The SH3-SAM adaptor HACS1 is up-regulated in B cell activation signaling cascades

HACS1 is a Src homology 3 and sterile alpha motif domain-containing adaptor that is preferentially expressed in normal hematopoietic tissues and malignancies including myeloid leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma. Microarray data showed HACS1 expression is up-regulated in activated human B cells treated with interleukin (IL)-4, CD40L, and anti-immunoglobulin (Ig)M and clustered with genes involved in signaling, including TNF receptor-associated protein 1, signaling lymphocytic activation molecule, IL-6, and DEC205. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that HACS1 is up-regulated by IL-4, IL-13, anti-IgM, and anti-CD40 in human peripheral blood B cells. In murine spleen B cells, Hacs1 can also be up-regulated by lipopolysaccharide but not IL-13. Induction of Hacs1 by IL-4 is dependent on Stat6 signaling and can also be impaired by inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, protein kinase C, and nuclear factor kappaB. HACS1 associates with tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins after B cell activation and binds in vitro to the inhibitory molecule paired Ig-like receptor B. Overexpression of HACS1 in murine spleen B cells resulted in a down-regulation of the activation marker CD23 and enhancement of CD138 expression, IgM secretion, and Xbp-1 expression. Knock down of HACS1 in a human B lymphoma cell line by small interfering ribonucleic acid did not significantly change IL-4-stimulated B cell proliferation. Our study demonstrates that HACS1 is up-regulated by B cell activation signals and is a participant in B cell activation and differentiation.     

Making money

Several ideas have been presented for education departments to consider for the purpose of increasing their revenue budget. Depending on how much of an effort is made, the additional revenue may support a few enhancements for education or may be enough for some major investments. There are many activities for education departments to pursue. Sometimes the department has already done the work but needs assistance in packaging and marketing. However, there may be no profit after the packaging and marketing expenses are added, and so the endeavor is not pursued. At other times, there may be a desire just to share what has been done for the benefit of external staff and patients. The opportunities are unlimited, and are there in the event the education department wishes to pursue them. A careful analysis should be completed before endeavors are undertaken because profit is an elusive thing. The potential exists and exploring it will cost little and may yield an exciting, new pursuit for the department.     

In vivo regulation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation by acute and chronic morphine

In vitro evidence suggests that extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases (ERKs) and Akt (also referred to as protein kinase B) are among the myriad of intracellular signaling molecules regulated by opioid receptors. The present study examined the regulation of ERK and Akt activation in the nucleus accumbens and caudate putamen following acute and chronic morphine administration in the rat. ERK and Akt are activated by phosphorylation, hence the levels of phosphorylated ERK (pERK) and Akt (pAkt) as well as total levels of ERK and Akt protein were measured by Western blot analysis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received either a single injection of morphine or twice daily injections of morphine for 6 or 10 days. Following acute morphine, pERK levels were significantly decreased in the nucleus accumbens but not in the caudate putamen. Phosphorylated Akt levels in the nucleus accumbens were significantly increased after a single morphine injection. Naltrexone pretreatment prevented both the morphine-induced pERK down-regulation and pAkt up-regulation. Although reductions in pERK levels were evident after 6 days of morphine administration, no differences were observed in pERK levels after 10 days. In contrast to the up-regulation seen after acute morphine, pAkt levels in the nucleus accumbens were significantly decreased after chronic morphine administration. Thus, the differential activation patterns of both ERK and Akt after acute and chronic morphine administration could have important implications for understanding additional pathways mediating opioid signaling in vivo.     

Perimenopause: an update

The field of perimenopause research is advancing our understanding of the physiological changes related to the menopausal transition and approaches to managing symptoms and preventing disease of advanced age. The impact of the perimenopause on women's health will become evident with the aging of the population.     

Inclusion of women in nursing research: 1995-2001

BACKGROUND: Although the inclusion of women in research has been examined in medical publications, little is known about how federal mandates have influenced the inclusion of women in research published in nursing journals. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the inclusion of women in published nursing research from 1995 to 2001, with a focus on the leading causes of mortality. METHOD: All the articles in each journal were reviewed, and all the research articles that focused on the top 10 causes of death were sampled to measure the inclusion of women, the characteristics of the women included, the funding source, and the topic. RESULTS: Of the 1,149 studies reviewed, 139 met the inclusion criteria, and 117 of these studies included women. Only 15 of the studies reported the age of the women in their samples, and 10 of these included women between the ages of 35 and 64 years. The most frequently reported race was White (n = 21), followed by African American (n = 17), Hispanic (n = 6), and Asian (n = 2). There were no associations among year of publication (p =.62), federal funding (p =.30), and inclusion of women. Among the studies including women, heart disease was the most frequent topic (n = 52), followed by Alzheimer's disease (n = 21), cancer (n = 14), respiratory illness (n = 14), and diabetes (n = 8). DISCUSSION: Although the majority of the research included women, continuing efforts must be made to include sufficient numbers of women.     

Shifting paradigms. Teaching gerontological nursing from a new perspective

Gerontological health care is undergoing a revolution, much like that of the feminist movement of the 1960s. Fundamental changes in health care require revisions in nursing education to ensure appropriate care of older adults in the least restrictive environment. The purpose of this study is to promote the preparation of future nurses who have the knowledge and the skills necessary to provide nursing care for the growing cohorts of older adults. A theoretical rationale for a new perspective in nursing education is discussed. An experiential clinical learning activity based on the functional model of gerontological health care is examined. This home visit clinical learning activity provides nursing students with the opportunity to practice nursing reflective of the health care needs of older adults. Strategies for replication of this clinical learning activity are provided.     

On the importance of using multiple methods of dietary assessment

BACKGROUND: Plasma carotenoid concentrations reflect intake of vegetables and fruits, the major food sources of these compounds. This study compared the ability of 2 measures of dietary intake (24-hour diet recalls and food frequency questionnaires [FFQs]) to corroborate plasma carotenoid concentrations in a subset of women participating in a diet intervention trial. METHODS: Plasma carotenoid concentrations and dietary intakes, estimated from 24-hour diet recalls and FFQs, were examined at baseline and 1 year later in a subset of 395 study participants (197 intervention and 198 comparison group). We used longitudinal models to examine associations between estimated intakes and plasma carotenoid concentrations. These analyses were stratified by study group and adjusted for body mass index (BMI), plasma cholesterol concentration, and total energy intake. We conducted simulations to compare mean-squared errors of prediction of each assessment method. RESULTS: In mixed-effects models, the estimated carotenoid intakes from both dietary assessment methods were strongly associated with plasma concentrations of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, and lutein. Furthermore, modeling the 2 sources of intake information as joint predictors reduced the prediction error. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the importance of using multiple measures of dietary assessment in studies examining diet-disease associations.