Somatotrophs and lactotrophs: an immunohistochemical study of Gallus domesticus pituitary gland at different stages of induced moult

The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of somatotrophs and lactotrophs and conduct a morphometrical analysis of immunoreactive somatotrophs and lactotrophs in the pituitary glands of White Leghorn Hens (Gallus domesticus) during the period of induced moult. We divided the periods of induced moulting into three phases viz. 7, 14 and 21 days. The labeled alkalinephsphatase method with anti-GH (growth hormone) and anti-PRL (prolactin) as a primary antibody was used to detect somatotrophs and lactotrophs, in the midsagital sections of chicken adenohypophysis. Immunohistochemistry showed that somatotrophs are not only confined to the cephalo-caudal axis but can also be found in the caudal lobe; while lactotrophs were distributed in both lobes of the anterior pituitary gland at all stages of moulting (7, 14 and 21 days). Lactotrophs were of different shapes but somatotrophs were oval to round in morphology. At the given stages of induced moulting, some hypertrophied lactotrophs were also present after 7 days of induced moult in the anterior pituitary gland. However, there were moulting-related changes: from 7 to 21 days of induced moulting the immunoreactive-PRL cell population decreased, while the mean lactotroph size was more than that of somatotrophs. Basic quantitative and morphological information relating to somatotrophs and lactotrophs during the period of induced moult in laying hens is reported here and the changes brought about by induced moulting are restricted to PRL positive cells rather than GH positive cells.Key words: Moult, pituitary gland, somatotrophs, lactotrophs, chicken.     

Incorporation of chlorohexidin diacetate into cotton fabrics grafted with glycidyl methacrylate and cyclodextrin

Linear electron beam radiation was used to induce grafting of glycidyl methacrylate/β-cyclodextrin mixture onto cotton fabric. Chlorohexidin diacetate was incorporated to the cavities of cyclodextrin fixed on the cotton fabric to form an inclusion complex having antimicrobial activity. After incorporating chlorohexidin diacetate, the fabric was subjected to several washing cycles to examine the durability of the antimicrobial finishing. Control and grafted cotton fabrics (before and after loading with antimicrobial agent) were characterized for their antimicrobial activity against different kinds of bacteria and fungi.Grafted fabrics loaded with antimicrobial agent were found to show good antimicrobial activity in comparison with control and grafted fabrics which are not loaded with antimicrobial agent. The grafted fabrics loaded with antimicrobial agent were found also to exhibit good antimicrobial activity after five washings and this lasting antimicrobial activity can be attributed to the inclusion complex formed between chlorohexidin diacetate molecules and the cavities of cyclodextrin.     

Epilepsy seizure detection using eigen-system spectral estimation and Multiple Layer Perceptron neural network

In this paper, a new approach based on eigen-systems pseudo-spectral estimation methods, namely Eigenvector (EV) and MUSIC, and Multiple Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural network is introduced. In this approach, the calculated EEG (electroencephalogram) spectrum is divided into smaller frequency sub-bands. Then, a set of features, {maximum, entropy, average, standard deviation, mobility}, are extracted from these sub-bands. Next, incorporating a set of the EEG time domain features {standard deviation, complexity measure} with the spectral feature set, a feature vector is formed. The feature vector is then fetched into a MLP neural network to classify the signal into the following three states: normal (healthy), epileptic patient signal in a seizure-free interval (inter-ictal), and epileptic patient signal in a full seizure interval (ictal). The experimental results show that the classification of the EEG signals maybe achieved with approximately 97.5% accuracy and the variance of 0.095% using an available public EEG signals database. The results are among the best reported methods for classifying the three states aforementioned. This is a high speed with high accuracy as well as low misclassifying rate method so it can make the practical and real-time detection of this chronic disease feasible.     

Six RNA Viruses and Forty-One Hosts: Viral Small RNAs and Modulation of Small RNA Repertoires in Vertebrate and Invertebrate Systems

We have used multiplexed high-throughput sequencing to characterize changes in small RNA populations that occur during viral infection in animal cells. Small RNA-based mechanisms such as RNA interference (RNAi) have been shown in plant and invertebrate systems to play a key role in host responses to viral infection. Although homologs of the key RNAi effector pathways are present in mammalian cells, and can launch an RNAi-mediated degradation of experimentally targeted mRNAs, any role for such responses in mammalian host-virus interactions remains to be characterized. Six different viruses were examined in 41 experimentally susceptible and resistant host systems. We identified virus-derived small RNAs (vsRNAs) from all six viruses, with total abundance varying from “vanishingly rare” (less than 0.1% of cellular small RNA) to highly abundant (comparable to abundant micro-RNAs “miRNAs”). In addition to the appearance of vsRNAs during infection, we saw a number of specific changes in host miRNA profiles. For several infection models investigated in more detail, the RNAi and Interferon pathways modulated the abundance of vsRNAs. We also found evidence for populations of vsRNAs that exist as duplexed siRNAs with zero to three nucleotide 3′ overhangs. Using populations of cells carrying a Hepatitis C replicon, we observed strand-selective loading of siRNAs onto Argonaute complexes. These experiments define vsRNAs as one possible component of the interplay between animal viruses and their hosts.     

Identification and isolation of a Castellaniella species important during biostimulation of an acidic nitrate- and uranium-contaminated aquifer

Immobilization of uranium in groundwater can be achieved through microbial reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) upon electron donor addition. Microbial community structure was analyzed in ethanol-biostimulated and control sediments from a high-nitrate (>130 mM), low-pH, uranium-contaminated site in Oak Ridge, TN. Analysis of small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene clone libraries and polar lipid fatty acids from sediments revealed that biostimulation resulted in a general decrease in bacterial diversity. Specifically, biostimulation resulted in an increase in the proportion of Betaproteobacteria (10% of total clones in the control sediment versus 50 and 79% in biostimulated sediments) and a decrease in the proportion of Gammaproteobacteria and Acidobacteria. Clone libraries derived from dissimilatory nitrite reductase genes (nirK and nirS) were also dominated by clones related to Betaproteobacteria (98% and 85% of total nirK and nirS clones, respectively). Within the nirK libraries, one clone sequence made up 59 and 76% of sequences from biostimulated sediments but only made up 10% of the control nirK library. Phylogenetic analysis of SSU rRNA and nirK gene sequences from denitrifying pure cultures isolated from the site indicate that all belong to a Castellaniella species; nearly identical sequences also constituted the majority of biostimulated SSU rRNA and nirK clone libraries. Thus, by combining culture-independent with culture-dependent techniques, we were able to link SSU rRNA clone library information with nirK sequence data and conclude that a potentially novel Castellaniella species is important for in situ nitrate removal at this site.     

Molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium isolates from humans and animals in Iran

Isolates of Cryptosporidium spp. from human and animal hosts in Iran were characterized on the basis of both the 18S rRNA gene and the Laxer locus. Three Cryptosporidium species, C. hominis, C. parvum, and C. meleagridis, were recognized, and zoonotically transmitted C. parvum was the predominant species found in humans.     

Characterization and Distribution of the Selected Metals in the Scalp Hair of Cancer Patients in Comparison with Normal Donors

Eighteen metals were estimated in the scalp hair samples from cancer patients (n = 111) and normal donors (n = 113). Nitric acid–perchloric acid wet digestion procedure was used for the quantification of the selected metals by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. In the scalp hair of cancer patients, highest average levels were found for Ca (861 μg/g), followed by Na (672 μg/g), Zn (411 μg/g), Mg (348 μg/g), Fe (154 μg/g), Sr (129 μg/g), and K (116 μg/g), whereas in comparison, the dominant metals in the scalp hair of normal donors were Ca (568 μg/g), Zn (177 μg/g), Mg (154 μg/g), Fe (110 μg/g), and Na (103 μg/g). The concentrations of Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, and Zn were notably higher in the hair of cancer patients as compared with normal donors, which may lead to a number of physiological disorders. Strong positive correlations were found in Mn–Pb (0.83), Cd–Cr (0.82), Cd–Li (0.57), Fe–Pb (0.56), and Fe–Mn (0.55) in the hair of cancer patients whereas Na–Cd, Li–Cr, Li–Co, Co–Cd, Li–Cd, Na–Co, Na–Li, Ca–Mg and Na–Cr exhibited strong relationships (r > 0.50) in the hair of normal donors. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of the data revealed seven PCs, both for cancer patients and normal donors, but with significantly different loadings. Cluster Analysis (CA) was also used to support the PCA results. The study evidenced significantly different pattern of metal distribution in the hair of cancer patients in comparison with normal donors. The role of trace metals in carcinogenesis was also discussed.     

Optimization of nutrient parameters for lovastatin production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Monascus purpureus</Emphasis> MTCC 369 under submerged fermentation using response surface methodology

Lovastatin, an inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, was produced by submerged fermentation using Monascus purpureus MTCC 369. Five nutritional parameters screened using Plackett–Burman experimental design were optimized by Box–Behnken factorial design of response surface methodology for lovastatin production in shake flask cultures. Maximum lovastatin production of 351 mg/l were predicted in medium containing 29.59 g/l dextrose, 3.86 g/l NH₄Cl, 1.73 g/l KH₂PO₄, 0.86 g/l MgSO₄·7H₂O, and 0.19 g/l MnSO₄·H₂O using response surface plots and point prediction tool of DESIGN EXPERT 7.0 (Statease, USA) software.     

Phylogenetic and Metabolic Diversity of Planctomycetes from Anaerobic, Sulfide- and Sulfur-Rich Zodletone Spring, Oklahoma

We investigated the phylogenetic diversity and metabolic capabilities of members of the phylum Planctomycetes in the anaerobic, sulfide-saturated sediments of a mesophilic spring (Zodletone Spring) in southwestern Oklahoma. Culture-independent analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences generated using Planctomycetes-biased primer pairs suggested that an extremely diverse community of Planctomycetes is present at the spring. Although sequences that are phylogenetically affiliated with cultured heterotrophic Planctomycetes were identified, the majority of the sequences belonged to several globally distributed, as-yet-uncultured Planctomycetes lineages. Using complex organic media (aqueous extracts of the spring sediments and rumen fluid), we isolated two novel strains that belonged to the Pirellula-Rhodopirellula-Blastopirellula clade within the Planctomycetes. The two strains had identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, and their closest relatives were isolates from Kiel Fjord (Germany), Keauhou Beach (HI), a marine aquarium, and tissues of marine organisms (Aplysina sp. sponges and postlarvae of the giant tiger prawn Penaeus monodon). The closest recognized cultured relative of strain Zi62 was Blastopirellula marina (93.9% sequence similarity). Detailed characterization of strain Zi62 revealed its ability to reduce elemental sulfur to sulfide under anaerobic conditions, as well as its ability to produce acids from sugars; both characteristics may potentially allow strain Zi62 to survive and grow in the anaerobic, sulfide- and sulfur-rich environment at the spring source. Overall, this work indicates that anaerobic metabolic abilities are widely distributed among all major Planctomycetes lineages and suggests carbohydrate fermentation and sulfur reduction as possible mechanisms employed by heterotrophic Planctomycetes for growth and survival under anaerobic conditions.     

Investigation on Mitochondrial tRNA<Superscript>Leu/Lys</Superscript>, NDI and ATPase 6/8 in Iranian Multiple Sclerosis Patients

As with chromosomal DNA, the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) can contain mutations that are highly pathogenic .In fact, many diseases of the central nervous system are known to be caused by mutations in mtDNA. Dysfunction of the mitochondrial Respiratory Chain (RC) has been shown in patients with neurological disease including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Multiple sclerosis (MS). MS is a demyelinating disease of central nervous system characterized by morphological hallmarks of inflammation, demyelination and axonal loss. Considering this importance, we decided to investigate several highly mutative parts of mtDNA for point mutations as MT-LTI (tRNA^{Leucine1(UUA/G)}), MT-NDI (NADH Dehydrogenase subunit 1), MT-COII (Cytochrome c oxidase subunit II), MT-TK (tRNA^Lysine), MT-ATP8 (ATP synthase subunit F0 8) and MT-ATP6 (ATP synthase subunit F0 6) in 20 Iranian MS patients and 80 age-matched control subjects by PCR and automated DNA sequencing to evaluate any probable point mutations. Our results revealed that 15 (75%) out of 20 MS patients had point mutations. Some of point mutations were newly found in this study. This study suggested that point mutation occurred in mtDNA might be involved in pathogenesis of MS.