Validation of Reference Genes for the Relative Quantification of Gene Expression in Human Epicardial Adipose Tissue

BACKGROUND: Relative quantification is a commonly used method for assessing gene expression, however its accuracy and reliability is dependent upon the choice of an optimal endogenous control gene, and such choice cannot be made a priori. There is limited information available on suitable reference genes to be used for studies involving human epicardial adipose tissue. The objective of the current study was to evaluate and identify optimal reference genes for use in the relative quantification of gene expression in human epicardial fat depots of lean, overweight and obese subjects. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Some of the commonly used reference genes including 18S, ACTB, RPL27, HPRT, CYCA, GAPDH, RPLPO, POLR2A and B2M were quantified using real-time PCR analysis. The expression stability of these genes was evaluated using Genorm, Normfinder and Bestkeeper algorithms. In addition, the effect of sample size on the validation process was studied by randomly categorizing subjects in two cohorts of n = 2 and n = 33. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: CYCA, GAPDH and RPL27 were identified as the most stable genes common to all three algorithms and both sample sizes. Their use as reference gene pairs might contribute to the enhanced robustness of relative quantification in the studies involving the human epicardial adipose tissue

The Use of Essential Oils of Origanum Rotundifolium as Antimicrobial Agent Against Plant Pathogenic Bacteria

Abstract: In this study, the antibacterial effect of Origanum rotundifolium Boiss’s essential oil was evaluated against 20 plant pathogenic bacteria. The essential oil (EO) of O. rotundifolium was hydrodistillated from wild O. rotundifolium plants that grown in Eastern Anatolia region of Turkey. Then, 10 chemical compounds of EO were identified via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main compounds were determined as thymol (40.86%-GC), carvacrol (43.62%), p-cymene (5.95%) and borneol (2.49%). According to the results of the study, the essential oil of O. rotundifolium exhibits considerable antibacterial effect against pathogenic bacteria that cause significantly crop loss. © 2016 Har Krishan Bhalla & Sons

Length of hospitalisation for people with severe mental illness

Background: in high-income countries, over the last three decades, the length of hospital stays for people with serious mental illness has reduced drastically although considerable variation remains. In lower-income countries this variation may be greater. Some argue that reduction in hospital stay leads to 'revolving door admissions' and worsening mental health outcomes despite apparent cost savings, whilst others suggest longer stays may be more harmful by institutionalising people to hospital care.Objectives: to evaluate the effect of short stay/brief admission hospital care with long stay/standard in-patient care in people with serious mental illness.Search methods: we searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group's register of trials, July 2007 and updated this search in May 2012.Selection criteria: we included all randomised controlled trials comparing planned short/brief with long/standard hospital stays for people with serious mental illnesses.Data collection and analysis: we extracted data independently. For dichotomous data we calculated risk ratios (RR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) on an intention-to-treat basis based using a fixed-effect model. For continuous data, had we identified such data, we planned to calculate fixed-effect mean differences (MD). We assessed risk of bias for included studies and rated quality of evidence using GRADE.Main results: we included six relevant trials undertaken between 1969 and 1980. We found no significant difference in death (n = 175, 1 RCT, RR in the longer term 0.42, CI 0.10 to 1.83, very low quality evidence). In the long term, there was no difference in improvement of mental state (n = 61, 1 RCT, RR 3.39, CI 0.76 to 15.02, very low quality evidence). There was no difference in readmission to hospital (n = 651, 4 RCTs, RR by the long term 1.26, CI 1.00 to 1.57, low quality evidence). Data for leaving the study prematurely by the longer term showed no difference (n = 229, 2 RCTs, (RR 0.77, CI 0.34 to 1.77, low quality evidence). There was a significant difference favouring short stay (P = 0.01) in numbers of participants with delayed discharge from hospital exceeding the time planned in study (n = 404, 3 RCTs, RR in the longer term 0.54, CI 0.33 to 0.88, low quality evidence). There was no difference in numbers of participants lost to follow-up (n = 404, 3 RCTs, RR by the longer term 1.07, CI 0.70 to 1.62, low quality evidence). Finally, there was a significant difference favouring short-stay hospitalisation for social functioning, including unemployment, unable to housekeep, or unknown employment status (n = 330, 2 RCTs, RR by longer term 0.61, CI 0.50 to 0.76, very low quality evidence).Authors' conclusions: the effects of hospital care and the length of stay is important for mental health policy. We found limited low and very low quality data which were all over 30 years old. Outcomes from these studies do suggest that a planned short-stay policy does not encourage a 'revolving door' pattern of admission and disjointed care for people with serious mental illness. More large, well-designed and reported trials are justified especially where a short-stay policy is not routine car

Antibacterial activity and chemical composition of essential oil obtained from Nepeta nuda against phytopathogenic bacteria

The increase in agricultural production can be possible with the discovery and utilization of chemical compounds for plant disease control. However, indiscriminate use of chemical compounds against microorganisms causes many negative side effects on environment and mammalian health. Therefore, we aimed to find a new natural antimicrobial product from medicinal plants against phytopathogenic bacteria. In this study, the essential oil (EO) of Nepeta nuda was isolated by the hydrodistillation method and the chemical composition of the EO was analyzed by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC-MS), as its biological activity was connected to its content. Then, the antibacterial property of EO was evaluated against twenty phytopathogenic bacteria. Nepeta contains 4aa,7?,7aa-nepetalactone (18.10%), germacrene (15.68%), elemol (14.38%), ?-caryophyllene (8.81%), spathulenol (6.14%) and cubenol (5.10%) as major components. In conclusion, the present study is valuable for future investigations on controlling plant pathogenic bacteria. © 2013 Taylor and Francis

BAP-1 immunohistochemical expression in pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma

Abstract Not Availabl