Proximal intestinal absorption of calcium is elevated in proportion to growth rate but not bone mass is small for gestational age piglets

During the first year of life, body calcium content increases faster in relation to body size than any other time during growth. Studies have shown postnatal growth and bone mineralization differences between appropriate for gestational age and small for gestational age infants. The objective of this study was to compare duodenal calcium transport using intestinal ligated loop technique in 21-day-old small for gestational age (birth weight of <1.2 kg) and appropriate for gestational age piglets (birth weight of > or =1.4 kg). Piglets were fed liquid formula between day 5 and 21 of life and monitored daily for weight gain. At day 21 calcium absorption was measured followed by measurement of bone mass using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Small for gestational age piglets had greater calcium absorption and growth rate than appropriate for gestational age piglets. Birth weight was negatively related to weight gain and calcium absorption. Weight gain was positively related to calcium absorption. Appropriate for gestational age piglets had significantly higher whole body bone mineral content than small for gestational age piglets even after correction for body size. Whole body bone mineral content was positively correlated with birth weight and negatively correlated with calcium absorption. These observations suggest that small for gestational age piglets are capable of absorbing elevated amounts of calcium in the proximal intestine in support of compensatory growth. However, at 21 days of age small for gestational age piglets are similar in size but have lower bone mass compared to appropriate for gestational age piglets.     

Distinct functional domains of the epsin-related Ent5p,a cargo adaptor for the SNARE Tlg2p in transport between endosomes and Golgi

The epsin-related adaptor proteins Ent3p and Ent5p participate in budding of clathrin coated vesicles in transport between trans-Golgi network and endosomes in yeast. Transport of the arginine permease Can1p was analyzed, which recycles between plasma membrane and endosomes and can be targeted to the vacuole for degradation. ent3∆ cells accumulate Can1p-GFP in endosomes. Can1p-GFP is transported faster to the vacuole upon induction of degradation in ent5∆ cells than in wild type cells. The C-terminal domain of Ent5p was sufficient to restore recycling of the secretory SNARE GFP-Snc1p between plasma membrane and TGN in ent3∆ ent5∆ cells. The SNARE Tlg2p was identified as interaction partner of the Ent5p ENTH domain by in vitro binding assays and the interaction site on Ent5p was mapped. Tlg2p functions in transport from early endosomes to the trans-Golgi network and in homotypic fusion of these organelles. Tlg2p is partially shifted to denser fractions in sucrose density gradients of organelles from ent5∆ cells while distribution of Kex2p is unaffected demonstrating that Ent5p acts as cargo adaptor for Tlg2p in vivo. Taken together we show that Ent3p and Ent5p have different roles in transport and function as cargo adaptors for distinct SNAREs.     

A tetravalent dengue nanoparticle stimulates antibody production in mice

Background

Dengue is a major public health problem worldwide, especially in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Infection with a single Dengue virus (DENV) serotype causes a mild, self-limiting febrile illness called dengue fever. However, a subset of patients experiencing secondary infection with a different serotype progresses to the severe form of the disease, dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome. Currently, there are no licensed vaccines or antiviral drugs to prevent or treat dengue infections. Biodegradable nanoparticles coated with proteins represent a promising method for in vivo delivery of vaccines.

Findings

Here, we used a murine model to evaluate the IgG production after administration of inactivated DENV corresponding to all four serotypes adsorbed to bovine serum albumin nanoparticles. This formulation induced a production of anti-DENV IgG antibodies (p < 0.001). However, plaque reduction neutralization assays with the four DENV serotypes revealed that these antibodies have no neutralizing activity in the dilutions tested.

Conclusions

Our results show that while the nanoparticle system induces humoral responses against DENV, further investigation with different DENV antigens will be required to improve immunogenicity, epitope specicity, and functional activity to make this platform a viable option for DENV vaccines.     

Autonomic control of the cardiovascular system during acclimatization to high altitude: effects of sildenafil.

Both acute hypoxia and sildenafil may influence autonomic control through transient cardiovascular effects. In a double-blind study, we investigated whether sildenalfil (Sil) could interfere with cardiovascular effects of hypoxia. Twelve healthy men [placebo (Pla) n = 6; Sil, n = 6] were exposed to an altitude of 4,350 m during 6 days. Treatment was continuously administered from 6 to 8 h after arrival at altitude (3 x 40 mg/day). The autonomic control on the heart was assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) during sleep at sea level (SL) and between day 1-2 and day 5-6 in hypoxia. Arterial pressure (AP) and total peripheral resistances (TPR) were obtained during daytime. There was no statistical difference between groups in HRV, AP, and TPR throughout the study. Hypoxia induced a decrease in R-R interval and an increase in AP in both groups. Low frequency-to-high frequency ratio increased at day 1-2 (Pla, P = 0.04; Sil, P = 0.02) and day 5-6 (Pla and Sil, P = 0.04) vs. SL, whereas normalized high-frequency power decreased only in Pla (P = 0.04, day 1-2 vs. SL). Normalized low-frequency power increased at high altitude (Pla and Sil, P = 0.04, day 5-6 vs. SL). TPR decreased at day 2 in Pla (P = 0.02) and tended to normalize at day 6 (P = 0.07, day 6 vs. day 2). Acute hypoxia induced a decrease in parasympathetic and increase in sympathetic tone, which tended to be reversed with acclimatization. Sil had no deleterious effects on the cardiovascular response to high-altitude exposure and its control by the autonomic nervous system.     

Excitatory granule neuron precursors orchestrate laminar localization and differentiation of cerebellar inhibitory interneuron subtypes

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