Constitutive modeling of menisci tissue: a critical review of analytical and numerical approaches

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - Menisci are fibrocartilaginous disks consisting of soft tissue with a complex biomechanical structure. They are critical determinants of the kinematics...     

Apelin 13 Improves Anxiety and Cognition Via Hippocampal Increases BDNF Expression and Reduction Cell Death in Neonatal Alcohol Exposed Rats

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Fetal alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) describes the range of detrimental impacts which are likely to occur in children who are born to...     

Capabilities of bioinformatics tools for optimizing physicochemical features of proteins used in Nano biosensors: A short overview of the tools related to bioinformatics

Protein-protein ligand is one of the most detection methods used in Nano biosensors. Based on the advantage of specific docking between two special 3D structures, they have become a potent candidate in bioanalysis and Nanodiagnostic tools. These tools lease users to do a simple, fast, cost-effective, sensitive, and specific detection of molecular biomarkers in real samples. Recent advantages of using protein-protein ligand Nano-biosensors application is remarkable due to its special docking that refers to each protein unique 3D conformation. However, it challenges different problems such as low rate of docking and hard process for fixation on the basic layer. These challenges make developers to optimize the structure and functions of proteins. The process has different Nano scale calculation that could be done with algorithms and solutions are available as bioinformatics tools. This article aimed to have a short overview of the abilities of bioinformatics tools for modeling and optimization of physiochemical features of proteins in Nano scale.     

The role of HSP90 molecular chaperones in hepatocellular carcinoma

Misfolded proteins have enhanced formation of toxic oligomers and nonfunctional protein copies lead to recruiting wild-type protein types. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) is a molecular chaperone generated by cells that are involved in many cellular functions through regulation of folding and/or localization of large multi-protein complexes as well as client proteins. HSP90 can regulate a number of different cellular processes including cell proliferation, motility, angiogenesis, signal transduction, and adaptation to stress. HSP90 makes the mutated oncoproteins able to avoid misfolding and degradation and permits the malignant transformation. As a result, HSP90 is an important factor in several signaling pathways associated with tumorigenicity, therapy resistance, and inhibiting apoptosis. Clinically, the upregulation of HSP90 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is linked with advanced stages and inappropriate survival in cases suffering from this kind of cancer. The present review comprehensively assesses HSP90 functions and its possible usefulness as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic option for HCC.     

Low temperature storage of rhesus monkey spermatozoa and fertility evaluation by intracytoplasmic injection

The objective was to develop a sperm freezing procedure suitable for use in the propagation of valuable founder animals by assisted reproductive technologies. Here, we report a comparison of processing methods by measuring the motility of fresh and frozen-thawed rhesus monkey spermatozoa and fertility via intracytoplasmic spermatozoa injection (ICSI) of sibling oocytes. Washed spermatozoa were frozen in straws or in pellets using different cryoprotective media and processed post-thaw with or without a density gradient centrifugation step. Among the four study series, motility post-thaw was improved with density gradient centrifugation (17-24% versus 75%, P<0.01) achieving levels similar to fresh spermatozoa. Spermatozoa injected oocytes (total n=377) were co-cultured on BRL cells and observed for fertilization and development. With spermatozoa frozen in straws in liquid nitrogen vapors, the fertilization rate after ICSI was lower than with fresh spermatozoa (40-44% versus 77-86%, P<0.05), even with the Percoll-enriched fraction that exhibited robust motility. In contrast, somewhat slower freezing of spermatozoa in pellets on dry ice supported fertilization rates (73%) that were similar to the fresh counterpart. Developmental rates of fertilized eggs were similar in all experiments. A total of 106 embryo transfers has resulted in the first primate born after ICSI with F/T ejaculated spermatozoa plus 22 other infants to date. Additionally, a 3-4 h incubation after thawing improved the fertilization rate with spermatozoa from a male with poor post-thaw recovery of sperm motility. In conclusion, an acceptable fertilization rate after ICSI with motile, frozen-thawed primate spermatozoa was observed comparable to that obtained with fresh spermatozoa allowing small quantities of competent spermatozoa to be used with ICSI to facilitate propagation of desirable primate genotypes.     

Effect of maternal nitrogen and drought stress on seed dormancy and germinability of Amaranthus retroflexus

Amaranthus retroflexus L. is an importunate annual weed in many cropping systems of different countries. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal nitrogen and drought stress on the seed dormancy and germinability of A. retroflexus. Field experiment was carried out in a factorial based on randomized complete block design, with four potential levels of soil water (–2, ?6, ?8 and ?10 bar) and three levels of nitrogen (0, 100 and 200 kg/ha). The germination characteristics of the seeds were measured at three different times (1 month, 6 months and 1 year after harvesting). Results showed that drought stress had positive effects on breaking of A. retroflexus seed dormancy until 6 months after seed harvesting. Seeds that were developed under severe water stress exhibited the highest germination percentage and germination rate. The results obtained from this study revealed that application of 100 kg/ha nitrogen during seed development increases germinability of A. retroflexus, whereas application of 200 kg/ha nitrogen induced seed dormancy. Furthermore, 100 kg/ha nitrogen application in the field along with 200 ppm gibberellic‐acid treatment during seed after‐ripening showed the highest germination percentage and germination rate for seeds after 6 months harvesting. Results also indicated that after‐ripening significantly increased seed germination and germination rate of A. retroflexus. These findings indicate that long‐term management of the soil seed bank in this species requires more stringent control due to the changes in germination timing, as detected in this study.     

Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury by Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid in Rat and Cell Culture Models

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) has grave short- and long-term consequences. Often the onset of AKI is predictable, such as following surgery that compromises blood flow to the kidney. Even in such situations, present therapies cannot prevent AKI. As apoptosis is a major form of cell death following AKI, we determined the efficacy and mechanisms of action of tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a molecule with potent anti-apoptotic and pro-survival properties, in prevention of AKI in rat and cell culture models. TUDCA is particularly attractive from a translational standpoint, as it has a proven safety record in animals and humans.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We chose an ischemia-reperfusion model in rats to simulate AKI in native kidneys, and a human kidney cell culture model to simulate AKI associated with cryopreservation in transplanted kidneys. TUDCA significantly ameliorated AKI in the test models due to inhibition of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis and upregulation of survival pathways.

Conclusions

This study sets the stage for testing TUDCA in future clinical trials for prevention of AKI, an area that needs urgent attention due to lack of effective therapies.     

Addition of endothelial progenitor cells to renal revascularization restores medullary tubular oxygen consumption in swine renal artery stenosis

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) promotes microvascular rarefaction and fibrogenesis, which may eventuate in irreversible kidney injury. We have shown that percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA) or endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) improve renal cortical hemodynamics and function in the poststenotic kidney. The renal medulla is particularly sensitive to hypoxia, yet little is known about reversibility of medullary injury on restoration of renal blood flow. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that PTRA, with or without adjunct EPC delivery to the stenotic kidney, may improve medullary remodeling and tubular function. RAS was induced in 21 pigs using implantation of irritant coils, while another group served as normal controls (n = 7 each). Two RAS groups were then treated 6 wk later with PTRA or both PTRA and EPC. Four weeks later, medullary hemodynamics, microvascular architecture, and oxygen-dependent tubular function of the stenotic kidneys were examined using multidetector computed tomography, microcomputed tomography, and blood oxygenation level-dependent MRI, respectively. Medullary protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, and NAD(P)H oxidase p47 were determined. All RAS groups showed decreased medullary vascular density and blood flow. However, in RAS+PTRA+EPC animals, EPC were engrafted in tubular structures, oxygen-dependent tubular function was normalized, and fibrosis attenuated, despite elevated expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and sustained downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor. In conclusion, EPC delivery, in addition to PTRA, restores medullary oxygen-dependent tubular function, despite impaired medullary blood and oxygen supply. These results support further development of cell-based therapy as an adjunct to revascularization of RAS.     

Molecular evolution of the Asian francolins (Francolinus, Galliformes): A modern reappraisal of a classic study in speciation

We investigated the evolution of the Asian francolins, five little known species in the genus Francolinus (Phasianidae). Evolutionary affinities of two of these species, F. gularis (swamp francolin) and F. pondicerianus (grey francolin), has long remained unclear. In contrast, the other three species, F. pintadeanus (Chinese francolin), F. pictus (painted francolin) and F. francolinus (black francolin) have been cast among the "spotted francolins" on a morphological and ecological basis. Previous molecular DNA investigations including Asian francolins mostly relied upon partial gene sequencing of one specimen per species (no more than three species and with the exclusion of F. pictus). Therefore, fundamental questions do persist. What relationship exists among the spotted and the other Asian francolins? What is the geographic origin of the black francolin, the species with the largest distribution range? How did the geological history influence the diversification of francolins across Asia? We sequenced the entire Control Region of the mitochondrial DNA in 228 samples of all five Asian francolin species, which were collected in 16 countries (from East Europe to East Asia). We constructed a molecular phylogeny according to four different procedures. We showed the monophyly of each of the Asian francolins and the spotted group, while that of the entire Asian group was presumed according to a biogeographical model we proposed. The splitting of the genus Francolinus occurred ～17.4Ma (95% HPD: 13.4-22.1) while the spotted francolins diverged ～10.5Ma (7.0-14.9). We resolved the most recent common ancestor to painted and black francolin as being in the Indian sub-continent, thus suggesting a westwards adaptive radiation of the latter. In Pakistan, we identified F. f. asiae representatives in the Northern Areas and in the Sindh. The latter represents a relict population of Indian fauna within the Pakistani range of the Great Rann of Kachchh.