Genetic variants in ALDH1B1 and alcohol dependence risk in a British and Irish population: A bioinformatic and genetic study

Alcohol is metabolized in the liver via the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Polymorphisms in the genes encoding these enzymes, which are common in East Asian populations, can alter enzyme kinetics and hence the risk of alcohol dependence and its sequelae. One of the most important genetic variants, in this regards, is the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs671 in ALDH2, the gene encoding the primary acetaldehyde metabolizing enzyme ALDH2. However, the protective allele of rs671 is absent in most Europeans although ALDH1B1, which shares significant sequence homology with ALDH2, contains several, potentially functional, missense SNPs that do occur in European populations. The aims of this study were: (i) to use bioinformatic techniques to characterize the possible effects of selected variants in ALDH1B1 on protein structure and function; and, (ii) to genotype three missense and one stop-gain, protein-altering, non-synonymous SNPs in 1478 alcohol dependent cases and 1254 controls of matched British and Irish ancestry. No significant allelic associations were observed between the three missense SNPs and alcohol dependence risk. The minor allele frequency of rs142427338 (Gln378Ter) was higher in alcohol dependent cases than in controls (allelic P = 0.19, OR = 2.98, [0.62-14.37]) but as this SNP is very rare the study was likely underpowered to detect an association with alcohol dependence risk. This potential association will needs to be further evaluated in other large, independent European populations

Keragaan Galur-galur Green Super Rice pada Kondisi Sawah Tadah Hujan Saat Musim Kemarau di Kabupaten Pati

Green Super Rice (GSR) adalah tanaman padi yang dirancang untuk memiliki daya hasil tinggi, toleran terhadap cekaman biotik dan abiotik, serta efisien pemupukan dan air. GSR diharapkan memiliki daya adaptasi dan hasil yang baik pada kondisi sawah tadah hujan. Evaluasi galur-galur padi GSR pada lahan tadah hujan telah dilakukan di Kecamatan Jakenan, Kabupaten Pati, Provinsi Jawa Tengah pada MK 2014. Penelitian menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok 2 ulangan dengan perlakuan 30 galur padi GSR dan empat varietas pembanding. Galur-galur GSR yang dievaluasi merupakan galur hasil seleksi di Indramayu pada musim sebelumnya. Varietas pembanding yang digunakan adalah Inpari 13, Inpari 10, Inpari 23, dan Situ Bagendit. Bibit umur 21 hari setelah sebar dari setiap galur dan varietas pembanding ditanam 1–3 bibit per lubang pada plot berukuran 2 m x 5 m dengan jarak tanam 20 cm x 20 cm. Pengairan bergantung pada turunnya hujan dan pompa air dari embung penampung air hujan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa galur yang diuji memiliki perbedaan nyata dan sangat berbeda nyata pada karakter agronomi yang diamati. Galur GSR yang beradaptasi relatif baik di sawah tadah hujan Kabupaten Pati pada musim kemarau adalah HHZ2–SKI-2–7–0Kr-JK-IND (4,09 t/ha) yang memiliki hasil nyata lebih tinggi daripada cek terbaik Situ Bagendit (3,04 t/ha), dan HHZ4–SKI-5–4–0Kr-JK-IND (3,91 t/ha) serta Zhonghua1–SKI-1–IND (3,85 t/ha) yang memiliki hasil nyata lebih tinggi daripada cek terbaik kedua, yaitu Inpari 13 (2,88 t/ha). Galur-galur GSR tersebut prospektif untuk diuji lebih lanjut karena memiliki daya hasil yang tinggi dan memiliki karakteristik agronomis sesuai dengan preferensi petani di Indonesia. Faktor keunggulan daya hasil galur-galur GSR yang teridentifikasi dalam percobaan ini diduga didukung oleh karakter jumlah gabah isi/malai, jumlah anakan, dan umur yang relatif genjah. Galur-galur GSR yang diuji memiliki kemiripan relatif tinggi (50%)

Subaxial Cervical Spine Injuries: WFNS Spine Committee Recommendations

To formulate specific guidelines for the recommendation of subaxial cervical spine injuries concerning classification, management, posttraumatic locked facets and vertebral artery injury. Computerized literature was searched on PubMed and google scholar database from 2009 to 2020. For classification, keywords "Sub Axial Cervical Spine Classification," resulting in 22 articles related to subaxial cervical spine injury classification system (SLICS) system and 11 articles related to AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen, German for "Association for the Study of Internal Fixation") Spine system. The literature search yielded 210 and 78 articles on "management of subaxial cervical spine injuries" and the role of "SLICS" and "AO Spine" respectively. Keywords "management of traumatic facet locks" were searched and closed reduction, traction, approaches and techniques were studied. "Vertebral artery injury and cervical fracture" exhibited 2,328 references from the last 15 years. The objective was to identify the appropriate diagnostic tests and optimal treatment. Up-to-date information was reviewed, and statements were produced to reach a consensus in 2 separate consensus meetings of World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies (WFNS) Spine Committee. The statements were voted and reached a positive or negative consensus using Delphi method. Based on the most relevant literature, panelists in Moscow consensus meeting conducted in May 2019 drafted the statements, and after a preliminary voting session, the consensus was identified on various statements. Another meeting was conducted at Peshawar in November 2019, where in addition to previous statements, few other statements were discussed and voted. Specific recommendations were then formulated guiding classification, management, locked facets and vertebral artery injuries. This review summarizes the WFNS Spine Committee recommendations on subaxial cervical spine injuries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Assessment of respiratory involvement in children with mucoplysaccharidosis using pulmonary function tests

Background: Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) are classified into seven clinical types based on eleven known lysosomal enzyme deficiencies of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) metabolism. Respiratory involvement seen in most MPS types includes recurrent respiratory infections, upper and lower airway obstruction, tracheomalacia, restrictive lung disease, and sleep disturbances.Aim of the study: To delineate the pattern of respiratory compromise and pulmonary function abnormalities in MPS patients.Methods: This is a cross section observational study conducted on 30 patients recruited from the Neurometabolic Clinic, Children’s Hospital, Cairo University over a period of 18 months. All patients were screened first by the quantitative determination of GAGs in urine, and diagnosis was confirmed by unidimensional electrophoresis for GAGs in urine and/or specific enzymatic assay in blood leucocytes. Infant pulmonary functions (IPFT) were done in twenty-two patients (<3 years of age), while 8 cases performed impulse oscillometry (IOS) test (3–6 years of age).Results: Ages at diagnosis ranged from 1 to 9 years with a median of 2.3 years. Male to female ratio was 4:1. Consanguinity was observed in 53.3% whereas similar family condition was present in 40% of cases. Lumbar kyphosis was detected in 60% of cases, while scoliosis was detected in 46.7%. Results of pulmonary functions were mainly obstructive in 20 (66.6%) cases; however, combined obstructive and restrictive were detected in only 6 (20%) of cases. Data showed no association between the presence of scoliosis or the presence of organomegaly and the pattern of pulmonary function abnormalities.Conclusions: Evaluation and follow up of patients with MPS using pulmonary function tests are essential to detect early involvement of respiratory system and hence start treatment for respiratory complications early in the course of the disease

Role of intestinal microflora (Lactobacillus Acidophilus) in phagocytic function of leukocytes in type 2 diabetic patients

The prevalence of obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes has steadily increased in the last decades. In addition to the genetic and environmental factors, gut microbiota may play an important role in the modulation of intermediary phenotypes leading to metabolic disease. Infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. Chronic hyperglycemia impairs host defense mechanism such as cell mediated immunity, polymorphonuclear leukocyte function, and antibody formation. So we aimed to study the association between intestinal microflora (Lactobacillus acidophilus) count and phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in humans with type 2 diabetes.The study included 20 type 2 diabetic patients with good glycemic control and 20 type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control. In addition, 20 normal healthy subjects were included as normal controls. The fecal composition of L. acidophilus was detected using de Man Rogosa Sharpagar followed by further confirmation using the polymerase chain reaction technique. Phagocytic function of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was assessed using the phagocytosis index %. Fecal L. acidophilus count was significantly increased among uncontrolled diabetic patients, while thephagocytosis index%was significantly reduced among the same patients. In uncontrolled diabetics, a significant positive correlation was observed between fecal L. acidophilus count and HbA1c and a significant negative correlation between phagocytic activity and L. acidophilus count. In  conclusion, type 2 diabetes is associated with compositional changes in fecal L. acidophilus especially in the uncontrolled diabetes. The levels of glucose tolerance or severity of diabetes should be considered while linking the level of intestinal microbiota with a phagocytosis index of leukocyte

Germination and seedling growth of indigenous aman rice under salt stress

The experiment was conducted at the Agronomy Laboratory of Agrotechnology Discipline, KhulnaUniversity, Khulnato determine the effect of salt stress on germination and seedling growth of indigenous Aman rice varieties during June, 2015 to December, 2015. The salt tolerant landraces will be used as genetic resource for variety development program in future. The factorial experiment consists of two factors such as ten indigenous Aman rice varieties and four levels of salt solutions viz EC (dS m−1) of 5, 10 and 15 with control (distilled water). The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. The interaction effects between variety and salinity on germination and seedling growth parameters of indigenous Aman rice varieties were varied significantly. It was found that germination capacity, energy, speed, seedling vigor index, root length and shoot length of rice were decreased gradually with increasing salinity. The germination energy and germination speed of most varieties were drastically reduced at 10 dS m−1 or higher salinity levels. The germination capacity of Hatibazor, Boushohagi, Shadagotal and Moinamoti were recorded 97.66 %, 99.33%, 98.0 % and 97.33%, respectively at 15 dS m−1 water salinity in laboratory condition. The results revealed that the indigenous Aman rice varieties named Boushohagi, Shadagotal, Hatibazor, Moinamoti, Motha were performed better over other varieties considering of germination and seedling growth parameters

Pulsed-laser-ablation based nanodecoration of multi-wall-carbon nanotubes by Co–Ni nanoparticles for dye-sensitized solar cell counter electrode applications

Abstract We report here on the use of pulsed KrF-laser deposition technique (PLD) for the decoration of Multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by Co–Ni nanoparticles (NPs) to form highly efficient counter electrodes (CEs) for use in Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC). By varying the number of laser ablation pulses (N LP = 500–60,000) of the KrF laser, we were able to control the average size of the Co–Ni NPs and the surface coverage of the MWCNTs by the nanoparticles. The PLD-based decoration of MWCNTs by Co–Ni NPs is shown to form novel counter electrodes, which significantly enhance the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the DSSCs. Indeed, the DSSCs based on the PLD-decorated Co–Ni counter electrodes (obtained at the optimal N LP = 40,000) are shown to exhibit a PCE value as high as 6.68%, with high short circuit current (J sc = 14.68 mA/cm2) and open circuit voltage (V oc = 0.63 V). This represents a PCE improvement of ~190% in comparison to the DSSCs with pristine MWCNTs (PCE = 2.3%) and ~7.4% PCE increase than that of the conventional DSSC made with a sputtered Platinum-based counter electrode. By systematically investigating the local nanostructure of the Co–Ni decorated CEs, we found that the Co–Ni NPs layer exhibits a porous cauliflower-like morphology, of which surface roughness (RMS) is N LP dependent. Interestingly, both PCE and roughness of the Co–Ni NPs layer are found to exhibit the same N LP dependence, with a maximum located around the optimal N LP value of 40,000. This enabled us to establish, for the first time, a linear correlation between the achieved PCE of DSSCs and the local roughness of their CEs decorated by Co–Ni NPs. Such a correlation highlights the importance of maximizing the surface area of the Co–Ni coated MWCNTs on the CEs to enhance the PCE of the DSSCs. Finally, Ultra-violet Photoelectron Spectroscopy (UPS) measurements revealed a significant decrease in the local work function (Φ) of Co–Ni NPs decorated MWCNTs based CEs (at N LP = 40,000, Φ = 3.9 eV) with respect to that of either pristine MWCNTs (Φ = 4.8 eV) or sputtered-Pt (Φ = 4.3 eV) counter-electrodes. This Φ lowering of the Co–Ni/MWCNTs based CEs is an additional advantage to enhance the catalytic reaction of the redox couple of the electrolyte solution, and improve thereby the PCE of the DSSCs