Is there any association of apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism with obesity status and lipid profiles? Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS)

Aims

Considering the key role played by the apolipoprotein E (Apo E) gene in the regulation of lipid metabolism and obesity, the current study has evaluate the association between abdominal obesity and Apo E gene polymorphism in a population of Tehran.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was performed on 345 men and 498 women, aged 19–86 years, selected from among participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study. The RFLP-PCR technique was employed to investigate polymorphism in the gene fragments. Based on the national survey of risk factors for non-communicable diseases of Iran, waist circumference (WC) cut off was set at 89 cm for men and 91 cm for women. The risk effect of obesity related variables and lipid profiles in two groups of WC were examined by logistic regression. For body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood sugar (FBS), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and blood pressure (BP), the standard risk cut-offs were applied.

Results

Frequencies of E2, E3, and E4 alleles were 9.7, 73, and 14.6%, respectively. The presence of the E3 allele was significantly associated with higher TG level in subjects with high WC, while, the presence of E4 allele decreased the plasma HDL-C (E2:52.1 ± 13.1 vs., E3:48.9 ± 11.2 vs., E4:44.6 ± 10.6 mg/dl, p < 0.05), HDL-C2 (E2:20.4 ± 9.2 vs., E3:19.1 ± 8.8 vs., E4:16.3 ± 7.9 mg/dl, p < 0.05), and HDL-C3 (E2:32.1 ± 7.4 vs., E3:30.3 ± 6.2 vs., E4:28.3 ± 6.1 mg/dl, p < 0.05) in normal WC subjects. The presence of the E3 carrier increased the risk of having higher plasma TG, compared with the E2 carrier (95% CI OR = 1.91, 1.02–3.57; p = 0.04).

Conclusion

According to the results of this study, the E3 carrier, caused an approximately 90% increase in the levels of TG in the group with abdominal obesity.     

Phylogeography and evolutionary history of reassortant H9N2 viruses with potential human health implications

Avian influenza viruses of the H9N2 subtype have seriously affected the poultry industry of the Far and Middle East since the mid-1990s and are considered one of the most likely candidates to cause a new influenza pandemic in humans. To understand the genesis and epidemiology of these viruses, we investigated the spatial and evolutionary dynamics of complete genome sequences of H9N2 viruses circulating in nine Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries from 1998 to 2010. We identified four distinct and cocirculating groups (A, B, C, and D), each of which has undergone widespread inter- and intrasubtype reassortments, leading to the generation of viruses with unknown biological properties. Our analysis also suggested that eastern Asia served as the major source for H9N2 gene segments in the Middle East and Central Asia and that in this geographic region within-country evolution played a more important role in shaping viral genetic diversity than migration between countries. The genetic variability identified among the H9N2 viruses was associated with specific amino acid substitutions that are believed to result in increased transmissibility in mammals, as well as resistance to antiviral drugs. Our study highlights the need to constantly monitor the evolution of H9N2 viruses in poultry to better understand the potential risk to human health posed by these viruses.     

Androgens Involvement in the Pathogenesis of Renal Stones Formation

Objective

The potential role for the gonadal steroids in the pathogenesis of urolithiasis, higher mean of plasma oxalate concentration and kidney calcium oxalate deposition influenced by androgens in men has been proposed. In this study, the serum levels of steroid hormones as a pathogenesis of this condition in male patients with active renal stone disease compared with controls was investigated.

Methods

Forty patients diagnosed with renal stones and hospitalized for further clinical treatments or referred to our office after ultrasonographic evaluations participated in the study. Forty six healthy subjects served as controls. Steroid sex hormones in the plasma samples including testosterone, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin were analyzed.

Results

A significant difference was observed between patients and the control subjects regarding serum testosterone, free testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, estradiol, and sex hormone binding globulin.

Conclusions

Based on the results, a higher androgens level was diagnosed in renal stone patients, indicating a possibility of a substantial pathogenic role of testosterone, free testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone involvement in the pathogenesis of renal stones formation. Therefore, data presentation and further investigation on the relation between male steroids and urolithiasis is of importance and should be considered in evaluation of the etiology of the disease.     

Identification of methionine oxidation in human recombinant erythropoietin by mass spectrometry: Comparative isoform distribution and biological activity analysis

Background: Oxidative degradation of human recombinant erythropoietin (hrEPO) may occur in manufacturing process or therapeutic applications. This unfavorable alteration may render EPO inefficient or inactive. We investigated the effect of methionine/54 oxidative changes on the amino acid sequences, glycoform distribution and biological activity of hrEPO. Methods: Mass spectrometry was applied to verify the sequence and determine the methionine oxidation level of hrEPO. Isoform distribution was studied by capillary zone electrophoresis method. In vivo normocythemic mice assay was used to assess the biological activity of three different batches (A, B, and C) of the proteins. Results: Nano-LC/ESI/MS/MS data analyses confirmed the amino acid sequences of all samples. The calculated area percent of three isoforms (2–4 of the 8 obtained isoforms) were decreased in samples of C, B, and A with 27.3, 16.7, and 6.8% of oxidation, respectively. Specific activities were estimated as 53671.54, 95826.47, and 112994.93?mg/mL for the samples of A, B, and C, respectively. Conclusion: The observed decrease in hrEPO biological activity, caused by increasing methionine oxidation levels, was rather independent of its amino acid structure and mainly associated with the higher contents of acidic isoforms.     

A single circuit-resistance exercise has no effect on plasma obestatin levels in female college students

Obestatin is a 23 amino acid peptide recently isolated from rat stomach that is encoded by the same gene as ghrelin. Obestatin has opposite action to ghrelin on food intake and plays a role in energy balance. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of a circuit-resistance exercise (9 exercises, 25s per exercise, at 40, 60, 80% of 1RM) at different intensities on plasma obestatin and growth hormone (GH). Twenty volunteer females were randomly divided into four; 40, 60, 80%, combined (40+80+80%) loads groups (COL). Blood samples were collected before and immediately following the exercise protocol. Changes in plasma obestatin levels were not significant within and between groups. Plasma GH concentrations were significantly higher in high and COL groups, respectively. The data indicate that although circuit-resistance exercise resulted in a significant change in GH levels, it had no effect on plasma obestatin levels.     

Airborne bacteria and fungi in a wastewater treatment plant: type and characterization of bio-aerosols,emission characterization and mapping

Aerobiologia - Exposure to bioaerosols causes infection, over-sensitivity, respiratory, and lung diseases. This study was conducted at Sanandaj wastewater treatment plant in three seasons of...     

Isolation of a new ssDNA aptamer against staphylococcal enterotoxin B based on CNBr‐activated sepharose‐4B affinity chromatography

Staphylococcus aureus are potent human pathogens possessing arsenal of virulence factors. Staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP) and respiratory infections mediated by staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) are common clinical manifestations. Many diagnostic techniques are based on serological detection and quantification of SEB in different food and clinical samples. Aptamers are known as new therapeutic and detection tools which are available in different ssDNA, dsDNA and protein structures. In this study, we used a new set of ssDNA aptamers against SEB. The methods used included preparation of a dsDNA library using standard SEB protein as the target analyte, affinity chromatography matrix in microfuge tubes, SELEX procedures to isolate specific ssDNA‐aptamer as an affinity ligand, aptamer purification using ethanol precipitation method, affinity binding assay using ELISA, aptamer cloning and specificity test. Among 12 readable sequences, three of them were selected as the most appropriate aptamer because of their affinity and specificity to SEB. This study presents a new set of ssDNA aptamer with favorable selectivity to SEB through 12 rounds of SELEX. Selected aptamers were used to detect SEB in infected serum samples. Results showed that SEB c1 aptamer (2 µg SEB/100 nM aptamer) had favorable specificity to SEB (k_d = 2.3 × 10^?11). In conclusion, aptamers can be considered as useful tools for detecting and evaluating SEB. The results showed that affinity chromatography was an affordable assay with acceptable accuracy to isolate sensitive and selective novel aptamers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Quantification and optimization of Candida albicans DNA in blood samples using Real- Time PCR

Background:

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is a major cause of candidaemia in people with impaired immunity. Blood culture is a “gold standard” for candidaemia detection but is time-consuming and relatively insensitive. We established a real-time PCR assay for C. albicans detection in blood by LightCycler PCR and melting curve analysis.

Methods:

Five milliliter blood samples from healthy volunteers were spiked with 10⁰-10⁶ C. albicans cells to determine the detection limit of our method. DNA was extracted from whole blood using glass beads and the QIAamp DNA Blood Mini Kit (Qiagen, Hilden Germany). DNA from C. albicans isolates were amplified with primers and inserted into Escherichia coli (E. coli) DH5α.1 cells with the TA cloning vector (Invitrogen). The plasmid was used for standardization and optimization. A quantitative PCR assay with the LightCycler amplification and detection system based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) with two different specific probes was established. To assess the precision and reproducibility of real-time PCR the intra-assay precision was determined in six consecutive assays.

Results:

No cross-reactivity of the hybridization probes with the DNA of non-C. albicans species or human genomic DNA was observed, which confirmed its 100% specificity. The minimum limit detected was one C. albicans cell or 10⁰ CFU/ml (10 fg) per PCR reaction. The real-time PCR efficiency rate for Candida was high (E = 1.95). Melting curve analysis of C. albicans showed a specific melting peak temperature of 65.76 °C.

Conclusion:

The real-time PCR assay we developed is highly specific and sufficiently sensitive to detect the fungal load for early diagnosis of invasive candidiasis. Key Words: Invasive candidiasis, Real-time PCR, Candida albicans     

Molecular Identification and Antifungal Susceptibility of Yeasts and Molds Isolated from Patients with Otomycosis

Mycopathologia - Fungal otitis externa, an infection of the external auditory canal caused by molds and yeasts, accounts for approximately 10–20% of ear canal infections accompanying high...     

Design and synthesis of new 1,3-benzthiazinan-4-one derivatives as selective cyclooxygenase (COX-2) inhibitors

A new group of 1, 3-benthiazinan-4-ones, possessing a methyl sulfonyl pharmacophore, were synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitory activity. In vitro COX-1/COX-2 inhibition studies identified 3-(p-fluoropheny)-2-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-1,3-benzthiazinan-4-one (7b) as a potent (IC₅₀ = 0.05 μM) and selective (selectivity index = 259) COX-2 inhibitor.