Description of two new species of allocreadiid trematodes (Digenea: Allocreadiidae) in middle American freshwater fishes using an integrative taxonomy approach

Parasitology Research - Integrative taxonomy uses several sources of information to establish more robust species delimitation criteria. In this study, we followed that approach to describe two new...     

Taxonomic status of Rhabdochona ictaluri (Nematoda: Rhabdochonidae) based on molecular and morphological evidence

The genus Rhabdochona includes more than 100 species infecting freshwater fishes in all zoogeographical regions of the world. In Mexico, 12 nominal species of Rhabdochona have been recorded. Of these, Rhabdochona ictaluri was originally described as a parasite of endemic catfishes of the family Ictaluridae; however, the species was later considered on morphological grounds as a junior synonym of Rhabdochona kidderi. In this study, newly sampled specimens of R. ictaluri were obtained from the type host and type locality and were used to perform a detailed morphological analysis and molecular phylogenetic inferences through one mitochondrial and two nuclear genes; data were used in an integrative taxonomy context to test the taxonomic status of R. ictaluri. This approach proved to be very useful to confirm the validity of this species, and robust species limits were established between these two putative species considering morphology, molecular data, host association, and biogeography.

     

ER stress abrogates the immunosuppressive effect of IL-10 on human macrophages through inhibition of STAT3 activation

Inflammation Research - To determine whether ER stress affects the inhibitory pathways of the human immune system, particularly the immunosuppressive effect of IL-10 on macrophages. In vitro...     

Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate inhibits osteoclastogenesis by attenuating RANKL-induced NF-κB/NFATc-1

Inflammation Research - Although some glycolytic intermediates have been shown to modulate several cell type formation and activation, the functional role of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) on...     

The effects of parenteral nutrition on food intake and gastric motility

Frequently, patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) report hunger during the parenteral infusion, yet experience early satiety once PN is tapered off. Post-PN satiety can interfere with the ability to consume enough nutrients to maintain body weight and nutritional status. Factors such as caloric quantity of infusate, gastric motility changes, and disease pathology have been related to appetite changes. To investigate the effects of PN on food intake and gastric motility without the complicated interactions associated with disease pathology, four normal, healthy rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were studied. The monkeys were administered PN in amounts ranging from 25% to 100% of their normal daily caloric intake. Food and water were continuously available. PN consistently suppressed voluntary food intake in direct relationship to the amount of nutrient infused. The frequency of large-amplitude hunger-type gastric contractions decreased from control conditions. Upon cessation of PN, appetite remained suppressed for one to two weeks, indicating a self-limiting physiological basis to post-PN satiety. Thus, reduced appetite following PN termination might occur in the clinical setting and the patients' feelings of satiety may not be completely attributed to lack of cooperation or disease pathology.     

Peripheral blood leukocyte telomere length is associated with age but not renal function: A cross-sectional follow-up study

Objectives

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between baseline renal function and changes in telomere length in Han Chinese.

Methods

The telomere restriction fragment (TRF) length of leukocytes in the peripheral blood was measured in healthy volunteers recruited in 2014. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated based on serum creatinine (Scr) and serum cystatin C (CysC)-eGFRcys and eGFRScr-cys through the Cockcroft-Gault formula (eGFRC-G) or the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI / eGFRCKD-EPI) equation. The correlation between telomere length changes over time and renal function was analyzed.

Results

Leukocyte TRF lengths were negatively correlated to age (r = -0.393, p < 0.001) and serum CysC (r = -0.180, p < 0.01), while positively associated with eGFRCKD-EPI, eGFRC-G, eGFRcys, and eGFRScr-cys (r = 0.182, 0.122, 0.290, and 0.254 respectively, p < 0.01). The 3-year change of telomere length was 46 bp/years. When adjusted for age, the associations between telomere length changes and baseline, subsequent TRF lengths, and serum CysC were no longer present. No association was observed between TRF length changes and renal function.

Conclusion

The rate of telomere length changes was affected by age and baseline telomere length. The telomere length changes might be important markers for aging.