Metformin and 2-Deoxyglucose Collaboratively Suppress Human CD4 T Cell Effector Functions and Activation-Induced Metabolic Reprogramming.

Metabolic reprogramming plays a central role in T cell activation and differentiation, and the inhibition of key metabolic pathways in activated T cells represents a logical approach for the development of new therapeutic agents for treating autoimmune diseases. The widely prescribed antidiabetic drug metformin and the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) have been used to study the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis, respectively, in murine immune cells. Published studies have demonstrated that combination treatment with metformin and 2-DG was efficacious in dampening mouse T cell activation-induced effector processes, relative to treatments with either metformin or 2-DG alone.

Genome and Transcriptome Assembly of the Canadian Beaver ().

The Canadian beaver () is the largest indigenous rodent in North America. We report a draft annotated assembly of the beaver genome, the first for a large rodent and the first mammalian genome assembled directly from uncorrected and moderate coverage (< 30 ×) long reads generated by single-molecule sequencing. The genome size is 2.

Postoperative thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura following cardiovascular surgeries.

Among 47 patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), 8 patients were diagnosed to have postoperative-TTP. Two patients underwent vascular surgery, 5 patients coronary artery bypass grafts, and 1 patient resection of myocardial sarcoma. Prior to surgery, all patients except one had normal hemograms and platelet counts, and blood smears showed no schistocytes.

Effect of vasectomy on the ultrastructure of epididymal epithelium in rhesus monkey.

Ultrastructural changes in the epididymal epithelium and the fate of accumulating spermatozoa were examined in the vasectomized rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Accumulation of spermatozoa resulted in an increase in the diameter of the tubule and its lumen. Ultrastructure of principal cells revealed that they continue to perform both secretory and absorptive functions after vasectomy.

Ultrastructural changes in the principal cells of epididymis of adult rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) after castration and androgen replacement therapy.

The epididymal epithelium from adult castrated and androgen supplemented, castrated rhesus monkeys was examined with transmission electron microscope. Ninety days after bilateral castration the tubular diameter of all the regions of the epididymis, viz. the initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda portions of epididymis was reduced and was accompanied by a drop in cell size.

Effects of sodium deoxycholate on the mechanical and electrical activities and ultrastructure of guinea pig atria.

The mechanism of cardio-inhibitory effects of sodium deoxycholate (DOC) was investigated by studying its effects on the contractility, action potentials (APs) and ultrastructure of guinea pig atrial preparations. DOC (10(-7)-10(-4) M) caused reversible negative ino- (NIE) and chrono-tropy in spontaneously beating (SBA) and NIE in electrically driven left (EDA) atria. At higher doses (greater than or equal to 1.

Epididymal basal cells in rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta): ultrastructural changes after castration and androgen replacement therapy.

The ultrastructure of epididymal basal cells in adult castrated and castrate-androgen supplemented rhesus monkey was studied. Due to reduction in the height of the epithelium, three months after castration their number appeared to have increased. In the initial segment dark basal cells occupied more area in the epithelium and their cytoplasm showed the presence of large vacuoles.

Ultrastructure of the epididymal epithelium of rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

The regional fine structure of the epithelium lining the epididymis of the rhesus monkey has been investigated. Tall, prismatic principal cells constituted the major part of the epithelium. Their basal plasma lemma showed presence of caveolae and the luminal surface was studded with stereocilis.

Ultrastructural study of epidermal Langherhans cells in leprosy.

ATPase staining and ultrastructural study of skin biopsies from six patients of leprosy (2TT, 4LL) and three normal subjects was carried out to study Langherhans Cells (LC). ATPase staining showed normal counts of LCs in tuberculoid patients, while significant reduction was observed in lepromatous cases. Electron microscopy revealed morphological changes in LL cases in the form of dense matrix and indistinct cristae of mitochondria; decreased number of lysosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum; and numerous vacuoles in cytoplasm.

Ultrastructural changes in the neural lobe of the rat pituitary following nicotine pretreatment.

The effect of nicotine on the ultrastructural changes and hormone contents of the neural lobe of the pituitary were studied in the rat. Nicotine caused a significant release of both vasopressin and oxytocin from the neural lobe. The examination of the neural lobe with electron microscope reveals the nerve terminals depleted of neurosecretory granules.

Ultrastructural changes in rabbit testis and epididymis following vasectomy: a long term study.

The Ultrastructural changes in testis and epididymis were studied in rabbits following 18 months of bilateral vasectomy. No fine structural changes were observed in seminiferous tubules and all stages of spermatogenesis appeared normal in most of the sample studied. Intracellular spaces in the spermatogonia cytoplasm may denote ionic deficiency.

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of the ependyma of the fourth ventricle in the monkey brain.

The ependymal structure of the fourth ventricle floor of adult rhesus monkeys was investigated using both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Each half of the floor exhibited dense ciliation which decreased towards the median sulcus. The area postrema and the facial colliculus lacked cilia and were covered with non-ciliated ependymal cells.

The effect of estrogen on the tubal epithelium of immature ovariectomized rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

The effect of 3 doses of estradiol dipropionate (EDP) on tubal epithelium of immature ovariectomized rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) was studied under both light and electron microscopy. EDP at a dose of 5 microgram/kg/day for 6 consecutive days changed differentiation of the epithelial cells into clear and dark cell-types; ciliogenesis, formation of some ciliary buds and even a few cilia were also induced in some clear cells throughout the tubal epithelium. Development of ciliated cells with fully formed ciliary apparatus was accelerated at 10 microgram/kg dosage.

The effect of estrogen withdrawal upon the tubal epithelium of immature ovariectomized rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) pretreated with estradiol dipropionate.

Immature ovariectomized rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) were injected intramuscuarly with estradiol dipropionate (EDP) at a dose of 20 micrograms/kg/day for 6 consecutive days and were sacrificed at days 1, 3, 8, 13 and 25 following withdrawal of the hormone. The overall height of the epithelia of the infundibulum (Inf), Ampulla (A) and the isthmus (I) and the status of the ciliated and nonciliated cells therein were observed under both the light and electron microscope and those observed at days 3-25 were assessed against those found at day 1 (control values). The EDP effect on the above aspects did not change significantly at days 3 and 8 as compared to day 1.

Ventricular surface of rabbit hippocampus: a scanning electron microscope study.

Portions of the ependyma were obtained from the hippocampus of adult rabbits and processed for scanning electron microscopy. The major part of the ependymal surface was covered with a dense layer of cilia, some of these cilia showed bulbous preterminal enlargements. Irregularly arranged pits of variable diameter were also seen.

Differential response of the ampullary and isthmic cells to ovariectomy and estrogen treatment: an ultrastructural study.

Ultrastructural response of the ciliated and secretory cells from the ampullary and isthmic parts of the oviduct was studied in ovariectomized and ovariectomized plus estradiol dipropionate (EDP) treated rabbits. Ovariectomy did not significantly affect the cilia in the ampullary epithelium; degenerative signs, however, appeared overtly in the isthmic cilia. EDP at either 1 microng/kg or 5 microng/kg doses raised the number of cilia/cell in either tubal segments.