Incidence of alternative splicing associated with sex and opioid effects in the axon guidance pathway.

The alternative splicing of a gene results in distinct transcript isoforms that can result in proteins that differ in function. Alternative splicing processes are prevalent in the brain, have varying incidence across brain regions, and can present sexual dimorphism. Exposure to opiates and other substances of abuse can also alter the type and incidence of the splicing process and the relative abundance of the isoforms produced.

Immune and metabolic challenges induce changes in pain sensation and related pathways in the hypothalamus.

The hypothalamic molecular processes participate in the regulation of the neuro-immune-endocrine system, including hormone, metabolite, chemokine circulation, and corresponding physiological and behavioral responses. RNA-sequencing profiles were analyzed to understand the effect of juvenile immune and metabolic distress 100 days after virally elicited maternal immune activation during gestation in pigs. Over 1,300 genes exhibited significant additive or interacting effects of gestational immune activation, juvenile distress, and sex.

Prenatal and postnatal challenges affect the hypothalamic molecular pathways that regulate hormonal levels.

This study aimed to improve our understanding of how the hypothalamus mediates the effects of prenatal and postnatal challenges on behavior and sensitivity to stimuli. A pig model of virally initiated maternal immune activation (MIA) was used to investigate potential interactions of the prenatal challenge both with sex and with postnatal nursing withdrawal. The hypothalami of 72 females and males were profiled for the effects of MIA and nursing withdrawal using RNA-sequencing.

Genes Participating in the Ensheathment of Neurons Are Affected by Postnatal Stress and Maternal Immune Activation in the Pituitary Gland.

Immune challenges during gestation are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders and can interact with stress later in life. The pituitary gland participates in endocrine- and immune-related processes that influence development, growth, and reproduction and can modulate physiological and behavioral responses to challenges. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of stressors at different time points on the molecular mechanisms of the pituitary gland and detect sex differences.

Black Mothers in Racially Segregated Neighborhoods Embodying Structural Violence: PTSD and Depressive Symptoms on the South Side of Chicago.

This study employs multi-level and mixed-methods approaches to examine how structural violence affects the health of low-income, single Black mothers. We use multilevel regression models to examine how feeling "trapped" in racially segregated neighborhoods with high levels of violence on the South Side of Chicago affects mothers' (N = 69) reports of posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms. The relationship between feeling "trapped" and variations in expression of mRNA for the glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1 using microarray assays was also examined.

Limited Impacts of Cover Cropping on Soil N-Cycling Microbial Communities of Long-Term Corn Monocultures.

Cover cropping (CC) is a promising in-field practice to mitigate soil health degradation and nitrogen (N) losses from excessive N fertilization. Soil N-cycling microbial communities are the fundamental drivers of these processes, but how they respond to CC under field conditions is poorly documented for typical agricultural systems. Our objective was to investigate this relationship for a long-term (36 years) corn [ L.

Terpenoid Backbone Biosynthesis among Pig Hippocampal Pathways Impacted by Stressors.

Neurogenomic changes induced by maternal immune activation (MIA) during gestation and the social stress of weaning can alter brain plasticity in the hippocampus of offspring. The present study furthers the understanding of how these stressors impact hippocampus gene networks. The hippocampus transcriptome was profiled in pigs that were either exposed to MIA or not and were weaned or nursed.

Changes in Neuropeptide Prohormone Genes among Livestock and Wild Species Associated with Evolution and Domestication.

The impact of evolution and domestication processes on the sequences of neuropeptide prohormone genes that participate in cell-cell signaling influences multiple biological process that involve neuropeptide signaling. This information is important to understand the physiological differences between domesticated species such as cow, pig, and llama and wild species such as hippopotamus, giraffes, and whales. Systematic analysis of changes associated with evolutionary and domestication forces in neuropeptide prohormone protein sequences that are processed into neuropeptides was undertaken.

Adherence to -Defined Diet Quality Indices Throughout the Early Disease Course Is Associated With Survival in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors: An Application Involving Marginal Structural Models.

No studies, to date, have scrutinized the role of dietary patterns on prognosis following a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) diagnosis. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the associations between adherence to six defined diet quality indices (including AHEI-2010, aMED, DASH, and three low-carbohydrate indices) throughout the first 3 years of observation and all-cause and cancer-specific mortalities in 468 newly diagnosed HNSCC patients from the University of Michigan Head and Neck Specialized Program of Research Excellence (UM-SPORE). The dietary intake data were measured using a food frequency questionnaire administered at three annual time points commencing at study entry.

Effects of graded inclusion levels of raw garbanzo beans on apparent total tract digestibility, fecal quality, and fecal fermentative end-products and microbiota in extruded feline diets.

Garbanzo beans (GB; Cicer arietinum) are a readily available pulse crop that have gained popularity as a plant-based protein source in the pet food industry. However, raw GB contain anti-nutritional factors that can reduce digestibility and cause digestive upsets in pets that are undesirable to owners. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of the inclusion of raw or cooked GB in extruded feline diets on macronutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal tolerance, and fermentative end-products in cats.

The Combined Effect of Weaning Stress and Immune Activation during Pig Gestation on Serum Cytokine and Analyte Concentrations.

Weaning stress can elicit changes in the metabolic, hormone and immune systems of pigs and interact with prolonged disruptions stemming from maternal immune activation (MIA) during gestation. The present study advances the characterization of the combined effects of weaning stress and MIA on blood chemistry, immune and hormone indicators that inform on the health of pigs. Three-week-old female and male offspring of control gilts or gilts infected with the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus were allocated to weaned or nursed groups.

Impact of Weaning and Maternal Immune Activation on the Metabolism of Pigs.

Weaning wields environmental, social, and nutritional stresses that are detectable in the blood metabolite levels of the offspring. Prenatal stress in the form of maternal immune activation (MIA) in response to infection, which is associated with health and behavior disorders, also elicits prolonged changes in blood and brain cytokine and metabolite levels of the offspring. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of weaning and MIA on the offspring's liver function to advance the understanding of the impact of stressors on peripheral and central nervous systems, physiology, and health.

Soil Microbial Indicators within Rotations and Tillage Systems.

Recent advancements in agricultural metagenomics allow for characterizing microbial indicators of soil health brought on by changes in management decisions, which ultimately affect the soil environment. Field-scale studies investigating the microbial taxa from agricultural experiments are sparse, with none investigating the long-term effect of crop rotation and tillage on microbial indicator species. Therefore, our goal was to determine the effect of rotations (continuous corn, CCC; continuous soybean, SSS; and each phase of a corn-soybean rotation, Cs and Sc) and tillage (no-till, NT; and chisel tillage, T) on the soil microbial community composition following 20 years of management.

Grass as a Novel Functional Fiber Source in Extruded Feline Diets.

Although dietary fiber is not considered an essential nutrient in a complete and balanced diet for felines, it provides a substrate for fermentation by gut microbiota, thus promoting gastrointestinal health through the production of fermentative metabolites, as well as improving laxation. The aim of this research was to evaluate the novel fiber source, grass (), in comparison with traditional fiber sources and their effects on fecal quality, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), fecal fermentative end products, and microbiota of healthy adult cats. Four dietary treatments were evaluated, differing in dietary fiber source.

Use of Legumes and Yeast as Novel Dietary Protein Sources in Extruded Canine Diets.

The popularity of plant-based protein sources has increased as consumer demand for grain-free and novel protein sources increase. Minimal research has been conducted as regards to use of legumes and yeast and their effects on acceptability and digestibility in canine diets. The objective of this study was to evaluate macronutrient apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), gastrointestinal tolerance, and fermentative end-products in extruded, canine diets.

White and Red Sorghum as Primary Carbohydrate Sources in Extruded Diets of Felines.

The research objectives were to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of white () and red () sorghum grains on gastrointestinal health of felines through the determination of apparent total tract macronutrient digestibility (), fecal characteristics, fermentative end-products, and microbiota, compared with a traditional corn-based diet. We hypothesize that inclusion of RSH and WSH, respectively, would be well-accepted by cats, and the RSH and WSH diets would be comparable to corn when added as the main carbohydrate source in extruded diets. Three diets containing 30% corn, 30% WSH, or 30% RSH were formulated to meet or exceed the AAFCO (2018) nutrient profiles for cats during growth.