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Mouse RC/BTB2 is an unstudied protein of the RCC1 (Regulator of Chromosome Condensation) superfamily. Because of the significant remodeling of chromatin that occurs during spermiogenesis, we characterized the expression and localization of mouse RC/BTB2 in the testis and male germ cells. The Rc/btb2 gene yields two major transcripts: 2.3 kb Rc/btb2-s, present in most somatic tissues examined; and 2.5 kb Rc/btb2-t, which contains a unique non-translated exon in its 5'-UTR that is only detected in the testis. During the first wave of spermatogenesis, Rc/btb2-t mRNA is expressed from day 8 after birth, reaching highest levels of expression at day 30 after birth. The full-length protein contains three RCC1 domains in the N-terminus, and a BTB domain in the C-terminus. In the testis, the protein is detectable from day 12, but is progressively up-regulated to day 30 and day 42 after birth. In spermatids, some of the protein co-localizes with acrosomal markers sp56 and peanut lectin, indicating that it is an acrosomal protein. A GFP-tagged RCC1 domain is present throughout the cytoplasm of transfected CHO cells. However, both GFP-tagged, full-length RC/BTB2 and a GFP-tagged BTB domain localize to vesicles in close proximity to the nuclear membrane, suggesting that the BTB domain might play a role in mediating full-length RC/BTB2 localization. Since RCC1 domains associate with Ran, a small GTPase that regulates molecular trafficking, it is possible that RC/BTB2 plays a role in transporting proteins during acrosome formation.

The article discusses organic and inorganic hybrid bismaleimide resin with octa(aminophenyl)silsesquioxane (OAPS). The OAPS was made through the nitration of octaphenylsilsesquioxane in fuming nitric acid which then created octa(nitrophenyl)silsesquioxane (ONPS). ONPS was then mildly reduced with a catalyst. The bismaleimide resin was modified with OAPS and dipropargyl ether of bisphenol A to form a hybrid. Differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and rheology analysis is used to research the hybrids.

SPAG6 and SPAG16L are proteins localized to the “9” axoneme central apparatus. Both are essential for sperm motility and male fertility. These two proteins are also expressed in other tissues containing ciliated cells, such as brain and lung. To study the effects of combined deficiency of these two proteins, a double mutant mouse model was created. The double mutant mice displayed a more profound phenotype of growth retardation and hydrocephalus compared to mice nullizygous for SPAG6 and SPAG16L alone. The double mutant mice died younger, and mortality was significantly higher than in single mutant mice. In addition, the double mutant mice demonstrated pneumonia and its complications, including hemorrhage, edema, and atelectasis, phenotypes not observed in mice nullizygous for mutations in the individual genes. No other cilia‐related phenotypic change was detected in double mutant mice including lateralization defects. The ultrastructure of cilia in both the brain and lung of the double mutant mice appeared normal. This model of combined SPAG6 and SPAG16L deficiency provides a new platform to study primary ciliary dyskinesia. The findings also demonstrate that SPAG6 and SPAG16L have related roles in controlling the function of cilia in the brain and lung. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel polytriazole resin prepared from p‐xylylene diazide (XDA) and N,N,N′,N′‐tetrapropargyl‐p,p′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (TPDDM) was synthesized and characterized. The resin is soluble in common solvents like acetone. The results show that the polytriazole resin can be cured at 70°C. The glass transition temperature and thermal decomposition temperature of the cured resin are 218 and 350°C, respectively. The tensile and flexural strengths of the cured resin achieve 99.0 and 200 MPa, respectively. It is potential as a low cost and easy processing thermal resistant polymer matrix for advanced composite applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1038–1042, 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which determined the role of interleukin-6 in alcoholic liver injury. Review of related literature; Materials and methods used; Results.

Background: Over 30 million people in the United States (over 9%) have been diagnosed with diabetes. About 25% of people with diabetes will experience a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in their lifetime. Unresolved DFUs may lead to sepsis and are the leading cause of lower-limb amputations. DFU rates can be reduced by screening patients with diabetes to enable risk-based interventions. Skin temperature assessment has been shown to reduce the risk of foot ulceration. While several tools have been developed to measure plantar temperatures, they only measure temperature once a day or are designed for clinic use only. In this report, wireless sensor-embedded socks designed for daily wear are introduced, which perform continuous temperature monitoring of the feet of persons with diabetes in the home environment. Combined with a mobile app, this wearable device informs the wearer about temperature increases in one foot relative to the other, to facilitate early detection of ulcers and timely intervention.Objective: A pilot study was conducted to assess the accuracy of sensors used in daily wear socks, obtain user feedback on how comfortable sensor-embedded socks were for home use, and examine whether observed temperatures correlated with clinical observations.Methods: Temperature accuracy of sensors was assessed both prior to incorporation in the socks, as well as in the completed design. The measured temperatures were compared to the reference standard, a high-precision thermostatic water bath in the range 20°C-40°C. A total of 35 patients, 18 years of age and older, with diabetic peripheral neuropathy were enrolled in a single-site study conducted under an Institutional Review Board-approved protocol. This study evaluated the usability of the sensor-embedded socks and correlated the observed temperatures with clinical findings.Results: The temperatures measured by the stand-alone sensors were within 0.2°C of the reference standard. In the sensor-embedded socks, across multiple measurements for each of the six sensors, a high agreement (R2=1) between temperatures measured and the reference standard was observed. Patients reported that the socks were easy to use and comfortable, ranking them at a median score of 9 or 10 for comfort and ease of use on a 10-point scale. Case studies are presented showing that the temperature differences observed between the feet were consistent with clinical observations.Conclusions: We report the first use of wireless continuous temperature monitoring for daily wear and home use in patients with diabetes and neuropathy. The wearers found the socks to be no different from standard socks. The temperature studies conducted show that the sensors used in the socks are reliable and accurate at detecting temperature and the findings matched clinical observations. Continuous temperature monitoring is a promising approach as an early warning system for foot ulcers, Charcot foot, and reulceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]