Different aspects of bacterial communication signals

The communication or quorum-sensing signal molecules (QSSM) are specialized molecules used by numerous gram-negative bacterial pathogens of animals and plants to regulate or modulate bacterial virulence factor production. In plant-associated bacteria, genes encoding the production of these signal molecules, QSSMs, were discovered to be linked with the phenotype of bacterium, because mutation of these genes typically disrupts some behaviors of bacteria. There are other regulator genes which respond to the presence of signal molecule and regulate the production of signal molecule as well as some virulence factors. The synthesis and regulator genes (collectively called quorum-sensing genes hereafter) are repressed in low bacterial population but induced when bacteria reach to high cell density. Multiple regulatory components have been identified in the bacteria that are under control of quorum sensing. This review describes different communication signal molecules, and the various chemical, physical and genomic factors known to synthesize signals. Likewise, the role of some signal-degrading enzymes or compounds and the interaction of QSSMs with eukaryotic metabolism will be discussed here.     

Ionic liquid catalyzed synthesis and characterization of heterocyclic and optically active poly (amide-imide)s incorporating <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-amino acids

N,N′-Pyromelliticdiimido-di-l-alanine (1), N,N′-Pyromelliticdiimido-di-l-phenylalanine (2), and N,N′-Pyromelliticdiimido-di-l-leucine (3) were prepared from the reaction of Pyromellitic dianhydride with corresponding l-amino acids in a mixture of glacial acetic acid and pyridine solution (3/2 ratio) under refluxing conditions. A series of poly (amide-imide)s containing l-amino acids were prepared from the synthesized dicarboxylic acids with two synthetic aromatic diamines in an ionic liquid (IL) as a green, safe and eco-friendly medium and also reactions catalysis agent. Evaluation of data shows that IL is the better polyamidation medium than the reported method and the catalysis stand on the higher inherent viscosities of the obtained PAIs and the rate of polymerizations beyond the greener reaction conditions and deletion of some essential reagents in conventional manners. Characterization were performs by means of IR, MS and ¹H NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, specific rotation, thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetric techniques. Molecular weights of the obtained polymers were evaluated viscometrically, and the measured inherent viscosities were in the range 0.43–0.85 dL/g. These polymers were readily soluble in many organic solvents. These polymers still kept good thermal stability with glass transition temperatures in the range of 94–154°C, and the decomposition temperature under the nitrogen atmosphere for 10% weight-loss temperatures in excess of 308°C.     

福州市蔬菜农药残留检测与分析

采用农业行业标准NY/T761-2008检测方法,用气相色谱仪对福州市3家超市和3家农贸市场销售的16个蔬菜品种共60份样品进行有机氯及拟除虫菊酯类农药残留的检测,并根据GB2763 - 2005标准判定检出超标情况.结果表明:农药残留检出率为31.67％;农药残留超标率为3.33％.从蔬菜种类上,白菜类、瓜类的检出率...     

拉西地平对高温高湿应激大鼠血管平滑肌细胞GRP78 和CHOP 表达的影响

目的:探讨钙离子拮抗剂拉西地平对高温高湿应激大鼠血管平滑肌细胞内内质网应激相关因子葡萄糖调节蛋白78(glucose-regulated protein of 78kD,GRP78)和C/EBP环磷酸腺苷反应元件结合转录因子同源蛋白(CAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein,CHOP)表达的影响。方法:将60只雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、高温高湿组、拉西地平组,每组20只。按实验时间(2w、4w、6w、8w)的不同,各组又分为4个亚组,每个亚组5只大鼠。用颈动脉插管法测定各组大鼠的平均动脉压(MAP);用免疫组织化学法检测GRP78和CHOP的表达水平。结果:①高温高湿各组的MAP随着实验时间的延长呈逐渐递增的趋势,高温高湿4w、6w、8w亚组的MAP均显著高于相应的对照组和拉西地平组(P<0.05)。②随着实验时间的延长,高温高湿组GRP78表达量不断增加,6w达到最大值,8w表达减弱。高温高湿4w、6w、8w亚组GRP78表达量均高于相应对照组和拉西地平组,有显著性差异(P<0.05)。③高温高湿组2w、4w、6w、8w亚组CHOP表达量组间比较有显著性差异(P<0.05),8w亚组表达达到最高值;高温高湿组6w、8w亚组与相应对照组和拉西地平组比较有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论:高温高湿应激可引起血管平滑肌细胞内质网应激反应,导致GRP78表达及CHOP表达的不对称增加,提示高温高湿应激可引起血管平滑肌细胞的损害;拉西地平可以减轻内质网应激,逆转高温高湿应激所致的血管平滑肌细胞的损伤作用,对血管平滑肌细胞有保护作用。     

康惠尔水胶体透明贴对阿奇霉素引起的静脉炎的预防作用

目的:观察康惠尔水胶体透明贴对使用阿奇霉素引起的静脉炎的疗效与效果。方法:从我院2009年1月-2010年1月的呼吸内科患者中选择100例使用阿奇霉素静脉输液治疗的患者。分为观察组与对照组,每组50名使用阿奇霉素静脉输液治疗的患者。普通组使用普通透明贴,对照组患者使用康惠尔水胶体透明贴。对两组患者进行比对。结果:观察组的50名患者使用普通透明贴,16例未发生静脉炎,发生静脉炎为34例;对照组的50名患者使用康惠尔水胶体透明贴,仅有2例发生静脉炎的患者。对照组与普通组相比,对照组结果好于普通组,P<0.05差距有显著统计学意义。结论:使用康惠尔水胶体透明贴可以有效的减少呼吸内科患者使用阿奇霉素造成的静脉炎发生率。     

Urinary and air biomonitoring of occupational exposure to benzene in oil pit workers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the personal exposure to benzene and its relationship with biomonitoring and quantitative risk assessment among the personnel working and living near oil pits. This study was conducted in one of oil subsidiary companies in Kharg in 2017. Airborne benzene exposure was evaluated over 8-h periods during work-shift by using personal active samplers. Urinary O-Cresol levels were determined using GC-FID for separation and detection. The highest mean concentration of airborne benzene was at monitoring location, A (0.53?ppm), monitoring location H (0.59?ppm) in the spring, monitoring location M (0.72?ppm) and monitoring location P (0.8?ppm) in the summer, which was more than suggested by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. No direct linear relationship was found between the concentration of airborne benzene, age, work experience, urinary creatinine, and O-Cresol in this study (p?>?.05). No significant difference was observed between urinary O-Cresol and benzene in occupational groups and different seasons (p?>?.05). The highest mean quantitative risk of cancers was observed in summer (1.21?±?0.47). According to the results of this study, urinary biomarker O-Cresol is not a suitable measure for evaluating exposure to environmental benzene.     

Profiling the Lipophilic Fractions of Pithecellobium dulce Bark and Leaves Using GC/MS and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant,Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities

Pithecellobium dulce has been used in traditional medicine to treat various ailments owing to its restorative properties. The biological activities and chemical profiles of the lipophilic fraction of P. dulce bark and leaves were assessed herein. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and unsaponifiable matter (USM) were prepared and analyzed by GC/MS. A total of 40 compounds were identified in the bark saponifiable fraction, whereas 9 compounds were annotated in the leaves. Palmitic acid methyl ester was the major compound identified accounting for 41.48 % of the bark and 19.03 % of the leaves composition. Besides, linolenic acid methyl ester (22.40 %) and linoleic acid (12.69 %) were annotated in the leaves saponifiable fraction. A total of 63 compounds were detected in the bark USM and 4 compounds were identified in the leaves. Phytol represented the major component in the leaves (52.57 %) followed by lupeol (20.68 %) and lupenone (8.60 %). Meanwhile, n‐dodecane dominated in the bark USM accounting for 24.69 % of the total composition. The leaves and bark lipophilic fractions revealed moderate antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Both extracts showed no antifungal activity. No cytotoxicity was observed for both lipophilic fractions. P. dulce offers a good source of antioxidant compounds that can be introduced to food and pharmaceutical industry.     

Characterization of Aqueous Dispersions and Gels Made of Sodium Caseinate and Basil Seed Gum: Phase Behavior,Rheology, and Microstructure

The interactions between sodium caseinate (NaCas) and basil seed gum (BSG) in the presence of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) were investigated. The phase behavior of the mixed aqueous dispersions and their gels revealed a homogeneous mixture, obtained at the higher concentrations of both CaCl₂ and BSG. The Herschel-Bulkley model sufficiently fitted the flow behavior of the mixture solution data. Apparent viscosity increased significantly (p < 0.05) by increasing the concentration of BSG, where the addition of CaCl₂ had no significant effect on the viscosity of the samples (p > 0.05). Furthermore, there was an increase in thixotropy due to the higher concentrations of BSG and CaCl₂. Based on the frequency sweep test, at the low frequencies, a more gel-like behavior was observed in the case of the higher concentrations of either BSG or CaCl₂. The rheological and SEM data suggested that the stronger structure of NaCas-BSG gel in the presence of the higher concentrations of CaCl₂ was related to the induction of complex formation between the two biopolymers.