Association of Mycobacterium infections in patients with Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease with venous thromboembolism

An association between a hypercoagulable state and Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD) has been established in a few studies; resultant thrombosis is considered rare. In a case‐control study, the prevalence of factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, A1298C mutations were investigated in mycobacterium‐infected patients. The study comprised 30 patients with mycobacterial infections (invasive, disseminated and/or recurrent infections with Bacille Calmette–Guerin or non‐tuberculosis mycobacteria and Mycobacterium Tuberculosis with positive results for acid‐fast bacilli and tuberculin skin tests) and 30 normal healthy controls. Forty female (66.7%) and 20 male subjects (33.3%) aged from 3 to 70 years were recruited into this study. Genotyping of targeted genes was performed by RT‐PCR and cytokine TNF‐α concentrations were quantified using a commercially available ELISA kit. Significant associations between mycobacterial infection and TNF‐α production after stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells with LPS alone and with IFN‐γ plus LPS were identified. Moreover, genotyping analysis in the studied population revealed a significant association between MTHFR c.677C>T (OR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.35–7.92; P < 0.05), MTHFR c.1298A>C (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.10–4.93; P < 0.05) and mycobacterial infection in affected patients, indicating susceptibility to venous thromboembolism according to previous studies. Additionally, mycobacterium‐infected patients had a significantly greater prevalence of MTHFR C677T and A1298C mutations than controls.     

The Modulatory Effect of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor Type-1α on Spike-Wave Discharges in WAG/Rij Rats

Modulatory function of metabotropic glutamate type 1 (mGlu1) receptors plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of some neurological disorders, including schizophrenia and epilepsy. In this study, the expression of mGlu1α receptors in the thalamic nuclei was assessed during development of absence seizures in the WAG/Rij rats, a valid genetic animal model of absence epilepsy. In addition, the effect of pharmacological modulation of mGlu1α receptors in the laterodorsal (LD) nucleus of the thalamus on the characteristic features of bioelectrical brain activities in the WAG/Rij rats was assessed. The expression of mGlu1α receptors in the LD was assessed in four experimental groups of both WAG/Rij and Wistar rats with 2 and 6 months of age. Agonist and antagonist of mGlu1α receptors were infused in LD in the six months old WAG/Rij (epileptic) rats. The protein level of mGlu1α receptors in the thalamus of the 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats was lower than non-epileptic animals. In addition, the distribution of mGlu1α receptors in different thalamic nuclei was lower in the 6-month-old WAG/Rij compared to age-matched Wistar rats. The gene expression of mGlu1α receptor was also significantly lower in 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats in the LD compared to other animal groups. The microinjection of mGlu1α receptors agonist and antagonist in the LD reduced the duration of spike-wave discharges (SWDs) and increased the amplitude and duration of SWDs, respectively, in 6-month-old WAG/Rij rats. The alterations of mGlu1α receptors expression in the thalamus of epileptic WAG/Rij rats as well as its modulatory effects in the generation of SWDs suggest the potential of mGlu1 receptors as a therapeutic target in absence epilepsy.     

State-of-the-Art Review of Biocementation by Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) for Soil Stabilization

Biocementation is a recently developed new branch in geotechnical engineering that deals with the application of microbiological activity to improve the engineering properties of soils. One of the most commonly adopted processes to achieve soil biocementation is through microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP). This technique utilizes the metabolic pathways of bacteria to form calcite (CaCO₃) that binds the soil particles together, leading to increased soil strength and stiffness. This paper presents a review of the use of MICP for soil improvement and discusses the treatment process including the primary components involved and major affecting factors. Envisioned applications, potential advantages and limitations of MICP for soil improvement are also presented and discussed. Finally, the primary challenges that lay ahead for the future research (i.e. treatment optimization, upscaling for in situ implementation and self-healing of biotreated soils) are briefly discussed.     

2-Hydroxyphenacyl azoles and related azolium derivatives as antifungal agents

2-Hydroxyphenacyl azole and 2-hydroxyphenacyl azolium compounds have been described as a new class of azole antifungals. Most target compounds showed significant in vitro antifungal activities against tested fungi (Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus niger, and Microsporum gypseum) with low MICs values included in the range of 0.25-32 microg/mL comparable to reference drug fluconazole. The most active compounds were also assessed for their cytotoxicity using MTT colorimetric assay on normal mouse fibroblast (NIH/3T3) cells. The results of antifungal activity and toxicity tests indicated that these compounds display antifungal activity at non-cytotoxic concentrations.     

A role for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haemophilus ducreyi</Emphasis> Cu,ZnSOD in resistance to heme toxicity

The Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu,ZnSOD) from Haemophilus ducreyi is the only enzyme of this class which binds a heme molecule at its dimer interface. To explore the role of the enzyme in this heme-obligate bacterium, a sodC mutant was created by insertional inactivation. No difference in growth rate was observed during heme limitation. In contrast, under heme rich conditions growth of the sodC mutant was impaired compared to the wild type strain. This growth defect was abolished by supplementation of exogenous catalase. Genetic complementation of the sodC mutant in trans demonstrated that the enzymatic property or the heme-binding activity of the protein could repair the growth defect of the sodC mutant. These results indicate that Cu,ZnSOD protects Haemophilus ducreyi from heme toxicity.     

Rumen and post-abomasal disappearance in lactating cows of amino acids and other components of barley grain treated with sodium hydroxide, formaldehyde or urea

Four rumen and duodenum cannulated, Holstein lactating cows were used in a change-over design to determine the effects of NaOH, formaldehyde (HCHO) or urea treated barley on disappearance of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), amino acids (AA), NDF, ADF and starch of barley in the rumen, post-abomasal (PAT) and total tract by the mobile nylon bag technique. Experimental treatments were coarse milled barley, barley treated with 35 g NaOH/kg, barley treated with 4 g formaldehyde/kg and barley treated with 35 g urea/kg, in which all chemical treated barley was milled coarse before feeding.

NaOH treatment reduced concentrations of lysine and cystine in the barley grain. All chemical treatments decreased rumen disappearances of barley CP but only NaOH and formaldehyde treatments also decreased total AA and some of the AA disappearances in the rumen. All chemical treatments increased DM, OM, CP, starch, NDF and ADF disappearance of barley in the PAT, but only NaOH and formaldehyde treatments increased total AA and most individual AA disappearances in the PAT. Chemical treatments increased disappearance of starch, methionine and glycine in the total tract (P<0.05).

Rumen disappearance of TAA was lower than for CP but PAT disappearance of TAA was more than for CP and finally total tract disappearance of TAA was more than for CP. Individual AA in barley disappeared at different rates in the rumen and PAT. Consequently, the proportion of digesta CP and AAs of barley, entering the intestine were changed by the chemical treatments. We concluded that, appropriate treatment of barley with NaOH or HCHO were provided substantial protection of CP and individual AA from rumen digestion and increased disappearance of most of barley nutrients in PAT, but, NaOH treatment reduced the AA quality of barley. Consequently, formaldehyde can therefore be considered better than NaOH and urea for treatment of barley grain.     

Isoenzyme diversity and cryptic speciation in Juniperus excelsa (Cupressaceae) complex in Iran

An isoenzyme analysis was performed on 109 individuals from 11 populations of Juniperus excelsa complex collected from Iran. A total of 61 allozymes from five enzyme systems were scored. The mean numbers of bands per presumed isoenzyme, ranged from 2.07 to 3.23. The value of Euclidean distance ranged from 1.920 to 4.411. The average value of Shannon diversity index (H′) estimated for each population ranged from 0.317 in the population sampled from ‘Fasa’ to 1.053 in the population of ‘Golestan’, and the average H′ value for each enzyme system ranged from 0.031 (SOD-3) to 1.670 (PPO-1). To reveal the relationships among these populations, a cluster analysis based on Euclidean distances was performed. The results of the analysis suggest recognizing three taxa in the complex in Iran: Juniperus polycarpos subsp. polycarpos, Juniperus polycarpos subsp. turcomanica, and one cryptic species not recorded from Iran until now. Moreover, the analysis presented, does not confirm the occurrence of J. excelsa in Iran.