Recognizing and optimizing flight opportunities with hardware and life sciences limitations

The availability of orbital space flight opportunities to conduct life sciences research has been limited. It is possible to use parabolic flight and sounding rocket programs to conduct some kinds of experiments during short episodes (seconds to minutes) of reduced gravity, but there are constraints and limitations to these programs. Orbital flight opportunities are major undertakings, and the potential science achievable is often a function of the flight hardware available. A variety of generic types of flight hardware have been developed and tested, and show great promise for use during NSTS flights. One such payload configuration is described which has already flown.     

Suspension osteopenia in mice: Whole body electromagnetic field effects

Whole-body fields were tested for their efficacy in preventing the osteopenia caused by tail suspension in mice. The fields had fundamental frequencies corresponding to the upper range of predicted endogenous impact-generated frequencies (0.25–2.0 kHz) in the long bones. Three distinct whole-body EMFs were applied for 2 weeks on growing mice. Structural, geometric, and material properties of the femora, tibiae, and humeri of suspended mice were altered compared to controls. Comparison of suspended mice and mice subjected to caloric restriction indicates that the changes in caloric intake do not explain either the suspension or the field-induced effects. In agreement with past studies, rather, unloading appears to cause the suspension effects and to be addressed by the EMFs. The EMF effects on bone properties were apparently frequency dependent, with the lower two fundamental frequencies (260 and 910 Hz) altering, albeit slightly, the suspension-induced bone effects. The fields are not apparently optimized for frequency, etc., with respect to therapeutic potential; however, suspension provides a model system for further study of the in vivo effects of EMFs. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Role of ultrasonography in diagnosing early rheumatoid arthritis and remission of rheumatoid arthritis - a systematic review of the literature

Introduction

Ultrasonography (US) might have an added value to clinical examination in diagnosing early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and assessing remission of RA. We aimed to clarify the added value of US in RA in these situations performing a systematic review.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed for RA, US, diagnosis and remission. Methodological quality was assessed; the wide variability in the design of studies prohibited pooling of results.

Results

Six papers on the added value of US diagnosing early RA were found, in which at least bilateral metacarpophalangeal (MCP), wrists and metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints were scanned. Compared to clinical examination, US was superior with regard to detecting synovitis and predicting progression to persistent arthritis or RA. Eleven papers on assessing remission were identified, in which at least the wrist and the MCP joints of the dominant hand were scanned. Often US detected inflammation in patients clinically in remission, irrespective of the remission criteria used. Power Doppler signs of synovitis predicted X-ray progression and future flare in patients clinically in remission.

Conclusions

US appears to have added value to clinical examination for diagnosing of RA when scanning at least MCP, wrist and MTP joints, and, when evaluating remission of RA, scanning at least wrist and MCP joints of the dominant hand. For both purposes primarily power Doppler US might be used since its results are less equivocal than those of greyscale US.     

Starch as a sugar reservoir for nematode-induced syncytia

The plant parasitic nematode Heterodera schachtii invades the roots of Arabidopsis thaliana to induce nematode feeding structures in the central cylinder. During nematode development, the parasites feed exclusively from these structures. Thus, high sugar import and specific sugar processing of the affected plant cells is crucial for nematode development. In the present work, we found starch accumulation in nematode feeding structures and therefore studied the expression genes involved in the starch metabolic pathway. The importance of starch synthesis was further shown using the Atss1 mutant line. As it is rather surprising to find starch accumulation in cells characterised by a high nutrient loss, we speculate that starch serves as long- and short-term carbohydrate storage to compensate the staggering feeding behaviour of the parasites.Key words: Heterodera schachtii, Arabidopsis, nematode, starch metabolism, syncytiaThe obligate plant parasitic nematode Heterodera schachtii is entirely dependent on a system of nutrient supply provided by the plant. Host plants—among those the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana—have to endure invasion of second stage juveniles and the establishment of nematode feeding structures in the plant''s vascular cylinder. For induction of the specific feeding structures, the juveniles pierce one single plant cell with their stylet and inject secretions, thus triggering the formation of a syncytium by local cell walls dissolutions.¹ Further, the central vacuole of the syncytial cells disintegrates, nuclei enlarge and many organelles proliferate.¹ About 24 hours after feeding site induction, the nematode juveniles start feeding in repetitive cycles.² Syncytia have previously been described as strong sinks in the plant''s transport system.³ Thus, in the recent years several studies were carried out to discover solute supply to syncytial cells.^4–7 To our present knowledge, syncytia are symplasmically isolated in the first days of nematode development. During that period, the nematodes depend on transport protein activity in the syncytia plasmamembranes. At later stages plasmodesmata appear to open to the phloem elements, facilitating symplasmic transport.Incoming solutes may either be taken up by the feeding nematode or are synthesised and catalysed by the syncytium''s metabolism. Due to the microscopically observable high density of the cytosol¹ and the increased osmotic pressure,⁸ syncytia appear to accumulate high solute concentrations. In fact, significantly increased sucrose levels have been found in syncytia in comparison to non-infected control roots.⁷ In case of high sugar levels, plant cells generally synthesize starch in order to reduce emerging osmotic stress.⁹ The aim of the work of Hofmann et al.,¹⁰ was to elucidate if starch is utilised as carbohydrate storage in nematode-induced syncytia and to study expression of genes involved in starch metabolism with an emphasis on nematode development.Starch levels of nematode induced syncytia and roots of non-infected plants grown on sand/soil culture were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed a high accumulation of starch in syncytia that was steadily decreasing during nematode development. The accumulation of starch could further be localised within syncytial cells by electron microscopy. Based on these results, we studied the gene expression of the starch metabolic pathway by Affymetrix gene chip analysis. About half of the 56 involved genes were significantly upregulated in syncytia compared to the control and only two genes were significantly downregulated. Thus, the high induction of the gene expression is consistent with the high starch accumulation. Finally, we applied an Arabidopsis mutant line lacking starch synthase I expression that has been described previously.¹¹ Starch synthase I was the second highest upregulated gene in syncytia. It catalyses the linkage of ADP-glucose to the non-reducing end of an a-glucan, forming the linear glucose chains of amylopectin. In a nematode infection assay we were able to prove the significant importance of the gene for nematode development.With the presented results, we can unambiguously prove the accumulation of starch and the induction of the gene expression of the starch metabolic pathway in nematode-induced syncytia. The primary question however is: why do syncytia accumulate soluble sugars and starch although their metabolism is highly induced and nematodes withdraw solutes during continuously repeating feeding cycles?One explanation may be found where least expected—in nematode feeding. It is the feeding activity that induced solute import mechanisms into syncytia resulting in a newly formed sink tissue. However, during moulting events to the third, the fourth juvenile stage and to the adult stage nematodes interrupt feeding for about 20 hours.² During this period sugar supply mechanisms will most probably not be altered thus leading to increasing levels of sugars in the syncytium. Starch may serve as short-term carbohydrate buffering sugar excess. Further, starch may serve as long-term carbohydrate storage during nematode development. In the early stages of juvenile development nematodes withdraw considerably small quantities (about 0,8-times the syncytium volume a day).¹² At later stages, nutrient demand increases so that adult fertilised females require 4-times the syncytium volume per day in order to accomplish egg production.¹² Thus, excessive sugar supply in the first days may be accumulated as starch that gets degraded at later stages when more energy is required from the parasites. Consequently, starch reserve serves as both short-term and long-term carbohydrate storage in nematode-induced syncytia in order to buffer changing feeding pattern of the parasites.? Open in a separate windowFigure 1Arabidopsis wild-type Columbia-0 plants were grown in sand/soil culture. Nematode-induced syncytia and non-infected control roots were harvested at 10, 15 and 20 days after inoculation (dai) and starch content was measured as glucose (Glc) equivalents. Values are means ± SE, n = 3. Different letters indicate significant variations (p < 0.05). © ASPBOpen in a separate windowFigure 2Transmission electron microscope picture of a cross-section of a syncytium associated with female fourth stage juvenile (H. schachtii) induced in roots of Arabidopsis. Bar = 2 µm. S, syncytium; Se, sieve tube; arrow, plastid; asterisk, starch granule. © ASPB     

Immunoglobulin G galactosylation and sialylation are associated with pregnancy-induced improvement of rheumatoid arthritis and the postpartum flare: results from a large prospective cohort study

Introduction  

Improvement of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during pregnancy has been causatively associated with increased galactosylation of immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycans. Since previous studies were small, did not include the postpartum flare and did not study sialylation, these issues were addressed in the present study.     

The physical and mechanical effects of suspension-induced osteopenia on mouse long bones.

The present investigation addresses the extent of tail-suspension effects on the long bones of mice. The effects are explored in both sexes, in both forelimb and hindlimb bones, and in both diaphyseal and metaphyseal/epiphyseal bones. Two weeks of suspension provided unloading of the femora and tibiae and an altered loading of the humeri. Whole-bone effects included lower mass (approximately 10%) and length (approximately 4%) in the bones of suspended mice compared to controls. The geometric and material properties of the femora were considered along the entire length of the diaphysis and in the metaphysis/epiphysis portions as a unit. Geometric effects included lower cross-sectional cortical area (16%), cortical thickness (25%) and moment of inertia (21%) in the femora of suspended mice; these differences were observed in both distal and proximal portions of the femur diaphysis. The relative amount of bone comprising the middle 8 mm of the diaphysis was greater (3%) in the control mice than in the suspended mice. Significant mass differences between the group in the metaphysis/epiphysis were not observed. Material effects included lower %ash (approximately 2%) in the femora and tibiae as well as in the humeri of suspended mice compared to controls. With respect to the measured physical and material properties, suspension produced similar bone responses in male and female mice. The effects of suspension are manifested largely through geometric rather than through material changes.     

Protein composition and synthesis in the adult mouse spinal cord

Propepties of spinal cord proteins were studied in adult mice subjected to unilateral crush or electrical stimulation of sciatic nerve. The protein composition of spinal tissue was determined using SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis coupled with subcellular fractionation. Comparisons of mouse spinal cord and brain revealed similarities in the types but differences in the concentrations of myelin associated proteins, nuclear histones and other proteins. Comparisons with sciatic nerve proteins demonstrated differences in types of proteins but similarities in the concentration of myelin proteins and nuclear histones. The short term (<2 hrs.) incorporation of radioactive amino acids into spinal cord proteins revealed heterogeneous rates of incorporation. Neither nerve crush six days prior to testing nor sciatic nerve stimulation had a significant effect on the protein composition or amino acid incorporation rates of spinal cord tissue. These observations suggest that known differences in spinal cord function following alterations in nerve input may be dependent upon different mechanisms than have been found in the brain.     

Modulation of the endocannabinoid system in viable and non-viable first trimester pregnancies by pregnancy-related hormones

Background

In early pregnancy, increased plasma levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) are associated with miscarriage through mechanisms that might affect the developing placenta or maternal decidua.

Methods

In this study, we compare AEA levels in failed and viable pregnancies with the levels of the trophoblastic hormones (beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (beta-hCG), progesterone (P4) and (pregnancy-associated placental protein-A (PAPP-A)) essential for early pregnancy success and relate that to the expression of the cannabinoid receptors and enzymes that modulate AEA levels.

Results

The median plasma AEA level in non-viable pregnancies (1.48 nM; n = 20) was higher than in viable pregnancies (1.21 nM; n = 25; P = 0.013), as were progesterone and beta-hCG levels (41.0 vs 51.5 ng/mL; P = 0.052 for P4 and 28,650 vs 6,560 mIU/L; P = 0.144 for beta-hCG, respectively, but were not statistically significant). Serum PAPP-A levels in the viable group were approximately 6.8 times lower than those in the non-viable group (1.82 vs 12.25 mg/L; P = 0.071), but again these differences were statistically insignificant. In the spontaneous miscarriage group, significant correlations between P4 and beta-hCG, P4 and PAPP-A and AEA and PAPP-A levels were observed. Simultaneously, immunohistochemical distributions of the two main cannabinoid receptors and the AEA-modifying enzymes, fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine-phospholipase D (NAPE-PLD), changed within both the decidua and trophoblast.

Conclusions

The association of higher AEA levels with early pregnancy failure and with beta-hCG and PAPP-A, but not with progesterone concentrations suggest that plasma AEA levels and pregnancy failure are linked via a mechanism that may involve trophoblastic beta-hCG, and PAPP-A, but not, progesterone production. Although the trophoblast, decidua and embryo contain receptors for AEA, the main AEA target in early pregnancy failure remains unknown.