Antihypertensive and Antioxidant Properties from Whey Protein Hydrolysates Produced by Encapsulated Bacillus subtilis Cells

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - The proteolytic action from encapsulated Bacillus subtilis cells into polymeric system based in sodium alginate-chitosan-poly (ethylene...     

Effects of heat on the germination of sclerophyllous forest species in the highlands of Madagascar

The effects of fire on germination have been extensively studied in many ecosystems. Several studies have shown that plant species in ecosystems frequently exposed to fire can survive through two main mechanisms: vegetative regeneration (re‐sprouts) and recruitment of new individuals from a fire‐resistant seed bank. In Africa, an increase in temperature can break seed dormancy and stimulate germination of some herbaceous and woody species. In Madagascar, the once widespread highland ecosystems dominated by woody species are now highly fragmented and dominated by anthropic grasslands and fields, with a significantly reduced area occupied by sclerophyllous forests referred to as ‘tapia woodlands’. Six species of this endemic vegetation type were studied: Abrahamia ibityensis (Anacardiaceae), Aphloia theiformis (Aphloiaceae), Carissa edulis (Apocynaceae), Pentachlaena latifolia (Sarcolaenaceae), Uapaca bojeri (Phyllanthaceae) and Vaccinium secundiflorum (Ericaceae). Germination tests were conducted (i) by soaking seeds in water for 24 h (imbibition) or (ii) by exposing the seeds to dry heat. Four different temperatures (40, 60, 80 and 120°C) were applied, and seeds were exposed for 10, 30, 60 and 90 min. To simulate hotter faster‐burning fires, two higher temperatures (100 and 120°C) were also used by exposing seeds to dry heat for 5 min. The results did not reveal any significant effect of 24‐h water imbibition on germination. For most species, germination decreased with increasing temperature of treatment using dry heat. Uapaca bojeri did not germinate under any treatment. Further studies on the biological and ecological characteristics of tapia woodland species in response to fire are needed to help guide conservation, management and restoration activities focusing on this endemic vegetation type.     

Comparison of plant communities on the Ibity and Itremo massifs,Madagascar, with contrasting conservation histories and current status

Background: Deforestation processes and species extinction on islands have made them the focus of substantial efforts to create and strengthen local environmental organisations, establish new protected areas and improve natural resource management. In Madagascar, despite promising new policies, the flora and fauna are under serious threat. More than 80% of the island shows a significant loss of natural plant cover. Current levels of diversity reflect natural disturbance regimes, with fire representing one of the more important factors.

Aims: We compared two new protected areas (Ibity and Itremo) with different environmental and management contexts to identify the roles and impacts of the environmental conditions and the different types of management applied by their respective local communities on vegetation. Both areas have extensive stands of tapia (Uapaca bojeri) woodland.

Methods: Herbaceous vegetation surveys were carried out enumerating 16 1-m² quadrats in each of 10 sites on Ibity and seven on Itremo to characterise plant community composition and structure, complemented by tree and shrub surveys within three 40 × 40 m quadrats at each site.

Results: Floristic richness was higher at Ibity. Populations of U. bojeri were better conserved at Itremo.

Conclusions: While the total exclusion of fire is impracticable, careful management should enable the maintenance of natural conditions and at least lead to a reduction in the impacts on the structure of tapia woodland vegetation.     

Amplistroma erinaceum,a new species and its anamorph from Panama

The new species Amplistroma erinaceum, collected on wood of Anacardium excelsum, is characterized by light cream-coloured, rostrate to spinose stromata, and immersed perithecia and long ostiolar necks. Its relationship to other Amplistroma species within the Amplistromataceae (incertae sedis, Ascomycota) are studied based on morphological, cultural, and molecular sequence data of the large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S rDNA).     

Proteomic characterization of human milk fat globule membrane proteins during a 12 month lactation period

The milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) contains proteins which have been implicated in a variety of health benefits. Milk fat globule membrane proteins were isolated from human milk during a 12 month lactation period and subjected to in-solution digestion and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analysis. Data were pooled, and our results showed that 191 proteins were identified. Relative quantification of the identified MFGM proteins during the course of lactation was performed by label free spectral counting and differentiation expression analysis, which showed some proteins decreasing during the course of lactation whereas some increased or remained at a relatively constant level. The human MFGM proteins are distributed between intracellular, extracellular, and membrane-associated proteins, and they are mainly involved in cell communication and signal transduction, immune function, metabolism and energy production. This study provides more insights into the dynamic composition of human MFGM proteins, which in turn will enhance our understanding of the physiological significance of MFGM proteins.     

Exome-sequencing confirms DNAJC5 mutations as cause of adult neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis

We performed whole-exome sequencing in two autopsy-confirmed cases and an elderly unaffected control from a multigenerational family with autosomal dominant neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (ANCL). A novel single-nucleotide variation (c.344T>G) in the DNAJC5 gene was identified. Mutational screening in an independent family with autosomal dominant ANCL found an in-frame single codon deletion (c.346_348 delCTC) resulting in a deletion of p.Leu116del. These variants fulfill all genetic criteria for disease-causing mutations: they are found in unrelated families with the same disease, exhibit complete segregation between the mutation and the disease, and are absent in healthy controls. In addition, the associated amino acid substitutions are located in evolutionarily highly conserved residues and are predicted to functionally affect the encoded protein (CSPα). The mutations are located in a cysteine-string domain, which is required for membrane targeting/binding, palmitoylation, and oligomerization of CSPα. We performed a comprehensive in silico analysis of the functional and structural impact of both mutations on CSPα. We found that these mutations dramatically decrease the affinity of CSPα for the membrane. We did not identify any significant effect on palmitoylation status of CSPα. However, a reduction of CSPα membrane affinity may change its palmitoylation and affect proper intracellular sorting. We confirm that CSPα has a strong intrinsic aggregation propensity; however, it is not modified by the mutations. A complementary disease-network analysis suggests a potential interaction with other NCLs genes/pathways. This is the first replication study of the identification of DNAJC5 as the disease-causing gene for autosomal dominant ANCL. The identification of the novel gene in ANCL will allow us to gain a better understanding of the pathological mechanism of ANCLs and constitutes a great advance toward the development of new molecular diagnostic tests and may lead to the development of potential therapies.     

Utility of the tourniquet test and the white blood cell count to differentiate dengue among acute febrile illnesses in the emergency room

Dengue often presents with non-specific clinical signs, and given the current paucity of accurate, rapid diagnostic laboratory tests, identifying easily obtainable bedside markers of dengue remains a priority. Previous studies in febrile Asian children have suggested that the combination of a positive tourniquet test (TT) and leucopenia can distinguish dengue from other febrile illnesses, but little data exists on the usefulness of these tests in adults or in the Americas. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the TT and leucopenia (white blood cell count <5000/mm(3)) in identifying dengue as part of an acute febrile illness (AFI) surveillance study conducted in the Emergency Department of Saint Luke's Hospital in Ponce, Puerto Rico. From September to December 2009, 284 patients presenting to the ED with fever for 2-7 days and no identified source were enrolled. Participants were tested for influenza, dengue, leptospirosis and enteroviruses. Thirty-three (12%) patients were confirmed as having dengue; 2 had dengue co-infection with influenza and leptospirosis, respectively. An infectious etiology was determined for 141 others (136 influenza, 3 enterovirus, 2 urinary tract infections), and 110 patients had no infectious etiology identified. Fifty-two percent of laboratory-positive dengue cases had a positive TT versus 18% of patients without dengue (P<0.001), 87% of dengue cases compared to 28% of non-dengue cases had leucopenia (P<0.001). The presence of either a positive TT or leucopenia correctly identified 94% of dengue patients. The specificity and positive predictive values of these tests was significantly higher in the subset of patients without pandemic influenza A H1N1, suggesting improved discriminatory performance of these tests in the absence of concurrent dengue and influenza outbreaks. However, even during simultaneous AFI outbreaks, the absence of leucopenia combined with a negative tourniquet test may be useful to rule out dengue.     

Childhood socioeconomic position and objectively measured physical capability levels in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Grip strength, walking speed, chair rising and standing balance time are objective measures of physical capability that characterise current health and predict survival in older populations. Socioeconomic position (SEP) in childhood may influence the peak level of physical capability achieved in early adulthood, thereby affecting levels in later adulthood. We have undertaken a systematic review with meta-analyses to test the hypothesis that adverse childhood SEP is associated with lower levels of objectively measured physical capability in adulthood.

Methods and Findings

Relevant studies published by May 2010 were identified through literature searches using EMBASE and MEDLINE. Unpublished results were obtained from study investigators. Results were provided by all study investigators in a standard format and pooled using random-effects meta-analyses. 19 studies were included in the review. Total sample sizes in meta-analyses ranged from N = 17,215 for chair rise time to N = 1,061,855 for grip strength. Although heterogeneity was detected, there was consistent evidence in age adjusted models that lower childhood SEP was associated with modest reductions in physical capability levels in adulthood: comparing the lowest with the highest childhood SEP there was a reduction in grip strength of 0.13 standard deviations (95% CI: 0.06, 0.21), a reduction in mean walking speed of 0.07 m/s (0.05, 0.10), an increase in mean chair rise time of 6% (4%, 8%) and an odds ratio of an inability to balance for 5s of 1.26 (1.02, 1.55). Adjustment for the potential mediating factors, adult SEP and body size attenuated associations greatly. However, despite this attenuation, for walking speed and chair rise time, there was still evidence of moderate associations.

Conclusions

Policies targeting socioeconomic inequalities in childhood may have additional benefits in promoting the maintenance of independence in later life.