Reproductive success depends on a functional oviduct for gamete storage, maturation, fertilization, and early embryonic development. The ovarian-derived steroids estrogen and progesterone are key ...regulators of oviductal function. The objective of this study was to investigate luteal and follicular phase-specific oviductal epithelial cell function by using microarray-based transcriptional profiling, to increase our understanding of mRNAs regulating epithelial cell processes, and to identify novel genes and biochemical pathways that may be found to affect fertility in the future.
Six normally cycling Angus heifers were assigned to either luteal phase (LP, n = 3) or follicular phase (FP, n = 3) treatment groups. Heifers in the LP group were killed between day 11 and 12 after estrus. Heifers in the FP group were treated with 25 mg PGF2α (Lutalyse, Pfizer, NY) at 8 pm on day 6 after estrus and killed 36 h later. Transcriptional profiling by microarray and confirmation of selected mRNAs by real-time RT-PCR analyses was performed using total RNA from epithelial cells isolated from sections of the ampulla and isthmus collected from LP and FP treatment groups. Differentially expressed genes were subjected to gene ontology classification and bioinformatic pathway analyses.
Statistical one-way ANOVA using Benjamini-hochberg multiple testing correction for false discovery rate (FDR) and pairwise comparison of epithelial cells in the ampulla of FP versus LP groups revealed 972 and 597 transcripts up- and down-regulated, respectively (P < 0.05). Within epithelial cells of the isthmus in FP versus LP groups, 946 and 817 transcripts were up- and down-regulated, respectively (P < 0.05). Up-regulated genes from both ampulla and isthmus were found to be largely involved in cholesterol biosynthesis and cell cycle pathways, while down-regulated genes were found in numerous inflammatory response pathways.
Microarray-based transcriptional profiling revealed phase of the cycle-dependent changes in the expression of mRNA within the epithelium of the oviducts' ampulla and isthmus.
Various operative approaches exist for treatment of trapeziometacarpal joint osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to compare the results of Lundborg resection arthroplasty with solely autologous ...fat injection.
Twenty-one patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis of the trapeziometacarpal joint (Eaton-Littler classification stages III/IV) underwent either a Lundborg resection arthroplasty (n = 12) or autologous fat injection into the trapeziometacarpal joint (n = 9). Both groups were comparable regarding demographic and clinical data. Patient records were evaluated retrospectively regarding operative time; Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire score; postoperative time until resolution of symptoms; pain level; grip and pinch force; and satisfaction with the treatment.
Both groups had similar length of follow-up of at least 12 months. The duration of the operation was significantly shorter in the fat group (13 ± 5 minutes) compared with the resection group (31 ± 5 minutes) (p < 0.05). The Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire score (resection group, 21.9 ± 6.2; fat group, 24.0 ± 5.0) and the pain level at follow-up (resection group, 1.0 ± 0.7; fat group, 2.9 ± 0.8) were comparable (p > 0.05). The time until complete resolution of symptoms was significantly shorter in the fat group (1.7 ± 2.1 months) compared with the resection group (5.7 ± 3.1 months) (p < 0.05). Grip and pinch strength and overall satisfaction with the treatment were comparable (p > 0.05).
Both autologous fat grafting and Lundborg resection arthroplasty resulted in improved function of the operative hand and a clear reduction of symptoms, whereas autologous fat injection seems to have advantages attributable to a shorter time until resolution of symptoms and shorter operative times.
Therapeutic, III.
The radiation pattern within high energy quark- and gluon-initiated jets (jet substructure) is used extensively as a precision probe of the strong force as well as an environment for optimizing event ...generators with numerous applications in high energy particle and nuclear physics. Looking at electron-proton collisions is of particular interest as many of the complications present at hadron colliders are absent. A detailed study of modern jet substructure observables, jet angularities, in electron-proton collisions is presented using data recorded using the H1 detector at HERA. The measurement is unbinned and multi-dimensional, using machine learning to correct for detector effects. All of the available reconstructed object information of the respective jets is interpreted by a graph neural network, achieving superior precision on a selected set of jet angularities. Training these networks was enabled by the use of a large number of GPUs in the Perlmutter supercomputer at Berkeley Lab. The particle jets are reconstructed in the laboratory frame, using the kT jet clustering algorithm. Results are reported at high transverse momentum transfer Q2>150GeV2, and inelasticity 0.2<y<0.7. The analysis is also performed in sub-regions of Q2, thus probing scale dependencies of the substructure variables. The data are compared with a variety of predictions and point towards possible improvements of such models.
Fingertip injuries treated with occlusive dressings (ODs) lead to nearly scar-free, functionally, and aesthetically pleasing results. We hypothesized that paracrine factors in the wound fluid ...(secretome) may influence migration and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and fibroblasts and modulate the wound-healing process.
We could collect wound fluid samples from 4 fingertip injuries and 7 split skin donor sites at the 5th day during dressing change. Blood serum samples served as controls. The proliferation rate of MSCs and fibroblasts (HS27) was continuously measured through impedance analysis for 60 h and by Alamarblue analysis after 72 h. Cell migration was evaluated continuously for 15 h and confirmed by the in vitro wound-healing assay.
Migration of MSCs under the influence of both wound fluids was significantly faster than controls from 4 to 6 h after incubation and reversed after 9 h. MSC proliferation in wound fluid groups showed a significant increase at 5 and 10 h and was significantly decreased after 45 h. Fibroblasts in wound fluid groups showed overall a significant increase in migration and a significant decrease in proliferation compared to controls.
OD-induced secretomes influence MSCs and fibroblasts and thereby possibly modulate wound healing and scar tissue formation.
In areas where soils are deficient in Selenium (Se), dietary supplementation of this trace mineral directly to cattle is recommended. Because Se status affects testosterone synthesis and frequency of ...sperm abnormalities, and the form of Se supplemented to cows affects tissue-specific gene expression, the objective of this study was to determine whether the form of Se consumed by cows during gestation would affect the expression of mRNAs that regulate steroidogenesis and/or spermatogenesis in the neonatal calf testis. Twenty-four predominantly Angus cows were assigned randomly to have individual, ad libitum, access of a mineral mix containing 35 ppm of Se in free-choice vitamin-mineral mixes as either inorganic (ISe), organic (OSe), or a 50/50 mix of ISe and OSe (MIX), starting 4 months prior to breeding and continuing throughout gestation. Thirteen male calves were born over a 3-month period (ISe, n = 5; OSe, n = 4; MIX, n = 4), castrated within 2 days of birth, and extracted testis RNA subjected to transcriptomal analysis by microarray (Affymetrix Bovine 1.0 ST arrays) and targeted gene expression analysis by real-time reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) of mRNAs encoding proteins known to affect steroidogenesis and/or spermatogenesis. The form of dam Se affected (P < 0.05) the expression of 853 annotated genes, including 17 mRNAs putatively regulating steroidogenesis and/or spermatogenesis. Targeted RT-PCR analysis indicated that the expression of mRNA encoding proteins CYP2S1 (cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily S, polypeptide 1), HSD17B7 (hydroxysteroid (17β) dehydrogenase 7), SULT1E1 (sulfotransferase family 1E, estrogen preferring, member 1), LDHA (lactate dehydrogenase A), CDK5R1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 5, regulatory subunit 1), and LEP (leptin) was affected (P < 0.05) by form of Se consumed by dams of developing bull calves, while AKR1C4 (aldo-keto reductase family 1, member C4) and CCND2 (cyclin D2) tended (P < 0.09) to be affected. Our results indicate that form of Se fed to dams during gestation affected the transcriptome of the neonatal calf testis. If these profiles are maintained throughout maturation, then the form of Se fed to dams may impact bull fertility and the development of Se form-dependent mineral mixes that target gestational development of the testis are warranted.
We investigated an old-growth oak-shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) stand of high ecological integrity in east-central Oklahoma located west of the continuous native distribution of shortleaf pine. ...With the exception of an abundance of shortleaf pine, the basal area (17.2 m²/ha), density (559.6 trees/ha), and species composition of this unmanaged stand is similar to other old hardwood forests in the Cross Timbers ecoregion. Tree-ring dating indicates that the oldest post oak (Quercus stellata) and shortleaf pine sampled in Shortleaf Canyon were 262 and 230 yr old, respectively. Dendrochronology indicated that drought-related disturbances contributed to several episodic pulses of natural regeneration of shortleaf pine at this site. Coupled with local historical documentation and regional paleoecological evidence, the absence of older pines at this isolated site suggests that P. echinata may have naturally colonized Shortleaf Canyon recently, perhaps during the last 250 yr.
The H1 very forward proton spectrometer at HERA Astvatsatourov, A.; Cerny, K.; Delvax, J. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section A, Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment,
02/2014, Letnik:
736
Journal Article
Recenzirano
The very forward proton spectrometer, VFPS, is a component of the H1 detector at the HERA collider. Scattered protons emitted with a polar angle less than 1mrad and carrying a fractional energy 1−xP, ...0.008<xP≤0.028 of the incident proton beam energy can be detected by scintillating fiber detectors which are read out by position sensitive photo-multipliers. These detectors are contained in Roman pot stations which are moved close to the circulating proton beam. The structure, operation and performance of the two Roman pot stations located at about 220m from the H1 interaction point in the cryogenic section of the proton ring are described.
The purpose of this study was to determine which of selected exercises with and without the feet free to move would enhance vastus medialis oblique muscle (VMO) activity over that of the vastus ...lateralis muscle (VL) and whether the use of taping would increase VMO activity.
Twenty-one subjects without patellofemoral pain (PFP) syndrome and 10 subjects with PFP syndrome, aged 19 to 43 years (X = 26, SD = 7), participated.
Subjects were studied for the normalized, integrated electromyographic (IEMG) activity of their VMO, VL, and adductor magnus muscle (subjects without PFP syndrome) and the VMO/VL ratio using wire electrodes.
One exercise demonstrated greater activation of the VMO over the VL when compared with similar exercises in subjects without PFP syndrome. The mean VMO/VL activity ratio for terminal knee extension was 1.2 (SD = 0.5) with the hip medially rotated and 1.0 (SD = 0.4) with the hip laterally rotated. Although subjects reported that patellar taping decreased pain 94% during the step-down exercise, the VMO/VL ratio was not changed.
The results suggest that neither exercises purported to selectively activate VMO activity nor patellar taping improve the VMO/VL ratio over similar exercises.
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