Free amino acids and protein concentrations in reproductive tract fluids of the mare

Uterine tubal fluids (UTF) were collected daily over a 214-day period (March through August) from three mares. Individual UTF samples identified by day of estrous cycle for five complete cycles within this six-month span were analyzed for free amino acids and total protein. Biochemical comparisons were made to blood plasma by drawing samples daily from each mare. Free amino acids and total protein were determined also on follicular fluids collected from three different mares on days 5 and 6 of standing estrus.The free amino acid level of UTF was significantly greater than was the amino acid concentration in blood plasma or follicular fluid. The highest concentration of amino acids in UTF was on day 13. Cyclic trends were observed for the amino acids, histidine, methionine, half-cystine, serine, proline, glycine, alanine, isolecine, and leucine. Glycine and alanine were found in the highest concentrations in UTF, peaking on day 17 of the estrous cycle. Protein concentration in UTF was highest on day 13 and lowest on days 7 and 19. Protein values for diestrus (33.1 mg/ml) were significantly greater (p<0.05) than for estrus (28.0 mg/ml).     

Life-Cycle Assessment of Mineral and Rapeseed Oil in Mobile Hydraulic Systems

The use of rapeseed oil in mobile hydraulic systems has become more widespread over recent years. This is because of concern about the environment in which the systems work and the perceived benefit of using such fluids. This article examines the major segments of the life cycle of mineral and rapeseed oil as used in mobile hydraulic systems, with case studies of a forestry harvester and a road sweeper. It shows that the systems running on rapeseed oil are not necessarily better for the environment. Many of the environmental issues examined in the study were affected more negatively by the use of rapeseed oil than mineral oil. The main exception to this was greenhouse gas emissions, which are consistently higher for systems using mineral oil because of the use of fossil resources.
This study examines the production of the machinery, the oils, and their use throughout the machines' lives. The poor environmental performance of the rapeseed oil is due mainly to its poor performance in the field. This is because it does not respond as well to high pressure and temperature as mineral oil, causing it to need more frequent replacement during use. This, in turn, influences the definition of the functional unit used in the life-cycle assessment that was conducted. Also, the rapeseed oil has more corrosive qualities than the mineral oil, and more hydraulic components need replacing during the life of a machine running on rapeseed oil than one running on mineral oil.     

Molecular simulation and experimental studies on the interfacial properties of a mixed surfactant SDS/C4mimBr

Mixed surfactants have potential applications in various fields. The understanding and prediction of their macro- and microscopic properties are of great importance in the designing of these materials. We used molecular dynamics (MD) and experiments to study the interfacial tension and the microscopic structures of the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/C₄mimBr mixed surfactant at the water/hexane interface. The interfacial tension, density profile, radial distribution function (RDF), orientation distribution of the tails and order parameters have been examined. It seems that the addition of C₄mimBr decreased the interfacial tension; a higher C₄mimBr concentration resulted in a thicker interface, a smaller droplet, and more disordered SDS tails. The competition between free volume and electrostatic shielding seems to be the primary mechanism behind these phenomena.     

Characterization of human reflex tear proteome reveals high expression of lacrimal proline‐rich protein 4 (PRR4)

In‐depth studies on the proteome of reflex tears are still inadequate. Hence, further studies on this subject will unravel the key proteins which are conjectured to possess vital functions in the protection of the ocular surface. Therefore, this study investigated the differences in the expression levels in proteome of reflex compared to basal tears. Basal (n = 10) and reflex (n = 10) tear samples from healthy subjects were collected employing the capillary method, subsequently pooled and the proteomes were characterized employing 1DE combined with LC‐ESI‐MS/MS strategy for label‐free quantitative (LFQ) analysis. The differentially expressed proteins were validated by 2DE combined with LC‐ESI‐MS/MS and targeted‐MS approach called accurate inclusion mass screening (AIMS) strategies. The analysis of the reflex tear proteome demonstrated increased abundance in proline‐rich protein 4 (PRR4) and zymogen granule protein 16 homolog B (ZG16B) for the first time. Other abundant lacrimal proteins, e.g. lactotransferrin and lysozyme remained constant. Predominantly, the lacrimal gland‐specific PRR4 represents the major increased protein in reflex tears in an attempt to wash out irritants that come into contact with the eye. Conversely, decreased abundance in Ig alpha‐1 chain C, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, cystatin S/SN, clusterin and mammaglobin were observed. This study had further unraveled the intricate proteome regulation during reflex tearing, especially the potential role of PRR4, which may be the key player in the protection and maintenance of dynamic balance of the ocular surface.     

The S100B protein in biological fluids: more than a lifelong biomarker of brain distress

S100B is a calcium-binding protein concentrated in glial cells, although it has also been detected in definite extra-neural cell types. Its biological role is still debated. When secreted, S100B is believed to have paracrine/autocrine trophic effects at physiological concentrations, but toxic effects at higher concentrations. Elevated S100B levels in biological fluids (CSF, blood, urine, saliva, amniotic fluid) are thus regarded as a biomarker of pathological conditions, including perinatal brain distress, acute brain injury, brain tumors, neuroinflammatory/neurodegenerative disorders, psychiatric disorders. In the majority of these conditions, high S100B levels offer an indicator of cell damage when standard diagnostic procedures are still silent. The key question remains as to whether S100B is merely leaked from injured cells or is released in concomitance with both physiological and pathological conditions, participating at high concentrations in the events leading to cell injury. In this respect, S100B levels in biological fluids have been shown to increase in physiological conditions characterized by stressful physical and mental activity, suggesting that it may be physiologically regulated and raised during conditions of stress, with a putatively active role. This possibility makes this protein a candidate not only for a biomarker but also for a potential therapeutic target.     

哺乳动物乳汁miRNA的研究进展

作为真核生物体内重要的调控分子,miRNA可存在于包括血清、血浆、唾液、尿液在内的多种动物体液之中。最近的研究表明哺乳动物的乳汁中也分泌miRNA,表明miRNA有可能通过哺乳传递给新生个体,从而调控新生个体发育过程中的某些关键生理、生化途径,协助其正常发育。这一发现很可能揭开了哺乳动物世代间miRNA进行功能基因表达调控的研究序幕。文章对哺乳动物乳汁中miRNA的发现过程,这些miRNA在乳汁中的存在形态及其分离技术,以及其中数个重要miRNA的已知功能作简要概述,并探讨了相关的后续研究任务及其面临的挑战。     

Cyclodextrins micrometric powders obtained by supercritical fluid processing

Supercritical fluid technology offers the possibility to produce dry powder formulations of biocompatible materials, overcoming the drawbacks of classical micronization processes. In this work, Supercritical Assisted Atomization (SAA) has been used to micronize alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD). Some process parameters, such as precipitation temperature and solute concentration in the liquid solution, have been studied to evaluate their influence on morphology and size of precipitated particles. Cyclodextrins (CDs) micronization has been successful: well-defined spherical microparticles of alpha-CD and HP-beta-CD have been produced. Particle size analysis revealed that sharp distributions have been obtained: 95% of particles have diameters ranging between 0.1 and 5 microm for both CDs. X-ray and DSC analyses have been also performed to investigate CDs modifications induced by SAA processing: amorphous particles have been obtained in both cases, whereas raw alpha-CD was crystalline and raw HP-beta-CD was amorphous.     

Determination of selected xenobiotics with ferrofluid-modified trypsin

Ferrofluid-modified trypsin has been used for the detection and determination of selected xenobiotics that inhibit trypsin activity. The procedure is useful especially when colored samples or samples containing suspended solid impurities are to be assayed. Ferrofluid-modified trypsin was inhibited by Ag⁺ and Pb²⁺, selected dyes (safranin, thionin), bacitracin and 4-aminobenzamidine. Enzymes immobilized on magnetic particles can form a basis of new automated assay procedures for the determination of xenobiotics.     

Selection of microbial consortia for treating metal-working fluids

The aim of this research was to determine the effectiveness of a strategy for constructing microbial consortia for treating chemically mixed industrial effluent, based on a more thorough understanding of communities within waste metal-working fluids (MWFs). Complementary phenotypic and genotypic methods revealed that the microbial communities in spent MWFs had low diversity and were very similar in species composition in samples originating from different locations and uses. Of 65 bacterial isolates studied, only 9 species were identified using fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis. The results of genotypic analysis by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) were congruent with observations made using FAME analysis. The metabolic potential of the isolates was assessed in terms of assimilation ability and tolerance of co-contaminants. The three isolates, selected (Clavibacter michiganensis, Methylobacterium mesophilicum, and Rhodococcus erythropolis) to form a consortium, were representative of three of the four most abundant populations and when combined could utilise'or tolerate all of the individual MWF components, including the biocide and the recalcitrant compound benzotriazole. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 29, 20–27 doi:10.1038/sj.jim.7000271 Received 19 December 2001/ Accepted in revised form 02 May 2002     

Utility of the food colorant erythrosine B as an effective green probe for quantitation of the anticancer sunitinib. Application to pharmaceutical formulations and human plasma

Sunitinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. In this study, two spectroscopic methods, spectrofluorometric and spectrophotometric, were utilized to quantify sunitinib in different matrices. In method I, the native fluorescence of erythrosine B was quenched by forming ion-pair complex with increasing quantities of sunitinib. This approach was utilized for measuring sunitinib in its dosage forms and spiked plasma. After excitation at 528 nm, the quenching of fluorescence is linearly related to the concentration across the range of 0.05–0.5 μg mL⁻¹ at 550 nm in Britton–Robinson buffer (pH 4.0), with a correlation value of 0.9999 and a high level of sensitivity with detection limit down to 10 ng mL⁻¹. Method II relies on spectrophotometric measurements of the produced complex at 550 nm across a range of 0.5–10.0 μg mL⁻¹, with good correlation value of 0.9999. This method has a detection limit down to 0.16 μg mL⁻¹. The proposed methodologies were validated according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines with satisfactory results. The stoichiometry of the reaction was determined through the application of Job's method, while the mechanism of quenching was investigated by employing the Stern–Volmer plot. The designated methods were used to estimate sunitinib in its capsules and in spiked human plasma. Additionally, the statistical analysis of the data revealed no substantial differences when compared to previous reported spectroscopic method. Green assessment tools provide further details about the eco-friendly nature of the methods.