Interleukin-7 receptor-α gene polymorphisms in bone marrow transplant recipients

Graft-versus-host disease is the main complication after hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (HSCT). Non-HLA genotypes, such as cytokines, have been investigated for their potential roles in the occurrence and severity of GVHD as well as for their contribution to overall transplant-related mortality and survival. IL-7 which is secreted by bone marrow stromal cells plays an important role in the development and survival of T cells. Its effect is mediated via interleukin 7 receptor (IL7R). This study investigates the possible links between IL-7αR single nucleotide polymorphisms (+510 C/T, +1237 A/G, +2087 T/C and +3110A/G) and transplant outcomes among 116 recipients of HSCT. Genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction—sequence-specific primers. No significant differences were observed between the genotypic distributions of IL-7αR polymorphisms and incidence of acute or chronic graft versus host disease. Additional studies with larger sample are necessary to further define the influence of IL-7αR on the immune response after bone marrow transplantation.     

Genetic associations and serum paraoxonase levels with atherosclerosis in western Iranian patients

Molecular Biology Reports - The oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the arterial wall plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis which is a...     

Effect of Concentration and Temperature on Flow Properties of Alyssum homolocarpum Seed Gum Solutions: Assessment of Time Dependency and Thixotropy

Effects of different shear rates (14, 25, and 50 s⁻¹), gum concentrations (3%, 3.5%, and 4%), and temperatures (5–65 °C) on flow properties of Alyssum homolocarpum seed gum solutions were investigated using a rotational viscometer. The experimental data were fitted with three time-dependent rheological models, namely second-order structural kinetic model, Weltman model, and first-order stress decay model with a non-zero stress value. The rate constant and extent of viscosity strongly depended on the shear rate, gum concentration, and temperature. It was found that A. homolocarpum seed gum samples exhibited shear thinning and thixotropic behavior for all concentrations and temperatures. The amount of structural breakdown decreased with shear rate, but it did not have a general trend with concentration and temperature. The extent of thixotropy increased with increasing gum concentration and decreased with increasing temperature and shear rate. In this work, the decay rate constant generally increased with increasing shear rate; however, it did not have any trend with concentration and temperature.     

Induction of the antioxidant defense system using long-chain carotenoids extracted from extreme halophilic archaeon,Halovenus aranensis

International Microbiology - The field of microbial pigments is an emerging area in natural products science. Carotenoids form a major class of such pigments and are found to be diversely...     

Ring chromosome 14. I. A case report on homogeneous r(14)

A ring chromosome derived from a no. 14 was observed, without mosaicism, in a 2-month-old male with craniofacial dysmorphism, retarded psychomotor development, seizures and retinal anomalies. Serum immunoglobulins concentrations were normal.