Colorectal Tumors Require NUAK1 for Protection from Oxidative Stress.

Exploiting oxidative stress has recently emerged as a plausible strategy for treatment of human cancer, and antioxidant defenses are implicated in resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Targeted suppression of antioxidant defenses could thus broadly improve therapeutic outcomes. Here, we identify the AMPK-related kinase NUAK1 as a key component of the antioxidant stress response pathway and reveal a specific requirement for this role of NUAK1 in colorectal cancer.

Altered functional brain network connectivity and glutamate system function in transgenic mice expressing truncated Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia 1.

Considerable evidence implicates DISC1 as a susceptibility gene for multiple psychiatric diseases. DISC1 has been intensively studied at the molecular, cellular and behavioral level, but its role in regulating brain connectivity and brain network function remains unknown. Here, we utilize a set of complementary approaches to assess the functional brain network abnormalities present in mice expressing a truncated Disc1 gene (Disc1tr Hemi mice).

Dissociation of acute and chronic intermittent phencyclidine-induced performance deficits in the 5-choice serial reaction time task: influence of clozapine.

Background: Cognitive deficits are a core feature of schizophrenia that respond minimally to existing drugs. PCP is commonly used to model schizophrenia-like deficits preclinically although different dosing protocols may affect different domains. Here we characterise the acute, and chronic intermittent effects of PCP in the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT) in rats, and assess the effects of clozapine.

Modafinil reverses phencyclidine-induced deficits in cognitive flexibility, cerebral metabolism, and functional brain connectivity.

Objective: In the present study, we employ mathematical modeling (partial least squares regression, PLSR) to elucidate the functional connectivity signatures of discrete brain regions in order to identify the functional networks subserving PCP-induced disruption of distinct cognitive functions and their restoration by the procognitive drug modafinil.

Methods: We examine the functional connectivity signatures of discrete brain regions that show overt alterations in metabolism, as measured by semiquantitative 2-deoxyglucose autoradiography, in an animal model (subchronic phencyclidine [PCP] treatment), which shows cognitive inflexibility with relevance to the cognitive deficits seen in schizophrenia.

Results: We identify the specific components of functional connectivity that contribute to the rescue of this cognitive inflexibility and to the restoration of overt cerebral metabolism by modafinil.

Cystic echinococcosis in semi-nomadic pastoral communities in north-west China.

In order to determine the prevalence of human cystic echinococcosis (CE) in semi-nomadic traditional pastoralist groups in north-west China, 2 large community studies were undertaken in Altai and Tacheng Prefectures in 1990/91 and 1995/96, respectively. The Kekergash community (Altai) comprised mainly ethnic Kazakhs, whereas the Narenhebuke community (Tacheng) comprised mainly Mongolians. Populations were screened for CE by abdominal ultrasound scan (US) and serological tests.

Cloning, expression, and physical mapping of the 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene cluster (HSD3BP1-HSD3BP5) in human.

Seven members of the human 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) gene family (HGMW-approved symbols HSD3BP1-HSD3BP5) have been cloned and physically mapped. HSD3B1 and 2 express 3beta-HSD enzymes; HSD3Bpsi1-5 are unprocessed pseudogenes that are closely related to HSD3B1 and 2 but contain no corresponding open reading frames. mRNA is expressed from psi4 and psi5 in several tissues, but with altered splice sites that disrupt reading frames.

Expression and immunological characterisation of Echinococcus granulosus recombinant antigen B for IgG4 subclass detection in human cystic echinococcosis.

A 165bp DNA fragment derived from the 12 kDa subunit of Echinococcus granulosus antigen B (AgB), a major hydatid cyst fluid antigen was cloned in the pMa1-c2 expression vector. A 52 kDa maltose binding-AgB fusion protein (rAgB.MBP) was produced and inclusion bodies containing the fusion protein were solubilised in urea and affinity purified on an amylose-Sepharose 6B column.

Echinococcus granulosus antigen B and seroreactivity in natural ovine hydatidosis.

Hydatid cyst fluid from sheep and camels infected with Echinococcus granulosus, together with partially purified preparations of hydatid fluid antigen B and a recombinant antigen B product, were tested in an ELISA for their ability to detect IgG antibodies against E granulosus in the serum of naturally infected sheep. The antibody activity in sera from sheep naturally infected with Taenia hydatigena cysticercosis or Fasciola hepatica was also tested. All the antigen preparations from native hydatid cyst fluid were able to detect antibodies in the sera from a significant proportion of sheep with natural hydatid cyst infection, as identified by inspection at slaughter, although the seroreactivity was variable.

Some celebrities more apt than others.

With regard to Emily Biggins letter 'Football stars a welcome sight for health promotion', (Viewpoint Letters) I do get Emily's drift about the good celebrities can do in promoting health, but surely some are more fit for the job than others. I mean how healthy is a kung fu kick to the head?