Dilution of oral D -Creatine to measure creatine pool size and estimate skeletal muscle mass: development of a correction algorithm.

Background: Muscle mass can be measured directly in vivo by isotope dilution, using Creatine-(methyl-d ) monohydrate (D -Cr) by mouth followed by measurement of the steady-state enrichment of D -creatinine (D -Crn) in urine. Isotope dilution methods require knowledge of the amount of tracer delivered to the pool of interest. In a subset of human subjects, a small amount of orally administered D -Cr 'spills' into urine after absorption and prior to transport into skeletal muscle cells.

Hyperdynamic microtubules, cognitive deficits, and pathology are improved in tau transgenic mice with low doses of the microtubule-stabilizing agent BMS-241027.

Tau is a microtubule (MT)-stabilizing protein that is altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other tauopathies. It is hypothesized that the hyperphosphorylated, conformationally altered, and multimeric forms of tau lead to a disruption of MT stability; however, direct evidence is lacking in vivo. In this study, an in vivo stable isotope-mass spectrometric technique was used to measure the turnover, or dynamicity, of MTs in brains of living animals.

Recent and remote spatial memory in mice treated with cytosine arabinoside.

Clinical studies suggest that chemotherapy is associated with long-term cognitive impairment in some patients. A number of underlying mechanisms have been proposed, however, the etiology of chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction remains relatively unknown. As part of a multifaceted approach, animal models of chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment are being developed.

Preserved learning and memory in mice following chemotherapy: 5-Fluorouracil and doxorubicin single agent treatment, doxorubicin-cyclophosphamide combination treatment.

Clinical studies suggest that chemotherapy is associated with long-term cognitive impairment in some patients. A number of underlying mechanisms have been proposed, however, the etiology of chemotherapy-related cognitive dysfunction remains relatively unknown. As part of a multifaceted approach, animal models of chemotherapy induced cognitive impairment are being developed.

Decreased pathology and prolonged survival of human DC-SIGN transgenic mice during mycobacterial infection.

Dendritic cell (DC)-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN: CD209) is a C-type lectin that binds ICAM-2,3 and various pathogens such as HIV, helicobacter, and mycobacteria. It has been suggested that Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of pulmonary tuberculosis, interacts with DC-SIGN to evade the immune system. To directly analyze the role of human DC-SIGN during mycobacterial infection, we generated conventional transgenic (tg) mice (termed "hSIGN") using CD209 cDNA under the control of the murine CD11c promoter.