Pharmacological validation of a telemetric model for the measurement of bronchoconstriction in conscious rats.

Introduction: Telemetric measurement of intra-pleural pressure in conscious animals that are restrained in head-out plethysmography chambers enables determination of airway resistance. Originally proposed over 10 years ago, pharmacological validation of this technique is limited. Here airway resistance in conscious, instrumented rats was compared to measurement in anaesthetised rats via a fluid filled oesophageal catheter following administration of two different pharmacological agents.

Examination of the variability in mixed DNA profile parameters for the Identifiler multiplex.

The interpretation of mixed DNA profiles is often undertaken by determining to what extent possible genotype combinations may be eliminated from consideration. This requires an understanding of the variability in height or area for the two alleles of a heterozygote (heterozygote balance), and in the variability of mixture proportion or mixture ratio across loci. We present here empirical data to help assess the magnitude of this variability for Identifiler profiles.

Allele frequencies for the four major sub-populations of New Zealand for the 15 Identifiler loci.

Allele frequencies for the 15 STRs included in the AmpFlSTR Identifiler (Applied Biosystems Incorporated, Foster City, CA, USA) STR DNA profiling system have been determined for the four major sub-populations of New Zealand. The data set is comprised of DNA profiles obtained over a 12-year period and includes profiles obtained using the Second Generation Multiplex (SGM, Forensic Science Services, UK), and the AmpFlSTR SGMPlus (Applied Biosystems Incorporated, Foster City, CA, USA) STR DNA profiling systems.

DRESS Syndrome caused by allopurinol.

DRESS (Drug Rash with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms) syndrome is a potentially fatal and probably underrecognized complication of allopurinol. We present the case of a 33 year old male with this condition who required intensive care support and subsequently improved following corticosteroid therapy. We review the literature considering optimal strategies for treatment and prevention of this condition.

Chronic cardiac tamponade in a cat caused by an intrapericardial biliary cyst.

A 1-year-old domestic longhair cat presented to our hospital with a 4-month history of progressive exercise intolerance and coughing. Two-dimensional echocardiography confirmed the presence of an intrapericardial cyst and cardiac tamponade. Tamponade was relieved via percutaneous aspiration of the cyst.

American Heart Association--Scientific Sessions 2009. Part 2.

The American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2009 meeting held in Orlando, FL, USA included topics covering new treatments for cardiovascular disease. This conference report highlights selected presentations on stem cell treatments for ischemia, treatments for hypertension and atherosclerosis, and LDL-lowering compounds.

American Heart Association--Scientific Sessions 2009. Part 1.

The American Heart Association (AHA) 2009 meeting held in Orlando, FL, USA included topics covering new developments in the field of cardiovascular disease. This conference report highlights selected presentations on translational science, cardiovascular disease genomics and the US healthcare reform.

PPARgamma regulates LIF-induced growth and self-renewal of mouse ES cells through Tyk2-Stat3 pathway.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are genetically normal, pluripotent cells, capable of self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is a growth factor that can maintain the pluripotency of mouse ES cells in culture. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are nuclear receptor transcription factors that regulate growth and differentiation of many cell types.

Role of nitric oxide in regulating stomatal apertures.

During stomatal closure, nitric oxide (NO) operates as one of the key intermediates in the complex, abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated, guard cell signaling network that regulates this process. However, data concerning the role of NO in stomatal closure that occurs in turgid vs. dehydrated plants is limited.

Successful biphasic transthoracic defibrillation of a dog with prolonged, refractory ventricular fibrillation.

Objective: To describe a case of spontaneous ventricular fibrillation in a dog in which biphasic defibrillation was life saving.

Case Summary: Ventricular fibrillation occurred in a 7-year-old female Australian Heeler during recovery from anesthesia following pacemaker implantation. Resuscitative efforts including immediate delivery of transthoracic monophasic defibrillation shocks of escalating energy and administration of vasopressors were unsuccessful.

Database crime to crime match rate calculation.

Guidance exists on how to count matches between samples in a crime sample database but we are unable to locate a definition of how to estimate a match rate. We propose a method that does not proceed from the match counting definition but which has a strong logic.

Chronic cor pulmonale secondary to pulmonary atherosclerosis in an African Grey parrot.

Case Description: A 20-year-old sexually intact female African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus) was evaluated to determine the cause of lethargy, hyporexia, weight loss, and persistent ascites of 21 days' duration.

Clinical Findings: Physical examination revealed a markedly distended abdomen and systolic heart murmur. Thoracic radiography revealed cardiomegaly and hepatomegaly.

Differential requirement for NO during ABA-induced stomatal closure in turgid and wilted leaves.

Abscisic acid (ABA)-induced stomatal closure is mediated by a complex, guard cell signalling network involving nitric oxide (NO) as a key intermediate. However, there is a lack of information concerning the role of NO in the ABA-enhanced stomatal closure seen in dehydrated plants. The data herein demonstrate that, while nitrate reductase (NR)1-mediated NO generation is required for the ABA-induced closure of stomata in turgid leaves, it is not required for ABA-enhanced stomatal closure under conditions leading to rapid dehydration.

PPARgamma agonists inhibit growth and expansion of CD133+ brain tumour stem cells.

Brain tumour stem cells (BTSCs) are a small population of cells that has self-renewal, transplantation, multidrug resistance and recurrence properties, thus remain novel therapeutic target for brain tumour. Recent studies have shown that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists induce growth arrest and apoptosis in glioblastoma cells, but their effects on BTSCs are largely unknown. In this study, we generated gliospheres with more than 50% CD133+ BTSC by culturing U87MG and T98G human glioblastoma cells with epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF).

Targeting PPAR as a therapy to treat multiple sclerosis.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder that causes chronic paralysis and immense socio-economic problem among young adults. The etiology of MS is not known but it is generally viewed as an autoimmune inflammatory disease of the CNS. Over the past decade, several anti-inflammatory drugs have been developed to control MS symptoms but there is no medical cure.

Pollen generates nitric oxide and nitrite: a possible link to pollen-induced allergic responses.

Reactive nitrogen species (RNS), such as nitric oxide (NO), are ubiquitous and diverse signalling molecules involved in a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological processes in both animals and plants. Nitrite, a metabolite of NO turnover, has also been recently characterised as an important mediator of fundamental physiological mechanisms in mammalian cells, and is a substrate for NO production in several plant cell signalling processes. A previous study demonstrated that during plant reproductive processes, intracellular NO is produced by pollen, and that such NO could be important in signalling interactions between pollen and stigma.

Stat4 isoforms differentially regulate inflammation and demyelination in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease model of multiple sclerosis. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (Stat4) is a transcription factor activated by IL-12 and IL-23, two cytokines known to play important roles in the pathogenesis of EAE by inducing T cells to secrete IFN-gamma and IL-17, respectively. We and others have previously shown that therapeutic intervention or targeted disruption of Stat4 was effective in ameliorating EAE.

Reflexive and volitional voice fundamental frequency responses to an anticipated feedback pitch error.

The pitch-shift reflex is a corrective voice fundamental frequency (F0) response triggered by a sudden shift or "error" in auditory feedback pitch. We investigated how anticipating a voice pitch error affects the pitch-shift reflex and volitional voice F0 responses. Adults sustained the vowel/u/at a comfortable pitch and pressed a button to deliver a 100 cent, 100 ms auditory feedback pitch shift immediately or after a random delay.

PPAR Regulation of Inflammatory Signaling in CNS Diseases.

Central nervous system (CNS) is an immune privileged site, nevertheless inflammation associates with many CNS diseases. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a family of nuclear hormone receptors that regulate immune and inflammatory responses. Specific ligands for PPARalpha, gamma, and delta isoforms have proven effective in the animal models of multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and trauma/stroke, suggesting their use in the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases.

Key features of artificial aquifers for use in modeling contaminant transport.

Two large-scale (9.5 m long, 4.7 m wide, 2.