20 research outputs found
Effects of conditionally essential fatty acid supplementation on neural and immune development in the young pig
No full textDSpace SAF Submission Ingestion Package generated from Vireo submission #15835 on 2021-03-04 at 16:19:21Arachidonic acid (ARA; 20:4n-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) naturally present in human breast milk (HM) and routinely supplemented in infant formula (IF). In IF-fed infants, the inclusion of preformed ARA and DHA is shown to yield more similar tissue FA accretion, cognitive and visual development, and immune response to that of a breastfed infant. Historically, these LCPUFA have been added together, and the physiological responses to independent ARA and DHA supplementation are poorly understood. Additionally, while ARA and DHA forms, including triglyceride (TG) and phospholipid, are known to influence bioavailability and tissue accretion, little is known about the use of these LCPUFA as free fatty acid (FFA) during early development. Using the young pig model, two experiments were conducted to help to fill these knowledge gaps.
The first experiment explored the impact of independent and combined ARA and DHA supplementation. Intact male pigs received one of four dietary treatments (N = 12 per treatment) from postnatal day 2 to 30 with the following target ARA/DHA levels, as a percent of total FA: CON (0.00/0.00), ARA (0.80/0.00), DHA (0.00/0.80), and ARA+DHA (0.80/0.80). Tissue FA accretion, immune response, sleep and motor activity, and myelin thickness in the corpus callosum were evaluated. There were no differences in intake or growth between dietary groups, nor did supplementation differentially affect immune response or myelination outcomes. DHA supplementation alone increased brain DHA, but decreased ARA compared with other groups, while ARA alone increased brain ARA compared with all other groups but did not affect brain DHA compared with CON. The combined ARA+DHA increased brain DHA levels but did not affect brain ARA levels compared with the CON. Pigs fed ARA or ARA+DHA also exhibited higher levels of activity than those fed CON or DHA, and the inclusion of ARA and DHA alone induced differences in time spent asleep compared with CON and ARA+DHA. Together, these data support the case for ARA inclusion when DHA is supplemented in IF to support neurodevelopment and brain ARA accretion. The second study investigated the safety and efficacy of novel sodium and potassium salts of ARA derived from M. alpina oil (Na-ARA and K-ARA), both of which dissociate to Na+/K+ and FFA upon contact with water. Male and female pigs were randomized to one of four dietary treatments (N = 16 per treatment) from postnatal day 2 to 23. ARA and DHA were included as either TG or salt form at the following target ARA/DHA concentrations, as percent of total FA: TT (0.47 TG/0.32 TG), NaT (0.47 Na-salt/0.32 TG), KT (0.47 K-salt/0.32 TG), Na0 (0.47 Na-salt/0.00), and NaNa (0.47 Na-salt/0.32 Na-salt). Overall, the inclusion of ARA and DHA in salt form did not affect growth performance, liver histology, or substantially influence hematological outcomes compared with the TG forms. Bioequivalence assessments confirmed both Na-ARA and K-ARA were 100% bioequivalent to the TG-ARA based on ARA accretion in the cerebral cortex and retinal tissues. These findings demonstrate that the use of these novel FA salts in the young pig was both safe and nutritionally bioequivalent to TG-ARA for critical neural tissues. Overall, the results from these studies demonstrate the importance of balancing dietary ARA and DHA supplementation in IF to support structural and functional brain development, as well as confirm the safety of novel lipid forms of ARA and DHA for use in IF.Submission published under a 24 month embargo labeled 'U of I Access', the embargo will last until 2022-12-01The student, Kaylee Hahn, accepted the attached license on 2020-10-14 at 16:49.The student, Kaylee Hahn, submitted this Thesis for approval on 2020-10-14 at 18:27.This Thesis was approved for publication on 2020-10-16 at 09:59.Made available in DSpace on 2021-03-05T21:40:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2
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Previous issue date: 2020-10-16Embargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 117186
Lift date: 2023-03-05T21:40:52Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemEmbargo set by: Seth Robbins for item 117186
Lift date: 2023-03-05T21:43:00Z
Reason: Author requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemAuthor requested U of Illinois access only (OA after 2yrs) in Vireo ETD systemU of I Onl
Influence Of Gender And Race On Self-Objectification
No full textThe current study examined how men\u27s expectations and references in women\u27s body type (the study attempts to examine the effects of men\u27s expectations by manipulating the gender and race of the present research assistant) may affect how heterosexual women value and judge themselves. This was explored through a manipulation of the experimenter\u27s race and gender. The researcher manipulated the experimenter\u27s race and gender; assuming that the participants have a stereotypical expectation of what men prefer (a more slender body type) in feminine body types. The experimenters interviewed the participants on their confidence, self-esteem, and body-image. The research is important to help identify reasons why women have a greater tendency to self-objectify than men. Previous research has emphasized the role media plays on self-objectification of women. It is possible that the media is not the only influence society has on how a woman determines her worth and value. The self-objectification theory suggests that women are socialized to determine their value based on their appearance and physical attractiveness. Each participant was interviewed by an experimenter. The experimenters varied in gender and race: an African American undergraduate male student, a caucasian undergraduate male student, and a Caucasian undergraduate female student. The current study consisted of one hundred and fifty five Caucasian female undergraduate participants from the University of North Dakota. They were divided into three groups. Fifty-three participants were in the Caucasian Male group; the African American Male and the Caucasian Female group each had fifty-one participants. The participants had their BMI measured. They were given the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (OBC), Rosenberg\u27s Self Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Figure Rating Scale (FRS). The participants were also asked to fill out a questionnaire providing information regarding age, ethnicity, grade, sexuality, and their attraction to the research assistant. A Modern Racism Scale was given in order to rule out racism as a factor in the OBC scores. The current study suggested that women were more self conscious or increased their self objectification in the presence of the female experimenter. According to the present data, a women\u27s self-objectification did not seem to depend upon a stereotyped perception of the preferences of males\u27 sexual desires. The difference between men and women\u27s impact on self-objectification should be researched further and in various social situations. The author proposes in the discussion, that women in a research situation did not feel in the laboratory as they would in day to day situations where they may otherwise feel objectified, such as job interviews, working, classrooms, and/or socializing
Maternal Iron Nutriture as a Critical Modulator of FASD Risk in Alcohol-Exposed Pregnancies
No full textAlcohol consumption during pregnancy places the fetus at risk for permanent physical, cognitive, and behavioral impairments, collectively termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). However, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) outcomes vary widely, and growing evidence suggests that maternal nutrition is a modifying factor. Certain nutrients, such as iron, may modulate FASD outcomes. Untreated gestational iron deficiency (ID) causes persistent neurodevelopmental deficits in the offspring that affect many of the same domains damaged by PAE. Although chronic alcohol consumption enhances iron uptake and elevates liver iron stores in adult alcoholics, alcohol-abusing premenopausal women often have low iron reserves due to menstruation, childbirth, and poor diet. Recent investigations show that low iron reserves in during pregancy are strongly associated with a worsening of several hallmark features in FASD including reduced growth and impaired associative learning. This review discusses recent clinical and animal model findings that maternal ID worsens fetal outcomes in response to PAE. It also discusses underlying mechanisms by which PAE disrupts maternal and fetal iron homeostasis. We suggest that alcohol-exposed, ID pregnancies contribute to the severe end of the FASD spectrum.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author
Author Correction: Age-specific nasal epithelial responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection
No full textCorrection to: Nature Microbiologyhttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01658-1, published online 15 April 2024 In the version of the article initially published, Paolo De Coppi’s surname originally appeared as “DeCoppi”. In the third paragraph of the article, the callout to Extended Data Fig. 3i has been amended from Extended Data Fig. 4i. In the legend to Fig. 6, the description of panel m (“Summary figure highlighting the key findings from the study. Created with BioRender.com”) was missing and has now been added. In the “Statistical analysis” paragraph in the Methods, the text now reading “a Kruskal–Wallis test was used to test for homogeneity of locations using R” originally read “… normality using R”. These corrections have been made to the HTML and PDF versions of the article
Characterization and modification of carbon composite electrodes towards more affordable biosensing applications and integration into fluidic devices
No full text2022 Summer.Includes bibliographical references.Fast, accurate, and low-cost medical tests and platforms for biomolecule monitoring are essential to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of many diseases. Electrochemical detection allows for highly sensitive measurements with fast response times. Carbon composite electrodes are an attractive option for electrochemical detection due to their low cost, resistance to biological fouling, large electrochemical solvent windows, and ability to be patterned. However, they often suffer from poor electrocatalytic activity, inability to be molded, and need for complex modifications to effectively detect certain analytes. Combining electrochemistry with fluidics is attractive for a wide array of applications including multiplexing, automation, and high-throughput screening. However, fabrication of electrochemical fluidic devices with integrated carbon electrodes remains a challenge. Thermoplastic electrodes (TPEs) are a new class of composite electrodes discussed in this dissertation that exhibit superior electrochemical properties to typical carbon composite electrodes and can be easily molded into intricate structures. Overall, this dissertation aims to improve carbon composite materials for biosensing applications and integration of electrochemical sensors into fluidic devices. Chapter 2 introduces polycaprolactone (PCL) as a new binder material for TPEs and focuses on the electrochemical characterization of the new material. The PCL-based TPEs have excellent electrochemical activity towards a wide range of analytes as well as high electrical conductivity. Chapter 2 also introduces a simple technique for integrating PCL and carbon composite electrodes into microfluidics. The presented electrode-integrated microfluidic devices are quickly fabricated with a laser cutter using PCL as a bonding layer. As a proof-of-concept application, water-in-oil droplets are electrochemically analyzed. Chapter 3 focuses on use of PCL-based TPEs for enzymatic sensors. The simple fabrication of TPEs also allows catalysts and enzymes to be mixed directly into the material to enhance detection. In Chapter 3, the TPE material is bulk-modified with cobalt phthalocyanine, an electrocatalyst, and glucose oxidase, resulting in a robust glucose sensor that demonstrates long-term current response stability. These sensors can be molded into intricate shapes and sanded for surface renewal (without requiring additional steps to maintain the modification), allowing the sensors to be continuously reused even if damaged or fouled. Chapter 4 investigates the properties of TPEs using two different binders – polycaprolactone (PCL) and polystyrene (PS) – with sanded and heat-pressed surface treatment. XPS and SEM analysis suggested that sanded TPEs have a higher density of graphitic edge planes and improved electrochemistry as a result. Electrochemical detection of O2 and H2O2, which are typically difficult to detect on carbon composites without complex modification, was demonstrated on sanded PS-based TPEs. Additionally, Chapter 4 introduces a new 3D-printed TPE sensor module that is reversibly sealed with magnets. A proof-of-concept sensor for detecting H2O2 in flow with the sensor module is presented. Chapter 5 presents a low-cost flow device, made of inexpensive polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and adhesive films, developed to detect SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N) protein. Upon addition of a sample in the device, reagents and washes are sequentially delivered to an integrated screen-printed carbon electrode for detection thus automating a full sandwich immunoassay with a single end-user step. The modified electrodes are sensitive and selective for COVID-19 N protein and stable for over seven weeks. The flow device was also successfully applied to detect nine different SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron. In summary, this dissertation presents work to improve carbon composite electrodes, their modification, and integration into fluidic devices for applications as biosensors and beyond. The TPEs presented show improved electrochemical and physical properties, that allow for simple modifications. This work also demonstrates simple electrode integration strategies in several types of fluidic devices for easier and more sensitive detection of biologically relevant analytes. Moreover, the platforms established in this dissertation can be easily adapted for a wide variety of analytes and applications. This work provides materials, methods, and platforms to create more affordable biosensors for medical and other biological sensing
Author Correction: Human SARS-CoV-2 challenge uncovers local and systemic response dynamics
No full textCorrection to: Naturehttps://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07575-x Published online 19 June 2024 In the version of the article initially published, the Acknowledgements was missing the following text, which has now been added to the HTML and PDF versions of the article: “The authors gratefully acknowledge support from the UK Vaccine Taskforce of the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy of Her Majesty’s Government (BEIS). We thank the following organizations for their invaluable contributions to development and implementation of the SARS-CoV-2 human challenge project: the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Human Infection Challenge Network for Vaccine Development (HIC-Vac), NIHR Clinical Research Network staff at the Royal Bolton Hospital, and ISARIC4C Investigators (https://isaric4c.net/about/authors/) for providing the clinical material for challenge virus production. C.C. is supported by the NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) award to Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Imperial College London. ISARIC4C is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR; award CO-CIN-01), the Medical Research Council (MRC; grant MC_PC_19059), the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections at University of Liverpool in partnership with Public Health England (PHE), in collaboration with Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Oxford (NIHR award 200907), Liverpool Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre provided infrastructure support for this research (grant reference C18616/A25153) and NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Respiratory Infections (NIHR award 200927). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR, DHSC or BEIS.”
Documents provided to citizen science synoptic sampling participants.
No full textIncludes sampling instructions and datasheet for recording sample information. Instruction sheet shows photo of co-author GML demonstrating sampling technique. (DOCX)</p
Clinical Outcomes of Eravacycline in Patients Treated for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Infections
No full textINTRODUCTION: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is notable for its rising incidence and multidrug resistance, which complicates treatment. As a result of insufficient clinical studies, the 2024 Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Guidance on Treating Antimicrobial Resistant Gram-negative Infection advises against using eravacycline (ERV) for S. maltophilia infections. We present real-world data on patients treated with ERV for these infections.
METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective, observational study included adult patients who received ERV for treating S. maltophilia infections for ≥ 72 h between October 2018 and August 2022. The primary outcome was the clinical cure evaluated at the end of ERV therapy. Key secondary outcomes included a 30-day survival rate, absence of infection recurrence counting from the end of ERV therapy, and occurrence of possible ERV-related adverse effects (AE) noted in the patient\u27s records.
RESULTS: Overall, 41 patients were included with a median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of 63 years (46.0-74.5). Most patients were male (63.4%) and white (51.2%). The primary source of infection was pulmonary (56.1%), and most patients received ERV for regimen consolidation (65.9%). Combination therapy was used in about 10% of the cases for S. maltophilia treatment. The median (IQR) duration of ERV treatment was 7 days (4.0-11.5). The clinical cure rate was 73.2%, and the 30-day survival rate was 68.3%. Four patients (9.8%) experienced possible AE from ERV.
CONCLUSION: S. maltophilia infections are challenging to treat because of limited options. An analysis of 41 patients indicates ERV may be an acceptable treatment option, but more clinical studies are needed to evaluate its efficacy and safety
