Relationship of endoplasmic reticulum stress with the etiopathogenesis of chronic tonsillitis and tonsillar hypertrophy in pediatric patients: a prospective,parallel-group study

Molecular Biology Reports - Tonsil tissue is a very important component of the human immunity system, contributing to the functioning of the cellular and humoral defence system, especially in...     

A comprehensive protein-centric ID mapping service for molecular data integration

MOTIVATION: Identifier (ID) mapping establishes links between various biological databases and is an essential first step for molecular data integration and functional annotation. ID mapping allows diverse molecular data on genes and proteins to be combined and mapped to functional pathways and ontologies. We have developed comprehensive protein-centric ID mapping services providing mappings for 90 IDs derived from databases on genes, proteins, pathways, diseases, structures, protein families, protein interaction, literature, ontologies, etc. The services are widely used and have been regularly updated since 2006. AVAILABILITY: www.uniprot.org/mappingandproteininformation-resource.org/pirwww/search/idmapping.shtml CONTACT: huang@dbi.udel.edu.     

Identification of CD44 as a surface biomarker for drug resistance by surface proteome signature technology

We developed surface proteome signatures (SPS) for identification of new biomarkers playing a role in cancer drug resistance. SPS compares surface antigen expression of different cell lines by immunocytochemistry of a phage display antibody library directed to surface antigens of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells. We applied SPS to compare the surface proteomes of two epithelial derived cancer cell lines, MCF7 and NCI/ADR-RES, which is drug resistant because of overexpression of the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug efflux pump. Surface proteomic profiling identified CD44 as an additional biomarker that distinguishes between these two cell lines. CD44 immunohistochemistry can distinguish between tumors derived from these lines and predict tumor response to doxorubicin in vivo. We further show that CD44 plays a role in drug resistance, independently of P-gp, in NCI/ADR-RES cells and increases expression of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL. Our findings illustrate the utility of SPS to distinguish between cancer cell lines and their derived tumors and identify novel biomarkers involved in drug resistance.     

High throughput colorimetric assay for rapid urease activity quantification

A novel high throughput colorimetric urease activity assay was compared to the Nessler method. The new method employs phenol red to determine the urease activity. This method reduces significantly sample processing time and allows real-time investigations. This method is rapid, sensitive, easy, cost-effective, and does not use any toxic chemical reagents.     

Synthesis,Characterization, Molecular Docking,and Biological Activities of Some Natural and Synthetic Urolithin Analogs

Urolithins (that is, hydroxy substituted benzo[c]chromen‐6‐one derivatives) are formed within the gastrointestinal tract following to the exposure to various ellagitannin rich diet, particularly involving pomegranate, nuts, and berries. Regarding the bioavailability deficiency of ellagitannins, the biological activities obtained through the extracts of these dietaries are attributed to the urolithin compounds, since they are bioavailable. Particularly, there are studies indicating the importance of ellagitannin‐rich food for protective and alternative treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). From this perspective, within this study, the major urolithins (that is, urolithins A and B), their methyl ether metabolites, as well as some synthetic urolithin analogs have been synthesized and screened for their biological activities in various enzyme inhibition (acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, monoamine oxidase B, cyclooxygenase 1, and cyclooxygenase 2) and antioxidant (DPPH radical scavenging) assay systems. The results pointed out the potential of urolithins to act as inhibitors on these receptors. Docking studies were also performed to investigate the possible interactions.     

Preventive and protective effects of Turkish propolis on H₂O₂-induced DNA damage in foreskin fibroblast cell lines

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of Turkish propolis extracts if they prevent or protect foreskin fibroblast cells against hydrogen peroxide (H?O?)-induced oxidative DNA damage. Hydrogen peroxide (40 μM) was used as an inducer of oxidative DNA damage. The damage of DNA was evaluated by using the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay. Turkish propolis extracts at concentrations of 25, 50, 75 and 100 μg/ml were prepared by ethanol. Anti-genotoxicity was assessed before, simultaneously, and after treatment of propolis extract (50 μg/ml) with H?O?. The results showed a significant decrease in H?O?-induced DNA damage in cultures treated with propolis extract. The antioxidant activity of phenolic components found in propolis may contribute to reduce the DNA damage induced by H?O?. Our findings confirmed the chemopreventive activity of propolis and showed that this effect may occur under different mechanisms.     

Photofermentative hydrogen production from wastes

In many respects, hydrogen is an ideal biofuel. However, practical, sustainable means of its production are presently lacking. Here we review recent efforts to apply the capacity of photosynthetic bacteria to capture solar energy and use it to drive the nearly complete conversion of substrates to hydrogen and carbon dioxide. This process, called photofermentation, has the potential capacity to use a variety of feedstocks, including the effluents of dark fermentations, leading to the development of various configurations of two-stage systems, or various industrial and agricultural waste streams rich in sugars or organic acids. The metabolic and enzymatic properties of this system are presented and the possible waste streams that might be successfully used are discussed. Recently, various immobilized systems have been developed and their advantages and disadvantages are examined.     

Early infection of discus Symphysodon aequifasciatus altricial larvae by Sciadicleithrum variabilum (Monogenea)

The occurrence of Sciadicleithrum variabilum on the gills of discus Symphysodon aequifasciatus larvae 7 days after hatching is reported for the first time. This suggests that altricial larvae are susceptible to Monogenea following gill differentiation and before complete yolk resorption.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of new N-(2-hydroxy-4(or 5)-nitro/aminophenyl)benzamides and phenylacetamides as antimicrobial agents

A new series of N-(2-hydroxy-4(or 5)-nitro/aminophenyl)benzamide and phenylacetamide derivatives (1a-1n, 2a-2n) were synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans, and their drug-resistant isolate. Microbiological results indicated that the compounds possessed a broad spectrum of activity against the tested microorganisms at MIC values between 500 and 1.95 microg/ml. Benzamide derivative 1d exhibited the greatest activity with MIC values of 1.95, 3.9, and 7.8 microg/ml against drug-resistant B. subtilis, B. subtilis, and S. aureus, respectively.