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Zebrafish is a simple vertebrate that has many attributes that make it ideal for the study of developmental genetics. One feature that has been lacking in this model system is the ability to disable specifically targeted genes. Recently, double-stranded RNA has been used to silence gene expression in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We have found that expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) from a microinjected plasmid vector can be suppressed in zebrafish embryos by the coinjection of a double-stranded RNA that is specifically targeted to GFP. To determine that double-stranded RNA can attenuate endogenous gene expression, single-cell zebrafish embryos were injected with double-stranded RNA specifically targeted to Zf-T and Pax6.1. We found that microinjection of double-stranded Zf-T RNA resulted in a high incidence of a phenotype similar to that of ntl. Furthermore, Zf-T gene expression could not be detected by in situ hybridization and the message was decreased by 75% by semiquantitative RT-PCR in 12-h embryos that had been injected with the double-stranded RNA. Expression of the zebrafish genes sonic hedgehog and floating head was altered in the embryos microinjected with the Zf-T double-stranded RNA in a manner that is remarkably similar to the zebrafish no-tail mutant. Microinjection of double-stranded RNA targeted to Pax6.1 was associated with depressed expression of Pax6.1 and resulted in absent or greatly reduced eye and forebrain development, similar to the phenotype seen in mouse mutants. Simultaneous injection of Pax6.1 and Zf-T resulted in embryos lacking notochords, eyes, and brain structures.

Objective To provide an update on Australian persistent pain services (number, structure, funding, wait times, activity). Methods An updated national search was conducted. Of those identified, 74 persistent pain services provided detailed responses between July 2016 and February 2018 (64 adult, seven pediatric, two pelvic pain, and one cancer pain). A similar structure to the original Waiting in Pain (WIP) survey was used, and participants chose online or telephone completion. Results Pediatric pain services had more than doubled but remained limited. Adult services had also increased, with a concurrent decrease in median wait times and an increase in the number of new referrals seen each year. Despite this, some lengthy wait times (≥3 years) persisted. Wait times were longest at clinics using public or combined funding models and offering pain management group programs (PMGPs). Although clinical activity had increased, medical staffing had not, suggesting that clinics were operating differently. Privately funded clinics performed more procedures than publicly funded services. Use of PMGPs had increased, but program structure remained diverse. Conclusions Specialist pain services have expanded since the original WIP survey, facilitating treatment access for many. However, wait time range suggested that the most disadvantaged individuals still experienced the longest wait times, often far exceeding the recommended 6-month maximum wait. More needs to be done. Numerous developments (e.g. National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management, health system changes as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic) will continue to influence the delivery of pain services in Australia, and repeated analysis of service structures and wait times will optimize our health system response to the management of this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted to determine the effect of carnosine, folic acid and aminoguanidine on survival of cultures of Escherichia coli under a variety of experimental conditions. The results demonstrated the contribution of glyoxylase enzyme GloA in cell survival during glycation stress and benefits of carnosine and other compounds to eukaryotes.