Renal trace elements in barren-ground caribou subpopulations: Temporal trends and differing effects of sex, age and season.

Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are a culturally significant food resource for communities in northern Canada and Greenland. Many barren-ground caribou subpopulations are currently in decline, some dramatically; understanding the influence of stressors, such as toxic trace metals, is important. These contaminants enter Arctic terrestrial environments via atmospheric transport from industrialized areas and from local sources, accumulating there in the environment. Understanding how trace element concentrations interact and are influenced by caribou sex, age and season of collection is essential to evaluating trends in these elements over time and differences among subpopulations. We used path analysis to model the direct and indirect relationships between these variables in the Porcupine subpopulation and in barren-ground caribou from the Canadian Arctic and Greenland. Renal cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg) varied significantly among subpopulations. Hg was positively correlated with Cd, Cu and selenium (Se) in female Porcupine caribou whereas Cd and Cu were negatively correlated in male Porcupine caribou. Age, season and sex influenced all three element concentrations and should be considered when comparing elements among caribou subpopulations or years. Renal Cd decreased slightly from the Canadian Western Arctic to Greenland and increased slightly over time, possibly reflecting patterns of atmospheric deposition. Renal Hg did not change significantly over time, and differences among subpopulations did not follow specific geographical patterns. Renal Cu declined over time, the changes being markedly different among subpopulations, sexes and seasons. This temporal decline is likely due to changes in diet, which could be driven by various environmental factors. Declining Cu concentrations in caribou is of concern as low levels could negatively affect reproductive success and therefore caribou at a population level. Continuing to monitor element concentrations in caribou is essential to better comprehend potential threats facing the species, and to promote food security in communities harvesting this important resource.

Multi-center analysis of the effect of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia subtype and minimal residual disease on allogeneic stem cell transplantation outcomes.

This study aims to provide a detailed analysis of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) outcomes in a large T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cohort with a specific emphasis on the effects of pre-transplant minimal residual disease (MRD) and disease subtype, including the aggressive early-thymic precursor (ETP) subtype. Data from 102 allo-SCT patients with a diagnosis of T-ALL from three centers were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were grouped into four T-ALL subtypes: ETP, early, cortical and mature. At 3 years, overall survival (OS), PFS, non-relapse mortality and cumulative incidence (CI) progression were 35, 33, 11 and 55%, respectively. Patients transplanted in first complete remission (CR1) had a 3-year OS of 62% versus those transplanted in CR2 or greater (24%) (hazards ratio 1.6, P=0.2). Patients with MRD positivity at the time of transplant had significantly higher rates of progression compared with those with MRD negativity (76 vs 34%, hazards ratio 2.8, P=0.006). There was no difference in OS, PFS or cumulative incidence (CI) progression between disease subtypes, including ETP (n=16). ETP patients transplanted in CR1 (n=10) had OS of 47%, comparable to other disease subtypes, suggesting that allo-SCT can overcome the poor prognosis associated with ETP. MRD status at transplant was highly predictive of disease relapse, suggesting novel therapies are necessary to improve transplant outcomes.

Romidepsin targets multiple survival signaling pathways in malignant T cells.

Romidepsin is a cyclic molecule that inhibits histone deacetylases. It is Food and Drug Administration-approved for treatment of cutaneous and peripheral T-cell lymphoma, but its precise mechanism of action against malignant T cells is unknown. To better understand the biological effects of romidepsin in these cells, we exposed PEER and SUPT1 T-cell lines, and a primary sample from T-cell lymphoma patient (Patient J) to romidepsin. We then examined the consequences in some key oncogenic signaling pathways. Romidepsin displayed IC50 values of 10.8, 7.9 and 7.0 nm in PEER, SUPT1 and Patient J cells, respectively. Strong inhibition of histone deacetylases and demethylases, increased production of reactive oxygen species and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential were observed, which may contribute to the observed DNA-damage response and apoptosis. The stress-activated protein kinase/c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathway and unfolded protein response in the endoplasmic reticulum were activated, whereas the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) and ß-catenin pro-survival pathways were inhibited. The decreased level of ß-catenin correlated with the upregulation of its inhibitor SFRP1 through romidepsin-mediated hypomethylation of its gene promoter. Our results provide new insights into how romidepsin invokes malignant T-cell killing, show evidence of its associated DNA hypomethylating activity and offer a rationale for the development of romidepsin-containing combination therapies.

Intermediate pyrolysis of biomass energy pellets for producing sustainable liquid, gaseous and solid fuels.

This work describes the use of intermediate pyrolysis system to produce liquid, gaseous and solid fuels from pelletised wood and barley straw feedstock. Experiments were conducted in a pilot-scale system and all products were collected and analysed. The liquid products were separated into an aqueous phase and an organic phase (pyrolysis oil) under gravity. The oil yields were 34.1 wt.% and 12.0 wt.% for wood and barley straw, respectively. Analysis found that both oils were rich in heterocyclic and phenolic compounds and have heating values over 24 MJ/kg. The yields of char for both feedstocks were found to be about 30 wt.%, with heating values similar to that of typical sub-bituminous class coal. Gas yields were calculated to be approximately 20 wt.%. Studies showed that both gases had heating values similar to that of downdraft gasification producer gas. Analysis on product energy yields indicated the process efficiency was about 75%.

Developing clinical competency in crisis event management: an integrated simulation problem-based learning activity.

This study aimed to evaluate the integration of a simulation based learning activity on nursing students' clinical crisis management performance in a problem-based learning (PBL) curriculum. It was hypothesized that the clinical performance of first year nursing students who participated in a simulated learning activity during the PBL session would be superior to those who completed the conventional problem-based session. The students were allocated into either simulation with problem-based discussion (SPBD) or problem-based discussion (PBD) for scenarios on respiratory and cardiac distress. Following completion of each scenario, students from both groups were invited to sit an optional individual test involving a systematic assessment and immediate management of a simulated patient facing a crisis event. A total of thirty students participated in the first post test related to a respiratory scenario and thirty-three participated in the second post test related to a cardiac scenario. Their clinical performances were scored using a checklist. Mean test scores for students completing the SPBD were significantly higher than those who completing the PBD for both the first post test (SPBD 20.08, PBD 18.19) and second post test (SPBD 27.56, PBD 23.07). Incorporation of simulation learning activities into problem-based discussion appeared to be an effective educational strategy for teaching nursing students to assess and manage crisis events.

A developmental evaluation process for nurses: enhancing professional excellence.

Healthcare organizations are challenged to provide an environment that enhances professional growth. Miami Valley Hospital responded by examining its evaluation system for clinical nurses and designing a developmental evaluation process. The result is an objective position description outlining global responsibilities of a nurse and a comprehensive, unit-specific assessment of performance. As nurses are guided and nurtured in their development, the opportunities for them to excel are unlimited.

Anatomic-histologic survey of the sural nerve: implications for inferior alveolar nerve grafting.

An anatomic and histologic study of the sural nerve was made as part of an effort to formulate a rationale governing selection of appropriate segments of the nerve as a donor graft for repair of the inferior alveolar nerve. Ten sural nerves were obtained by dissection at autopsy and their topography assessed. Hematoxylin and eosin stained transverse sections were prepared from samples taken at 32 locations along each nerve. Nerve diameter and shape, fascicle number, and fascicular arrangement were assessed at low power using light microscopy. It was concluded that technical objectives of graft repair can be better attained by selective sural nerve harvest.

Activation of 14C-toluene to covalently binding metabolites by rat liver microsomes.

14C-Toluene was incubated with rat liver microsomes in the presence of an NADPH-generating system and metabolites were concentrated on cyclohexyl cartridges. The metabolites were separated by reverse phase HPLC and identified by comparing the retention time to standards. 14C-Toluene was converted to 14C-benzylalcohol, 14C-cresols, and an unidentified 14C-metabolite. Some of the radioactivity was found to bind covalently to microsomal macromolecules, preferentially to proteins. The binding was proportional to incubation time and microsomal protein concentration and required NADPH and molecular oxygen. The binding was greatly diminished when microsomes were heat denatured. The binding process was partially inhibited by carbon monoxide and SKF 525-A. When microsomes from phenobarbital- and 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats were employed, binding was enhanced by 8- and 4-fold, respectively. The binding process was effectively diminished by the presence of reduced glutathione or cysteine in the incubation mixture and was not affected by lysine. Styrene oxide greatly enhanced binding. UDP-glucuronic acid, superoxide dismutase, and ascorbic acid also diminished the binding to some degree. It was concluded that toluene undergoes a hepatic microsomal monooxygenase-mediated activation, and the resultant reactive metabolites binds covalently to microsomal proteins.

A comparative study of the effects of benzene, toluene, and xylenes on their in vitro metabolism and drug-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected ip with benzene, toluene, or a mixture of xylene isomers at 20 mmol hydrocarbon/kg daily for 3 days. The effects of administration of these hydrocarbons upon their own in vitro metabolism, as well as upon cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, aminopyrine N-demethylase, aniline hydroxylase, glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and UDPglucuronyltransferase in liver were studied. Each hydrocarbon studied increased its own in vitro metabolism. Benzene had no effect on the metabolism of toluene or xylenes. Toluene and xylenes increased the metabolism of benzene, toluene, and xylenes. Cytochrome P-450 was elevated by toluene and xylenes, but was not affected by benzene. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase was induced by all three hydrocarbons. Aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase were induced by toluene and xylenes and were not affected by benzene. Glutathione was elevated by benzene, decreased by xylenes, and not affected by toluene. Glutathione S-transferase was induced differentially by these hydrocarbons toward various substrates: toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene by benzene and toluene, toward 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene by benzene and xylenes, and no effect toward 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane by any hydrocarbons. UDPglucuronyltransferase was induced by benzene and toluene when o-aminophenol and phenol were used as the substrate. Xylenes had no effect. Benzene was more effective at inducing conjugation enzymes. Xylenes were more effective at inducing cytochrome P-450 dependent enzymes. Toluene was equipotent at inducing both types of enzymes. The results indicate that the addition of methyl groups to the aromatic ring affects the inductive pattern of these monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Arachidonate metabolism, 5-hydroxytryptamine release and aggregation in human platelets activated by palmitaldehyde acetal phosphatidic acid.

Palmitaldehyde acetal phosphatidic acid ( PGAP ) caused dose-dependent aggregation of human platelets resuspended in modified Tyrode medium, with a threshold concentration of 0.5-1 microM and an EC50 of 4 microM. Concentrations of PGAP which elicited biphasic irreversible aggregation concomitantly induced formation of 1.02 +/- 0.029 nmol (mean +/- s.e. mean) of malondialdehyde (MDA) per 10(9) platelets and caused release of 58 +/- 2.8% of platelet [14C]-5-hydroxytryptamine ([14C]-5-HT) from prelabelled platelets; no MDA formation or [14C]-5-HT release occurred at lower doses of PGAP which elicited only monophasic reversible aggregation. Adenosine 5'-pyrophosphate (ADP)-induced platelet activation resulted in formation of 0.344 +/- 0.004 nmol of MDA per 10(9) platelets in association with irreversible aggregation and 49.1 +/- 1% release of [14C]-5-HT. Mepacrine, a phospholipase A2 inhibitor, at 2.5 microM reduced PGAP -induced MDA formation and [14C]-5-HT release by the resuspended platelets without affecting irreversible aggregation; higher concentrations of mepacrine abolished all three responses. Chlorpromazine, a calmodulin antagonist, similarly inhibited PGAP -induced MDA formation and irreversible aggregation, and at 100 microM abolished monophasic aggregation. The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin caused a concentration-dependent reduction of PGAP -induced MDA formation by resuspended human platelets without significantly inhibiting [14C]-5-HT release or irreversible aggregation; concentrations (greater than or equal to 1.75 microM) which inhibited MDA formation by more than 94% abolished [14C]-5-HT release, and converted second phase irreversible aggregation to an extensive reversible response. 2-Methylthioadenosine 5'-phosphate (2 methylthio-AMP), an ADP antagonist, inhibited PGAP -induced MDA formation, [14C]-5-HT release and second phase aggregation in the human platelet suspensions in a parallel, concentration-dependent manner; at 9.4 microM 2-methylthio-AMP, both MDA formation and [14C]-5-HT release were abolished and monophasic, reversible aggregation remained. Albumin was required for aggregation of washed human platelets to PGAP . Irreversible PGAP -induced aggregation of washed [14C]-arachidonate-labelled platelets was accompanied by a low net loss of 14C from platelet phospholipids, an equivalent increase in 14C in free fatty acids, and the appearance of 14C in thromboxane (Tx)B2; mepacrine reduced the loss in 14C from phospholipids and inhibited aggregation and formation of [14C]-TxA2. Thrombin-induced aggregation was accompanied by substantial loss of 14C from phospholipids and equivalent gains of 14C in free fatty acids and TxB2; mepacrine pretreatment caused partial inhibition of thrombin-induced aggregation, halved the net 14C loss from phospholipids, but had little effect on the appearance of 14C in TxB2. 6 It is concluded that in human platelets PGAP-induced dense granule release and irreversible aggregation are dependent on the liberation of arachidonate and its metabolism via prostaglandin endoperoxides to thromboxane, that PGAP and thrombin elicit mobilization of arachidonate from different pools of membrane phospholipids, and that the mechanism of PGAP-activation of human platelets differs from those of thrombin- and ADP-activation.

Effects of Aroclor 1254 treatment on the in vitro hepatic metabolism of toluene, aniline and aminopyrine in hybrid sunfish.

The in vitro metabolism of the volatile aromatic hydrocarbon toluene by enzymes associated with the 12,000 g supernatant fraction of hybrid sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus X L. cyanellus X L. gibbosus) liver homogenates was studied. Aminopyrine demethylase (APDM) and aniline hydroxylase (AH) activities were measured. Intramuscular injections of Aroclor 1254 (a polychlorinated biphenyl) produced significant increases in APDM and AH activities (P less than or equal to 0.1, ANOVA). There were no significant changes in the metabolism of toluene, liver wet weights, or liver protein concentrations following treatment.

Acetal phosphatidic acids: novel platelet aggregating agents.

1 Palmitaldehyde, olealdehyde and linolealdehyde acetal phosphatidic acids induced rapid shape change and dose-dependent biphasic aggregation of human platelets in platelet-rich plasma; aggregation was reversible at low doses and irreversible at high doses of the acetal phosphatidic acids. The palmitaldehyde congener elicited monophasic dose-dependent aggregation of sheep platelets in platelet-rich plasma.2 The threshold concentration for palmitaldehyde acetal phosphatidic acid (PGAP)-induced platelet aggregation was 2.5-5 muM for human platelets and 0.25-0.5 muM for sheep platelets. PGAP was 4-5 times as potent versus human platelets as the olealdehyde and linolealdehyde acetal phosphatidic acids, which were equipotent.3 PGAP-induced irreversible aggregation of [(14)C]-5-hydroxytryptamine ([(14)C]-5-HT)-labelled human platelets in platelet-rich plasma was accompanied by release of 44.0+/-2.4% (s.e.) of the platelet [(14)C]-5-HT; reversible aggregation was not associated with release. In contrast, PGAP-induced release of [(14)C]-5-HT-labelled sheep platelets was dose-dependent.4 The adenosine diphosphate (ADP) antagonist, 2-methylthio-AMP, and the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, aspirin, abolished PGAP-induced second phase aggregation and release in human platelets but did not affect the first, reversible, phase of aggregation. Both the first and second phases of PGAP-induced aggregation were abolished by chlorpromazine, by the phospholipase A(2) inhibitor, mepacrine, and by nmolar concentrations of prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)); these agents abolished the second, but not the first phase of ADP-induced aggregation.5 The related phospholipids, lecithin, lysolecithin and phosphatidic acid, at <100 muM, neither induced aggregation of human platelets in platelet-rich plasma, nor modified PGAP-induced aggregation; 1-palmityl lysophosphatidic acid elicited aggregation of human platelets at a threshold concentration of 100 muM.6 It is concluded that the acetal phosphatidic acids induce platelet aggregation per se by direct action at the platelet membrane, and that the acetal function is of primary importance in their potent platelet-stimulating activity. Moreover, as the acetal phosphatidic acids are the major components of the smooth muscle-contracting acidic phospholipid tissue extract ;Darmstoff' (Vogt, 1949), their potent platelet-aggregating properties may be of physiological or pathological significance.

Effects of vinblastine on malondialdehyde formation, serotonin release and aggregation in human platelets.

Effects of the microtubular agent vinblastine on human platelet malondialdehyde formation, [14C]serotonin release and aggregation were studied in suspensions of [14C]serotonin-labelled platelets. Vinblastine caused dose-dependent inhibition of malondialdehyde formation and aggregation in platelet suspensions stimulated with thrombin, ADP or palmitaldehyde acetal phosphatidic acid (PGAP). Malondialdehyde formation, aggregation and [14C]serotonin release caused by threshold doses of thrombin were reduced but not abolished by 100 muM vinblastine; 30-100 muM vinblastine abolished ADP- and PGAP-induced malondialdehyde formation and [14C]serotonin released and transformed ADP- and PGAP-induced irreversible aggregation to a diminished reversible response. Arachidonate conversion to malondialdehyde catalysed by human platelet microsomes was inhibited by vinblastine and the cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin and aspirin, but not by salicylate. Vinblastine inhibited the microsome-catalysed formation of malondialdehyde from prostaglandin H2. It is concluded that vinblastine inhibits the thromboxane pathway of arachidonate metabolism in stimulated platelets, consequently inhibiting release and aggregation, and that this effect of vinblastine may be, at least in part, independent of its antimicrotubular actions.

Reduction genioplasty: surgical techniques and soft-tissue changes.

A retrospective study was made of the osseous and soft-tissue changes and clinical results after reduction genioplasty for correction of anteroposterior macrogenia in seven adults. The surgery was performed by a modified technique which maximized the soft-tissue attachment to the inferior and anteroinferior portions of the repositioned segment. The 0.58 ratio of soft-tissue to osseous change was greater than results reported in previous studies. The present article describes the anteroposterior reduction genioplasty technique and the clinical results achieved with its use.