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Tap Water Filtration and Purification Usage and Their Impact on Fluoride Concentration - A Community-Based Study
(2025-02) Hazzazi, Loai; Lippert, Frank; Soto Rojas, Armando E.; Martinez Mier, E. Angeles; Hara, Anderson; Maupomé, Gerardo; Nassar, Hani M.
Water filtration and purification systems (WFPS) are a rapidly growing market
aimed at improving water quality by removing harmful chemicals and bacteria. However,
there is limited research on how WFPS affect fluoride concentrations, which are critical
for preventing dental caries, as well as other essential minerals like calcium, magnesium,
potassium, and sodium, which are vital for overall health. Our first aim was to assess the
prevalence of WFPS use among residents of Indianapolis, Indiana, through a distributed
questionnaire. Water samples were collected from participants to analyze fluoride,
calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. For the second aim, we replicated this study
in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to compare findings across different geographic and cultural
contexts. In the third aim, we conducted a laboratory study to test nine popular water
pitcher filter brands for their effects on fluoride and other essential minerals.
The results of the first aim of the study revealed that 71% of participants used some
type of WFPS, with water pitcher filters being the most commonly used (31%).
Additionally, reverse osmosis systems significantly reduced all studied minerals, while
water softeners increased sodium concentrations. For the second aim, 60% of participants
reported using WFPS, with reverse osmosis systems being the most commonly selected
(62%). The findings also indicated that unfiltered tap water samples had very low fluoride
levels, and reverse osmosis systems effectively reduced all tested minerals. The third aim demonstrated that water pitcher filters did not completely remove fluoride but had varying
effects on the other studied minerals.
In conclusion, in both locations, WFPS were widely used, but the types of systems
preferred, and the mineral content of public water supplies varied. Our study also
highlighted the importance of understanding the effects of different WFPS on essential
minerals, especially fluoride, which plays a key role in preventing dental caries. These
findings emphasize the need for further research to understand how WFPS impact both
water quality and health outcomes, particularly in regions with differing water supplies and
public health practices.
Metabolic: week 48 comparison of metabolic parameters and biomarkers in subjects receiving darunavir/ritonavir or atazanavir/ritonavir
(Wiley, 2010-11-08) Overton, T.; Aberg, J. A.; Gupta, S.; Ryan, R.; Baugh, B.; De La Rosa, G.; Medicine, School of Medicine
The Impact of INPP5D on Microglia Response to Tau Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease
(2025-02) Soni, Dishaben Miteshkumar; Truitt, William A.; Oblak, Adrian L.; Lasagna-Reeves, Cristian; Bissel, Stephanie J.; Chu, Shaoyou
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the most prevalent form of dementia, is
neuropathologically defined by the extracellular buildup of amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, the
formation of intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) composed of
hyperphosphorylated tau protein, and progressive neuronal degeneration, ultimately
leading to cognitive decline. Genetic studies have identified immune-related risk genes
linked to AD, underscoring the regulatory role of microglia in AD pathogenesis. Among
these genes, INPP5D, which is exclusively expressed by microglia in the brain, has been
associated with an increased risk for AD. Elevated INPP5D expression in microglia
correlates with amyloid-plaque burden in human AD brain tissue, and studies indicate that
INPP5D deficiency modulates amyloid pathology, with effects differing by disease stage
and model system. While INPP5D modulation has been shown to impact amyloid
pathology, its influence on tau pathology remains largely unexplored. This dissertation
seeks to illuminate the role of INPP5D in tau pathogenesis.
Our initial studies demonstrated a positive correlation between INPP5D
expression and tau-seeding activity in human AD brain samples. Likewise, we observed
increased INPP5D expression associated with phospho-tau AT8 levels in PS19 mice,
indicating a significant link between INPP5D and tau pathology. Building on these
findings, we explored the effect of Inpp5d haplodeficiency on tau pathogenesis in PS19
mice, revealing that Inpp5d haplodeficiency recovered motor functions, mitigated tau
pathology, lowered proinflammatory cytokine levels and altered microglial morphology without affecting the overall cellular composition. Transcriptomic analysis also showed the
upregulation of genes involved in cell migration, immune response, angiogenesis, and
wound healing. These results highlight a complex interplay between Inpp5d, tau pathology,
and behavioral outcomes, supporting Inpp5d’s involvement in tau pathogenesis.
To explore this further, we treated primary microglia isolated from Wildtype,
Inpp5d+/-, and Inpp5d-/- mice with recombinant mutant tau-preformed fibrils and insolubletau
extracted from PS19 mice brains. Our results revealed increased tau uptake in Inpp5d+/-
and Inpp5d-/- microglia, suggesting that Inpp5d modulation enhances tau uptake,
potentially influencing disease progression through altered microglial response.
While further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms through which
INPP5D influences tau pathogenesis, our findings highlight INPP5D as a promising
therapeutic target for modulating tau pathology and improving microglial function in AD.
Elucidating the Role of the Essential Kinase TgGSK in the Human Parasite Toxoplasma Gondii
(2025-02) Krueger, Amanda; Yeh, Elizabeth; Arrizabalaga, Gustavo; Sullivan, William; Nass, Richard; Aoki, Scott
Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular parasite that infects nearly a third of the world’s human population. While infection is largely asymptomatic in an immunocompetent host, Toxoplasma infection in immunocompromised or immunosuppressed individuals can lead to toxoplasmosis, which can include brain lesions and lead to death. Similarly, toxoplasmosis can result in birth defects, brain swelling, and blindness of a developing fetus in the case of a congenital infection. With minimal treatments for toxoplasmosis available, it is crucial to study parasite-specific processes that could be potential drug targets for the treatment of toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasma gondii divides through a unique process known as endodyogeny, where two daughter parasites are formed within a mother. In this study, we investigated a novel protein called TgGSK that is crucial for proper parasite division. Experiments reveal that TgGSK changes its localization within the parasite dependent on the stage of division. Knockdown of TgGSK causes abnormal division phenotypes and causes Toxoplasma to be unable to complete its propagation cycle. We determined through microscopy and phosphoproteomics that TgGSK may play its role in parasite division through an interaction with the centrosome, an organelle which is a main feature of cell division in many organisms. Our findings suggest that TgGSK also regulates messenger RNA processing. Finally, our study suggests that TgGSK is regulated and stabilized through acetylation from the GCN5b lysine acetyltransferase complex. Taken together, we have performed an in-depth study of the functional role of the essential protein TgGSK in Toxoplasma gondii. This and future studies have potential to demonstrate that TgGSK is a parasite-specific drug target for the therapeutic treatment of toxoplasmosis.
OA13.04. Physical health benefits of health Qigong and Energize programs in American elementary school classrooms
(Springer Nature, 2012-06-12) Wang, C.; Seo, D.; Geib, R.; Wroblewski, N.; Van Puymbroeck, M.; Kolbe, L.; Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine
Purpose:
With the increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine, mind-body exercises (i.e., Tai Chi, Yoga, and Qigong) have become more popular in the United States. In particular, numerous recent investigations have suggested the positive benefits of Qigong for cardiovascular fitness, musculoskeletal conditions, and stress. However, such research is largely limited to adults and the elderly. Few studies have explored the benefits of Qigong in the pediatric population. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate: (1) whether Health Qigong is effective, and (2) how effective it is compared with conventional exercise among elementary school children.
Methods:
A pre- and post-test quasi-experimental design was used to assess the effects of three different modes of exercise: (1) aerobic exercise (Energize), (2) mind-body exercise (Health Qigong), and (3) conventional physical education (PE) activities, in terms of improving health during a 16-week intervention, as measured by Heart Rate (HR), Sit-and-Reach (SR), and Body Mass Index (BMI) in children.
Results:
One hundred and five children provided valid data from two elementary schools in Southern Indiana. Of the 105 students, 57 (35.2%) were boys. The average age was 9 years old. The repeated measures analyses of variance revealed a significant decrease in HR (F=70.54, p<.001, η2 =.409), SR (F=11.68, p<.001, η2 =.103), and BMI (F=41.97, p<.001, η2 =.292). In particular, BMI decreased more quickly from the Health Qigong group, with a mean change of 0.698 (p<.001), than the Energize (0.197, p<.05) and the PE group (0.224, p<.05).
Conclusion:
Health Qigong can be as effective as aerobic exercise and physical education activities in reducing HR and increasing SR among elementary school children. Given the significant reduction in BMI, Health Qigong should be further investigated on a possible mechanism to help lose body weight.