Indicator microbes correlate with pathogenic bacteria, yeasts and helminthes in sand at a subtropical recreational beach site

Aims: Research into the relationship between pathogens, faecal indicator microbes and environmental factors in beach sand has been limited, yet vital to the understanding of the microbial relationship between sand and the water column and to the improvement of criteria for better human health protection at beaches. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the presence and distribution of pathogens in various zones of beach sand (subtidal, intertidal and supratidal) and to assess their relationship with environmental parameters and indicator microbes at a non‐point source subtropical marine beach. Methods and Results: In this exploratory study in subtropical Miami (Florida, USA), beach sand samples were collected and analysed over the course of 6 days for several pathogens, microbial source tracking markers and indicator microbes. An inverse correlation between moisture content and most indicator microbes was found. Significant associations were identified between some indicator microbes and pathogens (such as nematode larvae and yeasts in the genus Candida), which are from classes of microbes that are rarely evaluated in the context of recreational beach use. Conclusions: Results indicate that indicator microbes may predict the presence of some of the pathogens, in particular helminthes, yeasts and the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin‐resistant forms. Indicator microbes may thus be useful for monitoring beach sand and water quality at non‐point source beaches. Significance and Impact of the Study: The presence of both indicator microbes and pathogens in beach sand provides one possible explanation for human health effects reported at non‐point sources beaches.     

Distribution of Copper, Iron, and Zinc in Biological Samples (Scalp Hair, Serum, Blood, and Urine) of Pakistani Viral Hepatitis (A–E) Patients and Controls

The aim of the present study was to compare the level of copper (Cu), iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) in biological samples (serum, blood, urine, and scalp hair) of patients suffering from different viral hepatitis (A, B, C, D, and E; n?=?521) of both gender age ranged 31–45 years. For comparative study, 255 age-matched control subjects, of both genders residing in the same city were selected as referents. The elements in the biological samples were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry, prior to microwave-assisted acid digestion. The validity and accuracy of the methodology was checked by using certified reference materials (CRMs) and with those values obtained by conventional wet acid digestion method on same CRMs. The results of this study showed that the mean values of Cu and Fe were higher in blood, sera, and scalp hair samples of hepatitis patients, while Zn level was found to be lower than age-matched control subjects. The urinary levels of these elements were found to be higher in the hepatitis patients than in the age-matched healthy controls (p?<?0.05). These results are consistent with literature-reported data, confirming that the deficiency of zinc and hepatic iron and copper overload can directly cause lipid peroxidation and eventually hepatic damage.     

Effect of organic carbon sources and environmental factors on cell growth and lipid content of Pavlova lutheri

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of organic carbon sources, cultivation methods, and environmental factors on growth and lipid content of Pavlova lutheri for biodiesel production. In the 250-mL flask bioreactors, P. lutheri was cultivated in the modified artificial seawater (ASW) medium containing glucose, glycerol, sodium acetate, or sucrose as an organic carbon substrate. The effects of different growth conditions (phototrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic) and environmental factors such as photoperiod, light intensity, and salinity were evaluated. Growth of P. lutheri was inhibited under heterotrophy but was enhanced in mixotrophy as compared to phototrophy. Biomass and lipid content of P. lutheri were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by changing photoperiod, light intensity, and salinity. Higher biomass concentration and lipid content were observed at a light intensity of 100 ± 2 μmol photons m−2 s−1, 18 h photoperiod, and 30% salinity, in a modified ASW medium supplemented with 10 mmol sucrose. An increase in biomass concentration from 320 ± 25.53 to 1106 ± 18.52 mg L−1 and high lipid content of 31.11 ± 1.65% (w/w) were observed with the optimized culture conditions, demonstrating a significant (p < 0.05) enhancement in biomass and lipid content due to the improved culture conditions. The present study emphasizes the possible use of sucrose for biomass and lipid production with P. lutheri under the optimized culture conditions. Using low-cost and relatively easy accessible feedstock such as sucrose would be a valuable alternative for growing microalgae with enhanced lipid content.     

Targeting alphavbeta3 and alpha5beta1 for gene delivery to proliferating VSMCs: synergistic effect of TGF-beta1

TGF-beta1 levels increase after vascular injury and promote vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. We define a nonviral gene delivery system that targets alphavbeta3 and alpha5beta1 integrins that are expressed on proliferating VSMCs and strongly induced by TGF-beta1. A 15-amino acid RGDNP-containing peptide from American Pit Viper venom was linked to a Lys(16) peptide as vector (molossin vector) and complexed with Lipofectamine or fusogenic peptide for delivery of luciferase or beta-galactosidase reporter genes to primary cultures of human, rabbit, and rat VSMCs. Preincubation of VSMCs with TGF-beta1 for 24 h, but not with PDGF-BB, interferon-gamma, TNF-alpha, nor PMA, increased alphavbeta3 and alpha5beta1 expressions on VSMCs and enhanced gene delivery of molossin vector. Thus beta-galactosidase activity increased from 35 +/- 5% (controls) to 75 +/- 5% after TGF-beta1 treatment, and luciferase activity increased fourfold over control values. Potential use of this system in vessel bypass surgery was examined in an ex vivo rat aortic organ culture model after endothelial damage. Molossin vector system delivered beta-galactosidase to VSMCs in the vessel wall that remained for up to 12 days posttransfection. The molossin vector system, when combined with TGF-beta1, enhances gene delivery to proliferating VSMCs and might have clinical applications for certain vasculoproliferative diseases.     

Use of a novel triple-tracer approach to assess postprandial glucose metabolism

Numerous studies have used the dual-tracer method to assess postprandial glucose metabolism. The present experiments were undertaken to determine whether the marked tracer nonsteady state that occurs with the dual-tracer approach after food ingestion introduces error when it is used to simultaneously measure both meal glucose appearance (R(a meal)) and endogenous glucose production (EGP). To do so, a novel triple-tracer approach was designed: 12 subjects ingested a mixed meal containing [1-(13)C]glucose while [6-(3)H]glucose and [6,6-(2)H(2)]glucose were infused intravenously in patterns that minimized the change in the plasma ratios of [6-(3)H]glucose to [1-(13)C]glucose and of [6,6-(2)H(2)]glucose to endogenous glucose, respectively. R(a meal) and EGP measured with this approach were essentially model independent, since non-steady-state error was minimized by the protocol. Initial splanchnic glucose extraction (ISE) was 12.9% +/- 3.4%, and suppression of EGP (EGPS) was 40.3% +/- 4.1%. In contrast, when calculated with the dual-tracer one-compartment model, ISE was higher (P < 0.05) and EGPS was lower (P < 0.005) than observed with the triple-tracer approach. These errors could only be prevented by using time-varying volumes different for R(a meal) and EGP. Analysis of the dual-tracer data with a two-compartment model reduced but did not totally avoid the problems associated with marked postprandial changes in the tracer-to-tracee ratios. We conclude that results from previous studies that have used the dual-tracer one-compartment model to measure postprandial carbohydrate metabolism need to be reevaluated and that the triple-tracer technique may provide a useful approach for doing so.     

Comparison of Trace Elements in the Scalp Hair of Malignant and Benign Breast Lesions Versus Healthy Women

Trace elements including Al, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, and Zn were analyzed in the scalp hair samples of women with malignant breast lesions, women with benign breast lesions, and healthy donors using atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. In the scalp hair of malignant-tumor patients, the highest average concentration was shown by Ca (1,187 μg/g), followed by Na (655 μg/g), Mg (478 μg/g), Zn (391 μg/g), Sr (152 μg/g), Fe (114 μg/g), and K (89.8), while in the case of benign-tumor patients, the average estimated element levels were 1,522, 1,093, 572, 457, 217, 80.4, and 74.7 μg/g, respectively. Most of the elements exhibited non-normal distribution evidenced by large spread, standard error, and skewness values. Mean concentrations of Ca (634 μg/g), Zn (206 μg/g), Mg (162 μg/g), Fe (129 μg/g), and Na (82.1 μg/g) were noteworthy in the scalp hair of healthy women. Average levels of Na, Sr, K, Cd, Co, Pb, Mg, Ca, Zn, Ni, Sb, and Mn were revealed to be significantly higher in the hair of malignant and benign patients compared to the healthy women; however, Fe, Cu, Al, and Cr were not significantly different in the scalp hair of the three groups. The quartile distributions of Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, and Sr revealed maximum spread in the scalp hair of malignant and benign groups; nevertheless, Al, Cu, Fe, and Zn exhibited almost comparable quartile levels in the three groups. Strong correlation coefficients were found between Fe and Cd, Al and Na, Mn and Sr, Co and Cr, Cd and Cr, Pb and K, Pb and Mn, Cu and Na, and Al and Fe in the scalp hair of malignant-tumor patients, while Fe and K, Cd and Co, Na and Co, and Cr and Pb showed strong correlations in the scalp hair of benign-tumor patients, both of which were significantly different compared with the healthy subjects. Multivariate cluster analysis also revealed divergent clustering of the elements in the scalp hair of malignant and benign patients in comparison with the healthy women.     

NF-M is an essential target for the myelin-directed "outside-in" signaling cascade that mediates radial axonal growth

Neurofilaments are essential for acquisition of normal axonal calibers. Several lines of evidence have suggested that neurofilament-dependent structuring of axoplasm arises through an "outside-in" signaling cascade originating from myelinating cells. Implicated as targets in this cascade are the highly phosphorylated KSP domains of neurofilament subunits NF-H and NF-M. These are nearly stoichiometrically phosphorylated in myelinated internodes where radial axonal growth takes place, but not in the smaller, unmyelinated nodes. Gene replacement has now been used to produce mice expressing normal levels of the three neurofilament subunits, but which are deleted in the known phosphorylation sites within either NF-M or within both NF-M and NF-H. This has revealed that the tail domain of NF-M, with seven KSP motifs, is an essential target for the myelination-dependent outside-in signaling cascade that determines axonal caliber and conduction velocity of motor axons.     

Silver nitrate-induced in vitro shoot multiplication and precocious flowering in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Catharanthus roseus</Emphasis> (L.) G. Don,a rich source of terpenoid indole alkaloids

Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don is an economically and medicinally important plant since its leaves and flowers contain terpenoid indole alkaloids. The present study, for the first time, encompasses the influence of silver nitrate (AgNO₃), in consort with cytokinins like N ⁶-benzyladenine (BA) and 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin), to regenerate multiple shoots from nodal segments explants and to induce high-frequency precocious flowering of C. roseus under in vitro condition. Synergistic effect of equal concentrations of BA and kinetin was enhanced following the amalgamation of AgNO₃. As high as 98% explants responded to multiple shoot initiation and proliferation in Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 3 µM BA, 3 µM kinetin and 0.1 µM AgNO₃. As many as 7 shoots were developed per explant following 12 days of inoculation. Continuous culture in the same medium for 21 days induced precocious flowering from 75% shoots, wherein a maximum of ~?6 (5.67?±?0.88) flowers was observed per in vitro shoot. On the other hand, in the combinations of BA and kinetin excluding AgNO₃, a maximum of 6.67% explants responded and initiated merely 3.33 shoots per explant. Nevertheless, no induction of flower was observed in the media devoid of AgNO₃. Our results on the induction and proliferation of multiple shoots with simultaneous flowering would help the global pharmaceutical industry to produce in vitro shoots and flowers in bulk, as an alternative source of alkaloids.     

Chemometric Evaluation of Elemental Imbalances in the Scalp Hair of Valvular Heart Disease Patients in Comparison with Healthy Donors

The present study deals with the plausible association between the trace elemental imbalances and the emergence of valvular heart disease (VHD). A total of 14 elements including Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Pb, Sr and Zn in the scalp hair of VHD patients and healthy donors were analysed by flame atomic absorption spectrophometry employing wet acid digestion methodology. Median levels of Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn and Sr in the scalp hair of patients were significantly higher compared to those of the healthy donors, while the median concentrations of K and Na were found to be considerably higher in the scalp hair of the healthy donors. In addition, substantially elevated Cu/Zn value in patients indicated the prevalence of inflammatory processes inside the body. The correlation coefficients among the elements in the hair of VHD patients were significantly diverse compared to those of the healthy donors. Multivariate statistical methods showed noticeably dissimilar apportionment of the elements in the two groups. Variations in the elemental levels were also observed with gender, habitat, dietary/smoking habits and occupations of both donor groups. Overall, the study revealed significant imbalances among the essential and toxic elements in the scalp hair of VHD patients compared to those of the healthy subjects.     

Akhirin regulates the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells/progenitor cells at neurogenic niches in mouse brain

Specialized microenvironment, or neurogenic niche, in embryonic and postnatal mouse brain plays critical roles during neurogenesis throughout adulthood. The subventricular zone (SVZ) and the dentate gyrus (DG) of hippocampus in the mouse brain are two major neurogenic niches where neurogenesis is directed by numerous regulatory factors. Now, we report Akhirin (AKH), a stem cell maintenance factor in mouse spinal cord, plays a pivotal regulatory role in the SVZ and in the DG. AKH showed specific distribution during development in embryonic and postnatal neurogenic niches. Loss of AKH led to abnormal development of the ventricular zone and the DG along with reduction of cellular proliferation in both regions. In AKH knockout mice (AKH^−/−), quiescent neural stem cells (NSCs) increased, while proliferative NSCs or neural progenitor cells decreased at both neurogenic niches. In vitro NSC culture assay showed increased number of neurospheres and reduced neurogenesis in AKH^−/−. These results indicate that AKH, at the neurogenic niche, exerts dynamic regulatory role on NSC self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation during SVZ and hippocampal neurogenesis.