Publications by authors named "Wozniak D"

Biofilms contribute to Pseudomonas aeruginosa persistence in a variety of diseases, including cystic fibrosis, burn wounds, and chronic suppurative otitis media. However, few studies have directly addressed P. aeruginosa biofilms in vivo.

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There has been tremendous growth in biofilm research in the past three decades. This growth has been reflected in development of a wide variety of experimental, clinical, and theoretical techniques fostered by our increased knowledge. Keeping the theoretical developments abreast of the experimental advancements and ensuring that the theoretical results are disseminated to the experimental and clinical community is a major challenge.

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Background: The high prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents has led to an increase in school-based prevention programmes. The aim of the present paper is to present the concept of an initiative called "BEO'S" as well as the experience made with the implementation und acceptance of this programme in the participating schools.

Methods: Different from the majority of school-based projects for healthy eating and physical activity, BEO'S pursues a systemic approach that includes the whole school and is tailored to the school's respective resources.

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Pseudomonas aeruginosa is especially adept at colonizing the airways of individuals afflicted with the autosomal recessive disease cystic fibrosis (CF). CF patients suffer from chronic airway inflammation, which contributes to lung deterioration. Once established in the airways, P.

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Bacterial extracellular polysaccharides are a key constituent of the extracellular matrix material of biofilms. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a model organism for biofilm studies and produces three extracellular polysaccharides that have been implicated in biofilm development, alginate, Psl and Pel. Significant work has been conducted on the roles of alginate and Psl in biofilm development, however we know little regarding Pel.

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Spontaneous pneumomediastinum during labour is a rare, usually benign and self-limiting condition. It often presents with chest or neck pain and surgical emphysema. The latter sign is easy to demonstrate but often missed during clinical assessment if the condition is not included in the differential diagnosis of chest pain and dyspnoea in peripartum.

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Evidence is emerging that the PGC-1 coactivators serve a critical role in skeletal muscle metabolism, function, and disease. Mice with total PGC-1 deficiency in skeletal muscle (PGC-1α(-/-)β(f/f/MLC-Cre) mice) were generated and characterized. PGC-1α(-/-)β(f/f/MLC-Cre) mice exhibit a dramatic reduction in exercise performance compared to single PGC-1α- or PGC-1β-deficient mice and wild-type controls.

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Learning and behavioral abnormalities are among the most common clinical problems in children with the neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) inherited cancer syndrome. Recent studies using Nf1 genetically engineered mice (GEM) have been instructive for partly elucidating the cellular and molecular defects underlying these cognitive deficits; however, no current model has shed light on the more frequently encountered attention system abnormalities seen in children with NF1. Using an Nf1 optic glioma (OPG) GEM model, we report novel defects in non-selective and selective attention without an accompanying hyperactivity phenotype.

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In order for the opportunistic Gram-negative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa to cause an airway infection, the pathogen interacts with epithelial cells and the overlying mucous layer. We examined the contribution of the biofilm polysaccharide Psl to epithelial cell adherence and the impact of Psl on proinflammatory signaling by flagellin. Psl has been implicated in the initial attachment of P.

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Extracellular polysaccharides are important components of biofilms. In non-mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, the Pel and Psl polysaccharides are major structural components of the biofilm matrix. In this study, we demonstrate that the alternative σ-factor RpoS is a positive transcriptional regulator of psl gene expression.

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AmrZ is a putative ribbon-helix-helix (RHH) transcriptional regulator. RHH proteins utilize residues within the β-sheet for DNA binding, while the α-helices promote oligomerization. AmrZ is of interest due to its dual roles as a transcriptional activator and as a repressor, regulating genes encoding virulence factors associated with both chronic and acute Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

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Diet restriction retards aging and extends lifespan by triggering adaptive mechanisms that alter behavioral, physiological, and biochemical responses in mammals. Little is known about the molecular pathways evoking the corresponding central response. One factor that mediates the effects of diet restriction is the mammalian nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase SIRT1.

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Background: Exposure to NMDA glutamate antagonists during the brain growth spurt period causes widespread neuroapoptosis in the rodent brain. This period in rodents occurs during the first two weeks after birth, and corresponds to the third trimester of pregnancy and several years after birth in humans. The developing human brain may be exposed to NMDA antagonists through drug-abusing mothers or through anesthesia.

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The extracytoplasmic function sigma factor AlgU of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is responsible for alginate overproduction, leading to mucoidy and chronic infections of cystic fibrosis patients. We investigated here the role of AlgU in the formation of nonmucoid biofilms. The algU mutant of P.

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Sanfilippo syndrome type B (MPS IIIB) is a lysosomal storage disease resulting from a deficiency of N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAGLU) activity. In an attempt to correct the disease in the murine model of MPS IIIB, neonatal mice were treated with intracranial AAV2/5-NAGLU (AAV), syngeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT), or both (AAV/BMT). All treatments resulted in some improvement in clinical phenotype.

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The effect of the ketogenic diet on behavior and cognition is unclear. We addressed this issue in rats behaviorally and electrophysiologically.We fed postnatal day 21 rats a standard diet (SD), ketogenic diet (KD), or calorie-restricted diet (CR) for 2–3 weeks.

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The isoflavonoid fractions obtained from a methanolic extract of Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC (syn. Iris domestica Goldblatt & Mabb.

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Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the principal pathogen of cystic fibrosis patients, forms antibiotic-resistant biofilms promoting chronic colonization of the airways. The extracellular (EPS) matrix is a crucial component of biofilms that provides the community multiple benefits. Recent work suggests that the secondary messenger, cyclic-di-GMP, promotes biofilm formation.

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Objective: Although intensive glycemic control achieved with insulin therapy increases the incidence of both moderate and severe hypoglycemia, clinical reports of cognitive impairment due to severe hypoglycemia have been highly variable. It was hypothesized that recurrent moderate hypoglycemia preconditions the brain and protects against damage caused by severe hypoglycemia.

Research Design And Methods: Nine-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to either 3 consecutive days of recurrent moderate (25-40 mg/dl) hypoglycemia (RH) or saline injections.

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Genetic ablation of calcium-independent phospholipase A(2)gamma (iPLA(2)gamma) results in profound alterations in hippocampal phospholipid metabolism and mitochondrial phospholipid homeostasis resulting in enlarged and degenerating mitochondria leading to autophagy and cognitive dysfunction. Shotgun lipidomics demonstrated multiple alterations in hippocampal lipid metabolism in iPLA(2)gamma(-/-) mice including: 1) a markedly elevated hippocampal cardiolipin content with an altered molecular species composition characterized by a shift to shorter chain length molecular species; 2) alterations in both choline and ethanolamine glycerophospholipids, including a decreased plasmenylethanolamine content; 3) increased oxidized phosphatidylethanolamine molecular species; and 4) an increased content of ceramides. Electron microscopic examination demonstrated the presence of enlarged heteromorphic lamellar structures undergoing degeneration accompanied by the presence of ubiquitin positive spheroid inclusion bodies.

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There is currently no approved vaccine against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and a major pathogen in ventilated and burn patients. In a previous study, we demonstrated the immunization of mice with OprF(311-341)-OprI-type A- and B-flagellin fusion proteins dramatically enhanced clearance of nonmucoid P. aeruginosa.

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Exopolysaccharides contribute significantly to attachment and biofilm formation in the opportunisitc pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The Psl polysaccharide, which is synthesized by the polysaccharide synthesis locus (psl), is required for biofilm formation in non-mucoid strains that do not rely on alginate as the principal biofilm polysaccharide. In-frame deletion and complementation studies of individual psl genes revealed that 11 psl genes, pslACDEFGHIJKL, are required for Psl production and surface attachment.

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Concepts of health or healing remain conspicuously absent in intimate partner violence intervention literature and practice within the USA. Instead, interventions generally end with 'equilibrium' or 'maintenance' in which women are no longer in crisis and are no longer in a violent relationship. But this ignores an important and necessary trajectory for intervention - healing.

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Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL, Infantile Batten Disease) is an inherited, neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder. INCL is the result of a CLN1 gene mutation leading to a deficiency in palmitoyl protein thioesterase 1 (PPT1) activity. Studies in the forebrain demonstrate the PPT1-deficient mouse (PPT1-/-) mimics the clinical symptoms and underlying pathology of INCL; however, little is known about changes in cerebellar function or pathology.

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Although chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, there is no approved vaccine for human use against P. aeruginosa. The goal of this study was to establish whether a multivalent vaccine containing P.

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