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.

     

Effect of Yeast Extract on h6h Gene Expression and Tropane Alkaloids Production in Atropa belladonna L. Hairy Roots

Russian Journal of Plant Physiology - Plant alkaloids, are one of the largest groups of pharmaceutical metabolites. Scopolamine and atropine are most common tropane alkaloids in Atropa belladonna...     

Chemical Diversity among the Essential Oils of Wild Populations of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl (Lamiaceae) from Iran

The variation of the essential‐oil composition among ten wild populations of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl (Lamiaceae), collected from different geographical regions of Iran, was assessed by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses, and their intraspecific chemical variability was determined. Altogether, 49 compounds were identified in the oils, and a relatively high variation in their contents was found. The major compounds of the essential oils were myrcene (0.0–26.2%), limonene (0.0–24.5%), germacrene D (4.2–19.3%), bicyclogermacrene (1.6–18.0%), δ‐cadinene (6.5–16.0%), pulegone (0.0–15.1%), (Z)‐hex‐3‐enyl tiglate (0.0–15.1%), (E)‐caryophyllene (0.0–12.9), α‐zingiberene (0.2–12.2%), and spathulenol (1.6–11.1%). For the determination of the chemotypes and the chemical variability, the essential‐oil components were subjected to cluster analysis (CA). The five different chemotypes characterized were Chemotype I (germacrene D/bicyclogermacrene), Chemotype II (germacrene D/spathulenol), Chemotype III (limonene/δ‐cadinene), Chemotype IV (pulegone), and Chemotype V (α‐zingiberene). The high chemical variation among the populations according to their geographical and bioclimatic distribution imposes that conservation strategies of populations should be made appropriately, taking into account these factors. The in situ and ex situ conservation strategies should concern all populations representing the different chemotypes.     

The relation of omentin gene expression and glucose homeostasis of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues in non-diabetic adults

Molecular Biology Reports - Adipose tissue (AT) is a passive reservoir for&nbsp;energy storage&nbsp;and an active endocrine organ responsible for synthesizing bioactive molecules called...     

Stimulation of the Streptococcus pneumoniae RecA protein-promoted three-strand exchange reaction by the competence-specific SsbB protein

The effect of the transformational competence-specific Streptococcus pneumoniae single-stranded DNA binding protein, SpSsbB, on the ATP-dependent three-strand exchange activity of the SpRecA protein was investigated. Although SpRecA exhibited only a trace level of strand exchange activity in the absence of SpSsbB, an extensive strand exchange reaction was observed when SpSsbB was added to the reaction solution after SpRecA. A more limited strand exchange reaction was observed, however, when SpSsbB was added to the reaction solution before SpRecA. This dependence on the order of addition, together with additional DNA-dependent ATP hydrolysis experiments, indicated that the mechanism of stimulation may involve the postsynaptic binding of SpSsbB to the displaced linear single-stranded DNA reaction product. When dATP was provided in place of ATP as the nucleotide cofactor (to suppress a potentially inhibitory effect of SpSsbB on the interaction of SpRecA with the circular ssDNA reaction substrate), the stimulatory effect of SpSsbB on the strand exchange reaction was apparent regardless of the order in which it was added to the reaction solution. These findings suggest that SpSsbB may be able to facilitate SpRecA-promoted DNA recombination reactions during natural transformation in S. pneumoniae.     

Association between TPO gene polymorphisms and Anti-TPO level in Tehranian population: TLGS

Introduction

Thyroid peroxidase (TPO) gene variations are one cause of thyroid autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the T1936C, T2229C and A2257C polymorphisms of the TPO gene and Anti-TPO level.

Materials and methods

In this case–control study, 188 individuals (86 males and 102 females), aged 20–80 years, were randomly selected from among the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) population. A2257C and T2229C SNPs were detected with RFLP by use of BsrI and Eco57I as the restriction enzymes respectively, while the T1936C SNP was determined with ARMS-PCR.

Results

In the presence of the C allele of T1936C, Anti-TPO level was significantly increased (CC: 238 ± 43.3, CT: 47.7 ± 15.9, TT: 74.1 ± 11.3 IU/L p = 0.002); however, this association was attenuated after adjustment for sex and age (p = 0.059). No significant difference, before and after adjustment, was found in Anti-TPO level in the presence of T2229C SNP (CC: 129.1 ± 24.5, CT: 43.5 ± 12.6, TT: 126.5 ± 13.8 IU/L p = 0.196). The association between A2257C and Anti-TPO level was only significant after adjustment for potential confounders (p = 0.007). The association between ATC and CTT haplotypes and Anti-TPO level was significant (p = 0.023, 0.021 respectively), the association between CTT and Anti-TPO concentration was also significant after adjustment for sex (p = 0.014).

Conclusion

The results of the present study confirmed the association between TPO gene polymorphisms and Anti-TPO level in the Tehranian population.     

Effect of consumption of fatty acids, calcium, vitamin D and boron with regular physical activity on bone mechanical properties and corresponding metabolic hormones in rats

The consumption of fatty acids, nutrients, and regular physical activity, individually influence bone mechanical properties in rats. To investigate their effects in combination, male rats were divided into the seven groups: G1: regular food and drinking water; G2: same as Gr.1 + physical activity (Whole body vibration; WBV); G3: same as Gr.2 + Calcium, Vit. D, Boron; G4: same as Gr.3 + canola oil; G5: same as Gr.3 + sunflower oil; G6: same as Gr.3 + mix of sunflower oil and canola oil; and G7: same as Gr.3 + coconut oil; and treated for 8 weeks. Analysis between the control with the groups 2 and 3 revealed that vibration in the G2 increased the body weight (P = 0.04), with no other major difference in plasma and bone indices. Comparison between the control with the G4-G7 (the oil groups) revealed that the rats in the G5 had a lower body weight (15 % less) and a significant increase in plasma levels of Estradiol in the G7 was noted. In addition, levels of Testosterone in the G4 and G7, and Free Testosterone in the G7 had a remarkable increase. Similar trend was observed for plasma levels of Vit. D in the G4 and G5. The stiffness and the breaking strength of the femur in the G7, and the breaking strength of the lumbar in the G7 compared to the control and the G4 and G5 was significantly higher and tended to increase in comparison to the G6. Better and stronger measurements observed for coconut oil is warranted to further study its effect on biomechanical properties of bones.