Metformin induces FOXO3-dependent fetal hemoglobin production in human primary erythroid cells.

Induction of red blood cell (RBC) fetal hemoglobin (HbF; α2γ2) ameliorates the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease (SCD) by reducing the concentration of sickle hemoglobin (HbS; α2β2) to inhibit its polymerization. Hydroxyurea (HU), the only US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug for SCD, acts in part by inducing HbF; however, it is not fully effective, reflecting the need for new therapies. Whole-exome sequence analysis of rare genetic variants in SCD patients identified as a candidate regulator of RBC HbF.

Improvements in Tritrichomonas foetus molecular testing.

Bovine trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease that results in infertility, abortion, and calf age variability. To date, management strategies include testing for Tritrichomonas foetus and culling of infected males. Challenges associated with testing include cost of culture medium, time and labor burden of sample incubation and processing, and adverse effects of bacterial growth on detection sensitivity.

The role of BCL11A and HMIP-2 polymorphisms on endogenous and hydroxyurea induced levels of fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell anemia patients from southern Brazil.

High levels of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) reduce sickle cell anemia (SCA) morbidity and mortality. HbF levels vary considerably and there is a strong genetic component that influences HbF production. Genetic polymorphisms at three quantitative trait loci (QTL): Xmn1-HBG2, HMIP-2 and BCL11A, have been shown to influence HbF levels and disease severity in SCA.

Original Research: Use of hydroxyurea and phlebotomy in pediatric patients with hemoglobin SC disease.

Hydroxyurea is an excellent therapeutic agent for the pharmacological induction of HbF in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). However, all completed clinical trials of hydroxyurea have excluded patients with hemoglobin SC (HbSC) disease. HbSC differs significantly in pathophysiology from HbSS, as HbC does not sickle, but instead causes cellular dehydration which potentiates sickling of HbS.

Comparative Analysis of the Flexural Stiffness of Pinniped Vibrissae.

Vibrissae are important components of the mammalian tactile sensory system and are used to detect vibrotactile stimuli in the environment. Pinnipeds have the largest and most highly innervated vibrissae among mammals, and the hair shafts function as a biomechanical filter spanning the environmental stimuli and the neural mechanoreceptors deep in the follicle-sinus complex. Therefore, the material properties of these structures are critical in transferring vibrotactile information to the peripheral nervous system.