A key role for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 3 in ectodermal specification and neural crest development.

Background: The PARP family member poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 3 (PARP3) is structurally related to the well characterized PARP1 that orchestrates cellular responses to DNA strand breaks and cell death by the synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose). In contrast to PARP1 and PARP2, the functions of PARP3 are undefined. Here, we reveal critical functions for PARP3 during vertebrate development.

Mycobacterium ulcerans infections cause progressive muscle atrophy and dysfunction, and mycolactone impairs satellite cell proliferation.

Clinical observations from Buruli ulcer (BU) patients in West Africa suggest that severe Mycobacterium ulcerans infections can cause skeletal muscle contracture and atrophy leading to significant impairment in function. In the present study, male mice C57BL/6 were subcutaneously injected with M. ulcerans in proximity to the right biceps muscle, avoiding direct physical contact between the infectious agent and the skeletal muscle.

Altered placental glutathione peroxidase mRNA expression in preeclampsia according to the presence or absence of labor.

Increased placental oxidative stress in preeclampsia (PE) has been associated in part to a decrease in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) antioxidant activity. However, it is not clear if GPX mRNA expression is affected in PE, and how the presence of labor may impair this expression. In this study, we characterized by quantitative PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, the expression of four GPX (GPX1 to 4) in the placenta of normotensive (NP; n = 23) and PE pregnancies (n = 25) according to mode of delivery: vaginal delivery (with labor) or cesarean (without labor); the tissue layer: amnion-chorion (AC) and villi; and the sampling site: peri-insertion or peripheral.

Post testicular sperm maturational changes in the bull: important role of the epididymosomes and prostasomes.

After spermatogenesis, testicular spermatozoa are not able to fertilize an oocyte, they must undergo sequential maturational processes. Part of these essential processes occurs during the transit of the spermatozoa through the male reproductive tract. Since the sperm become silent in terms of translation and transcription at the testicular level, all the maturational changes that take place on them are dependent on the interaction of spermatozoa with epididymal and accessory gland fluids.

Increasing the doses of both diuretics and angiotensin receptor blockers is beneficial in subjects with uncontrolled systolic hypertension.

Background: Blood pressure (BP) control is frequently difficult to achieve in patients with predominantly elevated systolic BP. Consequently, these patients frequently require combination therapy including a thiazide diuretic such as hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) and an agent blocking the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Current clinical practice usually limits the daily dose of HCTZ to 25 mg.

Erythrocyte n-3 is inversely correlated with serious psychological distress among the Inuit: data from the Nunavik health survey.

Objective: A decrease in omega-3 (n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and an increase in omega-6 (n-6) linoleic acid in the diet have been suggested as contributing factors in the pathogenesis of depression. The present study examined the relationship between red blood cell (RBC) n-3 and n-6 and serious psychological distress (SPD).

Methods: The authors analyzed data on 746 Inuit adults who took part in the 2004 Nunavik Inuit Health Survey.

Developmental expression of SRC-related tyrosine kinases in the mouse testis.

An increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation occurs during sperm capacitation in numerous species. The involvement of Src-related tyrosine kinases in this phenomenon has been demonstrated using different inhibitors specifically targeting this family of enzymes. In mammals, this group of nonreceptor tyrosine kinases is made up of 8 members with similar SRC homology domain 3 (SH3) and SH2 domains.

Using the Montessori approach for a clientele with cognitive impairments: a quasi-experimental study design.

Background: The choice of activities responding to the needs of people with moderate to severe dementia is a growing concern for care providers trying to target the need for a feeling of self-accomplishment by adapting activities to the abilities of elderly patients. The activities created by Maria Montessori seem to be adaptable to this clientele. This study evaluates the short-term effects, as compared to regular activities offered in the milieu.

ROCK2 is involved in accelerated fetal lung development induced by in vivo lung distension.

Lung development is strongly influenced by its state of distension. For instance, increasing distension induced by fetal tracheal occlusion (TO) stimulates lung development. In contrast, oligohydramnios (OH) reduces lung distending forces and results in lung hypoplasia.

Is marine mammal fat or fish intake most strongly associated with omega-3 blood levels among the Nunavik Inuit?

Here we determined the relationship between red blood cell (RBC) omega-3 (n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) and usual dietary marine food product intake among 630 Nunavik Inuit adults. Marine food product intake was determined by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and fatty acids were quantified in RBC membranes. Multiple linear regression was undertaken to determine the relationship between marine food product intake and RBC n-3 LC-PUFAs (dependent variable).

Alternatively spliced products of the UGT1A gene interact with the enzymatically active proteins to inhibit glucuronosyltransferase activity in vitro.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are major mediators in conjugative metabolism. Current data suggest that UGTs, which are anchored in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, can oligomerize with each other and/or with other metabolic enzymes, a process that may influence their enzymatic activities. We demonstrated previously that the UGT1A locus encodes previously unknown isoforms (denoted "i2"), by alternative usage of the terminal exon 5.

Intramuscular transplantation of human postnatal myoblasts generates functional donor-derived satellite cells.

Myogenic cell transplantation is an experimental approach for the treatment of myopathies. In this approach, transplanted cells need to fuse with pre-existing myofibers, form new myofibers, and generate new muscle precursor cells (MPCs). The last property was fully reported following myoblast transplantation in mice but remains poorly studied with human myoblasts.

Electrotransfer of the full-length dog dystrophin into mouse and dystrophic dog muscles.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked genetic disease characterized by the absence of dystrophin (427 kDa). An approach to eventually restore this protein in patients with DMD is to introduce into their muscles a plasmid encoding dystrophin cDNA. Because the phenotype of the dystrophic dog is closer to the human phenotype than is the mdx mouse phenotype, we have studied the electrotransfer of a plasmid carrying the full-length dog dystrophin (FLDYS(dog)) in dystrophic dog muscle.

Canadian family physicians' and paediatricians' knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding A(H1N1) pandemic vaccine.

Background: One of the main determinants of public immunization success is health professionals' support and recommendations. Little is known about the physicians' level of support and intentions regarding A(H1N1) pandemic influenza vaccination. The aim of this survey was to document Canadian family physicians' and paediatricians' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) as well as their intentions regarding A(H1N1) pandemic influenza vaccines right before the beginning of the largest immunization campaign in Canadian history.

Vasectomy affects cysteine-rich secretory protein expression along the human epididymis and its association with ejaculated spermatozoa following vasectomy surgical reversal.

The epididymis is essential for the acquisition of sperm fertilizing ability and forward motility. After vasectomy, the flux and composition of the epididymal fluid are modified, causing possible sequelae to the occluded excurrent duct. Some of these sequelae may not be reversible following vasovasostomy, affecting sperm physiology and their fertilizing ability.

Nelfinavir, an HIV-1 protease inhibitor, induces oxidative stress-mediated, caspase-independent apoptosis in Leishmania amastigotes.

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis has now emerged as an important opportunistic disease in patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). Although the effectiveness of HIV-1 protease inhibitors, such as nelfinavir, in antiretroviral therapies is well documented, little is known of the impact of these drugs on Leishmania in coinfected individuals.

Methodology And Principal Findings: Here, we show that nelfinavir generates oxidative stress in the parasite, leading to altered physiological parameters such as an increase in the sub-G1 DNA content, nuclear DNA fragmentation and loss of mitochondrial potential, which are all characteristics of apoptosis.

Macrophages protect against muscle atrophy and promote muscle recovery in vivo and in vitro: a mechanism partly dependent on the insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling molecule.

Hindlimb unloading and reloading are characterized by a major loss of muscle force and are associated with classic leukocyte infiltration during recovery from muscle atrophy. Macrophages act as a cellular cornerstone by playing both pro- and anti-inflammatory roles during muscle recovery from atrophy. In the present study, we investigated the role of macrophages in muscle atrophy and regrowth using in vivo and in vitro models.

Effects of labor on placental expression of superoxide dismutases in preeclampsia.

A decreased antioxidant activity for superoxide dismutases (SODs) in the placenta was reported in preeclampsia (PE). However, it is unclear if this reduced enzymatic activity can be attributed to a specific SOD isoform. Moreover, the specific spatial SOD expression in the placenta and the impact of the mode of delivery on the latter are still lacking.

Surgical approach to hysterectomy: introducing the concept of technicity.

Despite national guidelines recommending that most hysterectomies should be performed vaginally or with laparoscopic assistance, the majority are still performed by laparotomy. Advocating for minimally invasive hysterectomy requires a strategy outlining the benefits and risks of the various approaches. We propose the use of "technicity," an index that has been used in France to compare the performance of hospitals across the country.

Dendritic cells derived from hemozoin-loaded monocytes display a partial maturation phenotype that promotes HIV-1 trans-infection of CD4+ T cells and virus replication.

Coinfection of HIV-1 patients with Plasmodium falciparum, the etiological agent of malaria, results in a raise of viral load and an acceleration of disease progression. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether the malarial pigment hemozoin (HZ), a heme by-product of hemoglobin digestion by malaria parasites, can affect HIV-1 transmission by monocytes-derived dendritic cells (DCs) to CD4(+) T cells when HZ is initially internalized in monocytes before their differentiation in DCs. We demonstrate in this study that HZ treatment during the differentiation process induces an intermediate maturation phenotype when compared with immature and fully mature DCs.

Existence of compensatory defense mechanisms against oxidative stress and hypertension in preeclampsia.

Objective: Preeclampsia is a complex obstetrical syndrome characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. This syndrome is associated with oxidative stress, antioxidant imbalance and impaired production of vasoactive eicosanoids such as thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)), a potent vasoconstrictor, and prostacyclin (PGI(2)), a well-known vasodilator. We hypothesized that there was a relationship between antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin E and coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)), and the production of vasoactive eicosanoids- PGI(2) and TXA(2)-potentially regulated by pro-oxidants and antioxidants in preeclampsia.

Epidermal growth factor receptor is an obligatory intermediate for oxytocin-induced cyclooxygenase 2 expression and prostaglandin F2 alpha production in bovine endometrial epithelial cells.

Oxytocin (OT) triggers the luteolytic pulses of prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (PGF(2 alpha)) from the endometrial epithelial cells in ruminants. We have proposed that the embryonic signal interferon-tau exerts its antiluteolytic effect by disrupting the OT signaling axis. Accordingly, we have attempted to define the signaling pathway of OT-induced PGF(2 alpha) production in the bovine endometrium using our newly characterized epithelial cell line (bEEL).

Interleukin-4 inhibits an early phase in the HIV-1 life cycle in the human colorectal cell line HT-29.

Intestinal epithelial cells are continuously in contact with the gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALT). Gastrointestinal infection by viruses, bacteria and parasites or the presence of an inflammatory bowel disease may influence the GALT cytokine network. However, the effect of the different cytokines on susceptibility of human intestinal epithelial cells to HIV-1 infection remains undefined.

Human hepatoma cells transmit surface bound HIV-1 to CD4+ T cells through an ICAM-1/LFA-1-dependent mechanism.

Background: During the viremic phase of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) infection, hepatocytes are likely to be constantly exposed to circulating virions. Knowing that a contact between hepatocytes and CD4+ T lymphocytes is favoured by the local slow blood flow present within the liver, we hypothesize that hepatic cells can act as a viral reservoir and thus contribute to HIV-1 propagation.

Results: We report that human hepatoma cells bind and internalize HIV-1 particles.