Immunochemical studies of serum, urine and calculus proteins in urolithiasis

Total serum protein levels in 70 patients with urolithiasis were not significantly different from those in 20 control subjects, although certain variations were detected in individual protein patterns. In contrast, total urinary protein was significantly higher in patients with urolithiasis. 4-6 different components, i.e., albumin, alpha 1-acidic glycoprotein, alpha 1-antitrypsin, Gc-globulin, fibrinogen and immunoglobulin G, were found in the matrices of calculi and in urine, suggesting that proteinuria may play a role in the formation of stones in patients with urolithiasis.     

Post‐translational modifications of transthyretin affect the triiodonine‐binding potential

Transthyretin (TTR) is a visceral protein, which facilitates the transport of thyroid hormones in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The homotetrameric structure of TTR enables the simultaneous binding of two thyroid hormones per molecule. Each TTR subunit provides a single cysteine residue (Cys₁₀), which is frequently affected by oxidative post‐translational modifications. As Cys₁₀ is part of the thyroid hormone‐binding channel within the TTR molecule, PTM of Cys₁₀ may influence the binding of thyroid hormones. Therefore, we analysed the effects of Cys₁₀ modification with sulphonic acid, cysteine, cysteinylglycine and glutathione on binding of triiodothyronine (T3) by molecular modelling. Furthermore, we determined the PTM pattern of TTR in serum of patients with thyroid disease by immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry to evaluate this association in vivo. The in silico assays demonstrated that oxidative PTM of TTR resulted in substantial reorganization of the intramolecular interactions and also affected the binding of T3 in a chemotype‐ and site‐specific manner with S‐glutathionylation as the most potent modulator of T3 binding. These findings were supported by the in vivo results, which indicated thyroid function‐specific patterns of TTR with a substantial decrease in S‐sulphonated, S‐cysteinylglycinated and S‐glutathionylated TTR in hypothyroid patients. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that oxidative modifications of Cys₁₀ seem to affect binding of T3 to TTR probably because of the introduction of a sterical hindrance and induction of conformational changes. As oxidative modifications can be dynamically regulated, this may represent a sensitive mechanism to adjust thyroid hormone availability.     

Reproductive biology of the Suez Canal spider crab Schizophrys aspera (H. Milne Edwards, 1834: Crustacea: Brachyura: Majidae)

A reproductive biology study of the spider crab Schizophrys aspera (H. Milne Edwards, 1834) was conducted in the Suez Canal from July 2012 to June 2013. The annual sex ratio (Male:Female) of S. aspera was female biased with values of 1:1.25. Out of the four ovarian development stages of this crab, two stages were observed in the Suez Canal throughout the whole year. The ovigerous crab’s carapace width varied from 28 to 52 mm. This crab species can spawn during most of the year in the canal water, with a peak during late spring and early winter. The fecundity of ovigerous females ranged between 2349 and 13600 eggs with a mean of 5494 ± 1486 eggs. Female crabs that reached sexual maturity exhibited a minimum carapace width varying between 22 and 46 mm, and fifty percentage of all ovigerous females showed a carapace width of 36 mm.     

The frequency and characteristics of highly thermophilic bacteria in cool soil environments

Following enrichment at 70 degrees C and 80 degrees C, five highly thermophilic aerobic eubacteria have been isolated from cool soil environments. These organisms show a temperature range for growth of 40-80 degrees C and have optimal and very high growth rates around 70 degrees C with generation times less than 30 min. All isolates are narrow rods, which stain Gram-negative, but have a Gram-positive cell wall structure and only one of five isolates is a spore former. All cultures contain a small proportion of previously unreported extremely long flexuous rods, which can be seen to divide eventually. Biochemical testing of five strains reveals a significant ability to utilize alkanes and some aromatic hydrocarbons. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of 16S rDNA the five strains were differentiated into three categories, which paralleled the biochemical results. 16S rDNA sequences showed high similarity with thermophilic Bacillus species now reclassified as Geobacillus. These bacteria are present in high numbers in apparently all soils and the question is raised of how these organisms, which are apparently unable to grow at the temperatures experienced in these cool soils, are so prominent.     

Control of virulence by the two-component system CiaR/H is mediated via HtrA, a major virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae

The CiaR/H two-component system is involved in regulating virulence and competence in Streptococcus pneumoniae. The system is known to regulate many genes, including that for high-temperature requirement A (HtrA). This gene has been implicated in the ability of the pneumococcus to colonize the nasopharynx of infant rats. We reported previously that deletion of the gene for HtrA made the pneumococcal strains much less virulent in mouse models, less able to grow at higher temperatures, and more sensitive to oxidative stress. In this report, we show that the growth phenotype as well as sensitivity to oxidative stress of Delta ciaR mutant was very similar to that of a Delta htrA mutant and that the expression of the HtrA protein was reduced in a ciaR-null mutant. Both the in vitro phenotype and the reduced virulence of Delta ciaR mutant could be restored by increasing the expression of HtrA.     

Chitosan and silver nanoparticles are attractive auxin carriers: A comparative study on the adventitious rooting of microcuttings in apple rootstocks

Nanocarriers for encapsulation and sustained release of agrochemicals such as auxins have emerged as an attractive strategy to provide enhanced bioavailability and efficacy for improved crop yields and nutrition quality. Here, a comparative study was conducted on the effectiveness of chitosan-as a biopolymeric nanocarrier- and silver-as a metallic nanocarrier- on in vitro adventitious rooting potential of microcuttings in apple rootstocks, for the first time. Auxins indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) loaded silver (nAg) or chitosan nanoparticles (nChi) were synthesized. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy studies showed the spherical shape of the nanoparticles. The average particle size of IAA-nChi was 167.5 ± 0.1 nm while that of IBA-nChi was 123.2 ± 2.6 nm. The hydrodynamic diameter of the nAg-IAA and nAg-IBA particles were measured as 93.66 ± 5 nm and 71.41 ± 3 nm, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses confirmed the encapsulation of IAA or IBA in the chitosan nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the characteristic peaks of IAA or IBA were detected on silver nanoparticles. In-vitro adventitious rooting of microcuttings of Malling Merton 106 (MM 106) was significantly higher both in chitosan and silver nanoparticles loaded with IAA or IBA (91.7%–62.5%) compared to free IAA or IBA applications (50.0%–33.3%), except for 2.0 mg L^–1 IBA (66.7%). However, the application of 2 mg L^–1 IBA and IBA-nChi at all concentrations caused an undesirable large callus development.     

A new method to predict the epidemiology of fungal keratitis by monitoring the sales distribution of antifungal eye drops in Brazil

Purpose

Fungi are a major cause of keratitis, although few medications are licensed for their treatment. The aim of this study is to observe the variation in commercialisation of antifungal eye drops, and to predict the seasonal distribution of fungal keratitis in Brazil.

Methods

Data from a retrospective study of antifungal eye drops sales from the only pharmaceutical ophthalmologic laboratory, authorized to dispense them in Brazil (Opthalmos) were gathered. These data were correlated with geographic and seasonal distribution of fungal keratitis in Brazil between July 2002 and June 2008.

Results

A total of 26,087 antifungal eye drop units were sold, with a mean of 2.3 per patient. There was significant variation in antifungal sales during the year (p<0.01). A linear regression model displayed a significant association between reduced relative humidity and antifungal drug sales (R2 = 0.17,p<0.01).

Conclusions

Antifungal eye drops sales suggest that there is a seasonal distribution of fungal keratitis. A possible interpretation is that the third quarter of the year (a period when the climate is drier), when agricultural activity is more intense in Brazil, suggests a correlation with a higher incidence of fungal keratitis. A similar model could be applied to other diseases, that are managed with unique, or few, and monitorable medications to predict epidemiological aspects.