Inhibiting Fibroblast Mechanotransduction Modulates Severity of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease that affects 63 in every 100,000 Americans. Its etiology remains unknown, although inflammatory pathways appear to be important. Given the dynamic environment of the lung, we examined the significance of mechanotransduction on both inflammatory and fibrotic signaling during IPF.

Polyethylene Components in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Comprehensive Overview of Fixed Bearing Design Options.

The articular design of a polyethylene insert influences the kinematics and overall function of a total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Standard symmetric posterior-stabilized and cruciate-retaining polyethylene designs have a long track record of high patient satisfaction and longevity in TKA. However, the number and variety of polyethylene inserts and articulations have continued to evolve in an attempt to better replicate native knee kinematics or provide additional constraint.

Overexpression of ATP sulfurylase improves the sulfur amino acid content, enhances the accumulation of Bowman-Birk protease inhibitor and suppresses the accumulation of the β-subunit of β-conglycinin in soybean seeds.

ATP sulfurylase, an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of sulfate to adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (APS), plays a significant role in controlling sulfur metabolism in plants. In this study, we have expressed soybean plastid ATP sulfurylase isoform 1 in transgenic soybean without its transit peptide under the control of the 35S CaMV promoter. Subcellular fractionation and immunoblot analysis revealed that ATP sulfurylase isoform 1 was predominantly expressed in the cell cytoplasm.

Mechanical, structural, and dynamical modifications of cholesterol exposed porcine aortic elastin.

Elastin is a protein of the extracellular matrix that contributes significantly to the elasticity of connective tissues. In this study, we examine dynamical and structural modifications of aortic elastin exposed to cholesterol by NMR spectroscopic and relaxation methodologies. Macroscopic measurements are also presented and reveal that cholesterol treatment may cause a decrease in the stiffness of tissue.

Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257 releases a 22-kDa outer membrane protein (Omp22) to the extracellular milieu when grown in calcium-limiting conditions.

Calcium, which regulates a wide variety of cellular functions, plays an important role in Rhizobium-legume interactions. We investigated the effect of calcium on surface appendages of Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257. Cold-field emission scanning electron microscopy observation of USDA257 grown in calcium-limiting conditions revealed cells with unusual shape and size.

Citrate synthase mutants of Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257 form ineffective nodules with aberrant ultrastructure.

The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle plays an important role in generating the energy required by bacteroids to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Citrate synthase is the first enzyme that controls the entry of carbon into the TCA cycle. We cloned and determined the nucleotide sequence of the gltA gene that encodes citrate synthase in Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257, a symbiont of soybeans (Glycine max [L.