A “Crossomics” Study Analysing Variability of Different Components in Peripheral Blood of Healthy Caucasoid Individuals

Background: Different immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases are being developed and tested in clinical studies worldwide. Their resulting complex experimental data should be properly evaluated, therefore reliable normal healthy control baseline values are indispensable. Methodology/Principal Findings: To assess intra- and inter-individual variability of various biomarkers, peripheral blood of 16 age and gender equilibrated healthy volunteers was sampled on 3 different days within a period of one month. Complex "crossomics'' analyses of plasma metabolite profiles, antibody concentrations and lymphocyte subset counts as well as whole genome expression profiling in CD4(+)T and NK cells were performed. Some of the observed age, gender and BMI dependences are in agreement with the existing knowledge, like negative correlation between sex hormone levels and age or BMI related increase in lipids and soluble sugars. Thus we can assume that the distribution of all 39.743 analysed markers is well representing the normal Caucasoid population. All lymphocyte subsets, 20% of metabolites and less than 10% of genes, were identified as highly variable in our dataset. Conclusions/Significance: Our study shows that the intra- individual variability was at least two-fold lower compared to the inter-individual one at all investigated levels, showing the importance of personalised medicine approach from yet another perspective

Metformin does not prevent DNA damage in lymphocytes despite its antioxidant properties against cumene hydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress

Metformin (1-(diaminomethylidene)-3.3-dimethyl-guanidine), which is the most commonly prescribed oral antihyperglycaemic drug in the world, was reported to have several antioxidant properties such as the inhibition of advanced glycation end-products. In addition to its use in the treatment of diabetes, it has been suggested that metformin may be a promising anti-aging agent. The present work was aimed at assessing the possible protective effects of metformin against DNA-damage induction by oxidative stress in vitro. The effects of metformin were compared with those of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). For this purpose, peripheral blood lymphocytes from aged (n = 10) and young (n = 10) individuals were pre-incubated with various concentrations of metformin (10-50 mu M), followed by incubation with 15 mu M cumene hydroperoxide (CumOOH) for 48 h, under conditions of low oxidant level, which do not induce cell death. Protection against oxidative DNA damage was evaluated by use of the Comet assay and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus technique. Changes in the levels of malondialdehyde + 4-hydroxy-alkenals, an index of oxidative stress, were also measured in lymphocytes. At concentrations ranging from 10 mu M to 50 mu M. metformin did not protect the lymphocytes from DNA damage, while 50 VLM NAC possessed an effective protective effect against CumOOH-induced DNA damage. Furthermore, NAC, but not metformin. inhibited DNA fragmentation induced by CumOOH. In contrast to the lack of protection against oxidative damage in lymphocyte cultures. metformin significantly protected the cells from lipid peroxidation in both age groups, although not as effective as NAC in preventing the peroxidative damage at the highest doses. Within the limitations of this study, the results indicate that pharmacological concentrations of metformin are unable to protect against DNA damage induced by a pro-oxidant stimulus in cultured human lymphocytes, despite its antioxidant properties. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Facial morphology of Slovenian and Welsh white populations using 3-dimensional imaging

Objective: To use 3-dimensional (3D) facial averages to test the hypothesis that the facial morphologies of 2 European white groups (Slovenia and Wales) have no differences. Methods: Fifty males and 50 females from Wales and 43 males and 44 females from Slovenia were included in the study. Subjects ranged from 18 to 30 years of age. Four subgroups were formed: Slovenian males (SM), Slovenian females (SF), Welsh males (WM), and Welsh females (WF). 3D data were acquired using a laser scanning system. An average face for each subgroup was obtained using a previously validated mathematical algorithm. Facial differences were quantified after average faces had been superimposed using a previously validated method. Results: A total of 187 subjects from Slovenia and Wales formed 4 gender-specific subgroups. Absolute differences between subgroups ranged from 0.36 mm to 1.51 mm. The mean linear facial difference between SF and WF was 0.64 ± 0.51 mm, and between SM and WM was 0.36 ± 0.41 mm. Similarities between subgroups ranged from 13.43% (SF, WF) to 70.23% (SM, WM). Slovenian males and females tend to express Class III facial morphology when compared with the Welsh gender–specific subgroups. Male faces, in general, have more pronounced nasal, brow, and frontal regions and mandibles when compared with females. Female faces have more prominent malar and periocular areas. Conclusion: The hypothesis is rejected. Morphologic differences exist between Slovenian and Welsh faces

The diversity of <i>Trichoderma</i> species from soil in South Africa, with five new additions

<p>Fourteen <i>Trichoderma</i> (Hypocreales) species were identified during a survey of the genus in South Africa. These include <i>T. afroharzianum, T. asperelloides, T. asperellum, T. atrobrunneum, T. atroviride, T. camerunense, T. gamsii, T. hamatum, T. koningii, T. koningiopsis, T. saturnisporum, T. spirale, T. virens</i>, and <i>T. viride</i>. Ten of these species were not known to occur in South Africa prior to this investigation. Five additional species were novel and are described here as <i>T. beinartii, T. caeruleimontis, T. chetii, T. restrictum</i>, and <i>T. undulatum</i>. These novel <i>Trichoderma</i> species display morphological traits that are typical of the genus. Based on molecular identification using calmodulin, endochitinase, nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacers (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2), RNA polymerase II subunit B, and translation elongation factor 1-α gene sequence data, <i>T. beinartii, T. caeruleimontis</i>, and <i>T. chetii</i> were found to belong to the <i>Longibrachiatum</i> clade, whereas <i>T. restrictum</i> is a member of the <i>Hamatum</i> clade. <i>Trichoderma undulatum</i> occupies a distinct lineage distantly related to other <i>Trichoderma</i> species. Strains of <i>T. beinartii</i> and <i>T. chetii</i> were isolated previously in Hawaii and Israel; however, <i>T. caeruleimontis, T. restrictum</i>, and <i>T. undulatum</i> are so far known only from South Africa.</p

Treatment For The Large Aggressive Benign Lesions Of The Jaws

Our aim was to evaluate the clinical outcome of the conservative management of the significantly large benign aggressive lesions of the jaws