Zinc Nutritional Status in Adolescents with Down Syndrome

Studies have evidenced that zinc metabolism is altered in presence of Down syndrome, and zinc seems to have a relationship with the metabolic alterations usually present in this syndrome. In this work, the Zn-related nutritional status of adolescents with Down syndrome was evaluated by means of biochemical parameters and diet. A case–control study was performed in a group of adolescents with Down syndrome (n = 30) and a control group (n = 32), of both sexes, aged 10 to 19 years. Diet evaluation was accomplished by using a 3-day dietary record, and the analysis was performed by the NutWin program, version 1.5. Antropometric measurements were performed for evaluation of body composition. The Zn-related nutritional status of the groups was evaluated by means of zinc concentration determinations in plasma and erythrocytes, and 24-h urinary zinc excretion, by using the method of atomic absorption spectroscopy. The diet of both groups presented adequate concentrations of lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, and zinc. The mean values found for zinc concentration in erythrocytes were 49.2 ± 8.5 μg Zn/g Hb for the Down syndrome group and 35.9 ± 6.1 μg Zn/g Hb for the control group (p = 0.001). The average values found for zinc concentration in plasma were 67.6 ± 25.6 μg/dL for the Down syndrome group and 68.9 ± 22.3 μg/dL for the control group. The mean values found for zinc concentration in urine were 244.3 ± 194.9 μg Zn/24 h for the Down syndrome group and 200.3 ± 236.4 μg Zn/24 h for the control group. Assessment of body composition revealed overweight (26.7%) and obesity (6.6%) in the Down syndrome group. In this study, patients with Down syndrome presented altered zinc levels for some cellular compartments, and the average zinc concentrations were low in plasma and urine and elevated in erythrocytes.     

Trypanosoma cruzi: involvement of glycoinositolphospholipids in the attachment to the luminal midgut surface of Rhodnius prolixus

Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes adhere in vivo to the luminal surface of their triatomid vector digestive tract by molecular mechanisms, as yet, unknown. Here, we show that the administration of 0.5 microM epimastigote major surface glycoinositolphospholipids (GIPLs) to the infected bloodmeal inhibits up to 90% parasite infection in Rhodnius prolixus. The parasite behavior was investigated in vitro using fragments of the insect midgut. The addition of GIPLs in concentration as low as 50-100 nM impaired 95% the attachment of epimastigotes. Previous treatment of GIPLs with trifluoroacetic acid to remove the terminal beta-galactofuranosyl residues reversed 50% the epimastigote in vitro attachment. The binding sites of purified GIPLs on the luminal surface of the posterior midgut were exposed by immunofluorescence microscopy. These observations indicate that GIPLs are one of the components involved in the adhesion of T. cruzi to the luminal insect midgut surface and possibly one of the determinants of parasite infection in the insect vector.     

Ectopic lesions as potential pitfalls in fine needle aspiration cytology: a report of 3 cases derived from the thyroid, endometrium and breast

BACKGROUND: Ectopic lesions are rarely encountered. Those that are derived from thyroid, breast, endometrium and salivary glands present with palpable masses that can mimic malignancy. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a practical procedure for the differential diagnosis of such lesions but can reveal surprising images for a cytopathologist. CASES: Three cases of discrete, ectopic lesions at different locations occurred. Case 1 was a 27-year-old woman. Upon diagnosis of a submandibular mass with a diameter of 1 cm, FNAC was performed. The smears showed crowded thyroid follicular cells comprising papillary clusters. A cytologic diagnosis of papillary thyroid lesion was rendered, Histopathology revealed that this lesion was ectopic thyroid tissue with focal chronic thyroiditis. Case 2 was a 38-year-old woman who presented with a painful mass with a diameter of 2.5 cm in the abdominal wall. The patient had undergone cesarean section 3 years earlier. The case was diagnosed on FNAC as low grade malignancy in which an adenocarcinoma/mesenchymal tumor distinction could not be made. The pathologic examination revealed endometriosis. Case 3 was a 31-year old woman who presented with a palpable nodule in the axillary region with a diameter of 1 cm. The patient had given birth 1 month earlier and was nursing. An FNAC diagnosis of lactation ectopic breast tissue was made. The mass disappeared by the end of lactation. CONCLUSION: FNAC of ectopic lesions may prove to be a diagnostic pitfall for cytopathologists. A cytopathologist who encounters a cellularpicturefrom a lesion that is outside the normal anatomic location must use a cautious diagnostic approach. Unless there are clear findings, the cytopathologist must refrain from a diagnosis of malignancy.     

Myrtenal-induced V-ATPase inhibition - A toxicity mechanism behind tumor cell death and suppressed migration and invasion in melanoma

Background

Metastatic tumor cells have acidic extracellular pH and differential electrochemical H⁺ gradients generated across their cell membranes by V-type H⁺-ATPases. This study shows that inhibition of the V-ATPases by the plant-derived monoterpene Myrtenal results in tumor cell death and decreased metastatic dissemination in mice.

Lamin A Ser404 is a nuclear target of Akt phosphorylation in C2C12 cells

Akt/PKB is a central activator of multiple signaling pathways coupled with a large number of stimuli. Although both localization and activity of Akt in the nuclear compartment are well-documented, most Akt substrates identified so far are located in the cytoplasm, while nuclear substrates have remained elusive. A proteomic-based search for nuclear substrates of Akt was undertaken, exploiting 2D-electrophoresis/MS in combination with an anti-Akt phosphosubstrate antibody. This analysis indicated lamin A/C as a putative substrate of Akt in C2C12 cells. In vitro phosphorylation of endogenous lamin A/C by recombinant Akt further validated this result. Moreover, by phosphopeptide analysis and point mutation, we established that lamin A/C is phosphorylated by Akt at Ser404, in an evolutionary conserved Akt motif. To delve deeper into this, we raised an antibody against the lamin A Ser404 phosphopeptide which allowed us to determine that phosphorylation of lamin A Ser404 is triggered by the well-known Akt activator insulin, and is therefore to be regarded as a physiological response. Remarkably, expression of S404A lamin A in primary cells from healthy tissue caused the nuclear abnormalities that are a hallmark of Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) cells. Indeed, it is known that mutations at several sites in lamin A/C cause autosomal dominant EDMD. Very importantly, we show here that Akt failed to phosphorylate lamin A/C in primary cells from an EDMD-2 patient with lamin A/C mutated in the Akt consensus motif. Together, our data demonstrate that lamin A/C is a novel signaling target of Akt, and implicate Akt phosphorylation of lamin A/C in the correct function of the nuclear lamina.     

Effect of varying monoterpene concentrations on the response of Ips pini (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) to its aggregation pheromone: implications for pest management and ecology of bark beetles

Abstract 1 Host plant terpenes can influence attraction of conifer bark beetles to their aggregation pheromones: both synergistic and inhibitory compounds have been reported. However, we know little about how varying concentrations of individual monoterpenes affect responses. 2 We tested a gradient of ratios of α‐pinene, the predominant monoterpene in host pines in the Great Lakes region of North America, to Ips pini's pheromone, racemic ipsdienol plus lanierone. 3 Ips pini demonstrated a parabolic response, in which low concentrations of α‐pinene had no effect on attraction to its pheromone, intermediate concentrations were synergistic and high concentrations were inhibitory. These results suggest optimal release rates for population monitoring and suppression programmes. 4 Inhibition of bark beetle attraction to pheromones may be an important component of conifer defences. At terpene to pheromone ratios emulating emissions from trees actively responding to a first attack, arrival of flying beetles was low. This may constitute an additional defensive role of terpenes, which are also toxic to bark beetles at high concentrations. 5 Reduced attraction to a low ratio of α‐pinene to pheromone, as occurs when colonization densities become high and the tree's resin is largely depleted, might reflect a mechanism for preventing excessive crowding. 6 Thanasimus dubius, the predominant predator of I. pini, was also attracted to ipsdienol plus lanierone, but its response differed from that of its prey. Attraction increased across all concentrations of α‐pinene. This indicates that separate lures are needed to sample both predators and bark beetles effectively. It also provides an opportunity for maximizing pest removal while reducing adverse effects on beneficial species. This disparity further illustrates the complexity confronting natural enemies that track chemical signals to locate herbivores.     

Characterization,Cytotoxic Analysis and Action Mechanism of Antilisterial Bacteriocin Produced by Lactobacillus plantarum Isolated from Cheddar Cheese

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Emergence of food borne pathogens and multidrug resistant organisms has enforced the screening of natural antimicrobial compounds....