Arginase Promotes Neointima Formation in Rat Injured Carotid Arteries

Objective—Arginase stimulates the proliferation of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs); however, the influence of arginase on VSMC growth in vivo is not known. This study investigated the impact of arginase on cell cycle progression and neointima formation following experimental arterial injury. Methods and Results—Balloon injury of rat carotid arteries resulted in a sustained increase in arginase activity in the vessel wall and the induction of arginase I protein in both the media and neointima of injured vessels. Furthermore, local perivascular application of the potent and selective arginase inhibitors S-(2-boronoethyl)-L-cysteine (BEC) or NG-hydroxy-nor-L-arginine (L-OHNA) immediately after injury markedly attenuated medial and neointimal DNA synthesis and neointima formation. Substantial arginase I protein and arginase activity was also detected in rat cultured aortic VSMCs. Moreover, treatment of VSMCs with BEC or L-OHNA, or knockdown of arginase I protein, arrested cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and induced the expression of the cyclin-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, p21. Conclusion—This study demonstrates that arginase is essential for VSMCs to enter the cell cycle and that arginase I contributes to the remodeling response following arterial injury. Arginase I represents a potentially new therapeutic target for the treatment of vasculoproliferative disorders.Originally published Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, Vol. 29, No. 4, Apr 200

Expression of peanut agglutinin-binding mucin-type glycoprotein in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma as a marker

BACKGROUND: The TF (Thomson – Friedenreich) blood group antigen behaves as an onco-foetal carcinoma-associated antigen, showing increased expression in malignancies and its detection and quantification can be used in serologic diagnosis mainly in adenocarcinomas. This study was undertaken to analyze the sera and tissue level detectable mucin-type glycoprotein (TF-antigen) by Peanut agglutinin (PNA) and its diagnostic index in serum as well tissues of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma as marker. RESULTS: We examined 100 patients for serological analysis by Enzyme Linked Lectin Assay (ELISA) and demonstrated a sensitivity of 87.5%, specificity of 90% and a positive predictive value of 95%. The immuno-histochemical localization of TF antigen by Fluorescence Antigen Technique (FAT) in 25 specimens of normal esophageal squamous epithelium specimens and 92 specimens with different grades of, allowed a quicker and more precise identification of its increased expression and this did not correlate with gender and tumor size. There was a positive correlation between membrane bound TF antigen expression with different histological progression, from well differentiated to poorly differentiated, determined by PNA binding. Specimens showed morphological changes and a pronounced increase in PNA binding in Golgi apparatus, secretory granules of the cytosol of well differentiated and an increased cell membrane labeling in moderately and poorly differentiated, when compared with ESCC and normal tissues. CONCLUSION: The authors propose that the expression of TF-antigen in human may play an important role during tumorigenesis establishing it as a chemically well-defined carcinoma-associated antigen. Identification of the circulating TF-antigen as a reactive form and as a cryptic form in the healthy individuals, using PNA-ELLA and Immunohistochemical analysis of TF antigen by FAT is positively correlated with the different histological grades as a simple and cost-effective method for the early diagnosis of ESCC. The present study reveals that, during tumorigenesis, an aberrant glycosylation takes place in Golgi apparatus leading to over secretion of TF antigen into the cytoplasm along with mucin granules and later into cell membrane. We suggest that the further characterization of TF antigen may unravel pathogenetic aspects of this silent disease

Carbon dioxide – A potential raw material for the production of fuel, fuel additives and bio-derived chemicals

1252-1262Amongst the various greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, carbon dioxide emission is the highest in terms of tonnage and has been identified as a predominant source contributing to climate change. Owing to its abundance through anthropogenic sources, it is highly desirable to utilize CO2 to produce valuable products, in particular fuels and large volume chemicals, and thereby mitigate significantly its environmental impact. This review aims to cover the attempts made in utilizing CO2 for the production of fuels, fuel additives and bio-derived chemicals, in particular organic carbonates. Although this review does not intend to encompass the literature in the holistic manner, it does endeavor to provide recent approaches, difficulties, challenges and offer perspective in the years to come on this important area of research. </span

A pilot investigation of the relationship between community treatment orders and hospital utilization rates

Objectives: The aim of this project was to assess the effect of community treatment orders (CTOs) on local hospital utilization rates. Methods: We undertook a pre-post comparison of the number of admissions and the total length of hospital stay for all 28 patients of the Hunter Valley Mental Health Service who were on a CTO at the audit date (31 July 2008). At that time, there were 611 active patients being managed by the service. Results: Twice the number of admissions per annum (2.54 versus 1.14 admissions, p < 0.001) and length of stay (41.58 versus 20.23 days, p < 0.01) were observed during the pre-CTO year compared to the CTO period. However, there were no significant differences when the index admission was excluded from these analyses (1.54 versus 1.14 admissions, 20.00 versus 20.23 days in hospital). Conclusion: CTOs have doubtful value in reducing hospital utilization, which may not be an appropriate outcome measure to study CTO effectiveness

Co3O4 microcubes with exceptionally high conductivity using a CoAl layered double hydroxide precursor via soft chemically synthesized cobalt carbonate

Cubic microparticles of Co3O4 spinel were synthesized by calcination of CoCO3 obtained using CoAl layered double hydroxide (LDH) as a unitary precursor through soft-chemical decomposition. The obtained cobalt spinel showed an exceptionally high electrical conductivity at room temperature. This is attributed to high concentrations of charge carriers (Co4+), unique morphology, high reduction temperature and low activation barrier

Optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of bioactive polyphenolic compounds from Marsilea quadrifolia L. using RSM and ANFIS modelling

Extraction of bioactive compounds, rich in plant secondary metabolites as a form of polyphenolic compounds has gained utmost important in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to their antioxidant properties. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was utilized for maximum extraction of bioactive polyphenolic compounds from Marsilea quadrifolia L. with consuming less toxic solvent. A central composite rotatable design (CCRD) based on response surface methodology (RSM) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) were followed to design and optimize the experimental parameters to get highest yield of bioactive polyphenolic compounds from M. quadrifolia L. The quantitative effects of experimental parameters such as methanol concentration (X1), microwave power (X2), irradiation temperature (X3) and irradiation time (X4) were investigated to obtain the maximum yields of total phenolic (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC) and antioxidant properties. The optimum conditions were observed at methanol concentration (X1= 87.5 %), microwave power (X2= 25 %), irradiation temperature (X3= 60 ºC) and irradiation time (X4= 15 min). Under these conditions, the highest yields of TPC (y1)= 693.28 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g), TFC (y2)= 84.86 mg rutin equivalents (RU)/g), % DPPHsc (y3)= 81.06 %, %ABTSsc (y4)= 71.34% and FRAP (y5)= 68.09 μg mol (Fe (II)/g) has been attained. Further, the experimental results were highly acknowledged with predicted values of RSM and ANFIS. The analysis of LC-ESI-MS spectrum confirmed 6 major bioactive compounds, namely, Betasitosterol, Tridecyliodide, 2,3,7,8 tetracholorodibenzofuaran, Chlorogenic acid, Pentachlorophenylacetate and Triacontyl hexacosanoate in the optimized extract of M. quadrifolia L. The optimized extract can be used as an alternative of synthetic antioxidants for product manufacturing in food and pharmaceutical industries