An opportunity for remote professional networking to support undergraduate career goals

Engagement in research as an undergraduate and the availability of mentorship from peers and professionals are effective strategies for improving retention of students in STEM fields. Undergraduates in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology at the University of Colorado Boulder enroll in one of two large introductory course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) as a requirement of the degree. However, more diverse efforts toward formally supporting students seeking to refine their career goals is needed. We designed a networking-based workshop series aimed at providing access to the current and former students who have been recently successful in achieving relevant educational and career goals. This 5-week series focused on (1) how to convert a resume to a curriculum vitae, (2) careers that are accessible with a bachelor's degree in the life sciences, (3) types of research opportunities as an undergraduate and as a post-graduate, (4) the application process and strategies for successful candidacy in medical school applications, and (5) PhD programs and approaches to producing a competitive application. The workshop connected 52 undergraduates with mentors; the majority of participants requested contact information for continued mentoring. Here, we describe the structure of this remote workshop series and highlight results that emphasized the need for such support that may extend beyond pandemic times.

SelectMDx versus Prostate Health Index in the identification of high-grade prostate cancer

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Background: A major clinical challenge is to identify patients at increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer (PCa) (Gleason scores ≥ 7) before biopsy. Thus, we evaluated the clinical utility of SelectMDx and Prostate Health Index (phi) tests for diagnosis of high-grade PCa as compared with transperineal mapping biopsy (TMB) results, where an average of 80 prostate needle biopsies are taken every 5 mm for a diagnostic accuracy of 98%. Methods: 70 patients were selected who had TMB. They were evaluated with both SelectMDx and phi tests from before or after TMB; all had serum and post-digital rectal examination urine samples collected prior to treatment, stored in our biorepository. phi was evaluated using proPSA, free PSA and total PSA in serum. SelectMDx test measured mRNA levels of the HOXC6 and DLX1 in post-DRE urine. Published data shows that phi <27 and SelectMDx score = 0% correlate with patients free of HG PCa. Test results were compared against TMB histopathology data. Multivariate logistic regression (MLS) analyses and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine diagnostic accuracy. DeLong test was used to determine statistical significance of ROC curves. All analyses were done for diagnosis of any PCa and high-grade PCa. Results: TMB histopathology showed 17/70 patients with no PCa and 22/53 with high-grade PCa. The sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values of each test are shown in the table below. Pairwise ROC comparison showed no statistically significant difference in the area under the curve of diagnosing PCa (0.75 vs 0.65) and high-grade PCa (0.71 vs 0.81) by phi and SelectMDx tests respectively. MLS analyses showed phi was significantly better than SelectMDx for diagnosing PCa (β = 0.054; p=0.005) and SelectMDx was significantly better than phi for diagnosing high-grade PCa (β = 8.45; p=0.0002). Conclusions: With high sensitivity and NPV, SelectMDx test is more useful than phi for screening patients at risk of high-grade PCa prior to biopsy. [Table: see text]

Changes in opioid receptor selectivity following processing of peptide E: effect on gut motility

Peptide E is a mu-selective opioid peptide derived from proenkephalin A which contains [Met5]-enkephalin at the amino end and [Leu5]-enkephalin at the carboxyl end. Peptide E is further processed both centrally and peripherally to a [Leu5]-enkephalin-containing fragment which was investigated to determine if processing leads to alterations in receptor selectivity. Peptide E-(15-25) inhibited electrically stimulated contractions in both the mouse vas deferens, longitudinal muscle, myenteric (IC50 = 459 nmol/L), and guinea pig ileum (IC50 = 2630 nmol/L), indicating a sixfold delta-receptor selectivity. When administered intracerebroventricularly to mice, peptide E-(15-25) also produced potent analgesia which was completely antagonized by naloxone pretreatment, but the peptide had no effect on intestinal transit as measured by the radiochromium geometric center method. This is consistent with earlier findings that intracerebroventricular delta-opioid-selective agents are analgesic but do not inhibit intestinal transit. In vitro radioligand binding assays were performed using male Sprague-Dawley rat whole brain homogenates. The IC50 for peptide E against [3H]naloxone was 1.8 nmol/L compared with the delta-opioid ligand, [3H] [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin of 38.8 nmol/L. The IC50 for peptide E-(15-25) against [3H]naloxone was 497 nmol/L, but for [3H] [D-Pen2, D-Pen5]-enkephalin it was 50.6 nmol/L. Therefore, peptide E loses mu-opioid receptor affinity (1.8-497 nmol/L) after proteolytic processing and the loss of the amino terminal tyrosine but maintains a high delta-opioid affinity (38.8-50.6 nmol/L). These studies demonstrate that enzymatic peptide processing of peptide E to peptide E-(15-25) leads to a shift from mu- to delta-receptor selectivity and a different spectrum of biological effects on gut motility.

[Initial experiences in developing family groups]

First experiences are told about activity of a group of relationship, who care for old members of family. Important are not only instructions for nursing and remedial gymnastics but also conversations in the group, by which individual problems are decreased and willingness for care of old patients in the family is promoted.

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibits an IUD-induced premature luteolysis in sheep

Fifteen ewes were assigned as they came into estrus to one of three randomized treatment groups: 1. Sham IUD + Vehicle, 2. IUD + Vehicle, and 3. IUD + PGE2 in Vehicle. An IUD was inserted adjacent to the luteal-bearing ovary of unilaterally ovariectomized ewes on day 3 postestrus. Vehicle (Na2CO3) or PGE2 (500 micrograms) in vehicle was given every 4 hours intrauterine through an indwelling uterine cannula from day 3 postestrus until ewes returned to estrus. Luteolysis was advanced in both the Sham IUD and IUD groups receiving vehicle. An IUD-induced premature luteolysis was prevented by PGE based on daily concentrations of progesterone in peripheral blood and the extended interestrous interval. It is concluded that chronic intrauterine injections of PGE2 (500 micrograms) every four hours can prevent an IUD-induced premature luteolysis. It is also concluded that an IUD-induced premature luteolysis is not necessarily through uterine distention.

Inhibition of an IUD-induced precocious luteolysis by prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) in sheep

Fifteen ewes were assigned as they came into estrus to one of three randomized treatment groups: 1. Sham IUD + Vehicle, 2. IUD + Vehicle or 3. IUD + PGE1 in vehicle. An IUD was inserted adjacent to the luteal-bearing ovary on day 3 postestrus. Prostaglandin E1 (500 micrograms) in vehicle (Na2CO3) or vehicle was given intrauterine through an indwelling uterine cannula every four hours from day 3 postestrus until ewes returned to estrus. Precocious estrus was induced in both the sham IUD and IUD groups receiving vehicle. Prostaglandin E1 prevented an IUD-induced premature luteolysis based on daily concentrations of progesterone in peripheral blood and the interestrous interval. It is concluded that an IUD-induced premature luteolysis is not necessarily via physical distention by the IUD. It is also concluded that chronic intrauterine infusions of PGE1 can prevent an IUD-induced premature luteolysis.

Effects of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) on estradiol-17 beta-induced luteolysis in the nonpregnant ewe

Fifteen ewes were assigned as they came into estrus to the following randomized treatment groups: 1) Vehicle (1 ml corn oil + vehicle Na2CO3 buffer), 2) Estradiol-17 beta + vehicle and 3) Estradiol-17 beta + PGE2 (500 micrograms) in Na2CO3 buffer (5 ewes/treatment group). Prostaglandin E2 was given through an intrauterine cannula every four hours from days 8 through 15 postestrus. PGE2 prevented a luteolytic dose of estradiol-17 beta given on days 9 and 10 from causing a precocious luteolysis. PGE2 maintained concentrations of progesterone in peripheral blood (days 8 through 15) and weights and concentrations of progesterone in corpora lutea on day 15 postestrus of ewes receiving estradiol-17 beta. It is concluded that chronic intrauterine infusions of PGE2 can prevent an estradiol-17 beta-induced premature luteolysis.

Effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on estradiol-17 beta induced luteolysis in the nonpregnant ewe

Nonpregnant ewes were assigned as they came into estrus to one of the following randomized treatment groups: 1) Vehicle (1 ml corn oil) + Vehicle (buffer), 2) Estradiol-17 beta + Vehicle (buffer) or Estradiol-17 beta + PGE1 in buffer. Ewes were unilaterally ovariectomized on day 8 postestrus and an intrauterine cannula was installed in the uterine horn adjacent to the remaining luteal-bearing ovary. Buffer of PGE 1 (500 micrograms) in buffer was infused intrauterine every 4 hours from day 8 through day 15. Luteolysis was initiated by giving an intramuscular injection of estradiol-17 beta (500 micrograms) on days 9 and 10. Chronic intrauterine infusions of PGE1 maintained jugular progesterone through day 15 and weights of corpora lutea and progesterone in corpora lutea on day 15 although luteolysis was initiated by estradiol. It is concluded that chronic intrauterine infusions of PGE1 can prevent an estrogen-induced premature luteolysis.

Effect of chronic ipsilateral or contralateral intrauterine infusion of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on luteal function of unilaterally ovariectomized ewes

Chronic intrauterine infusions of either vehicle or 500 microgram PGE1 were given every four hours either adjacent to or opposite to the corpus luteum of unilaterally ovariectomized ewes from day 10 through day 25 postestrus or until subsequent estrus. PGE1 maintained luteal function (p less than 0.01) and delayed the return to estrus (p less than 0.01) only in ewes when chronically infused into the uterine horn adjacent to the ovary with a corpus luteum. It is concluded that PGE1 could be an antiluteolysin of early pregnancy since it delayed luteal regression only through a local but not a systemic route which is also the same situation as that reported for the presence of an embryo.