Publications by authors named "Michael Connelly"

Article Synopsis
  • Corals serve as key models for studying invertebrate host-microbe interactions, but to truly understand these relationships, experimental methods are needed to manipulate coral-bacteria associations.
  • The study used antibiotics to alter the bacterial communities in two coral species, measuring their effects on coral health through photosynthetic efficiency of algal symbionts and oxygen consumption rates over 5 days.
  • Results showed that while antibiotics changed bacterial diversity and decreased oxygen consumption, they didn't harm the photosynthetic efficiency of symbionts but increased the expression of immunity and stress genes in corals, highlighting the importance of native bacteria for coral health and providing a foundation for future research.
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DHA canola, a genetically engineered (OECD Unique Identifier NS-B5ØØ27-4), has been developed as one of the first land-based production systems for omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), whose health benefits are well-established. Yet, the marine sources of these nutrients are under high pressures due to over-fishing and increasing demand. DHA canola is a plant-based source for these essential fatty acids that produces a high level of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

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  • Phagocytosis is a key defense mechanism in innate immunity where cells engulf and break down harmful particles, like antigens from damaged cells and pathogens.
  • In hexacorallians, such as corals and sea anemones, the specific phagocytic processes are not well understood, although certain immune cells called amoebocytes have been identified.
  • The study characterizes different types of phagocytic cells that can engulf various materials and shows how cellular changes affect this process, laying groundwork for better understanding hexacorallian immune systems.
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  • Cnidarians, like Nematostella vectensis and Pocillopora damicornis, are being studied as model organisms in cell and molecular biology, but creating successful cell cultures has been difficult due to issues with tissue dissociation and contamination.
  • This report outlines different methods tested for culturing primary cells from these species, discovering that physical dissociation works best for N. vectensis, while antibiotic-assisted methods are optimal for P. damicornis.
  • The study achieved an average cell viability of 12-13 days in cultures, demonstrating cell proliferation and maintaining a diverse mix of cell types, contributing valuable tools for future research in Cnidaria cell biology.
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Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea can induce apoptosis in cancerous cells, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Using SPR and NMR, here we report a direct, μM interaction between EGCG and the tumor suppressor p53 (K = 1.6 ± 1.

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Article Synopsis
  • Sampling specific regions of the cnidarian Nematostella vectensis revealed unique bacterial communities, particularly a high presence of spirochetes in the capitulum.
  • In the capitulum, spirochetes from the family Spirochaetaceae made up 66% of the bacterial community, whereas their presence in other regions, like mesenteries and physa, was minimal (1.2% and 0.1%, respectively).
  • Phylogenetic analysis indicated that these spirochetes are closely related to those found in wild N. vectensis and belong to a recently described genus, Oceanispirochaeta, highlighting a significant but not fully understood relationship between the organism and its symbiotic bacteria
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Article Synopsis
  • The invertebrate innate immune system is complex, and studying the phylum Cnidaria (like corals and sea anemones) can help us understand its evolutionary origins.
  • Current knowledge of the Mpeg-1/P2 protein, crucial for defense against bacteria, is limited in cnidarians despite its significance in other species.
  • The article highlights the need for further research into the role of Mpeg-1/P2 in cnidarian immunity, showcasing its conservation and varying responses to environmental stressors like disease.
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Article Synopsis
  • Corals consist of a host organism and various microbes, and their immune system plays a crucial role in managing these interactions while also defending against pathogens.
  • Research on Pocillopora damicornis and Pocillopora acuta corals revealed that immune responses are influenced by coral genotype when exposed to lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which stimulate immune reactions.
  • The study found that while gene expression and immune factor activation varied among coral genotypes, exposure to LPS did not alter the bacteria communities associated with the corals, emphasizing the importance of coral genetics in understanding host-microbe relationships.
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Background: Administering isoflurane 2.5% into the oxygenator during cardiopulmonary bypass results in no patient movement. However, doing so may result in an excessive depth of anaesthesia particularly, when hypothermia is induced.

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Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD) is a serious complication related to the chronically elevated venous pressure and low cardiac output of this abnormal circulation. However, diagnostic markers for this condition are limited. We hypothesized that specific tests for fibrosis developed for other chronic liver diseases would identify a higher prevalence of FALD than ultrasound and standard laboratory tests and that identified abnormalities would correlate with time post-Fontan.

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Synthetic-heterodyne demodulation is a useful technique for dynamic displacement and velocity measurement using interferometric sensors as it can provide an output signal which is immune to interferometric drift. With the advent of cost effective, high-speed real-time signal processing systems and software, processing of the complex signals encountered in interferometry has become more feasible. In conventional synthetic-heterodyne demodulation schemes, to obtain the dynamic displacement or vibration of the object under test requires knowledge of the interferometer visibility and also the argument of two Bessel functions.

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Synthetic-heterodyne demodulation is a useful technique for dynamic displacement and velocity detection in interferometric sensors, as it can provide an output signal that is immune to interferometric drift. With the advent of cost-effective, high-speed real-time signal-processing systems and software, processing of the complex signals encountered in interferometry has become more feasible. In synthetic heterodyne, to obtain the actual dynamic displacement or vibration of the object under test requires knowledge of the interferometer visibility and also the argument of two Bessel functions.

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Double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is an uncommon congenital anomaly in which anomalous muscle bands divide the right ventricle into two chambers; a proximal high-pressure and distal low-pressure chamber. It may be associated with mid right ventricular obstruction. It is commonly associated with other congenital anomalies, most frequently perimembranous ventricular septal defect (PM-VSD).

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Background: Atrial function is an important contributor of ventricular function and has a prognostic role in various cardiovascular diseases. We tested the hypothesis that right and left atrial (RA & LA) function may not be equal despite their accommodating identical cardiac output.

Methods: Two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography was acquired from the apical four-chamber view in 100 normal subjects.

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Herein we report a 21 year-old woman with a previously documented patent ductus arteriosus and Eisenmenger physiology. She presented with increasing cyanosis and exercise intolerance which could be explained by a new finding of right to left shunting through an interatrial communication. She was started on Bosentan therapy aiming to reduce the pulmonary pressure with consideration for heart-lung transplantation should any further deterioration occur.

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McArdle's disease (glycogen storage disease type V) is a rare autosomal recessive metabolic myopathy due to myophosphorylase deficiency. It classically manifests by exercise intolerance, leg cramps, muscle pain and occasionally exercise induced myoglobinuria. The onset of exercise intolerance is typically in the second or third decades of life.

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Aneurysms of sinus of Valsalva are rare congenital or acquired cardiac anomalies. They most commonly involve the right or non-coronary sinuses. Herein we report a very rare case of a ruptured congenital right sinus of Valsalva aneurysm into the right ventricular outflow tract followed conservatively for at least 10 years without any events.

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