Influences of chemical fertilizers (in Vitro) on aflatoxin and citrinin synthesis by two strains of Aspergilli

The selective effect of various levels of phosphate and nitrate (as fertilizers) on biosynthesis of aflatoxin byAspergillus parasiticus var.globosus, and citrinin byA. terreus var.aureus was studied in defined culture medium. Phosphate at 35–175 mmol per 50 mL decreased aflatoxin production, but increased citrinin synthesis. Nitrate at 73–365 mmol per 50 mL stimulated the synthesis of aflatoxin but depressed that of citrinin. A rise in the levels of nitrate and phosphate led to a decrease in aflatoxin production, an increase in citrinin production and an accumulation of mycelial phosphate and nitrate contents.     

Maternal prenatal depressive symptoms predict infant NR3C1 1F and BDNF IV DNA methylation

Prenatal maternal psychological distress increases risk for adverse infant outcomes. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Prenatal stress can impact fetal epigenetic regulation that could underlie changes in infant stress responses. It has been suggested that maternal glucocorticoids may mediate this epigenetic effect. We examined this hypothesis by determining the impact of maternal cortisol and depressive symptoms during pregnancy on infant NR3C1 and BDNF DNA methylation. Fifty-seven pregnant women were recruited during the second or third trimester. Participants self-reported depressive symptoms and salivary cortisol samples were collected diurnally and in response to a stressor. Buccal swabs for DNA extraction and DNA methylation analysis were collected from each infant at 2 months of age, and mothers were assessed for postnatal depressive symptoms. Prenatal depressive symptoms significantly predicted increased NR3C1 1F DNA methylation in male infants (β = 2.147, P = 0.044). Prenatal depressive symptoms also significantly predicted decreased BDNF IV DNA methylation in both male and female infants (β = −3.244, P = 0.013). No measure of maternal cortisol during pregnancy predicted infant NR3C1 1F or BDNF promoter IV DNA methylation. Our findings highlight the susceptibility of males to changes in NR3C1 DNA methylation and present novel evidence for altered BDNF IV DNA methylation in response to maternal depression during pregnancy. The lack of association between maternal cortisol and infant DNA methylation suggests that effects of maternal depression may not be mediated directly by glucocorticoids. Future studies should consider other potential mediating mechanisms in the link between maternal mood and infant outcomes.     

Comparison of normalisation methods for surface-enhanced laser desorption and ionisation (SELDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry data

Background  

Mass spectrometry for biological data analysis is an active field of research, providing an efficient way of high-throughput proteome screening. A popular variant of mass spectrometry is SELDI, which is often used to measure sample populations with the goal of developing (clinical) classifiers. Unfortunately, not only is the data resulting from such measurements quite noisy, variance between replicate measurements of the same sample can be high as well. Normalisation of spectra can greatly reduce the effect of this technical variance and further improve the quality and interpretability of the data. However, it is unclear which normalisation method yields the most informative result.     

Genetic diversity and differentiation in nine West African local goat breeds assessed via microsatellite polymorphism

This study was carried out to study the genetic relationship among nine (9) West African goat breeds out of which 6 (Guinea dwarf, Kirdi, Ghana dwarf, Mossi, Togo dwarf, Senegal dwarf) were of the trypanotolerant type and 3 (Mali Sahel, Mauritania Sahel, Chad Sahel) were of the trypanosusceptible type. One hundred ninety nine (199) animals were genotyped using 10 microsatellites. The microsatellites loci analysed were highly polymorphic with a mean number of alleles of 11.7 ± 3.7 ranging from 6 to 20. Observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.603 ± 0.164 (Togo dwarf) to 0.726 ± 0.166 (Chad Sahel). It was lower than expected heterozygosity in most of the breeds indicating a deviation from Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. The Fst measure of genetic distance between pairs of populations showed the highest distance (0.098) between Kirdi and Guinea dwarf which presented an isolated position from the other breeds and the lowest distance (0.025) between Togo dwarf and Mossi. Our study showed that the genetic relationships among the concerned breeds correspond to their geographical distribution. In addition, Guinea dwarf is strongly separated from the other breeds.     

Hemolytic uremic syndrome following the infusion of oxaliplatin: case report

Background  

Oxaliplatin is a platinum derivative, which is used in the treatment of colorectal cancer. A small number of oxaliplatin-related hemolytic and/or thrombocytopenic reactions have been reported. We present a case of hemolytic-uremic syndrome that developed during the 4^th cycle of combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin.     

Clinical feasibility of mandibular implant overdenture retainers submitted to immediate load

Gerodontology 2010; doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00374.x
Clinical feasibility of mandibular implant overdenture retainers submitted to immediate load Introduction: Millions of people around the world do not have access to the benefits of osseointegration. Treatments involving oral rehabilitation with overdentures have been widely used by specialists in the oral medicine field. This is an alternative therapy for retention and stability achievement in total prosthesis with conventional treatment, and two implants are enough to establish a satisfactory overdenture. Objective: The objectives of the study were to evaluate 16 patients of both sexes, with an average age of 47.4 ± 4 years, using electromyographic analysis of masseter and temporal muscles and analyse the increase of incisive and molar maximal bite force with their existing complete dentures and following mandibular implant overdenture therapy to assess the benefits of this treatment. Materials and methods: For these tests, the Myosystem‐BR1 electromyograph and the IDDK Kratos dynamometer were used. Statistical analysis was performed using the repeated measures test (SPSS 17.0). Results: A decrease in electromyographic activity during the rest, lateral and protrusion movements and increase of the maximal incisive and molar bite force after 15 months with a mandibular implant overdenture was observed. Conclusion: All the patients in this study reported a considerable improvement in the masticatory function and prostheses stability following treatment. It is possible to propose that the use of mandibular implants overdenture should become the selected treatment for totally edentulous patients to facilitate oral function and quality of life.