LC-MS PHENOLIC COMPOSITION CHANGES AND ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITIES OF THE SAHARAN TREE ARGANIA SPINOSA LEAVES UNDER SALNITY

Adaptation of many plant species to hostile environmental conditions suggest the presence of powerful antioxidative constituents in their tissues such as phenolic compounds. Many works on antioxidant activity of the Moroccan argan oil have been carried out. However, it is the first time that salt impact on Algerian arganleaves is assessed. The main objective of this work was to study the soil salinity impact on phenolic content and composition, and the antioxidant activities of the argan leaves collected from three point in the same site of Tindouf region (Algeria) characterized by a gradient of salt concentration (Lightly Salt Tindouf, Salt Tindouf and Very Salt Tindouf). Variability of phenolic contents, antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities of the argan leaves as function of salt soil concentration were evaluated. Identification was done by LC-MS system. Regarding phenolic contents (total polyphenol, flavonoid and condensed tannin), the Salt Tindouf leaves displayed the highest amounts (total polyphenol = 77.28 mg GAE/g DW). Moreover, the same tendency was observed for antioxidant activities, for instance, total antioxidant activity of leaves from Salt Tindouf was the highest (83.6 mg GAE/g DW). In addition, leaves from Salt Tindouf displayed the highest scavenging activity against DPPH radical (IC50 = 6.5 μg/ml) as compared to the two others points. These results were also confirmed by LC-MS analyses. Leaves synthesize more compounds with very important biological activities under salinity which allow them to be valorized in different fields, such as pharmacology and agro-food industries

Airway surface liquid depth imaged by surface laser reflectance microscopy

The thin layer of liquid at the surface of airway epithelium, the airway surface liquid (ASL), is important in normal airway physiology and in the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis. At present, the best method to measure ASL depth involves scanning confocal microscopy after staining with an aqueous-phase fluorescent dye. We describe here a simple, noninvasive imaging method to measure ASL depth by reflectance imaging of an epithelial mucosa in which the surface is illuminated at a 45-degree angle by an elongated 13-µm wide rectangular beam produced by a 670-nm micro-focus laser. The principle of the method is that air–liquid, liquid–liquid, and liquid–cell interfaces produce distinct specular or diffuse reflections that can be imaged to give a micron-resolution replica of the mucosal surface. The method was validated using fluid layers of specified thicknesses and applied to measure ASL depth in cell cultures and ex vivo fragments of pig trachea. In addition, the method was adapted to measure transepithelial fluid transport from the dynamics of fluid layer depth. Compared with confocal imaging, ASL depth measurement by surface laser reflectance microscopy does not require dye staining or costly instrumentation, and can potentially be adapted for in vivo measurements using fiberoptics

Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis of α-Galactosidase A in Human Podocytes in Fabry Disease

Injury to the glomerular podocyte is a key mechanism in human glomerular disease and podocyte repair is an important therapeutic target. In Fabry disease, podocyte injury is caused by the intracellular accumulation of globotriaosylceramide. This study identifies in the human podocyte three endocytic receptors, mannose 6-phosphate/insulin-like growth II receptor, megalin, and sortilin and demonstrates their drug delivery capabilities for enzyme replacement therapy. Sortilin, a novel α-galactosidase A binding protein, reveals a predominant intracellular expression but also surface expression in the podocyte. The present study provides the rationale for the renal effect of treatment with α-galactosidase A and identifies potential pathways for future non-carbohydrate based drug delivery to the kidney podocyte and other potential affected organs

Effect of Canagliflozin on Renal Threshold for Glucose, Glycemia, and Body Weight in Normal and Diabetic Animal Models

Background: Canagliflozin is a sodium glucose co-transporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitor in clinical development for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: 14 C-alpha-methylglucoside uptake in Chinese hamster ovary-K cells expressing human, rat, or mouse SGLT2 or SGLT1; 3 H-2-deoxy-D-glucose uptake in L6 myoblasts; and 2-electrode voltage clamp recording of oocytes expressing human SGLT3 were analyzed. Graded glucose infusions were performed to determine rate of urinary glucose excretion (UGE) at different blood glucose (BG) concentrations and the renal threshold for glucose excretion (RTG) in vehicle or canagliflozin-treated Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. This study aimed to characterize the pharmacodynamic effects of canagliflozin in vitro and in preclinical models of T2DM and obesity. Results: Treatment with canagliflozin 1 mg/kg lowered RT G from 415612 mg/dl to 94610 mg/dl in ZDF rats while maintaining a threshold relationship between BG and UGE with virtually no UGE observed when BG was below RTG. Canagliflozin dose-dependently decreased BG concentrations in db/db mice treated acutely. In ZDF rats treated for 4 weeks, canagliflozin decreased glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and improved measures of insulin secretion. In obese animal models, canagliflozin increased UGE and decreased BG, body weight gain, epididymal fat, liver weight, and the respiratory exchange ratio

Identification of a biological signature for schizophrenia in serum

Biomarkers are now used in many areas of medicine but are still lacking for psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia (SCZ). We have used a multiplex molecular profiling approach to measure serum concentrations of 181 proteins and small molecules in 250 first and recent onset SCZ, 35 major depressive disorder (MDD), 32 euthymic bipolar disorder (BPD), 45 Asperger syndrome and 280 control subjects. Preliminary analysis resulted in identification of a signature comprised of 34 analytes in a cohort of closely matched SCZ (n = 71) and control (n = 59) subjects. Partial least squares discriminant analysis using this signature gave a separation of 60-75% of SCZ subjects from controls across five independent cohorts. The same analysis also gave a separation of similar to 50% of MDD patients and 10-20% of BPD and Asperger syndrome subjects from controls. These results demonstrate for the first time that a biological signature for SCZ can be identified in blood serum. This study lays the groundwork for development of a diagnostic test that can be used as an aid for distinguishing SCZ subjects from healthy controls and from those affected by related psychiatric illnesses with overlapping symptoms. Molecular Psychiatry (2012) 17, 494-502; doi:10.1038/mp.2011.42; published online 12 April 201

Vibrations piezo-control of FGM beam in a thermal environment

An analytical method on the active vibration control of a functionally graded beam equipped with layers of piezoelectric sensors and actuators, in a thermal environment, is studied. The study based on Euler-Bernoulli theory and finite element method, applied to a flexible beam divided into a finite number of elements. The equations of motion are obtained by applying the principle of Hamilton. The structure is modeled analytically then numerically and the results of the simulations are presented to visualize the states of their dynamics