Chitosan and chitosan nanoparticles differentially alleviate salinity stress in Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants

Salinity stress can significantly cause negative impacts on the physiological and biochemical traits of plants and, consequently, a reduction in the yield productivity of crops. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effects of chitosan (Cs) and chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs) to mitigate salinity stress (i.e., 25, 50, 100, and 200 mM NaCl) and improve pigment fractions, carbohydrates content, ions content, proline, hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage content, and the antioxidant system of Phaseolus vulgaris L. grown in clay–sandy soil. Methacrylic acid was used to synthesize CsNPs, with an average size of 40 ± 2 nm. Salinity stress negatively affected yield traits, pigment fractions, and carbohydrate content. However, in plants grown under salt stress, the application of either Cs or CsNPs significantly improved yield, pigment fractions, carbohydrate content, proline, and the antioxidant system, while these treatments reduced hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation, and electrolyte leakage. The positive effects of CsNPs were shown to be more beneficial than Cs when applied exogenously to plants grown under salt stress. In this context, it could be concluded that CsNPs could be used to mitigate salt stress effects on Phaseolus vulgaris L. plants grown in saline soils

Cyclin A and cyclin D1 as significant prognostic markers in colorectal cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is a common cancer all over the world. Aberrations in the cell cycle checkpoints have been shown to be of prognostic significance in colorectal cancer. METHODS: The expression of cyclin D1, cyclin A, histone H3 and Ki-67 was examined in 60 colorectal cancer cases for co-regulation and impact on overall survival using immunohistochemistry, southern blot and in situ hybridization techniques. Immunoreactivity was evaluated semi quantitatively by determining the staining index of the studied proteins. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between cyclin D1 gene amplification and protein overexpression (concordance = 63.6%) and between Ki-67 and the other studied proteins. The staining index for Ki-67, cyclin A and D1 was higher in large, poorly differentiated tumors. The staining index of cyclin D1 was significantly higher in cases with deeply invasive tumors and nodal metastasis. Overexpression of cyclin A and D1 and amplification of cyclin D1 were associated with reduced overall survival. Multivariate analysis shows that cyclin D1 and A are two independent prognostic factors in colorectal cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS: Loss of cell cycle checkpoints control is common in colorectal cancer. Cyclin A and D1 are superior independent indicators of poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients. Therefore, they may help in predicting the clinical outcome of those patients on an individual basis and could be considered important therapeutic targets

Cardiac Affection in Type 1 Diabetic Patients in Relation to Omentin

AIM: To evaluate cardiac affection in type 1 diabetes in relation to Omentin. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty two diabetics and 30 volunteer of the same age and sex were included as a control group. Blood sample was taken for assessment of omentin and oxidized low density lipoprotein (OxLDL), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) and lipid profile. Urine sample was taken for assessment of albumin/ creatinine ratio. 24 hour holter was also done. T-test, simple correlation followed by stepwise multiple regression analysis was used for analysis of data. RESULTS: Parameters of 24 hour holter were significantly lower in diabetics. Omentin was significantly lower, while OxLDL were significantly higher than controls. RMSSD, ST deviation and OxLDL were the parameters related to omentin by stepwise multiple regression analysis in diabetics. CONCLUSION: Diabetic patients had a cardiac autonomic neuropathy. A significant reduction of omentin and elevation OxLDL imply that they influence glucose metabolism in type 1 diabetes. Omentin had a significant relation to 24 hr holter which may reflect its role in cardiac affection. Omentin and OxLDL had a role in renal affection

Biogas Producing Bacteria from Termites

          The human demands for energy and conservation of healthy environment have driven the development of cellulosic wastes into new generation of bioenergy.  Ethanol was the first generation of biofuel developed to lessen dependence on fossil fuels. Efficiency of conversion of cellulosic material into simple sugars was the driving force behind search for strong cellulose-degrading microbes; Termites was chosen to be an excellent candidate to find such microbes. Six bacteria were isolated from the Termite's guts where their cellulose degrading activities were screened using carboxymethyl cellulose as a substrate and Congo red as an indicator. Only one isolate showed a relatively higher cellulolytic activity and biogas production. This isolate was identified by a variety of methods including the MALDI-TOF MS and turned out to be Enterobacter cloacae. The ability of this bacterium to degrade cellulose and produce biogas qualifies it for further development at genetic levels and biotechnological levels to produce biogas from cellulosic wastes

Relationship between serum osteoprotegerin and vascular calcifications in hemodialysis patients

Background: Uremia is a vasculopathic process, and both cardiac calcification and vascular calcification seen from the early stages of chronic kidney disease. Osteoprotegerin could play a crucial role in atherosclerotic plaque formation, maturation and calcification. The goal of this study was to determine the relationship of serum osteoprotegerin with vascular calcification in patients with end stage kidney disease who were maintained on regular hemodialysis. Methods: Sixty clinically stable chronic renal failure patients undergoing regular hemodialysis were enrolled in this cross sectional study. Thirty patients (mean age 56.7 ± 10.5 years) with abdominal aortic calcification were selected by basal abdominal X-ray who underwent multi-slice computerized tomography scan to measure coronary artery calcification score; and thirty patients (mean age 56.5 ± 8.4 years) without abdominal aortic calcification. All patients were evaluated by serum calcium, phosphorus, albumin, lipid profile, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), serum creatinine, serum urea, serum uric acid, serum C-reactive protein, and hemoglobin. Serum osteoprotegerin samples were collected before dialysis and estimated by the ELISA kit. Results: Serum osteoprotegerin level was significantly higher in patients with vascular calcification than in those without calcifications. Serum osteoprotegerin correlated positively with serum phosphorus, calcium phosphorus product, alkaline phosphatase, iPTH, C-reactive protein, serum uric acid, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (p < 0.005), and negatively with hemoglobin, ejection fraction (p < 0.005) and HDL (p < 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that osteoprotegerin may be involved in the development of vascular calcification in hemodialysis patients