1‐Undecene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an olfactory signal for flight‐or‐fight response in Caenorhabditis elegans

Animals possess conserved mechanisms to detect pathogens and to improve survival in their presence by altering their own behavior and physiology. Here, we utilize Caenorhabditis elegans as a model host to ask whether bacterial volatiles constitute microbe‐associated molecular patterns. Using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we identify six prominent volatiles released by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We show that a specific volatile, 1‐undecene, activates nematode odor sensory neurons inducing both flight and fight responses in worms. Using behavioral assays, we show that worms are repelled by 1‐undecene and that this aversion response is driven by the detection of this volatile through AWB odor sensory neurons. Furthermore, we find that 1‐undecene odor can induce immune effectors specific to P. aeruginosa via AWB neurons and that brief pre‐exposure of worms to the odor enhances their survival upon subsequent bacterial infection. These results show that 1‐undecene derived from P. aeruginosa serves as a pathogen‐associated molecular pattern for the induction of protective responses in C. elegans.     

Single visit versus multiple visit root canal

Single visit endodontics offers many advantages over multi visit treatment. Therefore, it is of interest to assess the preference of single visit over multiple visit root canals. We used 86,000 patient records and selected 9017 records matching the inclusion criteria for the analysis using statistical tools (Chi square test at p value <0.05). Data shows that people between 26 to 45 years are often affected with dental caries. Available data is biased towards multi visits rather than single visit regardless number of canals.     

Assessing Global Marine Biodiversity Status within a Coupled Socio-Ecological Perspective

People value the existence of a variety of marine species and habitats, many of which are negatively impacted by human activities. The Convention on Biological Diversity and other international and national policy agreements have set broad goals for reducing the rate of biodiversity loss. However, efforts to conserve biodiversity cannot be effective without comprehensive metrics both to assess progress towards meeting conservation goals and to account for measures that reduce pressures so that positive actions are encouraged. We developed an index based on a global assessment of the condition of marine biodiversity using publically available data to estimate the condition of species and habitats within 151 coastal countries. Our assessment also included data on social and ecological pressures on biodiversity as well as variables that indicate whether good governance is in place to reduce them. Thus, our index is a social as well as ecological measure of the current and likely future status of biodiversity. As part of our analyses, we set explicit reference points or targets that provide benchmarks for success and allow for comparative assessment of current conditions. Overall country-level scores ranged from 43 to 95 on a scale of 1 to 100, but countries that scored high for species did not necessarily score high for habitats. Although most current status scores were relatively high, likely future status scores for biodiversity were much lower in most countries due to negative trends for both species and habitats. We also found a strong positive relationship between the Human Development Index and resilience measures that could promote greater sustainability by reducing pressures. This relationship suggests that many developing countries lack effective governance, further jeopardizing their ability to maintain species and habitats in the future.     

Influence of glutamate and GABA transport on brain excitatory/inhibitory balance

An optimally functional brain requires both excitatory and inhibitory inputs that are regulated and balanced. A perturbation in the excitatory/inhibitory balance—as is the case in some neurological disorders/diseases (e.g. traumatic brain injury Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, epilepsy and substance abuse) and disorders of development (e.g. schizophrenia, Rhett syndrome and autism spectrum disorder)—leads to dysfunctional signaling, which can result in impaired cognitive and motor function, if not frank neuronal injury. At the cellular level, transmission of glutamate and GABA, the principle excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the central nervous system control excitatory/inhibitory balance. Herein, we review the synthesis, release, and signaling of GABA and glutamate followed by a focused discussion on the importance of their transport systems to the maintenance of excitatory/inhibitory balance.     

Effects of Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation on Chronic Fatigue in Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Several rehabilitation programmes aim at reducing the impact of fatigue in MS patients. Acute and chronic fatigue should require different management.

Objectives

To assess the effects of individually tailored, multidisciplinary outpatient rehabilitation (MDR) on chronic fatigue.

Methods

Forty-eight ambulatory MS patients with chronic fatigue were randomized to MDR or to MS–nurse consultation. Fatigue was assessed by the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS-20R). Secondary outcomes included the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale, Functional Independence Measure, Disability and Impact Profile (DIP), Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale and the Impact on Participation and Autonomy (IPA).

Results

The primary outcome measure CIS-20R overall score showed no significant differences between groups at 12 weeks (P = 0.39) and 24 weeks follow-up (P = 0.14), nor for subscales (t = 12 and t = 24, 0.19≤P≤0.88). No significant within-group effects were found for both groups with respect to the primary (0.57≤p≤0.97) and secondary (0.11≤p≤0.92) outcome measures from baseline to 12 or 24 weeks.

Conclusion

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation was not more effective in terms of reducing self-reported fatigue in MS patients compared to MS-nurse consultation. Our results suggest that chronic fatigue in patients with MS may be highly invariant over time, irrespective of interventions.

Trial Registration

controlled-trials.com ISRCTN05017507     

Resistance training improves depressive symptoms in individuals at high risk for type 2 diabetes

Depression is more prevalent in obese individuals and those with diabetes, compared to the general population. This study examined the effect of resistance training on depressed mood in individuals with high (HiMF, n ≥ 2) and low (LoMF, n ≤ 1) numbers of risk factors for metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. The primary hypothesis was that resistance training would significantly reduce depressed mood, as measured by the Cardiac Depression Scale (CDS), in individuals with HiMF. Fifty-five middle-aged volunteers (50.8 ± 0.9 years, mean ± SEM) from the general community participated in the study. After initial allocation to HiMF or LoMF, participants were randomly allocated to 4 groups, HiMF training (HiMFT), HiMF control (HiMFC), LoMF training (LoMFT), and LoMF control (LoMFC). Participants underwent resistance training involving major muscle groups on 3 d·wk(-1) for 10 weeks. Before and after interventions (training or control), participants completed the CDS to assess change in the level of depressed mood. Following resistance training, the CDS score of the HiMFT group was reduced by -14.8 ± 4.9 points on the CDS, a significant improvement in comparison to both baseline (p = 0.01) and HiMFC (p = 0.049) values. No significant change was observed for LoMFT. In the HiMF group only, the percent change in relative muscle strength was correlated with the Δ change in CDS; r = -0.46, p = 0.008. Resistance exercise training programs that consist 7 exercises for the major muscle groups at both low-moderate and moderate-high intensities appear to alleviate depressed mood in individuals with clusters of metabolic risk factors.     

In planta expression of A. cellulolyticus Cel5A endocellulase reduces cell wall recalcitrance in tobacco and maize

The glycoside hydrolase family 5 endocellulase, E1 (Cel5A), from Acidothermus cellulolyticus was transformed into both Nicotiana tabacum and Zea mays with expression targeted to the cell wall under a constitutive promoter. Here we explore the possibility that in planta expression of endocellulases will allow these enzymes to access their substrates during cell wall construction, rendering cellulose more amenable to pretreatment and enzyme digestion. Tobacco and maize plants were healthy and developed normally compared with the wild type (WT). After thermochemical pretreatment and enzyme digestion, transformed plants were clearly more digestible than WT, requiring lower pretreatment severity to achieve comparable conversion levels. Furthermore, the decreased recalcitrance was not due to post-pretreatment residual E1 activity and could not be reproduced by the addition of exogenous E1 to the biomass prior to pretreatment, indicating that the expression of E1 during cell wall construction altered the inherent recalcitrance of the cell wall.     

A microRNA network regulates proliferative timing and extracellular matrix synthesis during cellular quiescence in fibroblasts

Background

Although quiescence (reversible cell cycle arrest) is a key part in the life history and fate of many mammalian cell types, the mechanisms of gene regulation in quiescent cells are poorly understood. We sought to clarify the role of microRNAs as regulators of the cellular functions of quiescent human fibroblasts.

Results

Using microarrays, we discovered that the expression of the majority of profiled microRNAs differed between proliferating and quiescent fibroblasts. Fibroblasts induced into quiescence by contact inhibition or serum starvation had similar microRNA profiles, indicating common changes induced by distinct quiescence signals. By analyzing the gene expression patterns of microRNA target genes with quiescence, we discovered a strong regulatory function for miR-29, which is downregulated with quiescence. Using microarrays and immunoblotting, we confirmed that miR-29 targets genes encoding collagen and other extracellular matrix proteins and that those target genes are induced in quiescence. In addition, overexpression of miR-29 resulted in more rapid cell cycle re-entry from quiescence. We also found that let-7 and miR-125 were upregulated in quiescent cells. Overexpression of either one alone resulted in slower cell cycle re-entry from quiescence, while the combination of both together slowed cell cycle re-entry even further.

Conclusions

microRNAs regulate key aspects of fibroblast quiescence including the proliferative state of the cells as well as their gene expression profiles, in particular, the induction of extracellular matrix proteins in quiescent fibroblasts.