A high-protein diet induces dissociation between plasma concentrations of growth hormone and ghrelin in wethers.

High-carbohydrate or high-fat diets have been demonstrated to change ghrelin concentrations in plasma; however, there remains a need to clarify the effects of dietary protein on the interaction between circulating GH and ghrelin concentrations in the ruminant. In this study, we investigated the postprandial changes in plasma concentrations of GH and ghrelin and their interactions when wethers were fed either a high-protein (HP; 40% CP) or a low-protein (LP; 10% CP) diet for 2 wk. The wethers were divided into 2 groups and fed once a day for 2 wk in a randomized crossover design.

Higher levels of ATGL are associated with exercise-induced enhancement of lipolysis in rat epididymal adipocytes.

Background: In adipose cells, adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) catalyzes the first step in adipocyte triacylglyceride hydrolysis, thereby regulating both basal and hormone-stimulated lipolysis. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism(s) underlying habitual exercise-induced adaptive modulation of ATGL in white adipocytes via alteration in transcription regulator and lipolytic cofactors.

Methodology/principal Results: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups a sedentary control group (CG) and a habitual exercise group (EG).

Association of common PAX9 variants with permanent tooth size variation in non-syndromic East Asian populations.

Studies on the heredity of dental characteristics in humans have indicated that the variance in many dental traits results from genetic variation. However, the genetic factors that influence commonly occurring dental variants are poorly understood. Paired domain box 9 (PAX9) codes a transcription factor that is important in tooth development.

Characterization of clinical study populations by race and ethnicity in biomedical literature.

Objective: The importance of race and ethnicity in biomedical research has long been a subject of debate, recently heightened by data revealed by the completion of the sequencing of the human genome and the mapping of human genetic variation. We aimed to determine whether and how the reporting of race has changed over the last three decades and how the practice may differ given study location, where the journal of publication is based, and decade of publication.

Design: We analyzed a sample of studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, and the Canadian Medical Association Journal from 1980 to 2009.

Conference Scene: Is personalized medicine ready for prime time?

This article provides a meeting report from the Duke Center for Personalized Medicine 2012 Symposium, which took place in Durham, NC, USA, on 29 March 2012. The event titled 'At the Interface of Clinical Research and Clinical Medicine', focused on many of the issues that arise as personalized medicine becomes integrated into clinical care. In particular, we summarize presentations on various topics: the future of genomic medicine, opportunities in pharmacogenomics and genetic testing; challenges in the clinical implementation of personalized medicine; systems medicine and biomedical informatics; the policy and education strategies for adopting personalized medicine; the common bond between comparative effectiveness and personalized medicine; and the value of personalized medicine.

Primary care physicians' knowledge of and experience with pharmacogenetic testing.

It is anticipated that as the range of drugs for which pharmacogenetic testing becomes available expands, primary care physicians (PCPs) will become major users of these tests. To assess their training, familiarity, and attitudes toward pharmacogenetic testing in order to identify barriers to uptake that may be addressed at this early stage of test use, we conducted a national survey of a sample of PCPs. Respondents were mostly white (79%), based primarily in community-based primary care (81%) and almost evenly divided between family medicine and internal medicine.

Dendritic cells conditioned with NK026680 prolong cardiac allograft survival in mice.

Background: Pharmacologically modulated dendritic cells (DCs) can potentially regulate alloimmune responses. We examined the characteristics of immunoregulatory DCs induced by a novel triazolopyrimidine derivative, NK026680, which has been previously shown to inhibit DC maturation.

Methods: DCs were generated from bone marrow progenitor cells from C57BL/6 (B6, H-2 haplotype) mice with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and interleukin (IL)-4.

Successful transplantation of rat hearts subjected to extended cold preservation with a novel preservation solution.

Since prolonged cold preservation of the heart deteriorates the outcome of heart transplantation, a more protective preservation solution is required. We therefore developed a new solution, named Dsol, and examined whether Dsol, in comparison to UW, could better inhibit myocardial injury resulting from prolonged cold preservation. Syngeneic heterotopic heart transplantation in Lewis rats was performed after cold preservation with UW or Dsol for 24 or 36 h.

A longitudinal study of postpartum depressive symptoms: multilevel growth curve analyses of emotion regulation strategies, breastfeeding self-efficacy, and social support.

Postpartum depression is a serious health issue affecting as many as 10-15 % of postpartum women. This longitudinal study aimed to explore how psychological variables such as cognitive emotion regulation strategies, breastfeeding self-efficacy (BSE), and dimensions of social support predicted postpartum depressive symptoms (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale). The data were collected with web-based survey questionnaires between May 2008 and December 2009, in a sample of 737 new mothers.

In vivo monitoring of liver damage using caspase-3 probe.

Real-time monitoring of cellular and organ conditions improves our understanding of various physiopathological phenomena. Such monitoring is expected to provide important alternatives for clinical diagnosis and therapy. We have sought to show physiopathological changes of organs as well as cells.

Preventive and improvement effects of exercise training and supplement intake in white adipose tissues on obesity and lifestyle-related diseases.

Recent increases in the number of obese individuals and individuals suffering from lifestyle-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, that accompany obesity have become a serious social problem. White adipose tissue (WAT) is more than a mere organ for storage of energy; it is also a highly active metabolic and endocrine organ that secretes physiologically active substances collectively known as adipokines, including tumor necrosis factor-α and adiponectin. Dysregulated expression of adipokines in WAT that is hypertrophied by obesity has been closely associated with the phenomenon of insulin resistance.

Survey of genetic counselors and clinical geneticists' use and attitudes toward pharmacogenetic testing.

Pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing aims to improve therapeutic outcomes through tailoring treatment based on a patient's genetic risk for non-response and/or an adverse event. Given their expertise, geneticists could facilitate the use of PGx testing; however, the preparedness and perceived role of the clinical genetics community is unclear. To assess the attitudes, preparedness, and perceived roles of geneticists in the delivery of PGx testing, we conducted a survey of 1500 randomly selected board-certified genetic counselors and clinical geneticists in the United States [response rate: 37.

Effect of genetic testing for risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus on health behaviors and outcomes: study rationale, development and design.

Background: Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent chronic condition globally that results in extensive morbidity, decreased quality of life, and increased health services utilization. Lifestyle changes can prevent the development of diabetes, but require patient engagement. Genetic risk testing might represent a new tool to increase patients' motivation for lifestyle changes.

Enhancing geneticists' perspectives of the public through community engagement.

Purpose: Given the rapid pace of genetic and genomic research and technology development, public engagement on scientific issues may be mutually beneficial to the research community and the general public. The public may benefit from a greater understanding of concepts and new applications, and researchers can build awareness of public knowledge, perceptions, and potential concerns about genomic research and applications.

Methods: We developed and piloted a public engagement program called Genome Diner to facilitate dialog between genetic/genomic researchers (n = 40) and middle school students (n = 76) and their parents (n = 83) from the local community.

Insurance coverage policies for personalized medicine.

Adoption of personalized medicine in practice has been slow, in part due to the lack of evidence of clinical benefit provided by these technologies. Coverage by insurers is a critical step in achieving widespread adoption of personalized medicine. Insurers consider a variety of factors when formulating medical coverage policies for personalized medicine, including the overall strength of evidence for a test, availability of clinical guidelines and health technology assessments by independent organizations.

A qualitative study of depressive symptoms and well-being among first-time mothers.

Background And Aim: Ten to 15% of women experience postpartum depression. First-time mothers are particularly at risk. The present qualitative study aimed to gain insight in terms of why some women find the transition of becoming a mother to be so emotionally taxing that they feel some level of depressed mood, while others feel mostly content after having a baby.

Public perspectives about pharmacogenetic testing and managing ancillary findings.

Aims: Pharmacogenetic (PGx) tests are intended to improve therapeutic outcomes through predicting a patient's likelihood to respond to or experience an adverse effect from a specific treatment. In addition, PGx testing may also generate ancillary, or incidental, disease information unrelated to the purpose for which the test was ordered. To assess public attitudes toward PGx testing, ancillary disease risk information and related clinical issues, we conducted a series of focus groups.

NK026680 inhibits T-cell function in an IL-2-dependent manner and prolongs cardiac allograft survival in rats.

NK026680 is a triazolopyrimidine derivative that has been shown to inhibit dendritic cell maturation and activation. Here, we examined the immunosuppressive properties of NK026680 on T-cell function and assessed its immunosuppressive efficacy in an ACI (RT1(av1) haplotype) to Lewis (RT1(l)) rat heart transplantation model. The effects of NK026680 on T-cell proliferation, activation, and cytokine production were investigated in vitro.

[A case of primary T-cell central nervous system lymphoma (T-PCNSL) relevant to HTLV-I].

Primary T-cell lymphoma of the central nervous system lymphoma (T-PCNSL) is an extremely rare tumor. A human T-cell lymphoma virus type I(HTLV-I) associated adult TCL often involves the CNS during its course but disease limited to the CNS is exceptional. We report a case of a 63-year-old male with a highly malignant TCL localized in the bilateral cerebral hemispheres.

Voluntary exercise attenuates obesity-associated inflammation through ghrelin expressed in macrophages.

Chronic low-level inflammation is associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, causing metabolic disturbances such as insulin resistance. Exercise training has been shown to decrease chronic low-level systemic inflammation in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating its beneficial effects are not fully understood.

Professional perspectives about pharmacogenetic testing and managing ancillary findings.

Aims: Pharmacogenetic (PGx) tests, intended to inform therapeutic decision making through prediction of patient likelihood to respond to or experience an adverse effect from a specific treatment, may also generate ancillary, or incidental, disease information unrelated to the purpose for which the test was ordered. To assess attitudes toward PGx testing, ancillary disease risk information, and related clinical issues, we conducted a series of focus groups among health professionals.

Results: Twenty-one primary care and genetics professionals from Durham, NC, were recruited to participate in three focus groups (two of primary care professionals [PCPs] and one of geneticists).

Practical ethics: establishing a pathway to benefit for complex pharmacogenomic tests.

Pharmacogenomic tests offer a promising strategy to improve the safety and efficacy of drug treatment. Compelling examples, such as HLA-B*5701 testing to identify patients at risk for abacavir-associated hypersensitivity, are already changing clinical care. However, the level of evidence required to establish clinical utility is often the subject of debate.

Consideration of patient preferences and challenges in storage and access of pharmacogenetic test results.

Purpose: Pharmacogenetic testing is one of the primary drivers of personalized medicine. The use of pharmacogenetic testing may provide a lifetime of benefits through tailoring drug dosing and selection of multiple medications to improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce adverse responses. We aimed to assess public interest and concerns regarding sharing and storage of pharmacogenetic test results that would facilitate the reuse of pharmacogenetic data across a lifetime of care.