THE ECONOMICS OF CARCASS BEEF PRODUCTION: AN APPRAISAL OF FLORIDA'S FEEDLOT POTENTIAL

Livestock Production/Industries,

Transcriptional And Post-Transcriptional Regulation Of NRF2 In The Heart By The Deubiquitinase CYLD

The cylindromatosis (CYLD) is a K63-linked deubiquitinase (DUB) that has been linked to the regulation of multiple physiological or pathological processes, such as neural development, inflammation and fibrosis. However, a novel paradigm for CYLD has been recently postulated; namely that of CYLD as a mediator of cardiac disease. Nuclear factor, erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), a master antioxidant transcription factor, has been shown to suppress cardiac pathological remodeling and dysfunction via downregulation of reactive oxygen species formation (ROS). It is normally regulated by Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1). However, the regulatory link between CYLD and Nrf2 in the diseased heart has heretofore been unclear. In this study, a potential role of CYLD in the control of Nrf2 signaling in the heart is proposed. I found that, in a mouse model of pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling and dysfunction via transverse aortic constriction (TAC), knockout of CYLD attenuates cardiac oxidative stress, pathological remodeling and dysfunction associated with upregulation of Nrf2- mediated antioxidant signaling. At the molecular level, CYLD inactivates MAPK/AP-1 and c-Myc pathways which are required to activate Nrf2-operated antioxidant defense in cardiomyocytes. Moreover, CYLD is capable of suppressing autophagy-dependent posttranscriptional upregulation of Nrf2 expression via activation of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), contributing to cardiomyocyte necrosis. Taken together, these results reveal that CYLD functions as a mediator of cardiac pathological remodeling and dysfunction via facilitating cardiomyocyte death by suppressing Nrf2-driven antioxidant defense. CYLD may serve as an important target for future therapies

Radiobiological response of U251MG, CHO-K1 and V79 cell lines to accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy

In the current article, we provide in vitro efficacy evaluation of a unique accelerator-based neutron source, constructed at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation), for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), which is particularly effective in the case of invasive cancers. U251MG, CHO-K1 and V79 cells were incubated and irradiated in various concentrations of boric acid with epithermal neutrons for 2–3 h in a plexiglass phantom, using 2.0 MeV proton energy and 1.5–3.0 mA proton current, resulting in a neutron fluence of 2.16 × 1012 cm−2. The survival curves of cells loaded with boron were normalized to those irradiated without boron (to exclude the influence of the fast neutron and gamma dose components) and fit to the linear–quadratic (LQ) model. Colony formation assays showed the following cell survival rates (means ± SDs): CHO-K1: 0.348 ± 0.069 (10 ppm), 0.058 ± 0.017 (20 ppm), 0.018 ± 0.005 (40 ppm); V79: 0.476 ± 0.160 (10 ppm), 0.346 ± 0.053 (20 ppm), 0.078 ± 0.015 (40 ppm); and U251MG: 0.311 ± 0.061 (10 ppm), 0.131 ± 0.022 (20 ppm), 0.020 ± 0.010 (40 ppm). The difference between treated cells and controls was significant in all cases (P < 0.01) and confirmed that the neutron source and irradiation regimen were sufficient for control over cell colony formation. We believe our study will serve as a model for ongoing in vitro experiments on neutron capture therapy to advance in this area for further development of accelerator-based BNCT into the clinical phase

Isolating signatures of major cloud-cloud collisions using position-velocity diagrams

This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. © 2015 The Authors. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.Collisions between giant molecular clouds are a potential mechanism for triggering the formation of massive stars, or even super star clusters. The trouble is identifying this process observationally and distinguishing it from other mechanisms. We produce synthetic position–velocity diagrams from models of cloud–cloud collisions, non-interacting clouds along the line of sight, clouds with internal radiative feedback and a more complex cloud evolving in a galactic disc, to try and identify unique signatures of collision. We find that a broad bridge feature connecting two intensity peaks, spatially correlated but separated in velocity, is a signature of a high-velocity cloud–cloud collision. We show that the broad bridge feature is resilient to the effects of radiative feedback, at least to around 2.5 Myr after the formation of the first massive (ionizing) star. However for a head-on 10 km s−1 collision, we find that this will only be observable from 20 to 30 per cent of viewing angles. Such broad–bridge features have been identified towards M20, a very young region of massive star formation that was concluded to be a site of cloud–cloud collision by Torii et al., and also towards star formation in the outer Milky Way by Izumi et al.Peer reviewe

Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Patching for Recurrent Pulmonary Venous Obstructions

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Factors Affecting Undergraduate Medical Science Students’ Motivation to Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Down Syndrome Reduces the Sedative Effect of Midazolam in Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgical Patients

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Verifying the Japanese Version of Pediatric Delirium and Withdrawal Syndrome Assessment Scale:SOS-PD Validation Study for Iatrogenic Withdrawal Syndrome

Background: Iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS) poses a significant clinical challenge in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) within Japan. Despite the existing availability of tools to assess pain and delirium, a validated instrument specifically designed for IWS has been notably absent in Japanese clinical practice. The Sophia Observation withdrawal Symptoms-Paediatric Delirium (SOS-PD) scale is globally recognized as an effective tool for IWS evaluation. To bridge this gap, this study aimed to validate the Japanese version of the SOS-PD scale. Methods: A prospective, cohort, observational study was undertaken in a single-center PICU in Japan. Participants ranged from neonates to children aged 20 years, excluding those with pre-existing neurological conditions or coma. Criterion validity was evaluated by comparing Japanese SOS-PD scale scores between a Weaning Group (WEAN) undergoing sedative/opioid tapering and a Maintenance Group (MAIN) receiving stable medication. Correlation analysis was also conducted against pediatric intensivists’ observational NRS (NRSobs). Inter-rater reliability of the Japanese SOS-PD scale was assessed utilizing kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).Results: In support of criterion validity, the WEAN group demonstrated significantly higher scores in both NRSobs and the IWS component of the Japanese SOS-PD scale compared to the MAIN group (p &lt; 0.001). A strong correlation was observed between the Japanese SOS-PD IWS component and NRSobs (r = 0.91, p &lt; 0.001). Inter-rater reliability was also robust, with a kappa coefficient of 0.95 and an ICC of 0.98. Conclusions: The Japanese version of the SOS-PD scale exhibits strong validity and inter-rater reliability for IWS assessment within Japanese PICUs. This validated instrument can support the early detection and appropriate management of pediatric IWS in Japan, with the potential to enhance the quality of patient care.</p

Risk of female athlete triad development in Japanese collegiate athletes is related to sport type and competitive level

Introduction: Menstrual dysfunction, musculoskeletal injury, and poor nutrition combine to form the female athlete triad (FAT), which results in serious health consequences for affected athletes. To this point, the risk factors of this phenomenon have not been fully explored in Japanese female college athletes. Additionally, the effect of competitive level on FAT risk factors has also not been reported. Therefore, we aimed to examine FAT risk factors in Japanese female athletes of various sports as well as examine the impact of competitive level on FAT.Methods: A Japanese-language survey was completed by 531 athletes and 20 nonathletes at two Japanese universities and answers with regard to menstrual status, musculoskeletal injury, nutrition, and other variables were analyzed based on classification of the sports into nine distinct groups based on activity type. Sport intensity, training volume, and competitive levels were used to further classify each sport. One-way ANOVA and the Bonferroni post hoc test using SPSS were carried out to analyze significance for relationships between sport intensity and FAT risk factors. Additionally, the relationship between competitive level and FAT risk factors was analyzed by ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests.Results: Sport intensity was positively correlated with a delay in menarche as well as dysmenorrhea and poor nutrition while musculoskeletal injury was correlated with repetitive, high-training volume sports. Lower competitive levels increased dysmenorrhea but did not impact injury status or nutrition.Conclusion: Sport intensity and training volume, but not competitive level, are the critical factors affecting FAT risk in Japanese female college athletes

Whole-Blood Gene Expression Profiles Correlate with Response to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma

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