First detection of feline hemoplasmas in free-ranging jaguars (Panthera onca).

Species of hemoplasmas have been described worldwide, but little information is available for wild felids. Between February 2000 and January 2010, blood samples were collected from 30 jaguars (Panthera onca) and 22 domestic cats (Felis catus) from the Cerrado, Pantanal and Amazon biomes of Brazil. In all samples molecular tests were performed for Mycoplasma haemofelis/Mycoplasma haemocanis (Mhf/Mhc), 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum' (CMhm) and 'Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis' (CMt).

Interleukin (IL)-23 Stimulates IFN-γ Secretion by CD56 Natural Killer Cells and Enhances IL-18-Driven Dendritic Cells Activation.

Interleukin (IL)-23 is a member of the IL-12 family of cytokines that, as the other members of this family, is secreted by monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DC) upon recognition of bacterial, viral, and fungal components. IL-23 is critical during immunity against acute infections, and it is also involved in the development of autoimmune diseases. Although immunoregulatory effects of IL-23 on mouse natural killer (NK) cells have been described, the effect of IL-23 on human NK cells remains ill-defined.

Evidence for encephalopsin immunoreactivity in interneurones and striosomes of the monkey striatum.

In this study, we examined the cellular distribution of encephalopsin (opsin 3; OPN3) expression in the striatum of non-human primates. In addition, because of our long standing interest in Parkinson's disease and neuroprotection, we examined whether parkinsonian (MPTP; 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine) insult and/or photobiomodulation (670 nm) had any impact on encephalopsin expression in this key area of the basal ganglia. Striatal sections of control naïve monkeys, together with those that were either MPTP- and/or photobiomodulation-treated were processed for immunohistochemistry.

Therapeutic effect of Lipoxin A in malaria-induced acute lung injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) models are characterized by neutrophil accumulation, tissue damage, alteration of the alveolar capillary membrane, and physiological dysfunction. Lipoxin A  (LXA ) is an anti-inflammatory eicosanoid that was demonstrated to attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced ALI. Experimental models of severe malaria can be associated with lung injury.

DNA Methylation in Stroke. Update of Latest Advances.

Epigenetic modifications are hereditable and modifiable factors that do not alter the DNA sequence. These epigenetic factors include DNA methylation, acetylation of histones and non-coding RNAs. Epigenetic factors have mainly been associated with cancer but also with other diseases and conditions such as diabetes or obesity.

Children's Representations of Attachment and Positive Teacher-Child Relationships.

This study was designed to explore whether children's representations of attachment contribute to the co-construction of positive teacher-child relationships. An assessment of verbal intelligence was included as a predictor on the assumption that teachers might perceive themselves as having better relationships with more verbally competent children. Participants were 52 children from two pre-schools, in the district of Lisbon.

Human M2 Macrophages Limit NK Cell Effector Functions through Secretion of TGF-β and Engagement of CD85j.

NK cells play important roles during immunosurveillance against tumors and viruses as they trigger cytotoxicity against susceptible cells and secrete proinflammatory cytokines such as IFN-γ. In addition, upon activation, macrophages can become proinflammatory (M1) or anti-inflammatory (M2) cells. Although the consequences of the cross-talk between M1 and NK cells are known, the outcome of the cross-talk between M2 and NK cells remains ill-defined.

A report on Lamiaceae-feeding Nepticulidae (Lepidoptera) from South America.

We provide a report on Nepticulidae feeding on Lamiaceae plants in South America and describe two new species from the Andes: Stigmella lamiacifoliae Remeikis & Stonis, sp. nov., feeding on Salvia palifolia in Colombia, and S.

The crossroads of breast cancer progression: insights into the modulation of major signaling pathways.

Cancer is the disease with highest public health impact in developed countries. Particularly, breast cancer has the highest incidence in women worldwide and the fifth highest mortality in the globe, imposing a significant social and economic burden to society. The disease has a complex heterogeneous etiology, being associated with several risk factors that range from lifestyle to age and family history.

Development and validation of new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in adults with overweight and obesity.

Background & Aims: Accurate predictive equations of resting energy expenditure (REE) are crucial in devising nutritional strategies to manage overweight/obesity, especially in countries where these are highly prevalent. REE is the most common measurement used to estimate energy requirements in the nutritional context; the most accurate method of measuring REE is indirect calorimetry (IC). However, this method is costly and often rarely feasible in many clinical settings.

High-throughput microarray for antimicrobial susceptibility testing.

We describe the development of a novel, high-throughput, nano-scale microarray platform for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). The platform allows to process 480 samples at 50 nL volume on a single chip, analyze by fluorescence read-out with an easy dunk-and-rinse step, and the ability to process multiple samples and chips simultaneously. We demonstrate the applicability of this chip for culturing community acquired methicillin resistant (CA-MRSA), and perform AST against clinical isolates of CA-MRSA.

Errata: Functional annotation of chemical libraries across diverse biological processes.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2436.

Errata: Functional annotation of chemical libraries across diverse biological processes.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.2436.

Understanding the Biology of Thermogenic Fat: Is Browning A New Approach to the Treatment of Obesity?

Obesity is characterized by an excess of white adipose tissue (WAT). Recent evidence has demonstrated that WAT can change its phenotype to a brown-like adipose tissue known as beige/brite adipose tissue. This transition is characterized by an increase in thermogenic capacity mediated by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1).

Inactivation of SPAK kinase reduces body weight gain in mice fed a high-fat diet by improving energy expenditure and insulin sensitivity.

The STE20/SPS1-related proline-alanine-rich protein kinase (SPAK) controls the activity of the electroneutral cation-chloride cotransporters (SLC12 family) and thus physiological processes such as modulation of cell volume, intracellular chloride concentration [Cl], and transepithelial salt transport. Modulation of SPAK kinase activity may have an impact on hypertension and obesity, as STK39, the gene encoding SPAK, has been suggested as a hypertension and obesity susceptibility gene. In fact, the absence of SPAK activity in mice in which the activating threonine in the T loop was substituted by alanine (SPAK-KI mice) is associated with decreased blood pressure; however its consequences in metabolism have not been explored.

Neuroprotective Surgical Strategies in Parkinson's Disease: Role of Preclinical Data.

Although there have been many pharmacological agents considered to be neuroprotective therapy in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, neurosurgical approaches aimed to neuroprotect or restore the degenerative nigrostriatal system have rarely been the focus of in depth reviews. Here, we explore the neuroprotective strategies involving invasive surgical approaches (NSI) using neurotoxic models 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA), which have led to clinical trials. We focus on several NSI approaches, namely deep brain stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus, glial neurotrophic derived factor (GDNF) administration and cell grafting methods.

Interpersonal barriers to recovery from borderline personality disorder: A qualitative analysis of patient perspectives.

Social-environmental factors have been found to be an integral part in the recovery process for individuals with psychiatric disabilities. There are few studies that have obtained patient perspectives of how their social and treatment environments help facilitate or impede the recovery process. The following study examined the self-reported interpersonal barriers to recovery among a sample of individuals (N = 31) with borderline personality disorder who were receiving dialectical behaviour therapy.

Systematic Review of Cysteine-Sparing NOTCH3 Missense Mutations in Patients with Clinical Suspicion of CADASIL.

CADASIL (cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy) is caused by mutations in the gene, affecting the number of cysteines in the extracellular domain of the receptor, causing protein misfolding and receptor aggregation. The pathogenic role of cysteine-sparing missense mutations in patients with typical clinical CADASIL syndrome is unknown. The aim of this article is to describe these mutations to clarify if any could be potentially pathogenic.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Neonates with Congenital Renal and Urological Anomalies and Pulmonary Hypoplasia: A Case Report and Review of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Registry.

 Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract constitute up to 30% of anomalies identified in the neonatal period. In utero oligohydramnios is often associated with pulmonary hypoplasia and respiratory failure in the neonate who may not be responsive to mechanical ventilation. Placement of these neonates on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remains controversial and is considered in most centers to be a relative contraindication.

Tumours with class 3 BRAF mutants are sensitive to the inhibition of activated RAS.

Approximately 200 BRAF mutant alleles have been identified in human tumours. Activating BRAF mutants cause feedback inhibition of GTP-bound RAS, are RAS-independent and signal either as active monomers (class 1) or constitutively active dimers (class 2). Here we characterize a third class of BRAF mutants-those that have impaired kinase activity or are kinase-dead.

Functional annotation of chemical libraries across diverse biological processes.

Chemical-genetic approaches offer the potential for unbiased functional annotation of chemical libraries. Mutations can alter the response of cells in the presence of a compound, revealing chemical-genetic interactions that can elucidate a compound's mode of action. We developed a highly parallel, unbiased yeast chemical-genetic screening system involving three key components.

Role of TRAF3 in neurological and cardiovascular diseases: an overview of recent studies.

Tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3) is a member of the TRAF adaptor protein family, which exerts different effects on the cell depending on the receptor to which it binds and the cell type in which it is expressed. TRAF3 is a major regulator of the innate immune response. To perform its functions properly, TRAF3 is transcriptionally and epigenetically regulated.

No evidence for toxicity after long-term photobiomodulation in normal non-human primates.

In this study, we explored the effects of a longer term application, up to 12 weeks, of photobiomodulation in normal, naïve macaque monkeys. Monkeys (n = 5) were implanted intracranially with an optical fibre device delivering photobiomodulation (red light, 670 nm) to a midline midbrain region. Animals were then aldehyde-fixed and their brains were processed for immunohistochemistry.

Chip, a Lab-on-a-Chip Platform of Mono- and Polymicrobial Biofilms for High-Throughput Downstream Applications.

Current techniques for the culture of microorganisms, and particularly of delicate microbial biofilms, are still mostly limited to low-density plates and manual labor and are not amenable to automation and true high-throughput (HT) applications. We have developed a novel fully automated platform for the formation of mono- and polymicrobial biofilms of , , and at the nanoscale level. The Chip is robotically printed, robustly handled, and scanned using a standard microarray reader.