Effects of peripheral blood mononuclear cells on Haemonchus contortus larval motility in vitro.

The objective of this experiment was to determine effects of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), derived from parasite-resistant St. Croix (STC) and parasite-susceptible Suffolk (SF) sheep, on motility of Haemonchus contortus L3 stage larvae in vitro. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected from 10 lambs of each breed, 5 naïve and 5 which had received a priming infection with H. contortus. Larval motility was quantified using a MIF Nikon Sweptfield microscope and NIS Elements AR software, and measurements included path length (PL) (µm), velocity (VEL) (µm/s) and acceleration (ACC) (µm/s2 ). After 18 h of incubation, PL and VEL were greatest in larvae cultured with SF-derived PMBC and were significantly different from all other groups (P < 0·01). No difference was observed in PL or VEL between larvae exposed to naïve or primed STC-derived PBMC and primed-SF PBMC. Differences in ACC were detected between larvae cultured with primed STC-derived PBMC (10·91 µm/s2 ) and naïve SF-derived PBMC (45·7 µm/s2 ) (P = 0·035). These data indicate an innate ability of STC-derived PBMC to severely inhibit larval motility.

Regulation of glucose kinetics during exercise by the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor.

In response to oral glucose, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (Glp1r) knockout (Glp1r−/−) mice become hyperglycaemic due to impaired insulin secretion. Exercise also induces hyperglycaemia in Glp1r−/− mice. In contrast to oral glucose, exercise decreases insulin secretion. This implies that exercise-induced hyperglycaemia in Glp1r−/− mice results from the loss of a non-insulinotropic effect mediated by the Glp1r. Muscle glucose uptake (MGU) is normal in exercising Glp1r−/− mice. Thus, we hypothesize that exercise-induced hyperglycaemia in Glp1r−/− mice is due to excessive hepatic glucose production (HGP). Wild-type (Glp1r+/+) and Glp1r−/− mice implanted with venous and arterial catheters underwent treadmill exercise or remained sedentary for 30 min. [3-3H]glucose was used to estimate rates of glucose appearance (Ra), an index of HGP, and disappearance (Rd). 2[14C]deoxyglucose was used to assess MGU. Glp1r−/− mice displayed exercise-induced hyperglycaemia due to an excessive increase in Ra but normal Rd and MGU. Exercise-induced glucagon levels were ∼2-fold higher in Glp1r−/− mice, resulting in a ∼2-fold higher glucagon:insulin ratio. Since inhibition of the central Glp1r stimulates HGP, we tested whether intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of the Glp1r antagonist exendin(9­39) (Ex9) in Glp1r+/+ mice would result in exercise-induced hyperglycaemia. ICV Ex9 did not enhance glucose levels or HGP during exercise, suggesting that glucoregulatory effects of Glp1 during exercise are mediated via the pancreatic Glp1r. In conclusion, functional disruption of the Glp1r results in exercise-induced hyperglycaemia associated with an excessive increase in glucagon secretion and HGP. These results suggest an essential role for basal Glp1r signalling in the suppression of alpha cell secretion during exercise.

High-performance liquid chromatography/NMR spectrometry/mass spectrometry: further advances in hyphenated technology.

The earlier use of combined liquid chromatography/NMR spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/NMR/MS) involved the use of a particle beam interface. This paper describes further developments of this hyphenated technology, in particular the incorporation of an electrospray interface into the LC/NMR/MS system. This improved LC/NMR/MS system was designed for the support of a combinatorial library program. The power of this technique is demonstrated in the successful structural elucidation of each compound in a mixture of commercially available peptides.

Deformation and failure of rock samples probed by T1 and T2 relaxation.

The objective of the study was to pinpoint the effect of stress induced rock matrix alterations on NMR-wireline-log measurements by means of laboratory T1 and T2 relaxation time measurements. The research activities were subdivided into two major parts: NMR relaxation measurements on a brine saturated outcrop sandstone (Red Wildmoor Sandstone) during uniaxial compressional tests and NMR relaxation measurements on artificial sandstone samples prepared with defined crack patterns. T1-measurements performed on Red Wildmoor samples during compaction showed a decrease in the mean relaxation rate 1/exp

High resolution CT in respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease.

High-resolution CT findings have been described for several diffuse lung diseases. Respiratory bronchiolitis-associated interstitial lung disease (RB-ILD) is an inflammatory lung disorder associated with cigarette smoking. This condition has only recently been described and distinguished from desquamative interstitial pneumonitis, which it closely resembles. We describe high-resolution CT findings in five cases of biopsy-proven RB-ILD. The findings are variable and range from no detectable abnormality to atelectasis, ground-glass opacities, emphysema, and linear and reticular interstitial abnormalities.