Glycolysis during gluconeogenesis in cotyledons of Cucurbita pepo

The aim of this work was to investigate the extent of glycolysis during gluconeogenesis in the germination of marrow (Cucurbita pepo L. var. medullosa Alef.). The activities of phosphofructokinase (E.C. 2.7.1.11) in extracts of cotyledons, of seeds, and seedlings grown in the dark for 2, 5, and 8 days were 3·5, 4·8, 9·4, and 11·8 nmol substrate consumed per cotyledon per min, respectively. The comparable figures for pyruvate kinase (E.C. 2.7.1.41) were 16·3, 72·3, 974, and 1485. The patterns of ¹⁴CO₂ production from [1-¹⁴C], [2-¹⁴C], [3,4-¹⁴C], and [6-¹⁴C]glucose indicated that at all the above stages of germination glycolysis was appreciable and predominated over the pentose phosphate pathway. These patterns, and the distribution of label from [1-¹⁴C], and [3-¹⁴C]pyruvate supplied to 5-day-old cotyledons, indicated that the pyruvate formed in glycolysis was converted to acetyl units that were used primarily in biosyntheses. It is concluded that glycolysis occurred at all the stages of germination examined and was particularly active during gluconeogenesis. It is suggested that the significance of this glycolysis is the provision of intermediates for biosyntheses, a need that may not be met by corresponding gluconeogenic intermediates as these may be retained within organelles.     

Association of obesity with rs1421085 and rs9939609 polymorphisms of FTO gene

The aim of this study is to investigate the genetic influence of polymorphisms in fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene on a sample of obese subjects and controls. Obesity is an epidemic all over the world. Several polymorphisms in the first intron of FTO gene have been associated with common forms of human obesity. In this research rs1421085 and rs9939609 polymorphisms of FTO gene were genotyped in 190 obese patients with a BMI ≥30 kg/m² (Body Mass Index) and 97 healthy controls with a BMI of 18.5–24.9. Genotyping of SNPs was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Body composition was established with bioelectric impedance analysis. Waist-to-hip ratio was determined for all participants. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between obese cases and controls in terms of genotype frequencies of rs1421085 and rs9939609 polymorphisms in our study. Also there were no significant correlations between genotypes and obesity related (anthropometric-body composition) parameters (P > 0.05).     

Scabies and Impetigo Prevalence and Risk Factors in Fiji: A National Survey

BackgroundScabies is recognised as a major public health problem in many countries, and is responsible for significant morbidity due to secondary bacterial infection of the skin causing impetigo, abscesses and cellulitis, that can in turn lead to serious systemic complications such as septicaemia, kidney disease and, potentially, rheumatic heart disease. Despite the apparent burden of disease in many countries, there have been few large-scale surveys of scabies prevalence or risk factors. We undertook a population-based survey in Fiji of scabies and impetigo to evaluate the magnitude of the problem and inform public health strategies.ConclusionsAs far as we are aware, this is the first national survey of scabies and impetigo ever conducted. We found that scabies occurs at high levels across all age groups, ethnicities, and geographical locations. Improved strategies are urgently needed to achieve control of scabies and its complications in endemic communities.     

β-Glucuronidase and hexosaminidase are marker enzymes for different compartments of the endo-lysosomal system in mussel digestive cells

In environmental toxicology, the most commonly used techniques used to visualise lysosomes in order to determine their responses to pollutants (LSC test: lysosomal structural changes test; LMS test: lysosomal membrane stability test) are based on the histochemical application of lysosomal marker enzymes. In mussel digestive cells, the marker enzymes used are β-glucuronidase (β-Gus) and hexosaminidase (Hex). The present work has been aimed at determining the distribution of these lysosomal marker enzymes in the various compartments of the endo-lysosomal system (ELS) of mussel digestive cells and at exploring whether intercellular transfer of lysosomal enzymes occurs between digestive and basophilic cells. Immunogold cytochemistry has allowed us to conclude that β-Gus is present in every compartment of the digestive cell ELS, whereas Hex is not so widely distributed. Moreover, Hex is intimately linked to the lysosomal membrane, whereas β-Gus appears to be not necessarily membrane-bound. Therefore, two populations of heterolysosomes with different enzyme load and membrane stability have been distinguished in the digestive cell. In addition, heterolysosomes of different electron density have been commonly observed merging together by contact; we suggest that some might act as storage granules for lysosomal enzymes. On the other hand, β-Gus seems to be released to the digestive alveolar lumen in secretory lysosomes produced by basophilic cells and endocytosed by digestive cells. Regarding the implications of the present study on the interpretation of lysosomal biomarkers, we conclude that β-Gus, but not Hex, histochemistry provides an appropriate marker for the LSC test and that, although both lysosomal marker enzymes can be employed in the LMS test, different values would be obtained depending on the marker enzyme employed. This study was funded by the University of the Basque Country through a grant to Consolidated Research Groups. U.I. is a recipient of a pre-doctoral fellowship from the Basque Government.     

Genetic manipulation of 6-phosphofructokinase in potato tubers

The aim of this work was to discover whether genetic manipulation of 6-phosphofructokinase [EC 2.7.1.11; PFK(ATP)] influenced the rate of respiration of tuber tissue of Solanum tuberosum L. Transgenic plants were produced that contained the coding sequence of the Escherichia coli pfkA gene linked to a patatin promoter. Expression of this chimaeric gene in tubers resulted in a 14to 21-fold increase in the maximum catalytic activity of PFK(ATP) without affecting the activities of the other glycolytic enzymes. Tubers, and aged disks of tuber tissue, from transformed plants showed no more than a 30% fall in the content of hexose 6-monophosphates; the other intermediates of glycolysis increased threeto eightfold. Fructose-2,6-bisphosphate was barely detectable in aged disks of transformed tubers. The relative rates of ¹⁴CO₂ production from [1-¹⁴C]-and [6-¹⁴C]-glucose supplied to disks of transformed and control tubers were similar. Oxygen uptake and CO₂ production by aged disks of transformed tubers did not differ significantly from those from control tubers. The same was true of CO₂ production, in air, and in nitrogen, for tuber tissue. It is concluded that PFK(ATP) does not dominate the control of respiration in potato tubers.Abbreviations Fru2,6bisP fructose-2,6-bisphosphate - FW freshweight - GUS -glucuronidase - PFK(ATP) 6-phosphofructokinase - PFK(PPi) pyrophosphate: fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase     

Fine-needle biopsy in the early diagnosis of thyroid neoplasms

Among the patients directed to the Department of Endocrinology of the Institute of Internal Medicine for diagnostic examinations of the thyroid, 726 (647 women and 79 men, of age between 16 and 79 years) were qualified to surgery after scintigraphic detection of cold nodules. From this group, 474 patients had thin-needle biopsy specimens taken for cytologic examination. The results of the latter examinations have been compared with those of histologic examination performed on the tissue removed during surgery. The occurrence of a malignant tumor (in 99.1%--thyroid cancer) was found in 108 patients (22.8%) from the group having thin-needle biopsy performed. Comparison of the results of cytologic examination with those of postoperative histologic examination demonstrated low sensitivity of biopsy examination (50.0%), as opposed to high specificity (96.2%) and high accuracy (85, 3%). Analysis of the false-negative results (54/108) revealed that the main causes of errors are difficulties in differentiation of adenoma from follicular carcinoma. Widening of the indications to surgery by a group of patients with adenoma will increase sensitivity to 84.8% and will require including into the operated group of about 50% of patients with scintigraphically diagnosed cold nodules: The introduction of the new term: "urgent strumectomy", has been proposed; also a diagnostic algorithm, useful for early diagnosis of malignant tumors of the thyroid, has been discussed.