Redox (In)activations of Metalloenzymes: A Protein Film Voltammetry Approach

International audienceRedox metalloenzymes are omnipresent in living organisms where they catalyze key cellular reactions with great efficiency. These enzymes can often be reversibly placed into inactive states following changes in redox conditions. This is a hindrance for their use in biotechnological devices, and also a complication for their study via a structure/function approach, because structural data alone usually is not enough to discriminate between active and inactive states. However, these inactive states can also inform on the chemistry of the enzyme's active sites and on their catalytic cycles. A technique that has proved particularly valuable in the last decades for studying these processes is protein film voltammetry (PFV), in which an enzyme is immobilized on an electrode in a configuration where direct electron transfer is possible. In this article, we review the studies of redox (in)activation processes using PFV, present the theory for a number of cases (reversible inactivations, irreversible activations), and give guidelines to obtain and interpret suitable kinetic data

PENGARUH DEBRIS DALUGA Cyrtosperma merkusii SEBAGAI SUMBER KARBON PEMBENTUK BIOFLOK TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN Oreochromis sp

Oreochromis sp. merupakan salah satu sumber protein hewani yang umumnya dikonsumsi oleh masyarakat Sulawesi Utara. Tingginya permintaan bahan komoditas ini juga harus dibarengi dengan produksi yang tinggi pula. Pemeliharaan dengan sistem bioflok merupakan metode yang dapat diterapkan untuk mencapai tujuan diatas. Keunggulan sistem bioflok ini adalah dapat mempercepat pertumbuhan ikan, juga mengurangi kebutuhan pakan dan mengoptimalkan penggunaan wadah pemeliharaan. Debris daluga adalah produk sampingan dari pengolahan tepung daluga yang patinya telah diekstraksi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh pemanfaatan debris daluga sebagai sumber karbon dalam media bioflok terhadap pemeliharaan Oreochromis sp. Penelitian ini menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan 4 perlakuan, dan 3 ulangan. Penelitian ini menguji penambahan karbon daluga pada media bioflok. Perlakuan terdiri dari A) tanpa bioflok (kontrol), B) C/N=15 (daluga), C) C/N=20 (daluga), D) C/N=25 (daluga). Hewan yang diuji dalam penelitian ini adalah Oreochromis sp. yang panjangnya 7-8 cm. Parameter yang diamati meliputi pertumbuhan dan efisiensi pakan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan debris daluga sebagai sumber karbon pada media bioflok tidak berbeda nyata (p>0,05) terhadap pertumbuhan dan efisiensi pakan. Kesimpulan penelitian ini yaitu, pemanfaatan debris daluga sebagai sumber karbon pada media bioflok belum dapat mengoptimalkan pertumbuhan dan efisiensi pakan Oreochromis sp

30-Day Postoperative Morbidity of Emergency Surgery for Obstructive Right- and Left-Sided Colon Cancer in Obese Patients: A Multicenter Cohort Study of the French Surgical Association

BACKGROUND: Emergency surgery impairs postoperative outcomes in colorectal cancer patients. No study has assessed the relationship between obesity and postoperative results in this setting. OBJECTIVE: To compare the results of emergency surgery for obstructive colon cancer (OCC) in an obese patient population with those in overweight and normal weight patient groups. METHODS: From 2000 to 2015, patients undergoing emergency surgery for OCC in French surgical centers members of the French National Surgical Association were included. Three groups were defined: normal weight (body mass index [BMI] < 25.0 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9 kg/m2), and obese (BMI ≥30.0 kg/m2). RESULTS: Of 1,241 patients, 329 (26.5%) were overweight and 143 (11.5%) were obese. Obese patients had significantly higher American society of anesthesiologists score, more cardiovascular comorbidity and more hemodynamic instability at presentation. Overall postoperative mortality and morbidity were 8 and 51%, respectively, with no difference between the 3 groups. For obese patients with left-sided OCC, stoma-related complications were significantly increased (8 vs. 5 vs. 15%, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Compared with lower BMI patients, obese patients with OCC had a more severe presentation at admission but similar surgical management. Obesity did not increase 30-day postoperative morbidity except stoma-related complications for those with left-sided OCC

Nanobacteria Are Mineralo Fetuin Complexes

“Nanobacteria” are nanometer-scale spherical and ovoid particles which have spurred one of the biggest controversies in modern microbiology. Their biological nature has been severely challenged by both geologists and microbiologists, with opinions ranging from considering them crystal structures to new life forms. Although the nature of these autonomously replicating particles is still under debate, their role in several calcification-related diseases has been reported. In order to gain better insights on this calciferous agent, we performed a large-scale project, including the analysis of “nanobacteria” susceptibility to physical and chemical compounds as well as the comprehensive nucleotide, biochemical, proteomic, and antigenic analysis of these particles. Our results definitively ruled out the existence of “nanobacteria” as living organisms and pointed out the paradoxical role of fetuin (an anti-mineralization protein) in the formation of these self-propagating mineral complexes which we propose to call “nanons.” The presence of fetuin within renal calculi was also evidenced, suggesting its role as a hydroxyapatite nucleating factor

Macrophage Activation and Polarization: Nomenclature and Experimental Guidelines

Description of macrophage activation is currently contentious and confusing. Like the biblical Tower of Babel, macrophage activation encompasses a panoply of descriptors used in different ways. The lack of consensus on how to define macrophage activation in experiments in vitro and in vivo impedes progress in multiple ways, including the fact that many researchers still consider there to be only two types of activated macrophages, often termed M1 and M2. Here, we describe a set of standards encompassing three principles—the source of macrophages, definition of the activators, and a consensus collection of markers to describe macrophage activation—with the goal of unifying experimental standards for diverse experimental scenarios. Collectively, we propose a common framework for macrophage-activation nomenclature

High prevalence of vertebral fractures in women with breast cancer starting aromatase inhibitor therapy

Background: The purpose of this study was to describe bone status in a large cohort of postmenopausal women with nonmetastatic breast cancer, at the initiation of aromatase inhibitor therapy.Patients and methods: A prospective, transversal and clinical study was conducted. Each woman had an extensive medical history, a biological evaluation, a bone mineral density (BMD) measurement and spinal X-rays. Results: Four hundred and ninety-seven women aged 63.8 ± 9.6 years were included in this study. Eighty-five percent of these women had a 25-OH vitamin D concentration <75 nmol/l. One hundred and fifty-six women (31.4%) had a T-score < −2 at one of the three site measurements. Ninety-five women (19.1%) had a history of nonvertebral fracture with a total of 120 fractures. Spine X-rays evaluation revealed that 20% of the women had at least one vertebral fracture. The presence of vertebral fracture was associated with nonvertebral fracture history [odds ratio (OR) 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–2.4] and with spine BMD (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.7). The prevalence of vertebral fracture reached 62.9% in women with age above 70 years and femoral T-score < −2.5. Conclusion: Before starting aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer, a large proportion of women had a vitamin D insufficiency and vertebral fractures

Global Analysis of Circulating Immune Cells by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

Background: MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is currently used in microbiological diagnosis to characterize bacterial populations. Our aim was to determine whether this technique could be applied to intact eukaryotic cells, and in particular, to cells involved in the immune response. Methodology/Principal Findings: A comparison of frozen monocytes, T lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes revealed specific peak profiles. We also found that twenty cell types had specific profiles, permitting the establishment of a cell database. The circulating immune cells, namely monocytes, T lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells, were distinct from tissue immune cells such as monocyte-derived macrophages and dendritic cells. In addition, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry was valuable to easily identify the signatures of monocytes and T lymphocytes in peripheral mononuclear cells. Conclusions/Significance: This method was rapid and easy to perform, and unlike flow cytometry, it did not require any additional components such as specific antibodies. The MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry approach could be extended t

Standardization Definition Document

The objective of this document is the definition of a set of cartographic and technical standards and directions to be used, adapted or -in minor form -established for GMAP. Standards proposed and mentioned in the present documents include geologic and cartographic aspects. Some of the proposed directions and standards are initial ones that are planned to be refined and/or updated throughout the Europlanet H2024RI project, to be used within the VA activities and for future sustainable European planetarymapping efforts beyond the RI.The state of the art and relevant documents are included, as well as process-specific and body-specific best practice and exemplary published cases. The approaches for two-dimensional mapping and three-dimensional geologic mapping and modelling are introduced, as well as the range of non-standard map types that are envisaged within GMAP activities. Mapping review directions are indicated, as well data sharing, distribution and discovery.Proposed standards, best practice, andtools are based on existing ones or on additional or new developments and adaptations.Appendices are included and point to either individual developments or external resources and tools that will be maintained throughout the duration of the research infrastructure, and beyond it, through sustainability.The present document is going to be a live document permanently accessible on the GMAP wiki and periodically updated in form of a deliverable

The Gene Expression Analysis of Blood Reveals S100A11 and AQP9 as Potential Biomarkers of Infective Endocarditis

BACKGROUND: The diagnostic and prognostic assessments of infective endocarditis (IE) are challenging. To investigate the host response during IE and to identify potential biomarkers, we determined the circulating gene expression profile using whole genome microarray analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS: A transcriptomic case-control study was performed on blood samples from patients with native valve IE (n = 39), excluded IE after an initial suspicion (n = 10) at patient's admission, and age-matched healthy controls (n = 10). Whole genome microarray analysis showed that patients with IE exhibited a specific transcriptional program with a predominance of gene categories associated with cell activation as well as innate immune and inflammatory responses. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR performed on a selection of highly modulated genes showed that the expression of the gene encoding S100 calcium binding protein A11 (S100A11) was significantly increased in patients with IE in comparison with controls (P<0.001) and patients with excluded IE (P<0.05). Interestingly, the upregulated expression of the S100A11 gene was more pronounced in staphylococcal IE than in streptococcal IE (P<0.01). These results were confirmed by serum concentrations of the S100A11 protein. Finally, we showed that in patients with IE, the upregulation of the aquaporin-9 gene (AQP9) was significantly associated with the occurrence of acute heart failure (P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Using transcriptional signatures of blood samples, we identified S100A11 as a potential diagnostic marker of IE, and AQP9 as a potential prognostic factor