Dynamic RNA molecules carry out essential processes in the cell including translation and splicing. Base-pair interactions stabilize RNA into relatively rigid structures, while flexible ...non-base-paired regions allow RNA to undergo conformational changes required for function. To advance our understanding of RNA folding and dynamics it is critical to know the flexibility of these un-base-paired regions and how it depends on counterions. Yet, information about nucleic acid polymer properties is mainly derived from studies of ssDNA. Here we measure the persistence lengths (lp) of ssRNA. We observe valence and ionic strength-dependent differences in lp in a direct comparison between 40-mers of deoxythymidylate (dT40) and uridylate (rU40) measured using the powerful combination of SAXS and smFRET. We also show that nucleic acid flexibility is influenced by local environment (an adjoining double helix). Our results illustrate the complex interplay between conformation and ion environment that modulates nucleic acid function in vivo.
Previous hematologic and serum biochemistry reference interval (RI) values have been established for donkeys in various geographic regions, life-stages, or for specific donkey breeds. The last ...extensive investigation establishing RIs for adult donkeys in the United States (U.S.) was published over three decades ago. We aimed to establish updated robust RIs using a reference population of apparently healthy adult donkeys from across the U.S. Standard sized (n = 102), miniature (n = 17), and mammoth (n = 1) donkeys from four different states were enrolled, with 20% of the study population including donkeys captured directly from the wild in Death Valley National Park, CA. RIs were established in accordance with the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. The findings will assist practitioners with the interpretation of their complete blood count and biochemistry panel results in U.S. donkeys. This study also highlights a comparison of results for some important analytes in U.S. donkeys compared to U.S. horses and previously established donkey RIs.
The objective of this review is to systematically examine and summarise the effects of agricultural interventions to increase household food production on the nutrition and health outcomes of women ...and young children and provide recommendations for future research and programming. Data from all studies meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria were ed into a standardised form. The quality of the evidence was assessed and graded using a modified version of the Child Health Epidemiology Reference Group adaptation of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation technique. Thirty‐six articles, representing 27 unique projects were identified. Of these 32 and 17 reported on the health and nutrition outcomes of children and women, respectively. Although studies were too heterogeneous to conduct meta‐analysis, agricultural strategies consistently reported significantly improved diet patterns and vitamin A intakes for both women and children. Although some individual studies reported significant reductions in child malnutrition, summary estimates for effects on stunting relative risk (RR) 0.93 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84, 1.04, underweight (RR 0.80 95% CI 0.60, 1.07) and wasting (RR 0.91 95% CI 0.60, 1.38) were not significant. Findings for an effect on vitamin A status, anaemia and morbidity were inconsistent. Overall the evidence base for the potential of agricultural strategies to improve the nutrition and health of women and young children is largely grounded in a limited number of highly heterogeneous, quasi‐experimental studies, most of which have significant methodological limitations. While household food production strategies hold promise for improving the nutrition of women and children, the evidence base would be strengthened by additional research that is methodologically robust and adequately powered for biological and dietary indicators of nutrition.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the formation of aggregates (Lewy bodies) in neurons. alpha-Synuclein is the major protein in ...Lewy bodies and rare mutations in alpha-synuclein cause early-onset PD. Consequently, alpha-synuclein is implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. Here, we have investigated the degradation pathways of alpha-synuclein, using a stable inducible PC12 cell model, where the expression of exogenous human wild-type, A30P, or A53T alpha-synuclein can be switched on and off. We have used a panel of inhibitors/stimulators of autophagy and proteasome function and followed alpha-synuclein degradation in these cells. We found that not only is alpha-synuclein degraded by the proteasome, but it is also degraded by autophagy. A role for autophagy was further supported by the presence of alpha-synuclein in organelles with the ultrastructural features of autophagic vesicles. Since rapamycin, a stimulator of autophagy, increased clearance of alpha-synuclein, it merits consideration as a potential therapeutic for Parkinsons disease, as it is designed for chronic use in humans.
Three of these things Held, Elizabeth P.; Webb, Julie L.
Veterinary clinical pathology,
September 2021, 2021-09-00, 20210901, Letnik:
50, Številka:
3
Journal Article
What is your diagnosis? Hepatocytes from a cat Haak, Carol E.; Webb, Julie L.
Veterinary clinical pathology,
March 2021, 2021-Mar, 2021-03-00, 20210301, Letnik:
50, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Background
Reference intervals (RIs) for routine clinicopathologic data in sheep are sparse. The authors sought to establish hematologic and biochemical RIs from a varied ovine population to improve ...data interpretation for small ruminant veterinarians.
Objectives
The goal of this study was to establish ovine CBC and biochemistry reference intervals by sampling 120 healthy adult sheep, both male and female, from a variety of breeds, located in the Northeastern United States.
Methods
One hundred and eighteen sheep were included in the CBC RI and 121 sheep were included in the biochemistry panel RI.
Results
RIs for 42 CBC and biochemistry analytes were established in accordance with the American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines.
Conclusions
These RIs are provided to assist small ruminant veterinarians with the interpretation of CBC and biochemistry panel results in sheep.
Abstract
Integrated nutrition and agricultural interventions have the potential to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of investments in food security and nutrition. This article aimed to ...estimate the costs of an integrated agriculture and health intervention (Mama SASHA) focused on the promotion of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) production and consumption in Western Kenya. Programme activities included nutrition education and distribution of vouchers for OFSP vines during antenatal care and postnatal care (PNC) visits. We used expenditures and activity-based costing to estimate the financial costs during programme implementation (2011–13). Cost data were collected from monthly expense reports and interviews with staff members from all implementing organizations. Financial costs totalled US$507 809 for the project period. Recruiting and retaining women over the duration of their pregnancy and postpartum period required significant resources. Mama SASHA reached 3281 pregnant women at a cost of US$155 per beneficiary. Including both pregnant women and infants who attended PNC services with their mothers, the cost was US$110 per beneficiary. Joint planning, co-ordination and training across sectors drove 27% of programme costs. This study found that the average cost per beneficiary to implement an integrated agriculture, health and nutrition programme was substantial. Planning and implementing less intensive integrated interventions may be possible, and economies of scale may reduce overall costs. Empirical estimates of costs by components are critical for future planning and scaling up of integrated programmes.
Urinalysis in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) Doss, Grayson A; Mans, Christoph; Houseright, Ruth A ...
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association,
04/2016, Letnik:
248, Številka:
8
Journal Article
Recenzirano
OBJECTIVE To evaluate urine variables in chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera). DESIGN Evaluation study. SAMPLE Urine samples from 41 chinchillas. PROCEDURES Voided urine samples were collected from ...clinically normal chinchillas that were exhibited during a breeder exposition. Urinalysis was performed within 1 hour after collection. Urine specific gravity (USG) was measured before and after centrifugation with a handheld veterinary refractometer. Urine dipstick analysis and microscopic sedimentation examination were performed on all samples. Additionally, a urine sulfosalicylic acid (SSA) precipitation test and quantitative protein analysis were performed on samples with sufficient volume. RESULTS 17 of 41 (41%) samples had a USG ≥ 1.050, and USG ranged from 1.014 to > 1.060. The USG before centrifugation did not differ significantly from that after centrifugation. Protein was detected in all urine samples on dipstick analysis. The SSA precipitation test yielded negative results for all samples tested. Results of the quantitative protein analyses were not correlated with the results of the dipstick analyses or SSA tests. The recorded pH for all samples was 8.5, which was the upper limit of detection for the reagent strip. Glucose and ketones were detected in 5 and 6 samples, respectively. Crystals were observed in 28 of 41 (68%) samples; 27 of those samples contained amorphous crystals. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Urinalysis results for clinically normal chinchillas were provided. For chinchilla urine samples, measurement of USG by refractometry prior to centrifugation is acceptable and protein concentration should be determined by quantitative protein analysis rather than dipstick analysis or the SSA test.
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