Weeks Of Age Research Articles

Dynamic monitoring of active calcification in atherosclerosis by 18F-NaF PET imaging.

The objective was to dynamically monitor the progression of atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-/- mice with 18F-NaF PET imaging. The ApoE-/- mice were used to develop atherosclerosis models, and the C57BL/6J mice were used as control. 18F-NaF PET was performed when the mice were 12, 20, and 30weeks of age. Serum lipids and lipoproteins profiles, inflammatory cytokines, and calcification factors were tested by ELISA. The lipid distribution, morphology, and calcification of plaque were evaluated by Oil Red O, HE, and alizarin red staining. The correlation between imaging and the extent of calcification was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis. The uptake of 18F-NaF in the aorta was gradually increased with each weekly extension. Compared with the ApoE-/- mice at the age of 12weeks and 20weeks, the levels of lipoprotein, inflammatory cytokines, and calcification factors were higher at 30weeks. In Oil Red O, HE, and alizarin red staining, the extent of the lipid area and calcification increased with time. The correlation analysis showed that the uptake of 18F-NaF in the aorta was related to the extent of calcification. 18F-NaF may dynamically monitor the progression of atherosclerotic plaques and ongoing microcalcification formation.

213. Study comparing NTG-101, a growth factor-based therapy with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) based treatment of degenerative disc disease (DDD) in pre-clinical rodent model

BACKGROUND CONTEXT Currently there is significant interest in the use of cellular therapies (such as stem cells) to treat degenerative disc disease (DDD). We recently explored the potential use of bone marrow derived stem cells (BMSCs) and cartilage-derived stem cells (CDSCs) in a small animal model of DDD as compared to our recently developed molecular therapy ‘NTG-101’. PURPOSE To compare the therapeutic efficacy of NTG-101 with BMSCs or CDSCs to treat DDD in rodent model. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING In vivo laboratory experimentation involving female Wistar rats aged 12-weeks. PATIENT SAMPLE No human subjects. Animal Care approved study involving female Wistar rats using validated rat-tail injury and injection model. OUTCOME MEASURES Histology, immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, gene expression. METHODS CDSCs were derived from the tibial and femoral plateaus of Wistar rats and sphere forming cells were passaged further in serum free, stem cell specific media. BMSCs were obtained from the femurs of these animals and cultured as adherent cells in media containing 8% fetal bovine serum (FBS) following standard protocols. Stemness was confirmed by differentiation into multiple lineages. In parallel, we induced DDD in caudal intervertebral discs (IVDs) of 12 weeks old Wistar rats (N=30) using image-guided needle puncture injury. Ten weeks later, animals were randomized in six treatment groups (n=5 animals/group) and received an intradiscal injection (8µl) containing:G1-phosphate buffered saline (PBS, 1X, pH=7.2); G2-NTG-101(1X);G3-CDSCs (150,000 cells/disc) suspended in PBS; G4-BMSCs (150,000 cells/disc) suspended in PBS;G5-CDSCs (150,000 cells/disc) suspended in NTG-101(1X); G6-BMSCs (150,000 cells/disc) suspended in NTG-101(1X). At the end of experiment (ie, 10 weeks post-injection, 20 weeks post-injury), animals were humanely euthanized and IVDs were harvested for histology, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. RESULTS Gene expression analysis using quantitative real time PCR confirmed expression of pluripotency (Oct4, Nanog, Sox2) and mesenchymal stem cell surface markers (CD29, CD44, CD90, CD105, CD133, CD166) in all stem cells. CDSC and BMSCs differentiation into chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic lineages was confirmed, thereby validating their stemness potential. Discs injected with PBS developed a degenerative phenotype with the loss of NP morphology, cellularity and the development of a degenerative fibrocartilaginous phenotype. On the other hand, IVDs injected with NTG-101 or CDSCs alone showed a significant recovery. The morphology and cellularity of discs injected with BMSCs alone or in combination with NTG-101 was not significantly different from those discs injected with PBS. NTG-101 injected discs showed a healthy NP rich in notochordal and resident stem cells as revealed by nuclear Brachyury and Oct4 respectively, whereas discs injected with stem cells alone or stem cells plus NTG-101 did not. CONCLUSIONS Our preclinical data demonstrated that single intradiscal injection of NTG-101 is a superior and effective therapy for regeneration of IVD-NP in comparison to mesenchymal stem cell-based therapies for treatment of DDD. FDA DEVICE/DRUG STATUS This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.

Sex-differences in echocardiographic assessment of aortic valve in young adult LDLr-/-/ApoB100/100/IGF-II+/- mice.

LDLr-/-/ApoB100/100/IGF-II+/- mice are used as a calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) model. However, normal aortic valve hemodynamics i.e. remotely from CAVD onset and the sex-related differences are poorly known. Four groups of mice, intact males (IM, n=49) and females (IF, n=50), castrated males (CxM, n=79) and ovariectomized females (OxF: 73), underwent a Doppler-echocardiography at 12weeks of age. Gonadectomy was performed at 8weeks. Aortic valve assessment using effective orifice area (EOA, using the continuity equation) and peak aortic transvalvular velocity (VPeak) was feasible in 89% of the mice with good to excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients ranging from 0.90 to 0.98, p<0.001). Mean VPeak was 104±17cm/s and mean EOA was 1.18*10-2±0.22*10-2cm2. EOA indexed to body surface area was 1.5±0.3cm2/m2. The 95th percentile of Vpeak was 132cm/s and the 5th percentile of indexed EOA was 1.0cm2/m2. Interestingly, IM had the highest VPeak (114±14cm/s) vs each of the other groups (CxM: 106±19cm/s, OxF: 97±13cm/s and IF: 96±12cm/s, ANOVA and corrected p<0.001). This was mostly explained by a higher stroke volume (ANOVA and corrected p<0.001) in IM compared to other groups. There were no major sex-differences in ventricular systolic function parameters. In LDLr-/-/ApoB100/100/IGF-II CAVD mice model, an aortic EOA <0.8*10-2cm2 (or indexed EOA <1.0cm2/m2), and a peak aortic valve velocity>132cm/s may be proposed as thresholds to define CAVD. Intact male mice appear to have higher velocities.

Neonatal curcumin treatment restores hippocampal neurogenesis and improves autism-related behaviors in a mouse model of autism.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are highly prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction, repetitive stereotyped behaviors, and cognitive impairments. Curcumin has been indicated to be neuroprotective against neurological and psychological disorders. However, the role of curcumin in autistic phenotypes remains unclear. In the current study, we evaluated the effects of neonatal curcumin treatment on behavior and hippocampal neurogenesis in BTBRT+ltpr3tf/J (BTBR) mice, a model of autism. C57BL/6J (C57) and BTBR mouse pups were treated with 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or curcumin (20mg/kg) from postnatal day 6 (P6) to P8. Neural progenitor cells (NPCs) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) were evaluated on P8, and neurogenesis was measured on P24 by immunofluorescence. A battery of behavioral tests was carried out when the mice were 8weeks of age. Neonatal curcumin treatment improved autism-related symptoms in BTBR mice, enhancing sociability, reducing repetitive behaviors, and ameliorating cognitive impairments. Furthermore, the suppression of hippocampal neurogenesis in BTBR mice was greatly rescued after neonatal curcumin treatment, leading to an increase in neurogenic processes and an increase in NPC proliferation concomitant with an expansion of the NPC pool on P8, and NPC differentiation towards the neuronal lineage was promoted in the DG of BTBR mice on P24. Our findings suggest that neonatal curcumin treatment elicits a therapeutic response through the restoration of hippocampal neurogenesis in BTBR mice and thus may represent a promising novel pharmacological strategy for ASD treatment.

Evaluation of growth performance of Sasso and Kuroiler chickens fed three diets at varying levels of supplementation under semi-intensive system of production in Tanzania.

The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of breed, diet, and level of feed supplementation on growth performance, feed conversion ratio, and survivability of Sasso and Kuroiler chicken. The study was conducted in two separate phases, i.e., the starter phase (0-6weeks of age) and grower phase (6-20weeks of age). One thousand sixty-day-old Sasso and Kuroiler chicks were raised until 6weeks under intensive management system with three dietary treatments. At the age of 6weeks, a total of 960 birds (480 Sasso and 480 Kuroiler) were randomly selected from each treatment diet and assigned to four feed supplementation levels, i.e., 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% with two replicates each having 20 birds. Beginning week 7, birds were allowed to semi-scavenge from 6:00am in the morning to 6:00pm in the evening with free access to open grass area of 1 bird/4m2. Grower rations based on the three categories, i.e., commercial, medium-cost, and low-cost formulation, were fed from 7th to the 20th week of age. During 0 to 6weeks of the growing phase, the breed and diet significantly (p < 0.05) influenced 6-week live weight, live weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. Birds given commercial diet (D1) excelled in live weight, total live weight gains, and feed conversion ratio followed by medium-cost (D2) and low-cost (D3) diet respectively. During the 7th to 20th weeks of the growing phase, the breed, diet, and supplementation levels had a significant influence (p < 0.05) on the live weight and weight gain at 20weeks of age. Feed cost per kilogram gain increased with an increase in the level of supplementation. Days taken by birds to reach market weight (2kg) with 100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% level of dietary supplementation were 16, 18, 20, and more than 20weeks respectively. The survival rate for Sasso and Kuroiler was 99.80% and 97.13% respectively. It is concluded that appreciable growth performance can be attained for semi-scavenging Sasso and Kuroiler chickens when supplemented with medium- or low-cost diets at the level of 50 to 75% of their daily feed requirements.

Incidence and outcomes of cases of caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy in a tertiary referral centre

Background. Caesarean scar ectopic pregnancy (CSEP) is a rare condition in which the implantation of the gestational sac takes place within the uterine scar of a previous caesarean section (CS). If the pregnancy continues within the uterus, the risk of placenta accrete or uterine rupture is increased. Objective. To investigate four treatment methods, based on each patient’s clinical presentation, gestational age of the pregnancy and haemodynamic stability, for the management of CSEP. Methods. CSEP cases ( N =30) were diagnosed by ultrasound at the Shatby Maternity University Hospital, Egypt. Various treatment modalities, based on gestational age, were employed to treat the patients. Treatments included suction curettage ( n =12), embryo reduction with local methotrexate injection ( n =12), laparoscopic excision ( n =3) and excision through laparotomy ( n =3). Serum levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-hCG) were measured at diagnosis and weekly following treatment until the levels returned to non-pregnant values. Results. There was a significant positive correlation between gestational age in weeks and the CSEP management strategy employed. β-hCG levels decreased from before treatment to the end of the follow-up period 3 weeks later. No cases required a hysterectomy, and no maternal complications were reported in this study. Conclusion. The appropriate CSEP management strategy varies according to gestational age. Suction and embryo reduction with local methotrexate injection offers an effective, safe and minimally invasive surgical treatment to remove ectopic pregnancy tissue. Closely monitored follow-up of patients, including serial measurement of β-hCG levels and ultrasonographic examinations, is recommended after CSEP management.

An application of multiple logistic regression for identifying lipid profile changes towards assessing maternal and fetal outcomes

Background: The millennium development goals encourage governments to address and reduce various developmental issues, two of the important ones being maternal and child health. The one of the important causes of maternal mortality in India is pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and present study is to identify the relationship between disturbed lipid profile and preeclampsia its effect on fetal and maternal outcome.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done on data of maternal care and outcomes from the NRI General Hospital, Guntur district in the year 2013. Multiple logistic regression analysis is applied and results are adjusted to covariates maternal age and gravida.Results: Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure of normal group (n=50) and PIH group (n=60) are 116.08±7.77, 76.08±4.93, and 165.66±16.8 105.5±14.07 respectively. Birth weights of infants in normotensives and PIH group are 2.85±0.33 and 1.93±0.659 respectively. Percentages of fetal and maternal complications in PIH group are 88.33% and 25%. Still births are present in 31.66% of PIH cases. Mean and SD of gestational age in weeks in normal and PIH groups are 37.92±1.94 and 34.36±3.44 respectively.Conclusions: The model showed significant association between the selected independent variable, covariates and outcomes. The study demonstrates that multiple logistic regression may be applied to medical data in developing predictor models which are useful in clinical settings.

Pyk2 deficiency enhances bone mass during midpalatal suture expansion.

To determine if Pyk2 deficiency increases midpalatal suture bone mass and preserves sutural integrity after maxillary expansion. Thirty-six male Pyk2 knockout (KO) and control (WT) mice at 6weeks of age. Mice received nickel-titanium spring expanders delivering 0g (no intervention control), 10 or 20g force for 14days. High-resolution micro-CT was used to determine bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV), sutural width and intermolar width. Effects on osteoclasts, chondrocytes and suture morphology were determined by histomorphometry. Pyk2-KO controls (0g) had 7% higher BV/TV compared with WT controls. Expanded Pyk2-KO maxillae also exhibited 12% (10g) and 18% (20g) higher BV/TV than WT mice. Although bone loss following expansion occurred in both genotypes, BV/TV was decreased to a greater extent in WT maxillae (-10% at 10g; -22% at 20g) compared with Pyk2-KO maxillae (-11% only at 20g). Expanded WT maxillae also showed a greater increase in sutural width, intermolar width and fibrous connective tissue width compared with expanded Pyk2-KO maxillae. Moreover, osteoclast number was increased 77% (10g) and 132% (20g) in expanded WT maxillae, but remained unchanged in expanded Pyk2-KO, compared to their respective controls. Cartilage area and chondrocyte number were increased to the same extent in expanded WT and Pyk2-KO sutures. These findings suggest that midpalatal suture expansion increases osteoclast formation in WT but not Pyk2-KO mice, leading to higher BV/TV in expanded Pyk2-KO maxillae. These studies suggest Pyk2-targeted strategies may be beneficial to increase bone density and preserve sutural integrity during maxillary expansion.

Evidence of possible vertical transmission of duck hepatitis A virus type 1 in ducks.

Duck hepatitis A virus (DHAV) causes a highly contagious and acute disease in ducklings younger than 3weeks of age and spreads rapidly by horizontal transmission to all susceptible ducklings in the flock. To date, there is no evidence of vertical transmission of DHAV-1. In a previous study, we identified a novel DHAV type 1 (DHAV-1) isolate that could infect adult ducks and induce laying drop. In this study, 30 non-embryonated duck eggs and 60 17-day-old embryos were collected from three breeding duck flocks with egg drop syndrome caused by DHAV-1 in China, and 30 17-day-old embryos were randomly selected from the 60 embryos and allowed to hatch. DHAV-1 RNA was detected by RT-PCR in 10 of 30 non-embryonated eggs, 9 of 30 17-day-old embryos, 5 of 7 dead embryos and 5 of 23 newly hatched ducklings. Overall, 29 of 90 (32.2%) eggs and embryos were positive for DHAV-1. Three DHAV-1 strains were isolated from the dead duck embryos of the three breeding duck flocks, respectively. Pathogenicity studies showed thatthe three DHAV-1 isolates had median embryo lethal doses but were highly pathogenic to healthy ducklings. Compared with the DHAV reference strains, there were two specific amino acid mutation sites (F169 and S220 ) in VP1 of the three isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report that DHAV-1 is isolated from duck embryos. The findings provide evidence of possible vertical transmission of DHAV-1 from breeding ducks to ducklings.

Quantifying the effect of inbreeding on average daily gain and Kleiber ratio in Mazandaran native chickens.

The aims of this study was to evaluate inbreeding effects for growth rate (average daily gain from hatch to 8weeks of age (ADG1-8), average daily gain from hatch to 12weeks of age (ADG1-12), average daily gain from 8weeks of age to 12weeks (ADG8-12), average daily gain from hatch to sex maturity (ADG1-SM), average daily gain from 8weeks of age to sex maturity (ADG8-SM), average daily gain from 12weeks to sex maturity (ADG12-SM), and Kleiber ratios (KR1-8, KR1-12, KR8-12) in Mazandaran native chickens. The data set of 82,446 pedigreed individuals over 21 generations was analyzed. All individuals were grouped into three classes based on the inbreeding coefficient: First class contained non-inbred birds (F = 0) and second and third classes contained inbred individuals (0 < F ≤ 5% and F > 5%, respectively). The effects of inbreeding coefficient on the studied traits were estimated by the restricted maximum likelihood method (REML) applying the WOMBAT software and fitting individual increase in inbreeding coefficient (ΔFi) of birds as linear covariates under 6 different animal models. ADG8-SM and ADG12-SM increased non-significantly by 0.003 and 0.005g, respectively, due to 1% increase in ΔFi, while ADG1-8, ADG1-12, ADG8-12, ADG1-SM, KR1-8, and KR1-12 decreased (P < 0.001), respectively, by 0.012g, 0.011g, 0.010g, 0.014g, 0.003g, and 0.002g. Also, KR8-12 non-significantly decreased by 0.001g. Estimates of direct heritability of traits based on the most appropriate models ranged from 0.05 (KR8-12) to 0.26 (ADG12-SM). Results showed that it is important to regularly analyze inbreeding level in the herd in an attempt to prevent the reduction of performance.

Bisphenol A induces protection through modulation of the immune response against the helminth parasite Taenia crassiceps

Industrial growth has increased the exposure to endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) in all organisms. Bisphenol A (BPA), an EDC, has been demonstrated to be involved in the susceptibility to parasite infections. However, few studies have analysed this connection in more depth. The aim of this study was to determine whether early BPA exposure in female mice affects the systemic immune response and the susceptibility to Taeniacrassiceps infection. BALB/c mice were exposed to BPA at post-natal day 3. At 6weeks of age, they were inoculated with Tcrassiceps larvae and, 2weeks later, were euthanized. The number of parasites was quantified. By flow cytometry, in the spleen, the peripheral and mesenteric lymph nodes, the different innate and adaptive immune cell modulation was analysed, and RT-PCR cytokine expression was also evaluated. BPA induced a reduction of 40% in parasite load. BPA treatment modulated some lineages of the innate immune response and caused slight changes in cells belonging to the adaptive immune response. Additionally, BPA enhanced the type 2 cytokine profile. Neonatal BPA treatment in female mice affects not only the percentage of different immune cells but also their ex vivo cytokine gene expression, decreasing Tcrassiceps cysticercosis susceptibility.

Study of Morphology and Morphometry of Placenta

Introduction: The placental examination provide significant information related to intrauterine foetal death, Intrauterine Growth Retardation, Malformations, infections and effects of maternal diseases on fetal growth. The magnitude of the clinical problems related to the development and the functions of the placenta is so vast that it worth undertaking morphological aspect of Human placenta A thorough examination of the placenta is neglected often underestimated by the Physician and Gynecologist Pediatrician and pathologist despite its invaluable role in the fetal development. Subjects and Methods: In our present study, 50 freshly delivered placentae have collected The placenta and the umbilical cord were examined to look for any abnormalities in the shape, cord insertion, and vessels in the cord, placenta weight, its circumference, diameter, volume, and thickness at the level of cord insertion were also noted. Baby's weight at birth and age in weeks, maternal history about diabetes and hypertension were also recorded down. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows version 20.0, USA was used to do statistical analysis of the measurements. Results: In the present study, the placenta weight, volume, diameter, and circumference show a strong correlation with fetal weight. We found the placenta of round and abnormal shapes in 88% and 12% of cases, respectively. In 77% of cases, we got normal cord insertion and in 23% of cases, abnormal cord insertion. Statistical analysis of all the parameters of the placenta was done. Conclusion: In our study, Placental weight, volume, diameter, and circumference showed a strong correlation with fetal weight. The knowledge of these measurements on the placenta and umbilical cord will be helpful to the pediatrician and obstetrician in clinical practice.

Maturational Changes in Mouse Cutaneous Touch and Piezo2-Mediated Mechanotransduction

The age of studied animals has a profound impact on experimental outcomes in animal-based research. In mice, age influences molecular, morphological, physiological, and behavioral parameters, particularly during rapid postnatal growth and maturation until adulthood (at 12weeks of age). Despite this knowledge, most biomedical studies use a wide-spanning age range from 4 to 12weeks, raising concerns about reproducibility and potential masking of relevant age differences. Here, using mouse behavior and electrophysiology in cultured dorsal root ganglia (DRG), we reveal a decline in behavioral cutaneous touch sensitivity and Piezo2-mediated mechanotransduction invitro during mouse maturation but not thereafter. In addition, we identify distinct transcript changes in individual Piezo2-expressing mechanosensitive DRG neurons by combining electrophysiology with single-cell RNA sequencing (patch-seq). Taken together, our study emphasizes the need for accurate age matching and uncovers hitherto unknown maturational plasticity in cutaneous touch at the level of behavior, mechanotransduction, and transcripts.

Adult-Onset Myopathy with Constitutive Activation of Akt following the Loss of hnRNP-U.

SummarySkeletal muscle has the remarkable ability to modulate its mass in response to changes in nutritional input, functional utilization, systemic disease, and age. This is achieved by the coordination of transcriptional and post-transcriptional networks and the signaling cascades balancing anabolic and catabolic processes with energy and nutrient availability. The extent to which alternative splicing regulates these signaling networks is uncertain. Here we investigate the role of the RNA-binding protein hnRNP-U on the expression and splicing of genes and the signaling processes regulating skeletal muscle hypertrophic growth. Muscle-specific Hnrnpu knockout (mKO) mice develop an adult-onset myopathy characterized by the selective atrophy of glycolytic muscle, the constitutive activation of Akt, increases in cellular and metabolic stress gene expression, and changes in the expression and splicing of metabolic and signal transduction genes. These findings link Hnrnpu with the balance between anabolic signaling, cellular and metabolic stress, and physiological growth.

Intraepithelial T Cells Diverge by Intestinal Location as Pigs Age.

T cells resident within the intestinal epithelium play a central role in barrier integrity and provide a first line of immune defense. Intraepithelial T cells (IETs) are among the earliest immune cells to populate and protect intestinal tissues, thereby giving them an important role in shaping gut health early in life. In pigs, IETs are poorly defined, and their maturation in young pigs has not been well-studied. Given the importance of IETs in contributing to early life and long-term intestinal health through interactions with epithelial cells, the microbiota, and additional environmental factors, a deeper characterization of IETs in pigs is warranted. The objective of this study was to analyze age- and intestinal location-dependent changes in IETs across multiple sites of the small and large intestine in pigs between 4- and 8-weeks of age. IETs increased in abundance over time and belonged to both γδ and αβ T cell lineages. Similar compositions of IETs were identified across intestinal sites in 4-week-old pigs, but compositions diverged between intestinal sites as pigs aged. CD2+CD8α+ γδ T cells and CD4−CD8α+ αβ T cells comprised >78% of total IETs at all intestinal locations and ages examined. Greater percentages of γδ IETs were present in large intestine compared to small intestine in older pigs. Small intestinal tissues had greater percentages of CD2+CD8α− γδ IETs, while CD2+CD8α+ γδ IET percentages were greater in the large intestine. Percentages of CD4−CD8α+ αβ IETs increased over time across all intestinal sites. Moreover, percentages of CD27+ cells decreased in ileum and large intestine over time, indicating increased IET activation as pigs aged. Percentages of CD27+ cells were also higher in small intestine compared to large intestine at later timepoints. Results herein emphasize 4- to 8-weeks of age as a critical window of IET maturation and suggest strong associations between intestinal location and age with IET heterogeneity in pigs.

Soshiho-tang protects LPS-induced acute liver injury by attenuating inflammatory response.

Soshiho-tang (SSHT) has traditionally been used to treat gastrointestinal disorders. In this experiment, we investigated the protective effect of SSHT on inflammatory liver injury in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-sensitized mice. Male C57BL/6J mice aged 6weeks were randomly placed in 6 groups (n = 5): normal mice (CTR), LPS-sensitized mice (LPS), LPS-sensitized mice treated with dexamethasone (DEX) and LPS-sensitized mice treated with 0.05, 0.55, and 5.55g/kg of SSHT (SSHT 0.05, SSHT 0.55, and SSHT 5.55). Various doses of SSHT was given once a day for 7days. After 2h of LPS injection, the liver tissue was collected. SSHT pretreatment recovered hemorrhage of liver tissues in LPS-induced acute liver injury. The expressions of MAP Kinase, NF-κB, IκBα, p-IκBα, COX-2, and iNOS protein levels were markedly decreased by SSHT-treated liver tissues. Additionally, SSHT pretreatment significantly regulated the expressions of MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 cytokines. These results suggest the potential of SSHT on the protection of acute liver injury.

Soy consumption and incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Intervention studies have shown that isoflavone treatment improved glucose metabolism, indicating that soy intake may have a potential role in diabetes prevention. We aimed to investigate the prospective association of soy isoflavone and soy food intakes with incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in a birth cohort study. We recruited 97,454 pregnant women (median gestational age 12weeks) between January 2011 and March 2014. Dietary intakes during the 12months preceding study enrollment were assessed by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The relative risks of GDM associated with soy isoflavone and soy food intakes were obtained by Poisson regression. Demographic information, histories of diseases, socioeconomic status, lifestyles, and dietary habits, obtained by a self-administrated questionnaire, were used for covariate adjustments. We identified 1904 cases of GDM (2.2%) among 84,948 women. Compared with those in the lowest quintile of soy isoflavone intake, women in the highest quintile were found to have experienced a significantly lower risk of GDM (multivariate relative risk = 0.82; 95% confidence interval: 0.70, 0.95; P for trend = 0.05). Similar results were observed for genistein and daidzein. Regarding soy foods, intakes of miso soup and natto were inversely associated with GDM incidence (both P for trend ≤ 0.01), whereas the association for tofu intake appeared to be nonlinear (P for trend = 0.74). Higher intakes of miso soup and natto before and during early pregnancy, compared with lower intakes, may be associated with a lower incidence of GDM.

Early life stress reduces voluntary exercise and its prevention of diet-induced obesity and metabolic dysfunction in mice.

The development of obesity-related metabolic syndrome (MetS) involves a complex interaction of genetic and environmental factors. One environmental factor found to be significantly associated with MetS is early life stress (ELS). We have previously reported on our mouse model of ELS, induced by neonatal maternal separation (NMS), that displays altered regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and increased sensitivity in the urogenital organs, which was attenuated by voluntary wheel running. Here, we are using our NMS model to determine if ELS-induced changes in the HPA axis also influence weight gain and MetS. Naïve (non-stressed) and NMS male mice were given free access to a running wheel and a low-fat control diet at 4-weeks of age. At 16-weeks of age, half of the mice were transitioned to a high fat/sucrose (HFS) diet to investigate if NMS influences the effectiveness of voluntary exercise to prevent diet-induced obesity and MetS. Overall, we observed a greater impact of voluntary exercise on prevention of HFS diet-induced outcomes in naïve mice, compared to NMS mice. Although body weight and fat mass were still significantly higher, exercise attenuated fasting insulin levels and mRNA levels of inflammatory markers in epididymal adipose tissue in HFS diet-fed naïve mice. Only moderate changes were observed in exercised NMS mice on a HFS diet, although this could partially be explained by reduced running distance within this group. Interestingly, sedentary NMS mice on a control diet displayed impaired glucose homeostasis and moderately increased pro-inflammatory mRNA levels in epididymal adipose, suggesting that early life stress alone impairs metabolic function and negatively impacts the therapeutic effect of voluntary exercise.

Foetal outcome by the weeks of gestation in spontaneous vaginal delivery at term

The gestational age at which the delivery occurs is important in determining the perinatal outcome. In this study, the foetal outcome was analysed according to the gestational age in weeks in spontaneous vaginal delivery occurring between 36 completed weeks to 40 completed weeks of gestation. To study the foetal outcome according to the weeks of gestation in spontaneous vaginal delivery occurring between 36 completed weeks to 40 completed weeks of gestation. A retrospective study of women who spontaneously delivered vaginally, at gestational age between 36 completed weeks to 40 completed weeks from 1 July 2019 to 30 September 2019 was conducted at GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Sola.Total 390 cases were studied.Foetal outcome in terms of birth weight, APGAR score at 1 minute, and NICU admissions were noted and analysed according to the weeks of gestation at delivery, and entered into a database.The results were analysed and presented in the form of tables and graphs. The average birth weight increased with increase in the weeks of gestation at the time of the spontaneous delivery. The average birth weight of neonates born in 36th, 37th and 38th week was 2.314Kg, 2.623Kg and 2.704Kg, respectively. 14.28% of the babies born in the 36th week of gestation were admitted to the NICU. 4.705% and 4.347% of the babies born in the 37thand 38th week of gestation respectively, were admitted to the NICU.The Mean APGAR score of the neonates born in 36th, 37th, 38th and 39th week were 8.714, 9.235, 9.347, and 9.645, respectively. Thus, the mean APGAR score increased by the weeks of gestation at the time of the spontaneous delivery. Unnecessary induction of labour or elective LSCS before 39 weeks should be discouraged. In case of elective deliveries, unless there is a health risk to the mother or baby, it is best to wait to deliver until reaching full term at 39 weeks.

Deletion of α-Synuclein in Prrx1-positive cells causes partial loss of function in the central nervous system (CNS) but does not affect ovariectomy induced bone loss.

α-Synuclein is a small 140 amino acid polypeptide encoded by the Snca gene that is highly expressed in neural tissue, but it is also found in osteoblasts, erythroblasts, macrophages, and adipose tissue. Previously, using co-expression network analysis we found that Snca was a key regulator of skeletal homeostasis, and its deletion partially prevented bone loss after ovariectomy (OVX). Here we tested the hypothesis that Snca deletion in mesenchymal progenitors using the Prrx1Cre (Prrx1, Paired-related homeobox 1) limb enhancer would protect bone mass after OVX. Prrx1Cre;Sncafl/fl and littermate controls (Sncafl/fl) were sham operated or ovariectomized (OVX) at 8weeks of age and sacrificed at 20weeks. Independently, eight-week female and male Prrx1Cre;Sncafl/fl mice and littermate controls were administered a high fat (60% fat) or low fat (10% fat) diet for 15weeks. Bone loss was not prevented in either genotype after ovariectomy, but the Prrx1Cre;Sncafl/fl. mice were partially protected from weight gain after OVX and high fat diet (HFD). Serum catecholamine levels were lower in the Prrx1Cre;Sncafl/fl both on a low fat diet (LFD) and HFD versus fl/fl controls. Importantly, mutant mice exhibited a number of physical and behavioral phenotypes that were associated with conditional deletion of Snca in several brain regions. Cells labeled with Prrx1 were noted throughout the central nervous system (CNS). These data support earlier preliminary reports of Prrx1 expression in neural progenitors, and raise a cautionary note about the evaluation of skeletal and body composition phenotypes when using this Cre driver to study osteoprogenitor development.