Identification of BAHD acyltransferases associated with acylinositol biosynthesis in (naranjilla).

Plants make a variety of specialized metabolites that can mediate interactions with animals, microbes, and competitor plants. Understanding how plants synthesize these compounds enables studies of their biological roles by manipulating their synthesis in vivo as well as producing them in vitro. Acylsugars are a group of protective metabolites that accumulate in the trichomes of many Solanaceae family plants.

Inhibition of microbial biofuel production in drought-stressed switchgrass hydrolysate.

Background: Interannual variability in precipitation, particularly drought, can affect lignocellulosic crop biomass yields and composition, and is expected to increase biofuel yield variability. However, the effect of precipitation on downstream fermentation processes has never been directly characterized. In order to investigate the impact of interannual climate variability on biofuel production, corn stover and switchgrass were collected during 3 years with significantly different precipitation profiles, representing a major drought year (2012) and 2 years with average precipitation for the entire season (2010 and 2013).

Dietary fat is a lipid source in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-ρ-dioxin (TCDD)-elicited hepatic steatosis in C57BL/6 mice.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-ρ-dioxin (TCDD) increases fatty acid (FA) transport and FA levels resulting in hepatic steatosis in mice. Diet as a source of lipids was investigated using customized diets, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1) null mice, and (14)C-oleate (18:1n9) uptake studies. C57BL/6 mice fed with 5, 10, or 15% fat or 50, 60 or 70% carbohydrate diets exhibited increased relative liver weight following gavage with 30 µg/kg TCDD for 168 h.

Glucose meters and opportunities for in-hospital transmission of infection: Quantitative assessment and management with and without patient assignment.

Background: Increasing use of glucose meters in hospitals has increased opportunities for infection transmission that have not been quantitatively assessed or managed.

Methods: Before-and-after study of the effects of augmentation of glucose meter inventory and of assignment of glucose meters to individual patients on the sequential use of glucose meters on different patients in a 214-bed hospital.

Results: During October 2008, 11,665 measurements were performed using 38 glucose meters on 803 patients.

Volatile profiling reveals intracellular metabolic changes in Aspergillus parasiticus: veA regulates branched chain amino acid and ethanol metabolism.

Background: Filamentous fungi in the genus Aspergillus produce a variety of natural products, including aflatoxin, the most potent naturally occurring carcinogen known. Aflatoxin biosynthesis, one of the most highly characterized secondary metabolic pathways, offers a model system to study secondary metabolism in eukaryotes. To control or customize biosynthesis of natural products we must understand how secondary metabolism integrates into the overall cellular metabolic network.

Can endosonographers evaluate on-site cytologic adequacy? A comparison with cytotechnologists.

Background: On-site determination of cytologic adequacy increases the accuracy of EUS-guided FNA (EUS-FNA); however, on-site cytotechnologists are not available to all endosonographers. We hypothesize that experienced endosonographers can accurately assess whether an on-site FNA specimen is adequate.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of on-site cytopathology interpretation of EUS-FNA specimens by comparing endosonographers with a cytotechnologist.

An economic analysis of an aggressive diagnostic strategy with single photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging and early exercise stress testing in emergency department patients who present with chest pain but nondiagnostic electrocardiograms: Results from a randomized trial.

Study Objective: Conventional emergency department testing strategies for patients with chest pain often do not provide unequivocal diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes. This study was conducted to determine whether the routine use of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging at rest and early exercise stress testing to assess intermediate-risk patients with chest pain and no ECG evidence of acute ischemia will lead to earlier discharges, more discriminate use of coronary angiography, and an overall reduction in average costs of care with no adverse clinical outcomes.

Methods: All patients in this study had technetium 99m tetrofosmin SPECT imaging at rest and were randomly assigned to either a conventional (results of the imaging test blinded to the physician) or perfusion imaging-guided (results of the imaging test unblinded to the physician) strategy.