Impact of Airborne Exposure to PM Increases Susceptibility to Infection.

The effects of exposure to airborne particulate matter with a size of 10 μm or less (PM) on C57BL/6 mouse corneas, their response to (PA) infection, and the protective effects of SKQ1 were determined. C57BL/6 mouse corneas receiving PBS or SKQ1 were exposed to control (air) or PM for 2 weeks, infected, and the disease was documented by clinical score, PMN quantitation, bacterial plate count, RT-PCR and Western blot. PBS-treated, PM-exposed corneas did not differ at 1 day postinfection (dpi), but exhibited earlier (3 dpi) corneal thinning compared to controls.

Mechanisms of PM Disruption of the Nrf2 Pathway in Cornea.

We have previously shown that PM exposure causes oxidative stress and reduces Nrf2 protein levels, and SKQ1 pre-treatment protects against this damage in human corneal epithelial cells (HCE-2). The current study focuses on uncovering the mechanisms underlying acute PM toxicity and SKQ1-mediated protection. HCE-2 were pre-treated with SKQ1 and then exposed to 100 μg/mL PM.

PM and : effects on corneal epithelium.

Purpose: data indicate that mouse corneas exposed to PM showed early perforation and thinning after infection with . To understand the mechanisms underlying this finding, we tested the effects of PM and the mitochondria targeted anti-oxidant SKQ1 in immortalized human corneal epithelial cells (HCET) that were challenged with strain 19660.

Methods: Mouse corneas were infected with strain 19660 after a 2 week whole-body exposure to PM or control air and assessed by clinical scores, slit lamp photography and western blot.

Tricuspid Regurgitation in Congestive "End-Organ" Failure: Outline of an Opportunity.

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is a progressive disease that can be addressed only partially by medical therapy. Progression of TR is associated with worsening end-organ function and worse survival, yet tricuspid valve interventions are usually only performed in advanced stages. Recent evidence suggests a pivotal role for TR and pulsatile venous congestion in the pathophysiology of renal and hepatic dysfunction.

Comparative phylogenetic analysis of aquaporins provides insight into the gene family expansion and evolution in plants and their role in drought tolerant and susceptible chickpea cultivars.

Aquaporins (AQPs) are water channel proteins that play a significant role in drought stress. Although the AQPs identified in multiple plant species, there is no detailed evolutionary and comparative study of AQPs regarding chickpea plant. The current study involved evolutionary analyses coupled with promoter and expression analyses of chickpea AQPs (CaAQPs).

Controlling Aedes aegypti in Cryptic Environments with Manually Carried Ultra-Low Volume and Mist Blower Pesticide Applications.

Because Aedes aegypti , a vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses, exhibits resting and reproductive behaviors that present challenges to control them, pesticide application equipment available for vector control must be evaluated for their ability to control this species in a variety of cryptic environments. Five types of pesticide sprayers, representing 3 spray technologies (1 mister, 2 ultra-low volume [ULV] cold foggers, and 2 ULV thermal foggers), were evaluated for their ability to control adult and immature stages of Ae. aegypti in indoor and outdoor environments.

Field evaluation of commercial off-the-shelf spatial repellents against the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes Albopictus (Skuse), and the potential for use during deployment.

The Testing and Evaluation Department of the US Navy Entomology Center of Excellence (NECE), Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida, is dedicated to the evaluation of novel equipment and vector control techniques to provide guidance on effective protection measures against human pathogens transmitted by blood-feeding arthropods. Personal protective measures (PPM), to include repellents, are part of a series of techniques that contribute toward reducing human-vector contact for globally and domestically deployed military forces. However, improper PPM use and limited availability has created vulnerabilities, causing troops to purchase spatial repellent products that are not approved by the Department of Defense.

Homeobox genes d11-d13 and a13 control mouse autopod cortical bone and joint formation.

The molecular mechanisms that govern bone and joint formation are complex, involving an integrated network of signaling pathways and gene regulators. We investigated the role of Hox genes, which are known to specify individual segments of the skeleton, in the formation of autopod limb bones (i.e.