Focal adhesion kinase maintains,but not increases the adhesion of dental pulp cells

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) functions as a key enzyme in the integrin-mediated adhesion-signalling pathway. Here, we aimed to investigate the effects of FAK on adhesion of human dental pulp (HDP) cells. We transfected lentiviral vectors to silence or overexpress FAK in HDP cells ex vivo. Early cell adhesion, cell survival and focal contacts (FCs)-related proteins (FAK and paxillin) were examined. By using immunofluorescence, the formation of FCs and cytoskeleton was detected, respectively. We found that both adhesion and survival of HDP cells were suppressed by FAK inhibition. However, FAK overexpression slightly inhibited cell adhesion and exhibited no change in cell survival compared with the control. A thick rim of cytoskeleton accumulated and smaller dot-shaped FCs appeared in FAK knockdown cells. Phosphorylation of paxillin (p-paxillin) was inhibited in FAK knockdown cells, verifying that the adhesion was inhibited. Less cytoskeleton and elongated FCs were observed in FAK-overexpressed cells. However, p-paxillin had no significant difference compared with the control. In conclusion, the data suggest that FAK maintains cell adhesion, survival and cytoskeleton formation, but excessive FAK has no positive effects on these aspects.     

Using variation partitioning techniques to quantify the effects of invasive alien species on native urban bird assemblages

Quantifying the impacts that invasive alien species (IAS) cause on affected systems is not an easy task. Here, we explore the application of variation partitioning techniques to measure and control for the effects of possible confounding factors when studying the impact that feral pigeons, European starlings, and house sparrows cause on native urban bird communities in Mexico. We argue that these IAS are provoking a severe impact on whole assemblages of native passerines only if (a) their marginal effect is statistically significant, (b) it remains so after partialling out other explanatory variables, and (c) is larger than (or similar to) the conditional effect of these covariates. We censused passerine bird assemblages and measured habitat variables in a number of greenspaces in three replicate study areas. Then, by means of partial redundancy analyses, we decomposed the total variability in bird data as a function of IAS, physical variables and vegetation data. In one of the study areas the marginal effect of IAS on native assemblages was significant, but the conditional effect was not. We conclude that this IAS effect was confounded with other explanatory variables. In the other study areas, no (marginal or partial) significant effect was found. Without invoking interspecific competition, our results support the opportunistic hypothesis, according to which IAS can exploit ecological conditions in modern cities that native species cannot even tolerate. Finally, apart from the Precautionary Principle, we found no scientific justification to control the abundance of the three IAS in our study areas.     

Interrogating the neo-pluralist orthodoxy in American anthropology

For most of the twentieth century the state was not a major part of the anthropological toolkit. Despite significant archaeologically driven work on evolution and state formation, most socio-cultural anthropologists have viewed the state with empiricist scepticism, populist hostility, or ethnographic indifference. Typically, state-theory has been left to other disciplines, such as political science and sociology. Since the end of the cold war there has been a greatly increased interest in the state among anthropologists. Philip Abrams, Michael Herzfeld, and Akhil Gupta, who coined the phrase “ethnography of the state”, have been particularly important to this development. However, there remains no serious engagement with the body of state-theory generated, over the last century, by political activists, scientists, sociologists, and anthropologists. It will be argued that this has allowed for the growth of an unproblematised orthodoxy around an ethnographically informed variant of classic American pluralist state-theory. This orthodoxy has hobbled the understanding and explanation of complex political phenomena, led to confusion between hypotheses and conclusions, and tied parts of the discipline to a partisan political project that remains largely un-interrogated. This essay seeks to provide context and clarification on state-theory as a step towards discussion of anthropology’s contemporary engagement with the state and broader questions of political action and social change.     

Steroidogenic electron transport in adrenal cortex mitochondria

Summary The flavoprotein NADPH-adrenodoxin reductase and the iron sulfur protein adrenodoxin function as a short electron transport chain which donates electrons one-at-a-time to adrenal cortex mitochondrial cytochromes P-450. The soluble adrenodoxin acts as a mobile one-electron shuttle, forming a complex first with NADPH-reduced adrenodoxin reductase from which it accepts an electron, then dissociating, and finally reassociating with and donating an electron to the membrane-bound cytochrome P-450 (Fig. 9). Dissociation and reassociation with flavoprotein then allows a second cycle of electron transfers. A complex set of factors govern the sequential protein-protein interactions which comprise this adrenodoxin shuttle mechanism; among these factors, reduction of the iron sulfur center by the flavin weakens the adrenodoxinadrenodoxin reductase interaction, thus promoting dissociation of this complex to yield free reduced adrenodoxin. Substrate (cholesterol) binding to cytochrome P-450_scc both promotes the binding of the free adrenodoxin to the cytochrome, and alters the oxidation-reduction potential of the heme so as to favor reduction by adrenodoxin. The cholesterol binding site on cytochrome P-450_scc appears to be in direct communication with the hydrophobic phospholipid milieu in which this substrate is dissolved. Specific effects of both phospholipid headgroups and fatty acyl side-chains regulate the interaction of cholesterol with its binding side. Cardiolipin is an extremely potent positive effector for cholesterol binding, and evidence supports the existence of a specific effector lipid binding site on cytochrome P.450_scc to which this phospho-lipid binds.     

Clinical and Treatment Aspects of Brown–Black Fungi

Brown–black (or dematiaceous) fungi are responsible for a wide variety of infectious syndromes in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised patients, including local infections, allergic disease, pneumonia, brain abscess, and disseminated infection. They are distinct from the more common hyaline molds, Aspergillus and Fusarium, that cause human disease. They are often found in soil and generally distributed worldwide. In recent years, these fungi have been increasingly recognized as important pathogens. Dematiaceous fungi may have unique pathogenic mechanisms owing to the presence of melanin in their cell walls, which imparts the characteristic dark color to their spores and hyphae. Diagnosis rests on careful microscopic and pathologic examination, as there are no specific laboratory tests to reliably identify these fungi. Therapy depends upon the clinical syndrome, although disseminated infection often has high mortality. Triazoles such as voriconazole, posaconazole, and itraconazole are the most active antifungal agents available. Further studies are needed to better understand the pathogenesis and optimal treatment of these uncommon infections.     

Efficacy of different types of aerobic exercise in fibromyalgia syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Introduction  

The efficacy and the optimal type and volume of aerobic exercise (AE) in fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) are not established. We therefore assessed the efficacy of different types and volumes of AE in FMS.     

Ecosystem Perspective of Groundwater Arsenic Contamination in India and Relevance in Policy

Millions of people living in India are at risk by consuming arsenic contaminated groundwater. Several technological solutions have failed to address the problem due to segmental approaches, resulting in human suffering for a period of three decades. The article is based on an analysis of arsenic-related health problems from an ecosystem perspective through a primary survey conducted in five arsenic affected villages in the state of West Bengal and review of existing research and policy documents. Although modern agricultural practices and drinking water policies have resulted in arsenic contamination of groundwater, current mitigation policy is essentially confined to biomedical approaches, which includes potable water supply and medical care. The study also shows that existing disparity, difficulty in coping, inaccessibility to health service and potable water supply and lack of participation in decision making have resulted in more suffering among the poor. On the other hand, spreading of arsenic contamination in the ecosystem remains unabated. Foods grown in the affected area have emerged as additional sources of exposure to humans. There is lack of evidence of any perceivable benefits due to sustainable agriculture, as present nature of agriculture practice is essentially driven by crop yield only. Further research is needed to generate credible evidence of alternative agriculture paradigms that may eventually reduce body burden of arsenic through reduced dependency on groundwater.