Discovery of Biomarkers of a Recombinant Human Erythropoietin Administration to Thoroughbred Geldings by Label-Free Proteomics.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) continue to be a significant threat to the integrity of human and equine sports. Besides conventional direct testing, monitoring the biomarkers associated with the effects of ESAs may provide a complementary approach via indirect detection to enhance doping control. In this study, we applied label-free proteomics to discover plasma protein biomarkers in Thoroughbred geldings after administration with a long-acting form of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO), methoxy polyethylene glycol epoetin beta, Mircera.

On the temporal and behavioural consistency of pre-performance routines: an intra-individual analysis of elite basketball players' free throw shooting accuracy.

The effectiveness of pre-performance routines on skilled performance in a self-paced skill has yet to be verified. In this study, we examine the importance of temporal and behavioural consistency in these routines. The duration and specific pattern of behaviours exhibited before each free throw (n = 284) were observed during 14 National Basketball Association play-off games.

Lymphocyte regulation of neuropeptide gene expression after neuronal injury.

The neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP) are induced strongly in neurons after several types of injury, and exhibit neuroprotective actions in vitro and in vivo. It is thought that changes in expression of neuropeptides and other molecules in injured neurons are mediated by new factors produced in Schwann and immune cells at the injury site, a loss of target-derived factors, or a combination of mediators. To begin to determine the role of the inflammatory mediators, we investigated axotomy-induced changes in VIP and PACAP gene expression in the facial motor nucleus in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice, and in mice with targeted mutations in specific cytokine genes.

Validity of CO-oximetric determination of carboxyhaemoglobin in putrefying blood and body cavity fluid.

Most commercial CO-oximeters pose warning flags in their measured carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels when total haemoglobin (tHb) concentrations in the samples are below a certain threshold, typically about 3-4gdl. The warning flags acknowledge the fact that the haemoglobin levels are outside the ranges these instruments are designed (or validated) for. By using a parallel GC method and special sample treatment methods prior to CO-oximetric measurements, this study demonstrates that CO-oximeters could actually produce valid COHb results for samples with tHb as low as 1g/dl, and that the warning flags have no bearing to the accuracy and precision of the measurements.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide and sonic hedgehog interact to control cerebellar granule precursor cell proliferation.

Although positive and negative signals control neurogenesis in the embryo, factors regulating postnatal proliferation are less well characterized. In the vertebrate cerebellum, Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) is an efficacious mitogen for cerebellar granule neuron precursors (GNPs), and mutations activating the Shh pathway are linked to medulloblastoma, a tumor derived from GNPs. Although the mitogenic effects of Shh can be blocked by increasing cAMP or protein kinase A activity, the physiological factors antagonizing this stimulation are undefined.

Sample pre-treatment for CO-oximetric determination of carboxyhaemoglobin in putrefied blood and cavity fluid.

Blood or blood-containing cavity fluid samples recovered from decomposed bodies in suspected carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning cases often have low total haemoglobin (tHb) levels or contain significant amounts of oily droplets, methaemoglobin (MetHb) and sulphaemoglobin (SHb), all conditions which render the validity of the measurements of carboxyhaemoglobin (HbCO) by commercially available CO-oximeters doubtful. Two sample pre-treatment methods, namely, centrifugal evaporation and addition of a commercially available standard haemoglobin solution containing a known level of HbCO, were developed to render such putrefied samples amenable to analysis by CO-oximeters. The methods developed were validated with samples of various degrees of putrefaction and various HbCO levels.