Beta cell adaptation to pregnancy requires prolactin action on both beta and non-beta cells.

Pancreatic islets adapt to insulin resistance of pregnancy by up regulating β-cell mass and increasing insulin secretion. Previously, using a transgenic mouse with global, heterozygous deletion of prolactin receptor (Prlr), we found Prlr signaling is important for this adaptation. However, since Prlr is expressed in tissues outside of islets as well as within islets and prolactin signaling affects β-cell development, to understand β-cell-specific effect of prolactin signaling in pregnancy, we generated a transgenic mouse with an inducible conditional deletion of Prlr from β-cells.

HSP25 Vaccination Attenuates Atherogenesis via Upregulation of LDLR Expression, Lowering of PCSK9 Levels and Curbing of Inflammation.

[Figure: see text].

Modulating the optical and magnetic properties of geometrically frustrated ZnVO by the introduction of indium (nonmagnetic ions), iron, and chromium (magnetic ions).

The current study is aimed at understanding the effects of diluting the magnetic properties of a geometrically frustrated normal spinel, ZnV2O4, with the incorporation of nonmagnetic In3+ in place of V3+. Samples with the formula, ZnV2-xInxO4 (x = 0.00, 0.

Unlike estrogens that increase PCSK9 levels post-menopause HSP27 vaccination lowers cholesterol levels and atherogenesis due to divergent effects on PCSK9 and LDLR.

Aims: The estrogen-inducible protein Heat Shock Protein 27 (HSP27) as well as anti-HSP27 antibodies are elevated in healthy subjects compared to cardiovascular disease patients. Vaccination of ApoE mice with recombinant HSP25 (rHSP25, the murine ortholog), boosts anti- HSP25 levels and attenuates atherogenesis. As estrogens promote HSP27 synthesis, cellular release and blood levels, we hypothesize that menopause will result in loss of HSP27 atheroprotection.

Understanding the role of ionic flux on the polarity of the exposed surfaces of ZnO.

The role of ionic flux in controlling the polarity of the surfaces of ZnO was evaluated, both experimentally and theoretically. Zinc oxide was synthesized by controlled decomposition of zinc oxalate nanorods in the presence of ionic flux. The degree of preferred orientation for a specific plane, for the ZnO structures, was observed by calculating the texture coefficient.

Implications of including a magnetic ion (Cr and Fe) at the vanadium site in a geometrically frustrated spinel MgVO: magnetic and catalytic properties.

The vanadium sublattice in a geometrically frustrated MgV2O4 is substituted partially with Cr3+ and Fe3+. With a successful Rietveld refinement of the powder X-ray diffraction patterns of MgVCrO4 and MgVFeO4, Cr and Fe occupy the octahedral sites of a spinel structure. Extensive field-dependent and temperature magnetic measurements on these samples reveal exciting results.

Lrrc55 is a novel prosurvival factor in pancreatic islets.

Pancreatic islets adapt to the increase in insulin demand during pregnancy by upregulating β-cell number, insulin synthesis, and secretion. These changes require prolactin receptor (PrlR) signaling, as mice with PrlR deletion are glucose intolerant with a lower β-cell mass. Prolactin also prevents β-cell apoptosis.

Prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy & surgical menopause for inherited risks of cancer: the need to identify biomarkers to assess the theoretical risk of premature coronary artery disease.

Background: Some women with genetic risk of breast and/or ovarian cancer (e.g., BRCA1/2) opt to undergo prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy (PSO, or surgical removal of the ovaries & fallopian tubes) in order to reduce their risk of cancer.

Metastable BiZrO with Pyrochlore-like Structure: Stabilization, Oxygen Ion Conductivity, and Catalytic Properties.

Equimolar concentrations of Zr and Bi were chelated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid ligand with the purpose of using it as a precursor to generate pyrochlore-like BiZrO. When the X-ray amorphous precursor was calcined at 750 °C for 3 h in air, pyrochlore-like product with superstructure reflections was identified by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) along with one minor reflection due to β-BiO. This phase was found to be metastable from additional experiments conducted by varying calcination conditions.

Oligofructose as an adjunct in treatment of diabetes in NOD mice.

In type 1 diabetes, restoration of normoglycemia can be achieved if the autoimmune attack on beta cells ceases and insulin requirement is met by the residual beta cells. We hypothesize that an adjunctive therapy that reduces insulin demand by increasing insulin sensitivity will improve the efficacy of an immunotherapy in reversing diabetes. We tested the gut microbiota-modulating prebiotic, oligofructose (OFS), as the adjunctive therapy.

Prolactin as an Adjunct for Type 1 Diabetes Immunotherapy.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by autoimmune destruction of β-cells. Although immunotherapy can restore self-tolerance thereby halting continued immune-mediated β-cell loss, residual β-cell mass and function is often insufficient for normoglycemia. Using a growth factor to boost β-cell mass can potentially overcome this barrier and prolactin (PRL) may fill this role.

Integrating techniques to re-establish dentogingival esthetics.

The aim of this article was to report the clinical case of a male patient of 20 years with hyperpigmented gingiva and moderate fluorosis, whose smile was reestablished by the use of a laser assisted depigmentation procedure, an enamel microabrasion technique, followed by at-home bleaching and subsequent remineralization therapy. The association of these techniques presented excellent results and the patient was satisfied. All techniques are painless, fast and easy to perform, in addition to preserving the hard and soft dental structure.