Lipids changes in rat tissues in experimental urolithiasis

Total lipids, free and ester cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipids were determined in plasma, liver, kidney and intestine in control and calculi producing diet (CPD) fed rats. Cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides were increased in plasma while they were decreased in all the three tissues of CPD fed rats, compared to that of control. Distribution studies of phospholipids in the tissues of treated rats showed marked decrease in the concentration of the major lipids, i.e., PC, PE, PI and SPH. However, significant increase in absolute concentration as well as percent distribution of phosphatidic acid in kidney of treated rats was observed.     

A class of general stochastic compartmental systems

In this paper a general class of semi-Markov compartmental systems is studied. Two models for different input processes are analysed. Attention has been paid to the recurrence times associated with each compartment and to the distribution of the number of particles in each compartment. As an example, a three-compartment system is discussed to study the movement between three health states of patients with chronic diseases.     

Structure and species distribution in Coringa mangrove forest,Godavari Delta,Andhra Pradesh,India

Coringa mangrove forest is located in the Godavari delta, Andhra Pradesh, India. The mangrove community consisted of more than 13 species of mangrove and other plants in the present study area. The following three dominant mangrove plants,Avicennia marina, Excoecaria agallocha andSonneratia apetala were found to be present on the banks of a major channel of the Godavari river running through the forest. The structure and species distribution of mangrove, in the Channel Nagathana Kalaya has been described. The area behind the belt consisting ofAcanthus ilicifolius andMyriostachya wightiana is generally colonized byE. agallocha andA. marina. The zone has been called theAvicennia andExcoecaria zone. Adjacent to this zone species likeAegiceras corniculatum andA. officinalis were the common species. In the flat clayey soil,Suaeda maritima was found to grow. In areas of high elevation, devoid of inundation of tidal seawater during the high tidal period, species such asM. wightiana andAcanthus were found to colonize both the banks of the channels.An analysis of species diversity, indicated a definite trend in the distribution of mangrove from the mouth of the estuarine region to the inland waters.The levels of atmospheric pollutants such as sulphur dioxide (SO₂), oxides of nitrogen (NO_x), ammonia (NH₃) and suspended particle matter (SPM) were within the legal limits.     

Improved in planta genetic transformation efficiency in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant - Production of transformed bitter gourd plants through in vitro regeneration is a laborious practice, which may also result in somaclonal...     

Risk factors of peripheral arterial disease: a case control study in Sri Lanka

Background

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is an important global health problem and contributes to notable proportion of morbidity and mortality. This particular manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis is largely under diagnosed and undertreated. For sustainable preventive strategies in a country, it is mandatory to identify country-specific risk factors. We intended to assess the risk factors of PAD among adults aged 40–74 years.

Methods

This case control study was conducted in 2012–2013 in Sri Lanka. Seventy-nine cases and 158 controls in the age group of 40–74 years were selected for the study in order to have case to control ratio 1:2. The criterion for selecting cases and control was based on Ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI). Cases were selected from those who had ABPI 0.85 or less (ABPI ≤0.85) in either lower limb. Controls were selected from those ABPI score between 1.18 and 1.28 in both lower limbs. Only newly identified individuals with PAD were selected as cases. Controls were selected from the same geographical location and within the 5 year age group as cases.

Results

The history of diabetes mellitus more than 10 years (OR 5.8, 95% CI 2.2–14.2), history of dyslipidemia for more than 10 years (OR 4.9, 95% CI 2.1–16.2), history of hypertension for more than 10 years (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.8–12.7) and smoking (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.2–6.9), elevated HsCRP (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.2–12.0) and hyperhomocysteinemia (OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.1–8.1) were revealed as country specific significant risk factor of PAD.

Conclusions

Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking as well as elevated homocysteine and HsCRP found as risk factors of PAD. Longer the duration or higher level exposure to these risk factors has increased the risk of PAD. These findings emphasis the need for routine screening of PAD among patients with the identified risk factors.

     

The cell aggregating propensity of probiotic actinobacterial isolates: isolation and characterization of the aggregation inducing peptide pheromone

The auto-aggregating ability of a probiotic is a prerequisite for colonization and protection of the gastrointestinal tract, whereas co-aggregation provides a close interaction with pathogenic bacteria. Peptide pheromone mediated signaling has been studied in several systems. However, it has not yet been explored in prokaryotes, especially actinobacteria. Hence, in the present study, the diffusible aggregation promoting factor was purified from the culture supernatant of a potent actinobacterial probiont and characterized using 20 different actinobacterial cultures isolated from the gut region of chicken and goat. The results showed that the pheromone-like compound induces the aggregation propensity of treated isolates. The factor was found to be a heat stable, acidic pH resistant, low molecular weight peptide which enhances the biofilm forming ability of other actinobacterial isolates. The aggregation promoting factor represents a bacterial sex factor (pheromone) and its characterization confirms its usage in the probiotic formulation     

The role of fish-poultry integration on fish growth performance,yields and economic benefits among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa,Tanzania

Aquaculture practices from sub-Saharan Africa are characterised by low production, owing to improper technology. Production can be increased through integrating fish farming with other existing on-farm activities, particularly livestock husbandry. We assessed the role of fish-poultry integration on all male Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus growth performance, yields and economic benefits among smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzania. The study also compared phytoplankton species composition, abundance and biomass between the fish-poultry integration and non-integrated system. After 180 days of the experiment, all male O. niloticus cultured under fish-poultry integration exhibited significantly higher growth rates than those in the non-integrated system (p < 0.05). Gross fish yield (GFY), net fish yield (NFY) and net annual yields (NAY) obtained from fish-poultry integration were significantly higher than those from non-integrated system (p < 0.05). Partial enterprise budget analysis revealed that fish-poultry integration was more profitable than the non-integrated system. Moreover, fish-poultry integrated system produced significantly higher phytoplankton abundance and biomass than those from the non-integrated system. Results demonstrate that rural smallholder farmers can achieve higher growth rate, farm net yields and income by integrating all male O. niloticus with other on-farm activities than practising a stand-alone fish culture system.     

Characterisation of nuclear pore complex oxalate binding protein from human kidney

Both rat and human kidney nuclei exhibited time and pH dependent oxalate or histone-oxalate uptake which was inhibited by anion transport inhibitor, 4,4-dithiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulphonic acid. Sodium chloride had no effect. Nuclear membrane had oxalate binding at pH 7.4. Extraction of nuclear membrane by Triton–high salt mixture showed maximal oxalate binding activity with nuclear pore complex while nuclear lamin had no oxalate binding. The rat and human kidney nuclear pore complex showed oxalate binding of 144 and 220 pmoles/mg protein respectively. Subsequent purification of the protein on diethyl amino ethyl–Sephadex A 50 column and Sephadex G-200 column yielded 4-fold purification. The protein revealed a molecular weight of 205 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The protein was found to be saturable at 2 M oxalate and had a Kd of 2.98 pM and a Bmax of 197 pmoles. Antibody for 205 kD was separated from primary biliary cirrhosis serum containing auto antibody against 205 kDa using affinity column chromatography. The oxalate binding activity as well as the nuclear uptake of oxalate or histone-oxalate were inhibited by its antibody.     

Low frequency and low intensity pulsed electromagnetic field exerts its antiinflammatory effect through restoration of plasma membrane calcium ATPase activity

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disorder affecting 1% of the population worldwide. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) has a number of well-documented physiological effects on cells and tissues including antiinflammatory effect. This study aims to explore the antiinflammatory effect of PEMF and its possible mechanism of action in amelioration of adjuvant induced arthritis (AIA). Arthritis was induced by a single intradermal injection of heat killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis at a concentration of 500 μg in 0.1 ml of paraffin oil into the right hind paw of rats. The arthritic animals showed a biphasic response regarding changes in the paw edema volume. During the chronic phase of the disease, arthritic animals showed an elevated level of lipid peroxides and depletion of antioxidant enzymes with significant radiological and histological changes. Besides, plasma membrane Ca²⁺ ATPase (PMCA) activity was inhibited while intracellular Ca²⁺ level as well as prostaglandin E₂ levels was noticed to be elevated in blood lymphocytes of arthritic rats. Exposure of arthritic rats to PEMF at 5 Hz × 4 μT × 90 min, produced significant antiexudative effect resulting in the restoration of the altered parameters. The antiinflammatory effect could be partially mediated through the stabilizing action of PEMF on membranes as reflected by the restoration of PMCA and intracellular Ca²⁺ levels in blood lymphocytes subsequently inhibiting PGE₂ biosynthesis. The results of this study indicated that PEMF could be developed as a potential therapy for RA in human beings.