Prediction of seizure control in non-ketotic hyperglycemic induced seizures

Background  

To study the factors predictive for seizure control in non-ketotic hyperglycemic induced seizures (NKHS).     

Increased collagen content in insulin-resistant skeletal muscle

Oversupply and underutilization of lipid fuels are widely recognized to be strongly associated with insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. Recent attention has focused on the mechanisms underlying this effect, and defects in mitochondrial function have emerged as a potential player in this scheme. Because evidence indicates that lipid oversupply can produce abnormalities in extracellular matrix composition and matrix changes can affect the function of mitochondria, the present study was undertaken to determine whether muscle from insulin-resistant, nondiabetic obese subjects and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had increased collagen content. Compared with lean control subjects, obese and type 2 diabetic subjects had reduced muscle glucose uptake (P<0.01) and decreased insulin stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 and its ability to associate with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (P<0.01 and P<.05). Because it was assayed by total hydroxyproline content, collagen abundance was increased in muscle from not only type 2 diabetic patients but also nondiabetic obese subjects (0.26+/-0.05, 0.57+/-0.18, and 0.67+/- 0.20 microg/mg muscle wet wt, lean controls, obese nondiabetics, and type 2 diabetics, respectively), indicating that hyperglycemia itself could not be responsible for this effect. Immunofluorescence staining of muscle biopsies indicated that there was increased abundance of types I and III collagen. We conclude that changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix are a general characteristic of insulin-resistant muscle.     

Positive selection on the Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite threonine-asparagine-rich protein: analysis of isolates mainly from low endemic areas

The sporozoite threonine-asparagine-rich protein (STARP) of Plasmodium falciparum is an attractive target for a pre-erythrocytic stage malaria vaccine because both naturally acquired and experimentally induced anti-STARP antibodies can block sporozoite invasion of hepatocytes. To explore the extent of sequence variation, we surveyed nucleotide polymorphism across the entire gene, encompassing 2 exons and an intron, of 124 P. falciparum-infected blood samples from Thailand and 10 from 4 other endemic areas. In total 24 haplotypes were identified despite low-level nucleotide diversity at this locus. The mean number of nonsynonymous substitutions per nonsynonymous site (d(N)) significantly exceeded that of synonymous substitutions per synonymous site (d(S)), suggesting that the STARP gene has evolved under positive selection, probably from host immune pressure. The preponderance of conservative amino acid exchanges and a strongly biased T-nucleotide toward the third position of codons in repeat arrays have reflected simultaneous constraints on this molecule, probably from its respective unknown function and nucleotide composition. Sequence conservation in the STARP locus among clinical isolates from different disease endemic areas would not compromise vaccine incorporation.     

Decolorization of azo-reactive dye by polyphosphate- and glycogen-accumulating organisms in an anaerobic-aerobic sequencing batch reactor

An anaerobic-aerobic sequencing batch reactor with a sludge age of 8 days and anaerobic + aerobic + settling times of 18 + 5 + 1 h, was used to decolorize an azo-reactive dye wastewater. The nutrient broth (NB) and sodium acetate (SA) solution at 500 + 0, 350 + 150, 250 + 250 and 0 + 500 mg/l as COD was fed to the system to promote the polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), while only glucose (500 mg/l COD) was used as a glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) promoting substrate. The decolorization capability of the process was about 73-77 and 59-64% in terms of ADMI for the systems which the PAOs and GAOs proliferated, respectively. The color reduction was mainly achieved within the first 2 h of the anaerobic stage.     

TLC-densitometric analysis of artemisinin for the rapid screening of high-producing plantlets of Artemisia annua L

A simple TLC-densitometric technique has been developed for the rapid and accurate analysis of artemisinin in a large number of Artemisia annua plantlets cultured in vitro. This new analytical method is based on the structural conversion of artemisinin on a silica gel layer by ammonia vapour to form 10-azadesoxyartemisinin, a chromophore-containing compound (lambdamax 320 nm) that can be detected by UV-based TLC densitometry. The TLC system was evaluated quantitatively in terms of product stability, precision, accuracy and calibration. Good linearity was obtained in the range of 0.01-0.12 microg artemisinin. The technique appeared to be accurate and sensitive as compared with the complicated pre-column reaction-HPLC technique. Among 90 samples of A. annua plantlets, the artemisinin content in the leaves appeared to be highly variable, ranging from 0.02 to 0.67% w/w dry weight. These results demonstrate that densitometric TLC can be a cheap and simple technique for the accurate screening of high-artemisinin-producing plants.     

Isolation of endophytic actinomycetes from selected plants and their antifungal activity

The isolation of endophytic actinomycetes from surface-sterilized tissues of 36 plant species was made using humic acid–vitamin (HV) agar as a selection medium. Of the 330 isolates recovered, 212 were from roots, 97 from leaves and 21 isolates from stems with a prevalence of 3.9, 1.7 and 0.3%, respectively. Identification of endophytic actinomycetes was based on their morphology and the amino acid composition of the whole-cell extract. Most isolates were classified as Streptomyces sp. (n = 277); with the remainder belonging to Microbispora sp. (n = 14), Nocardia sp. (n = 8) and Micromonospora sp. (n = 4). Four isolates were unclassified and 23 were lost during subculture. The most prevalent group of isolates were the Streptomyces sp. occurring in 6.4% of the tissue samples of Zingiber officinale. Scanning electron microscopy investigation of this plant revealed that 7.5% of the root and 5% of the leaf samples contained endophytes. Three of the Streptomyces sp. isolates strongly inhibited Colletotrichum musae, five were very active against Fusarium oxysporum and two strongly inhibited growth of both test fungi.     

Spatial distribution of mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA variation in Daubenton's bat within Scotland

Daubenton's bat ( Myotis daubentonii ) is a known reservoir for European bat lyssavirus type 2 (EBLV-2). An appreciation of the potential for epidemiological spread and disease risk requires an understanding of the dispersal of the primary host, and any large-scale geographical barriers that may impede gene flow. The spatial pattern of microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA variation was examined to infer patterns of dispersal of bats among 35 populations across Scotland. DNA sequence variation at the mitochondrial control region and ND1 genes revealed two distinct phylogeographical clades, with generally nonoverlapping geographical distributions except for a small number of populations where both matrilines were found in sympatry. Such discontinuity suggests that Scotland was recolonised twice following the retreat of the Pleistocene ice sheet with little subsequent matrilineal introgression. However, eight microsatellite loci showed low levels of genetic divergence among populations, even between populations from the two distinct mitochondrial DNA clades. An overall, macrogeographical genetic isolation-by-distance pattern was observed, with high levels of gene flow among local populations. Apparently contrasting patterns of mitochondrial and microsatellite divergence at different scales could be explained by sex-specific differences in gene flow at large scales.     

Effect of IGF-I on FFA and glucose metabolism in control and type 2 diabetic subjects

The effects of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin on free fatty acid (FFA) and glucose metabolism were compared in eight control and eight type 2 diabetic subjects, who received a two-step euglycemic hyperinsulinemic (0.25 and 0.5 mU x kg(-1) x min(-1)) clamp and a two-step euglycemic IGF-I (26 and 52 pmol x kg(-1) x min(-1)) clamp with [3-(3)H]glucose, [1-(14)C]palmitate, and indirect calorimetry. The insulin and IGF-I infusion rates were chosen to augment glucose disposal (R(d)) to a similar extent in control subjects. In type 2 diabetic subjects, stimulation of R(d) (second clamp step) in response to both insulin and IGF-I was reduced by approximately 40-50% compared with control subjects. In control subjects, insulin was more effective than IGF-I in suppressing endogenous glucose production (EGP) during both clamp steps. In type 2 diabetic subjects, insulin-mediated suppression of EGP was impaired, whereas EGP suppression by IGF-I was similar to that of controls. In both control and diabetic subjects, IGF-I-mediated suppression of plasma FFA concentration and inhibition of FFA turnover were markedly impaired compared with insulin (P < 0.01-0.001). During the second IGF-I clamp step, suppression of plasma FFA concentration and FFA turnover was impaired in diabetic vs. control subjects (P < 0.05-0.01). CONCLUSIONS: 1) IGF-I is less effective than insulin in suppressing EGP and FFA turnover; 2) insulin-resistant type 2 diabetic subjects also exhibit IGF-I resistance in skeletal muscle. However, suppression of EGP by IGF-I is not impaired in diabetic individuals, indicating normal hepatic sensitivity to IGF-I.     

Identification ofStreptomyces sp. Tc022, an endophyte inAlpinia galanga, and the isolation of actinomycin D

Some endophytic actinomycetes (120) were isolated from the roots ofAlpinia galanga. Identification of these endophytes was based on their morphology and amino acid composition of the whole-cell extract. Most isolates were classified aStreptomyces sp. (82), with the remainder belonging toNocardia sp. (11),Microbispora sp. (3) andMicromonospora sp. (2). Eight isolates were unclassified and 14 were lost during subculture. The strain identified as endophyticStreptomyces sp. Tc022 strongly inhibitedColletotrichum musae andCandida albicans. This endophyte was cultured, the agar was extracted with organic solvent and the extract was purified on a column of silica gel to give a major component, which was identified to be actinomycin D on the basis of spectroscopic dat Actinomycin D showed antifungal activity againstColletotrichum musae andCandida albicans with the MIC of 10 and 20 mg ml^?1, respectively.     

Bioactive constituents from the leaves of Clinacanthus nutans Lindau

Three chlorophyll derivatives (phaeophytins) were isolated from the chloroform extract of Clinacanthus nutans Lindau leaves by means of chromatographic techniques and bioactivity-guided fractionation to give three pure compounds. Structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was carried out on the basis of spectral analyses. Three of these were known compounds with structures related to chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b namely 13²-hydroxy-(13²-R)-phaeophytin b, 13²-hydroxy-(13²-S)-phaeophytin a and 13²-hydroxy-(13²-R)-phaeophytin a. These compounds, which have not previously been reported in this plant, were shown to have anti-herpes simplex activity. They exhibited anti-HSV-1F activity at subtoxic concentrations. Their inhibitory activity affected the virus before viral entry to the host cells. This effect might be virucidal or interference with viral adsorption or penetration.