Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute

About: Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Human leukocyte antigen. The organization has 1568 authors who have published 2480 publications receiving 203418 citations.

Construction and characterization of a new bovine bacterial artificial chromosome library with 10 genome-equivalent coverage.

Abstract: Monsanto Company, Ag sector, 700 Chesterfield Parkway, St. Louis, Missouri 63198, USA USDA-ARS U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA Children’s Hospital, Oakland Research Institute, 747 52nd Street, Oakland, California 94609, USA Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute, 747 52nd Street, Oakland, California 94609, USA and Parke Davis Laboratory for Molecular Genetics, 1501 Harbor Bay Parkway, Alameda, California 94502, USA.

Structural determinants for activation and block of CFTR-mediated chloride currents by apigenin.

Abstract: Apigenin (4',5,7-trihydroxyflavone) is an activator of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-mediated Cl(-) currents across epithelia at low concentrations and a blocker at high concentrations. We determined the roles of structural components of apigenin for both stimulation and block of Cl(-) currents across Calu-3 epithelia. The half-maximal binding affinity of apigenin for current stimulation (K(s)) was 9.1 +/- 1.3 microM, and the rank-order of molecular structures was 7-hydroxyl > pyrone = 4'-hydroxyl > 5-hydroxyl. Both the 7-hydroxyl and the 4'-hydroxyl served as H-bond acceptors, whereas the 5-hydroxyl was an H-bond donor. The half-maximal binding affinity of apigenin during current block was 74 +/- 11 microM. Blocked Cl(-) currents were structurally determined by 7-hydroxyl = 4'-hydroxyl > pyrone > 5-hydroxyl. Prestimulation of tissues with forskolin significantly affected activation kinetics and binding characteristics. After forskolin stimulation, K(s) was 4.1 +/- 0.9 microM, which was structurally determined by pyrone > all hydroxyls > single hydroxyls. In contrast, block of Cl(-) current by apigenin was not affected by forskolin stimulation. We conclude that apigenin binds to a stimulatory and an inhibitory binding site, which are distinguished by their affinities and the molecular interactions during binding.

Iron, Zinc, Folate, and Vitamin B-12 Status Increased among Women and Children in Yaoundé and Douala, Cameroon, 1 Year after Introducing Fortified Wheat Flour

Abstract: Background: Few data are available on the effectiveness of large-scale food fortification programs.Objective: We assessed the impact of mandatory wheat flour fortification on micronutrient status in Yaounde and Douala, Cameroon.Methods: We conducted representative surveys 2 y before and 1 y after the introduction of fortified wheat flour. In each survey, 10 households were selected within each of the same 30 clusters (n = ∼300 households). Indicators of inflammation, malaria, anemia, and micronutrient status [plasma ferritin, soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), zinc, folate, and vitamin B-12] were assessed among women aged 15-49 y and children 12-59 mo of age.Results: Wheat flour was consumed in the past 7 d by ≥90% of participants. Postfortification, mean total iron and zinc concentrations of flour samples were 46.2 and 73.6 mg/kg (target added amounts were 60 and 95 mg/kg, respectively). Maternal anemia prevalence was significantly lower postfortification (46.7% compared with 39.1%; adjusted P = 0.01), but mean hemoglobin concentrations and child anemia prevalence did not differ. For both women and children postfortification, mean plasma concentrations were greater for ferritin and lower for sTfR after adjustments for potential confounders. Mean plasma zinc concentrations were greater postfortification and the prevalence of low plasma zinc concentration in women after fortification (21%) was lower than before fortification (39%, P 50% greater postfortification.Conclusion: Although the pre-post survey design limits causal inference, iron, zinc, folate, and vitamin B-12 status increased among women and children in urban Cameroon after mandatory wheat flour fortification.