GSTA1 (glutathione S-transferase alpha 1)

Review on GSTA1, with data on DNA/RNA, on the protein encoded and where the gene is implicated

Effect of activated charcoal, abscisic acid and polyethylene glycol on maturation, germination and conversion of Aesculus hippocastanum androgenic embryos

The influence of activated charcoal (AC), abscisic acid (ABA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) on the maturation and conversion of horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) androgenic embryos weretested. Androgenic embryos originating from microspores and anther culture were maturated over 90 days. Androgenic embryos on media containing PEG (50 g l-1), in combination with AC (1 g l-1) showed arapid development of embryos in the cotyledonary stage and lowered percentage of abnormal structures. The best results of androgenic microspore embryo germination were observed on media supplemented with AC alone (99%) and in combination with PEG (100%). Also, the greatest number of androgenic microspore plants (18%) and androgenic anther plants (12%) were formed on media enriched with 1 % AC. Lowest germination percentages of 37 and 39% in microspore culture and 33 and38% in anther culture were obtained on maturation media with ABA 20 mg l-1 alone and in combination with AC 1g l-1. Flow cytometric analysis showed that most of the androgenic embryos were haploid, corresponding to their microspore origin, while half of these became diploid after maturation for 90 days. All regenerants originating from microspore culture were haploid immediately after germination, but only 10% embryos re ained haploidity after 3 years subculturing, while 10.5% were diploid, 73.5% tetraploid and 6% octaploid on hormone-free medium. Unlike those from anther culture, after 3 years of subculturing on hormone-free medium, there were no haploid regenerant from anther culture, while8.5% were diploid, 81% tetraploid and 10.5% octaploid

GSTM1 Modulates Expression of Endothelial Adhesion Molecules in Uremic Milieu

Deletion polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), a phase II detoxification and antioxidant enzyme, increases susceptibility to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) as well as the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) among ESRD patients and leads to their shorter cardiovascular survival. The mechanisms by which GSTM1 downregulation contributes to oxidative stress and inflammation in endothelial cells in uremic conditions have not been investigated so far. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to elucidate the effects of GSTM1 knockdown on oxidative stress and expression of a panel of inflammatory markers in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to uremic serum. Additionally, we aimed to discern whether GSTM1-null genotype is associated with serum levels of adhesion molecules in ESRD patients. HUVECs treated with uremic serum exhibited impaired redox balance characterized by enhanced lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, independently of the GSTM1 knockdown. In response to uremic injury, HUVECs exhibited alteration in the expression of a series of inflammatory cytokines including retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), C-reactive protein (CRP), angiogenin, dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1), and platelet factor 4 (PF4). GSTM1 knockdown in HUVECs showed upregulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a cytokine involved in the regulation of monocyte migration and adhesion. These cells also have shown upregulated intracellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1). In accordance with these findings, the levels of serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) were increased in ESRD patients lacking GSTM1, in comparison with patients with the GSTM1-active genotype. Based on these results, it may be concluded that incubation of endothelial cells in uremic serum induces redox imbalance accompanied with altered expression of a series of cytokines involved in arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis. The association of GSTM1 downregulation with the altered expression of adhesion molecules might be at least partly responsible for the increased susceptibility of ESRD patients to CVD

Sex specific associations in genome wide association analysis of renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has an undisputed genetic component and a stable 2:1 male to female sex ratio in its incidence across populations, suggesting possible sexual dimorphism in its genetic susceptibility. We conducted the first sex-specific genome-wide association analysis of RCC for men (3227 cases, 4916 controls) and women (1992 cases, 3095 controls) of European ancestry from two RCC genome-wide scans and replicated the top findings using an additional series of men (2261 cases, 5852 controls) and women (1399 cases, 1575 controls) from two independent cohorts of European origin. Our study confirmed sex-specific associations for two known RCC risk loci at 14q24.2 (DPF3) and 2p21(EPAS1). We also identified two additional suggestive male-specific loci at 6q24.3 (SAMD5, male odds ratio (ORmale) = 0.83 [95% CI = 0.78-0.89], Pmale = 1.71 × 10-8 compared with female odds ratio (ORfemale) = 0.98 [95% CI = 0.90-1.07], Pfemale = 0.68) and 12q23.3 (intergenic, ORmale = 0.75 [95% CI = 0.68-0.83], Pmale = 1.59 × 10-8 compared with ORfemale = 0.93 [95% CI = 0.82-1.06], Pfemale = 0.21) that attained genome-wide significance in the joint meta-analysis. Herein, we provide evidence of sex-specific associations in RCC genetic susceptibility and advocate the necessity of larger genetic and genomic studies to unravel the endogenous causes of sex bias in sexually dimorphic traits and diseases like RCC

A new class of glycomimetic drugs to prevent free fatty acid-induced endothelial dysfunction

Background: Carbohydrates play a major role in cell signaling in many biological processes. We have developed a set of glycomimetic drugs that mimic the structure of carbohydrates and represent a novel source of therapeutics for endothelial dysfunction, a key initiating factor in cardiovascular complications. Purpose: Our objective was to determine the protective effects of small molecule glycomimetics against free fatty acid­induced endothelial dysfunction, focusing on nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress pathways. Methods: Four glycomimetics were synthesized by the stepwise transformation of 2,5­dihydroxybenzoic acid to a range of 2,5­substituted benzoic acid derivatives, incorporating the key sulfate groups to mimic the interactions of heparan sulfate. Endothelial function was assessed using acetylcholine­induced, endotheliumdependent relaxation in mouse thoracic aortic rings using wire myography. Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) behavior was evaluated in the presence or absence of the free fatty acid, palmitate, with or without glycomimetics (1µM). DAF­2 and H2DCF­DA assays were used to determine nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, respectively. Lipid peroxidation colorimetric and antioxidant enzyme activity assays were also carried out. RT­PCR and western blotting were utilized to measure Akt, eNOS, Nrf­2, NQO­1 and HO­1 expression. Results: Ex vivo endothelium­dependent relaxation was significantly improved by the glycomimetics under palmitate­induced oxidative stress. In vitro studies showed that the glycomimetics protected HUVECs against the palmitate­induced oxidative stress and enhanced NO production. We demonstrate that the protective effects of pre­incubation with glycomimetics occurred via upregulation of Akt/eNOS signaling, activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway, and suppression of ROS­induced lipid peroxidation. Conclusion: We have developed a novel set of small molecule glycomimetics that protect against free fatty acidinduced endothelial dysfunction and thus, represent a new category of therapeutic drugs to target endothelial damage, the first line of defense against cardiovascular disease

Review of energy consumption and co<inf>2</inf> emission in school buildings: Case study of the city of kragujevac

© 2019 Published by the Serbian Academic Center. Annual energy consumption in Kragujevac elementary schools is 1.909 MWh of electric energy and 12.510 MWh of heat energy, while the total CO2 emission is 6.406 t. This paper provides an overview of energy consumption and CO2 emissions in 61 elementary school buildings, divided in 12 groups. The goal of this paper is to determine which group of school facilities, depending on the year of construction and area, consumes the most energy and produces the most CO2 emissions. It has been shown that most electrical (36,33%) and heat (41,42%) energy are consumed in the school buildings constructed in the period 1971-1990. Most CO2 emissions (40,39%) come from energy consumed in the school buildings constructed in the same period. It is this group of buildings that represents a significant potential for energy savings and reduction of CO2 emissions, through the implementation of various energy efficiency measures

The Extended Cone b-Metric-like Spaces over Banach Algebra and Some Applications

In this paper, we introduce the structure of extended cone b-metric-like spaces over Banach algebra as a generalization of cone b-metric-like spaces over Banach algebra. In this generalized space we define the notion of generalized Lipschitz mappings in the setup of extended cone b-metric-like spaces over Banach algebra and investigated some fixed point results. We also provide examples to illustrate the results presented herein. Finally, as an application of our main result, we examine the existence and uniqueness of solution for a Fredholm integral equation

Radiation exposure during neurointerventional procedures in modern angiographic systems: A single center experience

© 2020 Inst. Sci. inf., Univ. Defence in Belgrade. All rights reserved. Background/Aim. Interventional neuroradiology procedures expose patients to ionizing radiation. The aim of this study was to assess doses received by patients during interventional neuroradiology procedures and to establish dose range with an estimate of risk from adverse consequences of irradiation. Methods. Our study describes series of patients submitted to diagnostic and/or therapeutic procedures at the Department of Interventional Neuroradiology, Clinical Center Kragujevac, Serbia, from December 1, 2014 to December 1, 2016. The following variables were considered for this study: Kerma-area product, air kerma and fluoroscopy exposure time; peak skin dose and effective dose calculated from the kerma-area product. Results. Median kerma-area product was 87.802 Gy cm2, 78.567 Gy cm2, 117.626 Gy cm2; effective dose was 12.731 mSv, 11.392 mSv, 17.056 mSv; peak skin dose was 0.456 Gy, 0.409 Gy, 0.612 Gy, and estimated brain dose was 254.62 mGy, 227.84 mGy, 341.12 mGy, for diagnostic, therapeutic and combined procedures, respectively. Conclusion. Interventional neuroradiology procedures show significant variability in radiation dose, due to patient constitution, radiologist expertise and equipment factors. Knowing the doses can have a great benefit for patients and medical and paramedical stff in terms of prevention of possible deterministic and stochastic effects of the radiation

Traditional varieties and wild pear from Serbia: a link among antioxidant, antidiabetic and cytotoxic activities of fruit peel and flesh

This study was aimed at evaluating the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of methanolic extracts of peel, flesh and mixed peel, and flesh, as well as the cytotoxic activity of mixed peel and flesh extracts obtained from fruits of six traditional pear varieties (Vidovača, Lubeničarka, Karamanka, Jeribasma, Lončara and Takiāa), one commercial variety (Williams Bartlett) and a wild pear (Pyrus communis) from Serbia. The tested extracts showed strong antioxidant activity regarding the prevention of β-carotene bleaching and high α-glucosidase inhibition, and no significant cytotoxic potential, with the exception of the Williams Bartlett and Pyrus communis extracts. Overall, the most potent fruit part was shown to be the peel. The most active variety in all of the applied antioxidant and antidiabetic assays was Takiša, while the wild pear, P. communis, was the most effective in inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells. In conclusion, several methanolic extracts of pear fruit are promising candidates for further studies regarding the prevention and treatment of pathological conditions associated with the effects of oxidative stress, such as diabetes and even colorectal cancer