Polymorphism in apoA1 Influences High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels but Is Not a Major Risk Factor of Alzheimer's Disease

Background: Apolipoprotein A1 (apoA1) is the major apolipoprotein constituent of the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and is involved in reverse cholesterol transport. Variation in the apoA1 gene might influence the function of the protein and, thus, brain cholesterol metabolism, leading to an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aim: In the current report, we investigated the role of the functional apoA1 polymorphism (–75 G/A) as a genetic risk factor for AD in a Tunisian population. Methods: 173 AD patients and 150 healthy controls were studied. Results: No association was found between this genetic variation in apoA1 gene and the risk of AD. The presence of the (–75 G/A) A allele appeared, however, to be associated with lower levels of cerebrospinal fluid Aβ42 and HDL cholesterol levels in sera. Conclusion: Our data support the observation that apoA1 polymorphism influences cholesterol metabolism and Aβ42 deposition in the brain

Exploring Chitosan as an Ecofriendly Agent to Improve Sustainable Dyeing Properties of Cotton Fabric Dyed with (Opuntia Ficus-Indica L) Fruit Peel and Its UV Protection Activity

This paper explores the use of Chitosan as sustainable agent to improve dyeing properties of cotton fabric dyed with Opuntia ficus-indica L fruit peel and the determination of the amount of anthocyanin pigments by the spectrophotometric method. The results of this study highlights that cotton fabrics treated with chitosan have better depth of shade (K/S = 12) than those untreated fabrics (K/S = 3.7) dyed with Opuntia ficus-indica L fruit peel. We have thoroughly investigated the effects of dye bath pH and temperature on the color properties of the aforementioned fabrics. UV protection of cotton fabrics increased after natural dyeing, and it was further improved after being treated with chitosan. Experimental results show that the fastness properties of dyed cotton fabrics treated with chitosan were improved from average to excellent

Investigating the Use of Chitosan: Toward Improving the Dyeability of Cotton Fabrics Dyed with Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.)

This study investigates the influence of chitosan to improve the dyeing absorption of cotton fabric using Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) and the determination of the amount of anthocyanin pigments by the spectrophotometric method. The results of this study highlights that cotton fabrics treated with chitosan have better depth of shade (K/S = 11) than those untreated fabrics (K/S = 4) dyed with Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.). The cotton fabrics treated with chitosan not only provide better depth of shade but also give better wash and light fastness than those of the untreated fabrics dyed with Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.

The Influence of the Chemical Structures of Chitosan and Acid Dye on the Adsorption Process

The objective of this paper is the study of the influence of the chemical structures of adsorbent and adsorbate on the adsorption process. By using of crab shell chitosan (CC) and deep-pink shrimp chitosan (CP) for removal of acid 183 and AR114 from aqueous solutions, it is shown that CP, which corresponds to the highest molecular weight, is the most efficient adsorbent material. In addition, the best extent of decolorization is obtained for AR 183 that is the smallest molecule. Langmuir model represents the best fit of the experimental data, indicating monolayer coverage of chitosan outer surface. Pseudo-second order kinetic model describes accurately the adsorption processes, suggesting chemical rate limiting steps. The positive values of the enthalpy changes indicated endothermic attachment of dyes to the biomaterials. CP/AR183 system corresponds to the most energetically favorable phenomenon. Besides, desorption of AR from chitosan was found to be very low in acidic aqueous medium for all couples

Cranial remain from Tunisia provides new clues for the origin and evolution of Sirenia (Mammalia, Afrotheria) in Africa.

Sea cows (manatees, dugongs) are the only living marine mammals to feed solely on aquatic plants. Unlike whales or dolphins (Cetacea), the earliest evolutionary history of sirenians is poorly documented, and limited to a few fossils including skulls and skeletons of two genera composing the stem family of Prorastomidae (Prorastomus and Pezosiren). Surprisingly, these fossils come from the Eocene of Jamaica, while stem Hyracoidea and Proboscidea--the putative sister-groups to Sirenia--are recorded in Africa as early as the Late Paleocene. So far, the historical biogeography of early Sirenia has remained obscure given this paradox between phylogeny and fossil record. Here we use X-ray microtomography to investigate a newly discovered sirenian petrosal from the Eocene of Tunisia. This fossil represents the oldest occurrence of sirenians in Africa. The morphology of this petrosal is more primitive than the Jamaican prorastomids' one, which emphasizes the basal position of this new African taxon within the Sirenia clade. This discovery testifies to the great antiquity of Sirenia in Africa, and therefore supports their African origin. While isotopic analyses previously suggested sirenians had adapted directly to the marine environment, new paleoenvironmental evidence suggests that basal-most sea cows were likely restricted to fresh waters

CT reconstruction of the petrosals of the sirenian from Chambi and <i>Prorastomus</i>.

<p>ABC: CBI-1-542. DEF: <i>Prorastomus</i> (BMNH 44897). AD: ventral view, BC: ventrolateral view, CF: dorsal view. Scale bar = 5mm. Broken areas are in grey on drawings. <i>Prorastomus</i> was mirrored for the purpose of comparison. Ac.ant.: <i>foramen acusticum anterius</i>; A.crib.med.: <i>area cribrosa media</i>; Ac.post.: <i>foramen acusticum posterius</i>; Acq.vest.: <i>acqueductus vestibuli</i>; Alisph.art.: alisphenoid articulation facet; Ant.crus: attachment area for the anterior crus of the tympanic; Can.coc.: <i>canaliculus cochleae</i>; Com.sup.fac.: <i>commissura suprafacialis;</i> Fac.f.: facial foramen; Fac.s.: facial sulcus; Fal.notch: fallopian notch; F.coc.: <i>fenestra cochleae</i>; Fos.ten.tymp.: <i>fossa tensor tympani</i>; F.vest.: <i>fenestra vestibuli</i>; Hiat.fal.: <i>hiatus fallopi</i>; Pars.coc.: <i>pars cochlearis</i>; Pars.mast.: <i>pars mastoidea</i>; Post.crus: attachment area for the posterior crus of the tympanic; Psdtymp.f.: pseudotympanic foramen; Rec.ept.: <i>recessus epitympanicus</i>; Sept.meta.: <i>Septum metacochleae</i>; S.fac.f.: secondary facial foramen; Sing.f.: singular foramen; Sin.pet.inf.: <i>sinus petrosus inferius</i>; Sin.pet.sup.: <i>sinus petrosus superius</i>; Stap.mu.fos.: stapedial muscle fossa; Teg.tymp.: <i>tegmen tympani</i>; Teg.proc. : tegmen process; Tract.spir.f.: <i>tractus spiralis foraminosus</i>; Tymp.hyal.pr.: tympanohyal process; Utr.f.: utricular foramen.</p

Simplified result of the cladistic analysis on sirenian petrosal and bony labyrinth characters (see also S1).

<p>Strict consensus of 2975 trees. Tree length: 57; Consistency index (CI): 0.60; Retention index (RI):0.81; Homoplasy index (HI): 0.50; Rescaled consistency index (RC): 0.48. Bold lines represent fossil record. Geographic ranges of the sirenian from Chambi, prorastomids and other sirenians after refs. 3, 5, 12. Shared derived traits at nodes: Node 1: pachyosteosclerotic promontorium and <i>tegmen tympani</i> (3(1)); reniform <i>tegmen tympani</i> (11(1)); cochlear canal more voluminous than the vestibule (23(1), homoplasic, CI = 0.5); semicircular canals of approximately the same radius (25(1)); lateral canal larger than other canals (26(1)). Node 2: reduced stapedial ratio (round <i>fenestra vestibuli</i>) (5(1), homoplasic CI = 0.33); <i>Hiatus fallopi</i> absent (7(0), Homoplasic, CI = 0.33); Pseudotympanic facial foramen present (15(1)); inflated, squared (17(2)) and dense (19(1)) mastoid apophysis. Node 3: merged <i>canaliculus cochleae</i> and <i>fenestra cochleae</i> (4(1), homoplasic, CI = 0.33); weakly defined stapedial muscle fossa (10(1)); large and deep epitympanic recess (13(1)); developed epitympanic wing (16(1), homoplasic, CI = 0.2); Thick <i>crista falciformis</i> widely separating the acoustic foramina (20(1), homoplasic, CI = 0.50). Node 4: tegmen process present (12(1), homoplasic, CI = 0.5).</p