Microbial β-Glucosidases: screening, characterization, cloning and applications

Cellulose is the most abundant biomaterial in the biosphere and the major component of plant biomass. Cellulase is an enzymatic system required for conversion of renewable cellulose biomass into free sugar for subsequent use in different applications. Cellulase system mainly consists of three individual enzymes namely: endoglucanase, exoglucanase and β-glucosidases. β-Glucosidases are ubiquitous enzymes found in all living organisms with great biological significance. β-Glucosidases have also tremendous biotechnological applications such as biofuel production, beverage industry, food industry, cassava detoxification and oligosaccharides synthesis. Microbial β-glucosidases are preferred for industrial uses because of robust activity and novel properties exhibited by them. This review aims at describing the various biochemical methods used for screening and evaluating β-glucosidases activity from microbial sources. Subsequently, it generally highlights techniques used for purification of β-glucosidases. It then elaborates various biochemical and molecular properties of this valuable enzyme such as pH and temperature optima, glucose tolerance, substrate specificity, molecular weight, and multiplicity. Furthermore, it describes molecular cloning and expression of bacterial, fungal and metagenomic β-glucosidases. Finally, it highlights the potential biotechnological applications of β-glucosidases

Predictive factors for infertility of women: an univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis

Background and aims: Infertility is a major problem during reproductive age. Physical and psychological effects of infertility in women are problematic. The aim of this study was to determine the potential predictive factors of infertility, among women referring both public and private health centers in Ilam province, western Iran, in 2013. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 1013 women referring the health care centers of Ilam province were enrolled in 2013. The participants were selected by simple random sampling method and their demographic, medical and obstetric variables were collected. The univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to predict the potential risk factors of infertility. Results: The husband’s education and occupation showed to be suitable independent predictor variables for infertility by multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR: 1.36 and 2, respectively). Overall percentage of correct classification of the model was 88.7. It means that, considering the husband’s education and women’s occupation, the ability of the model to predict the actual category of the cases was 88.7. Conclusions: It seems that husband education level and women occupation are independent predictive variables. The women at risk of infertility have to be identified and high-quality counseling should be given in order to minimize the complications of infertility in both genders

Remittances, Economic Growth and Poverty: A Case of African OIC Member Countries

This paper investigates the impact of remittance inflows on economic growth and poverty reduction for seven African countries using annual data from 1992-2010. By using the depth of hunger as a proxy for poverty in a Simultaneous Equation Model (SEM), we find that remittances have statistically significant growth enhancing and poverty reducing impact. Drawing on our estimates, we conclude that financial development level significantly increases the remittances inflows and strengthens poverty alleviating impact of remittances. Results of our study further show a signficant interactive imapct of remittances and finacial develpment on economic growth, suggesting the substitutability between remittance inflows and financial development. We further find that 3 percentage point increase in credit provision to the private sector (financial development) can help eliminate the severe depth of hunger in the region. Remittances, serving an alternative source of private credit, can be effective in this regard. Keywords: Remittance Inflow, Poverty Alleviation, Financial Development, Simultaneous Equation Mode

Evaluation of immunomodulatory activity of tenoxicam in mice

Purpose: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of tenoxicam on cellular and humoral immunity.Methods: Tenoxicam (2.5 - 10mg/kg) was administered at three different doses to three groups of mice and the cellular immune responses were studied using delayed hypersensitivity response (DTH) and cyclophosphamide-induced neutropenia while the humoral immune response was evaluated using hemagglutination test and mice mortality ratio. Normal saline and cyclophosphamide were used as negative and positive controls, respectively.Results: DTH assay resulted in a significant reduction in skin thickness (p < 0.05) for tenoxicam treated groups when compared to the negative control group at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after administration of challenging dose of dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB). Cyclophoshamide induced neutropenia showed a significant percentage reduction in total leukocyte count (TLC) and differential leukocyte count (DLC) i.e. lymphocytes and neutrophils (p< 0.05), but an increase in monocytes in all the treatment groups in the following order: 10 mg>5 mg >2.5 mg> negative control group. A dose dependent reduction response was observed (p<0.05) in haemagglutination assay (HA). In mice lethality test mortality ratios of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg tenoxicam were 60 %, 80% and 100 %, respectively, compared to 20 % and 100 % for normal saline group and cyclophosphamide, respectivelyConclusion: The results suggest that tenoxicam suppresses both cellular and humoral immunity in mice.Keywords: Tenoxicam, Cellular immunity, Humoral immunit

The Relationship between Zinc Levels and Autism: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

How to Cite This Article: Babaknejad N, Sayehmiri F, Sayehmiri K, Mohamadkhani A, Bahrami S. The Relationship between Zinc Levelsand Autism: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Iran J Child Neurol. Autumn 2016; 10(4):1-9. AbstractObjectiveAutism is a complex behaviorally defined disorder. There is a relationship between zinc (Zn) levels in autistic patients and development of pathogenesis, but the conclusion is not permanent. Materials & MethodsThe present study conducted to estimate this probability using meta-analysis method. In this study, Fixed Effect Model, twelve articles published from 1978 to 2012 were selected by searching Google scholar, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus and information were analyzed. I² statistics were calculated to examine heterogeneity. The information was analyzed using R and STATA Ver. 12.2. ResultsThere was no significant statistical difference between hair, nail, and teeth Zn levels between controls and autistic patients: -0.471 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): -1.172 to 0.231]. There was significant statistical difference between plasma Zn concentration and autistic patients besides healthy controls: -0.253 (95% CI: 0.498 to -0.007). Using a Random Effect Model, the overall Integration of data from the two groups was -0.414 (95% CI: -0.878 to -0.051).ConclusionBased on sensitivity analysis, zinc supplements can be used for the nutritional therapy for autistic patients. References1. Arnold LE, Farmer C, Kraemeret HC, et al. Moderators, mediators, and other predictors of Risperidoneresponse in children with Autistic Disorder and Irritability. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2012; 20(2): 83-92.2. Karimzadeh P. Recent finding about etiology of autism. Rehabilitation 2000; 1(2):58-63.3. Dufault R, Schnoll R, Lukiw WJ, et al. Mercury exposure, nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disruptions may affect learning in children. Behav Brain Funct 2009; 5(44): 1-15.4. Morris CR, Agin CM. Syndrome of allergy, apraxia, and malabsorption: characterization of a neurodevelopmental phenotype that responds to omega 3 and vitamin E supplementation. Altern Ther Health Med 2009; 15(4): 34-43.5. An centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders-Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) Among Multiple Areas of the United States in 2008, United States, Morbidity and Mortal Weekly Report (MMWR); Vol. 61(3).6. Dufault R, Lukiw WJ, Crider R, et al. A macro epigenetic approach to identify factors responsible for the autism epidemic in the United States. Clin Epigenetics 2012; 4(6): 2-12.7. Faber S, Zinn GM, Kern GC, et al. The plasma zinc/ serum copper ratio as a biomarker in children with autism spectrum disorders. Biomarkers 2009; 14(3): 171–180.8. Cornish E. Gluten and casein free diets in autism: a study of the effects on food choice and nutrition. J Hum Nutr Dietet 2012; 15: 261-268.9. De Palma G, Catalani S, Franco A, et al. Lack of correlation between metallic elements analyzed in hair by ICP-MS and Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2012; 42(3):342–353.10. Adams JB, Romdalvik J, Ramanujam VM, Legator MS, et al. Mercury, Lead, and Zinc in Baby teeth of children with Autism versus controls. J Toxicol Environ Health A 2007;7(12): 1046-1051.11. Blaurock-Busch E, Amin OR, Rabah T. Heavy metals and Trace elements in hair and urine of a sample of Arab children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Maedica (Buchar) 2011;6(4): 247-252.12. Russo AJ, Devito R. Analysis of Copper and Zinc Plasma Concentration and the efficacy of Zinc therapy in individuals with Asperger’s syndrome, pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS) and Autism. Biomarker Insights 2011; 6:127–133.13. Shearer TR, Larson K, Neuschwander J, Gedney B. Minerals in the hair and nutrient intake of Autistic children. J Autism Dev Disord 1982; 12(1): 25-30.14. Liberati A, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and metaanalyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: explanation and elaboration. BMJ 2009; 21: 339- b2700.15. Hartung J, Knapp G, Sinha BK. Statistical Meta- analysis with application. John Willey and Sons 2008, INC, USA.16. Babaknejad N, Sayehmiri F, Sayehmiri K, et al. The relationship between selenium levels and breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biol Trace Elem Res 2014;159(1-3):1-7.17. Al-Ayadehi LY. Heavy metals and trace elements in hair samples of autistic children in central Saudi Arabia. Neurosciences (Riyadh) 2005; 10(3):213-8.18. Blaurock-Busch E, Amin OR, Dessoki HH, Rabah T. Toxic metals and essential elements in hair and severity of symptoms among children with Autism. Mædica J Clin Med 2012;7(1): 38-47.19. Elsheshtawy E, Tobar S, Sherra K, et al, Study of some biomarkers in hair of children with autism. MECPsych 2011;18 18:6–10.20. Russo AJ. Increased Copper in individuals with Autism normalizes post Zinc therapy more efficiently in Individuals with in current GI Disease. Nutr Metab Insights 2011;4: 49–54.21. Jackson MJ, Garrod PJ. Plasma Zinc, Copper, and Amino Acid levelsin the blood of Autistic Children. J Autism Child Schizophr 1978; 8(2): 203-206.22. Priya MDL, Geetha A. Level of trace elements (Copper, Zinc, Magnesium and Selenium) and toxic elements(Lead and Mercury)in the Hair and Nail of Children with Autism. Biol Trace Elem Res 2011; 142(2): 148–158.23. Wecker L, Miller SB, Cochran SR, Dugger DL, Johnson WD. Trace element concentrations in hair from autistic children. J Ment Defic Res 1985; 29(1): 15-22.24. Adams JB, Audhya T, McDonough-Means S, et al. Nutritional and metabolic status of children with autism vs. neurotypical children, and the association with autism severity. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2011; 8(34): 1-30.25. Adams JB, Holloway CE, George F, Quig D. Analyses of toxic metals and essential minerals in the hair of Arizona Children with Autism and associated conditions, and their mothers. Biol Trace Elem Res 2006; 110: 194-207.26. Al-Farsi YM, Waly MI, Al-Sharbati MM, et al. Levels of heavy metals and essential minerals in hair samples of children with Autism in Oman: a Case–Control Study. Biol Trace Elem Res 2013;151(2): 181-6.27. Russo AJ. Decreased serum Cu/Zn SOD in children with Autism. Nutr Metab Insights 2009; 2: 27-35.28. Xia W, Zhou Y, Sun C, Wang J, Wu L. 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A Comparison of Sperm Motility Between Fertile and Infertile Males

Background: To determine the sperm motility of proven fertile males and compare this with that of infertile males. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional comparative and was carried out at Islamic International Medical College Rawalpindi and its attached Railway hospital and Islamabad Clinic Serving Infertile Couples Islamabad, from June 2005 to July 2006. Fifty healthy fertile males were selected and their sperm motility was determined with the latest Makler’s chamber, while another 50 infertile males were recruited as controls. The sampling technique used was convenience non-probability. Inclusion criterion for proven fertile males was pregnancy achieved within one year of marriage with successful coituses. In case of infertile males it was failure to achieve pregnancy without the use of assisted reproductive techniques, with no infertility factors in the female partner. The semen samples were obtained at the laboratory after 3 to 4 days of sexual abstinence with clear written and oral instructions given to the subjects before the collection of the sample. Results: The infertile group was found to be statistically older than the proven fertile group i.e. (36.60 versus 31.32 years). Proven fertile group showed significantly higher motility (60.32 ± 10.80%) and progressive motility (14.32 ± 8.31%) than the infertile male group. Conclusion: Sperm motility is useful in in-vivo situation to find males having a greater possibility of infertility problem. More studies with a larger sample size are required to establish a cut-off value in the local population

A single-phase compact-sized matrix converter with symmetrical bipolar buck and boost output voltage control

The development of single-phase symmetrical bipolar voltage gain matrix converters (MC) is growing rapidly as they find their application in power systems for dynamic restoration of line voltages, high voltage AC–DC converters, and variable frequency controllers for many industrial processes. However, the existing trend in matrix converter technology is a buck–boost operation that has inherently serious issues of high voltage and current surges or stresses. This is a big source of the high voltage and current rating of semiconductor switching devices. There is also a problem of high ripples both for voltage as well for current, requiring large size of filtering capacitors and inductors. The non-symmetrical control of the voltage gain increases the control complication. A large count of operating transistors is critical regarding their cost, size, and power conversion losses, as the space and cost required by their gate control circuits are much larger than the size and cost of the switching transistors. Thus, in this research work, a new single-phase MC is introduced only employing six fully controlled switching devices, ensuring similar operation or outputs as is obtained from the existing topologies that require the use of eight or more fully controlled switching devices, and the reduction by two or more switching transistors helps to compact the overall size and lower the overall cost. The separation in its voltage buck and boost operation enables smooth control of the voltage gain through duty cycle control. The low values of the voltage and current surges reduce the power rating and losses of the switching devices. The flow of the current in the filtering inductor is kept unidirectional to avoid the current interruption and reversal problem once the operation of the converter is abruptly switched from inverting to non-inverting and vice versa. All these factors are comprehensively detailed through the circuit’s description and comparative analysis. Simulation and practical results are presented to confirm the effectiveness of the developed circuit topology