Behavioral and Transcriptome Profiling of Heterozygous Rab10 Knock-Out Mice.

A central question in the field of aging research is to identify the cellular and molecular basis of neuroresilience. One potential candidate is the small GTPase, Rab10. Here, we used Rab10+/- mice to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying Rab10-mediated neuroresilience. Brain expression analysis of 880 genes involved in neurodegeneration showed that Rab10+/- mice have increased activation of pathways associated with neuronal metabolism, structural integrity, neurotransmission, and neuroplasticity compared with their Rab10+/+ littermates. Lower activation was observed for pathways involved in neuroinflammation and aging. We identified and validated several differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including Stx2, Stx1b, Vegfa, and Lrrc25 (downregulated) and Prkaa2, Syt4, and Grin2d (upregulated). Behavioral testing showed that Rab10+/- mice perform better in a hippocampal-dependent spatial task (object in place test), while their performance in a classical conditioning task (trace eyeblink classical conditioning, TECC) was significantly impaired. Therefore, our findings indicate that Rab10 differentially controls the brain circuitry of hippocampal-dependent spatial memory and higher-order behavior that requires intact cortex-hippocampal circuitry. Transcriptome and biochemical characterization of these mice suggest that glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2D (GRIN2D or GluN2D) is affected by Rab10 signaling. Further work is needed to evaluate whether GRIN2D mediates the behavioral phenotypes of the Rab10+/- mice. We conclude that Rab10+/- mice described here can be a valuable tool to study the mechanisms of resilience in Alzheimer's disease (AD) model mice and to identify novel therapeutical targets to prevent cognitive decline associated with normal and pathologic aging.

Implementing a health literacy module fostering patient-centered written communication in a cardiovascular prevention elective course.

BACKGROUND: A universal approach to health literacy employs clear communication and emphasizes patient action in support of understanding cardiovascular risks and making healthy lifestyle changes. The aim of this project was to evaluate the impact of a health literacy module on enhancing students' written patient education material using standardized readability assessment tools. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY: A professional elective course employed team-based learning and a community health fair activity. The course was enhanced with four hours of health literacy content. Pharmacy student learners were assigned a cardiovascular condition and designed an informational pamphlet. Two faculty members evaluated the student pamphlets in the pre-health literacy module (n = 15) and post-module (n = 23) groups using the Flesch grade level, Flesch reading ease score, and 15 health literacy criteria identified from previous literature. CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY: There was a modest integration of health literacy concepts based on the Flesch grade level and the mean total health literacy criteria achieved. Student learners improved in areas of readability, message content, numeracy/statistics, and patient actionability concepts. Simplifying technical jargon remains to be a barrier. The results will be used to improve our health literacy pamphlet rubric and classroom instruction. The health literacy module was valuable in fostering understanding and application of health literacy concepts, and preparing student learners for providing patient-centered communication.

Development and evaluation of an elective course that incorporates a standard medication therapy management certificate program.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To describe the development and evaluation of a medication therapy management (MTM) elective that incorporates a nationally recognized certificate training program (CTP) by assessing changes in perceived abilities and values among student pharmacists, knowledge of course material, and performance conducting MTM services. Student satisfaction with course content and delivery model was also evaluated. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY AND SETTING: University faculty developed a didactic elective course to provide third-professional year student pharmacists with the opportunity to meet the learning objectives of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) "Delivering Medication Therapy Management Services" CTP. Additional learning activities developed by course faculty included supplemental didactic content, reinforcement exercises, simulated patient interactions, self-reflections, and detailed faculty assessment and feedback. Pre- and post-course surveys collected information about student perceptions and values. Course grades for quizzes, midterm, follow-up, and final comprehensive medication review (CMR) assessments were retrospectively analyzed to assess student performance. Student satisfaction with course content and delivery methods was assessed via a survey. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION: Student-reported perceived abilities improved across all survey items and there was high baseline agreement with MTM value statements. Quiz results suggested student achievement of course objectives. Student performance improved in most grading domains from the midterm to final assessment. A majority of students were satisfied with the course content and delivery methods. SUMMARY: Evaluation of student perceived abilities and values, performance, and satisfaction support the successful incorporation of the MTM CTP along with faculty-developed supplemental content and activities into a longitudinal elective course in the pharmacy curriculum.

Patterns of anomalous floral development in the Asian Passiflora (subgenus Decaloba: supersection Disemma).

Approximately 22 species of Passiflora are native to the Old World. All of these species are placed in subgenus Decaloba, supersection Disemma. Within Disemma, three species vary in stamen and carpel number (≤ eight stamens and five carpels). The mode of development was determined for two of the anomalous species, P. moluccana var. glaberrima and P. siamica. Ontogenetic patterns were compared to normal development in P. perakensis and P. holosericea. Passiflora siamica develops additional stamens through dédoublement of a single widened stamen primordium, while P. moluccana var. glaberrima exhibits congenital dédoublement where stamens emerge already doubled. Phylogenetic analysis using ITS and the trnL-F intron and spacer resolve the anomalous species as monophyletic and sister to P. perakensis. This signifies a single loss of genetic regulation in stamen and carpel number within Disemma. Floral whorls were examined across the Passifloraceae, Malesherbiaceae, Turneraceae, and Flacourtiaceae s.l.. Similar doubling in these families suggests that this Eurosid lineage may have a genetic propensity for variability in floral whorl number.

The evolution of anther morphology in orchids: incumbent anthers, superposed pollinia, and the vandoid complex.

The anther is the source of several of the principal characters traditionally used for classification in Orchidaceae, especially in Epidendroideae. In particular, anther and pollinium orientation are important, but little-studied characters; it is not known whether various instances of these states are achieved in the same way. We examined variation in anther and pollinium orientation in Epidendroideae and Vanilloideae using anatomical sections of columns at successive ontogenetic stages and related the observed changes to the final anther morphology to reexamine our homology hypotheses for these characters. Anther bending in vanilloids is achieved primarily by massive expansion of the connective. In nonvandoid epidendroids it is the result of column elongation and tipping of the mature anther, while in vandoids it is due to a redirection of growth in very early ontogenetic stages. Superposed pollinia result from a reorientation of developing thecae; those is Sobralia result from incurving of the thecae, while vandoids have thecae that are directed outward (latrorse). Contrasting ontogenetic and phylogenetic patterns suggest heterochronic changes in these characters, especially in vandoids. These observations allow us to further refine character states that are crucial to our understanding of orchid relationships.