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Impact of sand organic carbon and climatic changes on the population density and morphometric characters of Emerita asiatica in the East Coast of Southern India

240-244A population density of Emerita asiatica in relation to sand organic carbon in the Nemmeli beach, East coast, Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu was studied. Specimens were collected once in a fortnight from April 2017 to March 2018 by hand picking method in the intertidal region of Nemmeli beach. The total sand organic carbon level was recorded once in a fortnight. The population presented a smaller incidence of males in relation to females (48.66:51.34); however, in May 2017 an inverse pattern occurred (73:27). Ovigerous females were present in all samples with greater frequencies in October and November 2017 whereas, the highest juveniles were present in May and September 2017. The variation noted in a population of Emerita asiatica showed there is a relationship to sand organic carbon fluctuations; it can be determined that the sand organic carbon fluctuations have an influence on the population density of this species in Nemmeli beach. Hence, the rather stable sand organic carbon throughout the year and moderate changes in the sand may well be conducive to population biology of Emerita asiatica

Impact of sand organic carbon and climatic changes on the population density and morphometric characters of Emerita asiatica in the East Coast of Southern India

A population density of Emerita asiatica in relation to sand organic carbon in the Nemmeli beach, East coast, Kanchipuram District of Tamil Nadu was studied. Specimens were collected once in a fortnight from April 2017 to March 2018 by hand picking method in the intertidal region of Nemmeli beach. The total sand organic carbon level was recorded once in a fortnight. The population presented a smaller incidence of males in relation to females (48.66:51.34); however, in May 2017 an inverse pattern occurred (73:27). Ovigerous females were present in all samples with greater frequencies in October and November 2017 whereas, the highest juveniles were present in May and September 2017. The variation noted in a population of Emerita asiatica showed there is a relationship to sand organic carbon fluctuations; it can be determined that the sand organic carbon fluctuations have an influence on the population density of this species in Nemmeli beach. Hence, the rather stable sand organic carbon throughout the year and moderate changes in the sand may well be conducive to population biology of Emerita asiatica

Screening of new isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and cloning of the cry genes

Nine new indigenous isolates of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) were characterized for their colony type, crystal inclusion and toxicity analysis with Helicoverpa armigera Hubner and Spodoptera litura Linn. Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) isolated from all the new isolates were subjected to screening for cry1, cry2, cry4, cry10 and cry11 genes and predicted possible potential DNA amplicons were cloned and sequenced. Partial cry1 gene fragment (~1.5 kb) amplified by degenerate primers and about 450 bp DNA fragment amplified by cry10 gene specific primers from two isolates T109 and T136 were cloned in to T/A cloning vector. DNA sequencing of about 1.5 kb amplicon showed 99% homology to the holotype sequence of cry1Ac1. Nucleotide sequence of about 450 bp fragments of isolate T109 and T136 showed homology to a hypothetical protein and serine/threonine phosphatase respectively.Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), cloning, cry genes, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), toxicity analysi

Leprosy-an unusual cause of a suspicious nodule on mammography

A routine mammogram identified changes thought to be due to a lymph node, which was confirmed on biopsy. The lymph node was infiltrated with macrophages and showed fragmented acid-fast bacilli. The patient had been treated for leprosy some years before and was still taking thalidomide for erythema nodosum leprosum. Leprosy-associated lymphadenopathy may be identified on routine breast screening

Quercetin prevents progression of disease in elastase/LPS-exposed mice by negatively regulating MMP expression

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic bronchitis, emphysema and irreversible airflow limitation. These changes are thought to be due to oxidative stress and an imbalance of proteases and antiproteases. Quercetin, a plant flavonoid, is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. We hypothesized that quercetin reduces lung inflammation and improves lung function in elastase/lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed mice which show typical features of COPD, including airways inflammation, goblet cell metaplasia, and emphysema. Methods Mice treated with elastase and LPS once a week for 4 weeks were subsequently administered 0.5 mg of quercetin dihydrate or 50% propylene glycol (vehicle) by gavage for 10 days. Lungs were examined for elastance, oxidative stress, inflammation, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Effects of quercetin on MMP transcription and activity were examined in LPS-exposed murine macrophages. Results Quercetin-treated, elastase/LPS-exposed mice showed improved elastic recoil and decreased alveolar chord length compared to vehicle-treated controls. Quercetin-treated mice showed decreased levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, a measure of lipid peroxidation caused by oxidative stress. Quercetin also reduced lung inflammation, goblet cell metaplasia, and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and muc5AC. Quercetin treatment decreased the expression and activity of MMP9 and MMP12 in vivo and in vitro, while increasing expression of the histone deacetylase Sirt-1 and suppressing MMP promoter H4 acetylation. Finally, co-treatment with the Sirt-1 inhibitor sirtinol blocked the effects of quercetin on the lung phenotype. Conclusions Quercetin prevents progression of emphysema in elastase/LPS-treated mice by reducing oxidative stress, lung inflammation and expression of MMP9 and MMP12.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78260/1/1465-9921-11-131.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78260/2/1465-9921-11-131.pdfPeer Reviewe

Crystallographic and cellular characterisation of two mechanisms stabilising the native fold of α1-Antitrypsin: implications for disease and drug design

The common Z mutant (Glu342Lys) of α1-antitrypsin results in the formation of polymers that are retained within hepatocytes. This causes liver disease whilst the plasma deficiency of an important proteinase inhibitor predisposes to emphysema. The Thr114Phe and Gly117Phe mutations border a surface cavity identified as a target for rational drug design. These mutations preserve inhibitory activity but reduce the polymerisation of wild-type native α1-antitrypsin in vitro and increase secretion in a Xenopus oocyte model of disease. To understand these effects, we have crystallised both mutants and solved their structures. The 2.2 Å structure of Thr114Phe α1-antitrypsin demonstrates that the effects of the mutation are mediated entirely by well-defined partial cavity blockade and allows in silico screening of fragments capable of mimicking the effects of the mutation. The Gly117Phe mutation operates differently, repacking aromatic side chains in the helix F–β-sheet A interface to induce a half-turn downward shift of the adjacent F helix. We have further characterised the effects of these two mutations in combination with the Z mutation in a eukaryotic cell model of disease. Both mutations increase the secretion of Z α1-antitrypsin in the native conformation, but the double mutants remain more polymerogenic than the wild-type (M) protein. Taken together, these data support different mechanisms by which the Thr114Phe and Gly117Phe mutations stabilise the native fold of α1-antitrypsin and increase secretion of monomeric protein in cell models of disease

Short-term variability of biomarkers of proteinase activity in patients with emphysema associated with type Z alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency

BACKGROUND: The burden of proteinases from inflammatory cells in the lung of subjects with type Pi ZZ of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is higher than in those without the deficiency. Cross-sectional studies have shown increased levels of biomarkers of extracellular matrix degradation in vivo. Longitudinal variability of these biomarkers is unknown but desirable for clinical studies with proteinase inhibitors. METHODS: We measured three different types of biomarkers, including desmosines, elastase-formed fibrinogen fragments and heparan sulfate epitope JM403, in plasma and urine for a period of 7 weeks in a group of 12 patients who participated in a placebo-controlled study to assess the safety of a single inhalation of hyaluronic acid. RESULTS: Effect of study medication on any of the biomarkers was not seen. Baseline desmosines in plasma and urine correlated with baseline CO diffusion capacity (R = 0.81, p = 0.01 and R = 0.65, p = 0.05). Mean coefficient of variation within patients (CVi) for plasma and urine desmosines was 18.7 to 13.5%, respectively. Change in urinary desmosine levels correlated significantly with change in plasma desmosine levels (R = 0.84, p < 0.01). Mean CVi for fibrinogen fragments in plasma was 20.5% and for JM403 in urine was 27.8%. No correlations were found between fibrinogen fragments or JM403 epitope and desmosines. CONCLUSION: We found acceptable variability in our study parameters, indicating the feasibility of their use in an evaluation of biochemical efficacy of alpha-1-antitrypsin augmentation therapy in Pi Z subjects