Camelus dromedarius Putative Cytochrome P450 Enzyme CYP2E1: Complete Coding Sequence and Phylogenetic Tree

This study determined the full-length sequence of CYP2E1, one of six cytochrome P450 genes previously examined in camel tissues by western blotting and semi-quantitative PCR. The Camelus dromedarius CYP2E1 has an open reading frame of 1,473 bp, and the cDNA encodes a protein of 490 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 54.8 kDa. The deduced amino acid sequence showed the highest identity with Bos taurus (88%), Sus scrofa (87%), and Homo sapiens (83%). In a phylogenetic analysis, the C. dromedarius CYP2E1 isoform was located beside cattle and pigs. The deduced amino acid sequence of camel CYP2E1 showed the conserved proline-rich amino terminus and the heme-binding signature localized near the carboxy terminus of the protein.     

Role of a reaction coordinate in free energy calculations

Abstract

The free energy calculation method emerges as a viable technique for ‘in-silico’ calorimetry. Efficient sampling techniques and the good choice of a reaction path connecting the reactant and the product state enable accurate computations of the free energy differences. We argue that in many cases the thermodynamic integration technique has the lowest variance when the transformation between the reactant and the product state proceeds along the natural path of the studied chemical reaction. We provide examples of free energy calculations for the fragmentation of the charged clusters and the swapping reaction of oligomer formation in proteins that follow a tentative reaction mechanism.     

Therapeutic potency of pharmacological adenosine receptors agonist/antagonist on cancer cell apoptosis in tumor microenvironment,current status,and perspectives

The hypoxic niche of tumor leads to a tremendous increase in the extracellular adenosine concentration through alteration of adenosine metabolism in the tumor microenvironment (TME). This consequently affects cancer progression, local immune responses, and apoptosis of tumor cells. Regulatory effect of adenosine on apoptosis in TME depends on the cancer cell type, pharmacological characteristics of adenosine receptor subtypes, and the adenosine concentration in the tumor niche. Exploiting specific pharmacological adenosine receptor agonist and antagonist inducing apoptosis in cancer cells can be considered as a proper procedure to control cancer progression. This review summarizes the regulatory role of adenosine in cancer cell apoptosis for a better understanding, and hence better management of the disease.     

New amperometric biosensors based on diamond paste for the assay of L- and D-pipecolic acids in serum samples

Monocrystalline natural diamond, L-amino acid oxidase (L-AAOD), D-amino acid oxidase (D-AAOD), and paraffin oil were used for the design of the modified diamond paste. The technique used for the direct voltammetric assay was differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with applied potential pulse amplitude of 25 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. Using the new amperometric biosensors L-pipecolic acid (L-PA) and D-pipecolic acid (D-PA) were determined reliably from serum samples at 700 and 200 mV vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively, with low limits of detection.     

Biostratigraphy and stage boundaries of the upper Cretaceous–early Paleogene successions in southern Galala area,North-Eastern Desert,Egypt

The foraminiferal contents of three surface sections [Gebel Tarboul, Wadi Tarfa (WT) and Bir Dakhl (BD) sections] in southern Galala area, North-Eastern Desert, Egypt, have been studied in detail and used in biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy of the upper Cretaceous–Paleogene successions. Sixty-nine planktonic foraminiferal species belonging to 23 genera have yielded 17 biozones. They are given in ascending order: Globotruncana aegyptiaca Interval Zone (IZ), Gansserina gansseri IZ, Contusotruncana contusa–Racemiguembelina fructicosa IZ, Abathomphalus mayaroensis IZ, P1c, P2, P3, P3a, P3b, P4, P4a, P4b, P4c, P5, E1, E2, E3, E4 and E5. Moreover, local and widespread regional hiatus was detected in the pelagic to hemipelagic sequence during Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary in southern Galala Sub-basin. This hiatus corresponds to the Early Maastrichtian–Early Eocene in Gebel Tarboul, the interval between Late Maastrichtian–Early Paleocene throughout WT sequences and Late Maastrichtian–Late Paleocene in BD section.     

Effect of adding plyometric training to physical education sessions on specific biomechanical parameters in primary school girls

Objectives:The study aimed to determine the effect of adding a school-based plyometric training program (PMT) to physical education (PE) sessions on the strength, balance, and flexibility in primary school girls.Methods:Students from grades 3-6 were randomized equally to a plyometric or control group. In the control group, students took their regular PE classes twice a week. In the plyometric group, students performed PMT twice a week during the initial 20 minutes of every PE session. The Lido Linea closed kinetic chain isokinetic dynamometer, Star excursion balance test (SEBT), and sit-and-reach test were used to assess muscle strength, balance, and flexibility, respectively, before and after nine weeks of training.Results:The improvement in extension peak force (p=0.04) and extension total work (p<0.001) was more prevalent in the PMT group than in the control group. SEBT scores had improved significantly (p<0.05) for all directions in the PMT group, except in the anterior direction, which was highly significant (p<0.001). Hamstring and lower back flexibility had improved more in the PMT group than in the control group (p<0.001).Conclusion:Adding PMT to regular PE classes has a positive and notable effect on muscle strength, balance, and flexibility in primary school students.     

Phylogenetic Analysis of Clinically Relevant Fusarium Species in Iran

Mycopathologia - Fungi of the genus Fusarium are well known as major plant pathogens but also cause a broad spectrum of human infections. Sixty-three clinical isolates, collected during...     

Genomewide linkage scan for split-hand/foot malformation with long-bone deficiency in a large Arab family identifies two novel susceptibility loci on chromosomes 1q42.2-q43 and 6q14.1

Split-hand/foot malformation with long-bone deficiency (SHFLD) is a rare, severe limb deformity characterized by tibia aplasia with or without split-hand/split-foot deformity. Identification of genetic susceptibility loci for SHFLD has been unsuccessful because of its rare incidence, variable phenotypic expression and associated anomalies, and uncertain inheritance pattern. SHFLD is usually inherited as an autosomal dominant trait with reduced penetrance, although recessive inheritance has also been postulated. We conducted a genomewide linkage analysis, using a 10K SNP array in a large consanguineous family (UR078) from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who had disease transmission consistent with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. The study identified two novel SHFLD susceptibility loci at 1q42.2-q43 (nonparametric linkage [NPL] 9.8, P=.000065) and 6q14.1 (NPL 7.12, P=.000897). These results were also supported by multipoint parametric linkage analysis. Maximum multipoint LOD scores of 3.20 and 3.78 were detected for genomic locations 1q42.2-43 and 6q14.1, respectively, with the use of an autosomal dominant mode of inheritance with reduced penetrance. Haplotype analysis with informative crossovers enabled mapping of the SHFLD loci to a region of approximately 18.38 cM (8.4 Mb) between single-nucleotide polymorphisms rs1124110 and rs535043 on 1q42.2-q43 and to a region of approximately 1.96 cM (4.1 Mb) between rs623155 and rs1547251 on 6q14.1. The study identified two novel loci for the SHFLD phenotype in this UAE family.     

Eye lens and thyroid gland radiation exposure for patients undergoing brain computed tomography examination

This study aims to estimate the effective radiation dose and organ dose from head CT procedures. It was conducted in three main private hospitals in Khartoum State-Sudan, using Toshiba machines with 64 slices. The total number of patients included in this study was 142 patients (82 males and 60 females). The effective dose and organ dose were calculated by CT Expo software. The effective dose slightly varied among patients according to gender and age. The effective dose for female patients (5.99 mSv) was higher than that for male patients (5.84 mSv), and the pediatric dose (5.46 mSv) was lower than the adults’ dose (5.94 mSv).The dose for eye lens was found lower for male patients (89.117 mSv) than the dose for female patients (94.62) mSv). According to patients’ age: the dose received by the lens of the eye was much lower in pediatric (79.93 mSv) than the adults (92.41 mSv). The dose for thyroid in female patients (33.52 mSv) was higher than the male patients (28 mSv). The pediatric dose (28.34 mSv) was lower than the adults’ dose (30.64 mSv).Departmental imaging protocol and lack of training among hospital staff are expected to be responsible for these variations. Therefore, this study recommends that the CT technologists be trained on suitable strategies to achieve dose optimization. Moreover, patients’ doses must be monitored regularly.