Video feedback and e-Learning enhances laboratory skills and engagement in medical laboratory science students.

Background: Traditionally, the training of medical laboratory science students has taken place in the laboratory and has been led by academic and pathology experts in a face-to-face context. In recent years, budgetary pressures, increasing student enrolments and limited access to laboratory equipment have resulted in reduced staff-student contact hours in medical laboratory science education. While this restructure in resources has been challenging, it has encouraged innovation in online blended learning.

Hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) overexpression diminishes the procatabolic activity of chondrocytes by a mechanism independent of extracellular hyaluronan.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive degenerative disease of the joints caused in part by a change in the phenotype of resident chondrocytes within affected joints. This altered phenotype, often termed proinflammatory or procatabolic, features enhanced production of endoproteinases and matrix metallo-proteinases (MMPs) as well as secretion of endogenous inflammatory mediators. Degradation and reduced retention of the proteoglycan aggrecan is an early event in OA.

Simvastatin promotes restoration of chondrocyte morphology and phenotype.

In this study we examined whether the action of simvastatin affects re-differentiation of passaged chondrocytes and if so, whether this was mediated via changes in cholesterol or cholesterol intermediates. Bovine articular chondrocytes, of varying passage number, human knee chondrocytes and rat chondrosarcoma chondrocytes were treated with simvastatin and examined for changes in mRNA and protein expression of markers of the chondrocyte phenotype as well as changes in cell shape, proliferation and proteoglycan production. In all three models, while still in monolayer culture, simvastatin treatment alone promoted changes in phenotype and morphology indicative of re-differentiation most prominent being an increase in SOX9 mRNA and protein expression.

The pericellular hyaluronan of articular chondrocytes.

The story of hyaluronan in articular cartilage, pericellular hyaluronan in particular, essentially is also the story of aggrecan. Without properly tethered aggrecan, the load bearing function of cartilage is compromised. The anchorage of aggrecan to the cell surface only occurs due to the binding of aggrecan to hyaluronan-with hyaluronan tethered either to a hyaluronan synthase or by multivalent binding to CD44.

Androgen receptor regulation by histone methyltransferase Suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 2 and Melanoma antigen-A11.

Androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activity depends on interactions between the AR NH-terminal region and transcriptional coregulators. A yeast two-hybrid screen of a human testis library using predicted α-helical NH-terminal fragment AR-(370-420) as bait identified suppressor of variegation 3-9 homolog 2 (SUV39H2) histone methyltransferase as an AR interacting protein. SUV39H2 interaction with AR and the AR coregulator, melanoma antigen-A11 (MAGE-A11), was verified in two-hybrid, in vitro glutathione S-transferase affinity matrix and coimmunoprecipitation assays.

4-Methylumbelliferone Diminishes Catabolically Activated Articular Chondrocytes and Cartilage Explants via a Mechanism Independent of Hyaluronan Inhibition.

Depletion of the cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan is one of the earliest events that occurs in association with osteoarthritis. This loss is often accompanied by a coordinate loss in another glycosaminoglycan, hyaluronan. Chondrocytes experimentally depleted of cell-associated hyaluronan respond by switching to a pro-catabolic metabolism that includes enhanced production of endogenous inflammatory mediators and increased synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases.

CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of HAS2 in rat chondrosarcoma chondrocytes demonstrates the requirement of hyaluronan for aggrecan retention.

Hyaluronan (HA) plays an essential role in cartilage where it functions to retain aggrecan. Previous studies have suggested that aggrecan is anchored indirectly to the plasma membrane of chondrocytes via its binding to cell-associated HA. However, reagents used to test these observations such as hyaluronidase and HA oligosaccharides are short term and may have side activities that complicate interpretation.

Effect of leucine supplementation on fat free mass with prolonged hypoxic exposure during a 13-day trek to Everest Base Camp: a double-blind randomized study.

Loss of body weight and fat-free mass (FFM) are commonly noted with prolonged exposure to hypobaric hypoxia. Recent evidence suggests protein supplementation, specifically leucine, may potentially attenuate loss of FFM in subcaloric conditions during normoxia. The purpose of this study was to determine if leucine supplementation would prevent the loss of FFM in subcaloric conditions during prolonged hypoxia.

CD44 and hyaluronan promote the bone morphogenetic protein 7 signaling response in murine chondrocytes.

Objective: Cell-matrix interactions promote cartilage homeostasis. We previously found that Smad1, the transcriptional modulator of the canonical bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP-7) pathway, interacted with the cytoplasmic domain of CD44, the principal hyaluronan receptor on chondrocytes. To elucidate the physiologic function of CD44-Smad1 interactions, as well as the role of hyaluronan, we studied the response of chondrocytes isolated from CD44(-/-) and BALB/c (wild-type [WT]) mice to stimulation with BMP-7.

Efficacy and safety of protein supplements for U.S. Armed Forces personnel: consensus statement.

To provide evidence-based guidance regarding the efficacy and safety of dietary protein supplement (PS) use by members of the U.S. Armed Forces, a panel of internationally recognized experts in the fields of protein metabolism and dietary supplement research was convened by the Department of Defense Center Alliance for Dietary Supplement Research and the U.

Intracellular domain fragment of CD44 alters CD44 function in chondrocytes.

The hyaluronan receptor CD44 undergoes sequential proteolytic cleavage at the cell surface. The initial cleavage of the CD44 extracellular domain is followed by a second intramembranous cleavage of the residual CD44 fragment, liberating the C-terminal cytoplasmic tail of CD44. In this study conditions that promote CD44 cleavage resulted in a diminished capacity to assemble and retain pericellular matrices even though sufficient non-degraded full-length CD44 remained.

Quality control for federal clean water act and safe drinking water act regulatory compliance.

QC sample results are required in order to have confidence in the results from analytical tests. Some of the AOAC water methods include specific QC procedures, frequencies, and acceptance criteria. These are considered to be the minimum controls needed to perform the method successfully.

A comparison of subjective and objective measures of physical exertion.

Better methods are needed to improve validity and reliability of physical activity (PA) assessment instruments. The purpose of this study was to compare individual's Borg's Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scores to GT1M ActiGraph accelerometer output, with the aim to better understand estimates of perceived exertion for exercise prescription. Adults were recruited (n = 117) from Utah, with 43.

Structural features discriminate androgen receptor N/C terminal and coactivator interactions.

Human androgen receptor (AR) transcriptional activity involves interdomain and coactivator interactions with the agonist-bound AR ligand binding domain (LBD). Structural determinants of the AR NH(2)- and carboxyl-terminal interaction between the AR NH(2)-terminal FXXLF motif and activation function 2 (AF2) in the LBD were shown previously by crystallography. In this report, we provide evidence for a region in AR LBD helix 12 outside the AF2 binding cleft that facilitates interactions with the FXXLF and LXXLL motifs.

Transcriptional synergy between melanoma antigen gene protein-A11 (MAGE-11) and p300 in androgen receptor signaling.

Androgen receptor (AR)-mediated gene regulation involves interactions with coregulatory proteins that include the melanoma antigen gene protein-A11 (MAGE-11). To understand the functional significance of sequence similarity between MAGE-11 and the adenovirus early protein E1A, we determined whether MAGE-11 contributes to AR transcriptional activity through an interaction with p300, a potent and ubiquitous transcriptional regulator. Here, we report that MAGE-11 interacts with the NH(2)-terminal region of p300 through the MAGE-11 MXXIF motif (185)MXXIF(189), with transcriptional activity depending on the MAGE-11 F-box and MAPK phosphorylation.

Melanoma antigen gene protein-A11 (MAGE-11) F-box links the androgen receptor NH2-terminal transactivation domain to p160 coactivators.

Androgen-dependent transcriptional activity by the androgen receptor (AR) and its coregulators is required for male reproductive development and function. In humans and other primates, melanoma antigen gene protein-A11 (MAGE-11) is an AR selective coregulator that increases AR transcriptional activity. Here we show that the interaction between AR and MAGE-11 is mediated by AR NH(2)-terminal FXXLF motif binding to a highly conserved MAGE-11 F-box in the MAGE homology domain, and is modulated by serum stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation of MAGE-11 Ser-174.

Modulation of androgen receptor activation function 2 by testosterone and dihydrotestosterone.

The androgen receptor (AR) is transcriptionally activated by high affinity binding of testosterone (T) or its 5alpha-reduced metabolite, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a more potent androgen required for male reproductive tract development. The molecular basis for the weaker activity of T was investigated by determining T-bound ligand binding domain crystal structures of wild-type AR and a prostate cancer somatic mutant complexed with the AR FXXLF or coactivator LXXLL peptide. Nearly identical interactions of T and DHT in the AR ligand binding pocket correlate with similar rates of dissociation from an AR fragment containing the ligand binding domain.

Musculoskeletal abnormalities of the tibia in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To characterize local bone geometry, density, and strength, using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), compared with general bone characteristics as measured using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and to assess their relationship to disease-related factors in children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Methods: Forty-eight children ages 4-18 years with JRA (17 pauciarticular, 23 polyarticular, 8 systemic) were compared with age-matched healthy controls (n = 266). Measurements included cortical and trabecular bone geometry, density, and strength at the distal and midshaft tibia determined by pQCT, and whole-body, lumbar spine, and femoral neck measurements by DXA.

Effects of purified oxygenated water on exercise performance during acute hypoxic exposure.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of purified oxygenated water on exercise performance under hypoxic conditions. Nine recreational male cyclists (age = 26.6 +/- 5.

Association of adipose and red blood cell lipids with severity of dominant Stargardt macular dystrophy (STGD3) secondary to an ELOVL4 mutation.

Objective: To determine whether adipose and red blood cell membrane lipids, particularly long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, are significantly correlated with phenotype in a family with autosomal dominant Stargardt macular dystrophy (gene locus STGD3). A mutation in the ELOVL4 gene is responsible for the macular dystrophy in this family, and its disease-causing mechanism may be its possible involvement in fatty acid elongation in the retina.

Methods: The subjects in this study included 18 adult family members known to have a 2-base pair deletion in the ELOVL4 gene.

Bone mineral acquisition in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

Objective: To track bone mineral acquisition in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (DM).

Study Design: Subjects were adolescents, ages 12 to 18 years, with DM (n=42) and a healthy regional reference (n=199). Measurements of tibia bone characteristics by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) and spine and whole body (WB) by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), anthropometrics, and lifestyle questionnaires were obtained during a 12-month period.

Food for high-altitude expeditions: Pugh got it right in 1954--a commentary on the report by L.G.C.E. Pugh: "Himalayan rations with special reference to the 1953 expedition to Mount Everest".

An examination of the nutritional recommendations at altitude by L.G.C.

Dietary modification and moderate antioxidant supplementation differentially affect serum carotenoids, antioxidant levels and markers of oxidative stress in older humans.

Oxidative stress is thought to be a factor in the progression of chronic diseases, and even the aging process itself. We examined the effect of two moderate vitamin, mineral and phytochemical supplements and a dietary intervention on markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant status in older humans. Subjects (n = 60, 65-85 y old) were enrolled in a 5-wk, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.