Effects of some drugs on purified human erythrocyte CuZnSOD and in vitro inhibitiory effect of 5-fluorouracil on leukocyte total SOD activity

The inhibition and activation effects of some drugs on the activities of superoxide dismutase enzymes (SOD) in human erythrocyte and leukocyte cells was investigated. Firstly, CuZnSOD enzyme was purified 837–fold and 12% efficiency from human erythrocytes by ethanol-chloroform treatment to remove hemoglobin and then ion exchange chromatography (DEAE-Sepharose) and copper chelate affinity chromatography techniques. Inhibition or activation effects of fourteen drugs on CuZnSOD was investigated. None of the studied drugs except for 5-fluorouracil showed any effects on the enzyme. 5-fluorouracil showed activation effects on CuZnSOD at 3.33 mg/ml and 4 mg/ml concentrations with 33% and 32% activation, respectively. Leukocytes were isolated from healthy human blood, lysed in liquid nitrogen and the effect of 5-fluorouracil on the lysate SOD activity investigated. 5-Fluorouracil showed inhibition effects on total SOD activity of human leukocytes at 2 mg/ml and 4 mg/ml concentrations with 42% and 62% inhibition, respectively.     

Seed Priming with Sodium Nitroprusside and H2O2 Confers Better Yield in Wheat Under Salinity: Water Relations,Antioxidative Defense Mechanism and Ion Homeostasis

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - To mitigate the deleterious effects of abiotic stresses signaling molecules play a significant role. The present study was aimed to assess the responses of two...     

Safety of mapping in the sinus of valsalva region under intracardiac echocardiography guidance without angiography

BackgroundRadiofrequency ablation at the region of the sinus of Valsalva carries a risk to the ostia of the coronary arteries. Coronary angiography is usually utilized to document a safe distance for mapping and ablation.ObjectiveTo show that catheter ablation in the aortic root could be guided by phased-array intra cardiac echocardiography (ICE) and electro anatomic mapping without the need for coronary angiography.MethodsWe reviewed all patients referred to our lab that underwent mapping and/or ablation in the sinus of Valsalva region. Procedures were carried out by operators that are skilled in the use of ICE. The need for angiography was documented, also the rate of success along with the immediate and 30-day complications rate.ResultsSeventy patients (average age 48.7 ± 13.8 years; 64.3% males) were referred for ablation of ventricular and atrial arrhythmias. PVC constituted 95.7% of the cases. All patients underwent mapping and/or ablation at the sinus of Valsalva region without the need for coronary angiography to visualize the coronary ostia. Acute and effective ablation was achieved in 57 out of 70 (81.4%) patients partially effective ablation was achieved in 10 (14.3%) patients, and failure to ablate in the remaining 3 patients (4.3%). There was no occurrence of any adverse events, neither immediately or at day 30 after the procedure.ConclusionIn the hands of experienced operators, mapping and radiofrequency ablation in the sinus of Valsalva can be safely and reliably performed using intracardiac echocardiography alone without the need for supplementary catheter coronary angiography.     

A new species of sexually dimorphic and rheophilic ghost knifefish (Apteronotidae: Gymnotiformes) from the Amazon basin

A new species of ghost knifefish, Apteronotus, is described from high-energy environments in the Rios Mapuera and Trombetas (at Cachoeira Porteira waterfalls), Brazil. X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT scan) was used to access the internal anatomy of the type series. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by the anteriormost position of the anus, with its posterior margin extending less than one eye diameter beyond the vertical through the caudal limit of the posterior nostril, the low number of anal-fin rays (117–125) and the reduced number of branchiostegal rays (three). A series of modifications associated with secondary sexual dimorphism on the preorbital region of mature males are depicted and discussed. In addition, comments on homologies of the branchiostegal rays in Apteronotidae are provided.     

Absence of far-red emission band in aggregated core antenna complexes

Reported herein is a Stark fluorescence spectroscopy study performed on photosystem II core antenna complexes CP43 and CP47 in their native and aggregated states. The systematic mathematical modeling of the Stark fluorescence spectra with the aid of conventional Liptay formalism revealed that induction of aggregation in both the core antenna complexes via detergent removal results in a single quenched species characterized by a remarkably broad and inhomogenously broadened emission lineshape peaking around 700 nm. The quenched species possesses a fairly large magnitude of charge-transfer character. From the analogy with the results from aggregated peripheral antenna complexes, the quenched species is thought to originate from the enhanced chlorophyll-chlorophyll interaction due to aggregation. However, in contrast, aggregation of both core antenna complexes did not produce a far-red emission band at ～730 nm, which was identified in most of the aggregated peripheral antenna complexes. The 730-nm emission band of the aggregated peripheral antenna complexes was attributed to the enhanced chlorophyll-carotenoid (lutein1) interaction in the terminal emitter locus. Therefore, it is very likely that the no occurrence of the far-red band in the aggregated core antenna complexes is directly related to the absence of lutein1 in their structures. The absence of the far-red band also suggests the possibility that aggregation-induced conformational change of the core antenna complexes does not yield a chlorophyll-carotenoid interaction associated energy dissipation channel.     

The controversial contribution to dental research made by Albert Schatz-Co-discoverer of streptomycin

In addition to being co-discoverer of the antibiotic streptomycin the American microbiologist and soil scientist, Albert Schatz did ground breaking dental research. His major contribution is the Proteolysis–Chelation theory, but he also did research on fluoridation where he emphasised the overlooked involvement of so-called paradoxical effects. His research led him to become an active supporter of anti-fluoridation campaigns. The following article discusses Schatz’s important and largely overlooked contribution to dentistry.     

Comparative analysis of cytokines and growth factors in the conditioned media of stem cells from the pulp of deciduous,young, and old permanent tooth

ObjectivesTo compare and analyze the secretome profile of stem cells obtained from the deciduous tooth (SHEDs), young (yDPSCs), and old permanent tooth (oDPSCs).MethodsAll the stem cells were assessed for mesenchymal stem cell markers. The stem cells were differentiated into osteoblasts and chondrocytes using lineage-specific differentiation media. Conditioned media was collected from growing stem cells, and a cytometric bead array was performed to estimate secreted cytokines and growth factor levels by flow cytometry. Gene expresseion levels were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.ResultsAge did not affect the mesenchymal characteristics of dental stem cells from various age groups. The secretomes of SHEDs and young yDPSCs exhibit more growth factors and lesser pro-inflammatory cytokines than oDPSCs. Osteo and chondrogenic differentiation potential were higher in SHEDs and young yDPSCs than in the oDPSCs. TLR1, TLR2, TLR3 show decreased expression levels with age and TLR5, TLR6 show increased expression with age.ConclusionThe superior regenerative potential of SHEDs and yDPSCs may be due to the higher growth factors and lower pro-inflammatory cytokine profile.     

Impact of pain,psychological-distress,SARS-CoV2 fear on adults’ OHRQOL during COVID-19 pandemic

Corona virus disease (COVID-19) has crippled life, families and oral health care delivery. Hence, we assessed the impact of dental pain, fear of COVID-19 and psychological distress during lockdown on the oral health related quality of life of individuals visiting a tertiary dental care center during COVID-19 pandemic. Cross sectional study conducted among patients between 18 and 60 years. Demographics, access to pain killers, dental care (yes/no), duration (</> 15 days) and intensity of pain were self reported. Fear of COVID-19 was assessed using fear of corona virus scale (FCV-19S); psychological distress in the last 30 days and oral health related quality of life was evaluated. Oral examination was performed and dental caries status (DMFT) was assessed using the world health organization method. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis was conducted to evaluate significant predictors and 5% was set as level of significance. 2966 patients visited our dental emergency due to painful decayed tooth between March-June 2020. Mean age was 42.7 years, 53.97% were males and most common cause of painful teeth was upper right third molar (7.7%). 73.4% reported lack of pain medication; 95% reported closure of dental clinics close to home. Almost 79% suffered from dental pain for >15 days. Higher self reported pain (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.36–14.71), >15 days of suffering from pain (OR 6.8; 95% CI 2.18–23.14), greater fear of COVID-19 (OR 4.14; 95% CI 1.98–16.07) and psychological distress (OR 4.41; 95% CI 1.09–16.76) were associated with poorer OHRQOL of adults during COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings strongly suggest that COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacts the mental and oral health of individuals affecting their overall health.