What is the importance of saving lean mass in the treatment of obesity and related diseases?

L'articolo What is the importance of saving lean mass in the treatment of obesity and related diseases? sembra essere il primo su European Review.

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Activated YAP causes renal damage of type 2 diabetic nephropathy

OBJECTIVE: Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a critical factor of Hippo pathway. It can control organ size, regulate proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of cells, and mediate epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cell contact inhibition. It has gradually become a hot spot in the field of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Tea domain (TEAD) is a factor with a deoxyribose nucleic acid (DNA) binding domain, which combines with activated YAP to control the expression of their important target factor – connective tissue growth factor (CTGF).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have investigated the role of YAP in type 2 diabetic nephropathy and evaluated the correlation between YAP and the progress of type 2 diabetic nephropathy. We have detected the expression of YAP, TEAD and CTGF in normal people (n=10) and patients with DN (n=51) by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining and evaluated the relationship among clinical, pathologic data and YAP expression in type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

RESULTS: In kidneys of type 2 diabetic nephropathy, YAP, TEAD and CTGF were highly expressed in the nucleus of glomerular podocytes. In those healthy kidneys, however, all three of the above factors were mainly expressed in cytoplasm. Furthermore, the high expression of YAP in DN had relevance to increasing systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r=0.484, p=0.019), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (r=0.522, p=0.032), creatinine (Cr) (r=0.496, p=0.031), progression of DN stage (r=0.647, p=0.001) and progression of DN pathologic classification (r=0.298, p=0.033). In addition, decreasing serum albumin (SAlb) (r=-0.656, p=0.001) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r=-0.607, p=0.006) were also correlated with the high expression of YAP in DN.

CONCLUSIONS: High expression of YAP, TEAD and CTGF in kidney tissues suggested that YAP played a significant role in the renal damage of type 2 diabetic nephropathy. YAP that is correlated with SBP, BUN, Cr, DN stage, DN pathologic classification, SAlb and eGFR, suggested that inhibition of the activity of YAP might have the effect in delaying DN progression.

L'articolo Activated YAP causes renal damage of type 2 diabetic nephropathy sembra essere il primo su European Review.

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Long non-coding RNA Tubulin Alpha 4B (TUBA4B) inhibited breast cancer proliferation and invasion by directly targeting miR-19

OBJECTIVE: Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a significant member of the non-coding RNA family. New evidence has shown that it plays a pivotal role in the processes of tumor genesis and development. According to previous verification, the lncRNA Tubulin Alpha 4B (TUBA4B) is a tumor-associated molecule, but how TUBA4B expresses and functions in breast cancer is still not clear.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted this study to examine what expression and biological role TUBA4B plays in breast cancer. The expression of TUBA4B was measured in breast cancer samples and cell lines. CCK8 assays and transwell assays were used for evaluating the effects of TUBA4B on breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion. Luciferase reporter assays were used for identifying the direct target of TUBA4B.

RESULTS: According to the results, TUBA4B was largely downregulated in breast cancer samples and cell lines. The functional analysis demonstrated that breast cancer cells proliferation and invasion could be inhibited by overexpression of TUBA4B. The results of Luciferase reporter assays indicated that TUBA4B directly targeted miR-19, which could rescue the effects of TUBA4B on breast cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that TUBA4B was downregulated in breast cancer and suppressed proliferation and invasion of breast cancer by targeting miR-19.

L'articolo Long non-coding RNA Tubulin Alpha 4B (TUBA4B) inhibited breast cancer proliferation and invasion by directly targeting miR-19 sembra essere il primo su European Review.

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RNA-seq analysis of diet-driven obesity and anti-obesity effects of quercetin glucoside or epigallocatechin gallate in Drosophila adults

OBJECTIVE: High-fat diet (HFD) feeding stimulates fat accumulation in mammals and Drosophila. In the present study, we examined whether simultaneous feeding of familiar anti-obesity drugs, quercetin glycosides (QG) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), to Drosophila has the same suppressive effect on fat accumulation as previously reported in rats and mice. To understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of HFD diet-induced obesity and the suppression effect of the drugs, we performed transcriptome analyses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We induced extra fat accumulation by feeding Drosophila fly food containing 20% coconut oil and quantified the triglyceride accumulated in flies. The effects of anti-obesity drugs were also evaluated. We isolated total RNA from each sample and performed RNA-seq analyses and quantitive Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) to investigate altered gene expression.

RESULTS: The mRNA levels of several genes involved in lipid metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and anti-oxidative stress changed in HFD-fed adults. Moreover, the levels altered in those fed an HFD with QG or EGCG. The qRT-PCR further confirmed the RNA-seq data, suggesting that the expression of five essential genes for lipid metabolism changed in HFD-fed flies and altered in the flies treated with anti-obesity drugs. The most remarkable alteration was observed in the dHSL gene encoding a lipase involved in lipid-storage after HFD feeding and HFD with QG or EGCG. These alterations are consistent with HFD-induced fat accumulation as well as the anti-obesity effects of the drugs in mammals, suggesting that the genes play an important role in anti-obesity effects.

CONCLUSIONS: These are the first reports to date of entire profiles of altered gene expression under the conditions of diet-induced obesity and its suppression by anti-obesity drugs in Drosophila.

L'articolo RNA-seq analysis of diet-driven obesity and anti-obesity effects of quercetin glucoside or epigallocatechin gallate in Drosophila adults sembra essere il primo su European Review.

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Advancements in uterus transplant: new scenarios and future implications

Women suffering from Uterine Factor Infertility (UFI) arising from congenital conditions (e.g., Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome) or hysterectomy can fulfill their wish to achieve motherhood only by resorting to surrogacy, which is, however, banned in most countries. Medical research has long been looking into uterus transplant (UTx), which may constitute a valuable alternative for such patients. Following decades of animal testing and clinical trials, several successful pregnancies have been carried to term. Yet UTx is still to be considered as an experimental procedure. The report's authors believe UTx has the potential to become a mainstream surgical practice, but for the time being, several ethical issues need to be weighed in before it does.

L'articolo Advancements in uterus transplant: new scenarios and future implications sembra essere il primo su European Review.

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Occurrence, speciation, and risks of trace metals in soils of greenhouse vegetable production from the vicinity of industrial areas in the Yangtze River Delta, China

Abstract

The effect of industrial activities on trace metals in farmland of rapidly industrializing regions in developing countries has increasingly been a concern to the public. Here, soils were collected from 13 greenhouse vegetable production (GVP) farms or bases near industrial areas in the Yangtze River Delta of China to investigate the occurrence, speciation, and risks of Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, and Pb in GVP soil. The results revealed that the main metal elements causing GVP soil pollution were Cd, Zn, Ni, and Cu, of which contamination levels were generally unpolluted to moderately polluted. Zinc pollution was mainly attributed to heavy fertilization, while Cd, Ni, and Cu pollution may be greatly ascribed to industrial effluents and coal combustion. Metal speciation studies showed that most of Cr, Ni, Cu, and Zn was present in residual fraction while more than half of Cd and Pb was present in non-residual fractions. Additionally, pollution of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn in GVP soil increased their corresponding mobile fractions. Risk assessment using potential ecological risk index and risk assessment code showed that Cd was the major risk contributor. Specifically, Cd generally posed moderate or considerable ecological risk as well as displayed medium or high mobility risk in GVP soil. Thus, great attention should be paid to the contribution of both industrial discharges and intensive farming to soil pollution by trace metals, especially Cd, because of its high mobility risk.

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Techno-economic assessment of coconut biodiesel as a potential alternative fuel for compression ignition engines

Abstract

Over the past years, there were dramatic improvements in identifying and assessing various feedstocks for the production of biodiesel fuels. To promote a particular feedstock as a renewable source of energy, it is important to analyze their energy, economic, and engine performance characteristics. The current work attempts to evaluate the net energy and economic indices for both fossil diesel and coconut-blended diesel (B20) considering the diesel consumption by the Indian railways. Further, we present the experimental results of a multi-cylinder diesel engine operated with neat coconut biodiesel (B100) and fossil diesel at various load and speed conditions. The engine experiments reveal that the coconut biodiesel exhibits leaner combustion and shorter ignition delay than fossil diesel. Lower amount of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and smoke emission is observed in the case of coconut biodiesel, with higher levels of nitric oxide (14%) and fuel consumption than diesel. The coefficient of variation in indicated mean effective pressure is within the range of better driveability zone for both the fuels at all test conditions. Overall the engine performance, emission and combustion results with neat coconut biodiesel are favorable with a penalty in NO emission at high load conditions. The techno-economical study highlights higher production cost per liter of B20 than the cost of fossil diesel. However, the net energy ratio (NER) for B20 is 1.021, favoring higher output than diesel and thus lowers the dependency on crude oil.

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Biodegradation of anthracene and different PAHs by a yellow laccase from Leucoagaricus gongylophorus

Abstract

Laccases produced by Leucoagaricus gongylophorus act in lignocellulose degradation and detoxification processes. Therefore, the use of L. gongylophorus laccase (Lac1Lg) was proposed in this work for degradation of anthracene and others polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons without the use of mediators. Degradation reactions were performed in buffer aqueous solution with 10 ppm of anthracene and other PAHs, Tween-20 in 0.25% v/v and a laccase preparation of 50 U. The optimum condition (pH 6.0 and 30 °C) was determined by response surface methodology with an excellent coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.97 and an adjusted coefficient of determination (R²_adj) of 0.93. In addition, the employment of the mediator ABTS decreased the anthracene biodegradation from 44 ± 1% to 30 ± 1%. This optimum pH of 6.0 suggests that the reaction occurs by a hydrogen atom transfer mechanism. Additionally, in 24 h Lac1Lg biodegraded 72 ± 1% anthracene, 40 ± 3% fluorene and 25 ± 3% phenanthrene. The yellow laccase from L. gongylophorus biodegraded anthracene and produced anthrone and anthraquinone, which are interesting compounds for industrial applications. Moreover, this enzyme also biodegraded the PAHs phenanthrene and fluorene justifying the study of Lac1Lg for bioremediation of these compounds in the environment.

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Serum levels of histamine and diamine oxidase in multiple sclerosis.

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Serum levels of histamine and diamine oxidase in multiple sclerosis.

Am J Clin Exp Immunol. 2018;7(6):100-105

Authors: Rafiee Zadeh A, Falahatian M, Alsahebfosoul F

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, mostly affecting young adults. Diamine oxidase is an enzyme essential for histamine production. Histamine which is produced mostly by mast cells can have effects on different aspects of immune system via its different histamine receptors (H1R, H2R, H3R and H4R). The crucial role of diamine oxidase and histamine in immune balance has been documented in different studies and experiments both on MS patients and on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE). In this regard, we aimed to measure the level of histamine and diamine oxidase in the serum of MS patients.
METHODS: A total number of 50 relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients and 41 age and sex matched controls were enrolled in this study. Assessments of serum levels of histamine and diamine oxidase enzyme were performed using enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA).
RESULTS: The serum levels of histamine and diamine oxidase in RRMS patients were lower than healthy controls (P-value = 0.00, for both).
CONCLUSION: Our research team found significant low levels of histamine and diamine oxidase in RRMS patients; however the pathogenesis of this issue was unclear.

PMID: 30697467 [PubMed]

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Pressure pain assessment may predict the outcome of spinal cord stimulation for refractory epilepsy.

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Pressure pain assessment may predict the outcome of spinal cord stimulation for refractory epilepsy.

Am J Clin Exp Immunol. 2018;7(6):95-99

Authors: Feng L, Fan LH, Wu DZ

Abstract
It was well-documented that epilepsy and pain arise from an excitation-inhibition imbalance within neuronal networks. A previous meta-analysis of data from clinical trials showed an association between anticonvulsants and specific pain types, e.g. multiple sclerosis pain. Multiple multicentre randomized controlled trials have shown that antiepileptic drugs have a prominent role in the treatment of several types of pain, e.g. neuropathic pain. Many anticonvulsants have been introduced to better manage acute postoperative pain, with improvements in analgesic efficacy and safety. These data suggested that there existed the similar mechanisms of certain forms of epilepsy and pain, and the therapeutic mechanism of spinal cord stimulation for certain forms of epilepsy and pain may be involved in the melanocortinergic signaling, and the change in cerebral glucose metabolism. We hypothesized that pressure pain assessment may predict the outcome of spinal cord stimulation in refractory epilepsy.

PMID: 30697466 [PubMed]

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Heterologous expression of nifA or nodD genes improves chickpea- Mesorhizobium symbiotic performance

Abstract

Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the overexpression of NifA and NodD regulators contribute to the symbiotic improvement of chickpea mesorhizobia.

Methods

The native strains V-15b, ST-2, and PMI-6 were transformed with extra copies of nifA or nodD genes and several plants trial were performed.

Results

Plant growth assays showed that nifA overexpression was able to improve the symbiotic effectiveness of V-15b, while nodD overexpression lead to the improvement of ST-2 and PMI-6. Hydroponic assays showed that plants inoculated with V15bnifA⁺ and PMI6nodD⁺ started developing nodules earlier than those inoculated with the corresponding control strains. In addition, the number of nodules was always higher in plants inoculated with the strains overexpressing the symbiotic genes. Analysis of histological sections of nodules formed by V15bnifA⁺ showed a more developed fixation zone when compared with control. On the other hand, nodules induced by PMI6nodD⁺ did not show a senescent zone, which was observed in nodules from plants inoculated with the control strain. Plants inoculated with PMI6nodD⁺ and ST2nodD⁺ showed a higher number of infection threads than the corresponding control inoculations.

Conclusion

These results indicate that overexpressing nifA and nodD may be an important tool to achieve the improvement of the symbiotic performance of mesorhizobia.

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Tracing root-felt sodium concentrations under different transpiration rates and salinity levels

Abstract

Aims

(1) Monitoring 'root-felt' salinity by using rhizoslides as a non-invasive method, (2) Studying how transpiration rate, salinity in irrigation water, and root water uptake affect sodium distribution around single roots, (3) Interpreting experimental results by using simulations with a 3-D root system architecture model coupled with water flow and solute transport models.

Methods

Tomato plants were grown on rhizoslides under various salinity levels and two transpiration rates: high and low. Daily root images were processed with GIMP and incorporated into a 3-D numerical model. The experiments were simulated with R-SWMS, a 3-dimensional numerical model that simulates water flow and solute transport in soil, into the root and inside root systems.

Results

Both experimental and simulation results displayed higher root-felt sodium concentrations compared with the bulk concentrations, and larger accumulation at higher transpiration rate. The simulations illustrated that the root-felt to bulk concentration ratio changed during the experiment depending both on the irrigation water salinity and transpiration rate.

Conclusions

Changes in sodium concentrations with transpiration rates are most likely caused by root water uptake and ion exclusion. Simulation results indicate that root-scale process models are required to link root system architecture, environmental, and soil conditions with root-felt salinities.

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Antimony tolerance and accumulation in a metallicolous and a non-metallicolous population of Salvia spinosa L.

Abstract

Aims

Antimony (Sb) is locally found at potentially toxic concentrations in mineralized soils, usually together with arsenic (As). However, local adaptation of plant populations to Sb toxicity has never been shown thus far. Here we compared Sb tolerance and accumulation between a non-metallicolous (NM) population of Salvia spinosa, and a con-specific metallicolous (M) population from a strongly Sb/As-enriched soil in Dashkasan, Iran.

Methods

Plants were exposed in hydroponics to a series of Sb[III] and Sb[V] concentrations. After 3 weeks the dry weights and Sb concentrations of roots and shoots were determined.

Results

Estimated from the effects on shoot dry weight, the M population was more tolerant than the NM one, particularly to Sb[V], but to a lower degree also to Sb[III]. In both populations Sb[III] was taken up and translocated at higher rates than Sb[V]. The Sb concentrations in roots and shoots were slightly, but significantly higher in the M than in the NM population.

Conclusions

Since Sb[V] and As[V] seem to follow very different detoxification pathways, it can be argued that the superior tolerance to Sb[V] in M represents a local adaptation to Sb[V] toxicity itself, rather than being a mere by-product of hypertolerance to its chemical analogue, As[V]. Since Sb[III] and As[III] or As[V] share common detoxification pathways, the apparent Sb[III] hypertolerance in the M population might represent a by-product of As hypertolerance.

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Do genetically-specific tree canopy environments feed back to affect genetically specific leaf decomposition rates?

Abstract

Aims

In forest ecosystems, trees may have genetically distinct patterns in leaf decomposition. Trees also can have genetically distinct canopy environments which modify temperature, moisture, and microbial communities on the forest floor. The interaction between these factors may result in underexplored interactions between microenvironment and leaf decomposition at the genotype level.

Methods

We compare litter decomposition rates for distinct genotypes of Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) grown in a common garden environment under three different riparian conditions: 1) under a 16-tree stand of the same genotype, 2) under a 16-tree stand of another genotype, and 3) under a 16-tree stand of 16 different genotypes. Genotypes differed in canopy size and phenology.

Results

While genotype exerted a strong effect on decomposition, this effect was most pronounced when litter was decomposed under a self-similar ("home") canopy. The strongest driver of decomposition rates across all factors (including litter quality and environmental factors) was spring (leaf-out) and fall (leaf-drop) phenology, but responses were variable by genotype.

Conclusions

The influence of genetics on litter decomposition, canopy environment, and tree phenology provides justification for the inclusion of stand-level traits like canopy cover into models of decomposition and complicates the results of studies that rely on litter quality traits alone.

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The effect of baclofen combined with a proton pump inhibitor in patients with refractory laryngopharyngeal reflux: a prospective, open‐label study in thirty‐two patients

Abstract

Thirty‐two patients with refractory LPR confirmed by 24‐h MII‐pH were given a 3‐month course of baclofen 10 mg three times a day combined with PPI 15 mg twice a day.

Changes in RSI and reflux‐related quality of life from baseline to after treatment were evaluated.

MII‐pH monitoring of refractory LPR patients showed that the number of non‐acid reflux was much higher than acid reflux in laryngopharyngeal reflux and full‐column reflux.

After 3 months of PPI + baclofen medication, most RSI items and quality of life score showed a significant improvement compared to the baseline score, and the percentage of responders at 3 months was 53.1%.

In our experience, when a PPI therapy is unresponsive to LPR patients, baclofen can be considered as a second treatment option.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

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fMRI reveals a lack of sleep increases sensitivity to pain

Senior author Matthew Walker, with the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues placed a pad on the legs of 25 healthy, well-rested adults until the temperature was unbearable, according to a Berkeley News release. On average, that topped out at 111 degrees Fahrenheit. But, after enduring a sleep-deprived night that average dropped to nearly 107 degrees. After reviewing fMRI data, Walker and colleagues observed a decrease in activity in the nucleus accumbens and insular cortex, r...

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Illinois center’s MRI ‘Caring Suite’ takes the stress out of exams

A new 1,700 square foot Caring Suite was added on to the Center for Health to house the wider MRI machine. Designed to help patients suffering from anxiety and claustrophobia, the room contains colored lights that are adjustable by the patient and allows them to choose what music is played throughout the exam. Wood detail makes the room feel less like an exam room and a leafy tree against a summer sky is displayed on the ceiling as patients look up to prepare for their MRI. "In the past th...

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Non-gated chest CT reliable for measuring coronary calcifications

"Vascular calcification is a common pathological feature of many diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease, and one of the important reasons for the high morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases," wrote first author Yuhuan Chen, MD with Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine in Xianyang, Shaanxi, China, and colleagues. Somewhat recently, CAC scoring with ECG-gated CT has become the non-invasive reference standard for detecting calc...

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Total-body PET/CT scanner granted FDA approval

The technology can capture three-dimensional (3D) images of the entire human body at one bed position and requires 40-times less radiation than current methods, according to a recent company press release. United Imaging made its U.S. market debut in November at RSNA 2018 in Chicago, where Simon Cherry, PhD and Ramsey Badawi, PhD, of UC Davis, presented a prototype of the system and the first images taken by the device. "The human images the uEXPLORER produces have been nothing shor...

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New imaging technique could extend perception of microscopes, endoscopes

The technique is a form of "non-line-of-sight imaging," which usually requires expensive and specialized equipment to see objects around corners. This method, however, only requires a standard digital camera and may soon be applied to medical imaging technologies such as microscopes or endoscopes to improve the detection of tumors or help physicians see around bones in medical images, according to the report. Charles Saunders, an electrical and computer engineering graduate student at Bo...

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