Growth, mortality and spawning season of the spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus Forsskal, 1775) in coastal waters of Hormozgan Province in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

The population parameters and spawning season of the Spangled emperor (Lethrinus nebulosus) were studied in coastal waters of Hormozgan province. The monthly calculated mean values of gonadosomatic index (GSI) of females were indicate to increase from February, reach the highest in March and decline in June. The spawning season peak of L. nebulosus occurred in March. The Von Bertalanffy growth parameters, L∞, K and t0 were estimated as, 67.2cm, 0.16.year^-1 and -1.161 year, respectively. The relationship between weight and length (Fork Length) can be expressed as W=0.051 L^2.722, which indicates that Spangled Emperor has negative allometric growth. Using length converted catch curve, total mortality (Z) was estimated as 1.13 year^-1 and natural mortality was estimated using Pauly's equation, as 0.57 per year. Finally, the fishing mortality (F) was 0.56, which gives an exploitation rate (E) of 0.50

Growth parameters and mortality rates of Liza klunzingeri in the Iranian waters of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, using Length Frequency Data

The aim of the present study was to investigate the population dynamics of Liza klunzingeri, in Hormouzgan province waters located in northern coasts of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea. This study was carried out from October 2007 to September 2008. Samples were collected from commercial stake traps. The relationship between weight and fork length was found to be W= 0.0214 F.L^2.8233 suggesting that Liza klunzingeri shows isometric growth. Length-based stock assessment using the FiSAT software package showed an asymptotic length (L∞) of 20.3cm FL and growth coefficient of 0.6.yr^-1. These results gave a growth performance index (ø) of 2.39. The total mortality coefficient was estimated to be 2.31, a natural mortality of 1.09 and fishing mortality of 1.22. The estimated total mortality which, in relative terms, is considered average (2.31.yr^-1), coupled with the currently observed exploitation rate of 0.52 for L. klunzingeri, estimated from the mortality rates, suggested that the species is moderately exploited

The correlation of RNase A enzymatic activity with the changes in the distance between Nepsilon2-His12 and N delta1-His119 upon addition of stabilizing and destabilizing salts.

The effect of stabilizing and destabilizing salts on the catalytic behavior of ribonuclease A (RNase A) was investigated at pH 7.5 and 25 degrees C, using spectrophotometric, viscometric and molecular dynamic methods. The changes in the distance between N(epsilon2) of His(12) and N(delta1) of His(119) at the catalytic center of RNase A upon the addition of sodium sulfate, sodium hydrogen sulfate and sodium thiocyanate were evaluated by molecular dynamic methods. The compactness and expansion in terms of Stokes radius of RNase A upon the addition of sulfate ions as kosmotropic salts, and thiocyanate ion as a chaotropic salt, were estimated by viscometric measurements. Enzyme activity was measured using cytidine 2', 3'-cyclic monophosphate as a substrate. The results from the measurements of distances between N(epsilon2) of His(12) and N(delta1) of His(119) and Stokes radius suggest (i) that the presence of sulfate ions decreases the distance between the catalytic His residues and increases the globular compactness, and (ii) that there is an expansion of the enzyme surface as well as elongation of the catalytic center in the presence of thiocyanate ion. These findings are in agreement with activity measurements

Predictors of functional outcome vary by the hemisphere of involvement in major ischemic stroke treated with intra-arterial therapy: a retrospective cohort study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Conflicting data exists regarding the effect of hemispheric lateralization on acute ischemic stroke outcome. Some of this variability may be related to heterogeneous study populations, particularly with respect to the level of arterial occlusion. Furthermore, little is known about the relationship between stroke lateralization and predictors of outcome. The purpose of this study was to characterize the impact of stroke lateralization on both functional outcome and its predictors in a well-defined population of anterior circulation proximal artery occlusions treated with IAT.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-five consecutive left- and 35 consecutive right-sided stroke patients with intracranial ICA and/or MCA occlusions who underwent IAT were retrospectively analyzed. Ischemic change on pre-treatment imaging was quantified. Reperfusion success was graded using the Mori scale. Good outcome at three months was defined as an mRS ≤ 2. Left- and right-sided strokes were compared for outcome and its predictors.</p> <p>Result</p> <p>Of 70 patients with median NIHSS score of 18 (IQR, 14-21), 19 (27.1%) had a good outcome. There were 21 terminal ICA and 49 MCA occlusions. There was no difference in the rate of good outcomes between left- (n = 9) and right-sided (n = 10) strokes (p = 0.99). There were no significant differences in occlusion level, age, ischemic change on initial imaging and degree of reperfusion between left- and right-sided strokes. Left-sided strokes had higher baseline NIHSS scores (p = 0.02) and lower admission SBP (p = 0.009). Independent predictors of outcome for left-sided strokes were NIHSS (p = 0.0002) and reperfusion (p = 0.006), and for right-sided strokes were age (p = 0.002) and reperfusion (p = 0.003). In univariate analysis, pre-treatment ischemic change on NCCT was associated with outcome only for left-sided strokes (p = 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In anterior circulation proximal artery occlusions treated with IAT, hemispheric lateralization influences the clinical and imaging predictors of outcome. Most notably, NIHSS predicts outcome only for the left-sided strokes in this population. This finding has important implications for outcome prediction in the acute setting and indicates a need for stroke severity scales more sensitive to right hemispheric deficits.</p

Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Reveals Neuroprotection by Oral Minocycline in a Nonhuman Primate Model of Accelerated NeuroAIDS

Background: Despite the advent of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders continue to be a significant problem. In efforts to understand and alleviate neurocognitive deficits associated with HIV, we used an accelerated simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) macaque model of NeuroAIDS to test whether minocycline is neuroprotective against lentiviral-induced neuronal injury. Methodology/Principal Findings: Eleven rhesus macaques were infected with SIV, depleted of CD8+ lymphocytes, and studied until eight weeks post inoculation (wpi). Seven animals received daily minocycline orally beginning at 4 wpi. Neuronal integrity was monitored in vivo by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and post-mortem by immunohistochemistry for synaptophysin (SYN), microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), and neuronal counts. Astrogliosis and microglial activation were quantified by measuring glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA-1), respectively. SIV infection followed by CD8+ cell depletion induced a progressive decline in neuronal integrity evidenced by declining N-acetylaspartate/creatine (NAA/Cr), which was arrested with minocycline treatment. The recovery of this ratio was due to increases in NAA, indicating neuronal recovery, and decreases in Cr, likely reflecting downregulation of glial cell activation. SYN, MAP2, and neuronal counts were found to be higher in minocycline-treated animals compared to untreated animals while GFAP and IBA-1 expression were decreased compared to controls. CSF and plasma viral loads were lower in MN-treated animals. Conclusions/Significance: In conclusion, oral minocycline alleviates neuronal damage induced by the AIDS virus

Inhibition study of adenosine deaminase by caffeine using spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry.

Kinetic and thermodynamic studies were made on the effect of caffeine on the activity of adenosine deaminase in 50 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.5, using UV spectrophotometry and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). An uncompetitive inhibition was observed for caffeine. A graphical fitting method was used for determination of binding constant and enthalpy of inhibitor binding by using isothermal titration microcalorimetry data. The dissociation-binding constant is equal to 350 μM by the microcalorimetry method, which agrees well with the value of 342 μM for the inhibition constant that was obtained from the spectroscopy method. Positive dependence of caffeine binding on temperature indicates a hydrophobic interaction

Binding properties and structural changes of human growth hormone upon interaction with cobalt ion

Binding properties and structural changes of human growth hormone (hGH) due to the interaction by cobalt ion (Co2+) were done at 27°C in NaCl solution, 50 mM, using different techniques of UV-Vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. There is a set of three identical and non-interacting binding sites for cobalt ions. The intrinsic association equilibrium constant and the molar enthalpy of binding obtained by ITC are 0.80 mM-1 and -16.70 kJ mol-1, respectively. The intrinsic association equilibrium constant obtained by a standard isothermal titration UV-Vis spectrophotometry method is also 0.79 mM-1, which is in good agreement with the value obtained from ITC. The Gibbs free energy and entropy changes due to the binding of cobalt ion on hGH are -16.67 kJ mol-1 and -0.1 J K-1 mol-1, respectively. Energetic domains analysis by DSC shows that phase transition of hGH in the presence of cobalt occurs at one main transition. Deconvolution of the main transition provides two sub-transitions with different values of the melting point and enthalpy of unfolding (33°C and 164 kJ mol-1 for the first and 49°C and 177 kJ mol-1 for the second, respectively). Interaction of cobalt ions with hGH prevents aggregation by an affect on the hydrophobicity of the protein macromolecule and provide useful information about its structure due to becoming reversible of protein thermal denaturation. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media LLC

The safety and effectiveness of a curved needle for vertebral augmentation: comparison with traditional techniques

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a curved needle compared with traditional (noncurved needle) techniques in a large single-center experience. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a retrospective analysis of 243 consecutive vertebral augmentation procedures over a 17-month period. Curved needle procedures were compared with noncurved needle procedures for baseline clinical variables, complication rate, pain relief, and improvement in disability. Procedure duration and fluoroscopy time were compared between the two cohorts. RESULTS: Between curved needle and noncurved needle procedures, there were no statistically significant differences in the baseline clinical variables, fracture location, and fracture etiology. No complications were noted in either group. In both groups, there was a median improvement in the visual analog scale (VAS) score of 2.0 points (P = .62). More than 90% of procedures in both groups resulted in some pain improvement (P = .78). For both groups, the median improvement in disability on the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) was 4.0 points (P = .69). Approximately 70% of procedures in both groups resulted in improvement in disability (P = 1.00). In single-level cases, there were shorter procedure times (51.8 min ± 2.7 vs 62.8 min ± 2.2, P = .002) and shorter fluoroscopy times (P = .31) for curved needle procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The curved needle is as safe and effective as traditional vertebral augmentation techniques in treating the pain and disability related to vertebral compression fractures. Additionally, the curved needle is associated with shorter procedure duration and reduced fluoroscopy time