<Emphasis Type="Italic">Teucrium polium</Emphasis> Complex with Molybdate Enhance Cultured Islets Secretory Function

Islet transplantation has become a promising treatment in the therapy of type 1 diabetes. Its function improvement, after isolation and before transplantation, is crucial because of their loss both in number and function of islets after isolation procedures. Trace elements sodium orthovanadate (SOV) and sodium molybdate (SM), as well as medicinal plant Teucrium polium L. (TP), showed and possessed high beneficial antioxidative potential and even hypoglycemic properties via their effect on islets. We evaluated the effect of these components in combination on cultured islet function in order to improve pancreatic islet transplantation. Rat pancreatic islets were cultured for 24 h then incubated with different concentrations of TP (0.01 and 0.1 mg/mL) alone and in combination with SOV (1 mM) or SM (1 mM). Insulin concentration in buffer media was measured as islet secretory function. Administration of TP (0.01 mg/mL), SM, and SOV alone or in combination with each other significantly increased insulin secretion at high glucose concentration (16.7 mM); insulin secretion was significantly greater in the group containing both TP and SM than other treated groups (p < 0.05). The combination of the mentioned trace elements especially molybdate with TP could improve islet cells function before transplantation.     

Hybrid nanoreservoirs based on dextran-capped dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles for CD133-targeted drug delivery

In this study, the chemical features of dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs) provided the opportunity to design a nanostructure with the capability to intelligently transport the payload to the tumor cells. In this regard, doxorubicin (DOX)-encapsulated DMSNs was electrostatically surface-coated with polycarboxylic acid dextran (PCAD) to provide biocompatible dextran-capped DMSNs (PCAD-DMSN@DOX) with controlled pH-dependent drug release. Moreover, a RNA aptamer against a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker, CD133 was covalently attached to the carboxyl groups of DEX to produce a CD133-PCAD-DMSN@DOX. Then, the fabricated nanosystem was utilized to efficiently deliver DOX to CD133+ colorectal cancer cells (HT29). The in vitro evaluation in terms of cellular uptake and cytotoxicity demonstrated that the CD133-PCAD-DMSN@DOX specifically targets HT29 as a CD133 overexpressed cancer cells confirmed by flow cytometry and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide assay. The potentially promising intelligent-targeted platform suggests that targeted dextran-capped DMSNs may find impressive application in cancer therapy.     

Ultra-compact Spatial Terahertz Switch Based on Graphene Plasmonic-Coupled Waveguide

We are proposing graphene (G)-based multilayered plasmonic spatial switch, operating at 10 THz. It is composed of hBN/Ag/hBN/G/hBN/G/hBN/SiO₂/p⁺-Si multilayers. When a 10-THz transverse magnetic (TM)-polarized signal is normally incident upon the structure top surface, the nanoaperture devised in the Ag nanolayer, acting as a grating, excites surface plasmons at the top graphene micro-ribbons/hBN interface. These surface plasmons depending on the graphenes chemical potentials can be coupled to the lower-right or left graphene micro-ribbons and continue to propagate laterally towards the corresponding output port. Numerical simulations show that a change of ∆V_G ≈ ± 2.7 V in the voltage, applied to the gated micro-ribbons, can modulate their chemical potentials sufficiently to switch the right (left) output port from ON (OFF) to OFF(ON) and vice versa. Besides its low power consumption, the switch ultra-small dimensions make it a potential spatial router suitable for THz-integrated circuit applications.

     

Effect of Foliar Application of Silicon and Salicylic Acid on Regulation of Yield and Nutritional Responses of Greenhouse Cucumber Under High Temperature

Plant nutrition management is known as an efficient strategy to control environmental constraints. This experiment was conducted in a climate control greenhouse with a hydroponic system. The high temperature (36 °C?±?1) was imposed on the pots after fruit formation. The studied factors were silicon in 2 concentrations (0 and 4 parts per thousand (ppt)) and salicylic acid in 3 concentrations (0, 0.5, and 1 mM). They were sprayed on cucumber plants 3 times and under high-temperature conditions to evaluate if they can regulate and improve the yield and quality of cucumber fruit under high-temperature conditions or not. The results showed that all treatments significantly improved the nutritional status, total yield, and fruit quality (including marketable yield (i.e., fruits that can be sold due to their good shape) and nitrate content). Under high-temperature conditions, foliar application of silicon had the highest effect on the increase of total yield and marketable fruit yield (respectively, 36.14% and 40.29% increase compared to the control treatment). Micro-nutrients concentrations in the leaf were significantly increased by Si but a reverse status happened for salicylic acid. Under high temperatures, both treatments also significantly decreased the nitrate content of the fresh matter of fruit but silicon was the superior treatment. Silicon and salicylic acid, respectively, had positive effects on mitigation of adverse effects of high temperature on cucumber plants. These findings suggest the use of these treatments under high-temperature conditions in greenhouse cucumber production.

Graphical Abstract

N–No₃ content in dry matter of leaf (left) and fresh matter of fruit (right) affected by different treatments. *SaA0–SiA4: 4 ppt Si; SaA0.5–SiA0: 0.5 mM SA; SaA0.5–SiA4: 0.5 mM SA?+?4 ppt Si; SaA1–SiA0: 1 mM SA; SaA1–SiA4: 1 mM SA?+?4 ppt Si; control: without any SA and Si applications. Means in the same column followed by the same letter are not significantly different according to DMRT at (P?≤?0.05)

     

An enzyme with properties similar to those of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase S is expressed in the promyelocytic cell line HL-60.

Extracts of the human promyelocytic cell line HL-60 contain a form of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase that is not retained on columns of benzeneboronate-agarose ('phenylboronate-agarose') and has a pI value lower than that of beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A. It is clearly distinct from beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A in its behaviour on DEAE-cellulose columns, and it requires a higher concentration of salt for its elution. This 'extra' form has a higher ratio of activity towards 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-N-acetylglucosaminide 6-sulphate and 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-N-acetylglucosaminide than has beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A and is less stable when heated at 50 degrees C. It has a pH optimum of 4.5 and is therefore not beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase C. Anti-(human beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase alpha-subunit) serum precipitated both beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A and the 'extra' form, whereas an anti-(beta-subunit) serum precipitated beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase A but not the 'extra' form. Western blotting and immunodetection of polypeptides derived from the 'extra' form revealed a band corresponding in size to mature alpha-subunits. On the basis of this and of its behaviour on isoelectric focusing, chromatofocusing and its kinetic properties, we conclude that the 'extra' form is composed of alpha-subunits and resembles beta-N-acetylhexosaminidase S, the residual form in Sandhoff's disease.     

Detecting base pair substitutions in DNA fragments by temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis.

A vertical gel electrophoresis apparatus is described which can distinguish DNA fragments differing by single base pair substitutions. The system employs a homogenous polyacrylamide gel containing urea-formamide and a temperature gradient which runs either perpendicular or parallel to the direction of electrophoresis. The temperature-gradient system simplifies several features of the denaturant-gradient system (1) and is relatively inexpensive to construct. Eight homologous 373 bp DNAs differing by one, two, or nine base pair substitutions were examined. DNA electrophoretic mobility changed abruptly with the temperature induced unwinding of DNA domains. GC to AT substitutions at different locations within the first melting domain, as well as an AT to TA transversion were separated with temperature gradients parallel to the electrophoretic direction. The relative stabilities of the DNAs observed in the gels were compared to predictions of DNA melting theory. General agreement was observed however complete correspondence was not obtained.