Genotypes and allele frequencies of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion polymorphism among Bahraini population with type 2 diabetes mellitus and related diseases

Insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, of a 287-bp Alu repetitive sequence in intron 16 of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been shown to be associated with different types of diseases and has been widely investigated in different populations with different ethnic origins. Various reports were published suggesting inter-ethnic variations in the frequency of allelic forms of the ACE gene. The goal of this study was to test the distribution of alleles and the different genotypes of ACE (I/D) polymorphism in Bahraini subjects and compare the results with those obtained from other population studies. The Bahraini population is an Arabic peninsula population with a high prevalence of T2DM and hypertension. A total of 560 unrelated Bahraini individuals were recruited in this study and the presence (insertion)/absence (deletion) (I/D) polymorphism of a 287-bp Alu1 element inside intron 16 of the ACE gene was done by PCR-based assays and the presence or absence of the genotypes were analyzed by the gel electrophoresis. The distribution of II, ID, and DD genotypes showed differences among Bahraini subjects, and the frequency of the D allele was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the studied group. The results obtained for the D allele are consistent with those obtained from previous studies among Arabs, Africans, and Caucasians, but differs significantly (P < 0.05) from those in Japanese and Chinese, thus proving the ethnic variation in the distribution of the ACE alleles in different populations.     

Characterization and kinetic properties of the purified Trematosphaeria mangrovei laccase enzyme

The properties of Trematosphaeria mangrovei laccase enzyme purified on Sephadex G-100 column were investigated. SDS–PAGE of the purified laccase enzyme showed a single band at 48 kDa. The pure laccase reached its maximal activity at temperature 65 °C, pH 4.0 with K_m equal 1.4 mM and V_max equal 184.84 U/mg protein. The substrate specificity of the purified laccase was greatly influenced by the nature and position of the substituted groups in the phenolic ring. The pure laccase was tested with some metal ions and inhibitors, FeSO₄ completely inhibited laccase enzyme and also highly affected by (NaN₃) at a concentration of 1 mM. Amino acid composition of the pure enzyme was also determined. Carbohydrate content of purified laccase enzyme was 23% of the enzyme sample. The UV absorption spectra of the purified laccase enzyme showed a single peak at 260–280 nm.     

Development of bis-locked nucleic acid (bisLNA) oligonucleotides for efficient invasion of supercoiled duplex DNA

In spite of the many developments in synthetic oligonucleotide (ON) chemistry and design, invasion into double-stranded DNA (DSI) under physiological salt and pH conditions remains a challenge. In this work, we provide a new ON tool based on locked nucleic acids (LNAs), designed for strand invasion into duplex DNA (DSI). We thus report on the development of a clamp type of LNA ON—bisLNA—with capacity to bind and invade into supercoiled double-stranded DNA. The bisLNA links a triplex-forming, Hoogsteen-binding, targeting arm with a strand-invading Watson–Crick binding arm. Optimization was carried out by varying the number and location of LNA nucleotides and the length of the triplex-forming versus strand-invading arms. Single-strand regions in target duplex DNA were mapped using chemical probing. By combining design and increase in LNA content, it was possible to achieve a 100-fold increase in potency with 30% DSI at 450 nM using a bisLNA to plasmid ratio of only 21:1. Although this first conceptual report does not address the utility of bisLNA for the targeting of DNA in a chromosomal context, it shows bisLNA as a promising candidate for interfering also with cellular genes.     

Human Decidua Basalis mesenchymal stem/stromal cells reverse the damaging effects of high level of glucose on endothelial cells in vitro

Recently, we reported the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) from the maternal decidua basalis tissue of human term placenta (DBMSCs) to treat inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis and cancer. DMSCs protect endothelial cell functions from the negative effects of oxidative stress mediators including hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and monocytes. In addition, DBMSCs induce the generation of anti-cancer immune cells known as M1 macrophages. Diabetes is another inflammatory disease where endothelial cells are injured by H₂O₂ produced by high level of glucose (hyperglycaemia), which is associated with development of thrombosis. Here, we investigated the ability of DBMSCs to reverse the damaging effects of high levels of glucose on endothelial cells. DBMSCs and endothelial cells were isolated from human placental and umbilical cord tissues, respectively. Endothelial cells were incubated with glucose in presence of DBMSCs, and their functions were evaluated. The effect of DBMSCs on glucose- treated endothelial cell expression of genes was also determined. DBMSCs reversed the effects of glucose on endothelial cell functions including proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and permeability. In addition, DBMSCs modified the expression of several genes mediating essential endothelial cell functions including survival, apoptosis, permeability and angiogenesis. We report the first evidence that DBMSCs protect the functions of endothelial cells from the damaging effects of glucose. Based on these results, we establish that DBMSCs are promising therapeutic agents to repair glucose-induced endothelial cell injury in diabetes. However, these finding must be investigated further to determine the pathways underlying the protective role of DBMSCs on glucose-stimulated endothelial cell Injury.     

Targeting NF-κB/COX-2 signaling by soyasaponin I alleviates diclofenac-induced gastric ulceration in male albino rats

Gastric ulceration is a prevalent worldwide clinical presentation due to altered gastric defense mechanisms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are one of the common causes of gastric ulcers mediated by the release of inflammatory mediators. The study aimed to investigate the potential protective effect of soyasaponin I (soya) against diclofenac (DIC)-induced gastric ulcer in rats and to highlight the underlying mechanisms. The experiment was conducted on 40 male Wistar albino rats, equally distributed into five groups: control, DIC-induced ulcer (9 mg/kg/d, orally, twice daily for 3 days), ulcer/soya-, ulcer/ranitidine-, and ulcer/soya/selective nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor (JSH-23)-treated groups. The doses of soya, ranitidine, and JSH were 20, 25, and 5 mg/kg/d, respectively, given orally. Gastric specimens were prepared for gene and histological study and for biochemical analysis of gastric prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), oxidative markers, and inflammatory cytokines. The gastric samples were formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded, and subjected to hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), PAS staining, and immunohistochemical assay for identification of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and proliferation marker (Ki67) expressions. The findings revealed decreased gastric PGE2 and altered inflammatory and oxidative markers in the ulcer model group. The H&E staining showed mucosal injury characterized by mucosal surface defects and inflammatory cell infiltrations. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemistry demonstrated an upregulation of NF-κB and COX-2 expression at gene/protein levels; meanwhile, Ki67 downregulation. The soya-treated group showed maintained biochemical, histological, and PCR findings comparable to the ranitidine-treated group. The JSH-23-treated group still showed partial gastric protection with biochemical and immunohistochemical changes. Soyasaponin I ameliorated DIC-induced gastric ulcers by targeting the COX-2 activity through modulation of NF-κB signaling.     

Glycerol production by two filamentous fungi grown at different ionic and nonionic osmotics and cheese whey

Glycerol production by a highly glycerol-producing local isolate (Eurotium amstelodami) and a standard reference isolate (Aspergillus wentii) was markedly enhanced by high saline media. Glycerol concentration depended on the external osmotic. Thus, the highest glycerol concentration was found in the presence of NaCl, followed by KCl, with considerably lower values for MgCl₂ and CaCl₂ saline media. With glucose (5–50%) used as a nonionic osmotic, low levels of glycerol were obtained and the main pool of polyols was mannitol. Glycerol production was gradually increased with the increase of NaCl concentration of cheese whey, reaching maxima by both organisms when whey was supplemented with 8% NaCl (total of 16% NaCl). The quantity of glycerol produced byA. wentii was twice higher than that obtained byE. amstelodami on whey treated with 8% NaCl.     

Small heat shock proteins and α-crystallins: dynamic proteins with flexible functions

The small heat shock proteins (sHSPs) and the related α-crystallins (αCs) are virtually ubiquitous proteins that are strongly induced by a variety of stresses, but that also function constitutively in multiple cell types in many organisms. Extensive research has demonstrated that a majority of sHSPs and αCs can act as ATP-independent molecular chaperones by binding denaturing proteins and thereby protecting cells from damage due to irreversible protein aggregation. As a result of their diverse evolutionary history, their connection to inherited human diseases, and their novel protein dynamics, sHSPs and αCs are of significant interest to many areas of biology and biochemistry. However, it is increasingly clear that no single model is sufficient to describe the structure, function or mechanism of action of sHSPs and αCs. In this review, we discuss recent data that provide insight into the variety of structures of these proteins, their dynamic behavior, how they recognize substrates, and their many possible cellular roles.     

Iodine Deficiency Among Hypothyroid Patients Living in Jeddah

The objective was to determine the prevalence of iodine deficiency among hypothyroid patients and the effect of dietary goitrogens on indices of iodine and thyroid status. This is a case-control study of 106 subjects who were recruited from King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah. Blood and urine were collected for serum thyroid hormones, thyroid autoantibodies, thyroglobulin (Tg) and urinary iodine concentration (UIC). Dietary iodine and goitrogenic food intake were assessed by questionnaire. Using World Health Organization (WHO) cutoff values for UIC, both controls and cases were iodine deficient (85% and 83%, respectively). Furthermore, dietary iodine was deficient in 23% of controls and 36% of cases. In cases, there was a positive association between UIC levels and serum thyroid stimulating hormone (r = 0.405, p < 0.01) and a negative association with serum fT₄ (r = −0.358, p < 0.01). Serum Tg antibody titers were also positively associated with dietary iodine (r = 0.328, p < 0.05). Patients with elevated serum autoantibodies had lower UIC and dietary iodine than those with normal serum autoantibodies. UIC was associated with dietary goitrogens including turnip (r = 0.280, p < 0.05) and pine (r = 0.289, p < 0.05) among cases. Iodine deficiency is common and the consumption of dietary goitrogens is high among euthyroid and hypothyroid subjects living in Jeddah.     

Impact of nano-zinc-oxide as an alternative source of zinc in date palm culture media

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Leaf chlorosis is often a problem in micropropagated&nbsp;Rubus&nbsp;idaeus, which makes successful acclimatization difficult. We found that...     

FTIR Assessment of the Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ginkgo biloba</Emphasis> Leave Extract (EGb 761) on Mammalian Retina

Ginkgo biloba extract has been therapeutically used for several decades to increase peripheral and cerebral blood flow as well as for the treatment of dementia. The extract contains multiple compounds such as flavonoids and terpenoids that are thought to contribute to its neuroprotective and vasotropic effects. In this study, we investigated the effect of prolonged administration of EGb 761, up to 10 weeks, on mammalian retina using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Two main groups were involved in this study: the normal group (n = 10); and EGb-administrated group (n = 50) that received—orally—a dose of 40 mg/kg/day EGb 761. The results demonstrated that EGb administration was associated with different beneficial effects on the retinal constituents especially the underlying amide I protein secondary structure components as well as the NH-OH region. It concluded that the optimum daily administration period of EGb (40 mg/kg) for ophthalmic applications that targeting the retina ranges from 5 to 8 weeks.