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Persistent elevation in shear stress within conduit or resistance arteries causes structural luminal expansion, which serves to normalize shear stress while maintaining increased flow to the downstream vasculature. Although it is known that this adaptation involves cellular proliferation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix, the specific cellular events underlying these responses are poorly understood. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) contribute to extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix in conduit vessels and vein grafts exposed to high flow. However, involvement of MMPs in remodeling of small muscular collateral arteries, which are exposed to less severe increases in shear stress, has not been tested. We utilized an established model of outward remodeling in mesenteric collateral arteries to determine whether MMPs were upregulated during the remodeling response and to test whether MMP activity was required for luminal expansion. By 4 days, MMP-2 and membrane type 1 MMP (MT1-MMP), but not MMP-9, protein levels were significantly elevated in collateral arteries, as assessed by gelatin zymography and immunostaining. MMP-2 and MT1-MMP proteins, together with their respective transcriptional activators c-Jun and Egr-1 were localized predominantly to the smooth muscle layer of the collateral arteries. The general MMP inhibitor doxycycline prevented luminal expansion of collateral arteries but did not affect the endothelial cell proliferative or medial growth responses, in conclusion, this study provides evidence that MMP-2 and MT1-MMP are upregulated in collateral arteries exposed to elevated shear stress and that MMP activity is essential for the full remodeling response that leads to outward luminal expansion. matrix metalloproteinase; collateral artery; shear stress

The breeding of sport horses to compete in the Olympic disciplines of show jumping, eventing, and dressage is fast becoming a global industry with the increased use of reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination and embryo transfer. Reproductive technologies have facilitated the dissemination of genetics from elite horses across multiple countries and breeds as breeders are no longer limited by location. Due to this increased level of crossbreeding, there is an increased need for estimated breeding values (EBVs) for sport horse performance that can be compared across breeds and countries. However, the implementation of across-breed or across-country genetic evaluations has been limited by the differences in each studbook's individual breeding programs and genetic evaluations. Consequently, the aim of this review was to compare the genetic evaluations for show jumping of sport horse studbooks worldwide. The top sport horse studbooks in the world according to the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses Studbook Rankings 2019 were contacted by email to request information on their current breeding programs and genetic evaluations. Twenty-six of the 51 studbooks contacted replied to this request but only 18 of these studbooks conducted their own genetic evaluations or were part of a larger genetic evaluation in their country of origin. The other eight studbooks were not involved in genetic evaluations at present but expressed an interest in the implementation of such in the future. Overall, many differences were identified among the genetic evaluations of each studbook or each country. The definition of show jumping performance differed within each evaluation and the methods and models utilized also differed. Despite some stallions and mares being registered in multiple studbooks or having progeny in multiple studbooks, these differences make comparison of EBVs across studbooks difficult. Further transparency and collaboration of sport horse studbooks with organizations such as Interstallion, will be essential to facilitate any future implementation of international genetic evaluations for show jumping performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two musicians with chromesthesia (one with and one without absolute pitch) were the subjects of an intensive case study. Musical and neuropsychological interviews and testing were conducted to determine the extent of each individual's aural acuity and synesthesia characteristics, as well as possible neuropsychological characteristics concurrent with this condition. The individual with absolute pitch had aurally-based chromesthesia that was elicited only by sound, with photisms experienced internally and externally for a variety of musical phenomena. The individual without absolute pitch had chromesthesia and grapheme-color synesthesia for days of the week, letters, and numbers. This individual's photisms were experienced internally. Musical phenomena where photisms were elicited consisted of instrument fingering, conducting musical scores and musical sound when the pitch was known. Both participants demonstrated relative deficits in visuoconstruction, attention, and executive functioning on neuropsychological tests, reported attention deficit and compulsive symptoms, and acknowledged auditory-language processing dysfunction, and social, emotional and self-regulation dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The breeding of sport horses to compete in show jumping is fast becoming a global industry with the increased use of reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination and embryo transfer, facilitating the dissemination of genetics from elite horses across multiple countries and breeds. Due to this increased level of crossbreeding, there is an increased need for estimate breeding values for sport horse performance that can be compared across breeds and countries. However, the implementation of a cross-breed or across-country genetic evaluations has been limited by the differences in individual breeding programs and genetic evaluations in each studbook. Consequently, the aim of this study was to compare the genetic evaluations for show jumping of sport horse studbooks worldwide. An email was sent to the studbooks included in the World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses Studbook Rankings for show jumping in 2019 to request information on their current breeding programs and genetic evaluations. Twenty-six of the 51 studbooks contacted replied to this request. Only 18 of these studbooks conducted their own genetic evaluations or were part of a larger genetic evaluation in their country of origin. Overall, many differences were identified among the genetic evaluations of each studbook or each country. The definition of show jumping performance differed within each evaluation and the methods and models utilized also differed (Table 1). Despite some stallions and mares being registered in multiple studbooks or having progeny in multiple studbooks, these differences make comparison of estimated breeding values across studbooks difficult. Further transparency and collaboration of sport horse studbooks with organizations such as Interstallion, will be essential to facilitate any future implementation of international genetic evaluations for show jumping performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current genetic evaluations of the Irish Sport Horse are undertaken on a single trait called the Lifetime Performance Rating (LPR). The LPR represents the highest level a horse has achieved two double clear rounds in show jumping in both national and international performances. The objective of this study was to compare the method currently used in these evaluations (Model 1, Table 1) to a modified methodology to determine the most accurate method for estimating breeding values (EBV) for the LPR. Genetic parameters and EBVs were generated based on the LPR of 30,355 horses using eight different animal models. Each of the eight models considered the additive genetic variance as the random effect and a combination of following fixed effects: sex, year the highest level was first achieved, age the highest level was achieved, maximum age of the animal in the competition data, Thoroughbred percentage (TB%), and TB% divided into eights. (Table 1). The goodness-of-fit of each model was evaluated using the Akaike's information criteria and the genetic parameters produced by each model. Heritability estimates for LPR ranged from 0.26 to 0.32 depending on the model used (Table 1). The inclusion of age or maximum age in the model decreased the residual variances, and thus, increased the heritability estimates of LPR; these models also performed better than those that did not consider age in any form. The models that considered the effect of TB% were not a significantly better fit than those that did not consider this effect. In conclusion, future genetic evaluations of LPR in the Irish Sport Horse would benefit from using a model that considers either the age or maximum age of performance of each horse, alongside the year the highest level was achieved, and the sex of the horse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gerstein, Mordicai THE MAN WHO WALKED BETWEEN THE TOWERS. Il. by author. ISNB 0-7613-1791-0. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Book Press, 2003. 34 pp. $17.95. This wonderfully illustrated account of Philippe Petit's [...]

Objective: To evaluate whether the use of a labor mirror during the active pushing phase of the second stage of labor is associated with a shorter duration of pushing. Additionally, we examined maternal and neonatal outcomes secondary to mirror use versus non-mirror use., Design: Retrospective observational cohort study., Setting/local Problem: Community hospital in the midwestern United States with a Level 3 maternity center and approximately 2,000 births annually., Participants: Four hundred fifty-three women ≥18 years old who had a singleton pregnancy at term (37-41 weeks' gestation) with a spontaneous vaginal birth., Intervention/measurements: The use of a ceiling-mounted labor mirror offered before or at the beginning of the active pushing phase of the second stage of labor. Use was determined by patient choice., Results: One hundred seventy-seven (39.1%) women elected use of the labor mirror. Mirror users and nonusers were similar in terms of clinical and demographic characteristics except for epidural use (93.2% vs. 86.6%, respectively; p = .0298). Among nulliparous women who used the mirror, second stage labor duration was shortened by an average of 19.4 minutes (p = .0198). This effect was not seen in multiparous women (p = .2208). Mirror users and nonusers did not differ on rates of postpartum hemorrhage (p = .5498) or chorioamnionitis (p = .6528). Among nulliparous and multiparous women, Apgar scores and NICU admission rates did not differ between mirror users and nonusers., Conclusion: The labor mirror represents a simple, noninvasive tool for labor and delivery units. Use of the labor mirror during the active pushing phase of the second stage of labor may be associated with decreased pushing duration for nulliparous women., (Copyright © 2024 AWHONN. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Increases in endothelial cell permeability and production of matrix-degrading enzymes are two early steps in the angiogenic process. Factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and histamine induce the angiogenic process through alterations in both permeability and proteolysis. We hypothesized that beta-catenin acts as a positive regulator of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP transcription following VEGF or histamine stimulation. Rat microvascular endothelial cells were exposed to VEGF or histamine overnight and MMP-2 protein production was assessed by gelatin zymography. Latent MMP-2 protein levels were increased following VEGF and histamine treatment as were MMP-2 mRNA transcript levels. Endothelial cells exposed to VEGF and histamine had an increased level of nuclear beta-catenin, which was sensitive to inhibition of the PI3-kinase signaling pathway. Promoter assays indicated increased transcriptional activity of both MMP-2 and MT1-MMP in endothelial cells co-transfected with luciferase reporter constructs and beta-catenin. Inhibition of beta-catenin signaling with inhibitor of catenin and T cell factor (ICAT) revealed that the VEGF-induced increase in MMP-2 mRNA is beta-catenin dependent. Interestingly, while MMP-2 mRNA levels increased in response to histamine H1 or H2 receptor activation, significantly larger increases were observed in cells co-treated with ICAT and histamine or the histamine receptor agonists, HTMT and dimaprit. While both VEGF and histamine increase nuclear beta-catenin and MMP-2 production, the role of beta-catenin in MMP-2 regulation differs between the two stimuli., (2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)