Simultaneous polarimeter retrievals of microphysical aerosol and ocean color parameters from the "MAPP" algorithm with comparison to high-spectral-resolution lidar aerosol and ocean products.

We present an optimal-estimation-based retrieval framework, the microphysical aerosol properties from polarimetry (MAPP) algorithm, designed for simultaneous retrieval of aerosol microphysical properties and ocean color bio-optical parameters using multi-angular total and polarized radiances. Polarimetric measurements from the airborne NASA Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP) were inverted by MAPP to produce atmosphere and ocean products. The RSP MAPP results are compared with co-incident lidar measurements made by the NASA High-Spectral-Resolution Lidar HSRL-1 and HSRL-2 instruments. Comparisons are made of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 355 and 532 nm, lidar column-averaged measurements of the aerosol lidar ratio and Ångstrøm exponent, and lidar ocean measurements of the particulate hemispherical backscatter coefficient and the diffuse attenuation coefficient. The measurements were collected during the 2012 Two-Column Aerosol Project (TCAP) campaign and the 2014 Ship-Aircraft Bio-Optical Research (SABOR) campaign. For the SABOR campaign, 73% RSP MAPP retrievals fall within ±0.04 AOD at 532 nm as measured by HSRL-1, with an R value of 0.933 and root-mean-square deviation of 0.0372. For the TCAP campaign, 53% of RSP MAPP retrievals are within 0.04 AOD as measured by HSRL-2, with an R value of 0.927 and root-mean-square deviation of 0.0673. Comparisons with HSRL-2 AOD at 355 nm during TCAP result in an R value of 0.959 and a root-mean-square deviation of 0.0694. The RSP retrievals using the MAPP optimal estimation framework represent a key milestone on the path to a combined lidar+polarimeter retrieval using both HSRL and RSP measurements.

FABP4 blocker attenuates colonic hypomotility and modulates white adipose tissue-derived hormone levels in mouse models mimicking constipation-predominant IBS.

BACKGROUND: The role of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) in lower gastrointestinal (GI) motility is unknown. We aimed to verify the effect of inhibition of FABP4 on GI transit in vivo, and to determine the expression of FABP4 in mouse and human tissues. METHODS: Fatty acid binding protein 4 inhibitor, BMS309403, was administered acutely or chronically for 6 and 13 consecutive days and its effect on GI transit was assessed in physiological conditions and in loperamide-induced constipation. Intracellular recordings were made to examine the effects of BMS309403 on colonic excitatory and inhibitory junction potentials. Abdominal pain was evaluated using behavioral pain response. Localization and expression of selected adipokines were determined in the mouse colon and serum using immunohistochemistry and Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay respectively. mRNA expression of FABP4 and selected adipokines in colonic and serum samples from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) patients and control group were assessed. KEY RESULTS: Acute injection of BMS309403 significantly increased GI motility and reversed inhibitory effect of loperamide. BMS309403 did not change colonic membrane potentials. Chronic treatment with BMS309403 increased the number of pain-induced behaviors. In the mouse serum, level of resistin was significantly decreased after acute administration; no changes in adiponectin level were detected. In the human serum, level of adiponectin and resistin, but not of FABP4, were significantly elevated in patients with constipation-IBS (IBS-C). FABP4 mRNA expression was significantly downregulated in the human colon in IBS-C. CONCLUSIONS AND INFERENCES: Fatty acid binding protein 4 may be involved in IBS pathogenesis and become a novel target in the treatment of constipation-related diseases.

Prosecretory effect of loperamide in ileal and colonic mucosae of mice displaying high or low swim stress-induced analgesia associated with high and low endogenous opioid system activity.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habit. The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of loperamide hydrochloride (LOP) and naloxone hydrochloride (NLX), an opioid agonist and antagonist, respectively, on electrolyte equilibrium in ileal and colonic mucosae and to estimate the possible influence of divergent activity of the endogenous opioid system (EOS) on IBS therapy. METHODS: Two mouse lines bidirectionally selected for high (HA) and low (LA) swim stress-induced analgesia associated with high and low EOS activity were used in this study. To assess the effect of LOP and NLX on HA/LA lines in vivo, we used the castor oil-induced diarrhea model. Changes in electrolyte equilibrium were determined on the basis of short-circuit current (ΔIsc ) in isolated mouse ileum and colon exposed to LOP and NLX and stimulated by forskolin (FSK), veratridine (VER), and bethanechol (BET). KEY RESULTS: In vivo, we found that LOP significantly prolonged time to appearance of diarrhea in HA and LA lines. In vitro, LOP and NLX increased ΔIsc in FSK- and VER-stimulated colonic tissue, respectively, in HA line. In the ileum, LOP increased ΔIsc in FSK- and VER-stimulated tissue and decreased ΔIsc in BET-stimulated tissues in HA line. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Individual differences in EOS activity may play a crucial role in the response to the IBS-D therapy, thus some patients may be at an increased risk of side effects such as constipation or diarrhea.

Modulation of the endocannabinoid system by the fatty acid amide hydrolase, monoacylglycerol and diacylglycerol lipase inhibitors as an attractive target for secretory diarrhoea therapy.

Secretory diarrhoea is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Our aim was to characterize the effect of inhibition of selected enzymes involved in the synthesis or degradation of endocannabinoids on electrolyte equilibrium in the mouse colonic tissue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of PF-3845, JZL-184 and RHC-80267, as inhibitors of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), monoacylglycerol (MAGL) and diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL), respectively on epithelial ion transport in isolated mouse colon stimulated by forskolin (FSK), veratridine (VER) and bethanechol (BET). Next, colonic tissue was co-incubated with selected inhibitors and cannabinoid receptor antagonists: AM 251 and AM 630 (CB1 and CB2 antagonists, respectively). We found that PF-3845 induced antisecretory effect in FSK-stimulated colonic tissue (P < 0.01), which was significantly reversed by AM 251 (P < 0.001) and AM 630 (P < 0.01). JZL-184 significantly reduced ΔIsc (P < 0.05) in FSK-stimulated conditions and co-incubation with AM 630, but not AM 251 reversed this effect when compared to JZL-184 alone (P < 0.05). After addition of PF-3845 and JZL-184 to colon tissue stimulated by VER, we did not observe any significant effect on ΔIsc. PF-3845, JZL-184 or RHC-80267 were without any statistically significant effect on BET-evoked ion transport when compared to control. Our findings showed that indirect modulation of the endocannabinoid system could be an attractive target for novel effective treatment of secretory diarrhoea, which is devoid of side effects on the central nervous system caused by direct administration of cannabinoid receptor agonists.

The effect of opioid agonists and antagonists on gastrointestinal motility in mice selected for high and low swim stress-induced analgesia.

BACKGROUND: The opioid system in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract plays an important physiological role, but is also responsible for the side effect of opioid drugs, including troublesome constipation in chronic pain treatment. The aim of this study was to characterize and validate a new mouse model to study the effects of opioid agonists and antagonists in the GI tract. METHODS: Six-week-old male Swiss-Webster mice, divergently bred for high (HA) and low (LA) swim stress-induced analgesia (SSIA), were used in the study. To assess the influence of opioid agonists (morphine and loperamide) and antagonists (naloxone hydrochloride, NLX and naloxone methiodide, NLXM) on GI motility, whole GI transit (whole GIT) and upper GIT assays were conducted. To evaluate the expression of opioid receptors in the ileum and colon of HA and LA mice, immune staining was performed. KEY RESULTS: The effect of morphine was more pronounced in HA line, whereas loperamide exerted a stronger effect in LA mice. Furthermore, NLX and NLXM differentially abolished the inhibitory action of the central and peripheral opioid system on whole and upper GIT in HA and LA mice. The differences in GI motility between HA and LA mice coexisted with parallel changes in the expression of opioid receptors in the ileum and colon. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Differences in the activity of the endogenous opioid system are responsible for the vulnerability to changes in GI motility during treatment with opioids. Our findings validate the HA/LA model for further studies on opioids in the GI tract.

[Stress-induced changes in the knee joint in men working in a kneeling position]. / Zmiany przeciazeniowe stawu rzepkowo-udowego u pracowników wykonujacych zawód w pozycji kleczacej.

Basing on clinical and radiological examinations as well as the perfusion of J125 iodoantipyrine in the patella it was found that 39% of paviors and 34.8% floorers exhibited changes resulting from overloading of that joint. Both groups revealed a high correlation between changes due to overloading and length of employment.