Impact of a single nucleotide polymorphism on the 3D protein structure and ubiquitination activity of E3 ubiquitin ligase arkadia

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are genetic variations which can play a vital role in the study of human health. SNP studies are often used to identify point mutations that are associated with diseases. Arkadia (RNF111) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase that enhances transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling by targeting negative regulators for degradation. Dysregulation of the TGF-β pathway is implicated in cancer because it exhibits tumor suppressive activity in normal cells while in tumor cells it promotes invasiveness and metastasis. Τhe SNP CGT > TGT generated an amino-acid (aa) substitution of Arginine 957 to Cysteine on the enzymatic RING domain of Arkadia. This was more prevalent in a tumor than in a normal tissue sample of a patient with colorectal cancer. This prompted us to investigate the effect of this mutation in the structure and activity of Arkadia RING. We used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to analyze at an atomic-level the structural and dynamic properties of the R957C Arkadia RING domain, while ubiquitination and luciferase assays provided information about its enzymatic functionality. Our study showed that the R957C mutation changed the electrostatic properties of the RING domain however, without significant effects on the structure of its core region. However, the functional studies revealed that the R957C Arkadia exhibits significantly increased enzymatic activity supporting literature data that Arkadia within tumor cells promotes aggressive and metastatic behavior

Diagnostic accuracy and clinical applicability of the Swedish version of the 4AT assessment test for delirium detection, in a mixed patient population and setting

Background: Delirium is common in older hospitalized patients. It has serious consequences e.g., poor health outcomes, mortality and increased costs. Despite that, many cases are undetected. Early detection of delirium is important in improving outcomes and use of assessment tools improves detection rates. The 4AT is a brief screening tool for delirium detection, which has not previously been translated into Swedish. The study aim was to evaluate diagnostic accuracy and clinical applicability of a Swedish version of the screening tool 4AT for delirium detection. Method: This diagnostic test accuracy study used a quantitative and a qualitative approach and evaluated the patients’ and the health care professionals’ experiences of the tool. Study included 200 patients ≥65 years from a university hospital and a county hospital in two Swedish regions. Medical specialties were geriatric stroke/neurology, geriatric multimorbidity, severe cognitive impairment, orthopaedic, and urology. The translated 4AT was tested against the reference standard DSM-IV-TR criteria, based on the Organic Brain Syndrome scale and patient records. The 4AT was assessed simultaneously and independently by two assessors. Additionally, data was collected through patient record reviews, and questions about applicability to the patients (n = 200) and the assessors (n = 37). Statistical analyses, and qualitative content analyses were conducted. Results: By reference standard 18% had delirium, and by 4AT 19%. The overall percent agreement was 88%, AUROC 0.808, sensitivity 0.70 (95% CI 0.51–0.84) and specificity 0.92 (95% CI 0.87–0.96). In the ward for severe cognitive impairment (n = 63) the 4AT was less sensitive and less specific. In the other wards (n = 132) sensitivity was 0.77 (95% CI 0.50–0.93), specificity 0.93 (95% CI 0.87–0.97), and AUROC 0.848. Interrater reliability (Kappa) was 0.918, p = \u3c 0.001 (n = 144). The 4AT was well tolerated by patients, easy to use for health care professionals, and took a few minutes to conduct. Conclusion: The Swedish version of 4AT is an accurate and applicable tool to use in clinical practice for detecting delirium in hospitalized patients across different medical specialities, and to use by different professionals and levels of seniority. To improve patient outcomes, we recommend the 4AT to be incorporated in clinical practice in health care settings in Sweden

Studies on Migratory Movements of the Prawn Penaeus kerathurus (Forskal, 1775) at Amvrakikos Gulf, Western Greece

Abstract. The prawn Penaeus kerathurus completes its life cycle in Amvrakikos Gulf. The reasons for not entering the open sea depend on the status of biotic and abiotic factors of the gulf. The migratory movements of the species in the gulf are described by a simple square model, in each corner of which, the wintering, spawning, nursery, and recruitment area exist. The wintering area is located below the 25m isobath and wintering period lasts from late December to late March. Spermatophores on females are observed throughout the year but the highest percentages between April and August. The spawning season begins late in spring and continues through the summer. The spawning area is located below the 10m isobath, mainly around 25m. The nursery area of Penaeus kerathurus is in shallow waters near river estuaries, and the temporal limits were determined to be between mid‐summer and mid‐autumn. Finally, the recruitment area is located near the nursery area, with recruitment taking place in autumn, while the major stock renewal is restricted to winter. Copyright © 1992, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserve

Electro-kinetic measurements on plugs of doped titania.

The z-potential and the surface conductivity of pure anatase and anatase doped with Li , Nb5 and W6 prepared with both the precipitation (continuous crystallization at constant supersaturation) and the sol-gel method have been determined at two pH values (3.3. and 6.0 or 6.5). This was carried out by measuring the streaming potential and electrical conductivity of a porous plug containing the anatase particles. The sol-gel preparations exhibited a higher density than those obtained by precipitation. Plots of the plug conductivity as a function of the conductivity of the solution are essentially linear, allowing for the establishment of the surface conductivity, K. The main contribution to K stemmed from the counter charge behind the slip plane. At pH 3.3, i.e. much lower than the i.e.p., doping with Nb5 and Li caused a considerable increase of the surface conductivity in both preparations, whereas at a pH 6.0 or 6.5, i.e. near the i.e.p., doping led to a slight decrease of the relatively high surface conductivity of the sample prepared by precipitation. At pH 6.5 sol-gel preparations showed negligible surface conductivity, independent of the doping, with the exception of the preparation with a high concentration of W6 . Moreover, doping with W6 did not considerably change the surface conductivity. There is some indirect correlation between the surface and the bulk conductivity of the various samples. Tangential mobilities of Cl- ions in the stagnant layers are of the same order of magnitude as those in the bulk solution

Electro-kinetic measurements on plugs of doped titania.

The z-potential and the surface conductivity of pure anatase and anatase doped with Li , Nb5 and W6 prepared with both the precipitation (continuous crystallization at constant supersaturation) and the sol-gel method have been determined at two pH values (3.3. and 6.0 or 6.5). This was carried out by measuring the streaming potential and electrical conductivity of a porous plug containing the anatase particles. The sol-gel preparations exhibited a higher density than those obtained by precipitation. Plots of the plug conductivity as a function of the conductivity of the solution are essentially linear, allowing for the establishment of the surface conductivity, K. The main contribution to K stemmed from the counter charge behind the slip plane. At pH 3.3, i.e. much lower than the i.e.p., doping with Nb5 and Li caused a considerable increase of the surface conductivity in both preparations, whereas at a pH 6.0 or 6.5, i.e. near the i.e.p., doping led to a slight decrease of the relatively high surface conductivity of the sample prepared by precipitation. At pH 6.5 sol-gel preparations showed negligible surface conductivity, independent of the doping, with the exception of the preparation with a high concentration of W6 . Moreover, doping with W6 did not considerably change the surface conductivity. There is some indirect correlation between the surface and the bulk conductivity of the various samples. Tangential mobilities of Cl- ions in the stagnant layers are of the same order of magnitude as those in the bulk solution

Criação de juvenis de peixe-rei (Odontesthes argentinensis) em diferentes taxas de arraçoamento Rearing of pejerrey (Odontesthes argentinensis) juveniles at different feeding rates

Este estudo teve como objetivos avaliar os efeitos de diferentes taxas de arraçoamento sobre a sobrevivência e o crescimento de juvenis do peixe-rei (Odontesthes argentinensis). Juvenis de peixe-rei (100mg) foram estocados na densidade 10 peixes L-1, em tanques circulares de 50L. Foram testadas cinco taxas de alimentação (4, 8 12, 16 e 20% do peso vivo diário) em duplicata durante 30 dias, mais um controle negativo no qual os peixes não foram alimentados. Durante o experimento, a temperatura foi de 23&deg;C, a salinidade 26‰ e a água foi constantemente aerada. A mortalidade total dos peixes mantidos em jejum foi observada após 20 dias de criação; entretanto, não foi verificada diferença significativa de sobrevivência entre os peixes submetidos aos demais tratamentos até o final do experimento, pois a mortalidade foi inferior a 10%, independentemente da taxa de arraçoamento testada. Pelos resultados da regressão polinomial quadrática dos dados de ganho em peso e eficiência alimentar, sugere-se que a taxa de arraçoamento ótima para juvenis de peixe-rei entre 100 e 500mg é igual a 9,0% do peso vivo ao dia.<br>This study had the objectives to evaluate the effects of different feeding rates on growth and survival of pejerrey (Odontesthes argentinensis). Pejerrey (100mg) were stocked at 10 fish L-1 into 50L circular tanks. Five feeding levels (4, 8, 12, 16 and 20% of body weight) were evaluated in duplicate during 30 days, plus a negative control, where the fish were not fed. During the experiment the temperature was 23&deg;C, salinity 26‰ and the water was constantly aerated. Unfed fish died of starvation 20 days after the beginning of the experiment. However there were no significant differences (P>0.05) among fish undergone to other treatments until the end of the experiment, mortality was below 10%, independently of the ration level. After quadratic polynomial regressions of weight gain and feed efficiency versus ration, it is suggested that the optimum feeding level for pejerrey juveniles between 100mg to 500mg is 9.0% of the body weight