Biochemical Diagnosis of a Fatal Case of Günther’s Disease in a Newborn with Hydrops Foetalis

Peer Reviewe

Lipidna peroksidacija i aktivnost antioksidativnih enzima u eritrocitima radnika profesionalno izloženih aluminiju

Current research indicates that lipid peroxidation could have a role in aluminium toxicity. The aim of this study was to asses lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activity in erythrocytes of workers occupationally exposed to aluminium. We investigated a group of 59 workers (Al group) exposed to aluminium fumes (contamination factor F=8.07 to 13.47, national maximal allowed concentration value is 2 mg m-3). The control group (C group) consisted of 75 subjects employed in lime production who had not been occupationally exposed to aluminium or any known toxic substance. Erythrocyte aluminium concentrations were significantly higher in the exposed group than controls [Al group (8.41±3.66) µg L-1, C group (5.60±0.86) µg L-1, p<0.001]. In the Al group, erythrocyte malondialdehyde concentration was also significantly higher [Al group (189.59±81.27) µmol L-1, C group (105.21±49.62) µmol L-1, p<0.001] and antioxidative enzyme activity reduced for glucoso-6-phosphatedehydrogenase [Al group (5.05±1.70) IU g-1 Hb, C group (12.53±4.12) IU g-1 Hb, p<0.001], glutathione reductase [Al group (1.41±0.56) IU g-1 Hb, C group (1.89±0.57) IU g-1 Hb, p<0.001], glutathione peroxidase [Al group (12.37±5.76) IU g-1 Hb, C group (15.54±4.85) IU g-1 Hb, p<0.001], catalase [Al group (116.76±26.60) IU g-1 Hb, C group (158.81±71.85) IU g-1 Hb, p<0.001] and superoxide dismutase [Al group (1175.8±149.9) IU mg-1 Hb, C group (1377.9±207.5) IU mg-1 Hb, p<0.001].Rezultati suvremenih istraživanja pokazuju da lipidna peroksidacija može imati važnu ulogu u toksičnosti aluminija. Cilj istraživanja bio je da se ispita lipidna peroksidacija i aktivnost antioksidativnih enzima u eritrocitima kod radnika profesionalno izloženih aluminiju. Ispitivanjem je obuhvaćena skupina od 59 radnika (Al skupina) profesionalno izloženih aluminiju (faktor onečišćenja F=8,07 do 13,47, nacionalna maksimalno dopuštena koncentracija je 2 mg m-3). Kontrolna skupina sastojala se od 75 osoba zaposlenih u proizvodnji vapna koje nikada nisu bile profesionalno izložene aluminiju ni drugim toksičnim tvarima. U skupini izloženoj aluminiju utvrđene su statistički signifikantno više koncentracije aluminija u eritrocitima nego u kontrolnoj skupini [Al skupina (8,41±3,66) µg L-1, kontrolna skupina (5,60±0,86) µg L-1, p<0,001]. U Al skupini utvrđene su statistički značajno više koncentracije malondialdehida u eritrocitima [Al skupina (189,59±81,27) µmol L-1, kontrolna skupina (105,21±49,62) µmol L-1, p<0,001]. Također, u Al skupini utvrđene su i statistički značajno niže aktivnosti antioksidativnih enzima u eritrocitima: glukozo- 6-fosfatdehidrogenaza [Al skupina (5,05±1,70) IU g-1 Hb, kontrolna skupina (12,53±4,12) IU g-1 Hb, p<0,001], glutationreduktaza [Al skupina (1,41±0,56) IU g-1 Hb, kontrolna skupina (1,89±0,57) IU g-1 Hb, p<0,001], glutationperoksidaza [Al skupina (12,37±5,76) IU g-1 Hb, kontrolna skupina (15,54±4,85) IU g-1 Hb, p<0,001], katalaza [Al skupina (116,76±26,60) IU g-1 Hb, kontrolna skupina (158,81±71,85) IU g-1 Hb, p<0,001] i superoksiddizmutaza [Al skupina (1175,8±149,9) IU mg-1 Hb, kontrolna skupina (1377,9±207,5) IU mg-1 Hb, p<0,001]

The Response of Lactococcus lactis to Membrane Protein Production

Background: The biogenesis of membrane proteins is more complex than that of water-soluble proteins, and recombinant expression of membrane proteins in functional form and in amounts high enough for structural and functional studies is often problematic. To better engineer cells towards efficient protein production, we set out to understand and compare the cellular consequences of the overproduction of both classes of proteins in Lactococcus lactis, employing a combined proteomics and transcriptomics approach. Methodology and Findings: Highly overproduced and poorly expressed membrane proteins both resulted in severe growth defects, whereas amplified levels of a soluble substrate receptor had no effect. In addition, membrane protein overproduction evoked a general stress response (upregulation of various chaperones and proteases), which is probably due to accumulation of misfolded protein. Notably, upon the expression of membrane proteins a cell envelope stress response, controlled by the two-component regulatory CesSR system, was observed. Conclusions: The physiological response of L. lactis to the overproduction of several membrane proteins was determined and compared to that of a soluble protein, thus offering better understanding of the bottlenecks related to membrane protein production and valuable knowledge for subsequent strain engineering.

Droplets Formation and Merging in Two-Phase Flow Microfluidics

Two-phase flow microfluidics is emerging as a popular technology for a wide range of applications involving high throughput such as encapsulation, chemical synthesis and biochemical assays. Within this platform, the formation and merging of droplets inside an immiscible carrier fluid are two key procedures: (i) the emulsification step should lead to a very well controlled drop size (distribution); and (ii) the use of droplet as micro-reactors requires a reliable merging. A novel trend within this field is the use of additional active means of control besides the commonly used hydrodynamic manipulation. Electric fields are especially suitable for this, due to quantitative control over the amplitude and time dependence of the signals, and the flexibility in designing micro-electrode geometries. With this, the formation and merging of droplets can be achieved on-demand and with high precision. In this review on two-phase flow microfluidics, particular emphasis is given on these aspects. Also recent innovations in microfabrication technologies used for this purpose will be discussed

LeishVet update and recommendations on feline leishmaniosis

Limited data is available on feline leishmaniosis (FeL) caused by Leishmania infantum worldwide. The LeishVet group presents in this report a review of the current knowledge on FeL, the epidemiological role of the cat in L. infantum infection, clinical manifestations, and recommendations on diagnosis, treatment and monitoring, prognosis and prevention of infection, in order to standardize the management of this disease in cats. The consensus of opinions and recommendations was formulated by combining a comprehensive review of evidence-based studies and case reports, clinical experience and critical consensus discussions. While subclinical feline infections are common in areas endemic for canine leishmaniosis, clinical illness due to L. infantum in cats is rare. The prevalence rates of feline infection with L. infantum in serological or molecular-based surveys range from 0 % to more than 60 %. Cats are able to infect sand flies and, therefore, they may act as a secondary reservoir, with dogs being the primary natural reservoir. The most common clinical signs and clinicopathological abnormalities compatible with FeL include lymph node enlargement and skin lesions such as ulcerative, exfoliative, crusting or nodular dermatitis (mainly on the head or distal limbs), ocular lesions (mainly uveitis), feline chronic gingivostomatitis syndrome, mucocutaneous ulcerative or nodular lesions, hypergammaglobulinaemia and mild normocytic normochromic anaemia. Clinical illness is frequently associated with impaired immunocompetence, as in case of retroviral coinfections or immunosuppressive therapy. Diagnosis is based on serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cytology, histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC) or culture. If serological testing is negative or low positive in a cat with clinical signs compatible with FeL, the diagnosis of leishmaniosis should not be excluded and additional diagnostic methods (cytology, histology with IHC, PCR, culture) should be employed. The most common treatment used is allopurinol. Meglumine antimoniate has been administered in very few reported cases. Both drugs are administered alone and most cats recover clinically after therapy. Follow-up of treated cats with routine laboratory tests, serology and PCR is essential for prevention of clinical relapses. Specific preventative measures for this infection in cats are currently not available