DNA methylation regulates Microtubule-associated tumor suppressor 1 in human non-small cell lung carcinoma

Microtubule associated tumor suppressor 1 (MTUS1) has been recognized as a tumor suppressor gene in multiple cancers. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of MTUS1 are yet to be investigated. This study aimed to clarify the significance of DNA methylation in silencing MTUS1 expression. We report that MTUS1 acts as tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Analysis of in silico database and subsequent knockdown of DNMT1 suggested an inverse correlation between DNMT1 and MTUS1 function. Interestingly, increased methylation at MTUS1 promoter is associated with low expression of MTUS1. Treatment with DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) inhibitor, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (AZA) leads to both reduced promoter methylation accompanied with enrichment of H3K9Ac and enhanced MTUS1 expression. Remarkably, knockdown of MTUS1 showed increased proliferation and migration of NSCLC cells in contrast to diminished proliferation and migration, upon treatment with AZA. We concluded that low expression of MTUS1 correlates to DNA methylation and histone deacetylation in human NSCLC.     

Atlantic Forest topsoil nutrients can be resistant to disturbance and forest clearing

Human impacts can affect the soil properties through erosion and leaching, the ecosystem functions and, consequently, the capacity of a forest to regenerate. Here, we determine the effects of forest disturbance and succession on selected soil chemical properties using two different approaches, before‐after‐control‐impact (BACI) and space‐for‐time (SFT) substitution, and the threatened Atlantic Forest biome as model. We assessed with BACI the long‐term (37‐year) effects of clear cutting on soil properties by comparing data from two topsoil surveys (1978–2017) divided into two treatments: a preserved old growth forest (control) and an adjacent forest that was experimentally cleared with full tree removal (clear‐cut). We examined with SFT the relationship between stand age and soil properties using soil data from three old growth and 13 s growth forests ranging from 7 to 33 years. We found no significant differences between treatments for any soil property or significant changes in phosphorus, potassium, and calcium + magnesium over time. In contrast, pH increased and aluminum decreased in both areas. No relation was found between forest age and most of soil properties, with the exception of potassium which returned to old growth forest levels after 20 years of natural succession, and pH. BACI indicated that deforestation of old growth forest caused no significant effects on soil chemical properties after 37 years of regeneration. SFT demonstrated that soil properties did not change significantly during forest regeneration on formerly disturbed lands. Our findings indicate that natural nutrient‐depleted lowland forests were overall resistant to deforestation followed by passive regeneration at landscape scale. Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.     

Toxicological Aspect of Some Selected Medicinal Plant Samples Collected from Djelfa,Algeria Region

Biological Trace Element Research - Instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) has been used to determine the concentration of some toxic chemical elements in a variety of aromatic plants...     

Influence of three rates of salinity on okra plants (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) infected with root-knot nematode in vivo

A greenhouse experiment was carried-out to evaluate the effect of three rates of salinity as abiotic stress on okra plants (Abelmoschus esculentus) infected with the root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) as biotic stress. Plant lengths and weights were significantly (p?≤?0.05) reduced except root weight and there was a positive correlation between increasing the salinity concentration from 0.1 to 0.3% and increasing the rate of reduction in plant criteria. The number of J2 in soil, galls, and eggmasses were decreased linked to increased salinity rate as compared to nematode control treatment. However, peroxidase and catalase activities were significantly reduced linked to increasing the salinity concentration from 0.1 to 0.3%. There was no significant difference between total phenols at all treatments. Meanwhile, there was no significant improvement in N, P, and K contents whereas photosynthetic pigments (a, b) and carotene were significantly (p?≤?0.05) reduced by nematode infection and increasing the salinity rate from 0.1 to 0.3%.     

Separation of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine enantiomers using a polysaccharide‐based chiral column: A normal phase liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry approach

Chiral considerations are found to be very much relevant in various aspects of forensic toxicology and pharmacology. In forensics, it has become increasingly important to identify the chirality of doping agents to avoid legal arguments and challenges to the analytical findings. The scope of this study was to develop an liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LCMS) method for the enantiomeric separation of typical illicit drugs such as ephedrines (ie, 1S,2R(+)‐ephedrine and 1R,2S(?)‐ephedrine) and pseudoephedrine (ie, R,R(?)‐pseudoephedrine and S,S(+)‐pseudoephedrine) by using normal phase chiral liquid chromatography–high‐resolution mass spectrometry technique. Results show that the Lux i‐amylose‐1 stationary phase has very broad and balancing‐enantio‐recognition properties towards ephedrine analogues, and this immobilized chiral stationary phase may offer a powerful tool for enantio‐separation of different types of pharmaceuticals in the normal phase mode. The type of mobile phase and organic modifier used appear to have dramatic influences on separation quality. Since the developed method was able to detect and separate the enantiomers at very low levels (in pico grams), this method opens easy access for the unambiguous identification of these illicit drugs and can be used for the routine screening of the biological samples in the antidoping laboratories.     

Pruning an axon piece by piece: a new mode of synapse elimination

The process by which excess axons are pruned during development has remained unclear. In this issue of Neuron, Bishop et al. use time-lapse imaging and serial electron microscopy of developing neuromuscular junctions to describe a novel cellular mechanism in which retracting axon branches shed fragments rich in normal synaptic organelles. These "axosomes" are engulfed by adjacent Schwann cells and may be assimilated into the glial cytoplasm. Shedding of axosomes and glial engulfment may represent a widespread mechanism of synapse elimination.     

Free proximal gracilis muscle and its skin paddle compound flap transplantation for complex facial paralysis

Gracilis functioning free-muscle transplantation for the correction of pure facial paralysis has been a preferred method used by many reconstructive microsurgeons. However, for complex facial paralysis, the deficits include facial paralysis along with soft-tissue, mucosa, and/or skin defects. No adequate solution has been proposed. Treatment requests in those patients are not only for facial reanimation but also for correction of the defects. Of 161 patients with facial paralysis treated with gracilis functioning free-muscle transplantation from 1986 to 2002, eight patients (5 percent) presented with complex deficits requiring not only facial reanimation but also aesthetic correction of tissue defects. The tissue defects included an intraoral defect created following contracture release (one patient), infra-auricular radiation dermatitis with contour depression (one patient), temporal depression following a temporalis muscle-fascia transfer (one patient), ear deformity (two patients), and infra-auricular atrophic tissue with contour depression (three patients). A compound flap, consisting of a gracilis muscle with its overlying skin paddle separated into two components, was transferred for simultaneous correction of both problems. The blood supply to the gracilis and to the skin paddle originated from the same source vessel and therefore required the anastomosis of only one set of vessels. The versatility of this compound flap allows for a wide arc of rotation of the skin paddle around the muscle. All flaps were transferred successfully without complications. Satisfactory results of facial reanimation were recorded in five patients after all stages were completed. The remaining three patients are undergoing physical therapy and waiting for revision of the skin paddle.     

Free-style free flaps

Free-tissue transfer has become the accepted standard for reconstruction of complex defects. With the growth of this field, anatomic studies and clinical work have added many flaps to the armamentarium of the microvascular surgeon. Further advancements and experience with techniques of perforator flap surgery have allowed for the harvest of flaps in a free-style manner, where a flap is harvested based only on the preoperative knowledge of Doppler signals present in a specific region. Between June of 2002 and September of 2003, 13 free-style free flaps were harvested from the region of the thigh. All patients presented with an oral or pharyngeal cancer and underwent resection and immediate reconstruction of these flaps. All flaps were cutaneous and were harvested in a suprafascial plane. The average size of the flaps was 108 cm2 (range, 36 to 187 cm2), and the average length of the vascular pedicle was 10 cm (range, 9 to 12 cm). All flaps were successful in achieving wound coverage and functional outcomes without any vascular compromise necessitating re-exploration. Free-style free flaps have become a clinical reality. The concepts and techniques used to harvest a free-style free flap will aid in dealing with anatomic variations that are encountered during conventional flap harvest. Future trends in flap selection will focus mainly on choosing tissue with appropriate texture, thickness, and pliability to match requirements at the recipient site while minimizing donor-site morbidity.