Preservation of the Blood Brain Barrier and Cortical Neuronal Tissue by Liraglutide,a Long Acting Glucagon-Like-1 Analogue,after Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury

Cerebral edema is a common complication following moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), and a significant risk factor for development of neuronal death and deterioration of neurological outcome. To this date, medical approaches that effectively alleviate cerebral edema and neuronal death after TBI are not available. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has anti-inflammatory properties on cerebral endothelium and exerts neuroprotective effects. Here, we investigated the effects of GLP-1 on secondary injury after moderate and severe TBI. Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected either to TBI by Controlled Cortical Impact (CCI) or sham surgery. After surgery, vehicle or a GLP-1 analogue, Liraglutide, were administered subcutaneously twice daily for two days. Treatment with Liraglutide (200 μg/kg) significantly reduced cerebral edema in pericontusional regions and improved sensorimotor function 48 hours after CCI. The integrity of the blood-brain barrier was markedly preserved in Liraglutide treated animals, as determined by cerebral extravasation of Evans blue conjugated albumin. Furthermore, Liraglutide reduced cortical tissue loss, but did not affect tissue loss and delayed neuronal death in the thalamus on day 7 post injury. Together, our data suggest that the GLP-1 pathway might be a promising target in the therapy of cerebral edema and cortical neuronal injury after moderate and severe TBI.     

Biotechnological production of unnatural L-amino acids from D,L-5-monosubstituted hydantions. I. Derivatives of L-phenylalanine

Summary Resting cells of a mutant ofArthrobacter sp. (DSM 3747) were used for the bioconversion of D,L-5-benzylhydantoin and related compounds to the corresponding L-amino acids. After optimization of the reaction conditions in shake flask experiments, bioconversions were performed in a preparative scale in a 2-l-bioreactor under nitrogen atmosphere. Specific productivities of 0.4 (p-NO₂-L-phenylalanine) up to 3.9 mM amino acid x g cell dry mass^–1 x h^–1 (p-Cl-L-phenylalanine) were obtained. D,L-5-p-COOH-Benzylhydantoin, D,L-5-phenylhydantoin and D,L-5-p-OH-phenylhydantoin were not accepted as substrates.     

Family studies of hereditary hemochromatosis in Denmark and the Faroe Islands

Summary Pedigree studies were performed based on one Faroese and four Danish probands with overt idiopathic hemochromatosis (IH). The study consisted of HLA typing and determination of biochemical iron status indicators (serum transferrin saturation, serum ferritin). In total, 130 persons were evaluated. The screening identified 6 homozygous (h/h) subjects with preclinical IH, 46 heterozygous (h/n), and 8 normal (n/n) subjects, while 39 subjects were classified as normal or heterozygous (n/h?). One family demonstrated both a homozygous x heterozygous as well as a heterozygous x heterozygous mating. Recombination between the HLA region and IH locus occurred possibly in three subjects in three different families. The significance of detailed screening in families with probands with IH is discussed.     

Comparison of label-free and GFP multiphoton imaging of hair follicle-associated pluripotent (HAP) stem cells in mouse whiskers

Hair-follicle-associated pluripotent (HAP) stem cells can differentiate into many cell types, including neurons and heart muscle cells, and have been shown to repair peripheral nerves and the spinal cord in mice. HAP stem cells can be obtained from each individual patient for regenerative medicine which overcomes problems with immune rejection. Previously, we have demonstrated that genetically-encoded protein markers such as GFP in transgenic mice can be used to visualize HAP stem cells in vivo by multiphoton tomography. Detection and visualization of stem cells in vivo without exogenous labels such as GFP would be important for human application. In the present report, we demonstrate label-free visualization of hair follicle stem cells in mouse whiskers by multiphoton tomography due to the intrinsic fluorophores such as NAD(P)H/flavins. We compared multiphoton tomography of GFP-labeled HAP stem cells and unlabeled stem cells in isolated mouse whiskers. We show that observation of HAP stem cells by label-free multiphoton tomography is comparable to detection using GFP-labeled stem cells. The results described here have important implications for detection and isolation of human HAP stem cells for regenerative medicine.     

Molecular phylogeny and host-plant use (Lamiaceae) of the Thymogethes pollen beetles (Coleoptera)

The 24 members of the Euro-Asiatic genus Thymogethes are highly specialized pollen beetles associated as larvae with flowers of Lamiaceae Nepetoideae. All members of the genus were analysed in within the framework of an integrative taxonomy approach, which was aimed to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships, as well as the possible pattern of evolution of their larval-host-plant association. Evidence from multiple molecular markers [COI; 16S; H3], combined with an estimation of divergence times using an average rate of 0.0177 substitutions/site/My among branches, placed the origin of the genus at a minimum of 9–10 Mya. This date of origin approximates the known evolution of the host plants in Euro-Mediterranean areas. Evidence from combined molecular and cladistic morphological analyses resulted in suitable agreement with the previously established morphology-based systematics of the genus, although members of the exilis species-group were split into three clades. The only disagreement between results of this new combined phylogeny and previous classification is in the exclusion of “Thymogethes” grenieri. This species is herein positioned outside the genus, based on molecular evidence. Our analysis depicts several Thymogethes species differentiating in the last few Mys, specifically those included in the T. lugubris species-group. Combined evidence from DNA, morphology and ancestral state parsimony reconstruction of larval-host-plant associations suggests that subtribe Menthinae likely represents the ancestral host plants, with a series of independent host shifts during the radiation of the clade, in association first with Menthinae and subsequently with Lavandulinae and Nepetinae. Steno-oligophagy is the most frequent (86%) condition, while strictly monophagous species are less numerous (14%).     

Methods and Errors in Measurements of Synovial Fluid Volume in Stifles with Low Volume and High Viscosity Synovial Fluid. An Experimental Study in Goats

Synovial fluid (SF) volume was calculated using various methods in the stifles of goats, in which the cranial cruciate ligament had been transected on one side. Measurements were performed prior to surgery and again 4,8, and 18 weeks following surgery, by measuring the dilution of an injected radioactive tracer diluted by the SF. Later, 7 months following surgery, SF volume measurements using simple arthrocentesis were performed on stifles in 9 of the goats, and the SF that could not be aspirated, was calculated using 2 indirect methods simultaneously on identical fluids in 3 of these goats. SF was also collected directly during staged arthrotomy of the stifles in 4 goats. There were conflicting results between methods, but the resulting calculated SF volumes seemed to be larger in the operated stifles compared to the controls for all the methods at about the same degree. The 2 indirect methods used to calculate the fluid remaining in the joints following arthrocentesis gave disparate volume calculations. The experiments revealed sources of error in all methods. Direct methods failed to acquire the total fluid volume, and indirect methods were subject to improper mixing and escape of the injected fluid or synovial fluid or both. It was concluded that none of the methods could be used to measure the “true” volume of SF, if such a concept exists and can be defined. None of the methods were considered reliable to compare volumes in different type of joints containing this type of fluid. It was, however, concluded that all the methods gave indication of increased SF volume present on a relative basis when paired joints were compared.