Comparative Genetic Structure of Cannabis sativa Including Federally Produced, Wild Collected, and Cultivated Samples.

Currently in the United States, the sole licensed facility to cultivate Cannabis sativa L. for research purposes is the University of Mississippi, which is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Studies researching Cannabis flower consumption rely on NIDA-supplied "research grade marijuana." Previous research found that cannabinoid levels of NIDA-supplied Cannabis do not align with commercially available Cannabis. We sought to investigate the genetic identity of Cannabis supplied by NIDA relative to common categories within the species. This is the first genetic study to include "research grade marijuana" from NIDA. Samples (49) were assigned as Wild Hemp (feral; 6) and Cultivated Hemp (3), NIDA (2), CBD drug type (3), and high THC drug type subdivided into Sativa (11), Hybrid (14), and Indica (10). Ten microsatellites targeting neutral non-coding regions were used. Clustering and genetic distance analyses support a division between hemp and drug-type Cannabis. All hemp samples clustered genetically, but no clear distinction of Sativa, Hybrid, and Indica subcategories within retail marijuana samples was found. Interestingly, the two analyzed "research grade marijuana" samples obtained from NIDA were genetically distinct from most drug-type Cannabis available from retail dispensaries. Although the sample size was small, "research grade marijuana" provided for research is genetically distinct from most retail drug-type Cannabis that patients and patrons are consuming.

Influence of omega-3 fatty acids on bovine luteal cell plasma membrane dynamics.

Fish oil is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids which disrupt lipid microdomain structure and affect mobility of the prostaglandin F2α (FP) receptor in bovine luteal cells. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of individual omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on 1) membrane fatty acid composition, 2) lipid microdomain structure, and 3) lateral mobility of the FP receptor in bovine luteal cells. Ovaries were collected from a local abattoir (n=5/experiment). The corpus luteum was resected and enzymatically digested using collagenase to generate a mixed luteal cell population. In all experiments, luteal cells were treated with 0, 1, 10 or 100µM EPA or DHA for 72h to allow incorporation of fatty acids into membrane lipids. Results from experiment 1 show that culturing luteal cells in the presence of EPA or DHA increased these luteal fatty acids. In experiment 2, both EPA and DHA increased spatial distribution of lipid microdomains in a dose-dependent manner. Single particle tracking results from experiment 3 show that increasing both EPA and DHA concentrations increased micro- and macro-diffusion coefficients, increased domain size, and decreased residence time of FP receptors. Collectively, results from this study demonstrate similar effects of EPA and DHA on lipid microdomain structure and lateral mobility of FP receptors in cultured bovine luteal cells. Moreover, only 10µM of either fatty acid was needed to mimic the effects of fish oil.

Development and analysis of an instrument to assess student understanding of GOB chemistry knowledge relevant to clinical nursing practice.

The General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry Knowledge Assessment (GOB-CKA) is a multiple-choice instrument designed to assess students' understanding of the chemistry topics deemed important to clinical nursing practice. This manuscript describes the development process of the individual items along with a psychometric evaluation of the final version of the items and instrument. In developing items for the GOB-CKA, essential topics were identified through a series of expert interviews (with practicing nurses, nurse educators, and GOB chemistry instructors) and confirmed through a national survey. Individual items were tested in qualitative studies with students from the target population for clarity and wording. Data from pilot and beta studies were used to evaluate each item and narrow the total item count to 45. A psychometric analysis performed on data from the 45-item final version was used to provide evidence of validity and reliability. The final version of the instrument has a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.76. Feedback from an expert panel provided evidence of face and content validity. Convergent validity was estimated by comparing the results from the GOB-CKA with the General-Organic-Biochemistry Exam (Form 2007) of the American Chemical Society. Instructors who wish to use the GOB-CKA for teaching and research may contact the corresponding author for a copy of the instrument.

Training enhances vascular relaxation after chemotherapy-induced vasoconstriction.

PURPOSE: Although evidence is accumulating that suggests regular moderate physical activity improves physiological and psychological well-being of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine if exercise training improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation after exposure to the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). METHODS: Rats were injected with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and assigned to either exercise (EX; treadmill running, 20-25 m.min(-1) grade, 30 min.d(-1), 5 d.wk(-1) for 8 wk) or sedentary (SED) groups. After the exercise training period, aortic rings were obtained and used to assess contractile and relaxation characteristics. In addition, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) protein content and eNOS enzyme activity was determined. RESULTS: Exercise training resulted in increased maximal endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation to acetylcholine (ACh, 1 x 10(-5) M) (SED, 56 +/- 3%; exercise, 71 +/- 5%; P < 0.05) after norepinephrine-induced (1 x 10(-7) M) vasoconstriction. Exposure of aortic rings from each group to increasing concentrations of 5-FU (7 x 10(-5) x 10 M(-3)) resulted in vasoconstriction. Rings obtained from exercise-trained animals demonstrated enhanced vasorelaxation to ACh (1 x 10(-5) M) after 5-FU-induced vasoconstriction compared with rings obtained from SED animals (P < 0.05). In addition, exercise training enhanced eNOS protein content and eNOS activity. CONCLUSION: Exercise training enhances endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation after 5-FU-induced vasoconstriction, and this may be due, at least in part, to an increase in aortic eNOS protein content and activity. Such exercise-induced adaptations may help alleviate chemotherapy-related fatigue observed in cancer patients.