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Hydrolysis of carotenoid esters from Tagetes erecta by the action of lipases from Yarrowia lipolytica
No full textAbstract
The present study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of enzymatic hydrolysis of carotenoid esters from Tagetes erecta using lipases from the yeast of Yarrowia lipolytica , with the aim of obtaining free lutein. The optimal concentrations of seven nutrients, considering the production of lipases relative to biomass ( Y
p/x
) as the response variable, were determined in flask fermentations. In addition, we studied the effect on hydrolysis of growing Y. lipolytica in the presence of the oleoresin of the marigold flower in flask and stirred tank. Furthermore, hydrolysis of the oleoresin using the lipases from this microorganism was compared with the hydrolysis using lipases from Rhizopus oryzae . Cultured in the presence of marigold oleoresin, Y. lipolytica showed an increase in free carotenoids of 12.41% in flask and 8.8% in stirred tank, representing a fourfold and a threefold increase compared to the initial value in the fermentation, respectively. When lipases from the supernatant from both microorganisms were used for only 14\ua0h hydrolysis experiments, a slight increase was achieved compared to a blank. We concluded that carotenoid esters of the oleoresin could not be completely hydrolyzed in 14\ua0h by these lipases, but that growing Y. lipolytica in the presence of marigold oleoresin gives until fourfold production of free carotenoids in 72\ua0h fermentations
Solitary fibrous tumor of the lung: a case report
No full textAbstract
Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are relatively rare neoplasms that commonly occur in the pleura. The pathological feature of SFTs is a proliferation of spindle-shaped cells in interlacing or storiform fascicles. SFTs appear to derived from pluripotential submesothelial cells, but not the covering mesothelium. SFTs distinctively show diffuse staining for CD34 but lack staining for smooth muscle markers. We herein report a relatively rare case of a 68-year-old male patient without symptoms, who underwent resection for what was considered to be SFT
Acute effects of brewed cocoa consumption on attention, motivation to perform cognitive work and feelings of anxiety, energy and fatigue: a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover experiment
No full textAbstract
Background
Acute effects of caffeinated and non-caffeinated cocoa on mood, motivation, and cognitive function are not well characterized. The current study examined the acute influence of brewed cocoa, alone and with supplemental caffeine, on attention, motivation to perform cognitive tasks and energy and fatigue mood states.
Methods
A randomized, double-blinded, within-subjects crossover trial was conducted with four 473-milliliter brewed beverage treatments: cocoa, caffeinated cocoa (70 milligrams caffeine total), placebo (flavored and colored brewed water) and positive control (placebo plus 66 milligrams caffeine, \u201ccaffeine alone\u201d). Participants ( n \u2009=\u200924) were low consumers of polyphenols without elevated feelings of energy. Before and three times after beverage consumption, a 26-minute battery was used to assess motivation to perform cognitive tasks, mood and attention (serial subtractions of 3 and 7, the continuous performance task, and the Bakan dual task) with a 10-minute break between each post-consumption battery. The procedure was repeated with each beverage for each participant at least 48\ua0h apart and \ub130\ua0min the same time of day. Data were evaluated using Treatment X Time analysis of covariance controlling for hours of prior night\u2019s sleep.
Results
Compared to placebo, cocoa reduced overall false alarm errors progressively across time with 0.92, 1.44 and 2.35 fewer false alarms on average 22\u201348, 60\u201386 and 98\u2013124\ua0min post-consumption ( \u3b7
2
\u2009=\u20090.08, p \u2009=\u20090.019). Caffeinated cocoa: (i) attenuated the anxiety-provoking effects of cognitive testing found after drinking caffeine alone ( \u3b7
2
\u2009=\u20090.064, p \u2009=\u20090.038), and (ii) increased accuracy ( \u3b7
2
\u2009=\u20090.085, p \u2009=\u20090.01) and reduced omission errors ( \u3b7
2
\u2009=\u20090.077, p \u2009=\u20090.016) on the Bakan primary task compared to cocoa alone.
Conclusions
Brewed cocoa can acutely reduce errors associated with attention in the absence of changes in either perceived motivation to perform ..
Is there still a role for cytotoxic chemotherapy after targeted therapy and immunotherapy in metastatic melanoma? A case report and literature review
No full textAbstract
Metastatic melanoma has long been considered to have a very poor prognosis and to be chemo-resistant. However, a subgroup of patients with metastatic melanoma presents remarkable responses to chemotherapeutic agents, even in the absence of a response to modern targeted therapies and immunotherapies; accordingly, determining predictive biomarkers of the response to chemotherapies for metastatic melanoma remains a priority to guide treatment in these patients. We report a case study of a patient with B-Raf proto-oncogene serine/threonine kinase-mutated metastatic melanoma harbouring many genetic mutations. The patient did not respond to prior targeted therapies or immunotherapies but experienced a dramatic objective radiological and clinical response to subsequent dacarbazine-based chemotherapy. In the era of targeted therapies and immunotherapies for metastatic melanoma, cytotoxic chemotherapies may still represent an interesting therapeutic weapon in a well-defined subgroup of patients presenting with specific genetic and molecular features
The loss-of-function mutations and down-regulated expression of ASB3 gene promote the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer cells
No full textAbstract
Background
Ankyrin repeat and SOCS box protein 3 (ASB3) is a member of ASB family and contains ankyrin repeat sequence and SOCS box domain. Previous studies indicated that it mediates the ubiquitination and degradation of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 and is likely involved in inflammatory responses. However, its effects on oncogenesis are unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of ASB3 on the growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC).
Methods
We used next-generation sequencing or Sanger sequencing to detect ASB3 mutations in CRC specimens or cell lines, and used real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunohistochemical or immunofluorescence assay to determine gene expression. We evaluated cell proliferation by MTT and colony formation assays, tested cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry, and assessed cell migration and invasion by transwell and wound healing assays. We also performed nude mouse experiments to evaluate tumorigenicity and hepatic metastasis potential of tumor cells.
Results
We found that ASB3 gene was frequently mutated (5.3%) and down-regulated (70.4%) in CRC cases. Knockdown of endogenous ASB3 expression promoted CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and facilitated tumorigenicity and hepatic metastasis in vivo. Conversely, the ectopic overexpression of wild-type ASB3 , but not that of ASB3 mutants that occurred in clinical CRC tissues, inhibited tumor growth and metastasis. Further analysis showed that ASB3 inhibited CRC metastasis likely by retarding epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which was characterized by the up-regulation of \u3b2-catenin and E-cadherin and the down-regulation of transcription factor 8, N-cadherin, and vimentin.
Conclusion
ASB3 dysfunction resulted from gene mutations or down-regulated expression frequently exists in CRC and likely plays a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of CRC
Phylogenetic analysis of ionotropic L-glutamate receptor genes in the Bilateria, with special notes on Aplysia californica
No full textAbstract
Background
The neurotransmitter L-Glutamate (L-Glu) acting at ionotropic L-Glu receptors (iGluR) conveys fast excitatory signal transmission in the nervous systems of all animals. iGluR-dependent neurotransmission is a key component of the synaptic plasticity that underlies learning and memory. During learning, two subtypes of iGluR, \u3b1-Amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPAR) and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDAR), are dynamically regulated postsynaptically in vertebrates. Invertebrate organisms such as Aplysia californica ( Aplysia ) are well-studied models for iGluR-mediated function, yet no studies to date have analyzed the evolutionary relationships between iGluR genes in these species and those in vertebrates, to identify genes that may mediate plasticity. We conducted a thorough phylogenetic analysis spanning Bilateria to elucidate these relationships. The expression status of iGluR genes in the Aplysia nervous system was also examined.
Results
Our analysis shows that ancestral genes for both NMDAR and AMPAR subtypes were present in the common bilaterian ancestor. NMDAR genes show very high conservation in motifs responsible for forming the conductance pore of the ion channel. The number of NMDAR subunits is greater in vertebrates due to an increased number of splice variants and an increased number of genes, likely due to gene duplication events. AMPAR subunits form an orthologous group, and there is high variability in the number of AMPAR genes in each species due to extensive taxon specific gene gain and loss. qPCR results show that all 12 Aplysia iGluR subunits are expressed in all nervous system ganglia.
Conclusions
Orthologous NMDAR subunits in all species studied suggests conserved function across Bilateria, and potentially a conserved mechanism of neuroplasticity and learning. Vertebrates display an increased number of NMDAR genes and splice variants, which may play a role in their greater diversity of physiological responses. Extensive gene gain and loss of AMPAR genes may result in different physiological properties that are taxon specific. Our results suggest a significant role for L-Glu mediated responses throughout the Aplysia nervous system, consistent with L-Glu\u2019s role as the primary excitatory neurotransmitter
Age influences the olfactory profiles of the migratory oriental armyworm mythimna separate at the molecular level
No full textAbstract
Background
The oriental armyworm Mythimna separata (Walk) is a serious migratory pest; however, studies on its olfactory response and its underlying molecular mechanism are limited. To gain insights to the olfactory mechanism of migration, olfactory genes were identified using antennal transcriptome analysis. The olfactory response and the expression of olfactory genes for 1-day and 5-day-old moths were respectively investigated by EAG and RT-qPCR analyses.
Results
Putative 126 olfactory genes were identified in M. separata , which included 43 ORs, 13 GRs, 16 IRs, 37 OBPs, 14 CSPs, and 3 SNMPs. RPKM values of IR75d and 10 ORs were larger than co-receptors IR25a and ORco, and the RPKM value of PR2 was larger than that of other ORs. Expression of GR1 (sweet receptor) was higher than that of other GRs. Several sex pheromones activated evident EAG responses where the responses of 5-day-old male moths to the sex pheromones were significantly greater than those of female and 1-day old male moths. In accordance with the EAG response, 11 pheromone genes, including 6 PRs and 5 PBPs were identified in M. separate , and the expression levels of 7 pheromone genes in 5-day-old moths were significantly higher than those of females and 1-day-old moths. PR2 and PBP2 might be used in identifying Z11-16: Ald, which is the main sex pheromone component of M. separata . EAG responses to 16 plant volatiles and the expression levels of 43 olfactory genes in 1-day-old moths were significantly greater than that observed in the 5-day-old moths. Heptanal, Z6-nonenal, and benzaldehyde might be very important floral volatiles for host searching and recognized by several olfactory genes with high expression. Some plant volatiles might be important to male moths because the EAG response to 16 plant volatiles and the expression of 43 olfactory genes were significantly larger in males than in females.
Conclusions
The findings of the present study show the effect of adult age on olfactory responses and expression profile of olfactory genes in the migratory pest M. separate
Construction of high-resolution recombination maps in Asian seabass
No full textAbstract
Background
A high-density genetic map is essential for de novo genome assembly, fine mapping QTL for important complex traits, comparative genomic studies and understanding the mechanisms of genome evolution. Although a number of genomic resources are available in Asian seabass ( Lates calcarifer ), a high-density linkage map is still lacking. To facilitate QTL mapping for marker-assisted selection and genome assembly, and to understand the genome-wide recombination rates, we constructed high density linkage maps using three families and genotyping by sequencing.
Results
A high-density consensus linkage map consisting of 8, 274 markers was constructed based on sex-averaged genetic maps. The genetic maps were then aligned and integrated with the current genome assembly of Asian seabass. More than 90% of the genome contig sequences were anchored onto the consensus genetic map. Evidence of assembly errors in the current genome assembly was identified. A fragment of up to 2.5\ua0Mb belonging to LG14 was assembled into Chr15. The length of family-specific sex-averaged maps ranged from 1348.96 to 1624.65\ua0cM. Female maps were slightly longer than male maps using common markers. Female-to-male ratios were highly variable both across chromosomes within each family and throughout three families for each chromosome. However, the distribution patterns of recombination along chromosomes were similar between sexes across the whole genome. The overall recombination rates were significantly correlated with genome-wide GC content and the correlations were revealed to be stronger in females than in males.
Conclusions
These high-density genetic maps provide not only essential tools for facilitating de novo genome assembly and comparative genomic studies in teleosts, but also critical resources for fine mapping QTL and genome-wide association mapping for economically important traits in Asian seabass
Comparative transcriptomics provide insight into the morphogenesis and evolution of fistular leaves in Allium
No full textAbstract
Background
Fistular leaves frequently appear in Allium species, and previous developmental studies have proposed that the process of fistular leaf formation involves programmed cell death. However, molecular evidence for the role of programmed cell death in the formation of fistular leaf cavities has yet to be reported.
Results
In this study, we characterized the leaf transcriptomes of nine Allium species, including six fistular- and three solid-leaved species. In addition, we identified orthologous genes and estimated their Ka and Ks values, in order to ascertain their selective pattern. Phylogenetic analysis based on the transcriptomes revealed that A. tuberosum was the most ancestral among the nine species, and analysis of orthologous genes between A. tuberosum and the other eight species indicated that 149 genes were subject to positive selection; whereas >3000 had undergone purifying selection in each species.
Conclusions
We found that many genes that are potentially related to programmed cell death either exhibited rapid diversification in fistular-leaved species, or were conserved in solid-leaved species in evolutionary history. These genes potentially involved in programmed cell death might play important roles in the formation of fistular leaf cavities in Allium , and the differing selection patterns in fistular- and solid-leaved species may be responsible for the evolution of fistular leaves
Transradial versus transfemoral approach for coronary angiography and angioplasty \u2013 A prospective, randomized comparison
No full textAbstract
Background
PCI has been done traditionally through transfemoral route. But now transradial and transbrachial routes are also coming up in practice. We compared transradial versus transfemoral routes for ease of operability, time for procedure, complications, and failure rates through a prospective study.
Methods
Four hundred Patients admitted in department of cardiology for percutaneous interventions were enrolled in the study. 200 patients were assigned to each group randomly. A single team did all the procedures. Pre procedure, intra procedure and post procedure data of all the patients was collected, tabulated and analysed properly.
Results
Access time (6.0\u2009\ub1\u20091vs 4.2\u2009\ub1\u20090.7; P =0.001); Fluoroscopy time and overall procedure time (29\u2009\ub1\u200911.3 Vs. 27.3\u2009\ub1\u200912.4\ua0min) were more with trans radial than transfemoral route, respectively. The most common post procedure complication, ecchymosis was seen in 20.5% in transfemoral group compared to 12.5% in transradial group ( P 0.031). Thrombophelibites (17.5 VS 8%, P 0.004); Hematoma (14.5 Vs 0%, P 0.005); post procedure access bleed (7 VS 3%, P 0.039) were seen in transfemoral than transradial group, respectively. Failure rates were almost similar. None of our patients had post procedure myocardial infarction, stroke, acute renal failure and infections.
Conclusion
Transradial approach of PCI is better than transfemoral route with respect to complications like bleeding, haematoma formation, thrombophelebites and ecchymosis is concerned. However access and fluoroscopic time is more with the former. We recommend the transradial route for PCI.
Trial registration
Trial is retrospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov with the Identifier: NCT02983721 , Date of registration is December 2, 2016