Global feather orientations changed by electric current.

During chicken skin development, each feather bud exhibits its own polarity, but a population of buds organizes with a collective global orientation. We used embryonic dorsal skin, with buds aligned parallel to the rostral-caudal body axis, to explore whether exogenous electric fields affect feather polarity. Interestingly, brief exogenous current exposure prior to visible bud formation later altered bud orientations.

Calcium oscillations coordinate feather mesenchymal cell movement by SHH dependent modulation of gap junction networks.

Collective cell migration mediates multiple tissue morphogenesis processes. Yet how multi-dimensional mesenchymal cell movements are coordinated remains mostly unknown. Here we report that coordinated mesenchymal cell migration during chicken feather elongation is accompanied by dynamic changes of bioelectric currents.

The GCaMP-R Family of Genetically Encoded Ratiometric Calcium Indicators.

We report on GCaMP-Rs, a new family of genetically encoded ratiometric calcium indicators that extend the virtues of the GCaMP proteins to ratiometric measurements. We have engineered a tandem construct of calcium-dependent GCaMP and calcium-independent mCherry fluorescent proteins. The tandem design assures that the two proteins localize in the same cellular compartment(s) and facilitates pixelwise ratiometric measurements; however, Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the fluorophores reduces brightness of the sensor by up to half (depending on the GCaMP variant).

Stent patency using competing risk model in unresectable pancreatic cancers inserted with biliary self-expandable metallic stent.

Background And Aim: Biliary self-expandable metallic stents (SEMS) play an important role in the quality of life and palliative treatment in unresectable pancreatic cancer patients. We aimed to determine the factors affecting the patency of biliary SEMS and the survival in unresectable pancreatic cancer with obstructive jaundice.

Methods: Considering the competing risk and survival, we retrospectively evaluated the patency in 107 unresectable pancreatic cancer patients with obstructive jaundice who were successfully treated with biliary SEMS from January 2000 to April 2010.

Outcome of early initiation of peritoneal dialysis in patients with end-stage renal failure.

Recent studies reported that early initiation of hemodialysis may increase mortality. However, studies that assessed the influence of early initiation of peritoneal dialysis (PD) yielded controversial results. In the present study, we evaluated the prognosis of early initiation of PD on the various outcomes of end stage renal failure patients by using propensity-score matching methods.

Characteristics and functions of {alpha}-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate receptors expressed in mouse pancreatic {alpha}-cells.

Pancreatic islet cells use neurotransmitters such as l-glutamate to regulate hormone secretion. We determined which cell types in mouse pancreatic islets express ionotropic glutamate receptor channels (iGluRs) and describe the detailed biophysical properties and physiological roles of these receptors. Currents through iGluRs and the resulting membrane depolarization were measured with patch-clamp methods.

Cholesterol inhibits M-type K+ channels via protein kinase C-dependent phosphorylation in sympathetic neurons.

M-type (KCNQ) potassium channels play an important role in regulating the action potential firing in neurons. Here, we investigated the effect of cholesterol on M current in superior cervical ganglion (SCG) sympathetic neurons, using the patch clamp technique. M current was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by cholesterol loading with a methyl-beta-cyclodextrin-cholesterol complex.

C-terminal part of AgRP stimulates insulin secretion through calcium release in pancreatic beta Rin5mf cells.

Agouti-related protein (AgRP) is an orexigenic peptide which is composed of three parts; the amino (N)-terminus, the middle part, and the carboxyl (C)-terminus. AgRP has been implicated in various cell signaling, but the precise role of each parts are currently unclear. In this study, we have attempted to determine which part of AgRP was critical for insulin secretion.

Protective efficacy of vaccination with Neospora caninum multiple recombinant antigens against experimental Neospora caninum infection.

Protective efficacy of vaccination with Neospora caninum multiple recombinant antigens against N. caninum infection was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Two major immunodominant surface antigens (NcSAG1 and NcSRS2) and two dense granule proteins (NcDG1 and NcDG2) of N.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of iron-containing superoxide dismutase from Neospora caninum.

A gene encoding superoxide dismutase (SOD) from Neospora caninum, a causative agent of neosporosis, has been cloned and its gene product functionally expressed and characterized. The gene had an open reading frame of 606 bp and deduced 201 amino acids. Sequence analysis showed that the gene had conserved metal-binding residues and conserved amino acid residues that were found in Fe-SODs.

Expression of cysteine proteinase of Clonorchis sinensis and its use in serodiagnosis of clonorchiasis.

A gene encoding cysteine proteinase from Clonorchis sinensis has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The cysteine proteinase cDNA fragment was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction using degenerate oligonucleotide primers derived from conserved active site of cysteine proteinases. The 5' and 3' regions of the gene were amplified using rapid amplification of cDNA ends.

Degradation of immunoglobulins, protease inhibitors and interleukin-1 by a secretory proteinase of Acanthamoeba castellanii.

The effect of a secretory proteinase from the pathogenic amoebae Acanthamoeba castellanii on host's defense-oriented or regulatory proteins such as immunoglobulins, interleukin-1, and protease inhibitors was investigated. The enzyme was found to degrade secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), IgG, and IgM. It also degraded interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and IL-1 beta.