The endocannabinoid anandamide mediates anti-inflammatory effects through activation of NR4A nuclear receptors.

Background And Purpose: Endocannabinoids are lipid mediators, which elicit complex biological effects that extend beyond the central nervous system. Tissue concentrations of endocannabinoids increase in atherosclerosis, and for the endocannabinoid N-arachidonoyl-ethanolamine (anandamide, AEA), this has been linked to an anti-inflammatory function. In this study, we set out to determine the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of AEA, specifically focusing on vascular smooth muscle cells.

Physioxia rewires mitochondrial complex composition to protect stem cell viability.

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are an invaluable tool to study molecular mechanisms on a human background. Culturing stem cells at an oxygen level different from their microenvironmental niche impacts their viability. To understand this mechanistically, dermal skin fibroblasts of 52 probands were reprogrammed into hiPSCs, followed by either hyperoxic (20 % O) or physioxic (5 % O) culture and proteomic profiling.

RUNX1 interacts with lncRNA SMANTIS to regulate monocytic cell functions.

Monocytes, the circulating macrophage precursors, contribute to diseases like atherosclerosis and asthma. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to modulate the phenotype and inflammatory capacity of monocytes. We previously discovered the lncRNA SMANTIS, which contributes to cellular phenotype expression by controlling BRG1 in mesenchymal cells.

NCoR1 limits angiogenic capacity by altering Notch signaling.

Corepressors negatively regulate gene expression by chromatin compaction. Targeted regulation of gene expression could provide a means to control endothelial cell phenotype. We hypothesize that by targeting corepressor proteins, endothelial angiogenic function can be improved.

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy and physical therapy: A case report.

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a complication of diabetes mellitus, which imposes significant functional limitations and at times, sudden death. In an evolving healthcare landscape, physical therapists are assuming greater clinical responsibility and thus must be aware of this potential complication and tailor the plan of care appropriately. The purpose of this case report is to highlight the need for increased awareness of CAN among physical therapists in order to improve screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Osteomyelitis of the Glenohumeral Joint.

A 60-year-old man presented to the emergency department with constant right shoulder pain of insidious onset that had lasted for 1 month. Based on the patient's history, the physical therapist's recommendations, and initial radiographs, the physician ordered magnetic resonance imaging, which revealed shoulder osteomyelitis and myositis. .

The challenges faced by living stock collections in the USA.

Many discoveries in the life sciences have been made using material from living stock collections. These collections provide a uniform and stable supply of living organisms and related materials that enhance the reproducibility of research and minimize the need for repetitive calibration. While collections differ in many ways, they all require expertise in maintaining living organisms and good logistical systems for keeping track of stocks and fulfilling requests for specimens.

Use of Primates in Research: What Do We Know About Captive Strepsirrhine Primates?

The increasing debate and restrictions on primate research have prompted many surveys about their status. However, there is a lack of information regarding strepsirrhine primates in the literature. This study provides an overview of research on strepsirrhines in captivity by analyzing scientific articles published from 2010 to 2013 and assessing publicly available government reports in Europe and the United States.

The U.S. Culture Collection Network Lays the Foundation for Progress in Preservation of Valuable Microbial Resources.

The U.S. Culture Collection Network was formed in 2012 by a group of culture collection scientists and stakeholders in order to continue the progress established previously through efforts of an ad hoc group.

Potential and pitfalls of eukaryotic metagenome skimming: a test case for lichens.

Whole-genome shotgun sequencing of multispecies communities using only a single library layout is commonly used to assess taxonomic and functional diversity of microbial assemblages. Here, we investigate to what extent such metagenome skimming approaches are applicable for in-depth genomic characterizations of eukaryotic communities, for example lichens. We address how to best assemble a particular eukaryotic metagenome skimming data, what pitfalls can occur, and what genome quality can be expected from these data.

Life history profiles for 27 strepsirrhine primate taxa generated using captive data from the Duke Lemur Center.

Since its establishment in 1966, the Duke Lemur Center (DLC) has accumulated detailed records for nearly 4,200 individuals from over 40 strepsirrhine primate taxa-the lemurs, lorises, and galagos. Here we present verified data for 3,627 individuals of 27 taxa in the form of a life history table containing summarized species values for variables relating to ancestry, reproduction, longevity, and body mass, as well as the two raw data files containing direct and calculated variables from which this summary table is built. Large sample sizes, longitudinal data that in many cases span an animal's entire life, exact dates of events, and large numbers of individuals from closely related yet biologically diverse primate taxa make these datasets unique.

Comparative RNA sequencing reveals substantial genetic variation in endangered primates.

Comparative genomic studies in primates have yielded important insights into the evolutionary forces that shape genetic diversity and revealed the likely genetic basis for certain species-specific adaptations. To date, however, these studies have focused on only a small number of species. For the majority of nonhuman primates, including some of the most critically endangered, genome-level data are not yet available.

Unresolved molecular phylogenies of gibbons and siamangs (Family: Hylobatidae) based on mitochondrial, Y-linked, and X-linked loci indicate a rapid Miocene radiation or sudden vicariance event.

According to recent taxonomic reclassification, the primate family Hylobatidae contains four genera (Hoolock, Nomascus, Symphalangus, and Hylobates) and between 14 and 18 species, making it by far the most species-rich group of extant hominoids. Known as the "small apes", these small arboreal primates are distributed throughout Southeast, South and East Asia. Considerable uncertainty surrounds the phylogeny of extant hylobatids, particularly the relationships among the genera and the species within the Hylobates genus.

Molecular phylogeny of the carnivora (mammalia): assessing the impact of increased sampling on resolving enigmatic relationships.

This study analyzed 76 species of Carnivora using a concatenated sequence of 6243 bp from six genes (nuclear TR-i-I, TBG, and IRBP; mitochondrial ND2, CYTB, and 12S rRNA), representing the most comprehensive sampling yet undertaken for reconstructing the phylogeny of this clade. Maximum parsimony and Bayesian methods were remarkably congruent in topologies observed and in nodal support measures. We recovered all of the higher level carnivoran clades that had been robustly supported in previous analyses (by analyses of morphological and molecular data), including the monophyly of Caniformia, Feliformia, Arctoidea, Pinnipedia, Musteloidea, Procyonidae + Mustelidae sensu stricto, and a clade of (Hyaenidae + (Herpestidae + Malagasy carnivorans)).

Single origin of Malagasy Carnivora from an African ancestor.

The Carnivora are one of only four orders of terrestrial mammals living in Madagascar today. All four (carnivorans, primates, rodents and lipotyphlan insectivores) are placental mammals with limited means for dispersal, yet they occur on a large island that has been surrounded by a formidable oceanic barrier for at least 88 million years, predating the age of origin for any of these groups. Even so, as many as four colonizations of Madagascar have been proposed for the Carnivora alone.

Tempo and mode of evolution in an orthologous Can SINE.

Tempo and mode of nucleotide change were examined in an orthologous carnivoran nuclear repetitive DNA element (Can SINE), and compared with those of the transthyretin intron I (TR-i-I) sequence in which it is embedded, by using a phylogenetic framework. The Can SINE is found in representatives of all living caniform carnivoran families, but no living feliform families. This suggests insertion 40-65 MYA, after the two lineages split, but before the caniform radiation.

Gene trees and hominoid phylogeny.

Here we present a DNA sequence study that incorporates intraspecific variation from all five genera of hominoids (apes and humans). Recently it has been claimed that using single individuals to analyze species' relationships might be misleading if within-species variation is great. Our results indicate that despite high intraspecific variation in mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit II gene sequences of some hominoids, humans and chimpanzees are nonetheless significantly most closely related.

Mitochondrial COII sequences and modern human origins.

The aim of this study is to measure human mitochondrial sequence variability in the relatively slowly evolving mitochondrial gene cytochrome oxidase subunit II (COII) and to estimate when the human common ancestral mitochondrial type existed. New COII gene sequences were determined for five humans (Homo sapiens), including some of the most mitochondrially divergent humans known; for two pygmy chimpanzees (Pan paniscus); and for a common chimpanzee (P. troglodytes).

Double-stranded dideoxy sequencing from "dirty" DNA--done in a day.

A rapid method for preparing and directly sequencing plasmid and phagemid miniprep DNA is described. This protocol is a novel combination of two fairly standard procedures, resulting in quick and easy generation of sequence data. The lack of extensive manipulations in the purification process allows the production of DNA sequence data in a single day.

Effect of a new hypoglycemic agent (MDL-310) on glucose metabolism.

N-[3-(dimethylamino)-2-propoxy-2-propenylidene]- N-methylmethanaminium as the iodide or camsylate salt (MDL-310) is a newly reported chemical which has been shown to produce hypoglycemia in vivo. The studies reported here describe in vivo and in vitro effects of MDL-310 on carbohydrate metabolism. In nonfasted mice, MDL-310 decreased liver glycogen and then produced hypoglycemia, concomitant with a near total depletion of liver glycogen stores.