Anaemia,Zinc and Copper Deficiencies Among Pregnant Women in Central Sudan

Anaemia is a widespread problem in many parts of the world especially in tropic areas. Among pregnant women, it has negative consequences on maternal and perinatal outcomes. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of anaemia, iron, zinc and copper deficiencies among pregnant women in Wad Medani hospital, central Sudan and to examine the relationship of these micronutrients with haemoglobin (Hb) levels. One hundred four (52.5%) out of 200 pregnant women had anaemia (Hb < 11 gm/dl) and 3 (1.5) % had severe anaemia (Hb < 7 gm/dl). Iron deficiency (S-ferritin < 15 μg/l), iron deficiency anaemia (<11 gm/dl and S-ferritin < 15 μg/l) were prevalent in 25 (12.5%) and 13 (6.5%) of these women, respectively. Ninety (45.0%) and eight (4.0%) of these women had zinc (<80 μg/ml) and copper (<80 μg/ml) deficiency, respectively. In 24 (12.0%) of these women, there were ≥2 deficiencies of these elements. S-copper was significantly lower in patients with anaemia. While age, parity, gestational age, ferritin, zinc and copper were not predictors for anaemia, women who practiced pica were at higher risk for anaemia (OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.4–7.9, P = 0.004). Gestational age was significantly inversely correlated with haemoglobin (r = 0.161, P = 0.03), S-ferritin (r = 0.285, P = 0.001) and S-zinc (r = 0.166, P = 0.02). Thus, dietary and supplement interventions are required to prevent and control anaemia in this setting. Further research is needed.     

Combining functional weed ecology and crop stable isotope ratios to identify cultivation intensity: a comparison of cereal production regimes in Haute Provence,France and Asturias,Spain

This investigation combines two independent methods of identifying crop growing conditions and husbandry practices—functional weed ecology and crop stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis—in order to assess their potential for inferring the intensity of past cereal production systems using archaeobotanical assemblages. Present-day organic cereal farming in Haute Provence, France features crop varieties adapted to low-nutrient soils managed through crop rotation, with little to no manuring. Weed quadrat survey of 60 crop field transects in this region revealed that floristic variation primarily reflects geographical differences. Functional ecological weed data clearly distinguish the Provence fields from those surveyed in a previous study of intensively managed spelt wheat in Asturias, north-western Spain: as expected, weed ecological data reflect higher soil fertility and disturbance in Asturias. Similarly, crop stable nitrogen isotope values distinguish between intensive manuring in Asturias and long-term cultivation with minimal manuring in Haute Provence. The new model of cereal cultivation intensity based on weed ecology and crop isotope values in Haute Provence and Asturias was tested through application to two other present-day regimes, successfully identifying a high-intensity regime in the Sighisoara region, Romania, and low-intensity production in Kastamonu, Turkey. Application of this new model to Neolithic archaeobotanical assemblages in central Europe suggests that early farming tended to be intensive, and likely incorporated manuring, but also exhibited considerable variation, providing a finer grained understanding of cultivation intensity than previously available.     

Role of Nitrate in Photosynthetic Electron Transport of Chlorella Vulgaris

Addition of nitrate to a suspension of NO₃ ^--depleted Chlorella vulgaris cells raised the O₂-evolving capacity of the organism by 60%. The rate of O₂-evolution under flash irradiation of the depleted cells was drastically reduced, which could be restored by addition of NO₃ ^-. The 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone (DBMIB)-insensitive O₂-evolution, i.e., photosystem (PS) 2 activity of NO₃--depleted cells, showed a 75% stimulation by addition of NO₃ ^-. PS1-mediated electron transport was also stimulated (50%) by addition of NO₃ ^-. Fluorescence yields of the NO₃ ^--depleted cells were significantly reduced. A normal fluorescence response was restored by the addition of NO₃ ^-. The fluorescence yield of the NO₃ ^--depleted and DCMU-treated-cells increased significantly after addition of NO₃ ^- ions, indicating a further reduction of the primary acceptor of PS2 (Q). In addition, the low temperature fluorescence emission spectra showed that energy transfer to PS2 and PS1 was much higher when nitrate was present. Hence nitrate accelerates the light-induced charge transfer from the intact O₂-evolving system to the primary electron acceptor of PS2 and stimulates the PS1-mediated electron transport. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Role of primary and secondary protein structure in neurotransmitter receptor activation mechanisms

A proton transfer triggered by a ligand interacting with the receptor had been suggested as the initial step in the activation of a receptor for the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-hydroxy-tryptamine; 5-HT). To evaluate the role of the receptor macromolecule in modulating the primary molecular event in ligand-mediated activation, the process of proton transfer was analysed in the environment of a protein model for the 5-HT receptor. In the absence of a detailed receptor structure, the enzyme actinidin was chosen as the model for the receptor based on criteria obtained from structure-activity considerations on the ligands. The first simulation of a mechanism for receptor activation was performed on this model using methods of theoretical chemistry to study the effect of specific structural elements. The premise is that the role of the elements of secondary structure of soluble proteins (e.g. actinidin) in determining structure-function relations in these macromolecules is maintained when these elements are part of membrane-bound receptor proteins. Results from the calculations of the effects of the six alpha helices of actinidin on the proton transfer process from the imidazolium side chain of His 162 to the thiol side chain of Cys 25 in the protein show that the helices contribute in different ways to modulate the energy of proton transfer. The largest helix, A1, opposes the proton transfer through the effect of the helix dipole. The charged residues (primary structure) in helix A3 favor the proton transfer, and mask the effect of its helix dipole (secondary structure) which opposes the transfer. The direction of the proton transfer simulated for the activation mechanism is opposite to that assumed in the catalytic process of the thiol protease, and the entire protein environment opposes the transfer. This supports the specific role of the ligand in triggering the proton transfer as a response to its binding.     

Effect of concentrate feeding on the bovine intestinal and pancreatic carbohydrases. Evidence of induced increase in their activities

1. The effects of concentrate feeding on the levels and pattern of distribution of carbohydrases in bovine intestine and pancreas were investigated. 2. No remarkable difference was noticed in the pattern of distribution of the carbohydrases along the bovine intestine, which was mostly confined to the proximal part of the small intestine. 3. The concentrate feeding, however, highly affected the levels of carbohydrases in the mucosa, luminal contents and the pancreas. Their levels slightly decreased in the mucosal tissue and significantly increased in the luminal contents. In the pancreas, the level of amylase decreased and that of disaccharidases increased. 4. Based on the presence of higher levels of activities of carbohydrases in the luminal contents, supported by the concentrate-induced increase in their levels, it is argued that the site of carbohydrate digestion, including disaccharides, in the small intestine, is the luminal contents.     

Relationships Between Blood Mg2+ and Energy Metabolites/Enzymes After Acute Exhaustive Swimming Exercise in Rats

Magnesium (Mg) plays a central role in neuronal activity, cardiac excitability, neuromuscular transmission, muscular contraction, vasomotor tone, and blood pressure, all of which are significantly related to physical performance. To date, the available data about detection of blood total Mg (tMg; free-ionized, protein-bound, and anion-complex forms) are inconsistent, and there is limited information on blood free-ionized Mg (Mg²⁺) in relation to physical exercise. The aim of this study was to determine the biochemical changes related to energy metabolism after acute exhaustive swimming exercise (AESE) in rats in an attempt to correlate the role of blood Mg²⁺ with metabolites/enzymes related to energy production. After AESE, blood Mg²⁺, tMg, K⁺, partial pressure of carbon dioxide, lactate, total protein (T-PRO), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), creatinine (CRE), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and creatinine kinase (CK) were significantly increased, whereas pH, partial pressure of oxygen, oxygen saturation, the Mg²⁺/tMg and Ca²⁺/Mg²⁺ ratios, HCO₃ ^?, glucose, triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were significantly decreased. During AESE, lactate, T-PRO, albumin, AST, ALP, LDH, CK, CRE, BUN, and UA showed significant positive correlations with changes in blood Mg²⁺, while glucose, TG, and LDL correlated to Mg²⁺ in a negative manner. In conclusion, AESE induced increases in both blood Mg²⁺ and tMg, accompanied by changes in blood metabolites and enzymes related to energy metabolism due to increased metabolic demands and mechanical damages.     

Production and characterization of thermo-, halo- and solvent-stable esterase from Bacillus mojavensis TH309

Abstract

The use of enzymes in many industrial applications has gained increasing importance in recent years due to their non-toxic, specific, and eco-friendly characteristics. However, two main reasons limiting their use in industry are production costs and instability under harsh conditions. We isolated thermophilic and halo-tolerant/halophilic bacteria from bio-deteriorated plastic waste. Among them, Bacillus mojavensis isolate TH309 exhibited excellent esterase secretion ability. Esterase production on sunflower seed meal increased approximately 20-fold (80.43?U/gds) with optimization of solid state medium using Plackett Burman design and response surface methodology Box Behnken design. The enzyme (BmEST) was purified 7.82-fold using ultrafiltration and anion-exchange techniques. The molecular weight of BmEST was estimated to be 30?kDa. BmEST demonstrated an optimal temperature and pH of 80?°C and 8.0, respectively, and was remarkable stable at 60–90?°C. BmEST exhibited high activity and stability in the presence of NaCl (5–20%). Furthermore, it was hyper-activated by n-pentane, acetone, hexane, DMSO, methanol, and ethanol. The apparent K_m and V_max values of BmEST were 1.28?mM and 23.88 µmol/min, respectively, with p-nitrophenol butyrate as a substrate. The enzyme caused a mass loss of poly(ε-caprolactone) films of 44% after 12?h hydrolysis. As a result, BmEST, with remarkable functional properties, presents a promising candidate to meet the needs of certain harsh biotechnological applications.