The Effect of Extremely Low‐Frequency Electromagnetic Fields on the Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Role of Oxidative Stress

Extremely low‐frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF‐EMFs) may cause negative health effects. This study aimed to investigate the direct and indirect effects of chronic exposure to extremely low‐frequency electric and magnetic fields on the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). In this cross‐sectional study, 152 power plant workers were enrolled. The exposure level of employees was measured based on the IEEE Std C95.3.1 standard. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (Cat), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (independent variables) were measured in the serum of subjects. The Nordic musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to assess MSDs (dependent variable). The mean exposure of electric and magnetic fields were 4.09 V/m (standard deviation [SD] = 4.08) and 16.27 µT (SD = 22.99), respectively. Increased levels of SOD, Cat, GPx, and MDA had a direct significant relation with MSDs. In the logistic regression model, SOD (odds ratio [OR] = 0.952, P = 0.026), GPx (OR = 0.991, P = 0.048), and MDA (OR = 0.741, P = 0.021) were significant predictors of MSDs. ELF‐EMFs were not related to MSDs directly; however, increased levels of oxidative stress may cause MSDs. Bioelectromagnetics. 2019;40:354–360. © 2019 Bioelectromagnetics Society.     

Deep analysis of N-cadherin/ADH-1 interaction: a computational survey

Due to the considerable role of N-cadherin in cancer metastasis, tumor growth, and progression, inhibition of this protein has been highly regarded in recent years. Although ADH-1 has been known as an appropriate inhibitor of N-cadherin in clinical trials, its chemical nature and binding mode with N-cadherin have not been precisely specified yet. Accordingly, in this study, quantum mechanics calculations were used to investigate the chemical nature of ADH-1. These calculations clarify the molecular properties of ADH-1 and determine its reactive sites. Based on the results, the oxygen atoms are suitable for electrophilic reactivity, while the hydrogen atoms that are connected to nitrogen atoms are the favorite sites for nucleophilic reactivity. The higher electronegativity of the oxygen atoms makes them the most reactive portions in this molecule. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation have also been applied to specify the binding mode of ADH-1 with N-cadherin and determine the important residues of N-cadherin involving in the interaction with ADH-1. Moreover, the verified model by MD simulation has been studied to extract the free energy value and find driving forces. These calculations and molecular electrostatic potential map of ADH-1 indicated that hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions are almost equally involved in the implantation of ADH-1 in the N-cadherin binding site. The presented results not only enable a closer examination of N-cadherin in complex with ADH-1 molecule, but also are very beneficial in designing new inhibitors for N-cadherin and can help to save time and cost in this field.     

Acceptable protein and solvent behavior in primary hydration shell simulations of hen lysozyme

The "primary hydration shell" method in molecular dynamics simulations uses a two- to three-layer thick shell of explicitly represented water molecules as the solvent around the protein of interest. We show that despite its simplicity, this computationally cheap model is capable of predicting acceptable water and protein behavior using the CHARMM22/CMAP potential function. For protein dynamics, comparisons are made with Lipari-Szabo order parameters. These have been derived from NMR relaxation parameters for pico-nano second motions of the NH groups in the main-chain and NH(2) groups in Asn/Gln side chains in hen lysozyme. It is also shown that an even simpler, and therefore faster, water-shell model leads to results in similarly good agreement with experiments, and also compared with simulations using a full box of water with periodic boundary conditions or with an implicit solvation model. Thus, the primary hydration shell method should be useful in making larger systems accessible to extensive simulations.     

Effects of dietary taurine amino acid on growth performance,mucosal and immune response,gene expression and antioxidant defence of asian seabass (Lates calcarifer)

Molecular Biology Reports - The enhancement of fish immune system and growth performance throughout the administration of bio-friendly agents such as diet supplements (taurine) is considered a...     

Dynamics of a Tularemia Outbreak in a Closely Monitored Free-Roaming Population of Wild House Mice

Infectious disease outbreaks can be devastating because of their sudden occurrence, as well as the complexity of monitoring and controlling them. Outbreaks in wildlife are even more challenging to observe and describe, especially when small animals or secretive species are involved. Modeling such infectious disease events is relevant to investigating their dynamics and is critical for decision makers to accomplish outbreak management. Tularemia, caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis, is a potentially lethal zoonosis. Of the few animal outbreaks that have been reported in the literature, only those affecting zoo animals have been closely monitored. Here, we report the first estimation of the basic reproduction number R ₀ of an outbreak in wildlife caused by F. tularensis using quantitative modeling based on a susceptible-infected-recovered framework. We applied that model to data collected during an extensive investigation of an outbreak of tularemia caused by F. tularensis subsp. holarctica (also designated as type B) in a closely monitored, free-roaming house mouse (Mus musculus domesticus) population in Switzerland. Based on our model and assumptions, the best estimated basic reproduction number R ₀ of the current outbreak is 1.33. Our results suggest that tularemia can cause severe outbreaks in small rodents. We also concluded that the outbreak self-exhausted in approximately three months without administrating antibiotics.     

The effects of FTO gene rs9939609 polymorphism on the association between breast cancer and dietary intake

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of cancer‐related deaths in females worldwide and is related to genetic and environmental factors. Dietary components may strongly influence the risk of BC. A possible association was also reported between the fat mass and obesity‐associated (FTO) single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and BC. This study aimed to investigate the impact of FTO rs9939609 polymorphism on the association between BC and dietary intake. This study was conducted on 180 women with BC as the case group and 360 healthy women as the control group. The dietary intakes were assessed by a valid 168‐item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). The FTO gene was genotyped for rs9939609 polymorphism. After adjusting the confounding variables, there was no significant association between dietary intake and BC in individuals without risk allele. A positive association between dietary intake of omega‐6 fatty acids and BC was found only in individuals with risk allele of FTO gene (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.08–1.60, p: 0.006). FTO gene risk allele may influence the effect of diet on breast cancer risk. Further studies are needed to assess the possible effects of the FTO genotype on the association between BC risk and dietary components.     

Children with repaired bilateral cleft lip/palate: effect of age at premaxillary osteotomy on facial growth.

This study compared facial growth in three groups of patients with bilateral complete cleft lip/palate: those who had (1) no premaxillary osteotomy, (2) premaxillary osteotomy before age 8 years, and (3) premaxillary osteotomy after age 8 years. Of 24 children with bilateral complete cleft lip/palate, 7 had early premaxillary osteotomy (mean age, 6.1; range, 3.7 to 7.6 years), 10 had late osteotomy (mean age, 11.2; range, 8.3 to 20.7 years), and 7 did not require premaxillary repositioning and served as controls (mean age, 12.4; range, 6.4 to 17.8 years). Presurgical and postsurgical lateral cephalograms were digitized using the Dentofacial Planner software; most current lateral cephalograms comprised the control group. Forty-one bony and 25 soft-tissue landmarks were digitized, and 8 angles were measured: SNA, (sella-nasion-A point), SNPg (sella-nasion-pogonion), ANB (A point-nasion-B point), NAPg (nasion-A point-pogonion), ST convexity (glabella-subnasale-soft-tissue pogonion), Sn-G vertical (line perpendicular to the horizontal plane dropped from glabella and distance measured from subnasale to this vertical), Cm-Sn-Ls (columella-subnasale-abial superioris), and Sn-Gn-C (subnasale-soft-tissue gnathion-chin point). Statistical difference in mean preoperative and postoperative values were measured with analysis of variance. Tests of significance were adjusted for multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni correction. Mean age at follow-up for early, late, and control groups was 11.8, 14.0, and 12.4 years, respectively. Mean follow-up for early and late groups was 5.7 and 2.8 years. There was a significant preoperative difference among the three groups for mean SNA (p < 0.01), ANB (p < 0.01), and NAPg (p < 0.01). Bonferroni analyses revealed that the early group had significantly greater SNA, ANB, and NAPg angles than the late (p < 0.01) and control groups (p < 0.05). There was a significant postoperative difference among groups for ANB (p < 0.05); Bonferroni analyses also showed that the control group had a significantly greater ANB than the late group (p < 0.05). The t test for equity of means established postoperative change for SNA (p < 0.01), ANB (p< 0.01), NAPg (p < 0.01), and ST convexity (p < 0.01) for the early group was significantly greater than for the late group. Children who required early premaxillary positioning had more significant preoperative deformity; however, this group's postoperative profile was not, on average, significantly different from either the late or control groups. Our findings that the early group had more significant change with premaxillary osteotomy than the late group suggest that premaxillary positioning can be done before completion of facial growth without compromise.     

Investigation of the Interaction between Nilotinib and Alpha-Lactalbumin by Spectroscopic Methods and Docking Studies

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - The interaction of Nilotinib (NIL) with alpha lactalbumin (α-LA) were studied by spectrofluorimetry, UV-Vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) and...     

Functional response of Nesidiocoris tenuis (Hemiptera: Miridae) to Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae): effect of different host plants

The influence of three host plants, namely cucumber, tomato and eggplant, on functional response of male, virgin and mated female predatory bug Nesidiocoris tenuis was investigated on different densities of Trialeurodes vaporariorum nymphs. The 24-h experiment conducted at laboratory conditions revealed that N. tenuis exhibited a type II functional response to T. vaporariorum on host plants. There were no significant differences between attack rates, as well as handling times estimated for each adult stage of the predator between host plants. However, on each host plant, the handling time estimated for the mated female in comparison with two other adult stages had lower values (0.7952, 0.6827 and 0.8884?h^?1 on cucumber, tomato and eggplant, respectively). Handling time estimated for the mated female on cucumber was significantly lower than that estimated for the male predator. The highest maximum handling rate (T/T_h) was estimated for the mated female followed by the virgin female and male on all host plants. For three adult stages of the predator, the highest value of this parameter was determined on tomato followed by cucumber and eggplant. Unlike virgin and mated females, the host plant significantly affected prey consumption by the male. Prey consumed by mated females was higher than those obtained for two other adult stages of the predator on each host plant. The difference in trichome density between three host plants may be responsible for the obtained results. These results revealed that N. tenuis is more effective in the biological control of T. vaporariorum on tomato in comparison with cucumber and eggplant.