A Comparison of Small Rodent Assemblages after a 20 Year Interval in the Alps.

Human-induced environmental alterations in the Alps may importantly affect small mammal species, but evidence in this sense is limited. We live-trapped small rodents in the Central-Eastern Italian Alps in three close-by habitat types (rocky scree, alpine grassland, and heath) at 2100 m a.s.

An Inverse Agonist Ligand of the PTH Receptor Partially Rescues Skeletal Defects in a Mouse Model of Jansen's Metaphyseal Chondrodysplasia.

Jansen's metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (JMC) is a rare disease of bone and mineral ion physiology that is caused by activating mutations in PTHR1. Ligand-independent signaling by the mutant receptors in cells of bone and kidney results in abnormal skeletal growth, excessive bone turnover, and chronic hypercalcemia and hyperphosphaturia. Clinical features further include short stature, limb deformities, nephrocalcinosis, and progressive losses in kidney function.

Loss of Intestinal Alkaline Phosphatase Leads to Distinct Chronic Changes in Bone Phenotype.

Background: The gut is becoming increasingly recognized as the source of various systemic diseases, and recently, it has been linked to bone metabolism via the so-called gut-bone axis. The microbiome and gut-derived mediators are thought to impact upon bone metabolism, and administration of probiotics has been shown to have beneficial effects in bone. The gut brush border enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) plays an important role in controlling calcium absorption, inhibiting lipopolysaccharides, and other inflammatory mediators responsible for endotoxemia and appears to preserve the normal gut microbiota.

Preclinical Efficacy and Safety Assessment of an Antibody-Drug Conjugate Targeting the c-RET Proto-Oncogene for Breast Carcinoma.

Purpose: The RET proto-oncogene has been implicated in breast cancer, and the studies herein describe the preclinical and safety assessment of an anti-RET antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) being developed for the treatment of breast cancer.

Experimental Design: RET protein expression was analyzed in breast tumor samples using tissue microarrays. The fully human anti-RET antibody (Y078) was conjugated to the DM1 and DM4 derivatives of the potent cytotoxic agent maytansine using thioether and disulfide linkers, respectively.

The RAV12 monoclonal antibody recognizes the N-linked glycotope RAAG12: expression in human normal and tumor tissues.

Context: RAAG12 is a primate-restricted N-linked carbohydrate antigen present on multiple membrane-associated proteins. RAAG12 is recognized by the RAV12 monoclonal antibody. RAV12 binds to RAAG12-expressing gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas, modifies growth factor-mediated signaling, induces oncotic cell death in vitro, and has antitumor activity toward gastrointestinal tumor xenografts.