Exercise training enhances flow-mediated dilation in spontaneously hypertensive rats

This study investigated the effect of exercise training on the flow-mediated dilation (FMD) in gastrocnemius muscle arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). SHR and WKY rats were divided into sedentary and exercised groups. After swimming exercise for eight weeks, the isolated arteries were mounted on pressurized myograph and FMD responses examined. The role of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandins (PGs) and endothelium derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) on FMD were assessed by obtaining dilation responses in the presence and absence of pharmacological antagonists. N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), indomethacin (INDO) and tetraethylamonium (TEA) were used to inhibit nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase and EDHF-mediated responses, respectively. The FMD response was significantly blunted in arteries of SHR compared with WKY rats, and, improved by exercise training in SHR (SHR-ET) group. In SHR arteries, L NAME and TEA did not affect dilation responses to flow, while INDO led to a significant enhancement in this response. Although dilation response was not altered by L-NAME in arteries obtained from trained SHR, TEA caused a significant attenuation and INDO led to significant increases. These results demonstrate that exercise training improves FMD in SHR, and, this enhancement induced by exercise training occurs through EDHF-mediated mechanism(s).     

Characterization and purification of acid phosphatase from ancient human bone

In this research, acid phosphatase was purified and characterized from approximately 3000-year-old human bones from archeological excavations. Using anion exchange chromatography, two isoenzymes, TrACP and TsACP, were isolated from the bone. TrACP and TsACP were eluted separately, with a concentration gradient, from a CM-sepharose column. The resulting TrACP was further purified on a cellulose phosphate column. The activity was determined by using pNPP as substrate. Additionally, protein was determined by the Bradford and Coomassie Brilliant Blue method. The optimum pHs of TsACP and TrACP were 6 and 5, respectively. The optimum temperatures were 0 and 10 degrees C, respectively. Molecular weights were measured by gel filtration chromatography. The isoenzyme purity was checked with SDS-PAGE. Finally, the effects of sodium molybdate and tartrate on isoenzyme activity were determined.     

Female reproductive pattern of Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 (Brachyura: Portunidae) in Iskenderun Bay,Eastern Mediterranean

We studied the female reproductive pattern of Callinectes sapidus, which was introduced to the Mediterranean in the 20^th century. We assessed female size at first maturity, fecundity, and fecundity relationship to size in Iskenderun Bay, eastern Mediterranean, Turkey. Samples were collected between July 2014 and June 2015 using bottom trawling at depths ranging from 1 to 50 m. A total of 322 crabs were caught of which 308 (95.7%) were females including 116 ovigerous ones. The minimum carapace width of the mature females was 39.1 mm and the mean carapace width 123.8 mm. The carapace width of ovigerous females varied between 95.1 and 144.5 mm, with a mean of 120.3 mm. The highest number of ovigerous females was observed in July and August. Mean fecundity was 1.91 million (667,950–4,669,853) eggs per female. A weak positive linear relationship between fecundity and carapace width was noted, as well as a high correlation with total egg weight. In the eastern Mediterranean, maturity sizes of females were smaller than those in the native region of the species.     

Calculation of multicenter electric field gradient integrals over Slater-type orbitals using unsymmetrical one-range addition theorems

The electric field induced within a molecule by its electrons determines a whole series of important physical properties of the molecule. In particular, the values of the gradient of this field at the nuclei determine the interaction of their quadrupole moments with the electrons. Using unsymmetrical one-range addition theorems introduced by one of the authors, the sets of series expansion relations for multicenter electric field gradient integrals over Slater-type orbitals in terms of multicenter charge density expansion coefficients and two-center basic integrals are presented. The convergence of the series is tested by calculating concrete cases for different values of quantum numbers, parameters and locations of orbitals.     

Clusters of isoleucine,leucine, and valine side chains define cores of stability in high‐energy states of globular proteins: Sequence determinants of structure and stability

Measurements of protection against exchange of main chain amide hydrogens (NH) with solvent hydrogens in globular proteins have provided remarkable insights into the structures of rare high‐energy states that populate their folding free‐energy surfaces. Lacking, however, has been a unifying theory that rationalizes these high‐energy states in terms of the structures and sequences of their resident proteins. The Branched Aliphatic Side Chain (BASiC) hypothesis has been developed to explain the observed patterns of protection in a pair of TIM barrel proteins. This hypothesis supposes that the side chains of isoleucine, leucine, and valine (ILV) residues often form large hydrophobic clusters that very effectively impede the penetration of water to their underlying hydrogen bond networks and, thereby, enhance the protection against solvent exchange. The linkage between the secondary and tertiary structures enables these ILV clusters to serve as cores of stability in high‐energy partially folded states. Statistically significant correlations between the locations of large ILV clusters in native conformations and strong protection against exchange for a variety of motifs reported in the literature support the generality of the BASiC hypothesis. The results also illustrate the necessity to elaborate this simple hypothesis to account for the roles of adjacent hydrocarbon moieties in defining stability cores of partially folded states along folding reaction coordinates.     

Evaluation of oxysterol levels of patients with silicosis by LC–MS/MS method

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Aberrant structural formations of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase enzyme (SOD1) are the probable mechanism by which circumscribed mutations in the SOD1 gene cause...     

Prognostic significance of cell proliferation and apoptosis-regulating proteins in Epstein-Barr virus positive and negative pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma

Apoptosis-related genes and proteins and proliferation activity and their relationship with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a contemporary issue. In this study, prognostic or pathogenetic roles of EBV latent infection, proliferating activity, and apoptosis-regulating proteins in pediatric Hodgkin lymphomas were explored. EBV-EBER, lmp-1, ki-67, bcl-2, survivin, Bax, fas, c-myc, and p53, and apoptotic index were analyzed in 63 pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma cases. The results were evaluated by chi-square, Mann Whitney U test, Pearson correlation analysis, and Kaplan Meier survival analysis. Thirty-two cases were stage I or II, whereas 31 cases were stage III or IV. The mean age was 8.4 +/- 63.54 years. EBV was positive in 52 (82.5%) cases. Overall survival was 94% and event-free survival 83.6%. Bax expression was observed 74.6%, bcl-2 47.6%, survivin 43%, p53 33.3%, fas 54%, and c-myc 25.4%. The mean apoptotic index was 18.22%. The mean proliferation index was 57.83%. The proliferation index was positively related with EBV but not with prognosis. None of the parameters were related with prognosis. EBV was negatively related with the apoptotic index. There were no relationships between bax, bcl-2, survivin, p53, fas, and c-myc with EBV. These results suggest that EBV might play a role in Hodgkin lymphoma pathogenesis by inducing proliferative activity and inhibiting apoptosis. Apoptosis-related proteins were not correlated with EBV. None of the parameters was found to predict prognosis.     

Romanian experience in child celiac disease diagnosis

Last consensus in celiac disease in 2008 conducted under the aegis of the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition jointly with North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition reveals the following: "celiac disease is a chronic immune-mediated enteropathy characterized by sensitization to gluten. That can affect any organ or system, with a wide range of clinical manifestations of variable severity". Thus, in recent years, clinical picture of celiac disease has changed the old paradigm--bowel disease with villous atrophy and malnutrition, being replaced with the new paradigm--multi-organ autoimmune disease, affecting many organs and systems throughout but with more less specific symptoms, which undiagnosed leads to delayed diagnosis, at a late-onset disease and long-term major complications as the risk of cancer. According to this consensus "the serological diagnosis of celiac disease is based on high sensitivity and specificity tests", but in line with changing clinical features of celiac disease, its diagnosis has undergone significant changes in recent years. These changes in the diagnosis of celiac disease, we have decided to analyze them.