In vitro propagation of Rosa hybrida L. cv. Al-Taif Rose plant

In this study, a protocol for in vitro propagation of Rosa hybrida L. cv. Al-Taif Rose was established using nodal segments harboring axillary buds as explants. In vitro stages of shoot initiation, multiplication and elongation were performed. Explants were cultured on solid Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with different concentrations of benzyl aminopurine (BAP, 1, 2 and 3 mg/l) in combination with 1 mg/l kinetin (Kn). Effect of different concentrations and combinations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on root formation of shoots were studied. The highest percentage of shoot initiation (85%) was observed on MS medium containing 2 mg/l BAP + 1 mg/l Kn, whereas maximum average number of multiplied shoots (2.7) was produced on MS medium with 3 mg/l BAP + 1 mg/l Kn. Highest average number of elongated shoots (26.7) was noticed on MS medium containing 1 mg/l BAP and 1 mg/l Kn. For rooting, highest percentage (66.7%) of rooted shoots was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l IBA. Plantlets with 4 to 5 roots of 3 to 5 cm length were successfully transferred to pots containing sterile peat moss for acclimatization.Keywords: Rosa hybrid L. cv. Al-Taif Rose, axillary bud explants, in vitro propagation, multiplication, acclimatizatio

Establishment of two cell lines from embryonic cells of Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera : Gelichiidae)

Two cell lines from the most important insect pest of cotton, #Pectinophora gossypiella S., were obtained from an embryonic tissue culture. The cells were cultured in GRACE's modified medium. The first cell line, designated ORS-PgS (PgS), was obtained by selecting the non-adherent cells during subculturing and consisted of a homogeneous population of rounded cells. The second cell line, designated ORS-PgA (PgA), obtained without any artificial selection, was a heterogeneous population of spherical and spindle-shaped cells with a great capacity to adhere. The two cell lines had a doubling time of 40 and 48 h respectively and were sub-cultured for more than 50 passages. Their polypeptidic profiles appeared identical but were different from those of other lepidopteran cell lines tested. The two cell lines support the multiplication of #Autographa california nucleopolyhedrovirus, producing 100000 plaque forming units/ml. In 1 to 2% PgS cells, polyhedra were synthetized, whereas PgA cells multiplied only virions. (Résumé d'auteur

Detection of FXIII gene V34L and fibrinogen β-gene -455G/A polymorphisms among Saudi Arabia population via polymerase chain reaction-reverse hybridization technique

FXIII gene Val34Leu variant appears to be associated with decreased risk of myocardial infarction and venous thromboembolism as well as with increased risk of intracerebral hemorrhage. Fibrinogen β-gene SNP -455G/A are associated with differences in the plasma levels of fibrinogen and severity of arterial disease. The aim of the present work was to study the prevalence of FXIII gene V34L and Fibrinogen β-gene -455G/A SNPs in Saudi population. Among 200 blood samples randomly collected from unrelated healthy Saudi subjects, FXIII gene V34L and Fibrinogen β-gene -455G/A SNPs were genotyped via cardiovascular disease (CVD) StripAssay (ViennaLab, Austria. Homozygous (V/V) and heterozygous (V/L) genotypes were detected with 96 and 4%, respectively, among FXIII gene V34L genotypes, whereas (L/L) genotype was not found. The allele frequency was 0.98 for V allele and 0.02 for L allele. Three genotypes of Fibrinogen β-gene -455G/A SNP (GG, GA and AA) were obtained and its prevalence (%) was 70, 25 and 5, respectively. The frequency of G allele was 0.825 and 0.175 for A allele. Prevalence of FXIII gene Vl34L polymorphism and its allele frequency are in line with other Asian populations. Distribution of β-gene -455G/A genotypes and allele frequency are in accordance with previous reports in different ethnic groups. This is the first time to report these polymorphisms in Saudi Arabia population. This study provides valuable information on Saudi genetic background in comparison with other populations. In addition, it serves as a template for future clinical research involving cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.Key words: FXIII gene V34L, fibrinogen β-gene -455G/A, polymorphisms, Saudi Arabia

Association between polymorphisms of SLC6A3 and DRD1 genes and autism among Saudi Arabia Taif population using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR- RFLP)

The prevalence of autism in Saudi Arabia is 18 per 10,000, higher than the 13 per 10,000 reported in developed  countries. The etiology of autism is still not completely understood. Different studies support the involvement  of dopaminergic neurotransmitter system in the etiology of autism. Several lines of evidences suggest the role of some dopamine related genes, such as DRD1 and SLC6A3 in the etiology of autism. The aim of the present  work was to study the possible role of rs2550936 A/C polymorphism at SLC6A3 locus as well as rs4532 A/G  polymorphism at DRD1 locus in the etiology of autism among Saudi population. The polymorphisms of DRD1  and LC6A3 were genotyped in the case-control study using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment  length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Significant association as risk factor was found between autism  and GA genotype of DRD1 [OR = 3.5 CI (1.04, 12.41*)] as well as CA genotype of SLC6A3 [OR = 2.53 CI  (1.03, 6.26*)], while CC genotype of SLC6A3 revealed protective effect. In conclusion, possible risk  genotypes  for autism in the DRD1 and SLC6A3 genes were observed. This is the first report in Saudi Arabia  population and Arab world. Therefore further investigations of these markers and other SNPs of SLC6A3 and  DRD1 genes are considered in large replication samples with other causal factors to enable positive  identification of risk genotypes and generalize obtained results.Key words: Etiology, polymorphism, autism, genotype

Photostability of commercial sunscreens upon sun exposure and irradiation by ultraviolet lamps

BACKGROUND: Sunscreens are being widely used to reduce exposure to harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The fact that some sunscreens are photounstable has been known for many years. Since the UV-absorbing ingredients of sunscreens may be photounstable, especially in the long wavelength region, it is of great interest to determine their degradation during exposure to UV radiation. Our aim was to investigate the photostability of seven commercial sunscreen products after natural UV exposure (UVnat) and artificial UV exposure (UVart). METHODS: Seven commercial sunscreens were studied with absorption spectroscopy. Sunscreen product, 0.5 mg/cm(2), was placed between plates of silica. The area under the curve (AUC) in the spectrum was calculated for UVA (320–400 nm), UVA1 (340–400 nm), UVA2 (320–340 nm) and UVB (290–320 nm) before (AUC(before)) and after (AUC(after)) UVart (980 kJ/m(2 )UVA and 12 kJ/m(2 )of UVB) and before and after UVnat. If theAUC Index (AUCI), defined as AUCI = AUC(after)/AUC(before), was > 0.80, the sunscreen was considered photostable. RESULTS: Three sunscreens were unstable after 90 min of UVnat; in the UVA range the AUCI was between 0.41 and 0.76. In the UVB range one of these sunscreens was unstable with an AUCI of 0.75 after 90 min. Three sunscreens were photostable after 120 min of UVnat; in the UVA range the AUCI was between 0.85 and 0.99 and in the UVB range between 0.92 and 1.0. One sunscreen showed in the UVA range an AUCI of 0.87 after UVnat but an AUCI of 0.72 after UVart. Five of the sunscreens were stable in the UVB region. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that several sunscreens are photounstable in the UVA range after UVnat and UVart. There is a need for a standardized method to measure photostability, and the photostability should be marked on the sunscreen product

Sense of Coherence and Gambling: Exploring the Relationship Between Sense of Coherence, Gambling Behaviour and Gambling-Related Harm

Understanding why some people experience problems with gambling whilst others are able to restrict gambling to recreational levels is still largely unexplained. One potential explanation is through salutogenesis, which is a health promotion approach of understanding factors which move people towards health rather than disease. An important aspect of salutogenesis is sense of coherence. Individuals with stronger sense of coherence perceive their environment as comprehensible, manageable and meaningful. The present study examined the relationship of individuals’ sense of coherence on their gambling behaviour and experience of gambling related harm. This exploratory study utilised an archival dataset (n = 1236) from an online, cross sectional survey of people who had experienced negative consequences from gambling. In general, a stronger sense of coherence was related to lower problem gambling severity. When gambling behaviour was controlled for, sense of coherence was significantly related to the experience of individual gambling harms. A strong sense of coherence can be seen as a protective factor against problematic gambling behaviour, and subsequent gambling related harms. These findings support the value of both primary and tertiary prevention strategies that strengthen sense of coherence as a harm minimisation strategy. The present study demonstrates the potential value of, and provides clear direction for, considering sense of coherence in order to understand gambling-related issues.This study was funded by the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Grant VRGF1-13

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)