Heat Shock Proteins of Pigeon Pea (Cajanus cajan)

The proteins synthesized in response to higher temperature ina tropical legume-plant pigeon pea (Cajanus cajari) have beenstudied using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Ten to twelveheat shock proteins (hsps) of molecular weights ranging from15 to 81 kDa are synthesized by excised roots when temperatureis raised by 10?C above their normal growth temperature (30?C).The heat shock response is rapid and the presence of hsps canbe detected just 30 min after raising the temperature. Hspscan not be seen in stained gels, and their presence can onlybe monitored by fluorography. The results indicate the transientnature of their synthesis. Most of the hsps are of nuclear origin,however, at least two of them, 18 and 60 kDa proteins appearto be synthesized in mitochondria. (Received September 2, 1987; Accepted February 3, 1988)     

Spectroscopic studies on a withanolide from Withania coagulans

The structure of a new withanolide was elucidated as 3β,14α,2Oα_F,27-tetrahydroxy-1-oxo-20R,22R-witha-5,24-dienolide using chemical and spectroscopic methods. The structure was corroborated by comparative studies with known closely related withanolides. Sitosterol-β-d-glucoside was identified through chemical and spectroscopic means.     

Process and Outcome Measures among COPD Patients with a Hospitalization Cared for by an Advance Practice Provider or Primary Care Physician

Objectives

To examine the process and outcomes of care of COPD patients by Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) and primary care physicians.

Methods

We conducted a cross sectional retrospective cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries with COPD who had at least one hospitalization in 2010. We examined the process measures of receipt of spirometry evaluation, influenza and pneumococcal vaccine, use of COPD medications, and referral to a pulmonary specialist visit. Outcome measures were emergency department (ER) visit, number of hospitalizations and 30-day readmission in 2010.

Results

A total of 7,257 Medicare beneficiaries with COPD were included. Of these, 1,999 and 5,258 received primary care from APPs and primary care physicians, respectively. Patients in the APP group were more likely to be white, younger, male, residing in non-metropolitan areas and have fewer comorbidities. In terms of process of care measures, APPs were more likely to prescribe short acting bronchodilators (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.18, 95%Confidence Interval [CI] 1.05–1.32), oxygen therapy (aOR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.12–1.40) and consult a pulmonary specialist (aOR = 1.39, 95% CI 1.23–1.56), but less likely to give influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations. Patients receiving care from APPs had lower rates of ER visits for COPD (aOR = 0.84, 95%CI 0.71–0.98) and had a higher follow-up rate with pulmonary specialist within 30 days of hospitalization for COPD (aOR = 1.25, 95%CI 1.07–1.48) than those cared for by physicians.

Conclusions

Compared to patients cared for by physicians, patients cared for by APPs were more likely to receive short acting bronchodilator, oxygen therapy and been referred to pulmonologist, however they had lower rates of vaccination probably due to lower age group. Patients cared for by APPs were less like to visit an ER for COPD compared to patients care for by physicians, conversely there was no differences in hospitalization or readmission for COPD between MDs and APPs.     

Vitamin E and regression of hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative stress in kidney

Hypercholesterolemia (HC) is an independent risk factor for the onset and progression of renal disease. HC induces oxidative stress (OS) in the kidney; Vitamin E (Vit.E), an antioxidant, slows the progression of OS in the kidney. This study was to investigate if Vit.E regresses the HC-induced OS, and the regression is associated with an increase in the antioxidant reserve (AR). The studies were carried out in four groups of rabbits. The kidneys were removed under anesthesia. OS and AR in the renal tissue were assessed by measuring malondialdetyde (MDA) and chemiluminescent (CL) activity, respectively. High-cholesterol diet elevated the serum total cholesterol (TC), and the regular diet with or without Vit.E following a high-cholesterol diet reduced the serum TC to control levels. HC increased the MDA levels of kidney by 5.54-fold compared to control. The MDA contents of the kidneys in groups on regular diet with or without Vit.E were, respectively, 56 and 53 % lower than the control group. The CL activity in the control group was 12.15 ± 0.73 × 10⁶ RLU/mg protein. The CL activity in HC group was 45.26 % lower than that in control, indicating an increase in AR. The regular diet with or without Vit.E following high-cholesterol diet normalized the CL activity/AR. In conclusion, HC increases OS in the kidney; reduction of serum cholesterol by regular diet regresses the renal OS but Vit.E does not regress HC-induced OS in kidney.     

Deficiency of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Adenylyltransferase 3 (Nmnat3) Causes Hemolytic Anemia by Altering the Glycolytic Flow in Mature Erythrocytes

NAD biosynthesis is of substantial interest because of its important roles in regulating various biological processes. Nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase 3 (Nmnat3) is considered a mitochondria-localized NAD synthesis enzyme involved in de novo and salvage pathways. Although the biochemical properties of Nmnat3 are well documented, its physiological function in vivo remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that Nmnat3 was localized in the cytoplasm of mature erythrocytes and critically regulated their NAD pool. Deficiency of Nmnat3 in mice caused splenomegaly and hemolytic anemia, which was associated with the findings that Nmnat3-deficient erythrocytes had markedly lower ATP levels and shortened lifespans. However, the NAD level in other tissues were not apparently affected by the deficiency of Nmnat3. LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics revealed that the glycolysis pathway in Nmnat3-deficient erythrocytes was blocked at a glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) step because of the shortage of the coenzyme NAD. Stable isotope tracer analysis further demonstrated that deficiency of Nmnat3 resulted in glycolysis stall and a shift to the pentose phosphate pathway. Our findings indicate the critical roles of Nmnat3 in maintenance of the NAD pool in mature erythrocytes and the physiological impacts at its absence in mice.     

Habitat‐Dependent Variations in Berberine Content of Berberis asiatica Roxb. ex. DC. in Kumaon,Western Himalaya

The variation of the berberine content in roots and stem bark of Berberis asiatica with altitude and edaphic conditions in the western Himalaya was estimated by HPLC. The comparative assessment revealed a significantly higher berberine content in roots than in stem barks. Moreover, the berberine content varied significantly with altitude and edaphic conditions both in root and stem bark samples. The populations growing at low altitude contained significantly more berberine than the ones growing at high altitude. Also the moisture and potassium (K) percentage of the soil significantly influenced the berberine content.