Serum sialic acid changes in non-insulin-dependant diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients following bitter melon (Momordica charantia) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) treatment

Diabetes mellitus is associated with an increase in sialic acid concentration along with other complications. Sialic acid changes in NIDDM patients were investigated following bitter melon (55 ml/24 h) and rosiglitazone (4 mg/24 h) treatment. A total of 25 patients of both sexes were used in each experimental group. Patients following bitter melon treatment showed no significant difference of serum sialic acid (57.95±4.90 vs. 57.6±5.56 mg/dl, p=0.17) and serum glucose concentration (93.7±9.63 vs. 88.35±6.31 mg/dl, p=0.78) as compared to control subjects. However, the concentration of total cholesterol was significantly high in these patients as compared to control subjects (192±14.23 vs. 170.6±15.1 mg/dl, p<0.03) but within normal range (160–200 mg/dl), suggesting the significant hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering properties of bitter melon. The patients following rosiglitazone treatment showed a significant increase of serum sialic acid concentration (60.2±5.80 vs. 57.6±5.56 mg/dl, p=0.01) along with glucose (112±6.2 vs. 88.35±6.31 mg/dl, p<0.04) and total cholesterol concentration (216.45±20.2 vs. 170.6±15.1 mg/dl, p<0.01) as compared to control subjects. In addition six of the patients had retinopathy, two of whom were suffering also from myocardial infarction and they still had a higher serum sialic acid (61.05±1.20 mg/dl), glucose (187±2.11 mg/dl), total cholesterol (239.10±5.04 mg/dl) and triglyceride (183±4.14 mg/dl) concentration, indicating a poor response of these patients to rosiglitazone. Comparison of serum sialic acid concentration of patients, following bitter melon and rosiglitazone treatment revealed no significant difference but the study showed that bitter melon could be more effective in the management of diabetes and its related complications as compared to rosiglitazone.     

Synthesis and SAR comparative studies of 2-allyl-4-methoxy-1-alkoxybenzenes as 15-lipoxygenase inhibitors

A group of 2-alkoxy-5-methoxyallylbenzene were designed, synthesised and evaluated as potential inhibitors of the soybean 15-lipoxygenase (SLO) on the basis of the eugenol and esteragol structures. Compound 4d showed the best half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC??) for SLO inhibition (IC???=?5.9?±?0.6 μM). All the compounds were docked in the SLO active site retrieved from the Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics (RCSB) Protein Data Bank (PDB entry: 1IK3) and showed that the allyl group of the synthetic compounds similar to the linoleic acid double bond, were oriented toward the Fe3+-OH moiety in the active site of the enzyme and this conformation was especially fixed by the hydrophobic interaction of the 2-alkoxy group with Leu?1?, Trp?1?, Val??? and Ile??2. It was concluded that the molecular volume and shape of the alkoxy moiety was a major factor in the inhibitory potency variation of the synthetic compounds.     

Efficient isolation of high quality nucleic acids from different tissues of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus baccata</Emphasis> L.

Improved and efficient methods were developed for isolating high quality DNA and RNA from different sources of Iranian Yew (Taxus baccata L.). The methods were based on CTAB extraction buffer added with high levels of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and β-mercaptoethanol to properly remove polysaccharides and prevent oxidation of phenolics. The pellets obtained by ethanol precipitation were washed only with Chloroform: isoamyl alcohol (24:1). So, we could successfully eliminate the dangerous phenol/chloroform extraction steps from the isolation procedure. Both spectrophotometric (A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ and A₂₆₀/A₂₃₀ ratios) and agarose electrophoresis analysis of isolated nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) indicated good results. DNA with the average yield of 100–300 μg/g leaf and stem tissue and total RNA with an average yield of 20–30 μg/g cell culture and 80–100 μg/g leaf and stem tissue of Iranian yew could be obtained. Successful amplification of pam and pds by PCR and RT-PCR, showed the integrity of isolated DNA and RNA, respectively.     

A model of the evolution of dichogamy incorporating sex-ratio selection, anther-stigma interference, and inbreeding depression

Historically, explanations for the evolution of floral traits that reduce self-fertilization have tended to focus on selection to avoid inbreeding depression. However, there is growing support for the hypothesis that such traits also play a role in promoting efficient pollen dispersal by reducing anther-stigma interference. The relative importance of these two selective pressures is currently a popular topic of investigation. To date, there has been no theoretical exploration of the relative contributions of selection to avoid the genetic costs of self-fertilization and selection to promote efficient pollen dispersal on the evolution of floral traits. We developed a population genetic model to examine the influence of these factors on the evolution of dichogamy: the temporal separation of anther maturation and stigma receptivity. Our analysis indicates that anther-stigma interference can favor dichogamy even in the absence of in-breeding depression. Although anther-stigma interference and inbreeding depression are the key forces driving the initial evolution of dichogamy, selection to match the timing of pollen dispersal to the availability of ovules at the population level becomes a more potent force opposing the further evolution of dichogamy as the extent of temporal separation increases. This result may help to explain otherwise puzzling phenomena such as why dichogamy is rarely complete in nature and why dichogamy tends to be associated with asynchronous flower presentation.     

Cadmium Toxicity in Spermatogenesis and Protective Effects of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-Carnitine in Adult Male Rats

In this study, the effects of cadmium toxicity and the protective effects of l-carnitine on spermatogenesis in Sprague–Dawley rat were evaluated. Animals were subdivided into five groups. Cadmium chloride (1-mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally during 16 days at intervals of 48 h between subsequent treatments. l-Carnitine (500 mg/kg b.w., IP) was pretreated in both of control and cadmium-injected rats. Animals were killed on day 17 after the first treatment. The left cauda epididymis was removed and immediately immersed into Hank’s balanced salt solution for evaluation of sperm count and viability. Following contamination with cadmium, a decrease in the number and viability of cauda epididymis sperm, the number of cell proliferation, and Johnsen Scores in the seminiferous tubules was observed. Consequently, l-carnitine treatment caused an increase in the number and viability of cauda epididymis sperm, the number of cell proliferation, and Johnsen Scores in the cadmium-induced group.     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) has been achieved from hypocotyl-derived callus culture in Pterocarpus marsupium. Ninety percent of hypocotyl explants (excised from 12-day-old in vitro germinated axenic seedlings) produced callus on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 5 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 1 μM a 6-benzyladenine (BA). Induction of SE occurred after transfer of callus clumps (200 ± 20 mg fresh mass) to MS medium supplemented with BA at 2.0 μM, where a maximum of 23.0 ± 0.88 globular stage embryos per callus clump were observed after 4 weeks of culture. Subculturing of these embryos on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 μM BA, 0.1 μM α-naphthalene acetic acid and 10 μM abscisic acid significantly enhanced the maturation of somatic embryos to early cotyledonary stage, where 21.4 ± 0.32 embryos per callus clump were recorded after 4 weeks of culture. Of 30-well developed somatic embryos, 16.6 ± 0.33 germinated and subsequently converted into plantlets on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 1.0 μM BA. The morphologically normal plantlets with well-developed roots were first transferred to 1/4-liquid MS medium for 48 h and then to pots containing autoclaved soilrite and acclimatized in a culture room. Thereafter, they were transferred to a greenhouse, where 60% of them survived.     

Efficient programming of human eye conjunctiva-derived induced pluripotent stem (ECiPS) cells into definitive endoderm-like cells

Due to pluripotency of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, and the lack of immunological incompatibility and ethical issues, iPS cells have been considered as an invaluable cell source for future cell replacement therapy. This study was aimed first at establishment of novel iPS cells, ECiPS, which directly reprogrammed from human Eye Conjunctiva-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (EC-MSCs); second, comparing the inductive effects of Wnt3a/Activin A biomolecules to IDE1 small molecule in derivation of definitive endoderm (DE) from the ECiPS cells. To that end, first, the EC-MSCs were transduced by SOKM-expressing lentiviruses and characterized for endogenous expression of embryonic markers Then the established ECiPS cells were induced to DE formation by Wnt3a/Activin A or IDE1. Quantification of GSC, Sox17 and Foxa2 expression, as DE-specific markers, in both mRNA and protein levels revealed that induction of ECiPS cells by either Wnt3a/Activin A or IDE1 could enhance the expression level of the genes; however the levels of increase were higher in Wnt3a/Activin A induced ECiPS-EBs than IDE1 induced cells. Furthermore, the flow cytometry analyses showed no synergistic effect between Activin A and Wnt3a to derive DE-like cells from ECiPS cells. The comparative findings suggest that although both Wnt3a/Activin A signaling and IDE1 molecule could be used for differentiation of iPS into DE cells, the DE-inducing effect of Wnt3a/Activin A was statistically higher than IDE1.     

Suitability evaluation of some specific crops in Souma area (Iran), using Cervatana and Almagra models

In the present study Cervatana and Almagra models from decision support system, MicroLEIS DSS, were applied to segregation of arable land surfaces from the marginal ones and suitability evaluation of wheat (Triticum aestivum), maize (Zea mays) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) in Souma area with approximately 4100 ha extension in West Azarbaijan. Obtained results from both models are presented and discussed in this research work. Soil morphological and analytical data were collected from 35 soil profiles, representative of the study area and stored in SDBm plus database. The control or vertical section of soil for applying and running the models for annual selected crops, was calculated by soil layer generator 0.0–50 cm in depth, or between the surface and the limit of useful depth when the latter is between 0.0 and 50 cm. According to results, 80.49% of the total area was good capable for agricultural uses and 19.51% must be reforested and not dedicated to agriculture. The lands with good capability for agricultural uses is classified as highly suitable area (S2) for wheat, maize and alfalfa, but results in 822 ha for maize and in 126 ha for alfalfa refers to an excellent suitable (S1) and moderately suitable (S3) classes respectively. The most important limitation factors are soil texture and carbonate alone or together and maize — wheat — alfalfa can be selected as the best crop rotation. A simple map subsystem (ArcView GIS) was used for basic data and models result demonstration on a map.     

A BAR domain-mediated autoinhibitory mechanism for RhoGAPs of the GRAF family

The BAR (Bin/amphiphysin/Rvs) domain defines an emerging superfamily of proteins implicated in fundamental biological processes by sensing and inducing membrane curvature. We identified a novel autoregulatory function for the BAR domain of two related GAPs' (GTPase-activating proteins) of the GRAF (GTPase regulator associated with focal adhesion kinase) subfamily. We demonstrate that the N-terminal fragment of these GAPs including the BAR domain interacts directly with the GAP domain and inhibits its activity. Analysis of various BAR and GAP domains revealed that the BAR domain-mediated inhibition of these GAPs' function is highly specific. These GAPs, in their autoinhibited state, are able to bind and tubulate liposomes in vitro, and to generate lipid tubules in cells. Taken together, we identified BAR domains as cis-acting inhibitory elements that very likely mask the active sites of the GAP domains and thus prevent down-regulation of Rho proteins. Most remarkably, these BAR proteins represent a dual-site system with separate membrane-tubulation and GAP-inhibitory functions that operate simultaneously.