Prevalence of H1299R polymorphism in the Factor V gene among the Taif-Saudi Arabia population using polymerase chain reaction-reverse hybridization technique

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major health hazard worldwide. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) represent a part of risk factors that contributes to cardiovascular disease. SNP in the coagulation factor V genes have been shown to play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease. Coagulation Factor V is an enzyme cofactor of the coagulation system and contributes to a normal haemostatic balance. The His1299Arg polymorphism in the Factor V gene has been identified and linked to hereditary thrombophilia. The aim of the present study is to determine the prevalence of HR2 haplotype and allele frequency of His1299Arg polymorphism in the Factor V gene among randomly selected healthy individuals from Taif population which belonging to western region of Saudi Arabia. Genotyping of this SNP was carried out via CVD StripAssay, which based on a polymerase chain reaction-reverse hybridization technique. Two hundred healthy unrelated individuals were included in the study. Seventeen out of the studied population (8.5%) had the HR2 haplotype; 14 (7%) were heterozygous (R1/R2), and three (1.5%) were homozygous (R2/R2), with an allelic frequency of 0.05. This is the first report for a Saudi Arabian population that estimates the prevalence of HR2 haplotype and its allele frequencies. In conclusion, the His1299Arg mutant was noticeable within population of western Saudi Arabia. Further larger studies are needed to (1) estimate the prevalence of this mutant among individuals belonging to different KSA locations (2) assess the relative contribution of this mutational event separately and in combination with other thrombophilic polymorphisms in the etiology of cardiovascular disease in KSA.     

Application of reactive salicylanilide to viscose fabrics as antibacterial and antifungus finishing

In the present study salicylanilide was reacted with 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine producing reactive salicylanilide at a yield of 45% according to reaction conditions set. The reactive salicylanilide was confirmed structurally through FT-IR analysis. Pristine viscose fabric was treated with active salicylanilide to impart permanent antibacterial and antifungus properties to the fabric. Covalently attached reactive salicylanilide, as revealed, was quantitatively assessed through spectrophotometric and nitrogen elemental analysis. The antibacterial and antifungus capability of reactive salicylanilide treated viscose fabric; fastness and washing reproduction were examined and evaluated.     

Floral scent of Canada thistle and its potential as a generic insect attractant

The flowers of Canada thistle, Cirsium arvense (L.), attract a wide range of insects, including pollinators and herbivorous species. This attraction is primarily mediated by floral odor, which offers potential for developing generic insect attractants based on odor. In this study, we have analyzed the chemical composition of the volatiles produced by Canada thistle flowers. Nineteen floral compounds were identified in the headspace, including phenylacetaldehyde (55%), methyl salicylate (14%), dimethyl salicylate (8%), pyranoid linalool oxide (4.5%), and benzaldehyde (3.5%). Other minor compounds include benzyl alcohol, methylbenzoate, linalool, phenylethyl alcohol, furanoid linalool oxide, p-anisaldehyde, 2,6-dimethyl-1,3,5,7-octatetraene, benzylacetate, benzyl tiglate, (E,E)-alpha-farnesene, benzyl benzoate, isopropyl myristate, and 2-phenylethyl ester benzoic acid. The relative attractiveness of various doses of the main floral volatile compound phenylacetaldehyde (i.e., 10, 100, 200, and 400 mg) was tested for insect attraction. Both the total catch and the biodiversity of insect species trapped increased as the loading of phenylacetaldehyde increased. Volatiles were chosen from the odors from the flowers of Canada thistle and formulated and tested in the field. An 11-component blend was the most attractive of several floral blends tested. These findings indicate that chemical components of flower odors of Canada thistle can serve as a generic insect attractant for monitoring of invasive pest species.     

Molecular mechanisms of TGF beta receptor-triggered signaling cascades rapidly induced by the calcineurin inhibitors cyclosporin A and FK506

The calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced renal fibrosis is attributed to an exaggerated deposition of extracellular matrix, which is mainly due to an increased expression of TGFbeta. Herein we demonstrate that the CNI cyclosporin A and tacrolimus (FK506), independent of TGFbeta synthesis, rapidly activate TGFbeta/Smad signaling in cultured mesangial cells and in whole kidney samples from CNI-treated rats. By EMSA, we demonstrate increased DNA binding of Smad-2, -3, and -4 to a cognate Smad-binding promoter element (SBE) accompanied by CNI-triggered activation of Smad-dependent expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 (TIMP-1) and connective tissue growth factor. Using an activin receptor-like kinase-5 (ALK-5) inhibitor and by small interfering RNA we depict a critical involvement of both types of TGFbeta receptors in CNI-triggered Smad signaling and fibrogenic gene expression, respectively. Mechanistically, CNI cause a rapid activation of latent TGFbeta, which is prevented in the presence of the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine. A convergent activation of p38 MAPK is indicated by the partial blockade of CNI-induced Smad-2 activation by SB203580; conversely, both TGFbeta-RII and TGFbeta are critically involved in p38 MAPK activation by CNI. Activation of both signaling pathways is similarly triggered by reactive oxygen species. Finally, we show that neutralization of TGFbeta markedly reduced the CNI-dependent Smad activation in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, this study demonstrates that CNI via reactive oxygen species generation activate latent TGFbeta and thereby initiate the canonical Smad pathway by simultaneously activating p38 MAPK, which both synergistically induce Smad-driven gene expression.     

Phenylpropanoid triesters from Daucus glaber

Three new phenylpropanoid triesters, glaberins A–C (1–3), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Daucus glaber (Forssk.) Thell. (Apiaceae). Their gross structures were determined on the basis of 2D NMR experiments, and the absolute structure of 1 by X-ray crystallography and chemical methods. Glaberins A (1) and B (2) were evaluated for cytotoxicity against P-388 murine lymphocytic leukemia cells.     

Reproductive and productive performance of rabbit does submitted to an oral glucose supplementation

In order to investigate the effect of different levels of oral glucose supplementation and/or reproductive method on productive and reproductive performance of New Zealand White (NZW) doe rabbits in the tropic, 36 bucks and 120 doe NZW rabbits were equally divided among four treatment groups (n = 9 bucks + 30 does). The treatments consisted of supplementing drinking water with 0 (control), 2.5, 5 and 10 g glucose/l, respectively. To study the effect of reproduction method (natural v. artificial), each group was divided into two sub-groups (naturally mated and artificially inseminated) with the same bucks of the same treatment group. Glucose supplementation at 5 or 10 g/l of water increased (P < 0.01) litter weight at birth and at weaning, and litter weight gain during the 4 weeks. However, glucose supplementation at 2.5 or 5.0 g/l water decreased (P < 0.01) feed consumption from 7 to 14 days after delivery. Glucose supplementation at 2.5 g/l water did not affect productive and reproductive performance of rabbits. Artificially inseminated does had higher daily litter weight gain between 21 and 28 days post partum. Artificially inseminated group had better milk conversion during the 1st and 4th week as compared to naturally mated groups. Compared with the control group, the economic efficiency and performance index of NZW rabbits was significantly improved by 5 g glucose supplementation under tropic condition.     

Genetic variability in the complete mitochondrial control region of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Iberian Peninsula

Sequencing of the complete mitochondrial DNA control region from 31 samples of the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra , enabled us to establish the length and structure of this fragment, as well as to describe, for the first time, the RS3 repetitive region located at the 3' end. In addition, genetic variability of the 5' end was examined in 63 individuals, 57 of which were wild otters from the Iberian Peninsula and six captive reared otters. This analysis resulted in extremely low variability. All the samples from the Iberian Peninsula share a single haplotype, Lut 1, the most common haplotype in Europe. Captive otters showed two haplotypes: Lut 3, which has been described in wild otters from eastern Germany, and Lut 6, an haplotype not described to date. Higher variability was observed in the repetitive RS3 region. The tandem repeat was composed of an array of ten repeat units of 22 bp with differences in the repetitive motifs that differed in the arrays of different specimens. In total, 20 different haplotypes from 31 individuals were found. However, the geographical distribution of these haplotypes did not generate a phylogeographical signal. © 2005 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2005, 86 , 397–403.