Impregnation of the Bacterial Cellulose Membrane with Biologically Produced Silver Nanoparticles

Different wound dressings with antibacterial property have been surveyed and one among them is bacterial cellulose (BC). Since the BC does not have antibacterial property, the biologically produced silver nanoparticles (SNPs) were impregnated into the BC. For the BC production, Hestrin–Schramm broth was used. Formation of the BC was proven by enzymatic hydrolysis. For SNPs production, the bacterial supernatant was treated with AgNO₃ and formation of SNPs was monitored through spectrophotometer, TEM and XRD. For impregnation of SNPs into the BC, the cleaned membrane was placed in the bacterial supernatant that contained 1 mmol of AgNO₃. The antibacterial assay was done for the BC/SNPs. Enzymatic hydrolysis proved the presence of the BC. Spectrophotometer and XRD results showed the formation of SNPs. TEM analysis revealed the presence of SNPs with sizes around 5–100 nm. SEM micrographs showed the impregnation of SNPs into the BC. Antibacterial test exhibited the antibacterial activity of the BC/SNPs.     

Biodegradation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in a Soil Polluted Sample by Oil-Based Drilling Cuttings

Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in soils polluted by oil-based drilling mud and cuttings has been investigated by static methods such as composting or biopiling. Bioremediation of polluted soils by oil-based drilling cuttings through a slurry bioreactor has not previously been reported. The main aim of this work is to monitor hydrocarbon biodegradation in slurry of drilling cuttings and unpolluted soils and the effects of nutrients on it. Indigenous, bacterial-mixed culture isolated from a polluted soil by drilling cuttings adapted to drilling mud concentrations up to 15% (v/v) was done during a 15-month program. The total petroleum hydrocarbons’ (TPHs) removal efficiency in C/N/P 100/5/1 ratio was 90.5 and 79.85% under experimental and control conditions, respectively. The microbial count on the first day, 15 × 10⁷ CFUg^?1, reached 20 × 10⁹ CFUg^?1on the twenty-first day at experimental conditions. The TPH removal efficiency in C/N/P 100/10/2 was 92.5 and 82.25% at experiment and control, respectively. Increasing nitrogen and phosphorous amount couldn't increase microbial count in comparison with C/N/P ratio 100/5/1. The measured biomass contents and microbial counts in experiments were significantly higher than the control and confirmed hydrocarbons’ biodegradation during the time. Results showed that slurry bioreactors could accelerate the biodegradation of TPHs and reduce remediation time in soil polluted by oil-based drilling cuttings.     

Changes in anti-heat shock protein 27 antibody and C-reactive protein levels following cardiac surgery and their association with cardiac function in patients with cardiovascular disease

The relationship between serum anti-heat shock protein (Hsp)27 antibody and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and indices of cardiac function were investigated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve replacement. The changes in anti-Hsp27 antibody titers and hs-CRP levels were compared among patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump CABG or valvular heart replacement. Fifty-three patients underwent off-pump, on-pump CABG, and heart valvular replacement in each group. Serum anti-Hsp27 titers and hs-CRP values were measured 24 h before and after the operation and at discharge. Echocardiography was performed before surgery and before discharge. The results were compared with values from 83 healthy controls. hs-CRP levels increased and anti-Hsp27 antibody decreased following surgery (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), although these changes were independent of operative procedure (P = 0.361 and P = 0.120, respectively). Anti-Hsp27 antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge (P = 0.016). Only in coronary patients were anti-Hsp27 antibody levels negatively associated with E/E′ (r = −0.268, P = 0.022), a marker of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. In conclusions, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels are associated with indices of cardiac function in coronary patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass had no significant effect on the induction of changes in anti-Hsp27 levels. Moreover, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels fell in all groups postoperatively; this may be due to the formation of immune complexes of antigen–antibody, and antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12192-012-0358-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Quantification of atherosclerotic plaque activity and vascular inflammation using [18-F] fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT)

Conventional non-invasive imaging modalities of atherosclerosis such as coronary artery calcium (CAC) and carotid intimal medial thickness (C-IMT) provide information about the burden of disease. However, despite multiple validation studies of CAC, and C-IMT, these modalities do not accurately assess plaque characteristics, and the composition and inflammatory state of the plaque determine its stability and, therefore, the risk of clinical events. [(18)F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) imaging using positron-emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has been extensively studied in oncologic metabolism. Studies using animal models and immunohistochemistry in humans show that FDG-PET/CT is exquisitely sensitive for detecting macrophage activity, an important source of cellular inflammation in vessel walls. More recently, we and others have shown that FDG-PET/CT enables highly precise, novel measurements of inflammatory activity of activity of atherosclerotic plaques in large and medium-sized arteries. FDG-PET/CT studies have many advantages over other imaging modalities: 1) high contrast resolution; 2) quantification of plaque volume and metabolic activity allowing for multi-modal atherosclerotic plaque quantification; 3) dynamic, real-time, in vivo imaging; 4) minimal operator dependence. Finally, vascular inflammation detected by FDG-PET/CT has been shown to predict cardiovascular (CV) events independent of traditional risk factors and is also highly associated with overall burden of atherosclerosis. Plaque activity by FDG-PET/CT is modulated by known beneficial CV interventions such as short term (12 week) statin therapy as well as longer term therapeutic lifestyle changes (16 months). The current methodology for quantification of FDG uptake in atherosclerotic plaque involves measurement of the standardized uptake value (SUV) of an artery of interest and of the venous blood pool in order to calculate a target to background ratio (TBR), which is calculated by dividing the arterial SUV by the venous blood pool SUV. This method has shown to represent a stable, reproducible phenotype over time, has a high sensitivity for detection of vascular inflammation, and also has high inter-and intra-reader reliability. Here we present our methodology for patient preparation, image acquisition, and quantification of atherosclerotic plaque activity and vascular inflammation using SUV, TBR, and a global parameter called the metabolic volumetric product (MVP). These approaches may be applied to assess vascular inflammation in various study samples of interest in a consistent fashion as we have shown in several prior publications.     

Failure of naloxone to attenuate fasting induced hyperphagia in broiler chicks

Subcutaneous administration of naloxone at 1 to 10 mg/kg produced a dose-related decrease in feed intake of broiler chicks. Food deprivation for 3, 6, 12, and 24 hours produced a significant increase in feed intake compared to non-food deprived birds. Subcutaneous administration of naloxone at 1 to 10 mg/kg failed to attenuate hyperphagia of broiler chicks, deprived of food for 12 hrs. These data suggest that opiate receptors are involved in the regulation of spontaneous feeding behavior in broiler chicks. However, in contrast to other mammals and pigeons, a mechanism, other than endorphinergic system, not sensitive to naloxone blockade, might be involved in food deprivation induced hyperphagia in broiler chicks.     

Structure,composition and regeneration of riparian forest along an altitudinal gradient in northern Iran

In order to protect and understand the regeneration of riparian forests, it is important to understand the environmental conditions that lead to their vegetation differentiation. We evaluated the structure, composition, density and regeneration of woody species in forests along the river Safaroud in Ramsar forest in northern Iran in relation to elevation, soil properties and distance from the river. Using 60 transects located perpendicularly to river and 300 quadrats, we examined forests 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 m from the stream along an elevation gradient spanning from 350 to 2,400 m a.s.l. We found that total density, regeneration, diameter and basal area of trees were significantly higher in the interior of the forest whereas shrub density was higher close to the river. The uneven-aged forest structure showed no significant differences among gradient from the river to the forest interior. Hydro-geomorphic processes, flooding, the elevation gradient, distance from the river and soil properties were the most important factors that influenced plant community distribution in relation to the river.     

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships of Oxynoemacheilus frenatus (Heckel, 1843) and Petroleuciscus esfahani Coad & Bogutskaya, 2010 from the Cheshmeh‐Langan river,Iran

The study presents length‐weight relationships (LWRs) and length‐lenght relationships (LLRs) for two freshwater fish species from the Cheshmeh‐Langan River (Iran; 32°50′N, 50°04′E), a part of the Tigris drainage basin. Fish were sampled by electrofishing (Samus 725M) in August and September 2017. The LWRs and LLRs obtained showed a high level of correlation (r² > .98).