Outcomes of developmental exposure to total particulate matter from cigarette smoke in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

The effects of prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke remain a subject of major interest, especially as it relates to neural development and adverse behavioral outcomes. Several studies have investigated the developmental toxicity of cigarette smoke components in a zebrafish model, showing that developmental exposure to total particulate matter (TPM; particulate phase of cigarette smoke) leads to adverse physiological aberrations and locomotor hyperactivity. Thus, the current study examines whether developmental TPM exposure of zebrafish embryos/larvae (F0) leads to physiological and behavioral alterations, and whether adverse effects are observed in adult fish and the next generation (F1; i.

Malignancy in the tracheal bronchus: A case series and review of the literature.

Background/aims: The tracheal bronchus is a rare congenital abnormality with incidence reported in a range of 0.1%-2%. Infrequently, malignancy has been reported as occurring in the tracheal bronchus.

Developmental Exposure to Low Concentrations of Organophosphate Flame Retardants Causes Life-Long Behavioral Alterations in Zebrafish.

As the older class of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are phased out of commercial use because of findings of neurotoxicity with developmental exposure, a newer class of flame retardants have been introduced, the organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs). Presently, little is known about the potential for developmental neurotoxicity or the behavioral consequences of OPFR exposure. Our aim was to characterize the life-long neurobehavioral effects of 4 widely used OPFRs using the zebrafish model.

Domain intelligible models.

Mining biological information from rich "-omics" datasets is facilitated by organizing features into groups that are related to a biological phenomenon or clinical outcome. For example, microorganisms can be grouped based on a phylogenetic tree that depicts their similarities regarding genetic or physical characteristics. Here, we describe algorithms that incorporate auxiliary information in terms of groups of predictors and the relationships between them into the metagenome learning task to build intelligible models.

Estrogens Promote Misfolded Proinsulin Degradation to Protect Insulin Production and Delay Diabetes.

Conjugated estrogens (CE) delay the onset of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in postmenopausal women, but the mechanism is unclear. In T2D, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) fails to promote proinsulin folding and, in failing to do so, promotes ER stress and β cell dysfunction. We show that CE prevent insulin-deficient diabetes in male and in female Akita mice using a model of misfolded proinsulin.

'Your DNA, Your Say': global survey gathering attitudes toward genomics: design, delivery and methods.

Our international study, 'Your DNA, Your Say', uses film and an online cross-sectional survey to gather public attitudes toward the donation, access and sharing of DNA information. We describe the methodological approach used to create an engaging and bespoke survey, suitable for translation into many different languages. We address some of the particular challenges in designing a survey on the subject of genomics.

Enhancing Thermoelectric Properties through Control of Nickel Interstitials and Phase Separation in Heusler/Half-Heusler TiNiSn Composites.

Thermoelectric devices, which allow direct conversion of heat into electrical energy, require materials with improved figures of merit ( z T ) in order to ensure widespread adoption. Several techniques have been proposed to increase the z T of known thermoelectric materials through the reduction of thermal conductivity, including heavy atom substitution, grain size reduction and inclusion of a semicoherent second phase. The goal in these approaches is to reduce thermal conductivity through phonon scattering without modifying the electronic properties.

Differential metabolic effects of oral butyrate treatment in lean versus metabolic syndrome subjects.

Background: Gut microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been associated with beneficial metabolic effects. However, the direct effect of oral butyrate on metabolic parameters in humans has never been studied. In this first in men pilot study, we thus treated both lean and metabolic syndrome male subjects with oral sodium butyrate and investigated the effect on metabolism.

Duodenal L cell density correlates with features of metabolic syndrome and plasma metabolites.

Background: Enteroendocrine cells are essential for the regulation of glucose metabolism, but it is unknown whether they are associated with clinical features of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and fasting plasma metabolites.

Objective: We aimed to identify fasting plasma metabolites that associate with duodenal L cell, K cell and delta cell densities in subjects with MetS with ranging levels of insulin resistance.

Research Design And Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated L, K and delta cell density in duodenal biopsies from treatment-naïve males with MetS using machine-learning methodology.

Genome Sequence, Assembly and Characterization of Two Strains Used as Biocontrol Agents of Postharvest Diseases.

The yeast was reported as an efficient biological control agent of postharvest diseases of fruits and vegetables, and it is the bases of the commercial formulated product "Shemer." Several mechanisms of action by which inhibits postharvest pathogens were suggested including iron-binding compounds, induction of defense signaling genes, production of fungal cell wall degrading enzymes and relatively high amounts of superoxide anions. We assembled the whole genome sequence of two strains of using PacBio and Illumina shotgun sequencing technologies.

Effect of Vegan Fecal Microbiota Transplantation on Carnitine- and Choline-Derived Trimethylamine-N-Oxide Production and Vascular Inflammation in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome.

Background: Intestinal microbiota have been found to be linked to cardiovascular disease via conversion of the dietary compounds choline and carnitine to the atherogenic metabolite TMAO (trimethylamine-N-oxide). Specifically, a vegan diet was associated with decreased plasma TMAO levels and nearly absent TMAO production on carnitine challenge.

Methods And Results: We performed a double-blind randomized controlled pilot study in which 20 male metabolic syndrome patients were randomized to single lean vegan-donor or autologous fecal microbiota transplantation.

Developmental exposure to an organophosphate flame retardant alters later behavioral responses to dopamine antagonism in zebrafish larvae.

Human exposure to organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) is widespread, including pregnant women and young children with whom developmental neurotoxic risk is a concern. Given similarities of OPFRs to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, research into the possible neurotoxic impacts of developmental OPFR exposure has been growing. Building upon research implicating exposure to OP pesticides in dopaminergic (DA) dysfunction, we exposed developing zebrafish to the OPFR tris(1,3-dichloroisopropyl) phosphate (TDCIPP), during the first 5 days following fertilization.

Rapid Microwave Preparation and Composition Tuning of the High-Performance Magnetocalorics (Mn,Fe)(P,Si).

Rapid preparation utilizing assisted microwave heating permits significantly shorter preparation times for magnetocaloric compounds in the (Mn,Fe)(P,Si) family, specifically samples of (Mn,Fe)PSi with starting compositions of δ = 0, 0.06, and 0.12.

Ketamine Differentially Attenuates Alcohol Intake in Male Versus Female Alcohol Preferring (P) Rats.

Background: Although various pharmacological tools in combating addiction to alcohol are available, their efficacy is limited. Hence, there is a critical need for development of more effective medications. Recent advances in the field have identified the glutamatergic system as a potential novel target for intervention in addictive behaviors.

Mutually augmenting interactions of dextromethorphan and sazetidine-A for reducing nicotine self-administration in rats.

A variety of nicotinic drug treatments have been found to decrease nicotine self-administration. However, interactions of drugs affecting different nicotinic receptor subtypes have not been much investigated. This study investigated the interactions between dextromethorphan, which blocks nicotinic α3β2 receptors as well as a variety of other receptors with sazetidine-A which is a potent and selective α4β2 nicotinic receptor partial agonist with desensitizing properties.

Stable, Heat-Conducting Phosphor Composites for High-Power Laser Lighting.

Solid-state lighting using laser diodes is an exciting new development that requires new phosphor geometries to handle the greater light fluxes involved. The greater flux from the source results in more conversion and therefore more conversion loss in the phosphor, which generates self-heating, surpassing the stability of current encapsulation strategies used for light-emitting diodes, usually based on silicones. Here, we present a rapid method using spark plasma sintering (SPS) for preparing ceramic phosphor composites of the canonical yellow-emitting phosphor Ce-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Ce:YAG) combined with a chemically compatible and thermally stable oxide, α-AlO.

Fecal Microbiome and Food Allergy in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study.

Background: Exposure to microbes may be important in the development of atopic disease. Atopic diseases have been associated with specific characteristics of the intestinal microbiome. The link between intestinal microbiota and food allergy has rarely been studied, and the gold standard for diagnosing food allergy (double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge [DBPCFC]) has seldom been used.

Clinical utility of ixekizumab in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Psoriasis vulgaris is a chronic, immune-mediated systemic disease that affectŝ7.5 million people in the US. It can be treated with many therapies, often in combination, which include topicals, phototherapy, oral systemics, and biologics.

Reversal of visceral hypersensitivity in rat by Menthacarin , a proprietary combination of essential oils from peppermint and caraway, coincides with mycobiome modulation.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder associated with altered gastrointestinal microflora and increased nociception to colonic distension. This visceral hypersensitivity can be reversed in our rat maternal separation model by fungicides. Menthacarin is a proprietary combination of essential oils from Mentha x piperita L.

Sub-anesthetic doses of ketamine attenuate nicotine self-administration in rats.

Smoking cessation strategies are of prime medical importance. Despite availability of various pharmacological agents in combating addiction to nicotine, more effective medications are needed. Based on recent findings, the glutamatergic system in the brain may provide novel targets.

Distinct fecal and oral microbiota composition in human type 1 diabetes, an observational study.

Objective: Environmental factors driving the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) are still largely unknown. Both animal and human studies have shown an association between altered fecal microbiota composition, impaired production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and T1D onset. However, observational evidence on SCFA and fecal and oral microbiota in adults with longstanding T1D vs healthy controls (HC) is lacking.

Transcriptomic Response of Resistant (PI613981-) and Susceptible ("Royal Gala") Genotypes of Apple to Blue Mold () Infection.

from Central Asia is a progenitor of the modern domesticated apple ( × ). Several accessions of are highly resistant to the postharvest pathogen . A previous study identified the qM-.