Structure and characterization of a novel chicken biotin-binding protein A (BBP-A)

Background  

The chicken genome contains a BBP-A gene showing similar characteristics to avidin family genes. In a previous study we reported that the BBP-A gene may encode a biotin-binding protein due to the high sequence similarity with chicken avidin, especially at regions encoding residues known to be located at the ligand-binding site of avidin.     

Exploiting Nonlinear Recurrence and Fractal Scaling Properties for Voice Disorder Detection

Background  

Voice disorders affect patients profoundly, and acoustic tools can potentially measure voice function objectively. Disordered sustained vowels exhibit wide-ranging phenomena, from nearly periodic to highly complex, aperiodic vibrations, and increased "breathiness". Modelling and surrogate data studies have shown significant nonlinear and non-Gaussian random properties in these sounds. Nonetheless, existing tools are limited to analysing voices displaying near periodicity, and do not account for this inherent biophysical nonlinearity and non-Gaussian randomness, often using linear signal processing methods insensitive to these properties. They do not directly measure the two main biophysical symptoms of disorder: complex nonlinear aperiodicity, and turbulent, aeroacoustic, non-Gaussian randomness. Often these tools cannot be applied to more severe disordered voices, limiting their clinical usefulness.     

Certification procedures for nuclear fast red (Kernechtrot), CI 60760

Nuclear fast red (CI 60760), also known as Kernechtrot, is commonly used in conjunction with an excess of aluminum ions as a red nuclear counterstain following histochemical procedures that yield blue products. The dye has also been used as a histochemical and colorimetric reagent for calcium. Unsatisfactory samples of nuclear fast red are encountered occasionally, and confusion has resulted from applying the name of the dye to neutral red (CI 50040), an unrelated compound with different properties. Tests for the identity and performance of nuclear fast red have been developed in the laboratory of the Biological Stain Commission. The Commission will now accept samples submitted by vendors for certification. We describe here the spectrophotometric, chromatographic and biological staining methods that are used to identify and test nuclear fast red.     

Patterns of MADS-box gene expression mark flower-type development in Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae)

Background  

The inflorescence of the cut-flower crop Gerbera hybrida (Asteraceae) consists of two principal flower types, ray and disc, which form a tightly packed head, or capitulum. Despite great interest in plant morphological evolution and the tractability of the gerbera system, very little is known regarding genetic mechanisms involved in flower type specification. Here, we provide comparative staging of ray and disc flower development and microarray screening for differentially expressed genes, accomplished via microdissection of hundreds of coordinately developing flower primordia.     

Fluorescent-labelled aprotinin: A new reagent for the histochemical detection of acid mucosubstances

Summary Aprotinin (Trasylol®), a polypeptide protease inhibitor from bovine organs, has been labelled with fluorescein isothiocyanate to produce a fluorecent conjugate (FLA). The conjugate has been applied to paraffin sections of rat tissues and has been shown to act as a specific fluorochrome for acidic mucosubstances. There is reason to believe that FLA stains carbohydrates which owe their acidity to the presence of carboxyl groups. The histochemical findings are described and discussed and it is also suggested that attachment of aprotinin to extracellular polysaccharides in vivo may limit the therapeutic usefulness of the drug.     

A pilot study on the relation between irisin single-nucleotide polymorphism and risk of myocardial infarction

BackgroundMyocardial infarction (MI) is the major cause of death and disability worldwide. Many recent studies revealed the relationship between circulating irisin levels, endothelial dysfunctions and subclinical atherosclerosis in adult patients.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of Irisin gene single nucleotide polymorphism in patients with MI and its association with other clinical and laboratory variables in these patients.Patients and methodsThis study was carried out in 100 patients with MI, and 100 healthy subjects served as controls. All studied subjects underwent laboratory investigations, including measurement of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB), troponin I (TnI) and genotyping of rs 3480 and rs726344 of Irisin genes using the TaqMan Allelic Discrimination assay technique.ResultsThere was a significant difference of Irisin genotypes in patients when compared to controls. By estimating odd ratio (OR) an association was found between G allele of rs 3480 and A allele of rs726344with increase the risk of developing myocardial infarction by 4.03 and 3.47 fold respectively. GG of rs 3480 carriers had significantly increased Troponin I and triglyceride levels, while GA carriers of rs726344 had significantly increased CKMB, Total cholesterol, LDLc, HDLc, troponin I and triglyceride levels compared with other genotypes.ConclusionG allele of rs 3480 and A allele of rs726344can considered as genetic risk factors for MI; these findings could have an impact on preventive strategy for myocardial infarction.     

The eleventh reported case of Mulvihill-Smith syndrome in the literature

Background

The Mulvihill-Smith Syndrome was first recognized in 1975. After the recognition of the Mulvihill-Smith Syndrome, ten cases have been described.

Case presentation

This article describes the eleventh case of this syndrome in a male patient, 24 years-old with short stature and microcephaly with mild cognitive impairment, deafness and allergic conjunctivitis. The patient was hospitalized several times for repeated infections, and the presence of multiple melanocytic nevi on his skin was noticed.

Conclusions

Based on the entire set of signs and symptoms presented in our study, it was diagnosed the patient with Mulvihill-Smith Syndrome.     

Requirement for SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex in Tat-mediated activation of the HIV-1 promoter

Activation of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) promoter in infected cells requires the sequential recruitment of several cellular factors to facilitate the formation of a processive elongation complex. The nucleosomal reorganization of the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) observed upon Tat stimulation suggests that chromatin-remodeling complexes could play a role during this process. Here, we reported that Tat interacts directly with Brm, a DNA-dependent ATPase subunit of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex, to activate the HIV-1 LTR. Inhibition of Brm via small interfering RNAs impaired Tat-mediated transactivation of an integrated HIV-1 promoter. Furthermore, Brm is recruited in vivo to the HIV-1 LTR in a Tat-dependent manner. Interestingly, we found that Tat/Brm interaction is regulated by Tat lysine 50 acetylation. These data show the requirement of Tat-mediated recruitment of SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complex to HIV-1 promoter in the activation of the LTR.