Suitability indices and habitat suitability index model of Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum) in the southern Caspian Sea

The relationship between species and habitat is important in ecosystem-based fisheries management. Habitat suitability index (HSI) modeling is a valuable tool in ecology and can be used to describe the relationship between fish abundance and ecological variables in order to estimate the suitability of specific habitats. In the present study, an HSI model was applied to determine suitable habitats for the Caspian kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum), an important commercial species in the southern Caspian Sea. An arithmetic mean model (AMM) was found to be the most appropriate model for describing the relationship between two of the environmental variables investigated (depth and benthos biomass). However, a geometric mean model explained the evident relationship when all four environmental variables were used (depth, benthos biomass, photosynthetically active radiation and sea surface temperature). The areas with an HSI > 0.5 had over 85 % of the total catch indicating the reliability of the prediction of the Caspian kutum habitat using the AMM. The present study showed that depth and substrate structure are the most important environmental variables for the Caspian kutum to select its habitats, and between remotely sensed data, chlorophyll a, photosynthetically active radiation and sea surface temperature are the most critical parameters for near real-time prediction of the Caspian kutum habitat.     

Stock assessment and management implications of golden grey mullet (Liza aurata Risso, 1810) in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea

Recent changes in the Caspian ecosystem have caused changes in the absolute and relative abundance of the commercially important golden grey mullet (Liza aurata) in Iranian waters. In order to adjust for these changes a more rigorous management of this fishery resource is required. The present study examines the biomass of golden grey mullet during 1991–2010. Estimates of f_MSY, yield‐per‐recruit and spawning biomass‐per‐recruit are presented for various harvesting strategies of F_max, F_0.1, F_35%, and a method is proposed for estimating acceptable biological catch (ABC) that accounts for large differences in the quality and quantity of information and available data. Biomass estimates of golden grey mullet, derived from a biomass‐based cohort analysis, increased from 13 527 tonnes in 1991–1992 to 20 100 t in 2000–2001, and declined to the lowest level (11 000 t) in 2007–2008. In 2009–2010, the total biomass was estimated to be 14 400 t. The ABC was estimated at 2200 t in 2010. Golden grey mullet is vulnerable to environmental factors, which should be considered in the stock assessment and management of the fish.     

Regulation of AR mRNA translation in response to acute AR pathway inhibition

We report a new mechanism of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA regulation and cytoprotection in response to AR pathway inhibition (ARPI) stress in prostate cancer (PCA). AR mRNA translation is coordinately regulated by RNA binding proteins, YTHDF3 and G3BP1. Under ambient conditions m6A-modified AR mRNA is bound by YTHDF3 and translationally stimulated, while m6A-unmodified AR mRNA is bound by G3BP1 and translationally repressed. When AR-regulated PCA cell lines are subjected to ARPI stress, m6A-modified AR mRNA is recruited from actively translating polysomes (PSs) to RNA-protein stress granules (SGs), leading to reduced AR mRNA translation. After ARPI stress, m6A-modified AR mRNA liquid–liquid phase separated with YTHDF3, while m6A-unmodified AR mRNA phase separated with G3BP1. Accordingly, these AR mRNA messages form two distinct YTHDF3-enriched or G3BP1-enriched clusters in SGs. ARPI-induced SG formation is cell-protective, which when blocked by YTHDF3 or G3BP1 silencing increases PCA cell death in response to ARPI stress. Interestingly, AR mRNA silencing also delays ARPI stress-induced SG formation, highlighting its supportive role in triggering this stress response. Our results define a new mechanism for stress adaptive cell survival after ARPI stress involving SG-regulated translation of AR mRNA, mediated by m6A RNA modification and their respective regulatory proteins.     

Determination of serum retinol by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

A rapid, sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of serum levels of retinol in humans. A direct serum injection technique after deproteinisation was used to avoid lengthy pretreatment steps which can result in degradation of retinol during analysis. The column used was CLC-ODS, the mobile phase was acetonitrile-water and detection wavelength was 328 nm. Deterioration in column performance was not observed even after injection of 300 samples. The lower detection limit was 10 μg/l. On analyzing a serum pool six times, a C.V of 0.7% was obtained. The method is quantitative, reproducible, rapid and highly accurate for routine analysis.     

The association of 5alpha-reductase II (SRD5A2) and 17 hydroxylase (CYP17) gene polymorphisms with prostate cancer patients in the Turkish population

To date, research has led to the invention of multiple genes and their single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and environmental factors that influence the prostate cancer (PCa) pathogenesis. Therefore, the genes involved in these pathways are candidates for PCa predisposition. It is thought that polymorphisms of 5alpha-reductase II (SRD5A2) and 17 hydroxylase (CYP17) genes are likely to increase susceptibility. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk association of SRD5A2 and CYP17 gene polymorphisms in the development and progression of PCa in the Turkish population. In this study, 100 PCa patients and 105 healthy controls were studied. SRD5A2 and CYP17 gene polymorphisms were determined by real-time PCR and polymerase chain reaction-restriction length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) techniques. First, the AT and TT genotypes of SRD5A2 gene at codon 49 were not observed. Second, there was no significant association between the polymorphisms at codon 89 and the risk of PCa. Third, in the CYP17 gene, the A1A1 genotype is more common (46%) in cases than controls (32.4%). The odds ratios (ORs) of the A1A1 genotype was found at 1.69 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77-3.74) compare with the A2A2 genotype. Genotyping results of the SRD5A2 and CYP17 genes were also analyzed in relation to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, Gleason score (GS), and tumor stage, but no statistically significant difference was observed (P > 0.05). Finally, we conclude that there was no evidence of an association between CYP17 (P = 0.134) and SRD5A2 (P = 0.784) polymorphism and PCa risk in the Turkish population.     

Simultaneous determination of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin in human serum using RP-HPLC/UV detection: method development, validation and optimization of various experimental parameters

A novel, precise, accurate and rapid isocratic reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic/ultraviolet (RP-HPLC/UV) method was developed, optimized and validated for simultaneous determination of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin in human serum using naproxen sodium as an internal standard. Effect of different experimental parameters and various particulate columns on the analysis of these analytes was evaluated. The method showed adequate separation for rosuvastatin and atorvastatin and best resolution was achieved with Brownlee analytical C18 column (150×4.6 mm, 5 μm) using methanol-water (68:32, v/v; pH adjusted to 3.0 with trifluoroacetic acid) as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.5 ml/min and wavelength of 241 nm. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges of 2.0-256 ng/ml for rosuvastatin and 3.0-384 ng/ml for atorvastatin. The lower limit of detection (LLOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for rosuvastatin were 0.6 and 2.0 ng/ml while for atorvastatin were 1.0 and 3.0ng/ml, respectively. All the analytes were separated in less than 7.0 min. The proposed method could be applied for routine laboratory analysis of rosuvastatin and atorvastatin in human serum samples, pharmaceutical formulations, drug-drug interaction studies and pharmacokinetics studies.     

Characteristics of people with the perceived stress in croatia: the CroHort study

This study aimed to assess levels of stress in Croatian adult population using PSS, in a population study (Croatian Adult Cohort Health Study - CroHort). Our results show that the levels of stress were 17.46 (SD = 6.73) for men and 18.32 (SD = 6.46) for women in Croatia. The lowest levels of stress experienced men living in urban area while women living in rural area had the highest level. Men and women who had university degree had significantly lower level of stress. The lowest levels of stress experienced participants who had much better financial condition than average. In men, stress was associated to weak heart, lower back pain, poor financial condition of the household and high alcohol consumption. In women, stress was associated to poor mental health, poor social functioning, poorer financial condition of the household, higher age, lower education, low monthly income of the household and poor general health.     

Extraction of the essential oil from endemic Origanum bilgeri P.H.Davis with two different methods: comparison of the oil composition and antibacterial activity

The antibacterial activity and chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) isolated from Origanum bilgeri P.H.Davis by two different extraction methods, i.e., hydrodistillation (HD) and solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME), were examined. This endemic Origanum species had shown very good antibacterial activity. The composition of the O. bilgeri EOs obtained by SFME and HD was investigated by GC/MS analysis. The main components of the oils obtained by both methods were carvacrol (90.20-84.30%), p-cymene (3.40-5.85%), γ-terpinene (0.47-1.20%), and thymol (0.69-1.08%). The EO isolation by SFME offered many important advantages, including a higher extraction yield, a shorter extraction time, and a higher content of the active component carvacrol. The carvacrol-rich oils obtained by both HD and SFME showed a good antibacterial activity. The largest inhibition zones were observed for the O. bilgeri EO obtained by SFME. Our study suggests that O. bilgeri EO has the potential to be used as preventative against bacterial contamination in many foods, instead of the common synthetic antimicrobial products.     

Synthesis of novel sialylmimetics as biological probes.

Glycomimetics are increasingly being recognised as powerful tools in the search for novel compounds that possess useful biological properties. This paper describes our preliminary efforts towards the development of novel mimetics of sialic acid thioglycosides. These sialylmimetics are readily prepared and have been shown, in some instances, to have biological properties similar to sialic acid thioglycosides.     

The molecular behavior of a single β‐amyloid inside a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer at three different temperatures: An atomistic simulation study: Aβ interaction with DPPC: Atomistic simulation

The behavior of a single Aβ40 molecule within a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer was studied by all‐atom molecular dynamics simulations. The effect of membrane structure was investigated on Aβ40 behavior, secondary structure, and insertion depth. Simulations were performed at three temperatures (323, 310, and 300 K) to probe three different bilayer fluidities. Results show that at all above temperatures, the peptide contains two short helices, coil, bend, and turn structures. At 300 K, the peptide contains a region with β structure in C‐terminal region. Our results also show that Aβ decreases the bilayer thickness and the order of lipids in its vicinity which leads to water insertion into the bilayer and concomitant increase in the local fluidity. The peptide remains embedded in the bilayer at all temperatures, and become inserted into the bilayer up to several residues at 323 and 310 K. At 310 and 300 K, the dominant interaction energy between Aβ and bilayer changes from electrostatic to van der Waals. It can be proposed that at higher temperatures (e.g., 323 K), Lys28 and the C‐terminal region of the peptide play the role of two anchors that keep Aβ inside the top leaflet. This study demonstrates that Aβ molecule can perturb the integrity of cellular membranes. Proteins 2017; 85:1298–1310. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.