Pellissippi State Community College

Abstract Alcohol abuse disorder increases the risk of a series of diseases. However, there is limited evidence to indicate how acute alcohol exposure alters immune and inflammatory responses. Macrophages are phagocytic cells with diverse functions. The heterogeneity of macrophages leads to a challenge of clear and precise identification of the functional status and mechanism by which acute alcohol alters macrophage function. To address this issue, we first establish an optimized eleven-parameter flow cytometry panel based on RAW 264.7 cells for identifying macrophage subtypes (Naïve, M1, M2a, and M2c). Then three sets of experiments have been conducted: 1) polarization stimuli were applied first, then alcohol was added to the cultures, 2) alcohol was added to the cells first then polarization stimuli, 3) alcohol and polarization stimuli were added simultaneously. A total of 32 cytokines and chemokines involved in inflammation and immunity were measured. Based on these results, we developed a mathematical expression of the M1-M2 continuum with the principal component analysis that can quantify the degree to which all the markers are consistent with an M1 phenotype or one of the M2 phenotypes, which provides a concise indicator to evaluate macrophage status. Results were consistent with previous studies in our lab using mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro, and the results indicate that the effects of acute alcohol exposure differ depending on macrophage polarization status, and this may explain some of the effects of alcohol on macrophages that we and others have reported in vivo in a mouse model for binge drinking. The authors were supported by funding from an NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (P20 GM103646-09). The authors were supported by funding from an NIH Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (P20 GM103646-09).

In the United States, only 6% of the 1.5 million faculty in degree-granting postsecondary institutions is Black. Research shows that, while many institutions tout the idea of diversity recruitment, not much progress has been made to diversify faculty ranks, especially at research-intensive institutions. We're Not Ok shares the experiences of Black faculty to take the reader on a journey, from the obstacles of landing a full-time faculty position through the unique struggles of being a Black educator at a predominantly white institution, along with how these deterrents impact inclusion, retention, and mental health. The book provides practical strategies and recommendations for graduate students, faculty, staff, and administrators, along with changemakers, to make strides in diversity, equity, and inclusion. More than a presentation of statistics and anecdotes, it is the start of a dialogue with the intent of ushering actual change that can benefit Black faculty, their students, and their institutions.

The purpose of this study was to develop and cross-validate an equation for estimating percentage body fat (%BF) from body mass index and other potential independent variables among young persons with intellectual disability. Participants were 128 persons with intellectual disability (62 women; age 16-24years) split between development (n = 98) and cross-validation (n = 30) samples. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry served as the reference method for %BF. An equation including 1/body mass index and sex (0 = male; 1 = female) was highly accurate in estimating %BF (p < .001; R2 = .82; standard error of estimate = 5.22%). Mean absolute and root mean square errors were small (3.1% and 3.9%, respectively). A Bland-Altman plot indicated nearly zero mean difference between actual and predicted %BF with modest 95% confidence intervals. The prediction equation was %BF = 56.708 - (729.200 × [1/body mass index]) + (12.134 × sex). Health care professionals may use the prediction equation for monitoring %BF among young people with intellectual disability.

Abstract Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing excessive tissue damage upon immune activation. However, pathogens could exploit Tregs for their successful pathogenesis. We demonstrated that immunosuppressive CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Tregs were induced by staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) produced by an important human pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus. CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells were induced from stimulation with SEC1 at a high (1 μg/ml) and low (1 ng/ml) concentrations that induced optimal stimulation and suboptimal stimulation, respectively. However, CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells induced from suboptimal stimulation were functionally immunosuppressive, not from optimal stimulation. Immunosuppressive CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T cells induced from suboptimal stimulation showed typical Treg surface markers such as CTLA-4, GITR, TNFR2, and CD45RO and produced immunomodulatory cytokines such as TGF-β and IL-10. However, suppression was mainly mediated by galectin-1 in a contact-dependent manner. We found that CD4+CD25+ Tregs from suboptimal stimulation highly express FOXP3 isoform lacking exon 2 (ΔE2) and partially lacking exon3 (ΔpE3) preferably localized to the nucleus, compared to those from optimal stimulation. Lentiviral transduction of FOXP3 isoforms (full length, ΔE2, ΔpE3) to Jurkat T cells did not result in immunosuppressive function. By contrast, when cultured in the media generated from suboptimal T cell stimulation, transduced Jurkat T cells became more immunosuppressive in an order of ΔE2 ΔpE3, and full length FOXP3. These results suggest that soluble factors generated from suboptimal T cell proliferation play an important role in induction of immunosuppressive Tregs.

Abstract Two microsporidian species, Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, infect honey bees (Apis mellifera) worldwide. They are obligate intracellular parasites that multiply in the epithelial lining of the bee’s midgut and cause nosemosis. N. ceranae infections were primarily found in Apis cerana and raised interest in the last decade with the discovery of their presence in the European honey bee (Apis mellifera). Nosema spp. utilizes hosts’ energetic reserves for the purpose of propagation and disrupts the digestive processes of the bee. Nosemosis reduces the lifespan of a single bee and affects the performance of the colony. It also has an economic impact through the reduction in the honey and pollen yield of severely infected colonies or even causes them to collapse. Lack of effective therapy for nosemosis is of special concern and calls for scientific attention. Although N. ceranae and N. apis are similar in many aspects, there are important differences between them such as clinical signs of infection or the ability to resist low temperatures.

This study examined whether the relationship between metabolic equivalent units (METs) and step-rate is altered in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) and developed step-rate thresholds for activity intensity for these persons. Participants were 24 persons with MS (20 women; age = 44 ± 12) and 24 healthy persons without MS (20 women; age = 41 ± 11). The MS group was divided using the 12-item MS Walking Scale (MSWS-12) into two walking impairment subgroups: (a) minimal (n = 13, MSWS-12 ≤ 12.5) and (b) mild-moderate (n = 11, MSWS-12 > 12.5). METs were measured with spirometry and step-rate with hand-tally. Step-rate, height, group, the step-rate by group interaction, and the square of step-rate significantly predicted METs. At a given height, the step-rate thresholds at 3 and 6 METs were lower for persons with minimal impairment than persons without MS and even lower for persons with mild-moderate impairment. The relationship between METs and step-rate is altered in persons with MS, lowering their step-rate thresholds for activity intensity, especially for persons with MS who have higher levels of walking impairment.

This study examined the relationship between energy expenditure and wrist accelerometer output during walking in persons with and without Down syndrome (DS). Energy expenditure in metabolic equivalent units (METs) and activity-count rate were respectively measured with portable spirometry and a uniaxial wrist accelerometer in 17 persons with DS (age: 24.7±6.9 years; 9 women) and 21 persons without DS (age: 26.3±5.2 years; 12 women) during six over-ground walking trials. Combined groups regression showed that the relationship between METs and activity-count rate differed between groups (p<.001). Separate models for each group included activity-count rate and squared activity-count rate as significant predictors of METs (p≤.005). Prediction of METs appeared accurate based on Bland-Altman plots and the lack of between-group difference in mean absolute prediction error (DS: 17.07%; Non-DS: 18.74%). Although persons with DS show altered METs to activity-count rate relationship during walking, prediction of their energy expenditure from wrist accelerometry appears feasible.

Agricultural runoff carries high nutrient loads to receiving waters, contributing to eutrophication. Managed wetlands can be used in integrated management efforts to intercept nutrients before they enter downstream aquatic systems, but detailed information regarding sorption and desorption of P by wetland sediments during typical inundation cycles is lacking. This study seeks to quantify and elucidate how inundation of wetland sediments affects bioavailability of P and contributions of P to downstream systems. A managed wetland cell in Tunica County, Mississippi was subjected to a simulated agricultural runoff event and was monitored for bioavailable phosphorus (water-extractable P [P], Fe-P, and Al-P) of wetland sediments and water level during the runoff event and for 130 d afterward. Inundation varied longitudinally within the wetland, with data supporting significant temporal relationships between inundation and P desorption. Concentrations of P were significantly higher at the site that exhibited variable hydroperiods (100 m) as compared with sites under consistent inundation. This suggests that sites that are inundated for longer periods of time desorb less P immediately to the environment than sites that have periodic or ephemeral inundation. Concentrations of iron oxalate and NaOH-P were significantly higher at the least inundated site as compared with all other sites (F = 5.43; = 0.001) irrespective of time. These results support the hypothesis that increased hydraulic residence time decreases the bioavailability of P in wetland sediments receiving agricultural runoff. This finding suggests that the restoration of wetlands in the mid-southern United States may be hydrologically managed to improve P retention.