Characteristics of norepinephrine stimulated thermogenesis in undernourished subjects

Thermoregulatory thermogenesis was evaluated in chronically undernourished subjects as well as normally nourished controls by 60 min infusions of norepinephrine at a calculated dose of 0.15 μg/kg fat free mass/min. There was a significant (P< 0.05) reduction in the thermogenic response to norepinephrine in the undernourished labourers. When the characteristics of response were evaluated, the baseline and peak responses were comparable in both groups. However, the steepness of the response was greater (P< 0.05) in the undernourished subjects. The time to register a threshold response of 5 ml per min increase in oxygen consumption over the baseline after the start of infusion was longer in undernourished (about 20 min) as compared to the controls (about 10 min). It appears that, while the undernourished subjects have a reduced thermogenic component in their energy output, their peak capacity or potential for regulatory thermogenesis is the same as that in control subjects, since their thermogenic response has a greater slope. It is possible that chronically undernourished subjects may have a suppressed response over shorter periods of stimulation (less than 20 min), that is, before steady state thermogenic responses are achieved.     

Uricase from fish liver: isolation and some properties

The uricase (urate: oxygen oxidoreducase EC.1.7.3.3) activities in livers from rainbow trout, mackerel, lake trout, catfish, shark and tilapia were 1000, 1180, 920, 630, 490 and 420 units (n moles uric acid oxidized mg-1 protein min-1) per gram liver, respectively. The enzyme from lake trout was purified twenty fold by ammonium sulfate precipitation, protamine sulfate treatment and Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography. SDS-polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis indicated an oligomeric enzyme containing subunits of 32,500 daltons. The pH optimum was 8.8 but the enzyme had a relatively broad pH activity profile between pH 7.0-9.5. Apparent Km and Vmax values of 80 microM and greater than 1000 was obtained for the trout liver enzyme.     

Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency syndrome: Do we know it?

Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive syndrome caused by homozygous mutations in mismatch repair genes. This is characterized by the childhood onset of brain tumors, colorectal cancers, cutaneous manifestations of neurofibromatosis-1 like café au lait spots, hematological malignancies, and occasionally other rare malignancies. Here, we would like to present a family in which the sibling had glioblastoma, and the present case had acute lymphoblastic lymphoma and colorectal cancer. We would like to present this case because of its rarity and would add to literature.     

Production and Characterization of Protein Encapsulated Silver Nanoparticles by Marine Isolate Streptomyces parvulus SSNP11

Production of protein encapsulated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) assisted by marine actinomycetes strain has been investigated. The selective isolate was identified as Streptomyces parvulus SSNP11 based on chemotaxonomic and 16S rRNA analysis. Maximum AgNPs production was observed within 24 h incubation time. The produced AgNPs are spherical in shape with monodispersive and crystalline in nature. The particle size distribution ranges from 1.66 to 11.68 nm with a mean size of 2.1 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs revealed stretching vibrations of primary and secondary amines along with C–H and C–N, suggesting that metabolically produced proteins are involved in size regulation of reduced AgNPs. These particles possess an average negative zeta potential value of 81.5 mV with an electrophoretic mobility of 0.000628 cm²/Vs. The biosynthesized nanoparticles revealed antimicrobial property against gram negative as well as gram positive bacterial strains.     

Development of micro satellite markers for a critically endangered species, Ceropegia fantastica from the Western Ghats, India

Ceropegia fantastica L. (Asclepiadaceae) is a highly endemic and endangered species in the Western Ghats of India. Fourteen microsatellite markers were developed for C. fantastica. Eight microsatellite primers screened had 2–5 alleles per locus and the observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.48 to 0.83 and 0.48 to 0.62, respectively. The primers were also evaluated for their cross amplification against two related species Ceropegia hirsuta and Ceropegia oculata. The microsatellites developed for this species could be used for addressing population genetics of this endemic and critically endangered species.