349 research outputs found

    Physicochemical characteristics of Bt (Seeni-1) Vs. local hamid cultivar cotton seed oils

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    n investigation on physicochemical characteristics of Bt (Seeni-1) vs local Hamid cultivar (cv) cottonseed oils (CSO) was conducted. Protein in Seeni-1 seed was relatively higher than Hamid cv seed. Oil content, ash and fibre of Hamid cv were relatively higher. Ash and oil content in black (chemical delinting) and white (mechanical delinting) seed were relatively higher in Hamid cv. There were no differences between the specific gravity (sp.gr.), refractive index (R.I.) and moisture content of both oils. Free fatty acids (FFA) and iodine value (IV) in Seeni-1 were relatively higher. Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) in Hamid cv oil proved to be more than Seeni-1 oil [automatically the USFA should be higher in Seeni-1]. Phosphorus content in Seeni-1 oil was lower than that of Hamid cv, whereas there was no significant difference in the peroxide value (PV)

    Plant Protein Blend Ingestion Stimulates Post-Exercise Myofibrillar Protein Synthesis Rates Equivalently to Whey in Resistance-Trained Adults

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    Purpose Whey protein ingestion is typically considered an optimal dietary strategy to maximize myofibrillar protein synthesis (MyoPS) following resistance exercise. While single source plant protein ingestion is typically less effective, at least partly, due to less favorable amino acid profiles, this could theoretically be overcome by blending plant-based proteins with complementary amino acid profiles. We compared the post-exercise MyoPS response following the ingestion of a novel plant-derived protein blend with an isonitrogenous bolus of whey protein. Methods Ten healthy, resistance trained, young adults (male/female: 8/2; age: 26 ± 6 y; BMI: 24 ± 3 kg·m-2) received a primed continuous infusion of L-[ring-2H5]-phenylalanine and completed a bout of bilateral leg resistance exercise before ingesting 32 g protein from whey (WHEY) or a plant protein blend (BLEND; 39.5% pea, 39.5% brown rice, 21.0% canola) in a randomized, double-blind crossover fashion. Blood and muscle samples were collected at rest, and 2 and 4 h after exercise and protein ingestion, to assess plasma amino acid concentrations, and postabsorptive and post-exercise MyoPS rates. Results Plasma essential amino acid availability over the 4 h postprandial post-exercise period was ~44% higher in WHEY compared with BLEND (P = 0.04). From equivalent postabsorptive values (WHEY, 0.042 ± 0.020%·h−1; BLEND, 0.043 ± 0.015%·h−1) MyoPS rates increased following exercise and protein ingestion (time effect; P 0.05). Conclusions Ingestion of a novel plant-based protein blend stimulates post-exercise MyoPS to an equivalent extent as a whey protein, demonstrating the utility of plant protein blends to optimize post-exercise skeletal muscle reconditioning

    Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (aSAH) and Hydrocephalus: Fact and Figures

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    Hydrocephalus (HCP) occurs due to the injurious effect of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). It causes increased morbidity and mortality. It can be acute and frequently occurs within 48 hours and up to 7 days. Subacute hydrocephalus may occur up to 14 days and is chronic if remained or develops after 2 weeks of the subarachnoid haemorrhage. Acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid (aSAH) bleeding is non-communicating or obstructive and occurs due to physical obstruction by a clot, the effect of blood in the subarachnoid space, and inflammation. Chronic hydrocephalus is due to fibrosis and adhesion, which hampers cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) absorption and increased secretion of CSF from gliosis. Various risk factors for developing hydrocephalus in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage patients range from female gender to high severity scores. Acute hydrocephalus frequently requires diversion drainage of CSF by external ventricular drain (EVD); it usually subsides within a week, and EVD is removed. Fewer patients will develop or continue to have hydrocephalus, requiring either short or longer shunting of the CSF namely by ventriculoperitoneal shunt or other modes of CSF drainage

    An Equine Herpesvirus Type 1 (EHV-1) Expressing VP2 and VP5 of Serotype 8 Bluetongue Virus (BTV-8) Induces Protection in a Murine Infection Model

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    Bluetongue virus (BTV) can infect most species of domestic and wild ruminants causing substantial morbidity and mortality and, consequently, high economic losses. In 2006, an epizootic of BTV serotype 8 (BTV-8) started in northern Europe that caused significant disease in cattle and sheep before comprehensive vaccination was introduced two years later. Here, we evaluate the potential of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1), an alphaherpesvirus, as a novel vectored DIVA (differentiating infected from vaccinated animals) vaccine expressing VP2 of BTV-8 alone or in combination with VP5. The EHV-1 recombinant viruses stably expressed the transgenes and grew with kinetics that were identical to those of parental virus in vitro. After immunization of mice, a BTV-8-specific neutralizing antibody response was elicited. In a challenge experiment using a lethal dose of BTV-8, 100% of interferon-receptor-deficient (IFNAR−/−) mice vaccinated with the recombinant EHV-1 carrying both VP2 and VP5, but not VP2 alone, survived. VP7 was not included in the vectored vaccines and was successfully used as a DIVA marker. In summary, we show that EHV-1 expressing BTV-8 VP2 and VP5 is capable of eliciting a protective immune response that is distinguishable from that after infection and as such may be an alternative for BTV vaccination strategies in which DIVA compatibility is of importance

    cIAP-1 Controls Innate Immunity to C. pneumoniae Pulmonary Infection

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    The resistance of epithelial cells infected with Chlamydophila pneumoniae for apoptosis has been attributed to the induced expression and increased stability of anti-apoptotic proteins called inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). The significance of cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein-1 (cIAP-1) in C. pneumoniae pulmonary infection and innate immune response was investigated in cIAP-1 knockout (KO) mice using a novel non-invasive intra-tracheal infection method. In contrast to wildtype, cIAP-1 knockout mice failed to clear the infection from their lungs. Wildtype mice responded to infection with a strong inflammatory response in the lung. In contrast, the recruitment of macrophages was reduced in cIAP-1 KO mice compared to wildtype mice. The concentration of Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) was increased whereas that of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α) was reduced in the lungs of infected cIAP-1 KO mice compared to infected wildtype mice. Ex vivo experiments on mouse peritoneal macrophages and splenocytes revealed that cIAP-1 is required for innate immune responses of these cells. Our findings thus suggest a new immunoregulatory role of cIAP-1 in the course of bacterial infection

    Multi-genome identification and characterization of chlamydiae-specific type III secretion substrates: the Inc proteins

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Chlamydiae </it>are obligate intracellular bacteria that multiply in a vacuolar compartment, the inclusion. Several chlamydial proteins containing a bilobal hydrophobic domain are translocated by a type III secretion (TTS) mechanism into the inclusion membrane. They form the family of Inc proteins, which is specific to this phylum. Based on their localization, Inc proteins likely play important roles in the interactions between the microbe and the host. In this paper we sought to identify and analyze, using bioinformatics tools, all putative Inc proteins in published chlamydial genomes, including an environmental species.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Inc proteins contain at least one bilobal hydrophobic domain made of two transmembrane helices separated by a loop of less than 30 amino acids. Using bioinformatics tools we identified 537 putative Inc proteins across seven chlamydial proteomes. The amino-terminal segment of the putative Inc proteins was recognized as a functional TTS signal in 90% of the <it>C. trachomatis </it>and <it>C. pneumoniae </it>sequences tested, validating the data obtained <it>in silico</it>. We identified a <it>macro </it>domain in several putative Inc proteins, and observed that Inc proteins are enriched in segments predicted to form coiled coils. A surprisingly large proportion of the putative Inc proteins are not constitutively translocated to the inclusion membrane in culture conditions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The Inc proteins represent 7 to 10% of each proteome and show a great degree of sequence diversity between species. The abundance of segments with a high probability for coiled coil conformation in Inc proteins support the hypothesis that they interact with host proteins. While the large majority of Inc proteins possess a functional TTS signal, less than half may be constitutively translocated to the inclusion surface in some species. This suggests the novel finding that translocation of Inc proteins may be regulated by as-yet undetermined mechanisms.</p

    Erythropoietin in the intensive care unit: beyond treatment of anemia

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    Erythropoietin (EPO) is the major hormone stimulating the production and differentiation of red blood cells. EPO is used widely for treating anemia of critical illness or anemia induced by chemotherapy. EPO at pharmacological doses is used in this setting to raise hemoglobin levels (by preventing the apoptosis of erythroid progenitor cells) and is designed to reduce patient exposure to allogenic blood through transfusions. Stroke, heart failure, and acute kidney injury are a frequently encountered clinical problem. Unfortunately, in the intensive care unit advances in supportive interventions have done little to reduce the high mortality associated with these conditions. Tissue protection with EPO at high, nonpharmacological doses after injury has been found in the brain, heart, and kidney of several animal models. It is now well known that EPO has anti-apoptotic effects in cells other than erythroid progenitor cells, which is considered to be independent of EPOs erythropoietic activities. This review article summarizes what is known in preclinical models of critical illness and discusses why this does not correlate with randomized, controlled clinical trials
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