Single nucleotide polymorphism in CPT1B and CPT2 genes and its association with blood carnitine levels in acute myocardial infarction patients

Ischemic and reperfusion injuries in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) lead to mitochondrial dysfunction in heart cells. Lipid metabolism takes place in mitochondria where carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) enzyme system facilitates the transport of long-chain fatty acids into matrix to provide substrates for beta-oxidation. We sequenced the coding regions of CPT1B and CPT2 genes to identify the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in 23 AMI patients and 23 normal subjects. We also determined blood carnitine levels in these samples to study the impact of these SNPs on carnitine homeostasis. The sequencing of coding regions revealed 4 novel variants in CPT1B gene (G320D, S427C, E531K, and A627E) and 2 variants in CPT2 gene (V368I and M647V). There were significant increases in total carnitine (54.18 ± 3.11 versus 21.49 ± 1.03 μmol/l) and free carnitine (37.78 ± 1.87 versus 10.06 ± 0.80 μmol/l) levels in AMI patients as compared to normal subjects. CPT1B heterozygous variants of G320D and S427C among control subjects showed significantly higher levels of total and free carnitine in the blood. The homozygous genotype (AA) of CPT2 variant V368I had significantly less blood carnitine in AMI patients. Serum troponin T was significantly less in GG genotype of CPT1B variant S427C whereas the genotype AA of CPT2 variant V368I showed significantly higher serum troponin T levels. Further studies on large number of patients are necessary to confirm the role of CPT1B and CPT2 polymorphism in AMI.     

Evaluation of stain removal and inhibition properties of eight denture cleansers: an in vitro study

Gerodontology 2012; doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00522.x
Evaluation of stain removal and inhibition properties of eight denture cleansers: an in vitro study Objectives: To determine the ability of eight denture cleansers to remove and inhibit tea‐stain build‐up on acrylic resin. Materials and methods: In the stain removal study, Perspex^® (cast heat polymerised resin) specimens previously soaked in saliva were stained using multiple exposures of chlorhexidine and tea solutions. Specimens were exposed for 1 min to one of the eight denture cleansers for five cycles, washed and dried and their optical density read on a uv/vis spectrophotometer at 295 nm. In the stain inhibition study, clear specimens were exposed to saliva followed by cleansers then tea solution, for five cycles. The build‐up of stain at each cycle was measured, and differences in optical densities from baseline were calculated. Results: All denture cleansers were significantly more effective than water in removing stain (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in cleaning ability between cleansers (p < 0.001), Dentural^® and Kleenite^® were particularly effective. The stain inhibition experiment showed that most cleansers were significantly more effective than water in inhibiting stain (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in inhibition ability between cleansers (p < 0.01). Kleenite^® and Equate were particularly effective. Conclusions: All denture cleansers had a capacity to remove stain and most had an inhibitory effect on staining. Kleenite^® was particularly effective in controlling stain formation.     

Elucidating the chemical and biochemical applications of Citrus sinensis-mediated silver nanocrystal

Abstract

Synthesis of nanoparticles using biodegradable source is safer and echo-friendly. Here, we describe the synthesis of polycrystalline silver nanocrystals using Citrus sinensis acting as both reducing and capping agents. After exposing the silver ions to orange extract, rapid reduction of silver ions led to the formation of stable silver nanocrystals due to the reducing and stabilizing properties of orange fruit juice. The synthesized silver nanocrystals were characterized using various analytical techniques like UV–vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The biochemical activity of the synthesized nanocrystals was studied in the light of affinity to bovine serum albumin using several biophysical methods like absorbance, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Cytotoxic activity of these nanocrystals was also studied against Hep-2 cell line using fluorescence microscopy. It was also found that the synthesized nanocrystals can sense mercuric ion down to 50?µM in the presence of a number of cations. Furthermore, we established that the silver nanoparticles can effectively catalyse the reduction of methylene blue by ascorbic acid. The present study will enrich our knowledge on the chemical and biochemical activities of green-synthesized silver nanocrystals.     

What is Nummulites depressus Kenawy 1978? Evolution of Nummulites fabianii group in the Middle Eocene of Egypt

New species Nummulites vetustufabianiin. sp. is described from the El Hamra Formation, Gara El Hamra section Bahariya Oasis Western Desert. The biometrical measurements include maximum and minimum diameter of the successive radii and heights of whorls, length/height ratio, number of chambers and the marginal cord thickness of each whorl for the megalospheric generation as well as the diameter of proloculus were elaborated to differentiate between some allied granulated species such as Nummulites depressus, Nummulites decrouezae, Nummulites cuvillieri and N. vetustufabianiin. sp.Nummulites fabianii group has lateral distribution for the entire Tethys basin, hence such biometrical studies are needed to emphasise the polyphyletic nature of the group.     

Mutation of IGFBP7 causes upregulation of BRAF/MEK/ERK pathway and familial retinal arterial macroaneurysms

Insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBPs) play important physiological functions through the modulation of IGF signaling as well as IGF-independent mechanisms. Despite the established role of IGFs in development, a similar role for the seven known IGFBPs has not been established in humans. Here, we show that an autosomal-recessive syndrome that consists of progressive retinal arterial macroaneurysms and supravalvular pulmonic stenosis is caused by mutation of IGFBP7. Consistent with the recently established inhibitory role of IGFBP7 on BRAF signaling, the BRAF/MEK/ERK pathway is upregulated in these patients, which may explain why the cardiac phenotype overlaps with other disorders characterized by germline mutations in this pathway. The retinal phenotype appears to be mediated by a role in vascular endothelium, where IGFBP7 is highly expressed.     

Bioengineering of symbiotic systems: Creation of new associative symbiosis with the use of lectins on the example of tobacco and oil seed rape

Hairy roots in tobacco and oil seed rape transgenic on lectin gene were obtained with the use of a wild strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenes 15834 transformed with pCAMBIA1305.1 plasmid containing the full-size lectin gene (psl) from the Pisum sativum. Influence of expression of lectin gene on colonization of transgenic roots with symbiont of pea (Rhizobium leguminosarum) was investigated. The number of adhered bacteria onto the roots transformed with lectin gene was 14-fold and 37-fold higher in comparison with the control; this confirms the interaction of R. leguminosarum with pea lectin at the surface of the transformed roots of tobacco and oil seed rape. The developed experimental approach, based on the simulation of recognition processes and early symbiotic interactions with lectins of pea plants, may, in perspective, be used for obtaining stable associations of economically valuable, nonsymbiotrophic plant species with rhizobia.     

Presence and abundance of Diaphorina citri in Murraya paniculata in urban areas free of huanglongbing in Brazil

Asian citrus psyllid (ACP), Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Liviidae), is the vector of the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter sp., a quarantine pathogen in citrus production areas such as Australia, Europe, and northeast Brazil, associated with huanglongbing (HLB). The psyllids’ preferred host is Murraya paniculata (L.) Jacq. (Rutaceae), an ornamental plant native to Asia and Oceania, and commonly found in urban areas next to citrus groves around the world. As there are insecticide application restrictions for urban areas, monitoring and use of biological control to suppress ACP are essential for an area-wide HLB management strategy, especially for production areas predominantly composed of small citrus farms. For this, it is necessary to understand the occurrence cycles of ACP and vegetative flush of the ornamental host. This study characterized the occurrence cycles of M. paniculata flush shoot and accumulated rainfall, and the association with ACP presence (proportion of monitored trees) and abundance (per tree) in a Brazilian urban area free of HLB. A 3-year time series was constructed using spectral and co-spectral analysis. Spectral analysis showed the occurrence of at least seven flush shoot cycles of M. paniculata, nearly 10 ACP presence and abundance cycles, and monthly cycles of accumulated rainfall. Cycles of ACP presence were associated with ACP abundance, with ACP presence cycles occurring around 7 days before ACP abundance cycles and the correlation and co-spectral analyses indicated an almost simultaneous occurrence of the main cycles of M. paniculata flush shoots and ACP occurrence. These findings will facilitate the development of an ACP biological control program based on parasitoid releases in urban areas in HLB-free citrus groves.     

Modern Approaches to Differentiation of Live and Dead Bacteria Using Selective Amplification of Nucleic Acids

Microbiology - Specific amplification of nucleic acids is a convenient and quick alternative to the culture-based method of detecting bacterial cells. However, conventional PCR and other...