The Clinical Significance of Interleukin–1 Receptor Antagonist +2018 Polymorphism in Rheumatoid Arthritis

ObjectiveInterleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) acts as an inhibitor of IL-1; which is one of the culprit cytokines in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although +2018 polymorphism of IL-1Ra has been implicated in the pathogenesis of RA, its importance remains poorly understood. Hence, the purpose of this study was to determine the clinical significance of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) +2018 polymorphism in RA.MethodsPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing were used to determine the genotypes of the IL-1Ra +2018 for 77 RA patients and 18 healthy controls. All RA patients were assessed for the disease activity score that includes 28 joints (DAS28) and radiographic disease damage based on Modified Sharp Score (MSS).ResultsThe frequency of the T/T and C/T genotypes did not differ significantly (p = 0.893) between the RA patients and the controls. The C/T genotype had significantly higher mean disease activity (DAS 28) and disease damage (MSS) scores with p values of 0.017 and 0.004, respectively. Additionally, the ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate), CRP (C-reactive protein), the number of swollen and tender joints were higher for the C/T individuals. On multivariate analysis the CRP, swollen joint count and MSS remained significant with the following p values i.e. 0.045, 0.046 and less than 0.05.ConclusionsC/T genotype of IL-1Ra +2018 prognosticates more aggressive disease in RA.     

Isolation and screening of potential actinobacteria for rapid composting of rice straw

Rice straw is produced as a by-product from rice cultivation, which is composed largely of lignocellulosic materials amenable to general biodegradation. Lignocellulolytic actinobacteria can be used as a potential agent for rapid composting of bulky rice straw. Twenty-five actinobacteria isolates were isolated from various in situ and in vitro rice straw compost sources. Isolates A2, A4, A7, A9 and A24 were selected through enzymatic degradation of starch, cellulose and lignin followed by the screening for their adaptability on rice straw powder amended media. The best adapted isolate (A7) was identified as Micromonospora carbonacea. It was able to degrade cellulose, hemicelluloses and carbon significantly (P ≤ 0.05) over the control. C/N ratio was reduced to 18.1 from an initial value of 29.3 in 6 weeks of composting thus having the potential to be used in large scale composting of rice straw.     

Characterisation of dissolved organic matter in Parisian urban aquatic systems: predominance of hydrophilic and proteinaceous structures

Understanding the nature of organic matter is a necessary first step in assessing contaminant bioavailability and allowing water supply managers to optimise the treatment train in the aim of providing safe and inexpensive drinking water. This study provides further insight into the composition, structure and functional groups of dissolved organic matter (DOM) (both hydrophobic and hydrophilic) from urban aquatic systems by means of various analytical techniques (DAX-8/XAD-4 fractionation, elemental analysis, UV and FTIR spectroscopies, ¹³C and ¹⁵N isotopic analysis, size exclusion chromatography and Pyrolysis-GC-MS). The analytical range chosen for this study constitutes a powerful tool in the characterisation of DOM in urban water. The inclusion of information from one technique to the next might not only serve as a support to each one, but also as a complement. The DOM fraction from treated effluent and, more generally, DOM from urban water (i.e. receiving treated effluent) display a strong hydrophilic characteristic [i.e. low humic substance (HS) content, low SUVA], along with a high distribution in molecular weights observed by SEC and low average molecular weight. Due to the origin of this DOM, proteinaceous structures constitute the main compounds, as observed by FTIR and Py-GC-MS. Such characteristics (i.e. heterogeneity, low average molecular weight and diverse functional groups, which make up a total of N) could explain that DOM from treated effluent displayed a strong reactive potential metals pollutants as previously demonstrated.     

Activation of potassium channels by hypoxia and reoxygenation in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549

Active oxygen species are generated in cells during pathophysiologic conditions such as illflammation and postischemic reperfusion. If oxygen radical scavengers are added before reperfusion, then the magnitude of injury is reduced. We inves-tigated whether free radicals generated following exposure to hypoxia and reoxygenation activate voltage-dependent K⁺ ion channels in tumor cells in vitro. Using the technique of whole cell voltage clamping, we recorded currents from two families of potassium (K⁺) channels that were activated following reoxygenation. One of these groups possessed the electrophysical characteristics of a tetraethylammonium (TEA)-sensitive delayed rectifier channel and the other possessed characteristics of a Tea-insensitive slow inactivating channel. We present evidence which suggests that K⁺ channels are activated following reoxygenation but not during the hypoxia phase. The K⁺ currents decayed with time following reoxygenation. The decay characteristics of the K⁺ currents depended on the duration and level of hypoxia to which the cells were exposed. To determine whether activation of K⁺ channels by reoxygenation was initiated by free radicals, we pretreated cells with N-Acetyl L-Cysteine (NAC), a free radical scavenger, and found that this pretreatment abolished the currents induced by reoxygenation. We also present evidence that free radicals do not directly act on the channel itself, but activate a protein kinase which, in turn, activates the K⁺ channels. Taken together, these results indicate that one of the early responses to oxidative stress is the activation of K⁺ currents. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Monoclonal antibody recognizes a conformational epitope in a random coil protein

The antigenic determinants for two monoclonal antibodies directed against horse apo-cytochrome c, a protein of disordered structure, as judged by spectroscopic and hydrodynamic criteria, have been studied by a combination of methods: antigen competition in solution by radio immunoassay and enzyme-linked immunoassay, and differential acetylation of free and antibody-bound antigen. In the latter method the accessibility of lysine residues of the antigen in the antigen-antibody complex is compared to the accessibility in the free antigen. The two antibodies against the heme-free protein do not recognize intact native cytochrome c, but they crossreact with the heme-containing peptides 1-38 and 1-65 of cytochrome c. The antigenic determinant recognized by monoclonal antibody SJL 2-4 is conformational and discontiguous, it is composed of residues close to the N-terminus and around position 25. The other monoclonal antibody, Cyt-1-59, seems to recognize a contiguous epitope close to the N-terminus. The present results show that even a seemingly disordered protein which is conventionally classified as a random coil may feature subtle spatial regularities. The presence of ordered conformational elements in apocytochrome c may be important for the enzyme-catalyzed covalent attachment of the heme and the import of cytochrome c into mitochondria. A discontiguous determinant for SJL 2-4 is particularly interesting because this antibody inhibits the proliferation of a T-cell clone specific for apo-cytochrome c [Corradin & Engers (1984) Nature (Lond.) 308, 547-548].     

Mechanism of phosphorus-induced zinc deficiency in cotton. III. Changes in physiological availability of zinc in plants Is mail

The effect of varied supply of P (2.5× 10⁻⁵ to 6× 10⁻⁴ M) and Zn (0 to 10⁻⁶ M) on uptake and concentrations of P and Zn was studied in cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Deltapine 15/21) grown in nutrient solution under controlled environmental conditions. At a given Zn supply, increasing levels of P had no significant effect on the concentrations of total Zn in plants. However, increasing levels of P induced or enhanced visual Zn deficiency symptoms when the Zn concentration in the nutrient solution was low. The concentrations of water-soluble Zn in roots and shoots constituted 60% of the total Zn concentrations for plants grown with low P and 30% for plants grown with high P. The concentration of water-soluble Zn in leaves, but not total Zn, was closely correlated with visual Zn deficiency symptoms, levels of chlorophyll, super oxide dismutase and membrane permeability. The critical deficiency concentration of water-soluble Zn in cotton leaves was in the range of 6 to 7 μg (g dry weight)⁻¹ or about 1.0 μg (g fresh weight)⁻¹. The results show that high P concentrations in plant tissue decrease the physiological availability of Zn. Water-soluble Zn in the tissue appears to be a suitable indicator for Zn nutritional status in general and phosphorus-induced Zn deficiency in particular. Also in field-grown orange trees (Citrus sinensis) visual Zn deficiency symptoms in leaves were closely related to the concentration of water-soluble Zn.     

Pregnancy diagnosis in zoo animals by estrogen determination in feces

Estrogen concentration in feces was investigated in five different herbivorous species of zoo animals. Using a nonspecific estrogen radioimmunoassay, in four species (red buffalo, yak, Grevy's zebra, and Nubian ibex) pregnancy was revealed by measuring estrogen concentration in feces. In hippopotamus, the levels of fecal estrogens were not different between pregnant and nonpregnant animals.