Analysis of adipose tissue lipid using mass spectrometry.

Mass spectrometry technology has enabled significant advances in detailing the alterations of the lipidome in response to pathological conditions or experimental manipulations. Lipids comprise a wide range of compounds with functions that include structural, intracellular signaling, trafficking, and storage. Characterization of lipid species has evolved significantly over recent years due to the progress made in the area of mass spectrometry.

Vitamin D Supplementation Suppresses Hypoxia-Stimulated Placental Cytokine Secretion, Hypertension and CD4 T Cell Stimulation in Response to Placental Ischemia.

Objective: To investigate a role of Vitamin D in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE), and to discern any potential benefits of Vitamin D supplementation on hypertension in the RUPP rat model of PE.

Study Design: Blood and placentas from normal pregnancies (NP) and PE were collected following elective cesarean delivery without evidence of infection. Circulating Vitamin D was extracted by HPLC and measured via mass spectrometry.

A surface-tethered spheroid model for functional evaluation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

In order to effectively treat obesity, it must be better understood at the cellular level with respect to metabolic state and environmental stress. However, current two-dimensional (2D) in vitro cell culture methods do not represent the in vivo adipose tissue appropriately due to the absence of complex architecture and cellular signaling. Conversely, 3D in vitro cultures have been reported to have optimal results mimicking the adipose tissue in vivo.

Robert Spurlin Waldrop (1912-2012).

Presents an obituary for Robert Spurlin Waldrop (1912-2012). After receiving a bachelor of arts degree at the University of Oklahoma in 1934 with a major in philosophy and a minor in psychology, Waldrop received a bachelor of divinity degree from the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago in 1937. He began graduate work in psychology at the University of Chicago (1937-1940), where he worked with L.

Virulence, transmission, and heterologous protection of four isolates of Haemophilus parasuis.

Haemophilus parasuis causes Glässer's disease, a syndrome of polyserositis, meningitis, and arthritis in swine. Previous studies with H. parasuis have revealed virulence disparity among isolates and inconsistent heterologous protection.

Effect of processing temperature on the morphology and drug-release characteristics of elastin-like polypeptide-collagen composite coatings.

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) exhibit an inverse phase transition temperature (Tt) in response to changes in their environment. We hypothesized that processing ELP-collagen composites at temperatures higher than the Tt of ELP (∼32 °C) will affect their microstructure and subsequently, achieve tunable release of model drugs. The composite coatings were prepared by formation of ELP-collagen hydrogels at 37 °C, incubation at 37, 45, or 55 °C, and finally air-drying at 37 °C.

20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid inhibition attenuates balloon injury-induced neointima formation and vascular remodeling in rat carotid arteries.

20-Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) contributes to the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro, but there are few studies that address its effects on vascular remodeling in vivo. The present study determined whether inhibition of 20-HETE production attenuates intimal hyperplasia (IH) and vascular remodeling after balloon injury (BI). Sprague Dawley rats underwent BI of the common carotid artery and were treated with vehicle, 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT, 50 mg/kg i.

Construction and immunogenicity evaluation of an epitope-based antigen against swine influenza A virus using Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin B subunit as a carrier-adjuvant.

Influenza A virus causes a highly contagious respiratory disease in a variety of avian and mammalian hosts, including humans and pigs. The primary means for preventing influenza epidemics is vaccination. Epitope-based vaccine represents a new approach to achieve protective immunity.

The history of the Division of Psychologists in Public Service (1946-2006).

The 60-year history of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division of Psychologists in Public Service (Division 18) is described. Included are relevant events in the history of the APA that led to the establishment of the division and later events within the APA that influenced the development and activities of the division.

Genomic sequence and virulence comparison of four Type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus strains.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a ubiquitous and costly virus that exhibits substantial sequence and virulence disparity among diverse isolates. In this study, we compared the whole genomic sequence and virulence of 4 Type 2 PRRSV isolates. Among the 4 isolates, SDSU73, MN184, and NADC30 were all clearly more virulent than NADC31, and among the 3 more virulent isolates, there were subtle differences based on viral replication, lung lesions, lymphadenopathy, febrile response, decreased weight gains, and cytokine responses in the lung.

Patient care by VA psychologists in the 1950s and 1960s.

In 1946, the Veterans Administration, now the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), underwent extensive organizational and professional changes to accommodate the health care needs of veterans returning from World War Two. In addition to an introduction and brief history of these changes, three psychologists who began their careers in the VA in the first years after that reorganization discuss their patient care experiences, both as trainees and as staff psychologists.

Mass spectrometric detection of CYP450 adducts following oxidative desulfuration of methyl parathion.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated desulfuration of methyl parathion results in mechanism-based inhibition of the enzyme. Although previous data suggest that reactive sulfur is released and binds to the apoprotein, the identities of neither the adduct(s) nor the affected amino acid(s) have been clearly determined. In this study, nanospray tandem mass spectroscopy was used to analyze peptide digests of CYP resolved by SDS-PAGE from liver microsomes of male rats following incubation in the absence or presence of methyl parathion.

Postmenopausal hypertension: role of 20-HETE.

Blood pressure (BP) increases after menopause. However, the mechanisms responsible have not been elucidated. In this study we tested the hypothesis that 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (20-HETE), produced by cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) ω-hydroxylase, contributes to the hypertension in a model of postmenopausal hypertension, aged female spontaneously hypertensive rats (PMR).

Cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression profiles in tracheobronchial lymph nodes from pigs singularly infected or coinfected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHYO).

The objective of this study was to determine cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression profiles in tracheobronchial lymph nodes from pigs singularly infected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (MHYO), or coinfected with both. Twenty-eight pigs were randomly assigned to one of four groups: (1) negative controls (NEG), (2) inoculated with MHYO (IMHYO), (3) inoculated with MHYO and PCV2 (CoI), and (4) inoculated with PCV2 (IPCV2). MHYO infection significantly (P<0.

mu-Opioid receptor knockout mice are insensitive to methamphetamine-induced behavioral sensitization.

Repeated administration of psychostimulants to rodents can lead to behavioral sensitization. Previous studies, using nonspecific opioid receptor (OR) antagonists, revealed that ORs were involved in modulation of behavioral sensitization to methamphetamine (METH). However, the contribution of OR subtypes remains unclear.

Determination of derivatized urea in exhaled breath condensate by LC-MS.

Elevation in one or more compounds in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been reported to be related to one or another lung disease. The increased concentration might be caused by increased chemicals in the airway surface liquid. However, it might also be due to an increased delivery of liquid samples into the airstream.

The evaluation of macrophages following bacterial or cytokine challenge.

Phosphatidic acid (PA) has been shown to be involved in several pathophysiological processes, including cellular signaling and inflammation. The present study was conducted to evaluate the viability of RAW264.7 macrophages following treatment with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or TNFa.

Simple febrile seizures: are the AAP guidelines regarding lumbar puncture being followed?

Background: In 1996, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a practice parameter recommending that lumbar puncture (LP) be strongly considered in infants younger than 12 months presenting with a first febrile seizure.

Objective: We sought: (1) to determine if the recommendations of the AAP are being followed by pediatric emergency medicine-trained physicians at our institution; (2) to describe the rate of meningitis among patients with febrile seizure who underwent LP; and (3) to determine if there were differences in performance of LP if children were younger or pretreated with antibiotics.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients aged 6 to 12 months presenting with first simple febrile seizure to the emergency department (ED) at Miami Children's Hospital was conducted between January 2001 and November 2005.

Use of an experimental model to test the efficacy of planned exposure to live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus.

The objectives of this study were to test the efficacy and safety of planned exposure to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) in protecting naïve and previously exposed pigs against PRRSV challenge and to gain information on the dose of PRRSV necessary to induce a protective immune response. Fifty 2-week-old pigs were randomly assigned to one of five groups: a group exposed to a low dose of autogenous PRRSV vaccine (the L-VAC group), a group exposed to a high dose of autogenous vaccine (the H-VAC group), a group exposed to a low dose of a heterologous PRRSV strain (strain SDSU73) prior to planned exposure (the SDSU73-L-VAC group), a group exposed to a high dose of a heterologous PRRSV strain (strain SDSU73) prior to planned exposure (the SDSU73-H-VAC group), and a control group. All groups were challenged with PRRSV VR2385 5 weeks after the planned exposure.

Epidemiologic assessment of porcine circovirus type 2 coinfection with other pathogens in swine.

Objective: To identify important pathogens and characterize their serologic and pathologic effects in porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2)-infected pigs in relation to pig age and type of swine production system.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Animals: 583 conventionally reared pigs.

Health management with reduced antibiotic use - the U.S. experience.

Since World War II the use of antimicrobial products associated with food animal production has increased. Antimicrobials along with evolving production practices have significantly increased throughput, animal welfare, and improved health. Concerns surrounding the growing significance of emerging and in some cases rapidly disseminating antibiotic (antimicrobial) resistant bacterial pathogens among human and livestock populations has stimulated a reassessment of this application.

The effects of IGF-1 on cellular phospholipids.

Signals are transduced across the cell membrane through a series of events that are triggered by the activation of receptors or opening of ion channels. It is evident that the stimulation of cells can elicit a series of catabolic cascades, which cause degradation of several membrane phospholipids. Several breakdown products participate directly in the intracellular signaling cascade.