Assessment of patients' baseline cystic fibrosis knowledge levels following translation and adaptation of the CF R.I.S.E translation program into Turkish.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have a limited life expectancy, but significant medical advances now highlight the need for successful transition programs from pediatric to adult care. The goal of this project was to introduce the transition program CF R.I.

Phosphorylation of mammalian cytosolic and mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase: insights into regulation.

Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) is a key enzyme in mammalian metabolic pathways in cytosolic and mitochondrial compartments. Regulation of MDH through phosphorylation remains an underexplored area. In this review we consolidate evidence supporting the potential role of phosphorylation in modulating the function of mammalian MDH.

Teaching and assessing undergraduate collaboration skills scaffolded through the biochemistry curriculum using collaboration rubrics and student learning contracts.

The Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at St. Mary's College of Maryland has scaffolded collaboration skills throughout the Biochemistry curriculum and developed several assessment tools to evaluate these skills. Biochemistry I and II have used team contracts at the beginning of extensive team projects where students identify their strengths, review expectations, and plan for group communication.

Assessing Shared Decision-Making in Cystic Fibrosis Care Using collaboRATE: A Cross-Sectional Study of 159 Programs.

There are numerous opportunities for shared decision-making (SDM) in cystic fibrosis (CF) care, yet little is known about patients' SDM experiences. This study evaluated SDM across 159 CF care programs (4024 participants) in the United States. Shared decision-making was assessed using the patient-reported RATE measure, which was included in the CF Foundation's Patient and Family Experience of Care Survey over 18 months.

Writing throughout the biochemistry curriculum: Synergistic inquiry-based writing projects for biochemistry students.

This article describes a synergistic two-semester writing sequence for biochemistry courses. In the first semester, students select a putative protein and are tasked with researching their protein largely through bioinformatics resources. In the second semester, students develop original ideas and present them in the form of a research grant proposal.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Bioactivity of the Photoisomerizable Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitor azo-Combretastatin A4.

Combretastatin A4 is a stilbenoid tubulin binding mitotic inhibitor whose conformation greatly influences its potency, making it an excellent candidate for adaptation as a photoactivatable tool. Herein we report a novel synthesis, the facile isomerization with commercial grade equipment, and biological activity of azo-combretastatin A4 in vitro and in human cancer cells. Photoisomerized azo-combretestatin A4 is at least 200-fold more potent in cellular culture, making it a promising phototherapeutic and biomedical research tool.

A national comparison of biochemistry and molecular biology capstone experiences.

Recognizing the increasingly integrative nature of the molecular life sciences, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) recommends that Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) programs develop curricula based on concepts, content, topics, and expected student outcomes, rather than courses. To that end, ASBMB conducted a series of regional workshops to build a BMB Concept Inventory containing validated assessment tools, based on foundational and discipline-specific knowledge and essential skills, for the community to use. A culminating activity, which integrates the educational experience, is often part of undergraduate molecular life science programs.

Functional compensation for adipose differentiation-related protein (ADFP) by Tip47 in an ADFP null embryonic cell line.

Ectopic accumulation of lipid droplets in non-adipose tissues correlates with the degree of insulin resistance in these tissues. Emerging evidence indicates that lipid droplets are specialized organelles that participate in lipid metabolism and intracellular trafficking. These properties are thought to derive from the lipid droplet-associated PAT protein family (perilipin, ADFP, and Tip47).

Role of adipose differentiation-related protein in lung surfactant production: a reassessment.

Based on data developed with the use of isolated lipid droplets from neonatal rat lung lipofibroblasts, we speculated previously that the droplet coat protein, adipose differentiation-related protein (ADFP), mediated the transfer of lipids into type 2 lung epithelial cells for the production of surfactant phospholipids. The present studies were designed to test the role of ADFP in this transfer with the use of ADFP-coated lipid droplets from CHO fibroblast cells and a cultured human lung epithelial cell line. We found no role for ADFP in the lipid transfer and conclude that a lipase associated with the lipid droplets hydrolyzes their core triacylglycerols, releasing fatty acids that are taken up by the epithelial cells.