Plasma insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) and IGF-II/IGF-I ratio in a chilean case of Doege-Potter Syndrome.

Introduction: Doege-Potter syndrome is a rare clinical entity characterized by recurrent hypoglycemic events caused by non-pancreatic tumors secreting an incompletely processed high-molecular-weight form of Insulin-like Growth factor-II (IGF-II).

Aim: To report IGF-II and IGF-I circulating levels in a Chilean case of Doege-Potter syndrome and control individuals, and to identify the high-molecular-weight form of IGF-II.

Methods: We measured IGF-II and IGF-I plasma levels using enzyme-linked immunoassays (ELISA) in the patient and ten controls.

Role of topical and systemic immunosuppression in aqueous-deficient dry eye disease.

Immunosuppression in aqueous-deficient dry eye disease (ADDE) is required not only to improve the symptoms and signs but also to prevent further progression of the disease and its sight-threatening sequelae. This immunomodulation can be achieved through topical and/or systemic medications, and the choice of one drug over the other is determined by the underlying systemic disease. These immunosuppressive agents require a minimum of 6-8 weeks to achieve their beneficial effect, and during this time, the patient is usually placed on topical corticosteroids.

A Phase I Trial of SYK Inhibition with Fostamatinib in the Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

Despite the exciting advancement of novel therapies, chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) remains the most common cause of non-relapse mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT). Frontline treatment of cGVHD involves systemic steroids, which are associated with significant morbidities. We previously found that inhibition of spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK) with fostamatinib preferentially eradicated aberrantly activated B cells in both ex vivo studies of cGVHD patient B cells, as well as in vivo mouse studies.

Lipoprotein receptor SR-B1 deficiency enhances adipose tissue inflammation and reduces susceptibility to hepatic steatosis during diet-induced obesity in mice.

Scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1) is a membrane lipoprotein receptor/lipid transporter involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, but its role in obesity and fatty liver development is unclear. Here, we determined the effects of SR-B1 deficiency on plasma metabolic and inflammatory parameters as well as fat deposition in adipose tissue and liver during obesity. To induce obesity, we performed high-fat diet (HFD) exposure for 12 weeks in male SR-B1 knock-out (SR-B1, n = 14) and wild-type (WT, n = 12) mice.

Tyrosines involved in the activity of φ29 single-stranded DNA binding protein.

The genome of Bacillus subtilis phage ϕ29 consists of a linear double-stranded DNA with a terminal protein (TP) covalently linked to each 5' end (TP-DNA). ϕ29 DNA polymerase is the enzyme responsible for viral DNA replication, due to its distinctive properties: high processivity and strand displacement capacity, being able to replicate the entire genome without requiring the assistance of processivity or unwinding factors, unlike most replicases. ϕ29 single-stranded DNA binding protein (SSB) is encoded by the viral gene 5 and binds the ssDNA generated in the replication of the ϕ29 TP-DNA.

Oxygen Microbubble Generator Enabled by Tunable Catalytic Microtubes.

Rolled-up catalytic Ti/Cr/Pt microtubes, consisting of inorganic nanomembranes integrated on-chip, are used to generate oxygen microbubbles in solutions of hydrogen peroxide. Oxygen bubble parameters (frequency, radius and volumetric flow rate) are optimized at different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and common dish soap. Increasing the aspect ratio of the microtube (e.

Sex differences in memory and intracellular signaling after methamphetamine binge treatment.

Methamphetamine is a neurotoxic psychostimulant known to cause cell death and terminal degradation of dopaminergic neurons in the striatum concomitant with memory deficits. However, most of the research studies have not examined the influence of sex on these changes. In this study we compared the effects of a binge regimen of methamphetamine (four injections of 4 mg/kg) on male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) female Sprague-Dawley rats.

Structural Validity of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised Short Form: Application to Brooding and Reflection.

Research on social problem-solving ability or the cognitive-behavioral processes used to find successful solutions to everyday problems has been advanced by the availability of easy-to-administer self-report measures. The goal of the current study is twofold: (a) validate the factor structure of the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised: Short Form (SPSI-R:S) and (b) examine the relationship between depressive rumination subtypes and dimensions of social problem solving. An initial confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in Sample 1 revealed poor model fit.

Gugulipid causes hypercholesterolemia leading to endothelial dysfunction, increased atherosclerosis, and premature death by ischemic heart disease in male mice.

For proper cholesterol metabolism, normal expression and function of scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), a high-density lipoprotein (HDL) receptor, is required. Among the factors that regulate overall cholesterol homeostasis and HDL metabolism, the nuclear farnesoid X receptor plays an important role. Guggulsterone, a bioactive compound present in the natural product gugulipid, is an antagonist of this receptor.

[Nicotinic acid increases cellular transport of high density lipoprotein cholesterol in patients with hypoalphalipoproteinemia].

Background: Plasma high density lipoproteins (HDL) are involved in reverse cholesterol transport mediated by the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI). Nicotinic acid increases HDL cholesterol levels, even though its specific impact on SR-BI dependent-cellular cholesterol transport remains unknown.

Aim: To determine the effect of nicotinic acid on HDL particle functionality in cholesterol efflux and uptake mediated by SR-BI in cultured cells in hypoalphalipoproteinemic patients.

[ANTIOXIDANT DYSFUNCTIONALITY OF HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEINS (HDL) IN DECOMPENSATED DIABETIC PATIENTS].

Introduction: high density lipoproteins (HDL) have important cardiovascular protective effects mediated by their role in reverse cholesterol transport as well as other functional activities, including significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has been shown that HDL anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions are defective in metabolically stable diabetic patients; however they have not been evaluated during a hyperglycemic crisis.

Aim: to determine the antioxidant activity of HDL during a severe diabetic decompensation and to analyze whether this function is restored after resolution of the acute event.

HPV Awareness and Vaccine Willingness Among Dominican Immigrant Parents Attending a Federal Qualified Health Clinic in Puerto Rico.

The purpose of this study was to describe the socio-demographic characteristics, awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV), and willingness to vaccinate among a convenience sample of 60 immigrant Dominican parents of adolescent sons in a Federal Qualified Health Clinic in Puerto Rico. Participation involved completing a self-administered survey. Even though more than half of the parents had not received proper HPV vaccine orientation from healthcare provider (58.

Tuning of optical resonances in asymmetric microtube cavities.

We tune optical resonances in rolled-up SiO/SiO(2) microtube cavities by gradually modifying the tube structure through asymmetrical postdeposition of SiO(2). Spectral blueshifts followed by redshifts of the resonant modes are observed in a thin-walled microtube (tube-I), which is attributed to a competition between shape deformation and effective increase of tube wall thickness. In contrast, only a monotonic redshift is detected when asymmetrical deposition is performed on a thick-walled microtube (tube-II).

Apolipoprotein A-I deficiency does not affect biliary lipid secretion and gallstone formation in mice.

Background/aims: Apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) is the main protein component of plasma high-density lipoproteins (HDL) and a key determinant of HDL cholesterol levels and metabolism. The relevance of HDL in controlling the traffic of cholesterol from plasma into bile has been partially addressed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of apo A-I expression in controlling the secretion of biliary lipids as well as the risk of gallstone disease in vivo.

Normal hepatic cell surface localization of the high density lipoprotein receptor, scavenger receptor class B, type I, depends on all four PDZ domains of PDZK1.

PDZK1 is a four PDZ domain-containing scaffold protein that binds to scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI), the high density lipoprotein receptor, by its first PDZ domain (PDZ1). PDZK1 knock-out mice exhibit a >95% decrease in hepatic SR-BI protein and consequently an approximately 70% increase in plasma cholesterol in abnormally large high density lipoprotein particles. These defects are corrected by hepatic overexpression of full-length PDZK1 but not the PDZ1 domain alone, which partially restores SR-BI protein abundance but not cell surface expression or function.

Overexpression of the cholesterol-binding protein MLN64 induces liver damage in the mouse.

Aim: To examine the in vivo phenotype associated with hepatic metastatic lymph node 64 (MLN64) over-expression.

Methods: Recombinant-adenovirus-mediated MLN64 gene transfer was used to overexpress MLN64 in the livers of C57BL/6 mice. We measured the effects of MLN64 overexpression on hepatic cholesterol content, bile flow, biliary lipid secretion and apoptosis markers.

Adenovirus-mediated hepatic syndecan-1 overexpression induces hepatocyte proliferation and hyperlipidaemia in mice.

Background: Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) have been involved in the regulation of cell growth, apoptosis and lipid metabolism in vitro; however, their functional role in vivo remains unknown.

Aim: Here, we describe hepatic tissue and lipid metabolism changes after liver overexpression of syndecan-1 (SDC-1), the main hepatic HSPG, in mice induced by adenoviral gene transfer.

Results: SDC-1 overexpression was associated with marked hepatocyte proliferation, cell-isolated apoptosis and increased plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels.

PDZK1 is required for maintaining hepatic scavenger receptor, class B, type I (SR-BI) steady state levels but not its surface localization or function.

PDZK1 is a multi-PDZ domain-containing adaptor protein that binds to the C terminus of the high density lipoprotein receptor, scavenger receptor, class B, type I (SR-BI), and controls the posttranscriptional, tissue-specific expression of this lipoprotein receptor. In the absence of PDZK1 (PDZK1(-/-) mice), murine hepatic SR-BI protein levels are very low (<5% of control). As a consequence, abnormal plasma lipoprotein metabolism ( approximately 1.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma is a novel target of the nerve growth factor signaling pathway in PC12 cells.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is subject to considerable interest because of its role in adipocyte differentiation, metabolic control, and anti-inflammatory action. PPARgamma research in brain cells is presently focused on glial PPARgamma because of its potential as a pharmacological target in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases with an inflammatory component. In neurons PPARgamma function is far from clear, and PPARgamma agonist-dependent and -independent effects on cell survival or differentiation have been reported.

Relevance of Niemann-Pick type C1 protein expression in controlling plasma cholesterol and biliary lipid secretion in mice.

Receptor-mediated endocytosis is one of the major mechanisms for uptake of lipoprotein cholesterol in the liver. Because Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1) protein is a key component in the intracellular distribution of cholesterol obtained from lipoproteins by the endocytic pathway, it may play a critical role in controlling plasma lipoprotein cholesterol and its biliary secretion. A murine model of Niemann-Pick type C disease (NPC), the NPC1-deficient [NPC1 (-/-)] mouse, was used to evaluate the relevance of hepatic NPC1 expression in regulating plasma lipoprotein cholesterol profile and biliary lipid secretion under chow and high-cholesterol diets.

Alpha-tocopherol metabolism is abnormal in scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI)-deficient mice.

Despite the physiologic importance of vitamin E, in particular its alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T) isoform, the molecular mechanisms involved in the cellular uptake of this antioxidant from plasma lipoproteins have not been well-defined. Recent studies have suggested that selective lipid uptake, rather than endocytosis, is important for alpha-T delivery to cells. Here we show that the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), which mediates cellular selective cholesteryl ester uptake from lipoproteins, facilitates efficient transfer of alpha-T from HDL to cultured cells.