Characterization of Glycosphingolipids in the Human Parathyroid and Thyroid Glands

As part of a systematic investigation of the glycosphingolipids in human tissues, acid and non-acid glycosphingolipids from human thyroid and parathyroid glands were isolated and characterized with mass spectrometry and binding of carbohydrate-recognizing ligands, with a focus on complex compounds. The glycosphingolipid patterns of the human parathyroid and thyroid glands were very similar. The major acid glycosphingolipids were sulfatide and the gangliosides GM3, GD3, GD1a, GD1b, GT1b and Neu5Ac-neolactotetraosylceramide, and the major non-acid glycosphingolipids were globotriaosylceramide and globoside. We also found neolactotetra- and neolactohexaosylceramide, the x2 glycosphingolipid, and complex glycosphingolipids with terminal blood group O and A determinants in both tissues. A glycosphingolipid with blood group Leb determinant was identified in the thyroid gland, and the parathyroid sample had a glycosphingolipid with terminal blood group B determinant. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated the expression of blood group A antigens in both the thyroid and parathyroid glands. A weak cytoplasmatic expression of the GD1a ganglioside was present in the thyroid, while the parathyroid gland had a strong GD1a expression on the cell surface. Thus, the glycosylation of human thyroid and parathyroid glands is more complex than previously appreciated. Our findings provide a platform for further studies of alterations of cell surface glycosphingolipids in thyroid and parathyroid cancers.

Mid-Tibiofibular Amputation as a Method of Terminal Blood Collection in Xenopus Laevis

The African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, is a widely used model for biomedical research. X. laevis could be more useful as a model with a better method for collection and analysis of its blood and serum. However, blood collection in X. laevis can be challenging due to their small size, lack of peripheral vascular access, and species-specific hematology variables. The goal of this study was to compare cardiocentesis, the current gold standard terminal blood collection method, with a leg amputation technique. Blood samples were collected from 24 laboratory-reared X. laevis, randomized to either the cardiocentesis or leg amputation method, with 6 males and 6 females in each group. Hematology and serum biochemistry were also conducted to identify any lymph contamination in the samples. The leg amputation method produced significantly higher blood volumes in shorter times and showed no significant differences in clinical pathology parameters as compared with cardiocentesis. These results indicate that blood collection by leg amputation may be a valuable approach for increasing the utility of an already valuable biomedical research model.

Acute Normovolemic Hemodilution-assisted Terminal Blood Procurement in Swine for Ex Vivo Organ Perfusion

Swine (Sus scrofa domesticus) are commonly used large animal subjects for the study of disease and preclinical therapies. Organ machine perfusion is a therapy that has gained momentum as a research platform for the study of ex vivo organ preservation and therapeutics. However, complex perfusion circuits and research protocols often require large volumes of blood as perfusate. Here, we report a technique for increasing terminal blood yield during swine organ and blood procurement; our method involves acute normovolemic hemodilution and exsanguination via the femoral artery. We collected a total of 47 ± 4 mL/kg of blood and 4.3 ± 0.6 g/kg of hemoglobin, representing 73% ± 6% of the estimated blood volume and 64% ± 8% of the total estimated intravascular hemoglobin (n = 4). Neither pH, lactate, nor pO2 levels changed significantly during blood procurement. Acute normovolemic hemodilution is an effective method for increasing RBC and hemoglobin yield during blood procurement in swine.

Characterization of glycosphingolipids from gastrointestinal stromal tumours

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) are the major nonepithelial neoplasms of the human gastrointestinal tract with a worldwide incidence between 11 and 15 per million cases annually. In this study the acid and non-acid glycosphingolipids of three GISTs were characterized using a combination of thin-layer chromatography, chemical staining, binding of carbohydrate recognizing ligands, and mass spectrometry. In the non-acid glycosphingolipid fractions of the tumors globotetraosylceramide, neolactotetraosylceramide, and glycosphingolipids with terminal blood group A, B, H, Lex, Lea, Ley and Leb determinants were found. The relative amounts of these non-acid compounds were different in the three tumour samples. The acid glycosphingolipid fractions had sulfatide, and the gangliosides GM3, GD3, GM1, Neu5Acα3neolactotetraosylceramide, GD1a, GT1b and GQ1b. In summary, we have characterized the glycosphingolipids of GISTs and found that the pattern differs in tumours from different individuals. This detailed characterization of glycosphingolipid composition of GISTs could contribute to recognition of new molecular targets for GIST treatment and sub-classification.

Disease of Pulp and Periradicular Tissue: An Overview

Dental pain is the most common reason due to which patient seek dental treatment. Pain occur due to diseases involving pulp and periradicular tissues, as this tissues are richly innervated and have ample of blood supply. Also it is enclosed by surrounding tissues that are incapable of expanding, such as dentin and also has terminal blood flow and small-gauge circulatory access the periapex. All of these characteristics severely constrain the defensive capacity of the pulp tissue when faced with the different aggressions it may be subjected to. In addition to above mentioned characterstics, pulp tissue can also be affected by a retrograde infection, arising from the secondary canaliculi, from the periodontal ligament or from the apex during the course of periodontitis. this review article basically concentrates on structure of pulp, classification of diseases related to pulp and periradicular tissue and detailed explanation of diseases

Rapid-onset hypoglycemia suppresses Fos expression in discrete parts of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus

The consensus view of the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH) is that it is a key node in the rodent brain network controlling sympathoadrenal counterregulatory responses to hypoglycemia. To identify the location of hypoglycemia-responsive neurons in the VMH, we performed a high spatial resolution Fos analysis in the VMH of rats made hypoglycemic with intraperitoneal injections of insulin. We examined Fos expression in the four constituent parts of VMH throughout its rostrocaudal extent and determined their relationship to blood glucose concentrations. Hypoglycemia significantly decreased Fos expression only in the dorsomedial and central parts of the VMH, but not its anterior or ventrolateral parts. Moreover, the number of Fos-expressing neurons was significantly and positively correlated in the two responsive regions with terminal blood glucose concentrations. We also measured Fos responses in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH) and in several levels of the periaqueductal gray (PAG), which receives strong projections from the VMH. We found the expected and highly significant increase in Fos in the neuroendocrine PVH, which was negatively correlated to terminal blood glucose concentrations, but no significant differences were seen in any part of the PAG. Our results show that there are distinct populations of VMH neurons whose Fos expression is suppressed by hypoglycemia, and their numbers correlate with blood glucose. These findings support a clear division of glycemic control functions within the different parts of the VMH.

Industry Watch

Alchemia Collaborates on SK1. Progen Technology Switches On Cancer Fighting Genes. New Australian Drug Holds Hope of Major Breakthrough in Treating Terminal Blood Cancers. Novavax and Cadila Pharmaceuticals Form Alliance. Icon's Singapore, India Labs Get CAP Accreditation. SIRO Clinpharm and Advanced Clinical Trial Solutions Form Strategic Alliance. GVK Forays into Clinical Trials with Chinese Company. iZumi Bio and Kyoto University Collaborate on iPS Cell Technology. Vitrolife Starts a Company in Japan. Otsuka, BMS in an Oncology Collaboration. EnVivo, Mitsubishi to Develop Schizophrenia Drug. PerkinElmer Announces Collaboration with Sangmyung University. Living Cell Technologies's New Zealand Pigs Free of Viruses. A*STAR Joins Forces with Swiss Company, Cytos, to Combat HFMD. IBN Engineers World's First Tri-Continuous Mesoporous Silica. Innogene Kalbiotech Pte Ltd and Info Kinetics Sdn. Bhd. Spearhead Establishment of Internationally Accredited BA/BE Studies in Indonesia.