and medium (MH) hypothalamus, and on steroid hormone levels in serum. Groups of newborn female rats were injected subcutaneously with capsaicin and killed at 10, 20, and 30 days of age and on the first vaginal estrous.

Multipotent adult progenitor cell-loaded demineralized bone matrix for bone tissue engineering.

Multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) from bone marrow have been shown to be capable of forming bone, cartilage and other connective tissues. In addition, MAPCs differentiate into lineages that are different from their germ layers of origin. Previous studies showed the ability of MAPCs to improve cardiac function and control allogenic-reactive responses associated with acute graft versus host disease.

Effects on steroid hormones secretion resulting from the acute stimulation of sectioning the superior ovarian nerve to pre-pubertal rats.

In the adult rat, neural signals arriving to the ovary via the superior ovarian nerve (SON) modulate progesterone (P4), testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) secretion. The aims of the present study were to analyze if the SON in the pre-pubertal rat also modulates ovarian hormone secretion and the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) hormone. P4, T, E2, FSH and LH serum levels were measured 30 or 60 minutes after sectioning the SON of pre-pubertal female rats.

Angiogenesis in acute myeloid leukemia and opportunities for novel therapies.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) arises from neoplastic transformation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and relapsed disease remains one of the greater challenges in treating this hematologic malignancy. This paper focuses on angiogenic aspects of AML including the significance and prognostic value of bone marrow microvessel density and circulating cytokine levels. We show three general mechanisms whereby AML exploits angiogenic pathways, including direct induction of angiogenesis, paracrine regulation, and autocrine stimulation.

Effects of acute unilateral ovariectomy to pre-pubertal rats on steroid hormones secretion and compensatory ovarian responses.

In the present study we analyzed the existence of asymmetry in the secretion of steroid hormones in pre-pubertal female rats treated with unilateral ovariectomy (ULO) or unilateral perforation of the abdominal wall (sham-surgery). Treated rats were sacrificed at different times after surgery. Since sham-surgery had an apparent effect on the age of first vaginal estrous (FVE) and serum levels hormone, the results of the sham surgery groups were used to assess the effects of their respective surgery treatment groups.

Comprehensive assessment of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus drug susceptibility in vitro.

Background: Antiviral drugs are an important option for managing infections caused by influenza viruses. This study assessed the drug susceptibility of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) viruses collected globally between April 2009 and January 2010.

Methods: Virus isolates were tested for adamantane susceptibility, using pyrosequencing to detect the S31N marker of adamantane resistance in the M2 protein and biological assays to assess viral replication in cell culture.

Human adipose-derived side population stem cells cultured on demineralized bone matrix for bone tissue engineering.

Background: Tissue engineering of new bone relies on the combination and application of osteoconductive, osteoinductive, and osteogenic elements. Natural scaffolds, such as demineralized bone matrix (DBM), contain collagenous networks with growth factors such as bone morphogenetic protein-2. Stem cells from readily available sources, including discarded adipose tissue, have the propensity to differentiate into bone.

Inhibition of focal adhesion kinase decreases tumor growth in human neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an intracellular kinase that regulates both cellular adhesion and apoptosis. FAK is overexpressed in a number of human tumors including neuroblastoma.

Detection of molecular markers of drug resistance in 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) viruses by pyrosequencing.

The M2 blockers amantadine and rimantadine and the neuraminidase (NA) inhibitors (NAIs) oseltamivir and zanamivir are approved by the FDA for use for the control of influenza A virus infections. The 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) viruses (H1N1pdm) are reassortants that acquired M and NA gene segments from a Eurasian adamantane-resistant swine influenza virus. NAI resistance in the H1N1pdm viruses has been rare, and its occurrence is mainly limited to oseltamivir-exposed patients.

Inhibition of focal adhesion kinase and src increases detachment and apoptosis in human neuroblastoma cell lines.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an intracellular kinase that is overexpressed in a number of human tumors including neuroblastoma, and regulates both cellular adhesion and survival. We have studied the effects of FAK inhibition upon neuroblastoma using adenovirus-containing FAK-CD (AdFAK-CD).

Ketone bodies inhibit the viability of human neuroblastoma cells.

Purpose: Recent studies have shown that brain tumor cells, unlike normal brain cells, are largely dependent upon glucose for energy and are not able to use ketone bodies as a primary energy source. These findings are thought to be because of decreased expression of succinyl-coenzyme A:3-oxoacid coenzyme A transferase (SCOT), a key enzyme involved in ketone body metabolism. Because of their neural crest origin, we hypothesized that neuroblastoma cells would also be unable to use ketone bodies as a primary energy source.

TAE226 inhibits human neuroblastoma cell survival.

Purpose: Neuroblastoma is one of the most devastating pediatric solid tumors and is unresponsive to many interventions. TAE226 is a novel small molecule FAK inhibitor. We investigated the effects of TAE226 on neuroblastoma cells in vitro.