Enrichment of single neurons and defined brain regions from human brain tissue samples for subsequent proteome analysis.

Molina, Mariana,Steinbach, Simone,Park, Young Mok,Yun, Su Yeong,Di Lorenzo Alho, Ana Tereza,Heinsen, Helmut,Grinberg, Lea T,Marcus, Katrin,Leite, Renata E Paraizo,May, Caroline Springer 2015 JOURNAL OF NEURAL TRANSMISSION Vol.122 No.7

<P>Brain function in normal aging and neurological diseases has long been a subject of interest. With current technology, it is possible to go beyond descriptive analyses to characterize brain cell populations at the molecular level. However, the brain comprises over 100 billion highly specialized cells, and it is a challenge to discriminate different cell groups for analyses. Isolating intact neurons is not feasible with traditional methods, such as tissue homogenization techniques. The advent of laser microdissection techniques promises to overcome previous limitations in the isolation of specific cells. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for isolating and analyzing neurons from postmortem human brain tissue samples. We describe a workflow for successfully freezing, sectioning and staining tissue for laser microdissection. This protocol was validated by mass spectrometric analysis. Isolated neurons can also be employed for western blotting or PCR. This protocol will enable further examinations of brain cell-specific molecular pathways and aid in elucidating distinct brain functions.</P>

Telegerontology? and Mobile Robot Companion

J. C. Mill?n-Calenti,A. Maseda,A. Badii,T. Lorenzo,M. Villanueva,C. P?rez 한국노년학연구회 2009 한국 노년학연구 Vol.18 No.-

Technological progress and changes in society, together with an increasingly ageing population, especially in developed countries, have demanded solutions to the problems linked to this aging and the increasing number of elderly people. We describe two assistive systems being currently developed and improved; the first one `Telegerontology?” is a gerontological resource that through the Internet, facilitates different functionalities at home or in institutions such as physical and cognitive intervention, and providing support to professionals. The second one `CompanionAble” consists of an integrated system Smart-home and intelligent robot to give support to the elderly with mild cognitive impairment and their caregivers. The system, which can move about in the home, incorporates functionalities such as an application of cognitive stimulation, an event agenda and a video-conference system. In conclusion, we consider that though the evolution of new technologies for the support of elderly and/or disabled people has experienced a great advance in the last years, and despite new future system as Telegerontology? or CompanionAble, human being support is still necessary for achieving their objectives. This fact is very positive because we ensure the presence of a health professional behind each patient.

The wide utility of rabbits as models of human diseases

Pedro J. Esteves,Joana Abrantes,Hanna-Mari Baldauf,Lbachir BenMohamed,Yuxing Chen,Neil Christensen,Javier González-Gallego,Lorenzo Giacani,Jiafen Hu,Gilla Kaplan,Oliver T. Keppler,Katherine L. Knight 생화학분자생물학회 2018 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.50 No.-

Studies using the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus contributed to elucidating numerous fundamental aspects of antibody structure and diversification mechanisms and continue to be valuable for the development and testing of therapeutic humanized polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. Additionally, during the last two decades, the use of the European rabbit as an animal model has been increasingly extended to many human diseases. This review documents the continuing wide utility of the rabbit as a reliable disease model for development of therapeutics and vaccines and studies of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying many human diseases. Examples include syphilis, tuberculosis, HIV-AIDS, acute hepatic failure and diseases caused by noroviruses, ocular herpes, and papillomaviruses. The use of rabbits for vaccine development studies, which began with Louis Pasteur’s rabies vaccine in 1881, continues today with targets that include the potentially blinding HSV-1 virus infection and HIV-AIDS. Additionally, two highly fatal viral diseases, rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis, affect the European rabbit and provide unique models to understand co-evolution between a vertebrate host and viral pathogens.

Not All Children with Cystic Fibrosis Have Abnormal Esophageal Neutralization during Chemical Clearance of Acid Reflux

Frederick W. Woodley,Melissa Moore-Clingenpeel,Rodrigo Strehl Machado,Christopher J. Nemastil,Sudarshan R. Jadcherla,Don Hayes Jr,Benjamin T. Kopp,Ajay Kaul,Carlo Di Lorenzo,Hayat Mousa 대한소아소화기영양학회 2017 Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol.20 No.3

Purpose: Acid neutralization during chemical clearance is significantly prolonged in children with cystic fibrosis, com-pared to symptomatic children without cystic fibrosis. The absence of available reference values impeded identi-fication of abnormal findings within individual patients with and without cystic fibrosis. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that significantly more children with cystic fibrosis have acid neutralization durations during chem-ical clearance that fall outside the physiological range. Methods: Published reference value for acid neutralization duration during chemical clearance (determined using combined impedance/pH monitoring) was used to assess esophageal acid neutralization efficiency during chemical clearance in 16 children with cystic fibrosis (3 to <18 years) and 16 age-matched children without cystic fibrosis.Results: Duration of acid neutralization during chemical clearance exceeded the upper end of the physiological range in 9 of 16 (56.3%) children with and in 3 of 16 (18.8%) children without cystic fibrosis (p=0.0412). The likelihood ratio for duration indicated that children with cystic fibrosis are 2.1-times more likely to have abnormal acid neutraliza-tion during chemical clearance, and children with abnormal acid neutralization during chemical clearance are 1.5-times more likely to have cystic fibrosis. Conclusion: Significantly more (but not all) children with cystic fibrosis have abnormally prolonged esophageal clear-ance of acid. Children with cystic fibrosis are more likely to have abnormal acid neutralization during chemical clearance. Additional studies involving larger sample sizes are needed to address the importance of genotype, esophageal motility, composition and volume of saliva, and gastric acidity on acid neutralization efficiency in cystic fibrosis children.

Aerosol particle mixing state, refractory particle number size distributions and emission factors in a polluted urban environment: Case study of Metro Manila, Philippines

Kecorius, S.,Madueno, L.,Vallar, E.,Alas, H.,Betito, G.,Birmili, W.,Cambaliza, M.O.,Catipay, G.,Gonzaga-Cayetano, M.,Galvez, M.C.,Lorenzo, G.,Muller, T.,Simpas, J.B.,Tamayo, E.G.,Wiedensohler, A. Pergamon Press ; Elsevier [distribution] 2017 Atmospheric environment Vol.170 No.-

Ultrafine soot particles (black carbon, BC) in urban environments are related to adverse respiratory and cardiovascular effects, increased cases of asthma and premature deaths. These problems are especially pronounced in developing megacities in South-East Asia, Latin America, and Africa, where unsustainable urbanization ant outdated environmental protection legislation resulted in severe degradation of urban air quality in terms of black carbon emission. Since ultrafine soot particles do often not lead to enhanced PM<SUB>10</SUB> and PM<SUB>2.5</SUB> mass concentration, the risks related to ultrafine particle pollution may therefore be significantly underestimated compared to the contribution of secondary aerosol constituents. To increase the awareness of the potential toxicological relevant problems of ultrafine black carbon particles, we conducted a case study in Metro Manila, the capital of the Philippines. Here, we present a part of the results from a detailed field campaign, called Manila Aerosol Characterization Experiment (MACE, 2015). Measurements took place from May to June 2015 with the focus on the state of mixing of aerosol particles. The results were alarming, showing the abundance of externally mixed refractory particles (soot proxy) at street site with a maximum daily number concentration of approximately 15000 #/cm<SUP>3</SUP>. That is up to 10 times higher than in cities of Western countries. We also found that the soot particle mass contributed from 55 to 75% of total street site PM<SUB>2.5</SUB>. The retrieved refractory particle number size distribution appeared to be a superposition of 2 ultrafine modes at 20 and 80 nm with a corresponding contribution to the total refractory particle number of 45 and 55%, respectively. The particles in the 20 nm mode were most likely ash from metallic additives in lubricating oil, tiny carbonaceous particles and/or nucleated and oxidized organic polymers, while bigger ones (80 nm) were soot agglomerates. To the best of the authors' knowledge, no other studies reported such high number concentration of ultrafine refractory particles under ambient conditions. Inverse modeling of emission factors of refractory particle number size distributions revealed that diesel-fed public utility Jeepneys, commonly used for public transportation, are responsible for 94% of total roadside emitted refractory particle mass. The observed results showed that the majority of urban pollution in Metro Manila is dominated by carbonaceous aerosol. This suggests that PM<SUB>10</SUB> or PM<SUB>2.5</SUB> metrics do not fully describe possible health related effects in this kind of urban environments. Extremely high concentrations of ultrafine particles have been and will continue to induce adverse health related effects, because of their potential toxicity. We imply that in megacities, where the major fraction of particulates originates from the transport sector, PM<SUB>10</SUB> or PM<SUB>2.5</SUB> mass concentration should be complemented by legislative measurements of equivalent black carbon mass concentration.

Not All Children with Cystic Fibrosis Have Abnormal Esophageal Neutralization during Chemical Clearance of Acid Reflux

Woodley, Frederick W.,Moore-Clingenpeel, Melissa,Machado, Rodrigo Strehl,Nemastil, Christopher J.,Jadcherla, Sudarshan R.,Hayes, Don Jr,Kopp, Benjamin T.,Kaul, Ajay,Di Lorenzo, Carlo,Mousa, Hayat The Korean Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology 2017 Pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology & nutrition Vol.20 No.3

Purpose: Acid neutralization during chemical clearance is significantly prolonged in children with cystic fibrosis, compared to symptomatic children without cystic fibrosis. The absence of available reference values impeded identification of abnormal findings within individual patients with and without cystic fibrosis. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that significantly more children with cystic fibrosis have acid neutralization durations during chemical clearance that fall outside the physiological range. Methods: Published reference value for acid neutralization duration during chemical clearance (determined using combined impedance/pH monitoring) was used to assess esophageal acid neutralization efficiency during chemical clearance in 16 children with cystic fibrosis (3 to < 18 years) and 16 age-matched children without cystic fibrosis. Results: Duration of acid neutralization during chemical clearance exceeded the upper end of the physiological range in 9 of 16 (56.3%) children with and in 3 of 16 (18.8%) children without cystic fibrosis (p=0.0412). The likelihood ratio for duration indicated that children with cystic fibrosis are 2.1-times more likely to have abnormal acid neutralization during chemical clearance, and children with abnormal acid neutralization during chemical clearance are 1.5-times more likely to have cystic fibrosis. Conclusion: Significantly more (but not all) children with cystic fibrosis have abnormally prolonged esophageal clearance of acid. Children with cystic fibrosis are more likely to have abnormal acid neutralization during chemical clearance. Additional studies involving larger sample sizes are needed to address the importance of genotype, esophageal motility, composition and volume of saliva, and gastric acidity on acid neutralization efficiency in cystic fibrosis children.