BRAF-V600E Protein Expression in Canine Malignant Cutaneous Melanoma, in Accordance with the Introduction of Biomarkers in Comparative Oncology Studies

Background: Melanoma is the cause of death of 1.3% of all cancer patients in humans. The key role of BRAF protein in the progression of human melanoma has been confirmed and its prognostic significance has been revealed. Because canine cancer resembles human cancer in biological behavior and molecular abnormalities, BRAF protein may be expressed in canine melanoma, the same as human melanoma. despite the investigation of BRAF mutation in canine melanoma, the status of BRAF at the protein level in canine skin melanoma has not yet been examined.   Methods: Thirty-two formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples of canine malignant cutaneous melanoma were randomly selected. After cutting into 3-μm-thick sections, the samples were evaluated for BRAF protein expression by immunohistochemistry and using the anti-BRAF V600E (VE1) mouse monoclonal antibody.   Results: The BRAF status was assessed using the Allred scoring system. Among the 32 samples examined, 21 samples were negative and 11 cases showed high BRAF protein expression.   Conclusion:  The detection of positive BRAF expression in 34.3% of canine cutaneous melanoma samples could be a step forward to improve treatment options, use the dog as an animal model in human melanoma clinical trials, and possibly identify a new prognostic biomarker in canine melanoma

The Importance of Neutrophils in Osteoarthritis: Current Concepts and Therapeutic Perspectives

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease that causes chronic pain and disability. Different innate immune components, including macrophages, T cells, and neutrophils, participate in OA pathophysiology. Neutrophils are the most abundant circulating leukocytes with multiple specialized functions contributing to innate and adaptive immune functions. Although neutrophils produce proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, reactive oxygen species (ROS), matrix-degrading enzymes, and neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) that promote joint degradation as the first recruit cells in an inflamed joint, these cells also play an important role in joint repair by regulating the immune response, releasing anti-inflammatory factors, and activating certain protective genes. In this review, various aspects of neutrophil biology, their role in inflammation and its association with OA, and possible therapeutic approaches to target neutrophils for the treatment of OA are described. Since neutrophils play a complex role in the pathophysiology of osteoarthritis, contributing to joint degradation as well as joint repair, targeting these cells is likely to pave the way for a potential therapeutic approach for the management of OA. Future studies are needed to investigate the use of targeted therapies to modulate neutrophil function and identify their subpopulations that are associated with osteoarthritis progression or response to treatment

Enzymatic control of glycogenolysis during anoxic submergence in the freshwater turtle Trachemys scripta

Freshwater turtles Trachemys scripta elegans endure prolonged severe hypoxia, and even complete anoxia, while diving or hibernating underwater. Metabolic adaptations supporting survival include the activation of glycogenolysis and glucose output from liver, as well as strong metabolic rate depression. The present study analyzes the enzymes of both the phosphorolytic (glycogen phosphorylase, phosphorylase b kinase, cAMP-dependent protein kinase) and glucosidic (α-glucosidase) pathways of glycogenolysis in turtle organs. Turtles were subjected to 5 hr of submergence in N2-bubbled water at 7°C and then activities of phosphorolytic and glucosidic enzymes were assayed in liver, heart, brain, and red and white skeletal muscle, and compared with aerobic controls. In vitro incubations also assessed protein kinase A control of phosphorolytic enzymes. A functional enzyme cascade system for the activation of glycogen phosphorylase was found in all organs, and both phosphorylase and phosphorylase kinase were stimulated by in vitro incubation with the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Anoxic submergence led to significant increases in phosphorylase activities in liver and heart (phosphorylase a rose 2- and 2.5-fold, respectively) but phosphorylase kinase and protein kinase A activities in liver were reduced after 5 hr exposure. Both acidic (pH 4) and neutral (pH 7) forms of α-glucosidase were detected in all five organs with highest activities in liver. Activity of acid α-glucosidase, which degrades lysosomal glycogen, increased by 2-fold in liver during anoxic submergence. The data show that glycogen breakdown in turtle liver during anoxic submergence may result from coordinated activations of both the cytoplasmic phosphorolytic and the lysosomal glucosidic pathways of glycogenolysis

Plasma proteomic profile of sulfur mustard exposed lung diseases patients using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Abstract Introduction Sulfur mustard "bis (2-chlroethyl) sulphide" (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that remains a threat to human health. The aim of this study was to identify protein expression signature or biomarkers that reflect chronic lung damages induced by SM exposure. Methods Prior to analysis, plasma was fractionated using ethanol precipitation. Using two dimensional SDS-PAGE; fractionated protein profiles of 20 healthy and 20 exposed patients with lung diseases were established. Selected protein spots were successfully identified with MALDI TOF MS/MS. Results The results show that α1 haptoglobin isoforms were detected in plasma of the all lung disease patients but none of the healthy controls. Amyloid A1 isoforms was also detected in plasma of the lung disease patients but none of the healthy controls. Moreover, low molecular weight proteins were enriched in ethanol supernatant compared to ethanol precipitate. Conclusion Our present results and previous studies suggest that ongoing tissue remodeling is involved in SM exposed lung damage patients. These finding might improve patient care and suitable therapies.</p

Study the Effect of Export on Employment of Agricultural Sub-Sectors in Iran

Agriculture sector is the most important part of the economy that has been considered by economists because of is having lots of production factors, include labor force. So, considering employment potential of this sector has particular importance among policy makers. In this study, using panel data, the impact of exports on employment in in the agricultural sub-sectors of Iran, including agriculture and horticulture, livestock, fisheries and forestry, during 1992-2010 has been studied. Results show that export growth has a significant positive effect on employment in all sub sectors except livestock sub-sector and its coefficient in horticulture, livestock, fisheries and forestry, is 0.04, 0.001, 0.03 and 0.04, respectively. Also the rates of fixed effects that indicate employment potential of agricultural sub-sectors is equal to 2.72 for agriculture and horticulture, 2/40 for livestock, -2.39 for fisheries and -2.73 for forestry sub-sector. According to the findings, support and supervision and administration of public and private investment to promote exports, would be important and effective to increase employment in agriculture and its sub-sectors