96 research outputs found
Animal proxies to characterize the strontium biosphere in the northeastern Nile Delta
Strontium (āøā·Sr/āøā¶Sr) isotope analysis is a potent tool for reconstructing the residential mobility of humans and animals in the past but is reliant on knowledge of strontium isotope variation within the expanded physical environment. This paper aims to contribute to the isoscape in the northeastern Nile Delta with faunal samples from the site of Tell el-Dabāa (Avaris), believed to be the capital of the so-called Hyksos kings. Mapping the available āøā·Sr/āøā¶Sr ratios from Egypt and the Sudan highlights major research gaps outside the Nile region. e current corpus of knowledge also shows that the Nile River region yields a homogenous range of isotopic values (median and IQR 0.7076 0.0003). Strontium isotope ratios from human dental enamel, which record childhood residence, will provide evidence of non-locals from outside the Nile area with confidence but these values suggest that identifying movement along the Nile River in the past will be difficult without the use of supplementary evidence (e.g. oxygen stable isotope analysis). We present āøā·Sr/āøā¶Sr ratios of archaeologically-derived faunal bone samples (n=6) from the site of Tell el-Dabāa (Avaris) in the northeastern Nile Delta. e āøā·Sr/āøā¶Sr ratios fit within the expectations of the wider Nile values (mean 0.70769 0.00003) and serve as the first archaeologically-derived values reported for this area of Egypt
The rise of coastal Middle Bronze Age Levant ā A multidisciplinary approach for investigating in Sidon, Lebanon
Objectives
The Levantine Middle Bronze Age (MBA, circa 2000ā1500āBCE) marks a period of increased trade and regional interaction, spurred on by technological developments. In light of previous research exhibiting limited mobility in Sidon, further investigation was conducted using biodistance analysis to understand local population history and site development.
Materials and Methods
Dental nonmetric traits, a proxy for genetic information, were explored using ASUDAS on a sub-sample of primary inhumations (nā=ā35). The biodistance matrix was generated using Gower distance measures, and further tested using PERMDISP, PERMANOVA, Mantel test and hierarchical cluster analysis. The data was also contrasted to 87Sr/86Sr and Ī“18O as well as Ī“13C and Ī“15N values.
Results
There were no significant diachronic differences in isotopes values, and there was biological continuity (nā=ā35, Mantel test rā=ā0.11, pā=ā0.02, comparing local phases and biodistance). The analysis also suggested of a sub-group of individuals with biological proximity shared a more limited range of mobility and dietary habits.
Conclusions
The isotopes (87Sr/86Sr, Ī“18O, Ī“13C, Ī“15N) and biodistance analysis conducted on the Sidon College site skeletal assemblage exhibits stability and continuity of the people, despite the site's increasing role in the maritime network. This continuity may have been a key factor in Sidon's success, allowing it to accumulate wealth and resources for centuries to come
Lupin protein isolate versus casein modifies cholesterol excretion and mRNA expression of intestinal sterol transporters in a pig model
Abstract
Background
Lupin proteins exert hypocholesterolemic effects in man and animals, although the
underlying mechanism remains uncertain. Herein we investigated whether lupin proteins
compared to casein modulate sterol excretion and mRNA expression of intestinal sterol
transporters by use of pigs as an animal model with similar lipid metabolism as humans, and
cellular cholesterol-uptake by Caco-2 cells.
Methods
Two groups of pigs were fed cholesterol-containing diets with either 230 g/kg of lupin
protein isolate from L. angustifolius or 230 g/kg casein, for 4 weeks. Faeces were collected
quantitatively over a 5 d period for analysis of neutral sterols and bile acids by gas
chromatographically methods. The mRNA abundances of intestinal lipid transporters were
analysed by real-time RT-PCR. Cholesterol-uptake studies were performed with Caco-2 cells
that were incubated with lupin conglutin \u3b3, phytate, ezetimibe or albumin in the presence of
labelled [4-14C]-cholesterol.
Results
Pigs fed the lupin protein isolate revealed lower cholesterol concentrations in total plasma,
LDL and HDL than pigs fed casein (P < 0.05). Analysis of faeces revealed a higher output of
cholesterol in pigs that were fed lupin protein isolate compared to pigs that received casein
(+57.1%; P < 0.05). Relative mRNA concentrations of intestinal sterol transporters involved
in cholesterol absorption (Niemann-Pick C1-like 1, scavenger receptor class B, type 1) were
lower in pigs fed lupin protein isolate than in those who received casein (P < 0.05). In vitro
data showed that phytate was capable of reducing the uptake of labelled [4-14C]-cholesterol
into the Caco-2 cells to the same extend as ezetimibe when compared to control ( 1220.5% vs.
1221.1%; P < 0.05).
Conclusions
Data reveal that the cholesterol-lowering effect of lupin protein isolate is attributable to an
increased faecal output of cholesterol and a reduced intestinal uptake of cholesterol. The
findings indicate phytate as a possible biofunctional ingredient of lupin protein isolate.Background: Lupin proteins exert hypocholesterolemic effects in man and animals, although the underlying mechanism remains uncertain. Herein we investigated whether lupin proteins compared to casein modulate sterol excretion and mRNA expression of intestinal sterol transporters by use of pigs as an animal model with similar lipid metabolism as humans, and cellular cholesterol-uptake by Caco-2 cells. Methods. Two groups of pigs were fed cholesterol-containing diets with either 230 g/kg of lupin protein isolate from L. angustifolius or 230 g/kg casein, for 4 weeks. Faeces were collected quantitatively over a 5 d period for analysis of neutral sterols and bile acids by gas chromatographically methods. The mRNA abundances of intestinal lipid transporters were analysed by real-time RT-PCR. Cholesterol-uptake studies were performed with Caco-2 cells that were incubated with lupin conglutin \u3b3, phytate, ezetimibe or albumin in the presence of labelled [4- 14C]-cholesterol. Results: Pigs fed the lupin protein isolate revealed lower cholesterol concentrations in total plasma, LDL and HDL than pigs fed casein (P < 0.05). Analysis of faeces revealed a higher output of cholesterol in pigs that were fed lupin protein isolate compared to pigs that received casein (+57.1%; P < 0.05). Relative mRNA concentrations of intestinal sterol transporters involved in cholesterol absorption (Niemann-Pick C1-like 1, scavenger receptor class B, type 1) were lower in pigs fed lupin protein isolate than in those who received casein (P < 0.05). In vitro data showed that phytate was capable of reducing the uptake of labelled [4- 14C]-cholesterol into the Caco-2 cells to the same extend as ezetimibe when compared to control (-20.5% vs. -21.1%; P < 0.05). Conclusions: Data reveal that the cholesterol-lowering effect of lupin protein isolate is attributable to an increased faecal output of cholesterol and a reduced intestinal uptake of cholesterol. The findings indicate phytate as a possible biofunctional ingredient of lupin protein isolate
Lead exposure in adult males in urban Transvaal Province, South Africa during the apartheid era
Human exposure to lead is a substantial public health hazard worldwide and is particularly problematic in the Republic of South Africa given the countryās late cessation of leaded petrol. Lead exposure is associated with a number of serious health issues and diseases including developmental and cognitive deficiency, hypertension and heart disease. Understanding the distribution of lifetime lead burden within a given population is critical for reducing exposure rates. Femoral bone from 101 deceased adult males living in urban Transvaal Province (now Gauteng Province), South Africa between 1960 and 1998 were analyzed for lead concentration by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Of the 72 black and 29 white individuals sampled, chronic lead exposure was apparent in nearly all individuals. White males showed significantly higher median bone lead concentration (ME = 10.04 ĀµgĀ·gā1), than black males (ME = 3.80 ĀµgĀ·gā1) despite higher socioeconomic status. Bone lead concentration covaries significantly, though weakly, with individual age. There was no significant temporal trend in bone lead concentration. These results indicate that long-term low to moderate lead exposure is the historical norm among South African males. Unexpectedly, this research indicates that white males in the sample population were more highly exposed to lead
Type III restriction endonuclease EcoP15I is a heterotrimeric complex containing one Res subunit with several DNA-binding regions and ATPase activity
For efficient DNA cleavage, the Type III restriction endonuclease EcoP15I communicates with two inversely oriented recognition sites in an ATP-dependent process. EcoP15I consists of methylation (Mod) and restriction (Res) subunits forming a multifunctional enzyme complex able to methylate or to cleave DNA. In this study, we determined by different analytical methods that EcoP15I contains a single Res subunit in a Mod2Res stoichiometry. The Res subunit comprises a translocase (Tr) domain carrying functional motifs of superfamily 2 helicases and an endonuclease domain with a PD..D/EXK motif. We show that the isolated Tr domain retains ATP-hydrolyzing activity and binds single- and double-stranded DNA in a sequence-independent manner. To localize the regions of DNA binding, we screened peptide arrays representing the entire Res sequence for their ability to interact with DNA. We discovered four DNA-binding regions in the Tr domain and two DNA-binding regions in the endonuclease domain. Modelling of the Tr domain shows that these multiple DNA-binding regions are located on the surface, free to interact with DNA. Interestingly, the positions of the DNA-binding regions are conserved among other Type III restriction endonucleases
Pattern Recognition in Pulmonary Tuberculosis Defined by High Content Peptide Microarray Chip Analysis Representing 61 Proteins from M. tuberculosis
Background: Serum antibody-based target identification has been used to identify tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) for development of anti-cancer vaccines. A similar approach can be helpful to identify biologically relevant and clinically meaningful targets in M.tuberculosis (MTB) infection for diagnosis or TB vaccine development in clinically well defined populations. Method: We constructed a high-content peptide microarray with 61 M.tuberculosis proteins as linear 15 aa peptide stretches with 12 aa overlaps resulting in 7446 individual peptide epitopes. Antibody profiling was carried with serum from 34 individuals with active pulmonary TB and 35 healthy individuals in order to obtain an unbiased view of the MTB epitope pattern recognition pattern. Quality data extraction was performed, data sets were analyzed for significant differences and patterns predictive of TB+/2. Findings: Three distinct patterns of IgG reactivity were identified: 89/7446 peptides were differentially recognized (in 34/34 TB+ patients and in 35/35 healthy individuals) and are highly predictive of the division into TB+ and TB2, other targets were exclusively recognized in all patients with TB (e.g. sigmaF) but not in any of the healthy individuals, and a third peptide set was recognized exclusively in healthy individuals (35/35) but no in TB+ patients. The segregation between TB+ and TB2 does no
Pathogens and host immunity in the ancient human oral cavity.
Calcified dental plaque (dental calculus) preserves for millennia and entraps biomolecules from all domains of life and viruses. We report the first, to our knowledge, high-resolution taxonomic and protein functional characterization of the ancient oral microbiome and demonstrate that the oral cavity has long served as a reservoir for bacteria implicated in both local and systemic disease. We characterize (i) the ancient oral microbiome in a diseased state, (ii) 40 opportunistic pathogens, (iii) ancient human-associated putative antibiotic resistance genes, (iv) a genome reconstruction of the periodontal pathogen Tannerella forsythia, (v) 239 bacterial and 43 human proteins, allowing confirmation of a long-term association between host immune factors, 'red complex' pathogens and periodontal disease, and (vi) DNA sequences matching dietary sources. Directly datable and nearly ubiquitous, dental calculus permits the simultaneous investigation of pathogen activity, host immunity and diet, thereby extending direct investigation of common diseases into the human evolutionary past
The distal humerus - A blind test of Rogers' sexing technique using a documented skeletal collection
Auricular surface ageing - Worse than expected? Results from a blind test using a documented skeletal collection
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