Unsteady Magnetohydrodynamic Free Convection Flow of a Second Grade Fluid in a Porous Medium with Ramped Wall Temperature

Magnetic field influence on unsteady free convection flow of a second grade fluid near an infinite vertical flat plate with ramped wall temperature embedded in a porous medium is studied. It has been observed that magnitude of velocity as well as skin friction in case of ramped temperature is quite less than the isothermal temperature. Some special cases namely: (i) second grade fluid in the absence of magnetic field and porous medium and (ii) Newtonian fluid in the presence of magnetic field and porous medium, performing the same motion are obtained. Finally, the influence of various parameters is graphically shown.     

Heat Transfer in a Micropolar Fluid over a Stretching Sheet with Newtonian Heating

This article looks at the steady flow of Micropolar fluid over a stretching surface with heat transfer in the presence of Newtonian heating. The relevant partial differential equations have been reduced to ordinary differential equations. The reduced ordinary differential equation system has been numerically solved by Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg fourth-fifth order method. Influence of different involved parameters on dimensionless velocity, microrotation and temperature is examined. An excellent agreement is found between the present and previous limiting results.     

Biochemical changes in prostanoids and cerebral expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 during morphine sulfate infusion in the newborn piglet

To examine the biochemical regulation of morphine sulfate (MS) on prostanoid synthesis, conscious newborn piglets received a bolus dose of 100 microg/kg followed by a continuous infusion dose of 100 microg/kg/h. The control group received equivalent volume bolus and continuous infusion of 5% dextrose. Blood samples were drawn from the femoral artery and sagittal sinus vein before, during and after infusion for measurement of prostanoids. The expression of mRNAs encoding cyclooxygenases (COX)-1 and -2 in the brainstem, thalamus, cortex, and cerebellum of the newborn piglets were also examined. Systemic PGE2 levels declined substantially during and post MS infusion (p < 0.01), whereas sagittal sinus vein PGE2 levels increased following the bolus dose (p < 0.01) and at 4 h of continuous infusion (p < 0.01). MS infusion did not affect systemic 6-ketoPGF1alpha levels, however, in the cerebral circulation 6-ketoPGF1alpha levels increased 146% (p < 0.01) following the bolus dose and remained elevated throughout the infusion and post infusion times. Systemic TxB2 levels increased transiently at 4 h (p < 0.01) and sagittal sinus vein TxB2 increased at 0.5 and 1 h (p < 0.01) during continuous infusion. RT-PCR assays revealed a 1.5- (p < 0.001) to 4-fold (p < 0.001) increased expression of COX-1 mRNA in the MS-infused brain samples. In contrast, no differences in COX-2 mRNA were detected between the groups. These data imply that MS may have significant effects on prostanoid synthesis in the newborn. The data further show that the MS-induced prostanoid responses appear to be mediated via COX-1.     

In vitro response of prostaglandin E2 receptor (EP3) in the term pregnant rat uterus and cervix to misoprostol

We examined and compared the in vitro effects of misoprostol (synthetic prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) analogue) on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) secretion and EP3 receptor mRNA expression in the pregnant rat myometrium and cervix at 19 days gestation. Myometrial and cervical tissue samples were exposed to media with or without misoprostol (50 or 100 pg/ml) and incubated for 15 and 30 min, and 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. Media and tissue samples were collected for quantification of PGE2 and mRNA expression of rEP3alpha and rEP3beta receptor, respectively. PGE2 secretion increased (P < or = 0.05) in the myometrium exposed to 50 and 100 pg/ml misoprostol. Cervical PGE2 secretion increased following exposure to the 100 pg/ml dose only. In the myometrium, 50 and 100 pg/ml misoprostol induced elevations in rEP3alpha and rEP3beta receptor mRNA expression. rEP3alpha and rEP3beta receptor mRNA expression in the cervix was not different from controls. These data demonstrate that the EP3 receptor is differentially expressed in the myometrium and cervix in response to misoprostol. This may account for the ability of misoprostol to stimulate the myometrium when administered for cervical ripening.     

Immunohistochemical expression of pi class glutathione S-transferase and alpha-fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic liver disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether tumor marker pi glutathione transferase (GST-pi) is expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and other chronic liver diseases and to compare its expression with that of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). STUDY DESIGN: Samples used were formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded liver tissues: normal (n = 3), chronic hepatitis B (n = 15), cirrhosis (n = 15) and HCC (n = 30). The expression of AFP and GST-pi was detected by using immunohistochemistry with the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. AFP immunoreactivity was based on the cytoplasm of the hepatocytes, while GST-pi immunoreactivity was based on the nuclei of hepatocytes. RESULTS: In normal liver tissues, AFP was not expressed. However, there was strong staining of GST-pi in bile duct epithelium cells and weak staining in hepatocytes. Our results showed higher AFP immunoreactivity in cases of HCC (36.7%) as compared to cirrhosis (6.7%) and hepatitis B (0%), whereas GST-pi immunoreactivity was lower in cases of HCC (53.3%) as compared to cases of cirrhosis (100.0%) and hepatitis B (93.3%). Percent sensitivity of AFP determination for HCC was 36.7% as compared to 53.3% for GST-pi, thus making GST-pi a more sensitive marker for detection of HCC. This study showed a significant relationship between the intensity and percentage of cells stained in hepatitis B, cirrhosis and HCC for GST-pi immunoreactivity (P < .001, .001 and .05, respectively) but not for AFP (P > .05). Statistical analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between expression of AFP and GST-pi in cirrhosis and HCC cases. Hepatitis B virus infection in HCC cases showed a positive rate of 46.7%, with AFP staining positively in 42.9% of tissues and GST-pi staining positively in 57.1% of tissues. CONCLUSION: AFP is a diagnostic but rather insensitive tissue marker for HCC. However, the absence of AFP in benign chronic liver disease makes this marker useful in differentiating between HCC and other chronic liver diseases, whereas GST-pi can be used as a diagnostic marker for HCC as well as in detecting other chronic liver diseases.     

Firefly distribution and abundance on mangrove vegetation assemblages in Sepetang estuary,Peninsular Malaysia

Pteroptyx fireflies are commonly reported to congregate in large numbers in mangroves. Not much is known about the relationships between firefly distribution and abundance with specific mangrove vegetation assemblages. We conducted a study to investigate the vegetation assemblages that structure the distribution and abundance of Pteroptyx tener in Peninsular Malaysia. The distribution and abundance of fireflies were assessed along an 8 km stretch of mangroves in Sepetang estuary using visual assessment. Statistical analysis was carried out to test the correlation between length of display section and percentage cover of P. tener colonies and the relationship between percentage cover of fireflies with different vegetation assemblages. Five distinct vegetation assemblages were identified comprising different combination of four mangrove species. It was found that shorter display sections had higher percentage cover of P. tener colonies. In addition, vegetation assemblage which consisting of mainly Sonneratia caseolaris and Nypa fruticans was the most preferred type. The results of this study point to the necessity to consider not only a single mangrove species but the entire vegetation assemblage for firefly conservation.     

Complementary identification of multiple flux distributions and multiple metabolic pathways

Cell robustness and complexity have been recognized as unique features of biological systems. Such robustness and complexity of metabolic-reaction systems can be explored by discovering, or identifying, the multiple flux distributions (MFD) and redundant pathways that lead to a given external state; however, this is exceedingly cumbersome to accomplish. It is, therefore, highly desirable to establish an effective computational method for their identification, which, in turn, gives rise to a novel insight into the cellular function. An effective approach is proposed for complementarily identifying MFD in metabolic flux analysis and multiple metabolic pathways (MMP) in structural pathway analysis. This approach judiciously integrates flux balance analysis (FBA) based on linear programming and the graph-theoretic method for determining reaction pathways. A single metabolic pathway, with the concomitant flux distribution and the overall reaction manifesting itself as the desired phenotype under some environmental conditions, is determined by FBA from the initial candidate sequence of metabolic reactions. Subsequently, the graph-theoretic method recovers all feasible MMP and the corresponding MFD. The approach's efficacy is demonstrated by applying it to the in silico Escherichia coli model under various culture conditions. The resultant MMP and MFD attaining a unique external state reveal the surprising adaptability and robustness of the intricate cellular network as a key to cell survival against environmental or genetic changes. These results indicate that the proposed approach would be useful in facilitating drug discovery.     

The Bacillus anthracis chromosome contains four conserved, excision-proficient, putative prophages

Background  

Bacillus anthracis is considered to be a recently emerged clone within the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group. The B. anthracis genome sequence contains four putative lambdoid prophages. We undertook this study in order to understand whether the four prophages are unique to B. anthracis and whether they produce active phages.     

Fasciola gigantica cathepsin L proteinase-based synthetic peptide for immunodiagnosis and prevention of sheep fasciolosis

Sheep fasciolosis is a devastating burden for the livestock industry. We herein report on immunodiagnosis of fasciolosis, and significant protection of sheep against challenge infection with Fasciola gigantica following immunization with a peptide based on the H-Asp(110)-Lys-Ile-Asp-Trp-Arg-Glu-Ser-Gly-Tyr-Val-Thr-Glu-Val(123)-OH (Fas14p) sequence of F. gigantica cathepsin L-cysteine proteinase. This sequence was synthesized in three different forms: as N(alpha) acetylated (Ac-Asp(110)-Lys-Ile-Asp-Trp-Arg-Glu-Ser-Gly-Tyr-Val-Thr-Glu-Val(123)-OH, FasAc14p), bearing at the amino-terminus an N(alpha) acetylated cystein (Ac-Cys-Asp(110)-Lys-Ile-Asp-Trp-Arg-Glu-Ser-Gly-Tyr-Val-Thr-Glu-Val(123)-OH, FasAcCys14p), and conjugated to sequential oligopeptide carrier Ac-[Lys-Aib-Gly](4)-OH (Ac-SOC(4)) through an amide bond formed between Val(123) carboxylic group of the epitope and the lysine N(epsilon) groups of the carrier (Ac-[Lys(Fas14p)-Aib-Gly](4)-OH). Ac-[Lys(Fas14p)-Aib-Gly](4)-OH failed to readily discriminate between na?ve and infected sheep. In contrast, the free peptides reproducibly differentiated between parasite-free sheep, sheep infected with parasites other than Fasciola, and experimentally Fasciola-infected sheep. The data together indicated that the peptides might be of considerable use for discriminating between early and late, and low and high burden, sheep infection with F. gigantica. FasAc14p was chosen to determine whether a peptide based on a critical enzymatic site of cathepsin L proteinase may induce protection against challenge infection. Sheep immunization with FasAc14p peptide induced significant expression of interleukin-4 mRNA, and humoral antibodies that bound to molecule(s) on the intact surface membrane of newly excysted juvenile worms, and mediated their attrition. The immune responses were associated with significant (P < 0.02) decrease of 23.1% in worm recovery, but with no decrease in the size or maturation of worms recovered.     

The Prognostic Value of Serum Biomarkers in Localized Bone Sarcoma

OBJECTIVE: Certain biomarkers such as the C-reactive protein, serum albumin, and the neutrophils to lymphocyte ratio are of prognostic significance regarding survival in different types of cancers. Data from sarcoma patients are sparse and mainly derived from soft tissue sarcoma and/or metastatic cases. Adjusting for confounders such as comorbidity and age is an essential safeguard against erroneous conclusions regarding the possible prognostic value of these biomarkers. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of a battery of pretreatment biomarkers in the serum of patients with localized bone sarcomas and to adjust for potential confounders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients diagnosed with localized intermediate and high-grade bone sarcoma during 1994 to 2008 were extracted from the Aarhus Sarcoma Registry. The serum levels of albumin, C-reactive protein, hemoglobin, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and sodium were collected from the patient records. The prognostic values of overall and disease-specific mortality were tested for each individual biomarker as well as for the Glasgow prognostic score (GPS) and for a new composite score incorporating five biomarkers (Aarhus composite biomarker score: ACBS). Adjustments were made for comorbidity as well as other possible prognostic factors, such as size, histological type, margin, chemotherapy, and soft tissue extension, using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: A total of 172 patients with high- or intermediate-grade localized bone sarcoma were included. Of these patients, 63 were diagnosed with chondrosarcoma and 109 patients with Ewing/osteosarcoma. The median age was 55 years for chondrosarcoma and 19 years for Ewing/osteosarcoma patients. The overall 5-year mortality was 31% [95% confidence interval (CI): 21-44] and 41% (95% CI: 33-51), whereas the 5-year disease-specific mortality was 21% (95% CI: 12-34) and 39% (95% CI: 31-49) for chondrosarcoma and Ewing/osteosarcoma, respectively. Comorbidities were present in 12% of the Ewing/osteosarcoma patients and in 24% of the chondrosarcoma patients. After adjustment for comorbidity and other confounders, it was found that elevated levels of CRP, low hemoglobin, low sodium, high GPS, and high ACBS were associated with increased overall mortality. Furthermore, elevated levels of CRP, low hemoglobin, high GPS, and high ACBS were associated with increased disease-specific mortality. CONCLUSION: Elevated levels of CRP, low hemoglobin, high GPS, and high ACBS were all independent prognostic factors for both overall and disease-specific mortality. ACBS is a new three-level score of five biomarkers, but its value has to be confirmed in an independent data set.