Impact of nicotine pathway downregulation on polyamine biosynthesis and leaf ripening in tobacco.

Traditional breeding and molecular approaches have been used to develop tobacco varieties with reduced nicotine and secondary alkaloid levels. However, available low-alkaloid tobacco varieties have impaired leaf quality likely due to the metabolic consequences of nicotine biosynthesis downregulation. Recently, we found evidence that the unbalanced crosstalk between nicotine and polyamine pathways is involved in impaired leaf ripening of a low-alkaloid (LA) Burley 21 line having a mutation at the and loci, key biosynthetic regulators of nicotine biosynthesis.

Evaluation of oral citrulline administration as a mitigation strategy for fescue toxicosis in sheep.

Gestating ewes consuming ergot alkaloids, from endophyte-infected (E+) tall fescue seed, suffer from intrauterine growth restriction and produce smaller lambs. Arginine (Arg) supplementation has been shown to increase birth weight and oral citrulline (Cit) administration is reported to increase arginine concentrations. Two experiments were conducted to: 1) evaluate if oral supplementation with Cit or water, to ewes consuming E+ fescue seed, increases lamb birth weight and 2) determine the effectiveness of Cit and citrulline:malate as an oral drench and elevating circulating levels of Cit to determine levels and dose frequency.

Genetic attenuation of alkaloids and nicotine content in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum).

The role of six alkaloid biosynthesis genes in the process of nicotine accumulation in tobacco was investigated. Downregulation of ornithine decarboxylase, arginine decarboxylase, and aspartate oxidase resulted in viable plants with a significantly lower nicotine content. Attenuation of nicotine accumulation in Nicotiana tabacum was addressed upon the application of RNAi technologies.

Polyamines delay leaf maturation in low-alkaloid tobacco varieties.

The development of low-alkaloid (LA) tobacco varieties is an important target in the tobacco breeding industry. However, LA Burley 21 plants, in which the and loci controlling nicotine biosynthesis are deleted, are characterized by impaired leaf maturation that leads to poor leaf quality before and after curing. Polyamines are involved in key developmental, physiological, and metabolic processes in plants, and act as anti-senescence and anti-ripening regulators.

Ergot alkaloid exposure during gestation alters. I. Maternal characteristics and placental development of pregnant ewes1.

Tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Scheyreb.) Darbysh] is the primary cool season forage grass in the Southeastern United States. Most tall fescue contains an endophytic fungus (Epichloë coenophiala) that produces ergot alkaloids and upon ingestion induces fescue toxicosis.

A Novel Method for Rapid Bedside Measurement of GFR.

Direct quantitative measurement of GFR (mGFR) remains a specialized task primarily performed in research settings. Multiple formulas for estimating GFR have been developed that use the readily available endogenous biomarkers creatinine and/or cystatin C. However, eGFR formulas have limitations, and an accurate mGFR is necessary in some clinical situations and for certain patient populations.

Downregulation of the CpSRP43 gene expression confers a truncated light-harvesting antenna (TLA) and enhances biomass and leaf-to-stem ratio in Nicotiana tabacum canopies.

Downregulation in the expression of the signal recognition particle 43 (SRP43) gene in tobacco conferred a truncated photosynthetic light-harvesting antenna (TLA property), and resulted in plants with a greater leaf-to-stem ratio, improved photosynthetic productivity and canopy biomass accumulation under high-density cultivation conditions. Evolution of sizable arrays of light-harvesting antennae in all photosynthetic systems confers a survival advantage for the organism in the wild, where sunlight is often the growth-limiting factor. In crop monocultures, however, this property is strongly counterproductive, when growth takes place under direct and excess sunlight.

Vasoactivity and Vasoconstriction Changes in Cattle Related to Time off Toxic Endophyte-Infected Tall Fescue.

Previous research has indicated that serotonergic and α-adrenergic receptors in peripheral vasculature are affected by exposure of cattle grazing toxic endophyte-infected (E+; Epichlöe coenophialia) tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum). The objective of this experiment was to determine the period of time necessary for the vascular effects of ergot alkaloids to subside. Two experiments were conducted to investigate changes in vascular contractile response and vasoconstriction over time relative to removal from an ergot alkaloid-containing E+ tall fescue pasture.

Safety and effectiveness of compassionate use of LARIAT® device for epicardial ligation of anatomically complex left atrial appendages.

Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage (LAA) ligation using an epicardial suture system (LARIAT®, SentreHEART, Palo Alto, CA) has been used in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) and contraindication to oral anticoagulation. However, complex LAA anatomy may preclude its use. We report the safety and effectiveness of compassionate use of first-generation LARIAT® device for epicardial ligation of large, complex left atrial appendages.

Acetobixan, an inhibitor of cellulose synthesis identified by microbial bioprospecting.

In plants, cellulose biosynthesis is an essential process for anisotropic growth and therefore is an ideal target for inhibition. Based on the documented utility of small-molecule inhibitors to dissect complex cellular processes we identified a cellulose biosynthesis inhibitor (CBI), named acetobixan, by bio-prospecting among compounds secreted by endophytic microorganisms. Acetobixan was identified using a drug-gene interaction screen to sift through hundreds of endophytic microbial secretions for one that caused synergistic reduction in root expansion of the leaky AtcesA6prc1-1 mutant.

Ergopeptines bromocriptine and ergovaline and the dopamine type-2 receptor inhibitor domperidone inhibit bovine equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1-like activity.

Neotyphodium coenophialum-infected tall fescue contains ergopeptines. Except for interactions with biogenic amine receptors (e.g.

Accuracy of in-office nerve conduction studies for median neuropathy: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: Carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common focal neuropathy. It is typically diagnosed clinically and confirmed by abnormal median nerve conduction across the wrist (median neuropathy [MN]). In-office nerve conduction testing devices facilitate performance of nerve conduction studies (NCS) and are used by hand surgeons in the evaluation of patients with upper extremity symptoms.

Development and validation of an LC-MS method for quantitation of ergot alkaloids in lateral saphenous vein tissue.

A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for simultaneous quantitation of seven ergot alkaloids (lysergic acid, ergonovine, ergovaline, ergocornine, ergotamine, ergocryptine, and ergocristine) in vascular tissue was developed and validated. Reverse-phase chromatography, coupled to an electrospray ionization source, was used to separate and ionize alkaloids. Singly protonated molecular ions for each alkaloid and methysergide (internal standard), were detected by single-ion monitoring (SIM).

A validated method for gas chromatographic analysis of gamma-aminobutyric acid in tall fescue herbage.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in animals that is also found in plants and has been associated with plant responses to stress. A simple and relatively rapid method of GABA separation and quantification was developed from a commercially available kit for serum amino acids (Phenomenex EZ:faast) and validated for tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Extraction in ethanol/water (80:20, v/v) at ambient temperature yielded detectable amounts of GABA.

Improved GC/MS method for quantitation of n-alkanes in plant and fecal material.

A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method for the quantitation of n-alkanes (carbon backbones ranging from 21 to 36 carbon atoms) in forage and fecal samples has been developed. Automated solid-liquid extraction using elevated temperature and pressure minimized extraction time to 30 min per sample as compared to more than 24 h for traditional GC-flame ionization detection methods that use saponification and liquid-liquid extraction. Extraction solvent requirements were also minimized to 10 mL per sample.

Procedural sedation in the community emergency department: initial results of the ProSCED registry.

Objectives: Procedural sedation and analgesia (PSA) has been well profiled in experimental studies in university emergency departments. Extrapolation of these practices into the community hospital setting is not well established. This report describes community hospital practices and outcomes in a multicenter PSA registry.

The scientific basis for advances in flexor tendon surgery.

During the last 40 years, there has been an enormous amount of basic scientific research designed to improve our knowledge of the structure of tendons, the biomechanics of their action, their biologic response to injury and repair, the mechanical characteristics of various tendon suture methods, and the effect of postrepair motion stress on tendon strength and healing. These investigative efforts have given rise to improved methods of tendon repair and protocols for the early application of passive and active wrist and digital motion as a means to more rapidly increase the strength and gliding of repaired tendons. The surgical techniques of hand surgeons and the rehabilitation protocols of hand therapists have improved enormously from these scientific efforts and the results of flexor tendon repair have become much more reliable.

Delayed treatment of flexor tendon injuries including grafting.

This article synthesizes an enormous amount of peer reviewed articles, book chapters, and anecdotal clinical information regarding the late management of flexor tendon injuries by free-tendon grafting, tenolysis, and staged reconstruction. Some of the most pertinent historical contributions to these subjects have been reviewed in concert with an update regarding the most widely used current clinical methods for performing these procedures. This article points out areas of controversy and references the dissenting opinions from those presented here.

Determination of methylglyoxal in ruminal fluid by high-performance liquid chromatography using fluorometric detection.

There is no reported method for the quantification of methylglyoxal in ruminal fluid. The method reported here is based on the conversion of methylglyoxal to 6-methylpterin, followed by quantification of the resulting pteridinic compound by fluormetric detection using liquid chromatography. Ruminal fluid was collected and preserved with 1 M HCl at -20 degrees C.

Efficacy trial of live, cold-adapted and inactivated influenza virus vaccines in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a VA cooperative study.

We assessed whether trivalent live, cold-adapted influenza virus (CAIV-T) vaccine provides added protection when co-administered with trivalent inactivated influenza virus vaccine (TVV) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Subjects (N=2215) were randomly assigned to receive either TVV intramuscularly (IM) and CAIV-T intranasally (TC), or TVV and placebo (TP). The vaccines were well-tolerated.

Flexor tendon repair and rehabilitation: state of the art in 2002.

Basic science and clinical investigation have advanced significantly the treatment and the outcome following intrasynovial flexor tendon repair and rehabilitation and reconstruction over the past 30 years. The application of modern multistrand suture repair techniques as well as postoperative rehabilitation protocols emphasizing the application of intrasynovial repair site excursion has led to a protocol for treatment of intrasynovial flexor tendon lacerations emphasizing a strong initial repair followed by the application of postoperative passive motion rehabilitation. Protocols for the reconstruction of failed initial treatment have likewise undergone modification given new findings on the biologic and clinical behavior of flexor tendon grafts.