Inhibition of Hyperuricemia and Gouty Arthritis in BALB/c Mice Using Copper Oxide Nanoparticles

Biological Trace Element Research - Nanoparticles are known for their unique properties and are being utilized in various disciplines of sciences. Their nanosize enables them to higher exposure and...     

Effect of Endoxylanase and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on Performance and Histopathological Features in Broilers

Biological Trace Element Research - Endoxylanase enzyme is used as poultry feed additive to degrade anti-nutritional factors like non-starch polysaccharides. Moreover, iron is one of the most...     

Growth characteristics of Uranoscopus scaber Linnaeus 1758, inhabiting the Iskenderun Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean)

This study aimed to determine the age and some growth characteristics of Atlantic stargazer (Uranoscopus scaber) from Iskenderun Bay (Northeastern Mediterranean). For this purpose, a total of 150 Atlantic stargazer ranging in size from 9.1 to 28.0 cm in total length (weight: 11.7–345.7 g) were collected as by-catch from a commercial trawl fishing boat at a depth of 80–100 m between May 2015 and January 2016. The bottom trawl gear used was equipped with a 44 mm stretched mesh size net at the cod-end. The percentage of females and males were 46.7% and 53.3% respectively. The total length–weight relationships equation with coefficient of determination (R²) were found as W = 0.011*TL^3.131, R² = .9728, for all individuals, W = 0.015*TL^3.021, R² = .9512 for females and W = 0.0102*TL^3.136, R² = .9553 for males. By using the von Bertalanffy equation, the growth parameters of Atlantic stargazer were estimated to be L_∞ = 42.35 cm, k = 0.098, t₀ = −1.8474 for all individuals; L_∞ = 36.92 cm, k = 0.138, t₀ = −1.2693 for females and L_∞ = 38.77 cm, k = 0.1, t₀ = −2.334 for males. In this study, age reading was done by two independent readers and index of average percentage error (IAPE) was calculated as 6.1%. The highest condition factor value calculated as 1.81 in the age group 6 and the lowest condition factor value was calculated as 1.48 in the age group 1.     

Thyroid uptake test with portable device (COTI) after 131I tracer administration: proof of concept

Radiation and Environmental Biophysics - COTI (collar therapy indicator) has been recently introduced for the detection of gamma rays with emphasis on thyroid investigations. The aim of this study...     

Combination Therapy of Gabapentin and N-Acetylcysteine Against Posttraumatic Epilepsy in Rats

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health problem worldwide that is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Posttraumatic epilepsy (PTE) is one of the sequelae of TBI. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as an adjuvant on the efficacy of levetiracetam (LEV) and gabapentin (GBP) in PTE model encouraged by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) after mild-TBI in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Mild-TBI was performed by the weight-drop method in male Sprague–Dawley rats. PTE model was developed by injecting PTZ (30+15+15 mg/kg, 30 min intervals, i.p.) 7 days after head trauma. After the development of posttraumatic seizures, the rats were treated with NAC (100 mg/kg), LEV (50 mg/kg), GBP (100 mg/kg), NAC+LEV and NAC+GBP intraperitoneally for 14 days. Seizures related to PTE were scored by video-EEG recording. Motor performance of the animals was also evaluated in the rotarod test. 50 mg/kg LEV and 100 mg/kg GBP reduced seizures related to PTE. LEV alone (p?=?0.009), but the administration of GBP+NAC (p?=?0.015) was more effective on PTE-related seizure control. However, GBP+NAC application adversely affected the fall latency in the rotarod test. In terms of trauma-related seizure control, there was no statistically significant difference between the use of prophylactic LEV and symptomatic LEV. LEV alone or the combination of GBP with NAC provides more effective seizure control in the PTE facilitated by PTZ. On the other hand, the use of prophylactic LEV did not have any extra effect on posttraumatic seizure development and control.

     

Combining ecosystem indicators and life cycle assessment for environmental assessment of demersal trawling in Tunisia

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - The present study assesses environmental performance of seafood production by demersal trawling in Tunisia (Gulf of Gabes) in order to analyze...     

Strategies of enzyme immobilization on nanomatrix supports and their intracellular delivery

Abstract

Enzymes are one of the foundations and regulators for all major biological activities in living bodies. Hence, enormous efforts have been made for enhancing the efficiency of enzymes under different conditions. The use of nanomaterials as novel carriers for enzyme delivery and regulating the activities of enzymes has stimulated significant interests in the field of nano-biotechnology for biomedical applications. Since, all types of nanoparticles (NPs) offer large surface to volume ratios, the use of NPs as enzyme carriers affect the structure, performance, loading efficiency, and the reaction kinetics of enzymes. Hence, the immobilization of enzymes on nanomatrices can be used as a useful approach for direct delivery of therapeutic enzymes to the targeted sites. In other words, NPs can be used as advanced enzyme delivery nanocarriers. In this paper, we present an overview of different binding of enzymes to the nanomaterials as well as different types of nanomatrix supports for immobilization of enzymes. Afterwards, the enzyme immobilization on nanomaterials as a potential system for enzyme delivery has been discussed. Finally, the challenges associated with the enzyme delivery using nano matrices and their future perspective have been discussed.

Communicated by Ramasamy H. Sarma     

Mammalian cystatin and protagonists in brain diseases

Abstract

Cystatins are the thiol Proteinase inhibitors, present ubiquitously in mammalian body. They prevent unwanted proteolysis and play important role in several diseases. Regulation of cysteine Proteinase and their inhibitors is of utmost importance in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer, amyloid angiopathy and in many other diseases. The action of these cysteine proteases is biologically controlled by proteinase inhibitors namely cystatins(cys) they constitute a superfamily of homologous proteins. The major role of cystatins is to protect the organism against endogenous proteases released from lysosomes, invading microorganisms and parasites that use cysteine proteases to enter the body. An enormous progress has been made in understanding of protein degradation process under normal and pathological conditions; in fact proteases are now clearly viewed as important drug targets. Some studies have suggested that cystatin C is a target for intervention in neurological disorders because its expression increases in response to human neurological disorders and in animal models of neurodegenerative states. Although, these studies did not clarify whether CysC up-regulation is a pathogenic factor in neurodegenerative disorders or whether it represents a neuroprotective compensatory response of the organisms aimed to prevent progression of the disease. However, for other diseases in some cases cystatins other than cys C are up regulated and in some it is down regulated.

Cystatins have been implicated in the processes of neuronal degeneration and repair of the nervous system. Both CysC and CysB are potent, reversible inhibitors of most of the currently known cathepsins. The extent of proteolytic activity at any given time and location is the result of a balance between active proteases and physiological inhibitors. Uncontrolled proteolysis as a result of imbalance between active proteases and their endogenous inhibitors has been associated with neuronal cell death in different neuronal diseases, including brain tumors, stroke, some forms of epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and neurological autoimmune diseases.

An antidepressant is a psychiatric medication used to alleviate mood disorders, major depression and other brain diseases. Drugs including the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are most commonly used antidepressant. They are also used to treat other conditions, such as anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and chronic pain. Although the mechanisms of the action of these antidepressants are not precisely understood, their principal target of action is at the monoamine transporter proteins located at nerve endings. Monoamine neurotransmitter transporters act to terminate synaptic neurotransmission. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs are also most widely used class of antidepressants. They work by increasing the level of serotonin in the brain. SSRIs have fewer and milder side effects, fewer drug interactions, and are much less likely to be associated with suicide than TCAs.

These antidepressants shows binding when incubated with cystatin, presenting the involvement of these antidepressant in cascade of disease, as leaving no cystatin to inhibit the cathepsin showing the myriad side effect after the administration of antidepressant. This might be one of the reason in the mechanism of action of antidepressant.

So this review expound about the role of cystatins in neurological diseases which is considered to be highly significant as it pave the way for commanding tool in the drug design.

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma     

Curvularia asianensis and Curvularia eragrostidis associated with leaf spot of Sansevieria trifasciata in Malaysia

Leaf spot disease was detected on Sansevieria trifasciata in Malaysia. Two Curvularia species namely C. eragrostidis and C. asianensis were isolated as the pathogens. The isolated fungi were identified based on morphology and multigene phylogeny (ITS, GAPDH and TEF1-α). Pathogenicity tests confirmed the roles of both Curvularia isolates in causing leaf spot of S. trifasciata. To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. eragrostidis and C. asianensis causing leaf spot of S. trifasciata in Malaysia.