Protective effects of cinnamon powder against hyperlipidemia and hepatotoxicity in butter fed female albino mice

A butter-enriched high-fat diet changes lipid metabolism, resulting in fat storage, hyperlipidemia and obesity. Effects of cinnamon powder were investigated in butter-fed mice. 40 Swiss Albino mice, aged 28 to 30 days, were randomly assigned into two groups. Group A was an untreated control group (n = 8) and another group (n = 32) was a butter-treated group fed 10% butter. In the fifth week, mice of the butter-fed group were further divided into four equal groups: B, C, D, and E (n = 8), fed 10% butter with cinnamon 200 mg, 400 mg, and 600 mg powder per liter drinking water, respectively for 10 weeks. The butter-fed group was gained the most weight. Cinnamon supplementation significantly normalized weight gain and had no harmful effects on hematological parameters. Butter supplementation significantly increased total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol (LDL-c) whereas, cinnamon powder significantly reduced TC, LDL-c and glucose levels. In butter-fed mice, a significant increase was observed in the liver enzymes, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels with subsequent fat deposition in the liver. Excitingly, these enzymes were decreased and no fat depositions were observed in the liver of cinnamon-treated mice. Applying different concentrations of cinnamon powder improved the lipid profile in butter-fed female albino mice.     

Isolation and molecular characterization of toxigenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus from the Kii Channel, Japan

Studies were conducted on the ecology of potentially pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus in three coastal areas of Kii Channel, Tokushima, Japan. Seawater and seaweed samples were collected seasonally between June 2003 and May 2004. Total and toxigenic strains of V. parahaemolyticus were isolated using most probable number culture and colony blot hybridization. Toxigenic strains were serotyped and further characterized by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and ribotyping. Six thousand strains of V. parahaemolyticus were isolated and 18 were found positive for tdh. V. parahaemolyticus were detected in all samples during summer and autumn, and from some samples during winter and spring. Among the toxigenic strains seven serotypes, five ribotypes and RAPD patterns were observed. Seven strains belonged to O3:K6 clone with identical ribotypes and RAPD patterns to that of a pandemic reference strain. The presence of toxigenic V. parahaemolyticus with pandemic potential might indicate a human health risk due to consumption of marine food sources.     

Pandemic strains of O3:K6 Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the aquatic environment of Bangladesh

A total of 1500 environmental strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, isolated from the aquatic environment of Bangladesh, were screened for the presence of a major V. parahaemolyticus virulence factor, the thermostable direct haemolysin (tdh) gene, by the colony blot hybridization method using a digoxigenin-labeled tdh gene probe. Of 1500 strains, 5 carried the tdh sequence, which was further confirmed by PCR using primers specific for the tdh gene. Examination by PCR confirmed that the 5 strains were V. parahaemolyticus and lacked the thermostable direct haemolysin-related haemolysin (trh) gene, the alternative major virulence gene known to be absent in pandemic strains. All 5 strains gave positive Kanagawa phenomenon reaction with characteristic beta-haemolysis on Wagatsuma agar medium. Southern blot analysis of the HindIII-digested chromosomal DNA demonstrated, in all 5 strains, the presence of 2 tdh genes common to strains positive for Kanagawa phenomenon. However, the 5 strains were found to belong to 3 different serotypes (O3:K29, O4:K37, and O3:K6). The 2 with pandemic serotype O3:K6 gave positive results in group-specific PCR and ORF8 PCR assays, characteristics unique to the pandemic clone. Clonal variations among the 5 isolates were analyzed by comparing RAPD and ribotyping patterns. Results showed different patterns for the 3 serotypes, but the pattern was identical among the O3:K6 strains. This is the first report on the isolation of pandemic O3:K6 strains of V. parahaemolyticus from the aquatic environment of Bangladesh.     

Up-Regulation of PI 3-Kinases and the Activation of PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway in Cancer Stem-Like Cells Through DNA Hypomethylation Mediated by the Cancer Microenvironment

Previously, we have succeeded in converting induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into cancer stem cells (CSCs) by treating the iPSCs with conditioned medium of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. The converted CSCs, named miPS-LLCcm cells, exhibited the self-renewal, differentiation potential, and potential to form malignant tumors with metastasis. In this study, we further characterized miPS-LLCcm cells both in vivo and in vitro. The tumors formed by subcutaneous injection showed the structures with pathophysiological features consisting of undifferentiated and malignant phenotypes generally found in adenocarcinoma. Metastasis in the lung was also observed as nodule structures. Excising from the tumors, primary cultured cells from the tumor and the nodule showed self-renewal, differentiation potential as well as tumor forming ability, which are the essential characters of CSCs. We then characterized the epigenetic regulation occurring in the CSCs. By comparing the DNA methylation level of CG rich regions, the differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were evaluated in all stages of CSCs when compared with the parental iPSCs. In DMRs, hypomethylation was found superior to hypermethylation in the miPS-LLCcm cells and its derivatives. The hypo- and hypermethylated genes were used to nominate KEGG pathways related with CSC. As a result, several categories were defined in the KEGG pathways from which most related with cancers, significant and high expression of components was PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Simultaneously, the AKT activation was also confirmed in the CSCs. The PI3K-Akt signaling pathway should be an important pathway for the CSCs established by the treatment with conditioned medium of LLC cells.     

Molecular markers: a potential resource for ginger genetic diversity studies

Ginger is an economically important and valuable plant around the world. Ginger is used as a food, spice, condiment, medicine and ornament. There is available information on biochemical aspects of ginger, but few studies have been reported on its molecular aspects. The main objective of this review is to accumulate the available molecular marker information and its application in diverse ginger studies. This review article was prepared by combing material from published articles and our own research. Molecular markers allow the identification and characterization of plant genotypes through direct access to hereditary material. In crop species, molecular markers are applied in different aspects and are useful in breeding programs. In ginger, molecular markers are commonly used to identify genetic variation and classify the relatedness among varieties, accessions, and species. Consequently, it provides important input in determining resourceful management strategies for ginger improvement programs. Alternatively, a molecular marker could function as a harmonizing tool for documenting species. This review highlights the application of molecular markers (isozyme, RAPD, AFLP, SSR, ISSR and others such as RFLP, SCAR, NBS and SNP) in genetic diversity studies of ginger species. Some insights on the advantages of the markers are discussed. The detection of genetic variation among promising cultivars of ginger has significance for ginger improvement programs. This update of recent literature will help researchers and students select the appropriate molecular markers for ginger-related research.     

Next generation sequencing of Apis mellifera syriaca identifies genes for Varroa resistance and beneficial bee keeping traits

Apis mellifera syriaca exhibits a high degree of tolerance to pests and pathogens including varroa mites. This native honey bee subspecies of Jordan expresses behavioral adaptations to high temperature and dry seasons typical of the region. However, persistent honey bee imports of commercial breeder lines are endangering local honey bee population. This study reports the use of next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technology to study the A. m. syriaca genome and to identify genetic factors possibly contributing toward mite resistance and other favorable traits. We obtained a total of 46.2 million raw reads by applying the NGS to sequence A. m. syriaca and used extensive bioinformatics approach to identify several candidate genes for Varroa mite resistance, behavioral and immune responses characteristic for these bees. As a part of characterizing the functional regulation of molecular genetic pathway, we have mapped the pathway genes potentially involved using information from Drosophila melanogaster and present possible functional changes implicated in responses to Varroa destructor mite infestation toward this. We performed in‐depth functional annotation methods to identify ～600 candidates that are relevant, genes involved in pathways such as microbial recognition and phagocytosis, peptidoglycan recognition protein family, Gram negative binding protein family, phagocytosis receptors, serpins, Toll signaling pathway, Imd pathway, Tnf, JAK‐STAT and MAPK pathway, heamatopioesis and cellular response pathways, antiviral, RNAi pathway, stress factors, etc. were selected. Finally, we have cataloged function‐specific polymorphisms between A. mellifera and A. m. syriaca that could give better understanding of varroa mite resistance mechanisms and assist in breeding. We have identified immune related embryonic development (Cactus, Relish, dorsal, Ank2, baz), Varroa hygiene (NorpA2, Zasp, LanA, gasp, impl3) and Varroa resistance (Pug, pcmt, elk, elf3‐s10, Dscam2, Dhc64C, gro, futsch) functional variations genes between A. mellifera and A. m. syriaca that could be used to develop an effective molecular tool for bee conservation and breeding programs to improve locally adapted strains such as syriaca and utilize their advantageous traits for the benefit of apiculture industry.     

Effect of liming on spore germination,germ tube growth and root colonization by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Summary The effect of soil acidity on spore germination, germ tube growth and root colonization of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi was examined using a Florida Ultisol. Soil samples were treated with 0, 4, 8 and 12 meq Ca/MgCO₃/100 g soil and each lime level received 0, 240, and 720 ppm P as superphosphate. Corn (Zea mays L.) was planted in the soil treatments, inoculated with eitherGlomus mosseae orGigaspora margarita spores and grown for 31 days. Acid soil inhibits mycorrhizal formation byG. mosseae through its strong fungistatic effect against the spores. The dolomitic lime increased mycorrhizal formation by both fungal species.G. margarita is much less sensitive to acidic conditions thanG. mosseae. Al ions are a very important component of the fungistatic property against the VAM symbiosis. VAM fungus adaptation may be important for plants growing on infertile acid soils if soil inoculation with these fungi is to contribute significantly to low-input technology for tropical agricultural systems.