Combined efficacies of lipoic acid and 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid against lead-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver

Oxidative stress with subsequent lipid peroxidation has been postulated as one mechanism for lead toxicity. Hence in assessing the protective effects of lipoic acid (LA) and meso 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) on lead toxicity, they were tested either separately or in combination for their effects on selected indices of hepatic oxidative stress. Elevated levels of lipid peroxides were accompanied by altered antioxidant defense systems. Lead acetate (Pb - 0.2%) was administered in drinking water for five weeks to induce toxicity. LA (25 mg kg(-1) body wt. day(-1) i.p) and DMSA (20 mg kg(-1) body wt. day(-1) i.p) were administered individually and also in combination during the sixth week. Lead damage to the liver was evident in the decreases in hepatic enzymes alanine transaminase (-38%), aspartate transaminase (-42%) and alkaline phosphatase (-43%); increases in lipid peroxidation (+38%); decreases in the antioxidant enzymes catalase (-45%), superoxide dismutase (-40%), glutathione peroxidase (-46%) and decreases in glutathione (-43%) and decreases in glutathione metabolizing enzymes, glutathione reductase (-59%), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (-27%) and glutathione-S-transferase (-42%). In combination LA and DMSA completely ameliorated the lead induced oxidative damage. Either compound alone was however only partially protective against lead damage.     

Associations between Retinal Markers of Microvascular Disease and Cognitive Impairment in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Control Study

Objective

To investigate associations between retinal microvascular changes and cognitive impairment in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Design

Case control study.

Setting

A primary care cohort with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods

For this analysis, we compared 69 cases with lowest decile scores (for the cohort) on the Modified Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status and 68 controls randomly selected from the remainder of the cohort. Retinal images were rated and the following measures compared between cases and controls: retinal vessel calibre, arterio-venous ratio, retinal fractal dimension, and simple and curvature retinal vessel tortuosity.

Results

Total and venular (but not arteriolar) simple retinal vessel tortuosity levels were significantly higher in cases than controls (t = 2.45, p = 0.015; t = 2.53, p = 0.013 respectively). The associations persisted after adjustment for demographic factors, retinopathy, neuropathy, obesity and blood pressure. There were no other significant differences between cases and controls in retinal measures.

Conclusions

A novel association was found between higher venular tortuosity and cognitive impairment in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus. This might be accounted for by factors such as hypoxia, thrombus formation, increased vasoendothelial growth factor release and inflammation affecting both the visible retinal and the unobserved cerebral microvasculature.     

Behavioral response of the borer beetle Hoplocerambyx spinicornis to volatile compounds of the tree Shorea robusta

Essential oils isolated from leaves (LO), bast (BO), heartwood (HO), and ethereal extract of resin (EER) of Shorea robusta were bioassayed with electroantennograph (EAG) and wind tunnel to study the behavioral response of male and female beetles, Hoplocerambyx spinicornis Newm., the most injurious heartwood borer of the tree. LO, BO, HO, and EER were shown to exhibit the electrophysiological activity in the female beetle, while LO and BO in the male beetle. In wind-tunnel studies, only BO elicited the attractant activity to both the sexes. A possible correlation of the constituents of the BO identified by GC/MS with the bioactivity is also presented.     

Alzheimer's disease care and management: role of information technology

Alzheimer's disease (AD) an ailment that is supposed to affect people in old age. There are evidences that it might affect others also. The number of elders is increasing as the average life expectancy is increasing. AD afflicts its patients with the dementia and AD might increase in malignance over time. People with cognitive disabilities can be overwhelmed through cognitive prosthetics. With the help of information technology we can enhance the quality of life. Significant achievements are possible with an interdisciplinary approach that includes genomic, genetic, technological and therapeutic measures. The combination and coordination of Bioinformatics facilitates generation of various diagnostic tools for the people who are suffering from Alzheimer's disease. These tools help the care providers also. In this article, we emphasize the literature regarding the use of technology and its methodologies to improve the quality of care for the people with Alzheimer's disease.     

Isolation and characterization of luciferase from Indian firefly,Luciola praeusta

Luciferase from Indian firefly Luciola praeusta (Coleoptera: Lampyridae: Luciolinae) was isolated and the properties compared with that of the North American firefly, Photinus pyralis. Luciola praeusta luciferase was purified using acetone extraction, gel‐filtration column chromatography, ammonium sulfate precipitation and anion exchange chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicates a homogeneous preparation and the molecular mass was slightly higher than that of Photinus pyralis. The effect of pH, buffer composition and metal ions on the spectral characteristics was studied. The maximum bioluminescence activity of luciferase was observed in ACES buffer at pH 6.5. The emission maximum of 562 nm (in crude extract) was red shifted to 570 nm in Tricine buffer at pH 7.8. In addition, the effect of bovine serum albumin on the storage stability of the protein was investigated. Based on the unique spectral characteristics observed, we propose that Luciola praeusta luciferase in the native form is suitable for the assay of biochemical metabolites in acidic pH. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inhibition of ERK attenuates autophagy and potentiates tumour necrosis factor-alpha-induced cell death in MCF-7 cells.

The role of autophagy in cell death is under considerable debate. The process of autophagy has been shown to lead to either cell survival or cell death depending on cell type and stimulus. In the present study, we determined the contribution of ERK1/2 signalling to autophagy and cell death induced by tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Treatment of MCF-7 cells with TNF caused a time-dependent increase in ERK1/2 activity. There was an induction of autophagy and cleavage of caspase-7, -8, -9 and PARP. Pharmacological inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation with U0126 or PD98059 resulted in a decrease in TNF-induced autophagy that was accompanied by an increase in cleavage of caspase-7, -8, -9 and PARP Furthermore, inhibition of ERK1/2 signalling resulted in decreased clonogenic capacity of MCF-7 cells. These data suggest that TNF-induces autophagy through ERK1/2 and that inhibition of autophagy increases cellular sensitivity to TNF.     

Identification of Potential Probiotics in the Midgut of Mulberry Silkworm,Bombyx mori Through Metagenomic Approach

Microorganisms play an important role in the growth and development of numerous insect species. The mulberry silkworm, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera), harbors several bacteria in its midgut aiding the metabolic processes; however, the variability of bacterial spp. present in the midgut and their role(s) in the growth and development of the silkworm are poorly understood. The present work compares the diversity of midgut bacterial communities in silkworms of variable voltinism (Pure Mysore, PM: multivoltine; CSR2: bivoltine and PM × CSR2: crossbreed) through metagenomics. The predominance of Enterococcus (30.30%) followed by Bacillus (16.96%) was observed in PM, whereas Lactobacillus (56.56%) followed by Enterococcus (10.58%) was seen only in CSR2. Interestingly, crossbreed midgut harbored diverse bacterial communities (36.21% Lactobacillus, 25.94% Bacillus, 8.1% Enterococcus, and 18.37% uncultured bacteria). Metagenomic profiles indicate variability in the gut bacterial population in different kinds of silkworms influencing the physiological activities accordingly. The dominant bacteria, particularly lactobacilli, bacilli, and enterococci could be further explored for identifying the potential probiotic consortia based on a literature survey and potential involvement in nutrient absorption, disease/stress tolerance, and improved economic traits.

     

Epithelial EGF receptor signaling mediates airway hyperreactivity and remodeling in a mouse model of chronic asthma

Increases in the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) have been associated with the severity of airway thickening in chronic asthmatic subjects, and EGFR signaling is induced by asthma-related cytokines and inflammation. The goal of this study was to determine the role of EGFR signaling in a chronic allergic model of asthma and specifically in epithelial cells, which are increasingly recognized as playing an important role in asthma. EGFR activation was assessed in mice treated with intranasal house dust mite (HDM) for 3 wk. EGFR signaling was inhibited in mice treated with HDM for 6 wk, by using either the drug erlotinib or a genetic approach that utilizes transgenic mice expressing a mutant dominant negative epidermal growth factor receptor in the lung epithelium (EGFR-M mice). Airway hyperreactivity (AHR) was assessed by use of a flexiVent system after increasing doses of nebulized methacholine. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) thickening was measured by morphometric analysis. Sensitization to HDM (IgG and IgE), inflammatory cells, and goblet cell changes were also assessed. Increased EGFR activation was detected in HDM-treated mice, including in bronchiolar epithelial cells. In mice exposed to HDM for 6 wk, AHR and ASM thickening were reduced after erlotinib treatment and in EGFR-M mice. Sensitization to HDM and inflammatory cell counts were similar in all groups, except neutrophil counts, which were lower in the EGFR-M mice. Goblet cell metaplasia with HDM treatment was reduced by erlotinib, but not in EGFR-M transgenic mice. This study demonstrates that EGFR signaling, especially in the airway epithelium, plays an important role in mediating AHR and remodeling in a chronic allergic asthma model.     

Genetic variability of tobacco streak virus in South India based on the analysis of coat protein gene

Tobacco streak virus (TSV), a member of the genus Ilarvirus, family Bromoviridae is an important viral pathogen in peanut and other crops in South India. Fifteen TSV isolates naturally infecting groundnut, sunflower, onion, black gram, green gram, jute, tagetes, calotropis, pumpkin, watermelon and kenaf plants were collected from fields in different regions of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Virus was identified as TSV by direct antigen coating enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using TSV antiserum. The CP gene from each isolate was amplified using TSV coat protein specific primers. About 700 bp product was amplified, cloned, sequenced and determined its length as 717 nucleotides and codes for 239 amino acids. The sequence analysis revealed that the CP gene shared 91–100% and 91–99% sequence identity with TSV at nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively. The phylogenetic relationship based on the nucleotide sequence of these isolates from different geographical regions was also analysed in this study.