An application of Berman's work on pool-model invariants in analyzing indistinguishable models for whole-body cholesterol metabolism

Berman and Schoenfeld used matrix transformations to study unidentifiable pool models. It is possible to use the method to examine if two models are output-indistinguishable, that is, if given the nature of tracer injections and observations, the two models have the same responses. The method is applied to two three-pool models for whole-body cholesterol metabolism. The indistinguishability of a mammillary model from a catenary model is proved using matrix transformations. The method is used in two ways, directly as well as after simplifying the problem. The two ways, as well as an analysis of the converse, help to show how the method is to be applied as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the method.     

Cellulolytic enzymes on lignocellulosic substrates in solid state fermentation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis>

The production of cellulolytic enzymes by Aspergillus niger on lignocellulosic substrates groundnut fodder, wheat bran, rice bran and sawdust in solid state fermentation in a laboratory scale was compared. Czapek Dox liquid broth amended with cellulose (0.5%) was used to moisten lignocellulosic solid supports for cultivation of Aspergillus niger. The production of filter paperase, carboxymethyl cellulase and -glucosidase were monitored at daily intervals for 5 days. The peak production of the enzymes occurred within 3 days of incubation. Among solid supports used in the study, wheat bran was the best solid matrix followed by groundnut fodder in production of cellulolytic enzymes in solid state fermentation. Groundnut fodder supported significant production of FPase (2.09 FPU/g), CMCase (1.36 U/g) and -glucosidase activity (0.0117 U/g) in solid state fermentation. Considerable secretion of protein (5.10 mg/g) on groundnut fodder at peak time interval 1st day of incubation was recorded.     

Multiplex ligation-dependant probe amplification study of children with idiopathic mental retardation in South India

BACKGROUND:

Mental retardation (MR) is a heterogeneous dysfunction of the central nervous system exhibiting complex phenotypes and has an estimated prevalence of 1-3% in the general population. However, in about 50% of the children diagnosed with any form of intellectual disability or developmental delay the cause goes undetected contributing to idiopathic intellectual disability.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 122 children with developmental delay/MR were studied to identify the microscopic and submicroscopic chromosome rearrangements by using the conventional cytogenetics and multiplex ligation dependent probe amplification (MLPA) analysis using SALSA MLPA kits from Microbiology Research Centre Holland [MRC] Holland.

RESULTS:

All the recruited children were selected for this study, after thorough clinical assessment and metaphases prepared were analyzed by using automated karyotyping system. None was found to have chromosomal abnormality; MLPA analysis was carried out in all subjects and identified in 11 (9%) patients.

CONCLUSION:

Karyotype analysis in combination with MLPA assays for submicroscopic micro-deletions may be recommended for children with idiopathic MR.     

Chiral separation of Frovatriptan isomers by HPLC using amylose based chiral stationary phase

A stereospecific HPLC method for separation of Frovatriptan enantiomers in bulk drug and pharmaceutical formulations was developed and validated on a normal-phase amylose derivertized chiral column. The effects of the organic modifiers namely 2-propanol, ethanol and diethyl amine (DEA) in the mobile phase were optimized to obtain the best enantiomeric separation. Calibration curves were linear over the range of 200-6150 ng/mL, with a regression coefficient (R(2)) of 0.9998. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 65 ng/mL and 200 ng/mL, respectively. The method was accurate and precise and suitable for the intended purpose. Analysis results were compared with the results obtained by using a validated chiral CE method and found to be in very good agreement. This method can be successfully applied to the enantiomeric purity analysis of Frovatriptan in pharmaceutical bulk drug samples and formulations.     

The effect of C2-fluoro group on the biological activity of DC-81 and its dimers

C2-Fluoro substituted pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs) have been synthesized that exhibit potential anticancer activity in a number of human tumour cell lines. These C2-fluoro substituted PBDs also exhibit significant DNA-binding ability.     

Synthesis of fluorinated analogues of SJG-136 and their DNA-binding potential

A series of C2-exo-fluorounsaturated pyrrolobenzodiazepines (PBDs) have been synthesized. These C2-exo-fluorounsaturated PBD dimers have exhibited remarkable DNA-binding affinity.     

Apolipoprotein [a] genotype influences isoform dominance pattern differently in African Americans and Caucasians

Plasma lipoprotein [a] (Lp[a]) concentrations are inversely associated with, and largely determined by, apolipoprotein [a] (apo[a]) gene size, a highly polymorphic trait. We studied if, within an individual, the smaller apo[a] isoform always dominated, whether there was interaction between the two alleles, and whether these features differed between Caucasians and African Americans. We determined apo[a] gene sizes, apo[a] protein sizes and relative amounts, and plasma Lp[a] levels in 430 individuals (263 Caucasians and 167 African Americans). Of the 397 heterozygotes with at least one detectable apo[a] isoform (238 Caucasians and 159 African Americans), the larger allele dominated in 28% of Caucasians and 23% of African Americans, while the smaller allele dominated in 56% of Caucasians and 45% of African Americans. In Caucasians, dominance of the smaller allele increased with Lp[a] levels, from 44% at Lp[a] < or = 30 nM to 81% at Lp[a] >100 nM (P < 0.0001). Dominance by the smaller allele increased with increasing size of the larger allele in both groups but with the smaller allele only in African Americans. There was no interaction between apo[a] alleles within genotypes; one apo[a] isoform level was not associated with the other isoform level, and isoform levels were not affected by the difference in size. More of the dominance pattern was explained by Lp[a] level and apo[a] genotype in African Americans than in Caucasians (29% vs. 13%). Thus, genotype influences isoform-specific Lp[a] levels and dominance patterns differently in African Americans and in Caucasians.     

Treatment with high-dose simvastatin reduces secretion of apolipoprotein B-lipoproteins in patients with diabetic dyslipidemia

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) are effective lipid-altering drugs for the treatment of dyslipidemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design trial to determine the effects of simvastatin, 80 mg/day, on plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels and on the metabolism of apolipoprotein B (apoB) in VLDL, intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), and LDL and of triglycerides (TGs) in VLDL. Simvastatin therapy decreased TG, cholesterol, and apoB significantly in VLDL, IDL, and LDL. These effects were associated with reduced production of LDL-apoB, mainly as a result of reduced secretion of apoB-lipoproteins directly into the LDL density range. Statin therapy also reduced hepatic production of VLDL-TG. There were no effects of simvastatin on the fractional catabolic rates of VLDL-apoB or -TG or LDL-apoB. The basis for decreased VLDL-TG secretion during simvastatin treatment is not clear, but recent studies suggest that statins may activate peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). Activation of PPARalpha could lead to increased hepatic oxidation of fatty acids and less synthesis of TG for VLDL assembly.     

Scavenger receptor CD36 mediates uptake of high density lipoproteins in mice and by cultured cells

The mechanisms of HDL-mediated cholesterol transport from peripheral tissues to the liver are incompletely defined. Here the function of scavenger receptor cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) for HDL uptake by the liver was investigated. CD36 knockout (KO) mice, which were the model, have a 37% increase (P = 0.008) of plasma HDL cholesterol compared with wild-type (WT) littermates. To explore the mechanism of this increase, HDL metabolism was investigated with HDL radiolabeled in the apolipoprotein (¹²⁵I) and cholesteryl ester (CE, [³H]) moiety. Liver uptake of [³H] and ¹²⁵I from HDL decreased in CD36 KO mice and the difference, i. e. hepatic selective CE uptake ([³H]¹²⁵I), declined (–33%, P = 0.0003) in CD36 KO compared with WT mice. Hepatic HDL holo-particle uptake (¹²⁵I) decreased (–29%, P = 0.0038) in CD36 KO mice. In vitro, uptake of ¹²⁵I-/[³H]HDL by primary liver cells from WT or CD36 KO mice revealed a diminished HDL uptake in CD36-deficient hepatocytes. Adenovirus-mediated expression of CD36 in cells induced an increase in selective CE uptake from HDL and a stimulation of holo-particle internalization. In conclusion, CD36 plays a role in HDL uptake in mice and by cultured cells. A physiologic function of CD36 in HDL metabolism in vivo is suggested.     

Phytochrome-mediated light regulation of nitrate reductase expression in squash cotyledons

In etiolated squash (Cucurbita maxima L.) cotyledons, nitrate-inducible NADH:nitrate reductase activity and protein were increased in darkness by red light pulses with red/far-red photoreversibility. Continuous far-red light also led to increased levels of nitrate reductase activity and protein. Poly(A)+RNA, which hybridizes to squash nitrate reductase cDNA, was also increased by light treatments. Thus, we found that after nitrate triggering, nitrate reductase expression appears to be regulated by light via phytochrome.