Morphometric and phytochemical characterization of chaura fruits (Gaultheria pumila): a native Chilean berry with commercial potential

Background

For the first time, a morphometric characterization of chaura (Gaultheria pumila) fruits has been conducted between natural populations growing in the Villarrica National Park, Araucania Region, Chile. Chaura is a native Ericaceae from Chile that produces aromatic and tasty fruits which could be of agricultural interest.

Results

To influence the decision for a further domestication of G. pumila, both the fruit sizes (indicator of productivity) and the nutritional properties of the fruits have been determined from different subpopulations. Samples were a total of 74 plants and 15 fruits per plant which were randomly harvested following its natural distribution around the Villarrica volcano. Altogether, fresh weight, shape, color, diameter in the pole and the equatorial dimensions were determined as phenotypic traits of the G. pumila fruits. Meanwhile the total soluble solids, anthocyanin and pectin contents were calculated as nutritional traits of the Chaura fruits. Results showed a high phenotypic diversity between the sampled population with three main fruit shapes and three predominant colors. The round shapes were the most abundant, whereas a significant correlation was found among fruit size with weight and color. The highest fresh weight (597.3 mg), pole diameter (7.1 mm) and equatorial diameter (6.5 mm) were estimated in the pink color fruits.

Conclusions

The total amount of anthocyanin was higher in red fruits, while the maximum pectin content was obtained in the round white fruits. Overall results must pave the way for a further domestication and introduction of the Chaura species in the agro-productive system in Chile.     

Primary Care Physicians’ Attitudes and Beliefs towards Chronic Low Back Pain: An Asian Study

Background

Chronic low back pain is a serious global health problem. There is substantial evidence that physicians’ attitudes towards and beliefs about chronic low back pain can influence their subsequent management of the condition.

Objectives

(1) to evaluate the attitudes and beliefs towards chronic low back pain among primary care physicians in Asia; (2) to study the cultural differences and other factors that are associated with these attitudes and beliefs.

Method

A cross sectional online survey was sent to primary care physicians who are members of the Hong Kong College of Family Physician (HKCFP). The Pain Attitudes and Beliefs Scale for Physiotherapist (PABS-PT) was used as the questionnaire to determine the biomedical and biopsychosocial orientation of the participants.

Results

The mean Biomedical (BM) score was 34.8+/-6.1; the mean biopsychosocial (BPS) score was 35.6 (+/- 4.8). Both scores were higher than those of European doctors. Family medicine specialists had a lower biomedical score than General practitioners. Physicians working in the public sector tended to have low BM and low BPS scores; whereas physicians working in private practice tended to have high BM and high BPS scores.

Conclusion

The lack of concordance in the pain explanatory models used by private and public sector may have a detrimental effect on patients who are under the care of both parties. The uncertain treatment orientation may have a negative influence on patients’ attitudes and beliefs, thus contributing to the tension and, perhaps, even ailing mental state of a person with chronic LBP.     

Extracellular polymeric substances of the marine fouling diatom amphora rostrata Wm.Sm

Amphora rostrata was grown under continuous illumination at 27°C in batch cultures using f/2 medium. Cell biomass (measured as chllorophyll a and cell counts) reached a maximum on day 7. Thereafter, cell biomass as chl a showed a small decrease. Planktonic('free') and biofilm extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from the adherent cells of A. rostrata were studied. Both types of EPS were produced during the logarithmic phase of growth. However, production was higher during the stationary growth phase. Enhanced EPS production was associated with nutrient deficient conditions. Planktonic and biofilm EPS were purified by gel filtration using Sephadex G‐200 and ion exchange chromatography using DEAE‐cellulose. Both polymers showed the presence of a single peak. Capillary gas Chromatographie analysis of both planktonic and biofilm EPS showed that fucose (36.7%) and galactose (27.6%) were the most abundant monosaccharides, with small quantities of rhamnose, xylose, arabinose, mannose and glucose. Other chemical analysis showed the presence of sulphate, uronic acids, hexoamines, pyruvate and proteins in both the planktonic and bio‐film EPS. Uronic acid, pyruvate and sulphate together were found to contribute ～50 to 60% (W/W) to the EPS of A. rostrata. Such a high content of non‐sugar components indicates their importance to the diatom in metal binding, desiccation prevention and flexibility.     

A Geometric Buildup Algorithm for the Solution of the Distance Geometry Problem Using Least-Squares Approximation

We propose a new geometric buildup algorithm for the solution of the distance geometry problem in protein modeling, which can prevent the accumulation of the rounding errors in the buildup calculations successfully and also tolerate small errors in given distances. In this algorithm, we use all instead of a subset of available distances for the determination of each unknown atom and obtain the position of the atom by using a least-squares approximation instead of an exact solution to the system of distance equations. We show that the least-squares approximation can be obtained by using a special singular value decomposition method, which not only tolerates and minimizes small distance errors, but also prevents the rounding errors from propagation effectively, especially when the distance data is sparse. We describe the least-squares formulations and their solution methods, and present the test results from applying the new algorithm for the determination of a set of protein structures with varying degrees of availability and accuracy of the distances. We show that the new development of the algorithm increases the modeling ability, and improves stability and robustness of the geometric buildup approach significantly from both theoretical and practical points of view.     

Transcriptomic response to differentiation induction

Background  

Microarrays used for gene expression studies yield large amounts of data. The processing of such data typically leads to lists of differentially-regulated genes. A common terminal data analysis step is to map pathways of potentially interrelated genes.     

Serial changes in urinary proteome profile of membranous nephropathy: implications for pathophysiology and biomarker discovery

Membranous nephropathy is one of the most common causes of primary glomerular diseases worldwide. The present study adopted a gel-based proteomics approach to better understand the pathophysiology and define biomarker candidates of human membranous nephropathy using an animal model of passive Heymann nephritis (PHN). Clinical characteristics of Sprague-Dawley rats injected with rabbit anti-Fx1A antiserum mimicked those of human membranous nephropathy. Serial urine samples were collected at Days 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 after the injection with anti-Fx1A (number of rats = 6; total number of gels = 36). Urinary proteome profiles were examined using 2D-PAGE and SYPRO Ruby staining. Quantitative intensity analysis and ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc multiple comparisons revealed 37 differentially expressed proteins among 6 different time-points. These altered proteins were successfully identified by MALDI-TOF MS and classified into 6 categories: (i) proteins with decreased urinary excretion during PHN; (ii) proteins with increased urinary excretion during PHN; (iii) proteins with increased urinary excretion during PHN, but which finally returned to basal levels; (iv) proteins with increased urinary excretion during PHN, but which finally declined below basal levels; (v) proteins with undetectable levels in the urine during PHN; and (vi) proteins that were detectable in the urine only during PHN. Most of these altered proteins have functional significance in signaling pathways, glomerular trafficking, and controlling the glomerular permeability. The ones in categories (v) and (vi) may serve as biomarkers for detecting or monitoring membranous nephropathy. After normalization of the data with 24-h urine creatinine excretion, changes in 34 of initially 37 differentially expressed proteins remained statistically significant. These data underscore the significant impact of urinary proteomics in unraveling disease pathophysiology and biomarker discovery.