CD28-expressing δ T cells are increased in perivascular adipose tissue of hypertensive mice and in subcutaneous adipose tissue of obese humans.

Objectives: γδ T-lymphocytes play a role in angiotensin II (AngII)-induced hypertension, vascular injury and T-cell infiltration in perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) in mice. Mesenteric arteries of hypertensive mice and subcutaneous arteries from obese humans present similar remodeling. We hypothesized that γδ T-cell subtypes in mesenteric vessels with PVAT (MV/PVAT) from hypertensive mice and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) from obese humans, who are prone to develop hypertension, would be similar.

P2RX7 gene knockout or antagonism reduces angiotensin II-induced hypertension, vascular injury and immune cell activation.

Objective: Extracellular ATP is elevated in hypertensive mice and humans and may trigger immune activation through the purinergic receptor P2X7 (P2RX7) causing interleukin-1β production and T-cell activation and memory T-cell development. Furthermore, P2RX7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) are associated with hypertension. We hypothesized that P2RX7 activation contributes to hypertension and cardiovascular injury by promoting immune activation.

Angiotensin II-Induced Memory γδ T Cells Sensitize Mice to a Mild Hypertensive Stimulus.

Background: Memory T cells develop during an initial hypertensive episode, sensitizing mice to develop hypertension from further mild hypertensive challenges. We hypothesized that memory γδ T cells develop after a hypertensive challenge and sensitize mice to develop hypertension in response to a subsequent mild hypertensive challenge.

Methods: The first aim was to profile memory γδ T cells after a 14-day pressor dose angiotensin II (AngII) infusion (490 ng/kg/min, subcutaneously) in male mice.

Determination of Interleukin-17A and Interferon-γ Production in γδ, CD4, and CD8 T Cells Isolated from Murine Lymphoid Organs, Perivascular Adipose Tissue, Kidney, and Lung.

T cells localized to the kidneys and vasculature/perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) play an important role in hypertension and vascular injury. CD4, CD8, and γδ T-cell subtypes are programmed to produce interleukin (IL)-17 or interferon-γ (IFNγ), and naïve T cells can be induced to produce IL-17 via the IL-23 receptor. Importantly, both IL-17 and IFNγ have been demonstrated to contribute to hypertension.

Angiotensin II-induced a steeper blood pressure elevation in IL-23 receptor-deficient mice: Role of interferon-γ-producing T cells.

A subset of interleukin (IL)-17A-producing γδ T cells called γδT17 cells may contribute to progression of hypertension. γδT17 cell development is in part dependent upon IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) stimulation. We hypothesized that angiotensin (Ang) II-induced blood pressure (BP) elevation and vascular injury would be blunted in Il23r knock-in (Il23r) mice deficient in functional IL-23R.

A case series of acute responses to high-intensity interval training in four males with permanent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a serious medical condition and a burgeoning patient population. Chronic exercise training, including high-intensity interval training (HIIT), has been shown to improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with AF. Yet, the acute responses to HIIT in this population remain understudied, leaving clinicians and patients hesitant about prescribing and engaging in high-intensity exercise, respectively.

The Physical Activity Levels and Sitting Time of Adults Living With Atrial Fibrillation: The CHAMPLAIN-AF Study.

Background: The primary goal of this study was to determine the time spent completing moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) among adults with atrial fibrillation (AF). Secondary aims examined MVPA and sitting time (ST) by AF subtypes (ie, paroxysmal, persistent, long-standing persistent, and permanent) and associations between MVPA or ST and knowledge, task self-efficacy, and outcome expectations.

Methods: An observational study was conducted in the Champlain region of Ontario, Canada.

Sex Differences in the Immune System in Relation to Hypertension and Vascular Disease.

Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality worldwide. Despite intensive research into the mechanisms underlying the development of hypertension, it remains difficult to control blood pressure in a large proportion of patients. Young men have a higher prevalence of hypertension compared with age-matched women, and this holds true until approximately the fifth decade of life.

Flattened cola improves high-intensity interval performance in competitive cyclists.

Purpose: Some cyclists consume flattened cola during competitive events, but limited research has investigated if cola beverages elicit ergogenic effects, particularly on high-intensity exercise performance. Whether the potentially beneficial effects of cola are due to the caffeine and/or the carbohydrate content is also unclear. This study assessed the ergogenic effects of different cola beverages on performance during a constant power bout (CPB) and subsequent high-intensity interval efforts in competitive cyclists.

Human and murine memory γδ T cells: Evidence for acquired immune memory in bacterial and viral infections and autoimmunity.

γδ T cells are unconventional lymphocytes that could play a role in bridging the innate and adaptive immune system. Upon initial exposure to an antigen, some activated T cells become memory T cells that could be reactivated upon secondary immune challenge. Recently, subsets of γδ T cells with a restricted antigen repertoire and long-term persistence have been observed after clearance of viral and bacterial infections.

Parathyroid hormone-ionized calcium dynamics over the first year of life.

Background: Ionized calcium (iCa) is believed to be the principle determinant of parathyroid hormone concentration (PTH). However, previous studies contained few infants.

Methods: This ancillary study from our vitamin D3 dose-response trial in healthy, breastfed infants measured calcium, phosphorus, PTH and 25(OH)D (25-hydroxyvitamin D) at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age.

Impact of Vitamin D Supplementation on Gross Motor Development of Healthy Term Infants: A Randomized Dose-Response Trial.

Unlabelled: In addition to benefits for bone health, vitamin D is implicated in muscle function in children and adults.

Aims: To determine if vitamin D dosage positively correlated with gross motor development at 3 and 6 months of age. We hypothesized that higher doses would be associated with higher scores for gross motor skills.

TAOK3 phosphorylates the methylenecyclopropane nucleoside MBX 2168 to its monophosphate.

Monohydroxymethyl methylenecyclopropane nucleosides (MCPNs) with ether or thioether substituents at the 6-position show promise as broad-spectrum herpes virus inhibitors. Their proposed mechanism of action involves sequential phosphorylation to a triphosphate, which can then inhibit viral DNA polymerase. The inhibition of herpes simplex virus (HSV) by these compounds is not dependent on the viral thymidine kinase (TK), which is known to phosphorylate acyclovir (ACV), a standard treatment for HSV infections.

Redefining normal bone and mineral clinical biochemistry reference intervals for healthy infants in Canada.

Background: Few normative data exist for routine clinical chemistry in healthy term infants, that is, during a time of rapid development. Biochemical markers are significantly affected by these physiological changes and the lack of appropriate reference intervals may impede diagnostics in infants.

Objective: To define reference intervals for calcium, phosphate, creatinine, and alkaline phosphatase in infants from 1 to 12 months of age.

Methodological issues in assessing plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration in newborn infants.

Background: Although no gold standard exists, liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is a precise and accurate method for the analysis of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D). Immunoassays are more readily available and require small volume sampling, ideal for infant testing. The objective was to compare two commercially available immunoassays for measuring circulating 25(OH)D concentration in infant plasma against LC-MS/MS.

Human cytomegalovirus UL97 kinase is involved in the mechanism of action of methylenecyclopropane analogs with 6-ether and -thioether substitutions.

Methylenecyclopropane nucleoside (MCPN) analogs are being investigated for treatment of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection because of favorable preclinical data and limited ganciclovir cross-resistance. Monohydroxymethyl MCPNs bearing ether and thioether functionalities at the purine 6 position have antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV) in addition to HCMV. The role of the HCMV UL97 kinase in the mechanism of action of these derivatives was examined.

Effect of different dosages of oral vitamin D supplementation on vitamin D status in healthy, breastfed infants: a randomized trial.

Importance: Vitamin D supplementation in infancy is required to support healthy bone mineral accretion. A supplement of 400 IU of vitamin D per day is thought to support plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentrations between 40 and 50 nmol/L; some advocate 75 to 150 nmol/L for bone health.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of different dosages of vitamin D in supporting 25(OH)D concentrations in infants.

Effect of alkanethiol chain length on gold nanoparticle monolayers at the air-water interface.

In this study, we report the effects of the alkyl chain length on alkanethiol-capped gold nanoparticle Langmuir films. Gold nanoparticles (2-3 nm) capped with C(n)H(2n+1)SH (n = 5-12, 14-16, 18) were prepared via a two-phase synthesis. The films were sampled by Langmuir-Schaefer horizontal transfer at various points in the pressure-area isotherm and monitored with transmission electron microscopy.

Mutant fibrillin-1 monomers lacking EGF-like domains disrupt microfibril assembly and cause severe marfan syndrome.

Marfan syndrome (MFS), a heritable connective tissue disorder, is caused by mutations in the gene coding for fibrillin-1 (FBN1), an extracellular matrix protein. One of the three major categories of FBN1 mutations involves exon-skipping. To rapidly detect such mutations, we developed a long RT-PCR method.

A radiation hybrid map of human chromosome 18.

A human x Chinese hamster (CH) somatic cell hybrid subclone deficient in HPRT and containing only human chromosome 18 was irradiated with 7000 rad and fused to a thymidine kinase deficient CH cell line. Radiation-rescued hybrid cell lines, selected in HAT medium, were analyzed for human DNA with human interspersed-repeat sequence primers. Size and number of human chromosome fragments retained in a subset of hybrids were determined by FISH.

Localization of the gene for branchiootorenal syndrome to chromosome 8q.

Branchiootorenal syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder that affects an estimated 2% of profoundly deaf children. In addition to hearing impairment, it is characterized by a lop-ear deformity, preauricular pits, branchial cleft sinus tracts, and renal anomalies. The pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown; however, the defective gene has been localized to chromosome 8q by family linkage studies.