Phytotoxic Effect to Cockscomb (Celosia cristata L.) with Response of Chlorpyrifos Treatments

The present work was conducted to evaluate the phytotoxic of chlorpyrifos on cockscomb (Celosia cristata L.) plant.  The seeds was exposed different dosage (control, 0.5, 1, 2 and 2.5%) of chlorpyrifos. On the 7th day seed germination percentage were determined, seedling morphological such as shoot length, root length, biomass and photosynthetic pigments like chlorophyll ‘a’ and chlorophyll ‘b’ were examined on 30, 60 and 90 days after treatments. The germination percentage negatively affect with increasing chlorpyrifos level. The morphological and photosynthetic pigments were increases at optimum level (0.5%). Moreover, above the optimum concentration all investigated parameters was decreased with increasing chlorpyrifos level. The obtained results suggest that usage of this insecticide optimum dosage helpful for good agricultural practices

Metastasis-Associated protein 1 is an upstream regulator of DNMT3a and stimulator of insulin-growth factor binding protein-3 in breast cancer.

Despite a recognized role of DNA methyltransferase 3a (DNMT3a) in human cancer, the nature of its upstream regulator(s) and relationship with the master chromatin remodeling factor MTA1, continues to be poorly understood. Here, we found an inverse relationship between the levels of MTA1 and DNMT3a in human cancer and that high levels of MTA1 in combination of low DNMT3a status correlates well with poor survival of breast cancer patients. We discovered that MTA1 represses DNMT3a expression via HDAC1/YY1 transcription factor complex. Because IGFBP3 is an established target of DNMT3a, we investigated the effect of MTA1 upon IGFBP3 expression, and found a coactivator role of MTA1/c-Jun/Pol II coactivator complex upon the IGFBP3 transcription. In addition, MTA1 overexpression correlates well with low levels of DNMT3a which, in turn also correlates with a high IGFBP3 status in breast cancer patients and predicts a poor clinical outcome for breast cancer patients. These findings suggest that MTA1 could regulate the expression of IGFBP3 in both DNMT3a-dependent and -independent manner. Together findings presented here recognize an inherent role of MTA1 as a modifier of DNMT3a and IGFBP3 expression, and consequently, the role of MTA1-DNMT3a-IGFBP3 axis in breast cancer progression

EFFECTS OF SMOKING FOR HEALTH

Universitatea de Stat de Medicină şi Farmacie „Nicolae Testemiţanu”, Chişinău, Republica MoldovaIntroducere. Fumul de țigară este foarte nociv atât pentru sănătatea fumătorilor activi, cât și a fumătorilor pasivi. Rata mortalității pentru fumători este de trei ori mai mare decât a celor care nu au fumat niciodată. Fiind unul din cele mai vechi obiceiuri de pe glob, fumatul a devenit în prezent o problemă majoră de sănătate publică în întreaga lume. Scopul lucrării. Scopul propus este de a familiariza studenții mediciniști cu efectele nocive ale fumatului și de a oferi sfaturi în vederea reducerii ratei consumului produselor de tutun și expunerii la fumul de țigară. Materiale și metode. Studiul se bazează pe metoda statistică ce presupune analiza și sinteza datelor din literatura de specialitate. Aceste informații au permis observarea fenomenului supus cercetării, informațiile au fost prelucrate și supuse analizei și interpretării. Rezultate. În urma analizei datelor din literatura de specialitate și a datelor statistice oferite de către Organizația Mondială a Sănătății am identificat principalele riscuri și consecințe provocate de fumul de țigară. De asemenea, venim cu un șir de sfaturi și recomandări pentru a convinge persoanele fumătoare să renunțe la fumat. Concluzii. Analizând datele statistice și chestionarele realizate în rândul studenților mediciniști s-au obținut rezultate îmbucurătoare. Studenții mediciniști sunt conștienți de faptul că fumatul cauzează daune majore sănătății și promovează un mod sănătos de viață fără tutun.Introduction. Cigarette smoke is very harmful to the health of both active and passive smokers. The mortality rate for smokers is three times higher than for never smokers. As one of the oldest habits in the world, smoking has now become a major public health problem worldwide. Objective of the study. The proposed aim is to familiarize medical students with the harmful effects of smoking and to provide advice to reduce the rate of tobacco product consumption and exposure to cigarette smoke. Materials and methods. The study is based on the statistical method involving analysis and synthesis of data from the literature. This information allowed the observation of the phenomenon under investigation; the information was processed and subjected to analysis and interpretation. Results. Following the analysis of data from the literature and statistical data provided by the World Health Organization we identified the main risks and consequences caused by cigarette smoke. We also come up with a number of tips and recommendations to convince smokers to quit smoking. Conclusions. Analyzing statistical data and questionnaires among medical students produced encouraging results. Medical students are aware that smoking causes major health damage and promote a healthy tobacco-free lifestyle

Efectele fumatului asupra sănătății

Introduction. Cigarette smoke is very harmful to the health of both active and passive smokers. The mortality rate for smokers is three times higher than for never smokers. As one of the oldest habits in the world, smoking has now become a major public health problem worldwide. Objective of the study. The proposed aim is to familiarize medical students with the harmful effects of smoking and to provide advice to reduce the rate of tobacco product consumption and exposure to cigarette smoke. Materials and methods. The study is based on the statistical method involving analysis and synthesis of data from the literature. This information allowed the observation of the phenomenon under investigation; the information was processed and subjected to analysis and interpretation. Results. Following the analysis of data from the literature and statistical data provided by the World Health Organization we identified the main risks and consequences caused by cigarette smoke. We also come up with a number of tips and recommendations to convince smokers to quit smoking. Conclusions. Analyzing statistical data and questionnaires among medical students produced encouraging results. Medical students are aware that smoking causes major health damage and promote a healthy tobacco- free lifestyle.Introducere. Fumul de țigară este foarte nociv atât pentru sănătatea fumătorilor activi, cât și a fumătorilor pasivi. Rata mortalității pentru fumători este de trei ori mai mare decât a celor care nu au fumat niciodată. Fiind unul din cele mai vechi obiceiuri de pe glob, fumatul a devenit în prezent o problemă majoră de sănătate publică în întreaga lume. Scopul lucrării. Scopul propus este de a familiariza studenții mediciniști cu efectele nocive ale fumatului și de a oferi sfaturi în vederea reducerii ratei consumului produselor de tutun și expunerii la fumul de țigară. Materiale și metode. Studiul se bazează pe metoda statistică ce presupune analiza și sinteza datelor din literatura de specialitate. Aceste informații au permis observarea fenomenului supus cercetării, informațiile au fost prelucrate și supuse analizei și interpretării. Rezultate. În urma analizei datelor din literatura de specialitate și a datelor statistice oferite de către Organizația Mondială a Sănătății am identificat principalele riscuri și consecințe provocate de fumul de țigară. De asemenea, venim cu un șir de sfaturi și recomandări pentru a convinge persoanele fumătoare să renunțe la fumat. Concluzii. Analizând datele statistice și chestionarele realizate în rândul studenților mediciniști s-au obținut rezultate îmbucurătoare. Studenții mediciniști sunt conștienți de faptul că fumatul cauzează daune majore sănătății și promovează un mod sănătos de viață fără tutun

Antibacterial Effect of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles using Cineraria maritima

Nanoparticles display entirely novel physicochemical characteristics for specific applications because of their exceptional size and shape. Owing to the present study, we reported biosynthesis, characterization and antibacterial properties of Cineraria maritima (Cm) assisted silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs). The surface plasmon vibration, crystalline structure, surface morphology, elemental composition, and possible functional molecules vibration of prepared Cm-Ag NPs were characterized by different instrumentation techniques. The spectrum of UV-Vis of Cm-Ag NPs showed maximum plasma intensity occurred around 425nm. XRD spectrum showed the face-centred cubic (FCC) nature of Cm-Ag NPs. The SEM image of the Cm-Ag NPs demonstrated a predominantly spherical shape with cluster formation of small particles to large particles with sizes ranging from 21.57 nm to 39.16 nm. EDS spectrum indicated the existence of Ag elements in Cm-Ag NPs. FTIR intense peaks of Cm-Ag NPs showed the different functional molecules such as phenol, alkene, aldehydes, and a carbonyl group. In addition, Cm-Ag NPs coated textile cotton fabric sample showed substantial anti-bacterial properties against a tested bacterial pathogen

αA-Crystallin Peptide 66SDRDKFVIFLDVKHF80 Accumulating in Aging Lens Impairs the Function of α-Crystallin and Induces Lens Protein Aggregation

The eye lens is composed of fiber cells that are filled with α-, β- and γ-crystallins. The primary function of crystallins is to maintain the clarity of the lens through ordered interactions as well as through the chaperone-like function of α-crystallin. With aging, the chaperone function of α-crystallin decreases, with the concomitant accumulation of water-insoluble, light-scattering oligomers and crystallin-derived peptides. The role of crystallin-derived peptides in age-related lens protein aggregation and insolubilization is not understood.We found that αA-crystallin-derived peptide, (66)SDRDKFVIFLDVKHF(80), which accumulates in the aging lens, can inhibit the chaperone activity of α-crystallin and cause aggregation and precipitation of lens crystallins. Age-related change in the concentration of αA-(66-80) peptide was estimated by mass spectrometry. The interaction of the peptide with native crystallin was studied by multi-angle light scattering and fluorescence methods. High molar ratios of peptide-to-crystallin were favourable for aggregation and precipitation. Time-lapse recordings showed that, in the presence of αA-(66-80) peptide, α-crystallin aggregates and functions as a nucleus for protein aggregation, attracting aggregation of additional α-, β- and γ-crystallins. Additionally, the αA-(66-80) peptide shares the principal properties of amyloid peptides, such as β-sheet structure and fibril formation.These results suggest that crystallin-derived peptides such as αA-(66-80), generated in vivo, can induce age-related lens changes by disrupting the structure and organization of crystallins, leading to their insolubilization. The accumulation of such peptides in aging lenses may explain a novel mechanism for age-related crystallin aggregation and cataractogenesis

Chitosan complements entrapment of silicon inside nitrogen doped carbon to improve and stabilize the capacity of Li-ion batteries

Abstract A facile strategy to entrap milled silicon (m-Si) particles using nitrogen-doped-carbon (N-C@m-Si) to overcome the dramatic volume changes in Si during intercalation of lithium ions and to improve its electronic conductivity is reported here. The only natural nitrogen containing biomaterial alkaline polysaccharide, i.e., chitosan, is used as the carbon source. Simple hydrothermal technique followed by a subsequent carbonization process is used to synthesize N-C and N-C@m-Si particles. N-C@m-Si exhibited significantly improved electrochemical performance as compared to bare m-Si, which is confirmed by the obtained discharge capacity of 942.4 mAh g−1 and columbic efficiency of 97% after 50 cycles at 0.1C rate. With regard to the N-C electrodes, the obtained discharge capacity of 485.34 mAh g−1 and columbic efficiency of 99.78%, after 50 cycles at 0.1C rate is superior to the commercial graphite electrodes. The solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer that formed over m-Si and N-C@m-Si electrodes is characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Compared to the SEI layer that formed over m-Si electrode after 10 charge-discharge cycles, the N-C@m-Si electrode had a stable lithium fluoride and carbonate species. Brief reaction mechanisms, representing the formation of different species in the SEI layer, is derived to explain its behavior during the electrochemical processes

Template-Assisted Synthesis and Characterization of Passivated Nickel Nanoparticles

Potential applications of nickel nanoparticles demand the synthesis of self-protected nickel nanoparticles by different synthesis techniques. A novel and simple technique for the synthesis of self-protected nickel nanoparticles is realized by the inter-matrix synthesis of nickel nanoparticles by cation exchange reduction in two types of resins. Two different polymer templates namely strongly acidic cation exchange resins and weakly acidic cation exchange resins provided with cation exchange sites which can anchor metal cations by the ion exchange process are used. The nickel ions which are held at the cation exchange sites by ion fixation can be subsequently reduced to metal nanoparticles by using sodium borohydride as the reducing agent. The composites are cycled repeating the loading reduction cycle involved in the synthesis procedure. X-Ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron microscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectrum, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Analysis are effectively utilized to investigate the different structural characteristics of the nanocomposites. The hysteresis loop parameters namely saturation magnetization and coercivity are measured using Vibrating Sample Magnetometer. The thermomagnetization study is also conducted to evaluate the Curie temperature values of the composites. The effect of cycling on the structural and magnetic characteristics of the two composites are dealt in detail. A comparison between the different characteristics of the two nanocomposites is also provided

Identification of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Shared Epitope Binding Site on Calreticulin

Background: The rheumatoid arthritis (RA) shared epitope (SE), a major risk factor for severe disease, is a five amino acid motif in the third allelic hypervariable region of the HLA-DRb chain. The molecular mechanisms by which the SE affects susceptibility to – and severity of- RA are unknown. We have recently demonstrated that the SE acts as a ligand that interacts with cell surface calreticulin (CRT) and activates innate immune signaling. In order to better understand the molecular basis of SE-RA association, here we have undertaken to map the SE binding site on CRT. Principal Findings: Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) experiments with domain deletion mutants suggested that the SE binding site is located in the P-domain of CRT. The role of this domain as a SE-binding region was further confirmed by a sulfosuccinimidyl-2-[6-(biotinamido)-2-(p-azido-benzamido) hexanoamido] ethyl-1,3-dithiopropionate (sulfo-SBED) photoactive cross-linking method. In silico analysis of docking interactions between a conformationally intact SE ligand and the CRT P-domain predicted the region within amino acid residues 217–224 as a potential SE binding site. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated involvement of residues Glu 217 and Glu 223- and to a lesser extent residue Asp 220- in cell-free SPR-based binding and signal transduction assays. Significance: We have characterized here the molecular basis of a novel ligand-receptor interaction between the SE and CRT. The interaction represents a structurally and functionally well-defined example of cross talk between the adaptive an