Study of gene expression and steviol glycosides accumulation in Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni under various mannitol concentrations

Molecular Biology Reports - Stevia rebaudiana produces sweet steviol glycosides that are 300 times sweeter than sugar and have the beneficial effects on human health including anti-hyperglycaemic....     

Cation specificity and modes of the Na+:CO3(2-):HCO3- cotransporter in renal basolateral membrane vesicles

The cation specificity and possible exchange modes of the Na+:CO3(2-):HCO3- cotransporter were evaluated by use of basolateral membrane vesicles isolated from rabbit renal cortex. External Li+ inhibited HCO3- gradient-stimulated 22Na uptake, indicating that Li+ interacts with the Na+:CO3(2-):HCO3- cotransporter. No interaction with K+, choline, Rb+, Cs+, or NH4+ could be similarly detected. Imposing an outward Li+ gradient caused quenching of acridine orange fluorescence in the presence but not in the absence of HCO3-, suggesting that Li+:base cotransport takes place via the Na+:CO3(2-):HCO3- cotransporter. Imposing an outward gradient of unlabeled Na+ stimulated the initial rate of 22Na uptake and induced its transient uphill accumulation, indicating Na(+)-Na+ exchange. Na(+)-Na+ exchange was observed in the presence but not in the absence of HCO3- and was inhibited by 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid (DIDS), suggesting that it occurs via the Na+:CO3(2-):HCO3- cotransporter. Similarly, an outward Li+ gradient stimulated uphill 22Na accumulation, indicating Na(+)-Li+ exchange. Na(+)-Li+ exchange was observed in the presence but not in the absence of HCO3-, and was inhibited by DIDS, suggesting that it also occurs via the Na+:CO3(2-):HCO3- cotransporter. Both Na(+)-Na+ and Li(+)-Na+ exchange modes were sensitive to inhibition by harmaline but not by amiloride. We conclude that Li+ is an alternative substrate for the renal Na+:CO3(2-):HCO3- cotransporter. Transport modes of the system include cation:base cotransport and HCO3-dependent cation-cation exchange.     

Molecular Docking Analysis of 120 Potential HPV Therapeutic Epitopes Using a New Analytical Method

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - The accurate modelling and scoring of protein–peptide (Pr–Pe) complexes are determining factors in the drug discovery...     

Prediction of shape and internal structure of the proximal femur using a modified level set method for structural topology optimisation

A computational framework was developed to simulate the bone remodelling process as a structural topology optimisation problem. The mathematical formulation of the Level Set technique was extended and then implemented into a coronal plane model of the proximal femur to simulate the remodelling of internal structure and external geometry of bone into the optimal state. Results indicated that the proposed approach could reasonably mimic the major geometrical and material features of the natural bone. Simulation of the internal bone remodelling on the typical gross shape of the proximal femur, resulted in a density distribution pattern with good consistency with that of the natural bone. When both external and internal bone remodelling were simulated simultaneously, the initial rectangular design domain with a regularly distributed mass reduced gradually to an optimal state with external shape and internal structure similar to those of the natural proximal femur.     

Decellularized amniotic membrane Scaffolds improve differentiation of iPSCs to functional hepatocyte-like cells

Human-induced pluripotent stem cells-derived hepatocyte-like cells (hiPSCs-HLCs) holds considerable promise for future clinical personalized therapy of liver disease. However, the low engraftment of these cells in the damaged liver microenvironment is still an obstacle for potential application. In this study, we explored the effectiveness of decellularized amniotic membrane (dAM) matrices for culturing of iPSCs and promoting their differentiation into HLCs. The DNA content assay and histological evaluation indicated that cellular and nuclear residues were efficiently eliminated and the AM extracellular matrix component was maintained during decelluarization. DAM matrices were developed as three-dimensional scaffolds and hiPSCs were seeded into these scaffolds in defined induction media. In dAM scaffolds, hiPSCs-HLCs gradually took a typical shape of hepatocytes (polygonal morphology). HiPSCs-HLCs that were cultured into dAM scaffolds showed a higher level of hepatic markers than those cultured in tissue culture plates (TCPs). Moreover, functional activities in term of albumin and urea synthesis and CYP3A activity were significantly higher in dAM scaffolds than TCPs over the same differentiation period. Thus, based on our results, dAM scaffold might have a considerable potential in liver tissue engineering, because it can improve hepatic differentiation of hiPSCs which exhibited higher level of the hepatic marker and more stable metabolic functions.     

Hepatitis C virus genotypes in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection in southern Iran from 2016 to 2019

Hepatitis C is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The treatment of HCV infection has become more complicated due to various genotypes and subtypes of HCV. The treatment of HCV has made significant advances with direct-acting antivirals. However, for the choice of medicine or the combination of drugs for hepatitis C, it is imperative to detect and discriminate the crucial HCV genotypes. The main objective of this study was to determine the pattern of circulating HCV genotypes in southern Iran, from 2016 until 2019. The other aim of the study was to determine possible associations of patients’ risk factors with HCV genotypes. A total of 803 serum samples were collected in 4 years (2016–2019) from patients with HCV antibody positive results. A total of 728 serum samples were HCV-RNA positive. The prevalence of HCV genotypes was detected using the genotype-specific RT-PCR test for serum samples obtained from 615 patients. The HCV genotype 1 (G1) was the most prevalent (48.8%) genotype in the area, with G1a, G1b, and mixed G1a/b representing 38.4%, 10.1%, and 0.3%, respectively. Genotype 3a was the next most prevalent (47.2%). Mixed genotypes 1a/3a were detected in 22 (3.6%) and finally G4 was found in 3 (0.5%) patients. The other HCV genotypes were not detected in any patient. Genotype 1 (1a and 1b alone, 1a/1b and 1a/3a coinfections) is the most prevalent HCV genotype in southern Iran. HCV G1 shows a significantly higher rate in people under 40 years old.