Targeting ERK/COX-2 signaling pathway in permethrin-induced testicular toxicity: a possible modulating effect of matrine

Molecular Biology Reports - Permethrin (PER), the prevalent synthetic pyrethroid, was reported to have genotoxic effects along with male reproductive organs impairment. Matrine, the Chinese herb...     

Mercury Concentrations in Common Tern Sterna hirundo and Slender-billed Gull Larus genei from the Shadegan Marshes of Iran,in North-western Corner of the Persian Gulf

We examined mercury levels in several tissues of Common Terns and Slender-billed Gulls collected from Shadegan Marshes of south-western Iran. In both species, total mercury content was highest in feathers followed by liver, kidney and muscle tissue. We found a significant correlation between mercury concentrations in kidney and breast feather (r?=?0.83, p?<?0.05), breast feather and liver (r?=?0.81, p?<?0.05) as well as liver and kidney (r?=?0.83, p?<?0.05). The contaminant levels in the feathers (11.53 and 15.32 μg/g in breast feather and tail feather, respectively) of Common Terns from Shadegan Marshes are higher than those reported for other tern species from elsewhere in the world, but feather mercury of Slender-billed Gull (6.61 and 5.35 μg/g in breast feather and tail feather, respectively) was similar to those reported for gull species worldwide. Mean values for mercury in the feather of two seabird species were higher than the levels known to cause adverse effects.     

Evaluation of Induced Apoptosis by Biosynthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells Using Bak1 and Bclx Expression

Doklady Biochemistry and Biophysics - Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) have peaked interests in many researches in these recent years due to their advantageous application in modern health care...     

Effect of chilling on growth and nitrogen assimilation in Azolla caroliniana

Azolla caroliniana was exposed to 5 °C in darkness for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7 d and then recovered for 7 d. Plants previously chilled for 2 or 3 d exhibited higher growth rates when transferred to normal temperature than either the control plants or those previously chilled for 5 or 7 d. Increased plant growth may be related to increased contents of chlorophyll, sucrose, and reducing sugars, due to increased photosynthetic capacity. In another experiment Azolla plants were chilled at 5 °C for 7 d and then transferred for 0, 4, 8, 12, or 16 d recovery to the N-free Hoagland solution or Hoagland solution containing 5 mM KNO₃. In previously chilled plants, the growth rate was decreased. In the medium supplemented with nitrogen, the growth rate was greater than in the N-free medium in both chilled and nonchilled plants. In chilled plants the decrease in growth rate may be related to the disturbance of Anabaena azollae cells where the protecting envelope of the heterocysts was deorganized. During the recovery the rate of N₂-fixation increased in both chilled and nonchilled plants up to 12 d after which both rates were similar. However, during the first 4 d the rate of the nonchilled plants was approximately 4-fold that of the previously chilled plants. Nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase activities in control plants were higher than in those previously chilled for 7 d. Both activities increased in nonchilled and previously chilled plants up to 12 d then decreased. The total protein content increased up to 12 d in chilled and nonchilled plants after which it decreased. Under all treatments, the values were higher in nonchilled plants than in those previously chilled ones and were also higher in presence of N than in its absence. Thus the presence of N-source in the medium counteracts the effect of chilling injury particularly during prolonged recovery.     

Anti-Arthritic Activity of Schistosoma mansoni and Trichinella spiralis Derived-Antigens in Adjuvant Arthritis in Rats: Role of FOXP3+ Treg Cells

A growing body of evidence supports the concept of helminths therapy in a variety of autoimmune diseases. Here, we aimed to investigate the protective effects of autoclaved Schistosoma mansoni antigen (ASMA) and Trichinella spiralis antigen (ATSA) on the clinical and immunopathological features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Adjuvant arthritis was induced by subcutaneous and intradermal injections of complete Freund’s adjuvant into the plantar surface of the right hind paw and the root of the tail, respectively. Rats were randomly assigned to serve as normal control, untreated arthritis, ASMA or ATSA-treated arthritis groups. Antigens were given by intradermal injection in two doses, two weeks apart. The development, progression of arthritic features, and the impact on animals’ gait and body weight were followed up for 4 weeks. The associated changes in serum cytokines (IL-17, IFN-γ and IL-10), joints’ histopathology and immunohistochemistry of Foxp3⁺ T regulatory cells (Tregs) were evaluated at the end of the study. Treatment with either ASMA or ATSA attenuated the progression of clinical features of polyarthritis, improved gait and body weight gain, reduced the elevated serum IL-17 and further increased both IFN-γ and IL-10. Histopathologically, this was associated with a remarkable regression of paws’ inflammation that was limited only to the subcutaneous tissue, and a significant increase in the number of Foxp 3+ cells versus the untreated arthritis group. In conclusion, both Schistosoma mansoni and Trichinella spiralis derived antigens exerted protective effect against adjuvant arthritis with better effect achieved by ASMA treatment. This anti-arthritic activity is attributed to upregulation of the Foxp3⁺ Tregs, with subsequent favorable modulation of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The use of autoclaved parasitic antigens excludes the deleterious effects of imposing helminthic infection by using live parasites, which may pave the way to a new therapeutic modality in treating RA.     

Serum microRNA-33 levels in pre-diabetic and diabetic patients

Molecular Biology Reports - Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia and abnormal insulin secretion. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that are able to affect...     

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.     

The effect of magnetized water on the oxidation reaction of phenol derivatives and aromatic amines by horseradish peroxidase enzyme

The present study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the rate of the oxidation reaction of some derivatives of phenol and aromatic amines, that is, pyrogallol, catechol, resorcinol, ortho-aminophenol, meta-aminophenol, para-aminophenol, ortho-phenylenediamine, and para-phenylenediamine, in the presence of hydrogen peroxide in pure and magnetized solvents using horseradish peroxidase enzyme. The reaction was studied in the absence and presence of a magnetized solvent under completely identical conditions. The results showed that magnetized solvent could change the structure of the enzyme and reduce its activity. In addition, it affected the rate of oxidation of the selected derivatives through altering the strength of the hydrogen bonds of the system. The changes in the structure and activity of the enzyme were examined using UV–Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as viscosity measurement technique. Examination of the secondary structure via the far UV-CD spectrum indicated the increase in the alpha helical structure in the magnetized solvent. When dissolved in a magnetized solvent, hydrogen peroxide as an enzyme substrate reduced the rate of enzymatic reaction and provided lower saturation conditions for the enzyme compared with when it was dissolved in the pure solvent.     

Cultivation of a new microalga,Micractinium reisseri,in municipal wastewater for nutrient removal,biomass, lipid,and fatty acid production

Coupling of advanced wastewater treatment with microalgae cultivation for low-cost lipid production was demonstrated in this study. The microalgal species Micractinium reisseri and Scenedesmus obliquus were isolated from municipal wastewater mixed with agricultural drainage. M. reisseri was selected based on the growth rate and cultivated in municipal wastewater (influent, secondary and tertiary effluents) which varied in nutrient concentration. M. reisseri showed an optimal specific growth rate (μ_opt) of 1.15, 1.04, and 1.01 1/day for the influent and the secondary and tertiary effluents, respectively. Secondary effluent supported the highest phosphorus removal (94%) and saturated fatty acid content (40%). The highest lipid content (40%), unsaturated fatty acid content, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (66%), and nitrogen removal (80%) were observed for tertiary effluent. Fatty acids accumulating in the microalgal biomass (M. reisseri) were mainly composed of palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and a-linolenic acid. Cultivation of M. reisseri using municipal wastewater served a dual function of nutrient removal and biofuel feedstock generation.