Microbiota,Phagocytic Activity,Biochemical Parameters and Parasite Control in Horses with Application of Autochthonous,Bacteriocin-Producing,Probiotic Strain Enterococcus faecium EF 412

Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins - The beneficial influence of bacteriocin-producing, probiotic, mostly non-autochthonous bacteria has already been reported in various animals. However, their...     

Absence of AET protection against fast neutrons: Cellular effects

Summary A series of experiments has been undertaken in order to test the biological properties of neutrons produced in the cyclotron of the Institute Ruder Bokovi (IRB) in Zagreb. Protective effect of AET (2-amino ethylisothiuronium bromid hydrobromid) on survival of L cells irradiated by fast neutrons generated in the IRB cyclotron were studied by employing the single cell clonal growth method. For comparison the protective effect of AET after gamma irradiation has also been studied. The most important findings that have emerged from these experiments can be summerized as follows: (1) Protective effect of AET was present after gamma irradiation only. (2) The degree of protection was dependent on AET concentration in the growth medium. (3) No protective effect was found after neutron irradiation. These findings are in agreement with the generaly less efficient protection of this compounds after high-LET irradiation.     

Lysosomal acid lipase regulates fatty acid channeling in brown adipose tissue to maintain thermogenesis

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) is the only known enzyme, which hydrolyzes cholesteryl esters and triacylglycerols in lysosomes of multiple cells and tissues. Here, we explored the role of LAL in brown adipose tissue (BAT). LAL-deficient (Lal?/?) mice exhibit markedly reduced UCP1 expression in BAT, modified BAT morphology with accumulation of lysosomes, and mitochondrial dysfunction, consequently leading to regular hypothermic events in mice kept at room temperature. Cold exposure resulted in reduced lipid uptake into BAT, thereby aggravating dyslipidemia and causing life threatening hypothermia in Lal?/? mice. Linking LAL as a potential regulator of lipoprotein lipase activity, we found Angptl4 mRNA expression upregulated in BAT. Our data demonstrate that LAL is critical for shuttling fatty acids derived from circulating lipoproteins to BAT during cold exposure. We conclude that inhibited lysosomal lipid hydrolysis in BAT leads to impaired thermogenesis in Lal?/? mice.     

Levels of heavy metals and their binding protein metallothionein in type 2 diabetics with kidney disease

Hyperglycemia, a major metabolic disturbance present in diabetes, promotes oxidative stress. Activation of antioxidant defense is an important mechanism to prevent cell damage. Levels of heavy metals and their binding proteins can contribute to oxidative stress. Antiradical capacity and levels of metallothionein (MT), metals (zinc and copper), and selected antioxidants (bilirubin, cysteine, and glutathione) were determined in 70 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) subjects and 80 healthy subjects of Caucasian origin. Single nucleotide polymorphism (rs28366003) in MT gene was detected. Antiradical capacity, conjugated bilirubin, and copper were significantly increased in diabetics, whereas MT and glutathione were decreased. Genotype AA of rs28366003 was associated with higher zinc levels in the diabetic group. The studied parameters were not influenced by renal function. This is the first study comprehensively investigating differences in MT and metals relevant to oxidative stress in T2DM. Ascertained differences indicate increased oxidative stress in T2DM accompanied by abnormalities in non‐enzymatic antioxidant defense systems.     

Transglucosylation of hydroquinone catalysed by α-glucosidase from baker's yeast

Hydroquinone α-isomaltoside and hydroquinone α-glucoside were synthesized by transglucosylation in an aqueous system with baker's yeast α-glucosidase from hydroquinone and maltose as a glucosyl donor. Only one phenolic group was glucosylated, with α-selectivity, and the nature of the reaction products was governed by the concentration of hydroquinone. The optimal conditions for synthesis of glycosides were 9 mM hydroquinone and 1.5 M maltose in a 100 mM sodium citrate/phosphate buffer at pH 5.0 and 30 °C for 20 h. Under these conditions both hydroquinone α-glycosides were obtained in nearly equimolar amounts with a total molar yield of 28% with respect to hydroquinone and a total glycoside concentration of 1 mg/mL in the reaction mixture.     

Lipid peroxidation and biochemical parameters in umbilical cord blood of well-adapted term newborns

Lipid peroxidation (LPX) can play an important role in the development of pathological changes of foetal and neonatal tissues. We investigated LPX and biochemical parameters in plasma from mixed umbilical cord (m.u.c.) blood and acid-base balance (ABB) parameters in m.u.c. blood of well-adapted full-term newborns. LPX products were estimated as thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and were expressed by using of malondialdehyde (MDA) as a standard solution. Intensity of LPX was estimated in vitro in m.u.c. blood plasma without and with added LPX activator (125 μM L-ascorbate plus 5 μM FeSO₄) and in the incubated plasma (30 min, 37°C) under both conditions. Actual TBARS (3.51 ± 0.49 nmol/mL) were determined in the non-incubated plasma without the added LPX activator. Approximately twice higher TBARS were found in the incubated plasma without the LPX activator (7.29 ± 2.17 nmol/mL) or with it (8.57 ± 2.20 nmol/mL), as well as in the non-incubated plasma after its addition (7.38 ± 1.98 nmol/mL). All analysed biochemical parameters (Fe, total iron-binding capacity, uric acid, proteins, Mg, Ca, phosphate, glucose, K, Na, Cl, ALT, AST, GMT, CK, LD, HBD, AMS, ALP, ACP) and ABB parameters were within their reference ranges. The actual TBARS levels were found being positively correlated with α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HBD) activity and negatively with pO₂. These results suggest that LPX in m.u.c. blood plasma might be activated. This activation could probably depend on extent of hypoxia. TBARS and their formation in vitro could be suitable parameters of LPX in m.u.c. blood.     

Biological activities of two macroalgae from Adriatic coast of Montenegro

In the present investigation the acetone extracts of macroalgae Ulva lactuca and Enteromorpha intestinalis were tested for antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the scavenging capacity of tested samples on DPPH and superoxide anion radicals, reducing the power of samples and determination of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds in extracts. As a result of the study, U. lactuca extract was found to have a better free radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 623.58 μg/ml) than E. intestinalis extract (IC₅₀ = 732.12 μg/ml). Moreover, the tested extracts had effective ferric reducing power and superoxide anion radical scavenging. The total content of phenol in extracts of U. lactuca and E. intestinalis was 58.15 and 40.68 μg PE/mg, while concentrations of flavonoids were 39.58 and 21.74 μg RE/mg, respectively. Furthermore, among the tested species, extracts of U. lactuca showed a better antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 0.156 to 5 mg/ml, but it was relatively weak in comparison with standard antibiotics. Bacillus mycoides and Bacillus subtilis were the most susceptible to the tested extracts. Contrary to this Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium purpurescens were the most resistant. Finally, cytotoxic activity of tested extracts was evaluated on four human cancer cell lines. Extract of E. intestinalis expressed the stronger cytotoxic activity towards all tested cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 74.73 to 155.39 μg/ml.