71 research outputs found
Biochemical markers as diagnostic/prognostic indicators for ischemic disease
Objective: The use of a biomarker was extremely useful in clinical
emergencies such as stroke to aid in triage and early management of
cases. The diagnostic accuracy of laboratory biomarkers is run to
approve the identification of easy, cheap and fast tests associated
with cerebral ischemia and intracranial hemorrhage. The present study
was designed to screen serum enolase activity, activities of CK-BB, LDH
and lipid profile in patients with ischemic or related diseases as good
diagnostic/ prognostic indicator for ischemic diseases. Methods: Sixty
male subjects in the age range of (45 \ub12years) were divided into
four groups each with 15 participants: Group (I) normal . Group (II)
patients recently diagnosed as ischemic disease; Group (III)
hypertensive patients and Group (IV); diabetic patients enolase
activity (p<0.001) and CK-BB (p<0.01) in ischemic and
hypertensive patients compared with control and diabetic groups. LDH
level was significantly elevated in ischemic, hypertensive and diabetic
patients compared with controls (p<0.001). The cut -off value for
serum enolase was 62.5 nmol/l showing 90% sensitivity and 93%
specificity for differentiation of ischemic disease. Positive
correlations were observed between serum enolase (r = 0.56), and CK-BB
(r = 0.53). Conclusion: Serum enolase can be considered as a more
sensitive and specific marker and used as a sensitive diagnostic or
prognostic marker for ischemic related diseases
Oral manifestations of systemic disease
While the majority of disorders of the mouth are centred upon the direct action of plaque, the oral tissues can be subject to change or damage as a consequence of disease that predominantly affects other body systems. Such oral manifestations of systemic disease can be highly variable in both frequency and presentation. As lifespan increases and medical care becomes ever more complex and effective it is likely that the numbers of individuals with oral manifestations of systemic disease will continue to rise. The present article provides a succinct review of oral manifestations of systemic disease. In view of this article being part of a wider BDJ themed issue on the subject of oral medicine, this review focuses upon oral mucosal and salivary gland disorders that may arise as a consequence of systemic disease
Microbial shifts in the aging mouse gut
YesBackground: The changes that occur in the microbiome of aging individuals are unclear, especially in light of the
imperfect correlation of frailty with age. Studies in older human subjects have reported subtle effects, but these
results may be confounded by other variables that often change with age such as diet and place of residence. To
test these associations in a more controlled model system, we examined the relationship between age, frailty, and
the gut microbiome of female C57BL/6 J mice.
Results: The frailty index, which is based on the evaluation of 31 clinical signs of deterioration in mice, showed a
near-perfect correlation with age. We observed a statistically significant relationship between age and the taxonomic
composition of the corresponding microbiome. Consistent with previous human studies, the Rikenellaceae family,
which includes the Alistipes genus, was the most significantly overrepresented taxon within middle-aged and
older mice.
The functional profile of the mouse gut microbiome also varied with host age and frailty. Bacterial-encoded
functions that were underrepresented in older mice included cobalamin (B12) and biotin (B7) biosynthesis,
and bacterial SOS genes associated with DNA repair. Conversely, creatine degradation, associated with muscle wasting,
was overrepresented within the gut microbiomes of the older mice, as were bacterial-encoded β-glucuronidases, which
can influence drug-induced epithelial cell toxicity. Older mice also showed an overabundance of monosaccharide
utilization genes relative to di-, oligo-, and polysaccharide utilization genes, which may have a substantial impact on
gut homeostasis.
Conclusion: We have identified taxonomic and functional patterns that correlate with age and frailty in the mouse
microbiome. Differences in functions related to host nutrition and drug pharmacology vary in an age-dependent
manner, suggesting that the availability and timing of essential functions may differ significantly with age and frailty.
Future work with larger cohorts of mice will aim to separate the effects of age and frailty, and other factors.This work was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) through an Emerging Team Grant to RGB, CIHR Operating Grants to Langille et al. Microbiome 2014, 2:50 Page 10 of 12 http://www.microbiomejournal.com/content/2/1/50 SEH (MOP 126018) and RAR (MOP 93718), and a CIHR Fellowship to MGIL. Infrastructure was supported by the Canada Foundation for Innovation through a grant to RGB. RGB also acknowledges the support of the Canada Research Chairs program
Microbiome to Brain:Unravelling the Multidirectional Axes of Communication
The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in host physiology. Disruption of its community structure and function can have wide-ranging effects making it critical to understand exactly how the interactive dialogue between the host and its microbiota is regulated to maintain homeostasis. An array of multidirectional signalling molecules is clearly involved in the host-microbiome communication. This interactive signalling not only impacts the gastrointestinal tract, where the majority of microbiota resides, but also extends to affect other host systems including the brain and liver as well as the microbiome itself. Understanding the mechanistic principles of this inter-kingdom signalling is fundamental to unravelling how our supraorganism function to maintain wellbeing, subsequently opening up new avenues for microbiome manipulation to favour desirable mental health outcome
Fruit growth characteristics of four pomegranate cultivars from northern Oman.
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Development and characterization of SSR markers for pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) using an enriched library
In the present work, we report the development of 11 microstallite markers (SSR) for Punica granatum. Evaluated on a set of 27 pomegranate accessions sampled in Tunisia, they displayed 25 alleles, with number of alleles per locus ranging between 1 and 4, and an observed heterozygosity from 0.037 and 0.592. This set of SSR markers can be very useful for studies dealing with genetic diversity assessment of germplasm, with cultivars/varieties fingerprinting and pedigree analysis of this economically important fruit species
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