Physico-chemical characterization of the essential oil of Origanum majorana (L.) cultivated in a semi-arid bioclimatic stage (South-east Algeria)

The essential oils (EO) are complex volatile natural compounds,  characterized by a strong odor, produced by the plants as secondary metabolites. The composition of these last is strongly influenced by intrinsic factors twinned with the extrinsic factors such as technology, the cultivation techniques, the édapho-climatic conditions of the culture  medium, like those of the storage of vegetable drug, the techniques of treatment, etc… The extraction of essential oils (EO) of marjoram (O. majorana), by the method of hydro-distillation made it possible to obtain an average essential oil yield of about 0.61% of which the density is low. The chemical characterization by gas chromatography highlighted the wealth of this oil in Bornéol (15.50%) and Cineol (11.33%).Keywords: essential oil (EO); O. majorana L.; cineol; bornéol; Gas chromatography; secondary metabolite

Effects of ICI 182780 on estrogen receptor expression, fluid absorption and sperm motility in the epididymis of the bonnet monkey

BACKGROUND: The importance of estrogen in regulation of fluid absorption and sperm maturation in the rodent epididymis has been established from studies on estrogen receptor-alpha knockout mice. However, functional studies on the role of estrogen in primate epididymis have been few. The main objective of this study was therefore to extend these observations and systematically analyze the presence and function of estrogen receptors in modulating the function of the primate epididymis, using the bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata) as a model system. METHODS: A steroidal estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist, ICI 182780 (ICI), was administered to adult male bonnet monkeys via mini-osmotic pumps for a duration of 30 to 180 days. The expression of key estrogen-regulated genes (ER-alpha, Na-K ATPase alpha-1 and Aquaporin-1) was examined at specific time points. Further, the effect of ICI in modulating fluid reabsorption in efferent ductules was monitored, and critical sperm-maturation parameters were also analyzed. RESULTS: Our studies in the bonnet monkey revealed that both ER-alpha and ER-beta were expressed in all the three regions of the epididymis. We observed an increase in ER-alpha mRNA and protein in the caput of ICI-treated monkeys. Steady state mRNA levels of the water-channel protein, Aquaporin-1, was significantly lower in the caput of ICI-treated monkeys compared to controls, whereas the mRNA levels of Na-K ATPase alpha-1 remained unchanged. In vitro incubation of efferent ductules with ICI resulted in two-fold increase in tubular diameter, indicating affected fluid reabsorption capacity. Furthermore, sperm from ICI-treated monkeys were immotile. CONCLUSION: Taken together, our results point to an integral role for estrogen in modulating the functions of the bonnet monkey epididymis. This study also demonstrates possible differences in the epididymal physiology of rodents and non-human primates, and thus underscores the significance of reports such as these, that examine the physiology of non-human primates (as opposed to rodents), in an attempt to understand similar events in the human

Le lymphomes non hodgkinien primitif de la thyroïde: à propos de sept cas

Les lymphomes non hodgkiniens primitifs de la thyroïde sont rares : ils représentent moins de 2 à 5 % des cancers de la thyroïde. L’objectif de cetravail est de revoir les stratégies diagnostiques et thérapeutiques actuelles des lymphomes non hodgkiniens primitifs de la thyroïde tout enprésentant notre expérience à l’Institut national d’oncologie. Nous rapportons à travers une étude rétrospective, sept cas des lymphomes nonhodgkiniens primitifs de la thyroïde colligés à l’Institut National d’Oncologie au Maroc entre 2004 et 2008. Sept patients ont été inclus dans notre étude, l’âge médian au moment du diagnostic était de 50 ans, avec sexe ratio de 2.5 à prédominance féminine. Le diagnostic histopathologique avec l’immunomarquage après chirurgie a conclu dans tous les cas à un lymphome malin non hodgkinien : 3 patientes avec un lymphome de type MALT, et les 4 autres avec un LMNH à grandes cellules de phénotype B. Une thyroïdite chronique lymphocytaire d’Hashimoto coexistante avec le lymphome malin primitif de la thyroïde était retrouvée chez une patiente. Concernant le traitement du lymphome, 5 patientes ont reçu une polychimiothérapie, et les 2 autres ont bénéficié d’un traitement combiné comportant la chimiothérapie et la radiothérapie. Une patiente est décédée 3 mois après la fin du traitement. Le suivi médian des autres patients était de 24 mois et on ne notait aucune récidive de lymphome. Les lymphomes non hodgkiniens primitifs de la thyroïde sont rares. Le traitement combiné par une chimiothérapie et radiothérapie a prouvé sonefficacité. Le pronostic des stades localisés est généralement favorable. Key words: Lymphome primitif de la thyroïde, traitemen

Applying a User-centred Approach to Interactive Visualization Design

Analysing users in their context of work and finding out how and why they use different information resources is essential to provide interactive visualisation systems that match their goals and needs. Designers should actively involve the intended users throughout the whole process. This chapter presents a user-centered approach for the design of interactive visualisation systems. We describe three phases of the iterative visualisation design process: the early envisioning phase, the global specification hase, and the detailed specification phase. The whole design cycle is repeated until some criterion of success is reached. We discuss different techniques for the analysis of users, their tasks and domain. Subsequently, the design of prototypes and evaluation methods in visualisation practice are presented. Finally, we discuss the practical challenges in design and evaluation of collaborative visualisation environments. Our own case studies and those of others are used throughout the whole chapter to illustrate various approaches

FATP4 missense and nonsense mutations cause similar features in Ichthyosis Prematurity Syndrome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ichthyosis Prematurity Syndrome (IPS) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by premature birth, non-scaly ichthyosis and atopic manifestations. The disease was recently shown to be caused by mutations in the gene encoding the fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4) and a specific reduction in the incorporation of very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA) into cellular lipids.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>We screened probands from five families segregating IPS for mutations in the <it>FATP4 </it>gene. Four probands were compound heterozygous for four different mutations of which three are novel. Four patients were heterozygous and one patient homozygous for the previously reported non-sense mutation p.C168X (c.504c > a). All patients had clinical characteristics of IPS and a similar clinical course.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Missense mutations and non-sense mutations in <it>FATP4 </it>are associated with similar clinical features suggesting that missense mutations have a severe impact on FATP4 function. The results broaden the mutational spectrum in <it>FATP4 </it>associated with IPS for molecular diagnosis of and further functional analysis of FATP4.</p

EcID. A database for the inference of functional interactions in E. coli

The EcID database (Escherichia coli Interaction Database) provides a framework for the integration of information on functional interactions extracted from the following sources: EcoCyc (metabolic pathways, protein complexes and regulatory information), KEGG (metabolic pathways), MINT and IntAct (protein interactions). It also includes information on protein complexes from the two E. coli high-throughput pull-down experiments and potential interactions extracted from the literature using the web services associated to the iHOP text-mining system. Additionally, EcID incorporates results of various prediction methods, including two protein interaction prediction methods based on genomic information (Phylogenetic Profiles and Gene Neighbourhoods) and three methods based on the analysis of co-evolution (Mirror Tree, In Silico 2 Hybrid and Context Mirror). EcID associates to each prediction a specifically developed confidence score. The two main features that make EcID different from other systems are the combination of co-evolution-based predictions with the experimental data, and the introduction of E. coli-specific information, such as gene regulation information from EcoCyc. The possibilities offered by the combination of the EcID database information are illustrated with a prediction of potential functions for a group of poorly characterized genes related to yeaG. EcID is available online at http://ecid.bioinfo.cnio.es

EcID. A database for the inference of functional interactions in E. coli

The EcID database (Escherichia coli Interaction Database) provides a framework for the integration of information on functional interactions extracted from the following sources: EcoCyc (metabolic pathways, protein complexes and regulatory information), KEGG (metabolic pathways), MINT and IntAct (protein interactions). It also includes information on protein complexes from the two E. coli high-throughput pull-down experiments and potential interactions extracted from the literature using the web services associated to the iHOP text-mining system. Additionally, EcID incorporates results of various prediction methods, including two protein interaction prediction methods based on genomic information (Phylogenetic Profiles and Gene Neighbourhoods) and three methods based on the analysis of co-evolution (Mirror Tree, In Silico 2 Hybrid and Context Mirror). EcID associates to each prediction a specifically developed confidence score. The two main features that make EcID different from other systems are the combination of co-evolution-based predictions with the experimental data, and the introduction of E. coli-specific information, such as gene regulation information from EcoCyc. The possibilities offered by the combination of the EcID database information are illustrated with a prediction of potential functions for a group of poorly characterized genes related to yeaG. EcID is available online at http://ecid.bioinfo.cnio.es

Biogenesis of the inner membrane complex is dependent on vesicular transport by the alveolate specific GTPase Rab11B

Apicomplexan parasites belong to a recently recognised group of protozoa referred to as Alveolata. These protists contain membranous sacs (alveoli) beneath the plasma membrane, termed the Inner Membrane Complex (IMC) in the case of Apicomplexa. During parasite replication the IMC is formed de novo within the mother cell in a process described as internal budding. We hypothesized that an alveolate specific factor is involved in the specific transport of vesicles from the Golgi to the IMC and identified the small GTPase Rab11B as an alveolate specific Rab-GTPase that localises to the growing end of the IMC during replication of Toxoplasma gondii. Conditional interference with Rab11B function leads to a profound defect in IMC biogenesis, indicating that Rab11B is required for the transport of Golgi derived vesicles to the nascent IMC of the daughter cell. Curiously, a block in IMC biogenesis did not affect formation of sub-pellicular microtubules, indicating that IMC biogenesis and formation of sub-pellicular microtubules is not mechanistically linked. We propose a model where Rab11B specifically transports vesicles derived from the Golgi to the immature IMC of the growing daughter parasites

A deeply branching thermophilic bacterium with an ancient acetyl-CoA pathway dominates a subsurface ecosystem

<div><p>A nearly complete genome sequence of <em>Candidatus</em> ‘Acetothermum autotrophicum’, a presently uncultivated bacterium in candidate division OP1, was revealed by metagenomic analysis of a subsurface thermophilic microbial mat community. Phylogenetic analysis based on the concatenated sequences of proteins common among 367 prokaryotes suggests that <em>Ca.</em> ‘A. autotrophicum’ is one of the earliest diverging bacterial lineages. It possesses a folate-dependent Wood-Ljungdahl (acetyl-CoA) pathway of CO₂ fixation, is predicted to have an acetogenic lifestyle, and possesses the newly discovered archaeal-autotrophic type of bifunctional fructose 1,6-bisphosphate aldolase/phosphatase. A phylogenetic analysis of the core gene cluster of the acethyl-CoA pathway, shared by acetogens, methanogens, some sulfur- and iron-reducers and dechlorinators, supports the hypothesis that the core gene cluster of <em>Ca.</em> ‘A. autotrophicum’ is a particularly ancient bacterial pathway. The habitat, physiology and phylogenetic position of <em>Ca.</em> ‘A. autotrophicum’ support the view that the first bacterial and archaeal lineages were H₂-dependent acetogens and methanogenes living in hydrothermal environments.</p> </div