C. elegans Kallmann syndrome protein KAL-1 interacts with syndecan and glypican to regulate neuronal cell migrations

The anosmin-1 protein family regulates cell migration, axon guidance, and branching, by mechanisms that are not well understood. We show that the C. elegans anosmin-1 ortholog KAL-1 promotes migrations of ventral neuroblasts prior to epidermal enclosure. KAL-1 does not modulate FGF signaling in neuroblast migration and acts in parallel to other neuroblast migration pathways. Defects in heparan sulfate (HS) synthesis or in specific HS modifications disrupt neuroblast migrations and affect the KAL-1 pathway. KAL-1 binds the cell surface HS proteoglycans syndecan/SDN-1 and glypican/GPN-1. This interaction is mediated via HS side chains and requires specific HS modifications. SDN-1 and GPN-1 are expressed in ventral neuroblasts and have redundant roles in KAL-1-dependent neuroblast migrations. Our findings suggest that KAL-1 interacts with multiple HSPGs to promote cell migration.     

Some lectin binding properties of the tongue of the mole rat,Nannospalax xanthodon

We investigated carbohydrate residues on the epithelial surface, in the epithelial cells and in gland cells of the tongue of the mole rat using histochemical methods. We used horseradish peroxidase-conjugated lectins from Helix pomatia (HPA), Arachishypogaea (PNA), Ulexeuropaeus (UEA I), Canavaliaensiformis (Con A). The most intense reactivity was observed in the keratin layer with HPA, UEA I and Con A, and in the epithelial cells with UEA I and Con A. In the glands, we found strong reactivity in serous cells with HPA and Con A, and in mucous cells with HPA and UEA I. PNA did not bind to epithelial or gland cells. Consequently, GlcNAc, fucose and α-D-mannose terminal glycoconjugates are distributed widely; GalNAc terminal glycoconjugates appeared in small amounts.     

Phenolic compounds inhibit the aldose reductase enzyme from the sheep kidney

Aldose reductase (AR) is the key enzyme for the polyol pathway and responsible for sorbitol accumulation during the hyperglycemia. The present article focuses on the role of phenol, pyrogallol, hydroquinone, resorcinol, catechol, and phloroglucinol in in vitro inhibition of AR. For this purpose, AR was purified from the sheep kidney with 5.33 EU mg^?1 specific activity and 0.64% yield using several chromatographic methods. Various concentrations of the compounds were tested on in vitro AR activity. IC₅₀ values were found for phenol, pyrogallol, hydroquinone, resorcinol, catechol, and phloroglucinol as 6.5, 1.13, 5.45, 2.21, 1.8, and 2.09 mM, respectively, and their K_i constant was calculated as 3.45 ± 0.92, 0.96 ± 0.28, 3.07 ± 0.46, 1.59 ± 0.43, 2.5 ± 0.35, and 2.54 ± 0.45 mM, respectively. Pyrogallol showed better inhibitory effect compared to the other compounds. The inhibition mechanisms of all compounds were noncompetitive. In the presents study, in vitro AR inhibition was examined by the phenolic compounds.     

Can Age at Diagnosis and Sex Improve the Performance of the American Thyroid Association Risk Stratification System for Prediction of Structural Persistent and Recurrent Disease in Patients With Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma? A Multicenter Study

ObjectiveAlthough the age at diagnosis has been suggested as a major determinant of disease-specific survival in the recent TNM staging system, it is not included in the recent American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines to estimate the risk of recurrence. Nevertheless, the effect of sex on differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) recurrence is controversial. Therefore, this multicenter study was conducted to assess whether age at diagnosis and sex can improve the performance of the ATA 3-tiered risk stratification system in patients with DTC with at least 5 years of follow-up.MethodsIn this study, the computer-recorded data of the patients diagnosed with DTC between January 1985 and January 2016 were analyzed. Only patients with proven structural persistent/recurrent disease were selected for comparisons.ResultsThis study consisted of 1691 patients (female, 1367) with DTC. In Kaplan-Meier analysis, disease-free survival (DFS) was markedly longer in females only in the ATA low-risk category (P = .045). Nevertheless, a markedly longer DFS was observed in patients aged <45 years in the ATA low- and intermediate-risk categories (P = .004 and P = .009, respectively), whereas in patients aged <55 years, DFS was markedly longer only in the ATA low-risk category (P < .001). In the Cox proportional hazards model, ages of ≥45 and ≥55 years at diagnosis and the ATA risk stratification system were all independent predictors of persistent/recurrent disease.ConclusionApplying the age cutoff of 45 years in the ATA intermediate- and low-risk categories may identify patients at a higher risk of persistence/recurrence and may improve the performance of the ATA risk stratification system, whereas sex may improve the performance of only the ATA low-risk category.     

Comprehensive Study of the Physicochemical Properties of Royal Jelly from Various Regions of Türkiye**

This study analysed some physicochemical and quality parameters of 176 royal jelly (RJ) samples from different regions of Türkiye, collected over different years and seasons. According to the obtained results, the moisture percentage varied between 47.36 % and 69.58 %, with no statistically significant differences seen across various seasons and areas (p>0.05). The average value of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10-HDA), which varies according to factors such as season, region, and year, was determined to be 2.32 %. It was also seen that this value was close to the international standard. The values of total acidity ranged from 28–58 mL 1 N NaOH/100 g. Furthermore, statistical significance (p<0.001) was observed for the year-region interaction in relation to 10-HDA and total acidity. The pH measurement results for all samples confirmed the acidic nature of the samples and resulted in a range between 3.45 and 3.80. And the pH variability was also found to be statistically significant for years (p=0.002) and regions (p=0.011). Finally, the correlation analysis between moisture (%), 10-HDA (%), total acidity, and pH revealed no statistically significant or strong differences. This comprehensive study, supported by statistical analyses, is thought to be a useful reference for future research on RJ.     

Fabrication and characterization of chlorhexidine gluconate loaded poly(vinyl alcohol)/45S5 nano-bioactive glass nanofibrous membrane for guided tissue regeneration applications

Polymeric barrier membranes are used in periodontal applications to prevent fibroblastic cell migration into the cavities of bone tissue and to properly guide the proliferation of tissues. In this study, the fabrication, characterization, bioactivity, and in vitro biological properties of polyvinyl alcohol-based nanofibrous membranes containing nano-sized 45S5 bioactive glass (BG) loaded with chlorhexidine (CH) gluconate with biocompatible, bioactive, and antibacterial properties for using as dental barrier membranes were investigated. Nanofibrous membranes with an average fiber diameter, pore size, and porosity of 210 nm, 24.73 μm, and 12.42%, respectively, were loaded with 1% and 2% CH, and the release profile was investigated. The presence of BG in the membranes promoted fibroblastic proliferation and the presence of CH provided antibacterial properties. Nanofibrous membranes exhibit a high ability to restrict bacterial growth while fulfilling the necessary conditions for use as a dental barrier thanks to their low swelling rates, significant surface bioactivities, and appropriate degradation levels.