Betaine Elevates Ovarian Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Demonstrates Methyl Donor Effect in Non-Pregnant Rats

Chronic alcoholism leads to infertility in male and female rats, and antioxidant enzymes form the first line against oxidative stress in organisms. In recent years, betaine has shown beneficial effects on various tissues, and this study has attempted to clarify antioxidant and methyl donor properties of betaine in the rat ovary. For this purpose, the sexually matured Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into Control, Ethanol (EtOH), Betaine, and Betaine?+?EtOH groups. Administration of betaine in Betaine?+?EtOH group significantly increased CAT activity when compared to the other groups (P?<?0.05). GPx activity increased significantly in Betaine and Betaine?+?EtOH groups as compared to controls (P?<?0.05). Interestingly, GPx and CAT activities insignificantly increased (in order compensatory) in EtOH group to suppress oxidative stress. In contrast, SOD activity decreased insignificantly in EtOH group compared to Betaine?+?EtOH and control groups (P?>?0.05). TBARS concentration (as a lipid peroxidation marker) significantly increased in ethanol-treated rats as compared to controls, while total homocysteine concentration significantly decreased in betaine-treated rats in comparison with EtOH group. Regarding to oestrous cycles, ethanol-treated animals had irregular estral cycle and persistent oestrous phase compared to controls and betaine-treated rats. In conclusion, these results demonstrate for the first time the antioxidant and methyl donor properties of betaine in the rat ovary. Thus, betaine might be used as a potential therapy in hyperhomocysteinemia and partial infertility mediated by oxidative stress in females.     

Effect of heat wave on N2 fixation and N remobilisation of lentil (Lens culinaris MEDIK) grown under free air CO2 enrichment in a mediterranean‐type environment

• The stimulatory effect of elevated [CO₂] (e[CO₂]) on crop production in future climates is likely to be cancelled out by predicted increases in average temperatures. This effect may become stronger through more frequent and severe heat waves, which are predicted to increase in most climate change scenarios. Whilst the growth and yield response of some legumes grown under the interactive effect of e[CO₂] and heat waves has been studied, little is known about how N₂ fixation and overall N metabolism is affected by this combination.
• To address these knowledge gaps, two lentil genotypes were grown under ambient [CO₂] (a[CO₂], ~400 µmol·mol^?1) and e[CO₂] (~550 µmol·mol^?1) in the Australian Grains Free Air CO₂ Enrichment facility and exposed to a simulated heat wave (3‐day periods of high temperatures ~40 °C) at flat pod stage. Nodulation and concentrations of water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC), total free amino acids, N and N₂ fixation were assessed following the imposition of the heat wave until crop maturity.
• Elevated [CO₂] stimulated N₂ fixation so that total N₂ fixation in e[CO₂]‐grown plants was always higher than in a[CO₂], non‐stressed control plants. Heat wave triggered a significant decrease in active nodules and WSC concentrations, but e[CO₂] had the opposite effect. Leaf N remobilization and grain N improved under interaction of e[CO₂] and heat wave.
• These results suggested that larger WSC pools and nodulation under e[CO₂] can support post‐heat wave recovery of N₂ fixation. Elevated [CO₂]‐induced accelerated leaf N remobilisation might contribute to restore grain N concentration following a heat wave.

     

Transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of polyethyleneimine-coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles in rooster sperm cells

Since the morphology of the rooster spermatozoa is different to other animal spermatozoa, the aim of the current study was to investigate the transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity of polyethyleneimine (PEI) coated magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MION) on these cells. Liposome/nucleic acid (NA) complexes and PEI-coated MION linked to the labeled oligonucleotides were used. Viability and percentage of exogenous nucleic acid uptake of spermatozoa were measured by flow cytometry analyses. The results showed a significant increase in exogenous nucleic acid uptake by rooster spermatozoa (P < 0.001) when treated with MION-NA complexes in comparison to liposome/NA. There were no significant differences between efficiency of lipid-based transfection agent and MION (P > 0.05) during short incubation period. MION with or without magnetic field, did not show significant cytotoxicity while the lipid-based transfection agent significantly decreased (P < 0.05) the viability of rooster spermatozoa. Results of this study showed that magnetofection and lipofection were both effective methods which increased exogenous nucleic acid uptake by rooster spermatozoa. However, the magnetofection method was more successful in maintaining the cell's survival than lipofection method.     

Telomerase Activity in Human Brain Tumors: Astrocytoma and Meningioma

Somatic cells do not have telomerase activity but immortalized cell lines and more than 85 % of the cancer cells show telomerase activation to prevent the telomere from progressive shortening. The activation of this enzyme has been found in a variety of human tumors and tumor-derived cell lines, but only few studies on telomerase activity in human brain tumors have been reported. Here, we evaluated telomerase activity in different grades of human astrocytoma and meningioma brain tumors. In this study, assay for telomerase activity performed on 50 eligible cases consisted of 26 meningioma, 24 astrocytoma according to the standard protocols. In the brain tissues, telomerase activity was positive in 39 (65 %) of 50 patients. One sample t test showed that the telomerase activity in meningioma and astrocytoma tumors was significantly positive entirely (P < 0.001). Also, grade I of meningioma and low grades of astrocytoma (grades I and II) significantly showed telomerase activity. According to our results, we suggest that activation of telomerase is an event that starts mostly at low grades of brain including meningioma and astrocytoma tumors.     

Synthesis of biodegradable chiral poly(ester-imide)s derived from valine-, leucine- and tyrosine-containing monomers

The present demand for a drastic reduction in environmental pollution is extended to qualitative change in the approach to development of biodegradable polymers. The aim of this article is to focus on the synthesis of biodegradable optically active poly(ester-imide)s (PEI)s, which compose of different amino acids in the main chain as well as in the side chain. These polymers were synthesized by polycondensation of diacid monomers such as 5-(2-phthalimidyl-3-methyl butanoylamino) isophthalic acid (1), 5-(4-methyl-2-phthalimidyl pentanoylamino)isophthalic acid (2) with N,N′-(pyromellitoyl)-bis-l-tyrosine dimethyl ester (3) as a phenolic diol. The direct polycondensation reaction was carried out in a system of tosyl chloride, pyridine and N,N-dimethylformamide as a condensing agent under conventional heating conditions. The optically active PEIs were obtained in good yield and moderate inherent viscosity. The synthesized polymers were characterized by means of FT-IR, ¹H-NMR, elemental and thermo gravimetric analysis techniques. In addition, in vitro toxicity and soil burial test were employed for assessing the sensitivity of these compounds to microbial degradation. To this purpose, biodegradability behavior of the monomers and polymers were investigated in culture media and soil condition. The results of this study revealed that synthesized monomers and their derived polymers are biologically active and probably microbiologically biodegradable.     

Genus Pseudonocardia: What we know about its biological properties,abilities and current application in biotechnology

The genus Pseudonocardia belongs to a group of Actinomycetes, and is a member of the family Pseudonocardiacea. The members of this genus are aerobic, Gram-positive, non-motile bacteria that are commonly found in soil, plant and environment. Although this genus has a low clinical significance; however, it has an important role in biotechnology due to the production of secondary metabolites, some of which have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-tumour effects. The use of phenotypic tests, such as gelatinase activity, starch hydrolysis, catalase and oxidase tests, as well as molecular methods, such as polymerase chain reaction, are necessary for Pseudonocardia identification at the genus and species levels.     

Association Between Trace Element Status and Depression in HTLV-1-Infected Patients: a Retrospective Cohort Study

Depression and Anxiety are two important public health problems that are known to be associated with viral infections. The association between the intake of nutrients such as zinc and copper with symptoms of depression has been studied previously. The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between depression with human T cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection and serum content of zinc and copper in a large Iranian population cohort. The study population consisted of 279 HTLV-1-positive patients who were identified after recruitment as part of a large cohort study: the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Association Disorder (MASHAD) study. They were divided into two groups of diagnosed with or without depression based on their symptoms. Serum zinc and copper levels of all subjects were measured using the flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The population sample comprised of 279 individuals infected with HTLV-1 of whom 192 (68.8%) were women. The mean serum zinc in the group with and without depression was 78.69 ± 13.79 μg/dl and 86.87 ± 19.44 μg/dl, respectively (p < 0.001). Also, the serum copper level was higher in the depressive group (116.75 ± 39.56) than in the non-depressive group (104.76 ± 30.77) (p 0.004). The association between serum zinc and copper with depression in HTLV-1-infected patients which was shown in this study could be considered in the treatment strategies in these patients.