Analysis of the complete genome of Fervidococcus fontis confirms the distinct phylogenetic position of the order Fervidicoccales and suggests its environmental function

The complete genome of the obligately anaerobic crenarchaeote Fervidicoccus fontis Kam940^T, a terrestrial hot spring inhabitant with a growth optimum of 65–70 °C, has been sequenced and analyzed. The small 1.3-Mb genome encodes several extracellular proteases and no other extracellular hydrolases. No complete pathways of carbohydrate catabolism were found. Genes coding for enzymes necessary for amino acid transamination and further oxidative decarboxylation are present. The genome encodes no mechanisms of acyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA oxidation. Two [NiFe]-hydrogenases are encoded: a membrane-bound energy-converting hydrogenase and a cytoplasmic one. The ATP-synthase is H⁺-dependent as inferred from the amino acid sequence of the membrane rotor subunit. On the whole, genome analysis shows F. fontis to be a peptidolytic heterotroph with a restricted biosynthetic potential, which is in accordance with its phenotypic properties. The analysis of phylogenetic markers and of the distribution of best blastp hits of F. fontis proteins in the available genomes of Crenarchaeota supports distinct phylogenetic position of the order Fervidicoccales as a separate lineage adjoining the heterogeneous order Desulfurococcales. In addition, certain F. fontis genomic features correlate with its adaptation to temperatures of 60–80 °C, which are lower than temperatures preferred by Desulfurococcales.     

MicroRNA-21 (miR-21) Regulates Cellular Proliferation,Invasion, Migration,and Apoptosis by Targeting PTEN,RECK and Bcl-2 in Lung Squamous Carcinoma,Gejiu City,China

Background

In South China (Gejiu City, Yunnan Province), lung cancer incidence and associated mortality rate is the most prevalent and observed forms of cancer. Lung cancer in this area is called Gejiu squamous cell lung carcinoma (GSQCLC). Research has demonstrated that overexpression of miR-21 occurs in many cancers. However, the unique relationship between miR-21 and its target genes in GSQCLC has never been investigated. The molecular mechanism involved in GSQCLC must be compared to other non-small cell lung cancers in order to establish a relation and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In the current study, we initially found overexpression of miR-21 occurring in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines when compared to the immortalized lung epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. We also demonstrated that high expression of miR-21 could increase tumor cell proliferation, invasion, viability, and migration in GSQCLC cell line (YTMLC-90) and NSCLC cell line (NCI-H157). Additionally, our results revealed that miR-21 could suppress YTMLC-90 and NCI-H157 cell apoptosis through arresting cell-cycle at G₂/M phase. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PTEN, RECK and Bcl-2 are common target genes of miR-21 in NSCLC. Finally, our studies showed that down-regulation of miR-21 could lead to a significant increase in PTEN and RECK and decrease in Bcl-2 at the mRNA and protein level in YTMLC-90 and NCI-H157 cell lines. However, we have not observed any remarkable difference in the levels of miR-21 and its targets in YTMLC-90 cells when compared with NCI-H157 cells.

Conclusions/Significance

miR-21 simultaneously regulates multiple programs that enhance cell proliferation, apoptosis and tumor invasiveness by targeting PTEN, RECK and Bcl-2 in GSQCLC. Our results demonstrated that miR-21 may play a vital role in tumorigenesis and progression of lung squamous cell carcinoma and suppression of miR-21 may be a novel approach for the treatment of lung squamous cell carcinoma.     

Rhodiola Rosea for Mental and Physical Fatigue in Nursing Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Fatigue is one of many unintended consequences of shift work in the nursing profession. Natural health products (NHPs) for fatigue are becoming an increasingly popular topic of clinical study; one such NHP is Rhodiola rosea. A well-designed, rigorously conducted randomized controlled trial is required before therapeutic claims for this product can be made.

Objective

To compare the efficacy of R. rosea with placebo for reducing fatigue in nursing students on shift work.

Design

A parallel-group randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of 18–55 year old students from the Faculty of Nursing from the University of Alberta, participating in clinical rotations between January 2011 and September 2011.

Interventions

Participants were randomized to take 364 mg of either R. rosea or identical placebo at the start of their wakeful period and up to one additional capsule within the following four hours on a daily basis over a 42-day period.

Outcomes

The primary outcome was reduction in fatigue over the 42-day trial period measured using the Vitality-subscale of the RAND-36, cross-validated by the visual analogue scale for fatigue (VAS-F). Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life, individualized outcomes assessment, and adverse events.

Results

A total of 48 participants were randomized to R. rosea (n = 24) or placebo (n = 24). The mean change in scores on the Vitality-subscale was significantly different between the study groups at day 42 in favor of placebo (−17.3 (95% CI −30.6, −3.9), p = 0.011), The mean change in scores on the VAS-F was also significantly difference between study groups at day 42 in favour of placebo (1.9 (95% CI 0.4, 3.5), p = 0.015). Total number of adverse events did not differ between R. rosea and placebo groups.

Conclusion

This study indicates that among nursing students on shift work, a 42-day course of R. Rosea compared with placebo worsened fatigue; however, the results should be interpreted with caution.

Trial Registration

Clinicaltrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01278992","term_id":"NCT01278992"}}NCT01278992     

Clonality analysis of archival cervical smears. Correlation of monoclonality with grade and clinical behavior of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

OBJECTIVE: To establish a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based clonality assay for archival cervical smears and examine its value in the detection of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and prediction of its clinical behavior. STUDY DESIGN: Dyskaryotic cells were microdissected from archival cervical smears of 33 cases and subjected to PCR-based clonality analysis of the androgen receptor gene. High-risk HPV subtypes were screened by PCR. RESULTS: Monoclonal patterns were found in 9/9 CIN 3 and 15/21 CIN 2, while polyclonal patterns were observed in the remaining 6 CIN 2 and 3/3 CIN 1. All patients with monoclonal CIN lesions, including 15 CIN 2, showed recurrence of the disease despite treatment. The original CIN 2 and recurrent CIN lesion in each of the 6 examined cases showed the same monoclonal pattern, suggesting a clonal link. In contrast, the patients with polyclonal CIN 1 or 2 became negative and remained disease free. High-risk HPV subtypes were found in all monoclonal CIN lesions, including 9 CIN 3 and 15 CIN 2, and in 4/6 polyclonal CIN 2 but not in CIN 1 lesions. CONCLUSION: Clonality analysis of cervical smears is potentially valuable in the identification of true neoplastic cells and prediction of clinical behavior of CIN 2 lesions.     

Gender Specific Association of Serum Leptin and Insulinemic Indices with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Prediabetic Subjects

Adipose tissue-derived hormone leptin plays a functional role in glucose tolerance through its effects on insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity which also represent the risk factors for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present study explored the gender specific association of serum leptin and insulinemic indices with NAFLD in Bangladeshi prediabetic subjects. Under a cross-sectional analytical design a total of 110 ultrasound examined prediabetic subjects, aged 25–68 years consisting of 57.3% male (55.6% non NAFLD and 44.4% NAFLD) and 42.7% female (57.4% non NAFLD and 42.6% NAFLD), were investigated. Insulin secretory function (HOMA%B) and insulin sensitivity (HOMA%S) were calculated from homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). Serum leptin showed significant positive correlation with fasting insulin (r = 0.530, P = 0.004), postprandial insulin (r = 0.384, P = 0.042) and HOMA-IR (r = 0.541, P = 0.003) as well as significant negative correlation with HOMA%S (r = -0.388, P = 0.046) and HOMA%B (r = -0.356, P = 0.039) in male prediabetic subjects with NAFLD. In multiple linear regression analysis, log transformed leptin showed significant positive association with HOMA-IR (β = 0.706, P <0.001) after adjusting the effects of body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG) and HOMA%B in male subjects with NAFLD. In binary logistic regression analysis, only log leptin [OR 1.29 95% (C.I) (1.11–1.51), P = 0.001] in male subjects as well as HOMA%B [OR 0.94 95% (C.I) (0.89–0.98), P = 0.012], HOMA-IR [OR 3.30 95% (C.I) (0.99–10.95), P = 0.049] and log leptin [OR 1.10 95% (C.I) (1.01–1.20), P = 0.026] in female subjects were found to be independent determinants of NAFLD after adjusting the BMI and TG. Serum leptin seems to have an association with NAFLD both in male and female prediabetic subjects and this association in turn, is mediated by insulin secretory dysfunction and insulin resistance among these subjects.     

Age-dependent strategies related to lionfish activities in the Mexican Caribbean

Lionfish are successful invasive predators in the Caribbean region and inhabit a large range of habitats. Our study in the Caribbean has focused on the relationships between the biological characteristics of lionfish particularly their size, their activities and use of those different habitats. In this study, we observed a high number of lionfish individuals, focusing on the behavioural activities and biological traits in relation to different habitats and environmental characteristics. We monitored 793 individuals, recording their activities, biological traits, and habitat characteristics. Our results report that lionfish are not solitary, but frequently form groups for many activities. We provide evidence of differences between lionfish habitat use according to activity, and the size of individual fish. Considering the size is correlated with age, coral reefs appear to be the preferred habitat of older individuals, whereas the youngest lionfish use a diversity of habitats, ranging from mangroves to coral reefs. In addition, this study suggests that predation of lionfish is age-dependent strategy, and depends on time and the tone of the environment. Lionfish do not only use the head-down posture to catch prey but also horizontal and head-up postures. The youngest lionfish hunt mainly in dark areas and during the night while the older fish were observed hunting mostly during the day and in clear areas. These new aspects of lionfish ecology and behaviour are discussed in light of their invasive success.     

Differential migration of chiffchaffs Phylloscopus collybita and P. ibericus in Europe and Africa

Differential migration is a widespread, but poorly understood, phenomenon in birds. In this paper, we present the first detailed field study of differential migration in the Old World warbler (Sylviidae) family. We studied two chiffchaff Phylloscopus [collybita] semispecies: the common chiffchaff P. [c.] collybita and the Iberian chiffchaff P. [c.] ibericus. Using data collected at several latitudes in Europe and Africa, we present convincing evidence for differential distance migration of sexes in chiffchaffs, with females moving further than males. Interestingly, while there was a pronounced gradient in the sex‐ratios in Europe and North Africa (with an increasing proportion of females with declining latitude), no clear pattern was found south of the Sahara, where sex‐ratios were more male‐biased than predicted by a simple latitude model. This suggests that, amongst the chiffchaffs wintering in West Africa, a large proportion is composed by Iberian birds, and provides support to previous suggestions that Iberian chiffchaffs are long distance migrants. Results from detailed studies in Senegal also show that chiffchaffs display differential timing of spring migration, with males leaving the winter quarters considerably earlier than females. The results are discussed in the framework of the three main (non‐mutually exclusive) hypotheses attempting to explain the latitudinal segregation of the sexes. Given the relative failure of standard comparative studies to discriminate between competing single‐factor hypotheses to explain differential migration, it is argued that the chiffchaff species complex might be particularly suited to study this issue using a new approach suggested by Cristol et al. (1999) : detailed (further) comparisons between closely related species (such as the common and the Iberian chiffchaffs) could help identifying the key factors to be incorporated into optimality models that can predict relative distance of migration of different sex or age classes.     

Phytoremediation of domestic wastewaters in free water surface constructed wetlands using Azolla pinnata

Two constructed wetlands, one with Azolla pinnata plant (CW1) and the other without (CW2) for treating domestic wastewaters were developed. Fifteen water parameters which include: Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD₅), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), Total Phosphorus (TP), Total Nitrogen (TN), Ammoniacal Nitrogen (NH₃N), Turbidity, pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Iron (Fe), Magnesium (Mg), Manganese (Mn), and heavy metals such as Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. The experiments were conducted in two (dry and wet) seasons simultaneously. Results showed considerable reductions in all parameters and metals including Zn in CW1 compared with CW2 in the two seasons considered while Pb and Mn were not detected throughout the study. Zn concentration levels reduced significantly in both seasons just as removal efficiencies of 70.03% and 64.51% were recorded for CW1 while 35.17% and 33.45% were recorded for CW2 in both seasons. There were no significant differences in the removal efficiencies of Fe in both seasons as 99.55%, 59.09%, 88.89%, and 53.56% were recorded in CW1 and CW2 respectively. Azolla pinnata has proved effective in domestic wastewater phytoremediation studies.