Molecularly imprinted cryogel for L-glutamic acid separation

A molecular recognition based L-glutamic acid (L-GLU) imprinted cryogel was prepared for L-GLU separation via chromatographic applications. The novel functional monomer N-methacryloyl-(L)-glutamic acid-Fe(3+) (MAGA-Fe(3+) ) was synthesized to be complex with L-GLU. The L-GLU imprinted cryogel was prepared by free radical polymerization under semifrozen conditions in the presence of a monomer-template complex MAGA-Fe(3+) -L-GLU. The binding mechanism of MAGA-Fe(3+) and L-GLU was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in detail. FTIR analyses on the synthesized MAGA-Fe(3+) -GLU complex reveals bridging bidentate and monodentate binding modes of Fe(3+) in complex with the carboxylate groups of the glutamate residues. The template L-GLU could be reversibly detached from the cryogel to form the template cavities using a 100 mM solution of HNO(3) . The amount of adsorbed L-GLU was detected using the phenyl isothiocyanate method. The L-GLU adsorption capacity of the cryogel decreased drastically from 11.3 to 6.4 μmol g(-1) as the flow rate increased from 0.5 to 4.0 mL min(-1) . The adsorption onto the L-GLU imprinted cryogel was highly pH dependent due to electrostatic interaction between the L-GLU and MAGA-Fe(3+) . The PHEMAGA-Fe(3+) -GLU cryogel exhibited high selectivity to the corresponding guest amino acids (i.e., D-GLU, L-ASN, L-GLN, L-, and D-ASP). Finally, the L-GLU imprinted cryogel was recovered and reused many times, with no significant decrease in their adsorption capacities.     

Effects of Chronic and Acute Zinc Supplementation on Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats

A ginseng polysaccharide was extracted, purified, and modified by nitric acid-selenious acid (HNO₃-H₂SeO₃) method to yield one selenylation-modified polysaccharide (sGP). We reported for the first time the anticancer potential of sGP on the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cell line and evaluated its relevant underlying mechanism. Our results showed that sGP markedly inhibited the growth of HL-60 cells via induction of apoptosis. The event of apoptosis was accompanied by the formation of apoptotic bodies; the release of cytochrome c; loss of mitochondrial membrane potential; and activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, and cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) in HL-60 cells. In addition, western blot analysis showed that sGP inhibited antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein expression and increased proapoptotic Bax protein expression in cells under identical conditions. Together, our study suggests that sGP induces apoptosis of HL-60 cells through the mitochondrial-dependent pathway.     

The involvement of IL-10, IL-6, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta gene polymorphisms among Turkish lung cancer patients

Several genes encoding different cytokines may play crucial roles in host susceptibility to lung cancer, since cytokine production capacity varies among individuals and depends on cytokine gene polymorphisms. The association between cytokine gene polymorphisms with primary lung carcinoma was investigated. DNA samples were obtained from a Turkish population of 44 patients with primary lung cancer, and 59 healthy control subjects. All genotyping (IFN-gamma, TGF-beta1, TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10) experiments were performed using sequence-specific primers (SSP)-PCR. When compared to the healthy controls, the frequencies of high/intermediate producing genotypes of IL-10 and low producing genotype of TNF-alpha were significantly more common in the patient group. It is noteworthy that lung cancer patients with the TGF-beta T/T genotype in codon 10 had statistically longer survival compared to those having the C/C genotype (Kaplan-Meier survival function test, log rank significance = 0.014). These results suggest that IL-10, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms may affect host susceptibility to lung cancer and the outcome of the patients.     

Anaerobic treatability and biogas production potential studies of different agro-industrial wastewaters in Turkey

The anaerobic treatability and methane generation potential of the wastewaters of the three important agro-industries in Turkey, namely, cheese-making, poultry breeding and the olive-oil mill industries were studied. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) experiments were conducted for different initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations. The results indicate that anaerobic treatment was possible for all the wastewaters studied and the biogas produced had a high methane content.     

High-frequency oscillatory motions enhance the simulated mechanical properties of non-weight bearing trabecular bone

Extremely low-level oscillatory accelerations, applied without constraint, can increase bone formation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that high-frequency oscillations, applied in the absence of functional weight bearing, can be sensed by trabecular bone to produce a structure that is more efficient in sustaining applied loads. The left leg of anesthetized adult female mice (n=18) was subjected to high-frequency oscillations at 45 Hz, 0.6g for 20 min/day, 5 days/week for 3 weeks, while the contralateral leg served as an internal control. To remove the potential interference of the habitual strain environment with the imposed physical signal, the hindlimbs of these mice were chronically unloaded. In vivo microCT scans of the proximal metaphyseal region of the tibia were transformed into finite element meshes to evaluate trabecular and cortical mechanical properties. Simulated longitudinal compression tests showed that the short applications of high-frequency oscillations were sensed primarily by trabecular bone. At the end of the experimental period, apparent trabecular stiffness of the oscillated bones was 38% (p<0.001) greater than that of non-weight bearing controls. Simulated uniaxial loads applied to trabecular bone induced 21%, 52%, and 131% greater (p<0.05) median, peak compressive, and peak tensile longitudinal stresses in control than in stimulated bones. Non-weight bearing control bones were also characterized by greater transverse normal and shear stresses (77% and 54%, respectively, p<0.001) as well as 35% greater (p=0.03) longitudinal shear stresses. Compared to normal age-matched controls (n=18), oscillations were able to attenuate, but not fully prevent, the decline in trabecular mechanical properties associated with the removal of weight bearing. These data indicate not only that bone cells can sense low-level, high-frequency oscillatory accelerations, but also that they can orchestrate a structural response that produces a stiffer trabecular structure that may be less prone to fracture.     

The effect of moderate hypothermia in acute ischemic stroke on pericyte migration: an ultrastructural study

Pericytes are essential components of the blood–brain barrier together with endothelial cells and astrocytes. Any disturbance of brain perfusion may result in blood–brain barrier dysfunction due to pericyte migration from the microvascular wall. The neuroprotective influence of hypothermia on ischemic brain injury has been clearly shown in models of both global and focal ischemia. Leakage of plasma proteins contributes to the extension of neuronal injury and hypothermia has a neuroprotective influence during the ischemic insult. This line of thinking impelled us to investigate the possible role of the pericytes in the occurrence of hypothermic protection during cerebral ischemia.In this study, we examined at the ultrastructural level the effect of moderate hypothermia on microvascular pericyte responses using a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Twenty rats were divided into four groups. Middle cerebral artery occlusion was performed in all rats except the control group (first group), which was used to determine the pericyte morphology under normal conditions. In the second group, pericyte response to irreversible ischemia under normothermic conditions was examined at the end of the first hour. In the third group, pericyte response to hypoxia was examined under normothermic conditions three hours after ischemia. In the fourth group, temporalis muscle temperature was maintained at 27–29 °C for 1 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion and pericyte response was then examined at the ultrastructural level. In ischemic normothermic conditions at the end of the first hour (Group 2), a separation was observed between pericytes and the basement membrane and this was interpreted as pericyte migration from the microvascular wall. In ischemic normothermic conditions at the end of the third hour (Group 3), basement membrane disorganization and increased space between the basement membranes were seen in addition to the differentiation of second group. In ischemic hypothermic conditions at the end of the first hour (Group 4), pericyte separation or migration from basement membrane were not seen and the blood–brain barrier remained firm. These findings were interpreted by the authors as a possible relationship between pericyte behavior and neural protection during hypothermia. We suggest that hypothermia may delay the pericyte response but not necessarily attenuate it, and should be associated with hypothermic protection.