Influence of pentoxifylline on gene expression of PAG1/ miR-1206/ SNHG14 in ischemic heart disease

The regulation by immune checkpoint is able to prevent excessive tissue damage caused by ischemia reperfusion (I/R); therefore, the study aims to investigate the behavior of phosphoprotein associated with glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains 1 (PAG1) mRNA, miR-1206 and small nucleolar RNA host gene 14 (SNHG14) during I/R and intake of pentoxifylline (PTX) as a protective drug. The relative expression level of PAG1/miR-1206/SNHG14 was determined by qRT-PCR. Cardiac tissue levels of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) and PAG1 protein expression were determined by ELISA technique. The regulatory T cells achieved by the flow cytometry. The results found that the relative expression of SNHG14 was significantly upregulated in I/R, but suppressed in PTX treated groups with enhancement of the relative expression level of miR-1206. The gene and protein expression of PAG1 were downregulated with effective doses of PTX. The results showed that (30 and 40 mg/kg bwt) PTX dose suppressed the CTLA4 development significantly. The mean of the regulatory T cell in PTX protective groups is significantly reduced at (p < 0.001) in a comparison with I/R group. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between SNHG14 and miR-1206, but a significant positive correlation between SNHG14 and PAG1 in I/R heart tissue. The results indicated that miR-1206 and SNHG14 can be used as biomarkers with perfect sensitivity and specificity. Using PTX reduced cardiac tissue damage. SNHG14 and miR-1206 can be used as a diagnostic tool in I/R.     

Antioxidant enzymes of Pseudochlorella pringsheimii under two stressors: variation of SOD Isoforms activity

Journal of Plant Research - Algae are always facing the challenge of exposure to different stress conditions, therefore raising challenges of adaptation for survival. In this context, the growth...     

Hemoglobin-ligand binding: understanding Hb function and allostery on atomic level

The major physiological function of hemoglobin (Hb) is to bind oxygen in the lungs and deliver it to the tissues. This function is regulated and/or made efficient by endogenous heterotropic effectors. A number of synthetic molecules also bind to Hb to alter its allosteric activity. Our purpose is to review the current state of Hb structure and function that involves ensemble of tense and relaxed hemoglobin states and the dynamic equilibrium of the multistate due to the binding of endogenous heterotropic or synthetic allosteric effectors. The review also discusses the atomic interactions of synthetic ligands with the function or altered allosteric function of Hb that could be potentially harnessed for the treatment of diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Protein Structure and Function in the Crystalline State.     

Nitrogen fixation and nutrient uptake by two chickpea genotypes cultivated in sandy soils of Egypt

A field experiment was conducted to compare local chickpea (Giza 2) and its recently developed cultivar L₃. The two genotypes were examined for biological dinitrogen fixation and P uptake as enhanced by inoculation withRhizobium (Rh) and/or arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). Significant increase in dry mass was obtained by biological inoculation. Soil chemical and physical properties have a significant effect on the ability of the two genotypes to fix nitrogen on their P uptake and N content. Growth of the local genotype (G₂) was pronounced in sandy loam soil as compared with the sandy one.     

Exact solutions of Lotka-Volterra equations

The Lotka-Volterra nonlinear differential equations for two competing species P and Q contain six independent parameters. Their general analytic solutions, valid for arbitrary values of the parameters, are at present unknown. However, when two or more of these parameters are interrelated, it is possible to obtain the exact solutions in the P, Q phase plane, and six cases of solvability are given in this paper. The dependence of the solutions on the parameters and the initial conditions can thus be readily investigated.     

Pattern of intestinal parasitic infection in preschool children in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

A total of 1,167 stool specimens collected from 0.6-6 years old patients attending King Abdel Aziz University Hospital (KAUH) in Riyadh, were examined for intestinal parasites. Of these 243 (20.8%) were positive. Giardia lamblia (13.5) and Enterobius vermicularis (4.2%), were the commonest parasites found. Other parasites present include Ascaris lumbricoides, Entamoeba histolytica and Hymenolepis nana. Abdominal pain (38.6%) and diarrhoea (27.6%) were the most common causes of referral presented among both males and females examined groups. Out of 211 patients positive for different parasites and showing different causes of referral, 45.5% were accompanied with abdominal pain and 22.3% having pruritus ani, while the percentage of patients having diarrhoea and positive for different parasites (9.5%) are less. It has been concluded that diarrhoea is not a major sign of parasitic infestation in 0.6-6 years old age group. Other causes of referral include, loss of appetite, underweight and failure to thrive which are mainly associated with Giardia lamblia infection.     

Melanism and coat colour polymorphism in the Egyptian Wolf Canis lupaster Hemprich & Ehrenberg (Carnivora: Canidae) from Egypt

The Egyptian Wolf Canis lupaster was recently rediscovered as a distinct species on the basis of both morphologic and molecular genetic evidence. Phenotypical variability, including coat colour of this species across its vast, ecologically diverse range is yet to be investigated. In this paper, we present the first record of melanistic individuals of this species and compare their morphological characters and mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA sequences with those of typically coloured Canis lupaster and other closely related canids to verify their identity. We also study pelage polymorphism in a population of this species in the Egyptian Nile Valley and the Nile Delta and define its different colour variants. The typical colour, as well as the rare, very light and reddish coat colours are described. We discuss the possibility that the observed coat colour polymorphism is the result of hybridisation with the domestic dog and their potential adaptive significance.     

Study by transmission and scanning electron microscopy of the morphogenesis of three types of lingual papillae in the albino rat (Rattus rattus)

El‐Bakry, A.M. 2010. Study by transmission and scanning electron microscopy of the morphogenesis of three types of lingual papillae in the albino rat (Rattus rattus).—Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 91 : 267–278 Tongues were removed from albino rat foetus on days 12 (E12) and 16 (E16) of gestation and from newborns (P0) and from juvenile rats on days 7 (P7), 14 (P14) and 21 (P21) postnatally for investigation by light, scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. Significant changes appeared during the morphogenesis of the papillae. At E12, two rows of rudiments of fungiform papillae were extended bilaterally on the anterior half of the tongue. At E16, the rudiments of fungiform papillae were regularly arranged in a lattice‐like pattern. A rudiment of circumvallate papillae could be recognized. No rudiment of filiform papillae was visible. No evidence of keratinization was recognizable. At P0, rudiments of filiform papillae were visible but had a more rounded appearance, with keratinization. The fungiform and circumvallate papillae were large and their outlines were somewhat irregular as that found in the adult rat. At P7, the filiform papillae were large and slender. The fungiform papillae became large and the shape of circumvallate papillae was almost similar to that observed in the adult. At P14 and P21, the shape and structure of the three types of papillae were irregular as those found in the adult. In conclusion, the rudiments of the fungiform and circumvallate papillae were visible earlier than those of the filiform papillae. The morphogenesis of filiform papillae advanced in a parallel manner with the keratinization of the lingual epithelium, in the period from just before birth to a few weeks after birth.