Relationship between hemorheology and Glu(298)Asp polymorphism of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene in patients with coronary artery disease

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between endothelial nitric oxide synthase Glu(298)Asp gene polymorphism and hemorheological parameters. Red blood cell (RBC) deformability, aggregation were measured using an ectacytometry, whole blood, plasma viscosities were determined by a viscometer. Restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to detect polymorphism. Plasma nitrite, nitrate concentrations were determined by Griess method. The genotype distribution of the control group was as follows: 50 (67.5%) GG, 21 (28.4%) GT, 3 (4.1%) TT. A 48 (57.8%) of the patients with CAD had GG, 28 (33.7%) GT, 7 (8.5%) of them TT genotype. RBC aggregation index of CAD patients with G allele was higher and t½ lower compared to controls carrying the same allele. The amplitude of RBC aggregation of healthy subjects with T allele, who are under increased cardiovascular risk was lower compared to control subjects with G allele. The results of this study indicate that, alterations in RBC aggregation seem to be a consequence of CAD, more than being a preexisting cause. Additionally, some compensatory mechanisms by causing decrements in RBC aggregation, may help regulation of circulation in healthy individuals with high cardiovascular risk.     

An overview of loggerhead sea turtle (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Caretta caretta</Emphasis>) bycatch and technical mitigation measures in the Mediterranean Sea

This paper reviews the gear parameters responsible for loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) capture and mortality while taking into account the mitigation measures tested in the Mediterranean Sea. Incidental catch is considered as one of the major threats for turtle survival; however, the loggerhead bycatch estimated in different areas seems to be unrealistic, which highlights the need of a method for homogenising the estimates. Drifting longlines and bottom trawls have the greatest impact on Mediterranean turtle populations, respectively in pelagic and demersal phase, while passive nets (gillnets and trammel nets) seem to be responsible for the highest direct mortality, due to drowning. Most of the experiments available for the Mediterranean are focused on drifting longline. The longline parameters, hook shape and size, bait type, setting position and the reaction to sensory stimuli, strongly affect the sea turtle bycatch and mortality. Circle hooks have the potential to reduce turtle mortality only in certain fisheries and areas; larger hooks are less likely to be swallowed by turtles due to physical constraints of the mouth, reducing the mortality rate and the catch of juveniles; branchlines, once ingested, appear to be one of the major causes of sea turtle mortality; squid bait, which consistently catches more turtles than mackerel, and lightsticks, which strongly attract turtles, should be banned, at least in some areas and seasons. On the contrary only two bottom trawl studies are available from the Mediterranean. Turtle excluder devices have been tested with promising results in Turkey and Italy, even if the loss of large fish should be carefully investigated. For set nets no practical solutions are available at this time. The analysis allows the conclusion that technical parameters affecting turtle bycatch and mortality should only be studied one at a time, in order to avoid inconclusive results, studies on post-release mortality should be implemented and finally fishermen cooperation is paramount in reducing turtle bycatch and mortality.     

Variable-number tandem-repeat markers for typing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium intracellulare</Emphasis> strains isolated in humans

Background  

Mycobacterium intracellulare, a species of the Mycobacterium avium complex, may be the cause of severe lung, lymphatic node, skin and bone/joint infections, as well as bacteriemia. The goal of this work was to identify Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive Unit-Variable Number Tandem Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) markers and to study their variability in a collection of isolates of M. intracellulare collected in humans. We studied 61 isolates collected in humans between 2001 and 2008, as well as the reference strain, M. intracellulare ATCC 13950.     

The Protein Disulfide Isomerase gene family in bread wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">T. aestivum L</Emphasis>.)

Background  

The Protein Disulfide Isomerase (PDI) gene family encodes several PDI and PDI-like proteins containing thioredoxin domains and controlling diversified metabolic functions, including disulfide bond formation and isomerisation during protein folding. Genomic, cDNA and promoter sequences of the three homoeologous wheat genes encoding the "typical" PDI had been cloned and characterized in a previous work. The purpose of present research was the cloning and characterization of the complete set of genes encoding PDI and PDI like proteins in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum cv Chinese Spring) and the comparison of their sequence, structure and expression with homologous genes from other plant species.     

From RNA-seq reads to differential expression results

Many methods and tools are available for preprocessing high-throughput RNA sequencing data and detecting differential expression.     

Direct Isolation of High-Quality Low Molecular Weight RNA of Pear Peel from the Extraction Mixture Containing Nucleic Acid

Low molecular weight RNA (LMW RNA) is generally obtained either from the total RNA or from total nucleic acids solution. Many steps and chemical reagents are involved in traditional methods for LMW RNA isolation where degradation of LMW RNA often occurs, especially for plant materials with high levels of secondary catabolites. In this study, an efficient method was developed to directly isolate pure LMW RNA from pear peel, a material rich in polyphenolics that is covered with a layer of wax. The method was based on polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitation combining CTAB buffer which is often used to isolate RNA from polysaccharide-rich and polyphenolics-rich materials. The entire procedure could be completed within 6 h and many samples could be processed at the same time. Few and common chemicals are used with this method. Hence, it could be used as an ordinary method in the laboratory. The developed method was further tested by isolating LMW RNA from Arabidopsis. Using the isolated LMW RNA samples, microRNAs were successfully detected and characterized.     

Effects of aluminum on nucleoli in root tip cells and selected physiological and biochemical characters in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Allium cepa</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">agrogarum</Emphasis>L

Background  

Increased Al concentration causes reduction of mitotic activity, induction of nucleolar alteration, increase of the production of ROS and alteration of several antioxidant enzyme activities in plant cells. Allium cepa is an excellent plant and a useful biomarker for environmental monitoring. Limited information is available about the effects of Al on nucleoli, antioxidant enzyme system, contents of MDA and soluble protein in A. cepa. Therefore, we carried out the investigation in order to better understand the effects of Al on the growth, nucleoli in root tip cells and selected physiological and biochemical characters.     

Effect of culture conditions on the biomass determination by ergosterol of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lentinus crinitus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Psilocybe castanella</Emphasis>

Estimating fungal growth is important in processes of soil bioremediation. It has been demonstrated that ergosterol is a good indicator of fungal biomass in solid substrata. In the present study were evaluated the effects upon the ergosterol rate of Lentinus crinitus Berk. and Psilocybe castanella Peck through the culture conditions of these fungi, which are evaluated for the bioremediation of soils contaminated by organochlorates. A good correlation between fungal biomass and ergosterol was observed for both species. The culture conditions did not influence the ergosterol rate of L. crinitus. Yet the ergosterol rate of P. castanella was influenced from 35 days of culture and when grown in the presence of 15.00 g hexachlorobenzene l⁻¹ of culture medium. So it is possible to estimate growth of both species using ergosterol as indicator in processes of soil bioremediation since the influences observed in the ergosterol rate of P. castanella are considered.     

Estimating stand volume in broad-leaved forest using discrete-return LiDAR: plot-based approach

Quantitative assessment of forests is important at a variety of scales for forest planning and management. This study investigated the use of small-footprint discrete-return lidar for estimating stand volume in broad-leaved forest at plot level. Field measurements were conducted at 20 sample plots in the study area in western Japan, composed of temperate broad-leaved trees. Five height variables and two density variables were derived from the lidar data: 25th, 50th, 75th, and 100th percentiles, and mean of laser canopy heights as height variables (h ₂₅, h ₅₀, h ₇₅, h ₁₀₀, h _mean); and ground fraction and only-and-vegetation fraction (d _GF, d _OVF) as density variables, defined respectively as the proportion of laser returns that reached the ground, and the proportion of only echoes (i.e., single pulse returns for which the first and last pulses returned from the same point) within vegetation points. In addition, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), which is often used as an estimator for leaf area index (LAI) and above-ground biomass, was derived from multispectral digital imagery as an alternative density variable (d _NDVI). Nonlinear least-square regression with cross-validation analysis was performed with single variables and combinations; a total of 23 models were studied. The best prediction was found when h ₇₅ and d _OVF were used as independent variables, resulting in adjusted R ² of 0.755 and root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 41.90 m³ ha⁻¹, corresponding to 16.4% of the mean stand volume, better than or comparable to the prediction models of previous studies.     

Progenitor Cells for Regenerative Medicine and Consequences of ART and Cloning-Associated Epimutations

The “holy grail” of regenerative medicine is the identification of an undifferentiated progenitor cell that is pluripotent, patient specific, and ethically unambiguous. Such a progenitor cell must also be able to differentiate into functional, transplantable tissue, while avoiding the risks of immune rejection. With reports detailing aberrant genomic imprinting associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and reproductive cloning, the idea that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) derived from surplus in vitro fertilized embryos or nuclear transfer ESCs (ntESCs) harvested from cloned embryos may harbor dangerous epigenetic errors has gained attention. Various progenitor cell sources have been proposed for human therapy, from hESCs to ntESCs, and from adult stem cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS and piPS cells). This review highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each of these technologies, with particular emphasis on epigenetic stability.