Potent suppression of HIV-1 cell attachment by Kudzu root extract

There is a constant need to improve antiretrovirals against HIV since therapy is limited by cost, side effects and the emergence of drug resistance. Kudzu is a climbing vine from which the root extract (Pueraria lobata), rich in isoflavones and saponins, has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine for a variety of purposes, from weight loss to alcoholism prevention. Here we show that Kudzu root extract significantly inhibits HIV-1 entry into cell lines, primary human CD4⁺T lymphocytes and macrophages, without cell-associated toxicity. Specifically, Kudzu inhibits the initial attachment of the viral particle to the cell surface, a mechanism that depends on the envelope glycoprotein gp120 but is independent from the HIV-1 cell receptor CD4 and co-receptors CXCR4/CCR5. This activity seems selective to lentiviruses since Kudzu inhibits HIV-2 and simian immunodeficiency virus, but does not interfere with Hepatitis C, Influenza, Zika Brazil and adenovirus infection. Importantly, depending on the dose, Kudzu can act synergistically or additively with the current antiretroviral cocktails against HIV-1 and can block   viruses resistant to the fusion inhibitor Enfuvirtide. Together our results highlight Kudzu's root extract value as a supplement to current antiretroviral therapy against HIV.

Across-Experiment Transcriptomics of Sheep Rumen Identifies Expression of Lipid/Oxo-Acid Metabolism and Muscle Cell Junction Genes Associated With Variation in Methane-Related Phenotypes

Ruminants are significant contributors to the livestock generated component of the greenhouse gas, methane (CH₄). The CH₄ is primarily produced by the rumen microbes. Although the composition of the diet and animal intake amount have the largest effect on CH₄ production and yield (CH₄ production/dry matter intake, DMI), the host also influences CH₄ yield. Shorter rumen feed mean retention time (MRT) is associated with higher dry matter intake and lower CH₄ yield, but the molecular mechanism(s) by which the host affects CH₄ production remain unclear. We integrated rumen wall transcriptome data and CH₄ phenotypes from two independent experiments conducted with sheep in Australia (AUS, n = 62) and New Zealand (NZ, n = 24). The inclusion of the AUS data validated the previously identified clusters and gene sets representing rumen epithelial, metabolic and muscular functions. In addition, the expression of the cell cycle genes as a group was consistently positively correlated with acetate and butyrate concentrations (p < 0.05, based on AUS and NZ data together). The expression of a group of metabolic genes showed positive correlations in both AUS and NZ datasets with CH₄ production (p < 0.05) and yield (p < 0.01). These genes encode key enzymes in the ketone body synthesis pathway and included members of the poorly characterized aldo-keto reductase 1C (AKR1C) family. Several AKR1C family genes appear to have ruminant specific evolution patterns, supporting their specialized roles in the ruminants. Combining differential gene expression in the rumen wall muscle of the shortest and longest MRT AUS animals (no data available for the NZ animals) with correlation and network analysis, we identified a set of rumen muscle genes involved in cell junctions as potential regulators of MRT, presumably by influencing contraction rates of the smooth muscle component of the rumen wall. Higher rumen expression of these genes, including SYNPO (synaptopodin, p < 0.01) and NEXN (nexilin, p < 0.05), was associated with lower CH₄ yield in both AUS and NZ datasets. Unlike the metabolic genes, the variations in the expression of which may reflect the availability of rumen metabolites, the muscle genes are currently our best candidates for causal genes that influence CH₄ yield.

Development of Patient Decision Aids for Plaque Psoriasis and Acne

INTRODUCTION

Despite proven benefits in other medical specialties, there is a paucity of patient decision aids (PDAs) in dermatology. The present study developed online PDAs for acne and psoriasis, incorporating iterative patient and physician feedback, in accordance with International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS).

DESIGN AND METHOD

Content was adapted from clinical practice guidelines and primary research and formatted for an 8th grade reading level. Feedback on content and format was obtained through focus groups with 15 psoriasis patients and survey with 34 acne patients. Feedback on presentation and clinical utility of the PDAs was gathered by survey from 51 physicians in Canada and the United States. Each data collection stage informed further development.

RESULTS

Demand for decision support, and satisfaction with the PDAs was high among patients. Physicians were approving of content and expressed a strong interest in PDA use.

CONCLUSION

Patients and physicians approve of the PDAs' content, format, and intended use. Online PDAs allow accessibility for patients and may reduce barriers to use for physicians.

Refrigeration, cryopreservation and pathogen inactivation: an updated perspective on platelet storage conditions

Conventional storage of platelet concentrates limits their shelf life to between 5 and 7 days due to the risk of bacterial proliferation and the development of the platelet storage lesion. Cold storage and cryopreservation of platelets may facilitate extension of the shelf life to weeks and years, and may also provide the benefit of being more haemostatically effective than conventionally stored platelets. Further, treatment of platelet concentrates with pathogen inactivation systems reduces bacterial contamination and provides a safeguard against the risk of emerging and re-emerging pathogens. While each of these alternative storage techniques is gaining traction individually, little work has been done to examine the effect of combining treatments in an effort to further improve product safety and minimize wastage. This review aims to discuss the benefits of alternative storage techniques and how they may be combined to alleviate the problems associated with conventional platelet storage.

Small molecule PGC-1α1 protein stabilizers induce adipocyte Ucp1 expression and uncoupled mitochondrial respiration

Objective

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α1 (PGC-1α1) regulates genes involved in energy metabolism. Increasing adipose tissue energy expenditure through PGC-1α1 activation is potentially beneficial for systemic metabolism. Pharmacological PGC-1α1 activators could be valuable tools in the fight against obesity and metabolic disease. Finding such compounds has been challenging partly because PGC-1α1 is a transcriptional coactivator with no known ligand-binding properties. While, PGC-1α1 activation is regulated by several mechanisms, protein stabilization is a crucial limiting step due to its short half-life under unstimulated conditions.

Methods

We designed a cell-based high-throughput screening system to identify PGC-1α1 protein stabilizers. Positive hits were tested for their ability to induce endogenous PGC-1α1 protein accumulation and activate target gene expression in brown adipocytes. Select compounds were analyzed for their effects on global gene expression and cellular respiration in adipocytes.

Results

Among 7,040 compounds screened, we highlight four small molecules with high activity as measured by: PGC-1α1 protein accumulation, target gene expression, and uncoupled mitochondrial respiration in brown adipocytes.

Conclusions

We identify compounds that induce PGC-1α1 protein accumulation and show that this increases uncoupled respiration in brown adipocytes. This screening platform establishes the foundation for a new class of therapeutics with potential use in obesity and associated disorders.

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A high-throughput platform to identify PGC-1α1 activators.

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PGC-1α1 protein stabilizers work as activators in brown adipocytes.

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Small molecule PGC-1α1 activators induce Ucp1 expression and cellular respiration.

Aural exostoses (surfer's ear) provide vital fossil evidence of an aquatic phase in Man's early evolution

For over a century, otolaryngologists have recognised the condition of aural exostoses, but their significance and aetiology remains obscure, although they tend to be associated with frequent swimming and cold water immersion of the auditory canal. The fact that this condition is usually bilateral is predictable since both ears are immersed in water. However, why do exostoses only grow in swimmers and why do they grow in the deep bony meatus at two or three constant sites? Furthermore, from an evolutionary point of view, what is or was the purpose and function of these rather incongruous protrusions? In recent decades, paleoanthropological evidence has challenged ideas about early hominid evolution. In 1992 the senior author suggested that aural exostoses were evolved in early hominid Man for protection of the delicate tympanic membrane during swimming and diving by narrowing the ear canal in a similar fashion to other semiaquatic species. We now provide evidence for this theory and propose an aetiological explanation for the formation of exostoses.

One-hour portable chamber methane measurements are repeatable and provide useful information on feed intake and efficiency

Feed intake (FI), live weight (LW), and ADG were recorded over 31 d in ninety-six 12-month-old ewes (progeny of 4 sires) given ad libitum access to chaffed lucerne/cereal hay. Methane (CH) and CO emissions of each ewe were measured for 40 to 60 min in portable accumulation chambers (PAC) and in respiration chambers (RC) over 22 h. Testing in RC increased the variability of FI on the test day and depressed the amount eaten from an average of 1,384 to 1,062 g/d; FI depression increased by 0.63 ± 0.24 percentage points for every kilogram of additional LW. Repeatabilities of PAC measurements were 0.76 (CH) and 0.81 (CO). After adjusting for LW and ADG, repeatabilities were 0.47 (PAC CH) and 0.43 (PAC CO). Daily FI measurements had similar repeatability (0.76 before and 0.42 after adjustment for LW and ADG). The PAC measurements were highly correlated with mean 31-d FI ( = 0.81 for both CH and CO). After adjustment for LW and ADG, PAC measurements were moderately correlated with residual feed intake (RFI; = 0.37 for CH, 0.31 for CO). The CH:CO ratio was also significantly correlated with mean 31-d FI ( = 0.52). After most of the ewes had given birth and raised lambs, repeat PAC measurements were available for 91 of the ewes at 2 years of age (with ad libitum access to the same feed). Correlations with the 2012 PAC measurements were 0.64 (CH) and 0.75 (CO). After adjusting 2014 PAC measurements for LW, correlations with RFI in 2012 were 0.34 (CH) and 0.33 (CO), with a clear relationship between sire means for RFI in 2012 and PAC CH adjusted for LW in 2014. These results suggest that PAC tests under similar feeding conditions are repeatable over an extended time period and can provide useful information on FI and feed efficiency as well as methane emissions. Analyses of RC measurements might need to consider FI depression.

Rapid assessment of bovine colostrum quality: How reliable are transmission infrared spectroscopy and digital and optical refractometers?

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of the transmission infrared (IR) spectroscopic method and digital and optical Brix refractometers for measurement of colostral IgG concentration and assessment of colostrum quality of dairy cows. Colostrum samples (n = 258) were collected from Holstein cows on 30 commercial dairy farms in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, Canada. Colostral IgG concentrations of 255 samples were measured by the reference radial immunodiffusion (RID) assay and IR spectroscopy. The Brix scores were determined on 240 of these samples using both the digital and optical Brix refractometers. Approximately half (48%) of the colostrum samples had RID IgG concentrations <50 g/L, which was the cut-point for poor quality. The correlation between RID and IR IgG concentrations was 0.88. The correlations between RID IgG concentration and Brix scores, as determined by the digital and optical refractometers, were 0.72 and 0.71, respectively. The optimal cutoff levels for distinguishing good- and poor-quality colostrum using IR spectroscopy, and digital and optical Brix refractometers were at 35 g/L and 23% Brix, respectively. The IR spectroscopy showed higher sensitivity (90%) and specificity (86%) than the digital (74 and 80%, respectively) and optical (73 and 80%, respectively) Brix refractometers for assessment of colostrum quality, as compared with RID. In conclusion, the transmission-IR spectroscopy is a rapid and accurate method for assessing colostrum quality, but is a laboratory-based method, whereas Brix refractometers were less accurate but could be used on-farm.

Crohn's disease: First diagnosis in pregnancy and management

This case addresses the difficulty in the initial diagnosis of severe Crohn's disease in pregnancy as well as the challenges of instituting remission therapy towards the end of second trimester. The patient's course was complicated by recurrent hospital admissions and intolerance to diet requiring temporary nasogastric feeding. Medical management included the use of biological agents during pregnancy, which allowed for better symptomatic control. She sustained no further complications and underwent a successful vaginal delivery of a healthy baby at 37 weeks' gestation.

Evaluation of walking speed and functional ambulation categories in geriatric day hospital patients

Functional ambulation categories (0-5) were recorded on 105 patients on the first and last days of a day hospital physiotherapy programme. Walking speed was measured in patients capable of walking without physical support from another person (functional ambulation categories 3-5). Patients attended for a median of 10 therapy days. Ambulation categories improved in 26 patients, deteriorated in three patients and there was no change in 76 patients. Mean walking speed, measured in 61 patients who did not change walking aid, increased from 0.38 to 0.44 metres per second (p = 0.003). Forty-three patients who did not show improvement in functional ambulation category had an increase in mean walking speed from 0.37 to 0.43 metres per second (p = 0.015). Both measurements are valuable, complementary and suitable for routine use in day hospital practice. Together they provide a basis for assess ing effectiveness of therapy.