Chemical analysis of mucus from certain land snails under Egyptian conditions

Abstract

The present investigation was carried out to study the chemical analysis of the mucus of three common land snails, Eobania vermiculata, Theba pisana and Monacha obstructa, and identification of the chemical compositions by using GC-MS. Results revealed that several variations in composition were observed between all species. Oxime, methoxy-phenyl and cyclotrisiloxane, hexamethyl were major components found that in three species, the total areas detected were 86.23, 76.83 and 70.83, respectively. This different composition of mucus may be due to differences from one species to another; different mechanical properties (function) are influenced by external factors such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, soil conditions and food supply.     

Differentiation of the causal pathogen of onion white rot Sclerotium cepivorum isolates by using the APIZYM system

The APIZYM system of detection of enzymes was proven to be useful in the differentiation of 15 European and Egyptian isolates of S. cepivorum, the incitant of onion white rot. The tested isolates produced alkaline phosphatase, esterase (c4), esterase lipase (c8), leucine arylamidase, valinearylamidase, trypsine, α-chymatrypsin, acid phosphatase, naphthol-AS-B1-phosphohydrolase, ß-galactosidase, ß-glucutronidase, α-glucosidase, ß-glucosidase and N-acetyl-ß-glucosaminidase and did not produced lipase (c14), crystine arylamidase, trypsine, ß-glucutronidase, α-mannosidase and α-fucosidase. According to enzyme activity, isolates can be divided into four groups (G). The differences between groups were in the activity of the enzymes α-chymotrypsin and α-glucosidase. The tested European isolates and the Egyptian isolates No.6 of the pathogen were in G1 and G2; however the rest of the Egyptian isolates were in G3 and G4.     

Molecular characterization of European and Egyptian isolates of Sclerotium cepivorum,the incitant of onion white rot

Abstract

The tested European and Egyptian isolates of Sclerotium cepivorum were able to infect Giza 6 onion cultivar causing white rot disease with a different degrees of disease severity (ranging from sever to weak). The pattern of esterase isozymes produced by the tested isolates of the pathogen showed two main bands (arrows) which were different in density. Such differences in density of bands were present in every run and therefore appear to be indicators for differences among the tested isolates. Analysis of the protein pattern of the tested isolates of the pathogen indicated that the tested isolates had major proteins of a molecular weight of 52, 36, 23 and 16 kDa. Variation between isolates was detected by presence of bands of low molecular weight. Isolate Nos. 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13 had a band at 17 kDa, whereas isolate Nos. 2, 3, 6, 11, 12, 14, and 15 had a band at 20 kDa. Using RAPD analysis to evaluate the genetic diversity of the tested isolates indicated that the tested field population of the pathogen was genetically heterogeneous but shared a number of common bands with molecular weights ranging from 650 to 2500 bp. Based on the DNA banding pattern the tested isolates can be assigned to seven genetically different groups. All tested isolates produced a band at 2500 bp except isolate No. 7. No correlation was exibited between patterns esterase isozmes, protein and DNA patterns of S. cepivorum isolates and their virulence or geographical origin.     

Synthesis and Biological Activity of Modified Thiopyrimidine Nucleosides

Abstract

N³ -β-D-glucopyranosyl, galactopyranosyl and xylopyranosyl 6-methyl-2-methylthiouracil and their 5-bromo derivatives have been synthesized by coupling an a-acetobromosugar with the corresponding thiouracil. The new modified thiouridine analogues were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) replication in MT-4 cells as well as for their cytotoxicity.     

Homo-C-Nucleoside Analogs† II. Synthesis and Anomeric Configuration of 4-(2,5-Anhydro-D-Gluco-PEntitol-1-YL)-2-Phenyl2H-1,2,3-Triazole††

Abstract

Treatment of 4-(D-gluco-pentitol-l-y1)-2-pheny1–2H-1,2,3-triazole (1) with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in pyridine solution, afforded the homo-C-nucleoside analog, 4-(2,5-anhydro-D-gluco-pentitol-1-yl)-2-phenyl-2H-1,2,3-triazole (2) as well as its partial p-toluenesulfonyl derivative (3). 4-(5-Chloro-5-deoxy-D-gluco-pentitol-1-yl)-2-phenyl-2H-1,2,3-triazole (8), was isolated as a byproduct from the reaction. The structure and anomeric configuration of 2 was determined by acylation, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, and NOE, spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry.

     

Compression or tension? The stress distribution in the proximal femur

Background  

Questions regarding the distribution of stress in the proximal human femur have never been adequately resolved. Traditionally, by considering the femur in isolation, it has been believed that the effect of body weight on the projecting neck and head places the superior aspect of the neck in tension. A minority view has proposed that this region is in compression because of muscular forces pulling the femur into the pelvis. Little has been done to study stress distributions in the proximal femur. We hypothesise that under physiological loading the majority of the proximal femur is in compression and that the internal trabecular structure functions as an arch, transferring compressive stresses to the femoral shaft.     

Regional differences in WT-1 and Tcf21 expression during ventricular development: implications for myocardial compaction

Background

Morphological and functional differences of the right and left ventricle are apparent in the adult human heart. A differential contribution of cardiac fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells (populations of epicardium-derived cells) to each ventricle may account for part of the morphological-functional disparity. Here we studied the relation between epicardial derivatives and the development of compact ventricular myocardium.

Results

Wildtype and Wt1^CreERT2/+ reporter mice were used to study WT-1 expressing cells, and Tcf21^lacZ/+ reporter mice and PDGFRα^-/-;Tcf21^LacZ/+ mice to study the formation of the cardiac fibroblast population. After covering the heart, intramyocardial WT-1+ cells were first observed at the inner curvature, the right ventricular postero-lateral wall and left ventricular apical wall. Later, WT-1+ cells were present in the walls of both ventricles, but significantly more pronounced in the left ventricle. Tcf21-^LacZ + cells followed the same distribution pattern as WT-1+ cells but at later stages, indicating a timing difference between these cell populations. Within the right ventricle, WT-1+ and Tcf21-lacZ+ cell distribution was more pronounced in the posterior inlet part. A gradual increase in myocardial wall thickness was observed early in the left ventricle and at later stages in the right ventricle. PDGFRα^-/-;Tcf21^LacZ/+ mice showed deficient epicardium, diminished number of Tcf21-^LacZ + cells and reduced ventricular compaction.

Conclusions

During normal heart development, spatio-temporal differences in contribution of WT-1 and Tcf21-^LacZ + cells to right versus left ventricular myocardium occur parallel to myocardial thickening. These findings may relate to lateralized differences in ventricular (patho)morphology in humans.     

Effects of different mesenchymal stromal cell sources and delivery routes in experimental emphysema

We sought to assess whether the effects of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) on lung inflammation and remodeling in experimental emphysema would differ according to MSC source and administration route. Emphysema was induced in C57BL/6 mice by intratracheal (IT) administration of porcine pancreatic elastase (0.1 UI) weekly for 1 month. After the last elastase instillation, saline or MSCs (1×10⁵), isolated from either mouse bone marrow (BM), adipose tissue (AD) or lung tissue (L), were administered intravenously (IV) or IT. After 1 week, mice were euthanized. Regardless of administration route, MSCs from each source yielded: 1) decreased mean linear intercept, neutrophil infiltration, and cell apoptosis; 2) increased elastic fiber content; 3) reduced alveolar epithelial and endothelial cell damage; and 4) decreased keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC, a mouse analog of interleukin-8) and transforming growth factor-β levels in lung tissue. In contrast with IV, IT MSC administration further reduced alveolar hyperinflation (BM-MSC) and collagen fiber content (BM-MSC and L-MSC). Intravenous administration of BM- and AD-MSCs reduced the number of M1 macrophages and pulmonary hypertension on echocardiography, while increasing vascular endothelial growth factor. Only BM-MSCs (IV > IT) increased the number of M2 macrophages. In conclusion, different MSC sources and administration routes variably reduced elastase-induced lung damage, but IV administration of BM-MSCs resulted in better cardiovascular function and change of the macrophage phenotype from M1 to M2.