Polycystic ovary syndrome: Challenges in adolescence

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine diseases in women of reproductive age. PCOS typically develops during adolescence and is a heterogeneous syndrome classically characterized by features of anovulation combined with signs of androgen excess (hirsutism, acne). Increasing obesity in adolescents probably exacerbates signs of PCOS, contributing to its earlier recognition. Recognizing the features of this syndrome can be very challenging in adolescence. Although adolescents’ concerns are often cosmetic, if left untreated these girls are at risk for diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and infertility as they mature. Efforts should be made to diagnose and treat PCOS to minimize the development of symptoms and prevent the onset of cardiovascular and metabolic disturbances.     

The simple-septate basidiomycetes: a synopsis

The simple-septate basidiomycetes comprise more than 8,000 species that show a high morphological and ecological heterogeneity. To gain insight in the phylogenetic relationships within this group, we compared several ultrastructural features such as septal pore apparatus, form, and behavior of the spindle pole bodies, types of host–parasite interaction, presence or absence of colacosomes, symplechosomes, atractosomes, and cystosomes as well as nuclear rDNA sequences coding for small- and large-subunit rRNA. Based on our integrated analysis, we propose a new classification system for the simple-septate basidiomycetes with the subphylum Pucciniomycotina and the classes Agaricostilbomycetes, Atractiellomycetes, Classiculomycetes, Cryptomycocolacomycetes, Cystobasidiomycetes, Microbotryomycetes, Mixiomycetes, and Pucciniomycetes. We also propose the pucciniomycotinous taxa Cystobasidiales, Erythrobasidiales, Helicobasidiales, Mixiales, Naohideales, Pachnocybales, Spiculogloeales, and Kondoaceae and the new subphyla Agaricomycotina (equivalent to the current Hymenomycetes) and Ustilaginomycotina (equivalent to the current Ustilaginomycetes).     

Anaesthesia and transport of juvenile tambaqui Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818) with tricaine methane‐sulphonate: Implications on secondary and oxidative stress responses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anaesthetic efficacy and the effect of sedation with tricaine (TMS^®), also known as MS‐222, on secondary and oxidative stress parameters in juvenile tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum transported in hyperoxia for 2, 6 and 10 hr. Juveniles were placed in aquaria containing six different concentrations of buffered tricaine (150, 180, 210, 240, 270 and 300 mg/L) and the times for anaesthesia induction and recovery determined. Fish transported in hyperoxic conditions were investigated for glycemia, ionic concentration (K⁺, Ca⁺⁺, Na⁺) and osmolality, haematocrit (Ht) and haemoglobin concentration (Hb), partial pressure of gases (pCO₂ and pO₂), pH and bicarbonate concentration () in whole blood collected from caudal vasculature. Total antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP), glutathione‐S‐transferase (GST) activity and lipid peroxidation levels (TBARS) were investigated in gills, brain and liver. All concentrations of TMS^® induced deep anaesthesia in juvenile tambaqui in this study. A concentration of 240 mg/L of TMS^® was sufficient to induce rapid anaesthesia (<3 min) with uneventful recovery (<5 min). In light of the secondary and oxidative stress responses of fish transported using TMS^®, which were generally not significantly different compared to responses of fish transported in anaesthetic‐free water, sedation with 20 mg/L is not advantageous and therefore is dispensable for the transport of this species for up to 10 hr.     

Metabolic profiling of recombinant Escherichia coli cultivations based on high‐throughput FT‐MIR spectroscopic analysis

Escherichia coli is one of the most used host microorganism for the production of recombinant products, such as heterologous proteins and plasmids. However, genetic, physiological and environmental factors influence the plasmid replication and cloned gene expression in a highly complex way. To control and optimize the recombinant expression system performance, it is very important to understand this complexity. Therefore, the development of rapid, highly sensitive and economic analytical methodologies, which enable the simultaneous characterization of the heterologous product synthesis and physiologic cell behavior under a variety of culture conditions, is highly desirable. For that, the metabolic profile of recombinant E. coli cultures producing the pVAX‐lacZ plasmid model was analyzed by rapid, economic and high‐throughput Fourier Transform Mid‐Infrared (FT‐MIR) spectroscopy. The main goal of the present work is to show as the simultaneous multivariate data analysis by principal component analysis (PCA) and direct spectral analysis could represent a very interesting tool to monitor E. coli culture processes and acquire relevant information according to current quality regulatory guidelines. While PCA allowed capturing the energetic metabolic state of the cell, e.g. by identifying different C‐sources consumption phases, direct FT‐MIR spectral analysis allowed obtaining valuable biochemical and metabolic information along the cell culture, e.g. lipids, RNA, protein synthesis and turnover metabolism. The information achieved by spectral multivariate data and direct spectral analyses complement each other and may contribute to understand the complex interrelationships between the recombinant cell metabolism and the bioprocess environment towards more economic and robust processes design according to Quality by Design framework. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:285–298, 2017     

Taxonomic review of the New World tamarins (Primates: Callitrichidae)

Twelve generic names have been ascribed to the New World tamarins but all are currently placed in just one: Saguinus Hoffmannsegg, 1807. Based on geographical distributions, morphology, and pelage patterns and coloration, they have been divided into six species groups: (1) nigricollis, (2) mystax, (3) midas, (4) inustus, (5) bicolor and (6) oedipus. Molecular phylogenetic studies have validated five of these groups; each are distinct clades. Saguinus inustus is embedded in the mystax group. Genetic studies show that tamarins are sister to all other callitrichids, diverging 15?13 Ma. The small‐bodied nigricollis group diverged from the remaining, larger tamarins 11?8 Ma, and the mystax group diverged 7?6 Ma; these radiations are older than those of the marmosets (Callithrix, Cebuella, Mico), which began to diversify 6?5 Ma. The oedipus group diverged from the midas and bicolor groups 5?4 Ma. We review recent taxonomic changes and summarize the history of the generic names. Taking into account the Late Miocene divergence time (11?8 Ma) between the large‐ and small‐bodied tamarin lineages, the small size of the nigricollis group species when compared with other tamarins, and the sympatry of the nigricollis group species with the larger mystax group species, we argue that the nigricollis group be recognized as a distinct genus: Leontocebus Wagner, 1839.     

Human plasma kallikrein. Purification and preliminary characterization

A method is described for the convenient purification of the protease plasma kallikrein from human Cohn fraction IV-1. The enzyme was produced by endogenous activation after acid treatment to remove an inhibitor and was concentrated by the successive use of affinity adsorbents prepared by the immobilization of soybean trypsin inhibitor and aminobenzamidine. The esterase- and kinin-producing activities were enriched about 1100-fold from fraction IV-1.Several properties of plasma kallikrein strengthen the impression that it is related to trypsin, namely, competitive inhibition by benzamidine and the formation of a stable p-guanidinobenzoyl acyl enzyme intermediate. Inactivation by affinity labeling with Z-LysCH₂Cl was successful in contrast to the inertness of Tos-LysCH₂Cl.     

Isolation of a trypsin inhibitor from Echinodorus paniculatus seeds by affinity chromatography on immobilized Cratylia mollis isolectins

A highly purified trypsin inhibitor was obtained from Echinodorus paniculatus when an extract prepared from E. paniculatus seed flour (25 gl(-1), with 0.1 M ammonium acetate buffer, pH 8.3, under agitation for 6 min at 28 degrees C) was chromatographed on Sephadex G-25 (12 mlh(-1)), followed by affinity chromatography on immobilized Cratylia mollis isolectins (Cra Iso 1,2,3-Sepharose). The column chromatography was performed at 24 degrees C; the matrix was washed (30 mlh(-1)) with 0.1 M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 or with the same buffer containing 0.2 M glucose, followed by application of inhibitor sample and elution with 0.015 M sodium borate buffer, pH 7.4, or 1.0 M NaCl. A purified fraction of inhibitor was obtained by gel filtration chromatography (GF-450/HPLC column). Trypsin inhibitory activity was eliminated when the inhibitor was treated with metaperiodate showing that the carbohydrate moiety was important for trypsin inhibition. Binding of inhibitor was also evaluated on immobilized concanavalin A (Con A-Sepharose) using previously described chromatographic conditions with results similar to Cra Iso 1,2,3-Sepharose chromatography.