Morphological changes in the central sulcus of children with isolated growth hormone deficiency versus idiopathic short stature

In this study, the morphological changes in the central sulcus between children with isolated growth hormone deficiency (IGHD) and those with idiopathic short stature (ISS) were analyzed. Thirty children with IGHD (peak growth hormone < 5 µg/L) and 30 children with ISS (peak growth hormone > 10.0 µg/L) were included. Morphological measurements of the central sulcus were obtained from T1‐weighted MRIs using BrainVISA, including the average sulcal width, maximum depth, average depth, top length, bottom length, and depth position‐based profiles (DPPs). The bilateral average width of the central sulci was significantly wider, while the left maximum depth and right average depth of the central sulcus were significantly smaller, in children with IGHD than in children with ISS. There were no significant differences in the right maximum depth, left average depth, or bilateral top length and bottom length of the central sulcus between groups. The DPPs of the middle part of both central sulci (corresponding to the hand motor activation area) and the inferior part of the right central sulcus (corresponding to the oral movement area) near the Sylvian fissure were significantly smaller in children with IGHD than in controls before false discovery rate (FDR) correction. However, all the above significant DPP sites disappeared after FDR correction. There were significant morphological changes in the three‐dimensional structure of the central sulcus in children with IGHD, which were the outcome of other more essential cortical or subcortical changes, resulting in their relatively slower development in motor, cognitive, and linguistic functional performance.     

From infection to cancer: how DNA tumour viruses alter host cell central carbon and lipid metabolism

Infections cause 13% of all cancers globally, and DNA tumour viruses account for almost 60% of these cancers. All viruses are obligate intracellular parasites and hijack host cell functions to replicate and complete their life cycles to produce progeny virions. While many aspects of viral manipulation of host cells have been studied, how DNA tumour viruses manipulate host cell metabolism and whether metabolic alterations in the virus life cycle contribute to carcinogenesis are not well understood. In this review, we compare the differences in central carbon and fatty acid metabolism in host cells following infection, oncogenic transformation, and virus-driven cancer of DNA tumour viruses including: Epstein–Barr virus, hepatitis B virus, human papillomavirus, Kaposi''s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus and Merkel cell polyomavirus.     

A statistical approach for the enhanced production of thermostable alkaline protease showing detergent compatibility activity from Bacillus circulans

Abstract

Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to enhance the production of a thermostable alkaline protease from Bacillus circulans. Significant influences of peptone, yeast extract, and glucose on protease production were noted with a one-variable-at-a-time optimization strategy. Then, a full factorial central composite design (CCD) was applied to study the effects of glucose, peptone, and yeast extract to determine the optimal concentrations of these compounds for protease production by B. circulans under shake flask fermentation conditions. The statistical reliability and significance of the model was validated by an F-test for analysis of variance (ANOVA); enzyme production was improved significantly under optimized conditions. The enzyme was purified by ammonium sulphate fractionation, and gel filtration chromatography. Maximum enzyme activity was observed at 60°C temperature, and at pH 10. Alkaline protease from B. circulans showed excellent compatibility and stability in the presence of commercial detergents like Ariel, Surf Excel, Tide, Rin, Nirma, Wheel, and Doctor and showed excellent blood destaining effectiveness with commercial detergents.     

Effects and statistical optimization of fermentation conditions on growth and poly (vinyl alcohol)-degrading enzyme production of Streptomyces venezuelae GY1

The effects of environmental conditions, including temperature, pH and dissolved oxygen, on growth and production of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-degrading enzymes of the newly-isolated strain Streptomyces venezuelae GY1 were investigated. The medium composition for strain GY1 was studied first by single factorial design and then optimized using a central composite design. PVA with high saponification is better for growth of, and PVA-degrading enzyme production by S. venezuelae GY1 compared with PVA with low saponification, in contrast with the characteristics of other bacteria producing PVA-degrading enzymes. The optimal temperature and initial pH for production of PVA-degrading enzyme by strain GY1 was 30°C and 7.0, respectively. The optimal medium composition for PVA-degrading enzyme production is: 1.01 g L^?1 of PVA1799, 0.307 g L^?1 of NaNO₃ and 0.512 g L^?1 of MgSO₄?7H₂O.     

The plant landscape as inferred from a basket of the Roman town of Privernum (Latium,central Italy)

Abstract

Privernum was a rich Roman colony located 70 km southwest of Rome (southern Latium, central Italy). The archaeobotanical investigations focused on the garden and related structures of the luxury domus della Soglia nilotica. They are archaeologically and radiocarbon dated to the second half of the 1st century AD. The remains of a charred basket were found in the filling of the euripus, an ornamental water basin of the garden. The weaving was made with twisted strands of the leaves of Ampelodesmos mauritanicus (Poir.) T. Durand and Schinz; for the bottom and the handle/s of the basket, wood of evergreen oaks and ash and/or elm, respectively were probably used. The basket contained Pinus pinea seeds and cone scales, and Prunus persica endocarps, which were probably burnt in summer. The sediment in the drainage system and in the kitchen was processed for macro- and microremains. The results indicate the presence of spontaneous ruderal and weed flora elements, typical of human settlement areas, and crops.     

Optimization of Intracellular Product Release from Neisseria denitrificans Using Microfluidizer

Disruption of Neisseria denitrificans cells by microfluidizer was optimized using a factorial experiments design. The pH, pretreatment time, cell concentration, NaCl, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and Triton X-100 concentrations showed significant impact on disruption process and the process was optimized using central composite design and response surface methodology (RSM). Investigation revealed optimum conditions: 90 min pretreatment at pH 9.0 containing 110 g L^?1 cells (dry cell weight), 50 mM NaCl, 10 mM EDTA, and 0.2% Triton X-100. At optimized conditions, the disruption rate increased twofold, up to 5.62 ± 0.27 × 10^?3 MPa^-a; meanwhile, yield of intracellular content was increased by 26%, with 1 g of cells resulting in 113.2 ± 8.2 mg proteins, 12.1 ± 0.7 mg nucleic acids, 21.0 ± 1.2 mg polysaccharides, 0.99 ± 0.08 kU glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), and 10,100 ± 110 kU restriction endonuclease NdeI endonuclease. Particle size distribution analysis revealed nearly twofold larger cell lysate particles with diameter of 120 nm. For optimal release of intracellular content, 9200 J/g of energy was needed (95% confidence), yielding 6900 J/g energy savings. Model equations generated from RSM on cell disruption of N. denitrificans were found adequate to determine significant factors and its interaction. The results showed that optimized combination of known pretreatment and disruption methods could considerably improve cell disruption efficiency.     

Diversity of saproxylic bryophytes in old‐growth and managed beech forests in the central Balkans

Abstract

The diversity of saproxylic bryophyte species in beech forest stands from the wide region of the central Balkans (i.e. Serbia and Montenegro) was studied, and this study is the first of such a type in SE Europe. Comparison of preserved old‐growth and managed forests were made. Bryophyte species diversity is higher in primeval forest stands where the spectra of dead wood in various decaying stages of its dynamics are present. The ecological group of epixylic specialists is predominant among the bryophytes recorded. Threatened bryophyte species occur in old‐growth beech stands. The dead wood as habitat together with some other factors are extremely important for the surviving of epixylic bryophyte; so these species can be used as bioindicator bryophyte species of old‐growth or managed and structured forest ecosystems.     

Lysoglycerophospholipids in chronic inflammatory disorders: The PLA2/LPC and ATX/LPA axes

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), the most prominent lysoglycerophospholipids, are emerging as a novel class of inflammatory lipids, joining thromboxanes, leukotrienes and prostaglandins with which they share metabolic pathways and regulatory mechanisms. Enzymes that participate in LPC and LPA metabolism, such as the phospholipase A₂ superfamily (PLA₂) and autotaxin (ATX, ENPP2), play central roles in regulating LPC and LPA levels and consequently their actions. LPC/LPA biosynthetic pathways will be briefly presented and LPC/LPA signaling properties and their possible functions in the regulation of the immune system and chronic inflammation will be reviewed. Furthermore, implications of exacerbated LPC and/or LPA signaling in the context of chronic inflammatory diseases, namely rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis and hepatitis, will be discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Advances in Lysophospholipid Research.     

Pulmonary embolism and 3-month outcomes in 4036 patients with venous thromboembolism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: data from the RIETE registry

Background

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a modified clinical presentation of venous thromboembolism (VTE) but also a worse prognosis than non-COPD patients with VTE. As it may induce therapeutic modifications, we evaluated the influence of the initial VTE presentation on the 3-month outcomes in COPD patients.

Methods

COPD patients included in the on-going world-wide RIETE Registry were studied. The rate of pulmonary embolism (PE), major bleeding and death during the first 3 months in COPD patients were compared according to their initial clinical presentation (acute PE or deep vein thrombosis (DVT)).

Results

Of the 4036 COPD patients included, 2452 (61%; 95% CI: 59.2-62.3) initially presented with PE. PE as the first VTE recurrence occurred in 116 patients, major bleeding in 101 patients and mortality in 443 patients (Fatal PE: first cause of death). Multivariate analysis confirmed that presenting with PE was associated with higher risk of VTE recurrence as PE (OR, 2.04; 95% CI: 1.11-3.72) and higher risk of fatal PE (OR, 7.77; 95% CI: 2.92-15.7).

Conclusions

COPD patients presenting with PE have an increased risk for PE recurrences and fatal PE compared with those presenting with DVT alone. More efficient therapy is needed in this subtype of patients.