Physiology and characterization of a fungal milk-clotting enzyme from Aspergillus flavus.

Aspergillus flavus produced extracellularly an active rennin-like enzyme when grown aerobically in whey media. The enzyme was detected at early stages of growth reaching a maximum after three to four days at 25 degrees. The activity was destroyed by heating to temperatures higher than 50 degrees, whereas the presence of skim milk during heating preserved the enzyme activity, at least, up to 70 degrees. Calcium chloride significantly stimulated the milk-clotting activity up to 1% final concentration. The clotting time was inversely proportional to protein concentration in the range 0.2-0.6 mg/ml and the enzyme exhibited marked stability when stored at 37 degrees at pH 6.     

2q35-rs13387042 variant and the risk of breast cancer: a case–control study

Molecular Biology Reports - Breast Cancer is the most frequent neoplasm diagnosed among women worldwide. Genetic background and lifestyle/environment play a significant role in the disease...     

Assessment of bermudagrass cultivars for phytoremediation of petroleum contaminated soils

Phytoremediation is an alternative to other technologies for the clean up of petroleum contaminated soil. Ten vegetatively propagated cultivars of bermudagrass were examined for their potential to reduced oil sludge contaminated in soil and select the most efficient cultivar. Soil was mixed with different rates of oil sludge (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40% (w/w) to obtain 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8% total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs). Ten cultivars of bermudagrass were planted in pots filled with respected mixtures of soil and sludge. Shoot and root weights and percent reduction in the contamination level were measured after six months. Shoot weight reduced as contamination level increased. The root weight increased up to 6% TPHs level. As contamination level increased, the percent reduction in contamination increased. Reduction was 37.7, 41.0, 35.0, 34.0, 45.0, 41.3, 34.5, 41.3, 34.5, 41.3, 55.0, and 43.6% under Tifdwarf, Tifgreen, Tifway, ISF1, ISF2, JP1, JP2, and Midlawn, 3200W18-4 and 3200W19-9 at the highest contamination level 3200W18-4 was the most effective cultivar followed by ISF2, 3200W19-9, JPI, and Midlawn, respectively. The results suggested that bermudagrass is an efficient species for phytoremediation of petroleum contaminated soil and the selection for more tolerant and efficient cultivar is possible.     

The “How and Why” of Group Biofeedback for Chronic Disease Management

Biofeedback has been shown to have some level of efficacy for the treatment of a number of chronic medical conditions; however, individualized biofeedback treatment is not always feasible. While group- based interventions are growing in practice due to numerous advantages, the dearth of research examining the efficacy of Group Biofeedback (GBF) suggests that this treatment modality may not be commonly utilized. Thus, the current paper highlights some advantages and constructively addresses potential challenges of utilizing GBF. Obstacles specific to GBF include equipment for participants, need for support staffing, and billing. However, the potential benefits are numerous, and pertain to cost-effectiveness, improved patient access, and additive benefits specific to group-based treatment. We offer a six-session GBF protocol to be used to guide future clinical work in this area. We hope that through the ideas and protocol presented in this paper, biofeedback practitioners will be more inclined to implement GBF.     

Rhizospheric soil enzyme activities and phytominimg potential of Aeluropus lagopoides and Cyperus conglomeratus growing in contaminated soils at the banks of artificial lake of reclaimed wastewater

This work investigates the phytoremediation potential of Aeluropus lagopoides and Cyperus conglomeratus, growing indigenously in the vicinity of an artificial lake of reclaimed water in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia . The sampling sites were located at different distances from the wastewater treatment plants. Trace metal contents were higher in roots than shoots in both these plants. Soil urease activity in rhizophere increased linearly along the sampling sites, however, soil alkaline phosphatase and β-glucosidase activities were higher at site 2 but at site 3, the activities of both these soil enzymes reduced. Significant correlations were observed between soil urease activity and the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of Cd, Cu, Pb, and As in A. lagopoides and translocation factor (TF) for all metals in both these plants. Soil β-glucosidase activity was negatively correlated with the TF of Cd, Cu, Pb, and As in A. lagopoides and positively in C. conglomeratus, respectively. Higher BCF of Cd, Cu and Pb than C. conglomeratus and suitable for phytostabilization, however at site 3, C. conglomeratus showed better phytostabilization efficiency for As, as the BCF of As was higher than the A. lagopoides. On the basis of metal accumulation efficiency and rhizospheric soil urease and β-glucosidase activities, A. lagopoides species proved to be a better option for application in phytostabilization strategy than C. conglomeratus plants in the area surrounding the artificial lake of reclaimed water in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.     

Lecithin soybean phospholipid nano-transfersomes as potential carriers for transdermal delivery of the human growth hormone

Pharmaceutical molecules such as peptides and proteins are usually injected into the body. Numerous efforts have been made to find new noninvasive ways to administer these peptides. In this study, highly flexible vesicles (transfersomes [TFs]) were designed as a new modern transdermal drug delivery system for systemic drug administration through the skin, which had also been evaluated in vitro. In this study, two growth hormone-loaded TF formulations were prepared, using soybean lecithin and two different surfactants; F₁_sodium deoxycholate and F ₂_sodium lauryl sulfate. Thereafter, the amount of skin penetration by the two formulas was assessed using the Franz diffusion cell system. TF formulations were evaluated for size, zeta potential and in vitro skin penetration across the rat skin. Results indicated that vesicle formulations were stable for 4 weeks and their mean sizes were 241.33 ± 17 and 171 ± 12.12 nm in the F ₁ and F ₂ formulation, respectively. After application to rat skin, transport of the human growth hormone (hGH) released from the TF formulations was found to be higher than that of the hGH alone. Maximum amounts of transdermal hormone delivery were estimated to be 489.54 ± 8.301 and 248.46 ± 4.019 ng·cm−2 , for F ₁ and F ₂, respectively. The results demonstrate the capability of the TF-containing growth hormone in transdermal delivery and superiority of the F ₁ to F ₂ TFs.     

Optimization of Lithotrophic Activities of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans toward Significant Reduction of Sulfur and Ash from Low Rank Bitumen

In the present study, the potential application of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans for elimination of ash and sulfur from bitumen was investigated in batch experiments. A comparison between the bioleaching and abiotic treatments indicated that A. ferrooxidans cells enhanced ash and pyritic sulfur removal by 20 and 59%, respectively. The X-ray diffraction profiles of the samples indicated the precipitation of some mineral elements inside of bitumen decreased the bioleaching performance after 9 days from beginning of the experiments. The effects of bitumen particle size (X₁), agitation speed (X₂) and initial pH (X₃) as interfacial factors each at three levels on the ash removal (Y₁) and pyritic sulfur removal (Y₂) were investigated by response surface methodology as a statistical design of the experiment. On the basis of quadratic models applied to the performance of the bioleaching process, 66.42% of the pyritic sulfur and 50.88% of the ash could be removed after 9 days under optimal conditions, namely a bitumen particle size of 100 µm, an agitation speed of 80 rpm, and initial pH of 2.