Comparing the frequency of CD33+ pSTAT3+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells and IL-17+ lymphocytes in patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most epidemic types of cancer in men. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of PCa is involved in the emergence of immunosuppressive factors such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), which regulate the immune system by several mechanisms, including interleukin (IL)-10 production. On the other hand, IL-17⁺ helper T cells (Th17) induce MDSCs and chronic inflammation in TME by producing IL-17. This study demonstrated that the frequency of CD33⁺ pSTAT3⁺ MDSC and IL-17⁺ lymphocyte as well as IL-10 messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were significantly higher in the PCa patients than in the benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) group. Moreover, there was no significant relationship between the frequency of CD33⁺ pSTAT3⁺ MDSC, and IL-17⁺ lymphocyte with Gleason scores in the PCa group. We suggested that the higher frequency of CD33⁺ pSTAT3⁺ MDSC and IL-17⁺ lymphocyte and the more frequent expression of IL-10 mRNA in PCa patients may play roles in tumor progression from BPH to PCa.     

The survivin molecule as a double-edged sword in cellular physiologic and pathologic conditions and its role as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in cancer

Survivin is a member of the family of apoptosis inhibitory proteins with increased expression level in most cancerous tissues. Evidence shows that survivin plays regulatory roles in proliferation or survival of normal adult cells, principally vascular endothelial cells, T lymphocytes, primitive hematopoietic cells, and polymorphonuclear neutrophils. Survivin antiapoptotic role is, directly and indirectly, related to caspase proteins and shows its role in cell division through the chromosomal passenger complex. Survivin contains many genetic polymorphisms that the role of some variations has been proven in several cancers. The −31G/C polymorphism is one of the most important survivin mutations which is located in the promoter region on a CDE/CHR motif. This polymorphism can upregulate the survivin messenger RNA. In addition, its allele C can increase the risk of cancers in 1.27-fold than allele G. Considering the fundamental role of survivin in different cancers, this protein could be considered as a new therapeutic target in cancer treatment. For this purpose, various strategies have been designed including the prevention of survivin expression through inhibition of mRNA translation using antagonistic molecules, inhibition of survivin gene function through small inhibitory molecules, gene therapy, and immunotherapy. In this study, we describe the structure, played roles in physiological and pathological states and genetic polymorphisms of survivin. Finally, the role of survivin as a potential target in cancer therapy given challenges ahead has been discussed.     

The impact of ant attendance on protecting <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphis gossypii</Emphasis> against two aphidophagous predators and it’s role on the Intraguild Predation between them

In this study the changes in Aphis gossypii Glover populations tended by the homopteran- tending ant, Tapinoma simrothi Krausse when exposed to the natural enemies Chrysoperla carnea Stephens and Coccinellia septempunctata Mulsant was studied. We also studied the effect of ant’s attendance on the consequence of intraguild predation (IGP) between these two predators. The presence of ants T. simrothi had deterrent impact on natural enemies of A. gossypii compared to control aphid populations in absence of ants. Equally we observed that IGP between two aphid predators decreased when T. simrothi was present. The lowest IGP level was observed when both aphids and ants were present in the microcosm arena. In the microcosm arena the presence of ants had an indirect effect on the occurrence of IGP. Our results suggest that although the mutualistic ants have an indirect impact on the IGP by aphidophages predators, but their roles should not be ignored.     

Genome annotation and comparative genomic analysis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis> MJ01, a new bio-degradation strain isolated from oil-contaminated soil

One of the main challenges in elimination of oil contamination from polluted environments is improvement of biodegradation by highly efficient microorganisms. Bacillus subtilis MJ01 has been evaluated as a new resource for producing biosurfactant compounds. This bacterium, which produces surfactin, is able to enhance bio-accessibility to oil hydrocarbons in contaminated soils. The genome of B. subtilis MJ01 was sequenced and assembled by PacBio RS sequencing technology. One big contig with a length of 4,108,293 bp without any gap was assembled. Genome annotation and prediction of gene showed that MJ01 genome is very similar to B. subtilis spizizenii TU-B-10 (95% similarity). The comparison and analysis of orthologous genes carried out between B. subtilis MJ01, reference strain B. subtilis subsp. subtilis str. 168, and close relative spizizenii TU-B-10 by microscope platform and various bioinformatics tools. More than 88% of 4269 predicted coding sequences in MJ01 had at least one similar sequence in genome of reference strain and spizizenii TU-B-10. Despite this high similarity, some differences were detected among encoding sequences of non-ribosome protein and bacteriocins in MJ01 and spizizenii TU-B-10. MJ01 has unique nucleotide sequences and a novel predicted lasso-peptide bacteriocin; it also has not any similar nucleotide sequence in non-redundant nucleotide data base.     

Length–weight relationships of five commercial fish species from the Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf

Length‐weight relationships are described for five fish species from the coast of the Hormuz Strait in the Persian Gulf, Iran. Specimens were collected between August 2010 and July 2011 using shrimp beam trawls, gill nets and intertidal fishing weirs. Relationships for three of the species had no previous data in the international science global databank on fishes: www.FishBase.org . A new maximum length was recorded for Acanthopagrus latus.     

Higher tyrosine protein kinase activity in resting lymphocytes than in proliferating normal or leukaemic blood cells

We have studied tyrosine phosphorylation in particulate fractions from 11 leukaemic cell lines by using as substrate either a synthetic tyrosine containing peptide or the endogenous proteins. The results were compared with those obtained using similar fractions from normal lymphocytes and bone marrow cells. Particulate fractions from all the leukaemic cell lines and normal bone marrow cells exhibited lower levels of tyrosine protein kinase activity compared to normal lymphocytes. When the phosphorylation of endogenous substrates was assayed, proteins were phosphorylated on tyrosine residues (rather than serine or threonine residues) to a larger extent in normal lymphocytes than in leukaemic cell lines. Separation of labelled endogenous substrates on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels showed a number of phosphorylated alkali-resistant bands in the range 14-175kd in the lymphoid cell lines; normal lymphocytes exhibited a smaller number of strongly phosphorylated bands. Normal lymphocytes from different individuals showed reproducible patterns of phosphorylated substrates. Normal bone marrow cells and myeloid leukaemia lines showed weak, if any, phosphorylation. Among the leukaemic cell lines no particular pattern of phosphorylated substrates common to cells of similar phenotype could be detected. We suggest that the level of overall tyrosine protein kinase activity in these fractions reflects their position in the cell cycle rather than their normal or malignant status.     

Interaction of lysozyme with gold nanorods: conformation and activity investigations

Gold nanorods, with their unique morphology and optical properties have offered new prospects for biomedical and biosensing applications. Herein, the interaction between gold nanorods and a model protein has been monitored using spectroscopic techniques. The enzyme retains high fraction of its native structure with a slight increase in the helical content at the expense of β-turns. Kinetic investigations revealed notable increase of enzyme affinity for substrate without significant decrease in the V_max. Emission spectra of tryptophan residues in the presence of chaotropic agent highlighted the maintenance of internal quenching due to the induced compactness. Comparison of the gold nanorod treated lysozyme with free enzyme revealed higher thermodynamic stability under denaturing condition. Results from this study encourage the possibility of utilizing gold nanorods as promising nanocarrier candidates for a new generation of drug delivery applications.     

The Impact of a Diabetes Local Enhanced Service on Quality Outcome Framework Diabetes Outcomes

Background

The rising challenge of diabetes requires novel service delivery approaches. In the UK, Local Enhanced Services (LES) have been commissioned for diabetes. Health professionals from general practices (GPs) who signed up to LES were given additional training (and a monetary incentive) to improve management of patients with diabetes. All practices in the PCT were invited to the LES initiative, which ensured avoiding selection bias. The aim of the study was to examine the impact of LES in terms of diabetes Quality Outcome Framework (QOF) indicators: DM23(glycaemia), DM17(lipid) and DM12(blood pressure; BP).

Methods

QOF diabetes indicators were examined using data from 76 general practices for 2009–2010 in a large primary care trust area in Birmingham, UK. Data were extracted from Quality Management Analysis System. The primary outcome was a difference in achievement of QOF indicators between LES and NLES practices. A secondary outcome was the difference between LES and non-LES practices for hospital first and follow-up appointments.

Results

We did not find any difference for DM12(BP) and DM17(lipid) outcomes between LES and NLES practices. However, LES practices were more likely to achieve the DM23(glycaemia) outcome (estimated odds 1.459;95% CI:1.378-1.544; P=0.0001). The probability of achieving satisfactory level of DM23(glycaemia) increased by almost 10% when GPs belonged to LES groups compared with GPs in NLES group. LES practices were less likely to refer patients to secondary care.

Conclusion

Overall, LES practices performed better in the achievement of DM23(glycaemia) and also referred fewer patients to hospital, thereby meeting their objectives. This suggests that the LES approach is beneficial and needs to be further explored in order to ascertain whether the impact exerted was due to LES.