Aberrant location of inhibitory synaptic marker proteins in the hippocampus of dystrophin-deficient mice

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disease that arises from mutations in the dystrophin-encoding gene. Apart from muscle pathology, cognitive impairment, primarily of developmental origin, is also a significant component of the disorder. Convergent lines of evidence point to an important role for dystrophin in regulating the molecular machinery of central synapses. The clustering of neurotransmitter receptors at inhibitory synapses, thus impacting on synaptic transmission, is of particular significance. However, less is known about the role of dystrophin in influencing the precise expression patterns of proteins located within the pre- and postsynaptic elements of inhibitory synapses. To this end, we exploited molecular markers of inhibitory synapses, interneurons and dystrophin-deficient mouse models to explore the role of dystrophin in determining the stereotypical patterning of inhibitory connectivity within the cellular networks of the hippocampus CA1 region. In tissue from wild-type (WT) mice, immunoreactivity of neuroligin2 (NL2), an adhesion molecule expressed exclusively in postsynaptic elements of inhibitory synapses, and the vesicular GABA transporter (VGAT), a marker of GABAergic presynaptic elements, were predictably enriched in strata pyramidale and lacunosum moleculare. In acute contrast, NL2 and VGAT immunoreactivity was relatively evenly distributed across all CA1 layers in dystrophin-deficient mice. Similar changes were evident with the cannabinoid receptor 1, vesicular glutamate transporter 3, parvalbumin, somatostatin and the GABAA receptor alpha1 subunit. The data show that in the absence of dystrophin, there is a rearrangement of the molecular machinery, which underlies the precise spatio-temporal pattern of GABAergic synaptic transmission within the CA1 sub-field of the hippocampus

New fabrication approach to ZnO multiple nanofiber sensors

In the presented work, ZnO nanofiber sensor structures designed and fabricated using a standard microelectronic device technology were studied. The structures in the configuration of a resistor with chemically active ZnO multiple nanofibers deposited by electrospinning method were prepared. Investigation of inclusion in the process reactive- ly sputtered AlN insulating film to improve the robustness of the nanofibres on the substrate was undertaken. Selective wet chemical etching of AlN film using photoresist developers and a photoresist mask to define the sensor active area was studied. The Ti/Au ohmic contacts were fabricated using the lift-off photolithography process. To- pography of the sensor structure details was investigated using AFM. Electrical charac- terization by means of I-V measurements was made. Sensitivity to the physiologically relevant concentration of Bovine Serum Albumin in water solution was shown. When you are citing the document, use the following link http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/2058

Diversité et origine génétique des espèces de la sous famille des Aurantioideae et décryptage des structures interspécifiques des génomes des agrumes modernes

L'étude de l'espaceur intergénique tmL-tmF chez les espèces tunisiennes du genre Citrus montre la présence d'une seule copie du pseudogène tmF chez toutes les variétés analysées. Les valeurs positives et non significatives des tests de neutralité plaident en faveur d'un modèle d'évolution neutre et supportent l'hypothèse d'un scénario démographique stable. Nos résultats montrent clairement la contribution des pools génétiques de C. reticulata et C. maxima dans le développement des espèces secondaires tunisiennes. L'analyse basée sur les séquences nucléotidiques de huit régions génomiques chloroplastiques de 79 variétés de la sous famille des Aurantioideae révèle, via les marqueurs SNPs, une différenciation taxonomique au niveau des tribus, des soustribus, des genres et des espèces. 166 SNPs diagnostiques des 54 clades analysés ont été identifiés suivis d'une sélection de 40 KASPars. L'application de ces marqueurs chez 108 variétés montre un haut taux de transférabilité au sein de la sous famille des Aurantioideae et une cohérence avec les analyses génétiques antérieures du génome chloroplastique 21 clés marqueurs de clade catégoriquement diagnostique de 19 clades ont été identifiées. L'analyse GBS des 55 variétés d'agrumes par séquençage ILLUMINA H1SEQ2000 s'avère efficace dans d'identification des polymorphismes diagnostiques (12564 SNPs/lnDels) de la différenciation C. reticulata/C. maxima couvrant l'ensemble du génome nécessaire au déchiffrage de l'origine phylogénomique tout au long des neuf chromosomes des 55 variétés. L'approche adoptée confirme les analyses récentes basées sur des données de séquence de génome complet pour la clémentine, l'orange douce et amère et la mandarine 'Ponkan'. La technique GBS couplée à la détection des points polymorphes diagnostiques s'avère très efficace dans le décryptage des caryotypes phylogénomiques des variétés qui dérivent d'une mosaïque de deux espèces ancestrales. Le mélange C. reticulata/C. maxima doit être l'élément majeur de la variabilité phénotypique révélée élevée de ces ressources. (Résumé d'auteur

A phase 2 trial investigating the efficacy and safety of the mPGES-1 inhibitor vipoglanstat in systemic sclerosis-related Raynaud's

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to test the hypothesis, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study that vipoglanstat, an inhibitor of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) which decreases prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and increases prostacyclin biosynthesis, improves RP.METHODS: Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and ≥7 RP attacks during the last screening week prior to a baseline visit were randomised to four weeks treatment with vipoglanstat 120 mg or placebo. A daily electronic diary captured RP attacks (duration and pain) and Raynaud's Condition Score, with change in RP attacks/week as primary end point. Cold challenge assessments were performed at baseline and end of treatment. Exploratory endpoints included patients' and physicians' global impression of change, Assessment of Scleroderma-associated Raynaud's Phenomenon questionnaire, mPGES-1 activity, and urinary excretion of arachidonic acid metabolites.RESULTS: Sixty-nine subjects received vipoglanstat (n = 33) or placebo (n = 36). Mean weekly number of RP attacks (baseline; vipoglanstat 14.4[SD 6.7], placebo 18.2[12.6]) decreased by 3.4[95% CI -5.8;-1.0] and 4.2[-6.5;-2.0] attacks per week (p= 0.628) respectively. All patient reported outcomes improved, with no difference between the groups. Mean change in recovery of peripheral blood flow after cold challenge did not differ between the study groups. Vipoglanstat fully inhibited mPGES-1, resulting in 57% reduction of PGE2 and 50% increase of prostacyclin metabolites in urine. Vipoglanstat was safe and well tolerated.CONCLUSION: Although vipoglanstat was safe, and well tolerated in a dose achieving full inhibition of mPGES-1, it was ineffective in SSc-related RP. Further development and evaluation of vipoglanstat will therefore be in other diseases where mPGES-1 plays a pathogenetic role.</p

A phase 2 trial investigating the efficacy and safety of the mPGES-1 inhibitor vipoglanstat in systemic sclerosis-related Raynaud's

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to test the hypothesis, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study that vipoglanstat, an inhibitor of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) which decreases prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and increases prostacyclin biosynthesis, improves RP.METHODS: Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and ≥7 RP attacks during the last screening week prior to a baseline visit were randomised to four weeks treatment with vipoglanstat 120 mg or placebo. A daily electronic diary captured RP attacks (duration and pain) and Raynaud's Condition Score, with change in RP attacks/week as primary end point. Cold challenge assessments were performed at baseline and end of treatment. Exploratory endpoints included patients' and physicians' global impression of change, Assessment of Scleroderma-associated Raynaud's Phenomenon questionnaire, mPGES-1 activity, and urinary excretion of arachidonic acid metabolites.RESULTS: Sixty-nine subjects received vipoglanstat (n = 33) or placebo (n = 36). Mean weekly number of RP attacks (baseline; vipoglanstat 14.4[SD 6.7], placebo 18.2[12.6]) decreased by 3.4[95% CI -5.8;-1.0] and 4.2[-6.5;-2.0] attacks per week (p= 0.628) respectively. All patient reported outcomes improved, with no difference between the groups. Mean change in recovery of peripheral blood flow after cold challenge did not differ between the study groups. Vipoglanstat fully inhibited mPGES-1, resulting in 57% reduction of PGE2 and 50% increase of prostacyclin metabolites in urine. Vipoglanstat was safe and well tolerated.CONCLUSION: Although vipoglanstat was safe, and well tolerated in a dose achieving full inhibition of mPGES-1, it was ineffective in SSc-related RP. Further development and evaluation of vipoglanstat will therefore be in other diseases where mPGES-1 plays a pathogenetic role.</p

Capric Acid Secreted by S. boulardii Inhibits C. albicans Filamentous Growth, Adhesion and Biofilm Formation

Candidiasis are life-threatening systemic fungal diseases, especially of gastro intestinal track, skin and mucous membranes lining various body cavities like the nostrils, the mouth, the lips, the eyelids, the ears or the genital area. Due to increasing resistance of candidiasis to existing drugs, it is very important to look for new strategies helping the treatment of such fungal diseases. One promising strategy is the use of the probiotic microorganisms, which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit. Such a probiotic microorganism is yeast Saccharomyces boulardii, a close relative of baker yeast. Saccharomyces boulardii cells and their extract affect the virulence factors of the important human fungal pathogen C. albicans, its hyphae formation, adhesion and biofilm development. Extract prepared from S. boulardii culture filtrate was fractionated and GC-MS analysis showed that the active fraction contained, apart from 2-phenylethanol, caproic, caprylic and capric acid whose presence was confirmed by ESI-MS analysis. Biological activity was tested on C. albicans using extract and pure identified compounds. Our study demonstrated that this probiotic yeast secretes into the medium active compounds reducing candidal virulence factors. The chief compound inhibiting filamentous C. albicans growth comparably to S. boulardii extract was capric acid, which is thus responsible for inhibition of hyphae formation. It also reduced candidal adhesion and biofilm formation, though three times less than the extract, which thus contains other factors suppressing C. albicans adherence. The expression profile of selected genes associated with C. albicans virulence by real-time PCR showed a reduced expression of HWP1, INO1 and CSH1 genes in C. albicans cells treated with capric acid and S. boulardii extract. Hence capric acid secreted by S. boulardii is responsible for inhibition of C. albicans filamentation and partially also adhesion and biofilm formation

Transmission electron microscopy characterization of fluorescently labelled amyloid β 1-40 and α-synuclein aggregates

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fluorescent tags, including small organic molecules and fluorescent proteins, enable the localization of protein molecules in biomedical research experiments. However, the use of these labels may interfere with the formation of larger-scale protein structures such as amyloid aggregates. Therefore, we investigate the effects of some commonly used fluorescent tags on the morphologies of fibrils grown from the Alzheimer's disease-associated peptide Amyloid β 1-40 (Aβ40) and the Parkinson's disease-associated protein α-synuclein (αS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we verify that N-terminal labeling of Aβ40 with AMCA, TAMRA, and Hilyte-Fluor 488 tags does not prevent the formation of protofibrils and amyloid fibrils of various widths. We also measure the two-photon action cross-section of Aβ40 labelled with Hilyte Fluor 488 and demonstrate that this tag is suitable for use with two-photon fluorescence techniques. Similarly, we find that Alexa Fluor 488 labelling of αS variant proteins near either the N or C terminus (position 9 or 130) does not interfere with the formation of amyloid and other types of αS fibrils. We also present TEM images of fibrils grown from αS C-terminally labelled with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Near neutral pH, two types of αS-EGFP fibrils are observed via TEM, while denaturation of the EGFP tag leads to the formation of additional species.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrate that several small extrinsic fluorescent tags are compatible with studies of amyloid protein aggregation. However, although fibrils can be grown from αS labelled with EGFP, the conformation of the fluorescent protein tag affects the observed aggregate morphologies. Thus, our results should assist researchers with label selection and optimization of solution conditions for aggregation studies involving fluorescence techniques.</p

Update of EULAR recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis

The aim was to update the 2009 European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc), with attention to new therapeutic questions. Update of the previous treatment recommendations was performed according to EULAR standard operating procedures. The task force consisted of 32 SSc clinical experts from Europe and the USA, 2 patients nominated by the pan-European patient association for SSc (Federation of European Scleroderma Associations (FESCA)), a clinical epidemiologist and 2 research fellows. All centres from the EULAR Scleroderma Trials and Research group were invited to submit and select clinical questions concerning SSc treatment using a Delphi approach. Accordingly, 46 clinical questions addressing 26 different interventions were selected for systematic literature review. The new recommendations were based on the available evidence and developed in a consensus meeting with clinical experts and patients. The procedure resulted in 16 recommendations being developed (instead of 14 in 2009) that address treatment of several SSc-related organ complications: Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), digital ulcers (DUs), pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), skin and lung disease, scleroderma renal crisis and gastrointestinal involvement. Compared with the 2009 recommendations, the 2016 recommendations include phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors for the treatment of SSc-related RP and DUs, riociguat, new aspects for endothelin receptor antagonists, prostacyclin analogues and PDE-5 inhibitors for SSc-related PAH. New recommendations regarding the use of fluoxetine for SSc-related RP and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation for selected patients with rapidly progressive SSc were also added. In addition, several comments regarding other treatments addressed in clinical questions and suggestions for the SSc research agenda were formulated. These updated data-derived and consensus-derived recommendations will help rheumatologists to manage patients with SSc in an evidence-based way. These recommendations also give directions for future clinical research in SSc