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Thioredoxin related protein of 14 kDa is a cytosolic protein of the thioredoxin fold family expressed in all tissues and an efficient substrate of the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase 1. TRP14 cannot support classical Trx1 substrates such as peroxiredoxins, methionine sulfoxide reductases or ribonucleotide reductase, but affects NFκB signaling. However, it is efficient in reducing L-cystine and support S-denitrosylation reactions, reduce protein persulfides or reactivate oxidized protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B. These and other observations suggest that TRP14 may have dedicated roles in cellular signaling pathways, which was studied here. Using our previously developed pTRAF, we assessed activation patterns of the transcription factors Nrf2, NFκB and HIF in HEK293 cells with or without modulated TRP14 levels. Our preliminary results suggest that TRP14 is an unusual member of the Trx system, in that TRP14 may act as a repressor of NRF2, modulate HIF activation under hypoxia as well as acting as a weak repressor of NFκB activation. Further analyses are needed to fully evaluate the pTRAF readout also including additional methodologies Our results point towards the role of TRP14 as a dedicated fine-tuning modulator of redox regulated signaling pathways.

Background Radiolabeled annexin A5 (AnxA5) is widely used for detecting phosphatidylserine exposed on cell surfaces during apoptosis. We describe here a new method for labeling AnxA5 and a size-matched control protein with short-lived carbon-11, for probing the specificity of in vivo cell death monitoring using positron emission tomography (PET) imaging. Methods AnxA5 and the control protein were recombinantly expressed with a C-terminal “Sel-tag”, the tetrapeptide –Gly-Cys-Sec-Gly–COOH. The proteins were then labeled either fluorescently for in vitro corroborations of binding behaviors or with 11 C for dynamic in vivo PET studies. Results AnxA5 demonstrated retained calcium-dependent binding to apoptotic cells after the C-terminus modification. The control protein showed no functional binding. The 11 C-ligands demonstrated similar in vivo pharmacokinetic behavior in healthy mice except for higher uptake in kidney and higher intact elimination to urine of AnxA5. After inducing hepatic apoptosis, however, the uptake of labeled AnxA5 in the targeted tissue increased compared to baseline levels while that of the control protein tended to decrease. Conclusions These data suggest that the combined use of these two tracers can facilitate differentiating specific AnxA5 binding and its changes caused by induced cell death from uptake due to non-specific permeability and retention effects at baseline or after therapy. General significance The Sel-tag enables rapid and mild reactions with electrophilic agents giving site-specifically labeled proteins for multi-probe analyses. The combined use of 11 C-labeled AnxA5 and a size-matched control protein with dynamic PET can be useful for evaluating drug effects on target as well as off-target tissues.

Purpose Due to the lack of a sufficient CT Protocol Management System (CT-PMS) at our facility, adverse incidents directly affecting patient safety have occurred. The aim of this work is to mitigate adverse incidents in the future and to ensure the quality of our facility’s CT examinations by developing a CT-PMS. Methods A multidisciplinary optimization team (Lead Radiologists, Lead Radiographers, a Medical Physicist specialized in CT and vendor representatives) in direct need of a sufficient CT-PMS to support their clinical efforts initiated this project. Components of a CT-PMS were identified through a literature study as well as a site visit at a facility employing a comprehensive CT-PMS [1] . Sixteen components of a CT-PMS relevant to our facility were identified including team member roles and responsibilities, implementation and review of CT protocols, protocol naming conventions, requirements for documentation as well as dose and image quality management procedures. Where applicable, it is our goal to implement processes and methods in accordance with applicable ISO 9001:2015 clauses [2] . A project manager was recruited to organize the development of the different CT-PMS components. Results Since this is an ongoing project, only a subset of the CT-PMS components has been fully developed. These developed components include team member roles and a process for updating CT scanners with approved protocol changes. However, the completed components of the CT-PMS have been implemented and have already had a positive clinical impact. When fully completed, the CT-PMS is scheduled to be tested and evaluated in a controlled environment (one CT optimization group) before wider roll-out and adoption. Conclusions A comprehensive CT-PMS is needed to manage the quality and safety of CT examinations. As no sufficient CT-PMS existed at our institution, we are in the process of developing one. Although not yet fully developed, we have already started to see a positive clinical impact.

Four different fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs): rape seedmethyl ester (RME), tall oil methyl ester (TOME), and two types of linseed oilmethyl ester (Linutin) have been studied as reactive diluents ...

The solvent content of a thermally cured coil-coating paint may be reduced by introducing a reactive diluent derived from a vegetable oil and thereby producing a coating partly based on a renewable resource. A reactive diluent acts as a solvent in the liquid paint, lowering the viscosity, and is then incorporated into the film during cure. In the present study, rape seed methyl ester (RME) has been evaluated as reactive diluent in a thermally cured hydroxyl-functional polyester/melamine system. RME has suitable diluting properties and functionality to be incorporated into the dry coating. Dynamic mechanical analysis of free standing films shows that the final film properties are affected by presence of reactive diluent, oven temperature, choice of co-solvent, and flash-off period.

Rat liver microsomal glutathione transferase 1 (MGST1) is a membrane-bound enzyme that displays both glutathione transferase and glutathione peroxidase activities. We hypothesized that physiologically relevant levels of MGST1 is able to protect cells from oxidative damage by lowering intracellular hydroperoxide levels. Such a role of MGST1 was studied in human MCF7 cell line transfected with rat liver mgst1 (sense cell) and with antisense mgst1 (antisense cell). Cytotoxicities of two hydroperoxides (cumene hydroperoxide (CuOOH) and hydrogen peroxide) were determined in both cell types using short-term and long-term cytotoxicity assays. MGST1 significantly protected against CuOOH and against hydrogen peroxide (although less pronounced and only in short-term tests). These results demonstrate that MGST1 can protect cells from both lipophilic and hydrophilic hydroperoxides, of which only the former is a substrate. After CuOOH exposure MGST1 significantly lowered intracellular ROS as determined by FACS analysis.

The Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) has developed a concept demonstrator called the Information Fusion Demonstrator 2003 (IFD03) for demonstrating information fusion methodology suitable for a future Network Based Defense (NBD) C4ISR system. The focus of the demonstrator is on real-time tactical intelligence processing at the division level in a ground warfare scenario. The demonstrator integrates novel force aggregation, particle filtering, and sensor allocation methods to create, dynamically update, and maintain components of a tactical situation picture. This is achieved by fusing physically modelled and numerically simulated sensor reports from several different sensor types with realistic a priori information sampled from both a high-resolution terrain model and an enemy organizational and behavioral model. This represents a key step toward the goal of creating in real time a dynamic, high fidelity representation of a moving battalion-sized organization, based on sensor data as well as a priori intelligence and terrain information, employing fusion, tracking, aggregation, and resource allocation methods all built on well-founded theories of uncertainty. The motives behind this project, the fusion methods developed for the system, as well as its scenario model and simulator architecture are described. The main services of the demonstrator are discussed and early experience from using the system is shared.

A model study on the transesterification reaction between fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), e.g. methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, rape seed methyl ester and different alcohols in thin films have been ...

The contents of flavonoids in onions, green beans, and peas have been analysed in relation to the effect of different heat treatments. Two major flavonoids were studied, quercetin and kaempferol. The identification and quantification of the flavonoids were performed with high performance liquid chromatography and UV detection. The greatest loss of flavonoids in onion took place during the pre-processing step where the onion was peeled, trimmed, and chopped before blanching. Blanched onion contained 25 mg quercetin and 0.35 mg kaempferol per 100 g edible part. Blanched green beans contained 1.3 mg quercetin and 0.24 mg kaempferol per 100 g, and blanched peas only 0.15 mg quercetin per 100 g. No kaempferol was detected in peas. Further cooking, frying or warm-holding for up to 2 h of the blanched vegetables, did not influence the flavonoid content. Onions in ready-made dishes and home-cooked food as well as green beans may be good dietary sources of flavonoids.

This study was undertaken to investigate whether a neonatal vibrissa lesion in the rat may lead to a central plasticity in undamaged vibrissae innervating primary sensory neurons. One vibrissa follicle was removed on the day of birth. After 3–4 months, choleragenoid-horseradish-peroxidase was injected in an adjacent vibrissa follicle either within the row of the missing follicle or across the rows and in the corresponding contralateral follicle. The trigeminal ganglion and nucleus caudalis was studied following retrograde and transganglionic transport of the tracer. The number of labeled cells was not significantly different on the two sides, whereas the central terminal field of labeling was considerably increased on the side of the lesion, but only when the injected follicle was located in the same row as the missing one. Cortical plasticity after neonatal vibrissae follicle lesions may thus be associated with a corresponding plasticity in primary sensory neurons innervating the vibrissae.

The central representation of a normal vibrissa nerve and the corresponding nerve after transection and regeneration of the infraorbital nerve has been studied by the use of transganglionic transport of horseradish peroxidase in the adult rat. The normal vibrissa nerve terminated in a well-defined area within nucleus caudalis and C1 dorsal horn. In contrast, the regenerated vibrissa nerve showed a widespread central termination pattern indicating a pronounced loss of somatotopic organization. These changes in somatotopic organization could contribute to an inability to correctly localize a sensory stimulus; this is a common clinical finding after peripheral nerve injury and regeneration.