Selective brain responses to acute and chronic low-dose X-ray irradiation in males and females

Radiation exposure is known to have profound effects on the brain, leading to precursor cell dysfunction and debilitating cognitive declines [Nat. Med. 8 (2002) 955]. Although a plethora of data exist on the effects of high radiation doses, the effects of low-dose irradiation, such as ones received during repetitive diagnostic and therapeutic exposures, are still under-investigated [Am. J. Otolaryngol. 23 (2002) 215; Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97 (2000) 889; Curr. Opin. Neurol. 16 (2003) 129]. Furthermore, most studies of the biological effects of ionizing radiation have been performed using a single acute dose, while clinically and environmentally relevant exposures occur predominantly under chronic/repetitive conditions. Here, we have used a mouse model to compare the effects of chronic/repetitive and acute low-dose radiation (LDR) exposure (0.5Gy) to ionizing radiation on the brain in vivo. We examined the LDR effects on p42/44 MAPK (ERK1/ERK2), CaMKII, and AKT signaling-the interconnected pathways that have been previously shown to be crucial for neuronal survival upon irradiation. We report perturbations in ERK1/2, AKT, and CREB upon acute and chronic/repetitive low-dose exposure in the hippocampus and frontal cortex of mice. These studies were paralleled by the analysis of radiation effects on neurogenesis and cellular proliferation. Repetitive exposure had a much more pronounced effect on cellular signaling and neurogenesis than acute exposure. These results suggest that studies of single acute exposures might be limited in terms of their predictive value. We also present the first evidence of sex differences in radiation-induced signaling in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. We show the role of estrogens in brain radiation responses and discuss the implications of the observed changes.     

A variant glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase Gd(-) Chiapas associated with moderate enzyme deficiency and occasional hemolytic anemia

Summary Erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate deficiency is an X-chromosomal-linked hereditary trait often associated with hemolytic anemia. This report defines a new variant designated as Gd(-) Chiapas, which was found in a subject with occasional hemolytic jaundice. The red cell enzyme activity of the subject is about 15% of normal. The variant enzyme is thermolabile in vitro and has faster-than-normal anodal electrophoretic mobility and stronger-than-normal substrate affinity. The patient's hemolytic problem might be correlated with instability of the variant enzyme under physiologic stress.This study was supported in part by the US Public Health Service Grant HL-15125.     

Comparative study of two culture conservation methods in medical mycology

The efficiency of two fungal conservation methods was compared: Suspension in sterile distilled water and subcultures on potato dextrose agar (PDA) slants at 4 °C. One hundred and eleven strains corresponding to 84 different-species of microorganisms studied in medical mycology were evaluated. The efficiency of each method was estimated by the survival percentage and the preservation of the morphological features of each strain within a seven-year period. From the 111 strains, 79 (71.2%) were preserved viable in water, compared to 86 (77.5%) strains preserved by subculture on PDA slants. Concerning morphological features 75 of the 79 water viable strains (94.9%) conserved their morphology. In contrast, only 60 of the 86 strains (69.8%) conserved their typical morphology by the PDA subculture method. The water conservation method offers important benefits over serial subculture such as: Minimal pleomorphism, simple, rapid and requiring few materials. Thus, the water conservation method is recommended for laboratories where specialized conservation equipment is not available.     

Nano-biosensor development for bacterial detection during human kidney infection: Use of glycoconjugate-specific antibody-bound gold NanoWire arrays (GNWA)

Infectious disease, commonly caused by bacterial pathogens, is now the worlds leading cause of premature death and third overall cause behind cardiovascular disease and cancer. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), caused by E. coli bacteria, is a very common bacterial infection, a majority in women (85%) and may result in severe kidney failure if not detected quickly. Among hundreds of strains the bacteria, E. coli 0157:H7, is emerging as the most aggressive one because of its capability to produce a toxin causing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) resulting in death, especially in children. In the present study, a project has been undertaken for developing a rapid method for UTI detection in very low bacteria concentration, applying current knowledge of nano-technology. Experiments have been designed for the development of biosensors using nano-fabricated structures coated with elements such as gold that have affinity for biomolecules. A biosensor is a device in which a biological sensing element is either intimately connected to or integrated within a transducer. The basic principle for the detection procedure of the infection is partly based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay system. Anti-E. coli antibody-bound Gold Nanowire Arrays (GNWA) prepared on anodized porous alumina template is used for the primary step followed by binding of the bacteria containing specimen. An alkaline phosphatase-conjugated second antibody is then added to the system and the resultant binding determined by both electrochemical and optical measurements. Various kinds of GNWA templates were used in order to determine the one with the best affinity for antibody binding. In addition, an efficient method for enhanced antibody binding has been developed with the covalent immobilization of an organic linker Dithiobissuccinimidylundecanoate (DSU) on the GNWA surface. Studies have also been conducted to optimize the antibody-binding conditions to the linker-attached GNWA surfaces for their ability to detect bacteria in clinical concentrations. Published in 2004.     

Marginal biotin deficiency is teratogenic

Recent studies of biotin status during pregnancy provide evidence that a marginal degree of biotin develops in a substantial proportion of women during normal pregnancy. Several lines of evidence suggest that, although the degree of biotin deficiency is not severe enough to produce the classic cutaneous and behavioral manifestations of biotin deficiency, the deficiency is severe enough to produce metabolic derangements in women and that characteristic fetal malformations occur at a high rate in some mammals. Moreover, our analysis of data from a published multivitamin supplementation study provide significant albeit indirect evidence that the marginal degree of biotin deficiency that occurs spontaneously in normal human gestation is teratogenic. Investigation of potential mechanisms provides evidence that biotin transport by the human placenta is weak. Further, proliferating cells accumulate biotin at a rate five times faster than quiescent cells; this observation suggests that there is an increased biotin requirement associated with cell proliferation. Perhaps this requirement arises from the need to synthesize additional biotin-dependent holocarboxylases or provide additional biotin as a substrate for biotinylation of cellular histones. Reduced activity of the biotin-dependent enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase and propionyl-CoA carboxylase can cause alterations of lipid metabolism and might theoretically lead to alterations of polyunsaturated fatty acid and prostaglandin metabolism that derange normal skeletal development.     

Detection of heart murmurs using wavelet analysis and artificial neural networks

This paper presents the algorithm and technical aspects of an intelligent diagnostic system for the detection of heart murmurs. The purpose of this research is to address the lack of effectively accurate cardiac auscultation present at the primary care physician office by development of an algorithm capable of operating within the hectic environment of the primary care office. The proposed algorithm consists of three main stages. First; denoising of input data (digital recordings of heart sounds), via Wavelet Packet Analysis. Second; input vector preparation through the use of Principal Component Analysis and block processing. Third; classification of the heart sound using an Artificial Neural Network. Initial testing revealed the intelligent diagnostic system can differentiate between normal healthy heart sounds and abnormal heart sounds (e.g., murmurs), with a specificity of 70.5% and a sensitivity of 64.7%.     

Roles for nutrients in epigenetic events

The field of epigenetics is the study of modifications of DNA and DNA-binding proteins that alter the structure of chromatin without altering the nucleotide sequence of DNA; some of these modifications may be associated with heritable changes in gene function. Nutrients play essential roles in the following epigenetic events. First, folate participates in the generation of S-adenosylmethionine, which acts as a methyl donor in the methylation of cytosines in DNA; methylation of cytosines is associated with gene silencing. Second, covalent attachment of biotin to histones (DNA-binding proteins) plays a role in gene silencing and in the cellular response to DNA damage. Third, tryptophan and niacin are converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, which is a substrate for poly(ADP-ribosylation) of histones and other DNA-binding proteins; poly(ADP-ribosylation) of these proteins participates in DNA repair and apoptosis. Here we present a novel procedure to map nutrient-dependent epigenetic marks in the entire genomes of any given species: the combined use of chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and DNA microarrays. This procedure is also an excellent tool to map the enzymes that mediate modifications of DNA and DNA-binding proteins in chromatin. Given the tremendous opportunities offered by the combined use of chromatin immunoprecipitation assays and DNA microarrays, the nutrition community can expect seeing a surge of information related to roles for nutrients in epigenetic events.