Micropropagation of Dendrocalamus asper {Schult. & Schult. F.} Backer ex k. Heyne): an exotic edible bamboo

Effect of season, media type, carbon source, growth regulators and transplanting media on micropropagation of Dendrocalamus asper, an important bamboo species, was examined. The season of explant collection played an important role in axillary bud sprouting and spring (February?CApril) was found to be the best period for explant collection. Among the different media MS was found to be the best for micropropagation. Maximum numbers (4.83/explant) of shoots were initiated in MS?+?15???M BAP. For shoot multiplication, MS medium supplemented with 10???M BAP and 75???M Adenine sulfate was used. BAP was superior to KIN for both explant establishment, as well as, shoot multiplication. Optimal rooting was achieved in shoots cultured on ? strength MS medium supplemented with 5???M each of IBA and NAA. Regenerated plantlets were acclimatized and hardened in green house using dune sand and vermi-compost (3:1) with 92.34% success and transferred to the field with 100% survival rate. In the field, plants supplied with FYM along with urea showed better growth and development. Macroproliferation, plant multiplication by separating the rooted tillers of well established in vitro raised plantlets after 5 to 6?months of growth in the green house could double the multiplication rate. More than 25000 in vitro raised plants were successfully transferred to the field and no morphological variations in growth were observed, thus proving the potential of tissue culture for raising large scale plantations of D. asper.     

Early onset of cabergoline therapy for prophylaxis from ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS): A potentially safer and more effective protocol

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most important angiogenic mediator in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome OHSS. Studies proved that cabergoline administration blocks the increase in vascular permeability via dephosphorylation of VEGF receptors and hence can be used as prophylactic agent against OHSS. This study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of early administration of cabergoline in the prevention of OHSS in high risk cases prepared for ICSI. This case series study was conducted on 126 high risk patients prepared for ICSI using the fixed antagonist protocol. High risk patients were defined as having more than 20 follicles >12 mm in diameter, and/or E2 more than 3000 pg/ml when the size of the leading follicle is more than 15 mm. When the size of the leading follicle reached 15 mm, cabergoline was administered (0.5 mg/day) for 8 days. Patients were followed up clinically, ultrasonographically and hematologically. The final E2 was 6099.5 ± 2730 and the mean number of retrieved oocytes was 19.7 ± 7.8. The clinical pregnancy rate was 62/126 (49.2%). There were no significant changes (p > 0.05) comparing hematological parameters, renal function tests and liver function tests between the day of HCG and the day of blastocyst transfer. The incidence of severe OHSS in this group was 1/126 (0.9%), while moderate OHSS was 12 (9.5%) and there were no cases of critical OHSS. We concluded that early administration of cabergoline is a safe and potentially more effective approach for prophylaxis against OHSS in high risk cases.     

Impact of hyperglycemia on the expression of GLUT1 during oral carcinogenesis in rats

Molecular Biology Reports - On the background of the epidemiological link between diabetes and oral cancer, the present study aimed to analyze the potential involvement of selected glucose...     

An aptasensor for rapid and sensitive detection of estrogen receptor alpha in human breast cancer

The analysis of estrogen receptor (ER) expression in breast carcinomas plays a crucial role in determining the endocrine responsiveness of tumors for systemic adjuvant therapy. Conventionally, the ER levels in breast carcinomas had been detected using the dextran-coated charcoal assay and radioimmunoassay, which are now substituted with safer and economic antibody-based assays such as immunohistochemistry (IHC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Despite a gold (Au) standard method, the IHC has been criticized for factors such as tissue fixation, antibody selection, and threshold staining for result interpretation that could falsify test accuracy and reproducibility. The quest for alternative methods of ER quantification in tissue samples paved the way for aptamer-based diagnostics. Previously, we have isolated a DNA aptamer against human ER alpha (ERα) using an in vitro evolution system. In this study, we developed an electrochemical sensor using the 76-nucleotide DNA ERα- aptamer for rapid, precise, and cost-effective detection of ERα expression in human breast cancer patients. The aptasensor was constructed by covalently immobilizing the thiolated ERα- aptamer onto a screen-printed Au electrode. Construction of aptasensors was confirmed through atomic force microscopy and differential pulse voltammetry measurements. A detection limit of 0.001 ng/ml was calculated for full-length ERα (66.2 kDa) in a detection time of 10 min. Analysis of the cancerous breast tissue samples using the ELISA and aptasensor methods enabled distinctive classification of samples into the categories of ER −ve, weak ER +ve, and strong ER +ve samples. The current change of this aptasensor lies within 5% after a storage of 60 days at 4°C. Further studies on a reasonably large sample size are required to realize the clinical potential of the sensor.     

Comparative proteomic analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus plantarum</Emphasis>for the identification of key proteins in bile tolerance

Background  

Lactic acid bacteria are commonly marketed as probiotics based on their putative or proven health-promoting effects. These effects are known to be strain specific but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, unravelling the determinants behind probiotic features is of particular interest since it would help select strains that stand the best chance of success in clinical trials. Bile tolerance is one of the most crucial properties as it determines the ability of bacteria to survive in the small intestine, and consequently their capacity to play their functional role as probiotics. In this context, the objective of this study was to investigate the natural protein diversity within the Lactobacillus plantarum species with relation to bile tolerance, using comparative proteomics.     

Exploration of highly selective fluorogenic ‘on–off' chemosensor for H2PO4− ions: ICT‐based sensing and ATPase activity profiling

Abstract In this study, the recognition contour of Chemosensor 1 was investigated using semiaqueous methanol (X_H, mole fraction = 0.31) for a range of anions and bioactive species. Host–receptor signalling based on the internal charge transfer mechanism for Chemosensor 1 was explored and reported. Structure of Chemosensor 1 and its plausible anion coordination based on hydrogen bonding is complemented with density functional theory. Consequently, we investigated the applicability of the synthesized probe in blood plasma, urine, tap water samples, and for monitoring of ATP in lysosomes by apyrase enzyme.     

Effects of oxidation on the hydrolysis by cholesterol esterase of sitosteryl esters as compared to a cholesteryl ester

Phytosteryl esters (PE) are used as ingredients in functional food to decrease plasma concentration of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). Effective impairment of cholesterol absorption by PE suggests that these esters are hydrolyzed by the pancreatic cholesterol esterase (CEase, EC 3.1.1.13) and the liberated sterol may interfere with cholesterol reducing its intestinal absorption. PE-enriched foods are marketed for cooking purposes, and temperature is one of the most important factors leading to the formation of oxidation products. Very little is known about the outcome of PE oxides during the digestive process. A new analytical method based on mass spectrometric detection directly after enzymatic reaction was developed to determine in vitro the activity of CEase on PE and their oxides present in functional food. Using this method, we identified a new inhibitor of CEase: sitosteryl 9,10-dihydroxystearate, which behaves as a non-competitive inhibitor of the hydrolysis of cholesteryl oleate and sitosteryl oleate.     

Proteome profiling of aging in mouse models: Differential expression of proteins involved in metabolism,transport, and stress response in kidney

Aging is a time‐dependent complex biological phenomenon observed in various organs and organelles of all living organisms. To understand the molecular mechanism of age‐associated functional loss in aging kidneys, we have analyzed the expression of proteins in the kidneys of young (19–22 wk) and old (24 months) C57/BL6 male mice using 2‐DE followed by LC‐MS/MS. We found that expression levels of 49 proteins were upregulated (p ≤ 0.05), while that of only ten proteins were downregulated (p ≤ 0.05) due to aging. The proteins identified belong to three broad functional categories: (i) metabolism (e.g., aldehyde dehydrogenase family, ATP synthase β‐subunit, malate dehydrogenase, NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone), hydroxy acid oxidase 2), (ii) transport (e.g., transferrin), and (iii) chaperone/stress response (e.g., Ig‐binding protein, low density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein associated protein 1, selenium‐binding proteins (SBPs)). Some proteins with unknown functions were also identified as being differentially expressed. ATP synthase β subunit, transferrin, fumarate hydratase, SBPs, and albumin are present in multiple forms, possibly arising due to proteolysis or PTMs. The above functional categories suggest specific mechanisms and pathways for age‐related kidney degeneration.     

Identification and expression analysis of group 3 LEA family genes in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]

Sorghum with its remarkable adaptability to drought and high temperature provides a model system for grass genomics and resource for gene discovery especially for abiotic stress tolerance. Group 3 LEA genes from barley and rice have been shown to play crucial role in abiotic stress tolerance. Here, we present a genome-wide analysis of LEA3 genes in sorghum. We identified four genes encoding LEA3 proteins in the sorghum genome and further classified them into LEA3A and LEA3B subgroups based on the conservation of LEA3 specific motifs. Further, expression pattern of these genes were analyzed in seeds during development and vegetative tissues under abiotic stresses. SbLEA3A group genes showed expression at early stage of seed development and increased significantly at maturity, while SbLEA3B group genes expressed only in matured seeds. Expression of SbLEA3 genes in response to abiotic stresses such as soil moisture deficit (drought), osmotic, salt, and temperature stresses, and exogenous ABA treatments was also studied in the leaves of 2-weeks-old seedlings. ABA and drought induced the expression of all LEA3 genes, while cold and heat stress induced none of them. Promoter analysis revealed the presence of multiple ABRE core cis-elements and a few low temperature response (LTRE)/drought responsive (DRE) cis-elements. This study suggests non-redundant function of LEA3 genes in seed development and stress tolerance in sorghum.