Duplication of Aldolase and Esterase Loci in Cicer (Cicereae Alef.)

The genetic control of fructose bisphosphate aldolase (ALDO, EC 4.1.2.13) and esterase (EST, EC 3.1.1.2) isozymes in Cicer was studied by starch gel electrophoresis. Fixed heterozygote enzyme phenotypes were observed in homozygous lines for both Aldo-1, Aldo-2 and Est-4, Est-5. Crosses between the individuals carrying different alleles of the duplicated genes gave rise to asymmetrically staining bands for both enzyme systems. Subcellular localization studies demonstrated that the products of duplicated aldolase loci are present in the plastids, whereas duplicated esterase isozymes were found in the cytosolic compartment. Selfing and crossing experiments revealed that there are two nuclear genes encoding the plastid specific ALDO isozymes (Aldo-1 and Aldo-2). Similarly, EST-4 and EST-5 isozymes are specified by two nuclear genes (Est-4 and Est-5). No linkage was found between any of the duplicated genes and the other isozyme loci examined in this study. Taxonomic distribution of both duplications was examined in the electrophoretic survey of the related species. Present evidence suggests that these duplications are unique and probably occurred only in this monophyletic tribe, Cicereae, since no duplication was reported in the related genera. No evidence for mutations silencing any of the duplicated copies was detected in the genus. Although the mechanism for duplications is not known, evidence for translocations in Cicer and the existence of a similar linkage between ALDO and EST isozymes in related genera indicate that both duplications may have arisen simultaneously via duplication of a chromosomal segment carrying the ancestral state of the gene

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ РОБОТИ «ШКОЛИ ДІАБЕТИКА» НА БАЗІ ТЕРАПЕВТИЧНОГО ВІДДІЛЕННЯ САМБІРСЬКОЇ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЇ РАЙОННОЇ ЛІКАРНІ

In the article are presented the basic principles of functioning of the «Diabetics school» at the theurapeutic department of Sambir central district hospotal and are described the main issues covered in lectures for patients with diabetes.У статті наведеш основні принципи функціонування «Школи діабетика» на базі терапевтичного відділення Самбірської центральної районної лікарні та описаш основні питання, які висвітлюються на лекціях для пацієнтів із цукровим діабетом

Intra-operative acquisition of sensorimotor fMRI during glioma resection: evaluation of feasibility and clinical applicability

Intra-operative fMRI has the potential to improve neurosurgical outcomes and we have previously shown that the task-related BOLD signal can be acquired under general anaesthesia. Our next goal was to acquire fMRI intra-operatively with the skull open. In 12 patients, we performed 24 acquisitions of a passive sensorimotor paradigm during the resection of their brain tumour. The fMRI data were evaluated by neuroradiologists, assessing its applicability for the provision of a clinical report on the location of sensorimotor activation to the neurosurgeon. 17/24 acquisitions were scored as useful. We conclude that intra-operative fMRI is feasible and produces clinically useful data

AREsite: a database for the comprehensive investigation of AU-rich elements

AREsite is an online resource for the detailed investigation of AU-rich elements (ARE) in vertebrate mRNA 3′-untranslated regions (UTRs). AREs are one of the most prominent cis-acting regulatory elements found in 3′-UTRs of mRNAs. Various ARE-binding proteins that possess RNA stabilizing or destabilizing functions are recruited by sequence-specific motifs. Recent findings suggest an essential role of the structural mRNA context in which these sequence motifs are embedded. AREsite is the first database that allows to quantify the structuredness of ARE motif sites in terms of opening energies and accessibility probabilities. Moreover, we also provide a detailed phylogenetic analysis of ARE motifs and incorporate information about experimentally validated targets of the ARE-binding proteins TTP, HuR and Auf1. The database is publicly available at: http://rna.tbi.univie.ac.at/AREsite

Spontaneous Transethmoidal Meningoceles in Adults: Case Series with Emphasis on Surgical Management

Background. Spontaneous onset transethmoidal meningocele is a rare entity among the adult population. Methods. A retrospective chart review was performed and cases of adults diagnosed with spontaneous transethmoidal meningoceles from November 2000 till February 2014 were reported. Data collected included demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic modalities, and results. Intraoperative findings, the type of surgical reconstruction performed, and the percentage of recurrence, if present, were also reported. Results. Ten cases of spontaneous transethmoidal meningoceles in adults were diagnosed. Eight were females and two males with a mean age of 47.5 years. All patients presented with CSF leakage with or without meningitis. They underwent a reconstruction of the base of skull defect using the temporalis fascia graft in addition to fibrin glue (Tissucol) and Surgicel (Ethicon). In two cases with a larger defect, a piece of septal bone and turbinate mucosa were applied achieving a watertight seal in all cases. Conclusion. Spontaneous transethmoidal meningocele in adults is a rare condition. It usually presents with clear rhinorrhea with or without meningitis and an endoscopic multilayer reconstruction is advocated for treatment of such conditions

Plant-Expressed Cocaine Hydrolase Variants of Butyrylcholinesterase Exhibit Altered Allosteric Effects of Cholinesterase Activity and Increased Inhibitor Sensitivity

Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is an enzyme with broad substrate and ligand specificities and may function as a generalized bioscavenger by binding and/or hydrolyzing various xenobiotic agents and toxicants, many of which target the central and peripheral nervous systems. Variants of BChE were rationally designed to increase the enzyme’s ability to hydrolyze the psychoactive enantiomer of cocaine. These variants were cloned, and then expressed using the magnICON transient expression system in plants and their enzymatic properties were investigated. In particular, we explored the effects that these site-directed mutations have over the enzyme kinetics with various substrates of BChE. We further compared the affinity of various anticholinesterases including organophosphorous nerve agents and pesticides toward these BChE variants relative to the wild type enzyme. In addition to serving as a therapy for cocaine addiction-related diseases, enhanced bioscavenging against other harmful agents could add to the practicality and versatility of the plant-derived recombinant enzyme as a multivalent therapeutic

Ion beam synthesis and investigation of nanocomposite multiferroics based on barium titanate with 3d metal nanoparticles

Samples of nanocomposite multiferroics have been synthesized by implantation of Co+, Fe+, and Ni+ ions with an energy of 40 keV into ferroelectric barium titanate plates to doses in the range (0.5-1.5) × 1017 ions/cm2. It has been found that nanoparticles of metallic iron, cobalt, or nickel are formed in the barium titanate layer subjected to ion bombardment. With an increase in the implantation dose, the implanted samples sequentially exhibit superparamagnetic, soft magnetic, and, finally, strong ferromagnetic properties at room temperature. The average sizes of ion-synthesized 3d-metal nanoparticles vary in the range from 5 to 10 nm depending on the implantation dose. Investigation of the orientation dependence of the magnetic hysteresis loops has demonstrated that the samples show a uniaxial ("easy plane") magnetic anisotropy typical of thin granular magnetic films. Ferromagnetic BaTiO3: 3d metal samples are characterized by a significant shift of the ferromagnetic resonance signal in an external electric field, as well as by a large (in magnitude) magnetodielectric effect at room temperature. These results indicate that there is a strong magnetoelectric coupling between the ferroelectric barium titanate matrix and ion-synthesized nanoparticles of magnetic metals. © 2013 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Identification of Stylosanthes guianensis varieties using molecular genetic analysis

Molecular genetic diversity and population structure analysis were used to clarify the controversial botanical classification of Stylosanthes guianensis. The accessions were clustered in nine groups, each of which was mainly composed of only one of the four botanical varieties

State Britain and the art of (Im)proper democratic protest

The installation of Mark Wallinger’s State Britain in the Duveen Galleries of Tate Britain recreated Brian Haw’s protest opposite the Houses of Parliament, which had largely been dismantled by the police under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005. Wallinger’s work bisected a boundary created by the Act inside which the police could be given greater than usual powers to control demonstrations. The intersection exemplified how, when understood in terms of the performative after Jacques Derrida, art may unsettle the ways in which both the law and aesthetics work to protect the political establishment. aesthetics work to protect the political establishment

Perifosine as a Potential Novel Anti-Cancer Agent Inhibits EGFR/MET-AKT Axis in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

PI3K/AKT signalling pathway is aberrantly active and plays a critical role for cell cycle progression of human malignant pleural mesothelioma (MMe) cells. AKT is one of the important cellular targets of perifosine, a novel bio-available alkylphospholipid that has displayed significant anti-proliferative activity in vitro and in vivo in several human tumour model systems and is currently being tested in clinical trials.We tested Perifosine activity on human mesothelial cells and different mesothelioma cell lines, in order to provide evidence of its efficacy as single agent and combined therapy.We demonstrate here that perifosine, currently being evaluated as an anti-cancer agent in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials, caused a dose-dependent reduction of AKT activation, at concentrations causing MMe cell growth arrest. In this study we firstly describe that MMe cells express aside from AKT1 also AKT3 and that either the myristoylated, constitutively active, forms of the two proteins, abrogated perifosine-mediated cell growth inhibition. Moreover, we describe here a novel mechanism of perifosine that interferes, upstream of AKT, affecting EGFR and MET phosphorylation. Finally, we demonstrate a significant increase in cell toxicity when MMe cells were treated with perifosine in combination with cisplatin.This study provides a novel mechanism of action of perifosine, directly inhibiting EGFR/MET-AKT1/3 axis, providing a rationale for a novel translational approach to the treatment of MMe