The ciliary lumen accommodates passive diffusion and vesicle-assisted trafficking in cytoplasm-ciliary transport.

Transport of membrane and cytosolic proteins into the primary cilium is essential for its role in cellular signaling. Using virtual three-dimensional superresolution light microscopy, the movements of membrane and soluble proteins from the cytoplasm to the primary cilium were mapped. In addition to the well-characterized intraflagellar transport (IFT) route, we found two new pathways within the lumen of the primary cilium: passive diffusion and vesicle-assisted transport routes that are adopted by proteins for cytoplasm-cilium transport in live cells.

Dietary Stimuli, Intestinal Bacteria and Peptide Hormones Regulate Female Defecation Rate.

Peptide hormones control gut motility, but the intestinal stimuli and the gene networks coordinating this trait remain poorly defined. Here, we customized an assay to quantify female defecation rate as a proxy of intestinal motility. We found that bacterial infection with the human opportunistic bacterial pathogen (strain PA14) increases defecation rate in wild-type female flies, and we identified specific bacteria of the fly microbiota able to increase defecation rate.

Neuroprotective effect of lipopolysaccharides in a dual-hit rat pup model of preterm hypoxia-ischemia.

The combination of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and hypoxia-ischemia (HI) has been used to model the brain injury sustained by sick pre-term infants in order to study the pathological conditions of diffuse white matter injury, which is a major cause of preterm morbidity. Prior studies have shown that the timing and dose of LPS administration will determine whether the injury is reduced or exacerbated. Here we show that administering a single injection of LPS (0.

Cholesterol biosynthesis defines oligodendrocyte precursor heterogeneity between brain and spinal cord.

Brain and spinal cord oligodendroglia have distinct functional characteristics, and cell-autonomous loss of individual genes can result in different regional phenotypes. However, a molecular basis for these distinctions is unknown. Using single-cell analysis of oligodendroglia during developmental myelination, we demonstrate that brain and spinal cord precursors are transcriptionally distinct, defined predominantly by cholesterol biosynthesis.

Peptide-Based Vaccines for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Recent Endeavors and Future Perspectives.

The development of peptide-based vaccines for treating human neurodegenerative diseases has been the eventual aim of many research endeavors, although no active immunotherapies have been approved for clinical use till now. A typical example of such endeavors is the effort to develop vaccines for Alzheimer's disease based on the beta-amyloid peptide, which continues to be intensively investigated despite previous setbacks. In this paper, recent developments in peptide-based vaccines which target beta-amyloid as well as tau protein and α-synuclein are presented.

mTOR Signaling Regulates Metabolic Function in Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells and Promotes Efficient Brain Remyelination in the Cuprizone Model.

In demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, primary loss of myelin and subsequent neuronal degeneration throughout the CNS impair patient functionality. While the importance of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling during developmental myelination is known, no studies have yet directly examined the function of mTOR signaling specifically in the oligodendrocyte (OL) lineage during remyelination. Here, we conditionally deleted from adult oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) using in male adult mice to test its function in new OLs responsible for remyelination.

Effect of ethanol, glycerol, glucose/fructose and tartaric acid on the refractive index of model aqueous solutions and wine samples.

The refractive index is a basic optical property of materials. This study explores the effect of ethanol, glycerol, tartaric acid and glucose/fructose on the refractive index in model aqueous solutions and in dry white wines. Various model aqueous solutions consisting of these components were prepared and the refractive index was measured at 20 °C and each component was studied both alone and in mixtures with the others.

A facile approach to hydrophilic oxidized fullerenes and their derivatives as cytotoxic agents and supports for nanobiocatalytic systems.

A facile, environment-friendly, versatile and reproducible approach to the successful oxidation of fullerenes (oxC) and the formation of highly hydrophilic fullerene derivatives is introduced. This synthesis relies on the widely known Staudenmaier's method for the oxidation of graphite, to produce both epoxy and hydroxy groups on the surface of fullerenes (C) and thereby improve the solubility of the fullerene in polar solvents (e.g.

Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Regulates the Oligodendrocyte Cytoskeleton during Myelination.

During differentiation, oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) extend a network of processes that make contact with axons and initiate myelination. Recent studies revealed that actin polymerization is required for initiation of myelination whereas actin depolymerization promotes myelin wrapping. Here, we used primary OPCs in culture isolated from neonatal rat cortices of both sexes and young male and female mice with oligodendrocyte-specific deletion of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) to demonstrate that mTOR regulates expression of specific cytoskeletal targets and actin reorganization in oligodendrocytes during developmental myelination.

Effects of secondary biological treatment plant effluent administration, as drinking water, to rats' urogenital system in relation to cadmium and lead accumulation.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the secondary biological treatment plant effluent administration on the kidneys, urinary bladder, and testis of Wistar rats in relation to lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation, since such an effluent is used for irrigation of edible plants. Male Wistar rats, randomly assigned into 5 groups, were treated with domestic sewage effluent (DSE) for 24 months. Cadmium and lead concentrations in the DSE, rats' tissues, and urine were estimated by means of atomic spectroscopy.

A new liquid-phase method and its comparison to two solid-phase microbial respiration activity methods to assess organic waste stability.

Goal of the work was to compare the respiration activities, as measured via oxygen consumption with three different organic waste stability methods so that to propose the optimal one. The novelty of the work is that there exists no comparison of solid-phase with liquid-phase stability assessment techniques in the literature. The respiration activities were assessed using two solid-phase methods and a manometric liquid-phase method (MANLIQ) performed on twenty-seven organic substrates.

Antitumor effects of the electromagnetic resonant frequencies derived from the H NMR spectrum of PhSn(Mercaptonicotinic)SnPh complex.

The aim of this article is to investigate the potential cytotoxic and antitumor effects of the resonant electromagnetic fields (rEMFs) derived from the H NMR spectrum of the PhSn(Mercaptonicotinic)SnPh complex (SnMNA). The ability of the complex's rEMFs to induce leiomyosarcoma (LMS) cell death and to recess tumor (leiomyosarcoma) development in Wistar rats was evaluated. The effects of the simultaneous administration of the SnMNA complex at extremely low concentrations and exposure to its rEMFs was also investigated.

Vanillylmandelic acid protects against reperfusion injury in an experimental animal model of myocardial infarction.

Vanillylmandelic acid, a catecholamine end-metabolite, has been shown to have several biological properties in previous studies, despite considered biologically inactive. We examined the potential effects of vanillylmandelic acid on the ischemic heart following myocardial infarction and reperfusion on a rat model. Thirty-four female Wistar rats were randomized into two groups, control and experimental.

Unpredictable Effects of the Genetic Background of Transgenic Lines in Physiological Quantitative Traits.

Physiology, fitness and disease phenotypes are complex traits exhibiting continuous variation in natural populations. To understand complex trait gene functions transgenic lines of undefined genetic background are often combined to assess quantitative phenotypes ignoring the impact of genetic polymorphisms. Here, we used inbred wild-type strains of the Genetics Reference Panel to assess the phenotypic variation of six physiological and fitness traits, namely, female fecundity, survival and intestinal mitosis upon oral infection, defecation rate and fecal pH upon oral infection, and terminal tracheal cell branching in hypoxia.

Curcumin Acts as a Chemosensitizer for Leiomyosarcoma Cells In Vitro But Fails to Mediate Antioxidant Enzyme Activity in Cisplatin-Induced Experimental Nephrotoxicity in Rats.

Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of various cancers. Although it represents an effective regimen, its application is accompanied by side effects to normal tissues, especially to the kidneys. Cisplatin generates free radicals and impairs the function of antioxidant enzymes.

Effect of ethanol, glycerol, glucose and tartaric acid on the viscosity of model aqueous solutions and wine samples.

Viscosity is a property that exerts great influence on the body of wines, since it affects the sensation of thickness in the mouth. The present study refers to the quantitative correlation of the major components of wine, alcohol, reduced sugar, glycerol and total acidity, in its viscosity. Various model aqueous solutions consisting of these components were prepared and viscosity was measured at 20 °C.

Loss of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex1 in Adult Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells Enhances Axon Remyelination and Increases Myelin Thickness after a Focal Demyelination.

Although the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is an essential regulator of developmental oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelination, oligodendrocyte-specific deletion of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a major upstream inhibitor of mTOR, surprisingly also leads to hypomyelination during CNS development. However, the function of TSC has not been studied in the context of remyelination. Here, we used the inducible Cre-lox system to study the function of TSC in the remyelination of a focal, lysolecithin-demyelinated lesion in adult male mice.

Modulation of cisplatin cytotoxic activity against leiomyosarcoma cells by epigallocatechin-3-gallate.

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect cisplatin in combination with epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on leiomyosarcoma cells (LMS cells) in order to identify a less toxic but equally effective alternative. Assays for cell proliferation, colony formation efficiency, induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were performed using the IC of cisplatin (8.6 μΜ) as a reference value and a concentration of EGCG (30 μΜ) that caused a non-significant reduction in cell proliferation.

Effect of air flowrate on the dynamic respiration activity of the raw organic fraction of municipal solid wastes.

Scope of this work was to study the effect of the aeration rate on the respiration activity of the fresh organic fraction of MSW and to compare the resulting dynamic respiration indices with those of MSW derived compost. Thus, a categorization of the dynamic respiration activity of MSW throughout a composting facility is provided. A simulated organic fraction of MSW was used as a substrate and four experimental runs were performed to achieve unit airflow rates (UAF) from around 6 to 30LairkgVSh.

Heterogeneity in oligodendroglia: Is it relevant to mouse models and human disease?

There are many lines of evidence indicating that oligodendrocyte progenitor cells and oligodendrocyte populations in the central nervous system (CNS) are heterogeneous based on their developmental origins as well as from morphological and molecular criteria. Whether these distinctions reflect functional heterogeneity is less clear and has been the subject of considerable debate. Recent findings, particularly from knockout mouse models, have provided new evidence for regional variations in myelination phenotypes, particularly between brain and spinal cord.

Monitoring the performances of a real scale municipal solid waste composting and a biodrying facility using respiration activity indices.

Objective of the work was to monitor two full-scale commingled municipal solid waste (MSW) mechanical and biological pretreatment (MBT) facilities in Greece, namely a biodrying and a composting facility. Monitoring data from a 1.5-year sampling period is presented, whilst microbial respiration indices were used to monitor the decomposition process and the stability status of the wastes in both facilities during the process.

Correlation of bioelectrical impedance analysis phase angle with changes in oxidative stress on end-stage renal disease patients, before, during, and after dialysis.

Chronic kidney disease is a condition that promotes oxidative stress. There are conflicting evidence about the role of hemodialysis on oxidative stress, that are mostly related with the various types of membrane materials used, the quality and type of dialysate, the method used, etc. The phase angle (PhA), which is determined with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), measures the functionality of cell membranes.