Influence of polyamines on shoot regeneration of sugarcane (Saccharum officinalis. L)

We studied the effect of polyamines (spermidine, putrescine and spermine) along with benzyladenine, kinetin and napthaleneacetic acid on multiple shoot regeneration of sugarcane. Murashige & Skoog medium containing a combination of benzyladenine (8.3 μM), kinetin (4.6 μM), napthaleneacetic acid (2.6 μM) and spermidine (68 μM) induced the maximum number of shoots (42 shoots/explant) compared to benzyladenine (8.3 μM), kinetin (4.6 μM) or napthaleneacetic acid (2.6 μM) alone or with putrecine (68 μM), spermine (32 μM) or combinations of polyamines. Plantlets raised were successfully transplanted in soil with a 90% survival rate

Randomized trial of safinamide add-on to levodopa in Parkinson's disease with motor fluctuations

Levodopa is effective for the motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), but is associated with motor fluctuations and dyskinesia. Many patients require add-on therapy to improve motor fluctuations without exacerbating dyskinesia. The objective of this Phase III, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of safinamide, an α-aminoamide with dopaminergic and nondopaminergic mechanisms, as add-on to l-dopa in the treatment of patients with PD and motor fluctuations. Patients were randomized to oral safinamide 100 mg/day (n = 224), 50 mg/day (n = 223), or placebo (n = 222) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was total on time with no or nontroublesome dyskinesia (assessed using the Hauser patient diaries). Secondary endpoints included off time, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) Part III (motor) scores, and Clinical Global Impression-Change (CGI-C). At week 24, mean ± SD increases in total on time with no or nontroublesome dyskinesia were 1.36 ± 2.625 hours for safinamide 100 mg/day, 1.37 ± 2.745 hours for safinamide 50 mg/day, and 0.97 ± 2.375 hours for placebo. Least squares means differences in both safinamide groups were significantly higher versus placebo. Improvements in off time, UPDRS Part III, and CGI-C were significantly greater in both safinamide groups versus placebo. There were no significant between-group differences for incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) or TEAEs leading to discontinuation. The addition of safinamide 50 mg/day or 100 mg/day to l-dopa in patients with PD and motor fluctuations significantly increased total on time with no or nontroublesome dyskinesia, decreased off time, and improved parkinsonism, indicating that safinamide improves motor symptoms and parkinsonism without worsening dyskinesia

CXCL5 polymorphisms are associated with variable blood pressure in cardiovascular disease-free adults

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>Leukocyte count has been associated with blood pressure, hypertension, and hypertensive complications. We hypothesized that polymorphisms in the <it>CXCL5</it> gene, which encodes the neutrophilic chemokine ENA-78, are associated with blood pressure in cardiovascular disease (CVD)-free adults and that these polymorphisms are functional.</p> <p>Methods and results</p> <p>A total of 192 community-dwelling participants without CVD or risk equivalents were enrolled. Two <it>CXCL5</it> polymorphisms (−156 G > C (rs352046) and 398 G > A (rs425535)) were tested for associations with blood pressure. Allele-specific mRNA expression in leukocytes was also measured to determine whether heterozygosity was associated with allelic expression imbalance. In −156 C variant carriers, systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 7 mmHg higher than in −156 G/G wild-type homozygotes (131 ± 17 vs. 124 ± 14 mmHg; <it>P</it> = 0.008). Similarly, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was 4 mmHg higher in −156 C variant carriers (78 ± 11 vs. 74 ± 11 mmHg; <it>P</it> = 0.013). In multivariate analysis of SBP, age, sex, body mass index, and the −156 G > C polymorphism were identified as significant variables. Age, sex, and the −156 G > C SNP were further associated with DBP, along with white blood cells. Allelic expression imbalance and significantly higher circulating ENA-78 concentrations were noted for variant carriers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>CXCL5</it> gene polymorphisms are functional and associated with variable blood pressure in CVD-free individuals. The role of <it>CXCL5</it> as a hypertension- and CVD-susceptibility gene should be further explored.</p

Biofilms from micro/nanocellulose of NaBH4-modified kraft pulp

WOS: 000407842800009Industrial applications of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) have been in use for some time; however, there is a need to improve the production steps and at the same time to obtain better quality products. NFC and MFC were generated from -modified kraft pulp, produced from a red gum tree plant (Eucalyptus camaldulensis). The generated NFC and MFC were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and -nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Morphological and viscoelastic properties were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and rheometry, respectively. The storage moduli of biofilms produced from NFC and MFC were investigated by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Both exhibited mostly identical FTIR spectra. When the spectra were compared with those of -modified kraft pulp, minor shifts were observed due to crystallinity. In NMR spectra, disordered cellulose structures were observed for both NFC and MFC, and these findings were also confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry. Rheology studies revealed that the lowest viscosity was observed with MFC. TGA results showed that NFC degraded earlier compared with -modified kraft pulp. DMTA exhibited that NFC films had about six times higher storage modulus compared with MFC.TUBITAKTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [COST 114O022]; Istanbul University Research FundIstanbul University [4806, 19515]We thank TUBITAK (Project Number: COST 114O022) for supporting this research. We also acknowledge Istanbul University Research Fund for financially supporting this study (Project Numbers 4806 and 19515)