Draft Genome Sequence of the Haloacid-Degrading Burkholderia caribensis Strain MBA4

Burkholderia caribensis MBA4 was isolated from soil for its ability to utilize 2-haloacid. An inducible haloacid operon, encoding for a dehalogenase and a permease, is mainly responsible for the biotransformation. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of this strain.postprin

Complete Genome Sequence of the Exopolysaccharide-Producing Burkholderia caribensis Type Strain MWAP64

We report the complete genome sequence of Burkholderia caribensis MWAP64 (LMG 18531), which was isolated from soil for its proficiency in producing large amounts of exopolysaccharide that help form microaggregates in a vertisol. There are four replicons with a total size of 9,032,119 bp.published_or_final_versio

Activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant pathway contributes to the protective effects of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides in the rodent retina after ischemia-reperfusion-induced damage

published_or_final_versio

A transformer with adjustable leakage inductance

Author name used in this publication: Y. LuAuthor name used in this publication: S. L. HoAuthor name used in this publication: J. F. PanAuthor name used in this publication: X. D. XueAuthor name used in this publication: K. W. E. ChengRefereed conference paper2005-2006 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperVersion of RecordPublishe

The iron-chelating drug M30 down-regulates carbon tetrachloride (CCI4)-induced hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in vitro

Topic: 2 Acute Liver FailureThis journal suppl. entitled: APASL Liver Week 2013BACKGROUND/AIMS: The novel multifunctional brain permeable ironchelator M30 possesses neuroprotective activities against several insults applicable to various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the effect of M30 on CCl4 induced acute liver damage is still unknown. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the multifunctional drug M30 could ameliorate CCl4 induced hepatic injury in human HepG2 cell line. METHODS: HepG2 cells were grown in DMEM supplemented with ...postprin

Determinants of postnatal spleen tissue regeneration and organogenesis

Abstract The spleen is an organ that filters the blood and is responsible for generating blood-borne immune responses. It is also an organ with a remarkable capacity to regenerate. Techniques for splenic auto-transplantation have emerged to take advantage of this characteristic and rebuild spleen tissue in individuals undergoing splenectomy. While this procedure has been performed for decades, the underlying mechanisms controlling spleen regeneration have remained elusive. Insights into secondary lymphoid organogenesis and the roles of stromal organiser cells and lymphotoxin signalling in lymph node development have helped reveal similar requirements for spleen regeneration. These factors are now considered in the regulation of embryonic and postnatal spleen formation, and in the establishment of mature white pulp and marginal zone compartments which are essential for spleen-mediated immunity. A greater understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms which control spleen development will assist in the design of more precise and efficient tissue grafting methods for spleen regeneration on demand. Regeneration of organs which harbour functional white pulp tissue will also offer novel opportunities for effective immunotherapy against cancer as well as infectious diseases

Prevalence of genetic polymorphisms in the promoter region of the alpha-1 antitrypsin (SERPINA1) gene in chronic liver disease: a case control study

Contains fulltext : 89639.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: Alpha-1 antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency, caused by the Z allele (p.E342K) and S allele (p.E264V) in the SERPINA1 gene, can induce liver and pulmonary disease. Different mechanisms appear to be responsible for the pathogenesis of these divergent disease expressions. The c.-1973T >C polymorphism located in the SERPINA1 promoter region is found more frequent in A1AT deficiency patients with liver disease compared to patients with pulmonary disease, but data are lacking regarding contribution to the development of liver diseases caused by other aetiologies. AIM: To study the prevalence of c.-1973T >C, Z allele and S allele in a cohort of patients with liver disease of various aetiologies compared with healthy controls and to evaluate its effect on disease progression. METHODS: A total of 297 patients with liver disease from various aetiologies and 297 age and gender matched healthy controls were included. The c.-1973T >C polymorphism and Z and S alleles of the SERPINA1 gene were analyzed by real-time PCR. RESULTS: c.-1973T >C was similarly distributed between patients with liver disease of various origins and healthy controls. Furthermore, the distribution of c.-1973T >C was independent from aetiology subgroup. In patients with liver disease mean ages at of onset of liver disease were 44.4, 42.3 and 40.7 years for the c.-1973 T/T, T/C and C/C genotype respectively (NS). S allele heterozygosity was increased in patients with drug induced liver injury (DILI), (OR 4.3; 95%CI 1.1-17.2). CONCLUSION: In our study, c.-1973T >C polymorphism was not a risk factor for liver disease of various aetiologies. In addition, S allele heterozygosity might contribute to the development of DILI

A Randomized Double-Blind Crossover Study of Phase-Shift Sound Therapy for Tinnitus

Objective. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of the treatment of tinnitus with a phase-shifting pure tone to that of the same tone treatment without phase shifting. Study Design. A double-blind crossover randomized controlled trial. Setting. This study was conducted at the University Medical Center Groningen. Subjects and Methods. Twenty-two patients with predominantly tonal tinnitus underwent both intervention and control treatments. Each treatment consisted of three 30-minute sessions in 1 week. The control treatment was identical to the intervention treatment, except that the stimulus was a pure tone without phase shifting. Questionnaires, tinnitus loudness match, and annoyance and loudness ratings were used to measure treatment effects. Results. Pure-tone treatment and phase-shift treatment had no significant effect on tinnitus according to questionnaires (Tinnitus Handicap Index, Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and Maastricht Questionnaire), audiological matching procedures, and loudness and annoyance ratings of tinnitus. Furthermore, phase-shift treatment showed no additional significant improvement in comparison with pure-tone treatment. Changes in questionnaire scores due to pure-tone and the phase-shift treatment were correlated. Conclusion. On average across the group, both treatments failed to demonstrate a significant effect. Both treatments were beneficial for some patients. However, a positive effect was not demonstrated that could be attributed to the periodic shifting of the phase of the stimulus tone

Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in Captive Neotropical and Exotic Wild Canids and Felids

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)This study was designed to detect antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in wild captive carnivores maintained in Brazilian zoos. Blood samples were collected from 142 Brazilian wild felids and 19 exotic felids in zoos, and 3 European wolves (Canis lupus) and 94 Brazilian wild canids maintained in captivity in Brazilian zoos of Sao Paulo, Mato Grosso states and Federal District. One hundred and two (63.4%) and 70 (50.3%) of the 161 wild felids tested were seropositive for T gondii and N. caninum by indirect immunofluorescent assay test (IFAT), respectively. Among sampled wild canids, 49 (50.5%) and 40 (41.2%) animals were seropositive for T. gondii and N. caninum antigens by IFAT, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first serological detection of antibodies to N. caninum in Brazilian wild captive felids and bush dogs (Speothos venaticus (Lund)).96510071009Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renovaveis (IBAMA) [S02027.002943/2005, 15901-1]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [07/59889-6, 08/55570-8]Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renovaveis (IBAMA) [S02027.002943/2005, 15901-1

Paradox of low field enhancement factor for field emission nanodiodes in relation to quantum screening effects

We put forward the quantum screening effect in field emission [FE] nanodiodes, explaining relatively low field enhancement factors due to the increased potential barrier that impedes the electron Fowler-Nordheim tunneling, which is usually observed in nanoscale FE experiments. We illustratively show this effect from the energy band diagram and experimentally verify it by performing the nanomanipulation FE measurement for a single P-silicon nanotip emitter (Φ = 4.94eV), with a scanning tungsten-probe anode (work function, Φ = 4.5eV) that constitutes a 75-nm vacuum nanogap. A macroscopic FE measurement for the arrays of emitters with a 17-μm vacuum microgap was also performed for a fair comparison