Localization of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) immunoreactivity in adult rat tissues

Neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM) mediates homophilic adhesion between cells and heterophilic adhesion between cells and extracellular matrix in a Ca²⁺-independent manner. N-CAM is widely expressed during development and plays a crucial role in cell division, migration, and differentiation, but its expression is restricted in adults. The distribution of N-CAM immunoreactivity in adult rat tissues was investigated in the present study. N-CAM immunoreactivity was present in the nervous system in the molecular layer of the cerebellum, ependymal cells surrounding the central canal, axons of the white matter, and in Lamina X of the gray matter of the spinal cord. N-CAM immunoreactivity also was found in autonomic nerves. In the digestive system, N-CAM immunoreactivity was found in the stratified squamous epithelium and nerve plexus of the esophagus, glandular cells of the stomach and pylorus, lamina propria, and epithelium of the villi of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. N-CAM immunoreactivity was demonstrated in the secretory cells of the adenohypophysis, islets of Langerhans, and acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas. Alveolar cells of the lung were also N-CAM immunoreactive. In the urinary system, N-CAM immunoreactivity was seen in the proximal convoluted tubules of the kidney. In the male reproductive system, N-CAM immunoreactivity was demonstrated in the nerve plexus around the urethral epithelium and in the nerve fibers around the smooth muscle cells of the corpus cavernosum penis. In the visual system, N-CAM immunoreactivity was seen in the epithelial cells of the corpus ciliaris. Cornea and lens epithelium also showed positive immunoreactivity. Our results suggest that cells in many tissues and organs of the adult rat synthesize N-CAM.     

Influence of the annual flood-pulse on catch per unit effort,condition and reproduction of Clarias gariepinus from the upper Okavango Delta,Botswana

Catch per unit effort (CPUE), length, weight and maturity data for Clarias gariepinus were collected during monthly gillnet surveys in the upper Okavango Delta between 2001 and 2009 to investigate their relationship with the annual flood-pulse. CPUE, condition factor (K) and the proportion of ripe-running fish (P_RR) in the population followed a unimodal annual cycle that could be modelled using water temperature and flood-pulse hydrology. Increased CPUE during declining water levels was most likely a result of feeding migrations and aggregation behaviour. The observed increase in K during low floods in October and November preceded the increase in P_RR, which increased mainly with increasing temperature but appeared less dependent on flow. This study provided quantitative evidence that the biology of fish in the Okavango Delta is mainly dependent on the annual flood regime and, therefore, that conservation efforts should be focused on maintaining natural flow patterns in the face of climate change and potential water extraction schemes upstream.     

Scavenging capacities of some thiazolyl thiazolidine‐2,4‐dione compounds on superoxide radical,hydroxyl radical,and DPPH radical

The scavenging effects of eighteen thiazolyl thiazolidine‐2,4‐dione compounds (TTCs) on superoxide radical , hydroxyl radical HO^?, and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^?) radical were evaluated by the chemiluminescence technique, electron spin resonance spectrometry (ESR) and visible spectrophotometry, respectively. The examined compounds were shown to have 27–59% scavenging ability, 19–69% HO^? scavenging activity and 2–32% DPPH^? scavenging ability. This property of the tested compound seems to be important in the prevention of various diseases of free radicals etiology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of acetylcholinesterase and carbonic anhydrase inhibition profiles of 1,2,3,4,6‐pentasubstituted‐4‐hydroxy‐cyclohexanes

Carbonic anhydrase (CA; EC 4.2.1.1) is used for remedial purposes for several years, as there is significant focus on expanding more new activators (CAAs) and high affinity inhibitors. Alzheimer′s disease and other similar ailments such as dementia and vascular dementia with Lewy bodies reduce cholinergic activity in the important areas involved in cognition and memory. Prevalent drugs for the symptomatic therapy of dementia are significant in increasing the associated cholinergic deficiency by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE). These six‐membered carbocycles showed nice inhibitory action against AChE and human carbonic anhydrase (hCA) II and I isoforms. The hCA I, II, and AChE were efficiently inhibited by these molecules, with K_i values in the range of 6.70–35.85 nM for hCA I, 18.77–60.84 nM for hCA II, and 0.74–4.60 for AChE, respectively.     

Biophysical characterization of quaternary pyridinium functionalized polynorbornenes for DNA complexation and their cellular interactions

Cationic polymers with hydrophobic side chains have gained great interest as DNA carriers since they form a compact complex with negatively charged DNA phosphate groups and interact with the cell membrane. Amphiphilic polyoxanorbornenes with different quaternary alkyl pyridinium side chains with ethyl‐p(OPy2) and hexyl units‐p(OPy6) bearing 10 kDa MWT were synthesized by living Ring‐Opening Metathesis Polymerization method. The physicochemical characteristics: critical micellar concentration, size distribution, surface charge, and condensation of polymer/DNA complex were investigated. Morphology of complexes was monitored by Atomic force microscopy. Cytotoxicity and interaction of these complexes with model lipid vesicles mimicking the cell membrane were examined. These polymers were enabled to form small sized complexes of DNA, which interact with model membrane vesicles. It was found that the nature of hydrophobicity of the homopolymers significantly impacts rates of DNA complexation and the surface charge of the resulting complexes. These results highlight the prospect of the further examinations of these polymers as gene carriers.     

Proteomic insight into phenolic adaptation of a moderately halophilic Halomonas sp. strain AAD12

A gram-negative, moderately halophilic bacterium was isolated from ?amalt? Saltern area, located in the Aegean Region of Turkey. Analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence and physiological characteristics showed that this strain belonged to the genus Halomonas ; hence, it was designated as Halomonas sp. strain AAD12. The isolate tolerated up to 800 mg?L(-1) phenol; however, at elevated concentrations, phenol severely retarded cell growth. The increase in lag phase with increasing phenol concentrations indicated that the microorganism was undergoing serious adaptative changes. To understand the physiological responses of Halomonas sp. strain AAD12 to phenol, a 2-dimensional electrophoresis approach combined with mass spectrometric analysis was used. This approach showed that the expression of 14 protein spots were altered as phenol concentration increased from 200 to 800 mg?L(-1). Among the identified proteins were those involved in protein biosynthesis, energy, transport, and stress metabolism. So far, this is the first study on phenolic adaptation of a gram-negative, moderately halophilic bacteria using proteomic tools. The results provided new insights for understanding the general mechanism used by moderately halophilic bacteria to tolerate phenol and suggested the potential for using these microorganisms in bioremediation.     

Angiotensin converting enzyme I/D,angiotensinogen M235T and AT1-R A/C1166 gene polymorphisms in patients with acromegaly

Acromegaly is associated with increased morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular disease. Hypertension is one of the most common cardiovascular risk factors in acromegalic patients. The aim of this study was to investigate association between the frequencies of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) I/D, angiotensinogen (AGT) M235T and the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R) A/C1166 gene polymorphisms and some clinical parameters of acromegalic patients. Total of 33 acromegalic patients and 63 controls were enrolled to study. We determined the ACE I/D, AGT M235T and AT1-R A/C1166 gene polymorphisms. Serum insulin, glucose, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, growth hormone and Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels of subjects were analyzed. The frequencies of ACE and M235T AGT genotype were not significantly different between control and patients. The distribution of AT1R A/C1166 genotypes was significantly different between patients and control subjects (P = 0.016). None of the three ACE genotypes, DD, ID and II displayed significant difference in acromegalic patients. A significant difference in systolic blood pressure and the serum IGF-I levels among the three AGT genotype, MM, MT and TT genotypes was found in patient group. Individuals with MT genotypes had significantly higher serum IGF-I levels and systolic blood pressure than MM and TT genotype subjects, P < 0.05. In addition, serum triglyceride and HDL levels differed significantly between MM and MT genotypes, P < 0.05. However, systolic blood pressure of patients with CC genotypes was found to be significantly higher than AA genotypes individuals in acromegaly group, P < 0.05. It can be said that the angiotensinojen MT and AT1R CC1166 genotype carriers may have more risk than other genotypes in the development of hypertension in acromegaly.     

Evaluation of amino acid profile in serum of patients with Covid-19 for providing a new treatment strategy

BackgroundAmino acids have an important role in metabolism and may affect COVID-19-related outcomes. In our study, the amino acid serum level of hospitalized COVID19 patients was evaluated to determine a new treatment strategy.MethodsThe amino acid profile covering 43 amino acids in 68 subjects, comprising 30 (14 men and 16 women) controls and 38 (16 men and 22 women) COVID-19 patients, were examined. The amino acid profiles of the participants were screened by LC-MS/MS.ResultsCompared with the control group, serum levels of 27 amino acids increased in the patient group. Alpha-aminopimelic acid, sarcosine, and hydroxyproline amino acids were considerably higher in the control group than in the patient group (p<0.0001). There was no notable difference among control group and the case group for 13 amino acids (p≥0.05). A significant positive correlation was seen among the control and the patient groups in the mean amino acid values (r=0.937; p<0.0001).ConclusionsThese results postulated a clear picture on the serum levels of amino acid in the COVID-19 patients. Serum amino acids measured in hospitalized COVID-19 patients can explain the patient''s metabolic status during the disease.     

Metagenomic assessment of the Cebus apella gut microbiota

Cebus Apella (C. apella) is a species of Nonhuman Primate (NHP) used for biomedical research because it is phylogenetically similar and shares anatomical commonalities with humans. Here, the gut microbiota of three C. apella were examined in the different regions of the intestinal tract. Using metagenomics, the gut microbiota associated with the luminal content and mucus layer for each intestinal region was identified, and functionality was investigated by quantifying the levels of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced. The results of this study show a high degree of similarity in the intestinal communities among C. apella subjects, with multiple shared characteristics. First, the communities in the lumen were more phylogenetically diverse and rich compared to the mucus layer communities throughout the entire intestinal tract. The small intestine communities in the lumen displayed a higher Shannon diversity index compared to the colon communities. Second, all the communities were dominated by aero‐tolerant taxa such as Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Abiotrophia, and Lactobacillus, although there was preferential colonization of specific taxa observed. Finally, the primary SCFA produced throughout the intestinal tract was acetic acid, with some propionic acid and butyric acid detected in the colon regions. The small intestine microbiota produced significantly less SCFAs compared to the communities in the colon. Collectively, these data provide an in‐depth report on the composition, distribution, and SCFA production of the gut microbiota along the intestinal tract of the C. apella NHP animal model.