University at Buffalo

About: University at Buffalo is a education organization based out in Buffalo, New York, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 33773 authors who have published 63840 publications receiving 2278954 citations. The organization is also known as: UB & State University of New York at Buffalo.

Effects of chronic exposure to cocaine are regulated by the neuronal protein Cdk5

Abstract: Cocaine enhances dopamine-mediated neurotransmission by blocking dopamine re-uptake at axon terminals. Most dopamine-containing nerve terminals innervate medium spiny neurons in the striatum of the brain. Cocaine addiction is thought to stem, in part, from neural adaptations that act to maintain equilibrium by countering the effects of repeated drug administration. Chronic exposure to cocaine upregulates several transcription factors that alter gene expression and which could mediate such compensatory neural and behavioural changes. One such transcription factor is DeltaFosB, a protein that persists in striatum long after the end of cocaine exposure. Here we identify cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) as a downstream target gene of DeltaFosB by use of DNA array analysis of striatal material from inducible transgenic mice. Overexpression of DeltaFosB, or chronic cocaine administration, raised levels of Cdk5 messenger RNA, protein, and activity in the striatum. Moreover, injection of Cdk5 inhibitors into the striatum potentiated behavioural effects of repeated cocaine administration. Our results suggest that changes in Cdk5 levels mediated by DeltaFosB, and resulting alterations in signalling involving D1 dopamine receptors, contribute to adaptive changes in the brain related to cocaine addiction.

Intake of Fruits and Vegetables and Risk of Breast Cancer A Pooled Analysis of Cohort Studies

Abstract: Context: Some epidemiologic studies suggest that elevated fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. However, most have been case-control studies in which recall and selection bias may influence the results. Additionally, publication bias may have influenced the literature on associations for specific fruit and vegetable subgroups. Objective: To examine the association between breast cancer and total and specific fruit and vegetable group intakes using standardized exposure definitions. Data Sources/Study Selection: Eight prospective studies that had at least 200 incident breast cancer cases, assessed usual dietary intake, and completed a validation study of the diet assessment method or a closely related instrument were included in these analyses. Data Extraction: Using the primary data from each of the studies, we calculated study-specific relative risks (RRs) that were combined using a random-effects model. Data Synthesis: The studies included 7377 incident invasive breast cancer cases occurring among 351825 women whose diet was analyzed at baseline. For comparisons of the highest vs lowest quartiles of intake, weak, nonsignificant associations were observed for total fruits (pooled multivariate RR, 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86-1.00; P for trend = .08), total vegetables (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.89-1.04; P for trend = .54), and total fruits and vegetables (RR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.86-1.00; P for trend = .12). No additional benefit was apparent in comparisons of the highest and lowest deciles of intake. No associations were observed for green leafy vegetables, 8 botanical groups, and 17 specific fruits and vegetables. Conclusion: These results suggest that fruit and vegetable consumption during adulthood is not significantly associated with reduced breast cancer risk.

Removal of Antibiotics in Wastewater: Effect of Hydraulic and Solid Retention Times on the Fate of Tetracycline in the Activated Sludge Process

Abstract: A study was conducted to examine the influence of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and solid retention time (SRT) on the removal of tetracycline in the activated sludge processes. Two lab-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were operated to simulate the activated sludge process. One SBR was spiked with 250 μg/L tetracycline, while the other SBR was evaluated at tetracycline concentrations found in the influent of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) where the activated sludge was obtained. The concentrations of tetracyclines in the influent of the WWTP ranged from 0.1 to 0.6 μg/L. Three different operating conditions were applied during the study (phase 1HRT: 24 h and SRT: 10 days; phase 2HRT: 7.4 h and SRT: 10 days; and phase 3HRT: 7.4 h and SRT: 3 days). The removal efficiency of tetracycline in phase 3 (78.4 ± 7.1%) was significantly lower than that observed in phase 1 (86.4 ± 8.7%) and phase 2 (85.1 ± 5.4%) at the 95% confidence level. The reduction of SRT in phase 3 while maintaining a consta...

Formation and Growth of Humins via Aldol Addition and Condensation during Acid-Catalyzed Conversion of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural

Abstract: The acid-catalyzed conversion of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) produces levulinic and formic acids in equal amounts. Dark-colored solids, known as humins, are also formed in a parallel reaction. Aldol addition and condensation are proposed as important reactions in the acid-catalyzed growth of humins, adding HMF to 2,5-dioxo-6-hydroxy-hexanal. Consistent with this proposal, infrared (IR) spectra of humins formed from HMF indicate that the furan ring and hydroxymethyl group of HMF are present in the humins, but the carbonyl group is not. Similarly, if a mixture of HMF and benzaldehyde are processed, IR spectra of the humins indicate the additional presence of the aromatic ring from benzaldehyde but not its carbonyl group. The incorporation of the aromatic ring from benzaldehyde in the humins demonstrates the possibility of functionalizing humins to increase their value.