BESC knowledgebase public portal

The BioEnergy Science Center (BESC) is undertaking large experimental campaigns to understand the biosynthesis and biodegradation of biomass and to develop biofuel solutions. BESC is generating large volumes of diverse data, including genome sequences, omics data and assay results. The purpose of the BESC Knowledgebase is to serve as a centralized repository for experimentally generated data and to provide an integrated, interactive and user-friendly analysis framework. The Portal makes available tools for visualization, integration and analysis of data either produced by BESC or obtained from external resources. AVAILABILITY: http://besckb.ornl.gov.     

Animal models of portal hypertension

Chronic liver diseases ultimately lead to cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PHT). Indeed, PHT is a major cause of severe complications, while medical treatment is limited to non-selective beta blockers. Sophisticated animal models are needed to investigate novel treatment options for different etiologies of liver disease, effective anti-fibrotic agents as well as vasoactive drugs against PHT. In this review, we present some of the most common animal models of liver disease and PHT – including pre-hepatic, intra-hepatic and post-hepatic PHT in rodents. Methodology for induction, considerations for disease etiology, advantages and limitations and practical issues of these animal models are discussed. The appropriate and sensible use of animal models in preclinical research supporting the 3R concept of replacement, reduction and refinement is highlighted.     

Prostacyclin increases portal venous flow

Prostacyclin (PGI₂) is a potent vasolidator and is a potential therapeutic agent to increase blood flow during several disease states. PGI₂ is alos elevated in plasma during sepsis or pancreatitis. The hemodynamic effect of PGI₂ has not been investigated with regard to the portal venous system. In five anesthetized swine, cardiac output (CO), central venous pressure (CVP), femoral artery pressure (FAP), heart rate (HR), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), portal venous flow (PoVF), and portal venous pressure (PoVP) were measured before and after increasing doses of PGI₂. The infusions were then repeated after atropine administration. The previously reported effects on the peripheral and pulmonary vascular systems were confirmed. after an injection of 0.5 to 5.0 ug/kg of PGI₂ into the left atrium, a significant decline in CO, FAP, and PAP occured. Atropinization further depressed CO. The most marked effecr of PGI₂, however, was an increase in PoVF without a change in PoVP. This effect was more pronounced when atropine was administered. In anethetized swine, PGI₂ is a potent vasodilator in all vascular beds, including the portal venous system. These hemodynamic changes should be realized when exogenous PGI₂ is considered as a therapeutic agent or when endogenous PGI₂ might increase in association with disease states like pancreatitis or sepsis.     

NEWT,a new taxonomy portal

NEWT is a new taxonomy portal to the SWISS-PROT protein sequence knowledgebase. It contains taxonomy data, which is updated daily, for the complete set of species represented in SWISS-PROT, as well as those stored at the NCBI. Users can navigate through the taxonomy tree and access corresponding SWISS-PROT protein entries. In addition, a manually curated selection of external links allows access to specific information on selected species. NEWT is available at http://www.ebi.ac.uk/newt/.