Characterization of a photosystem II reaction center complex isolated by exposure of PSII membranes to a non-ionic detergent and high concentrations of NaCl

A highly resolved PSII reaction center complex has been prepared by exposure of PSII membranes to the detergent octylglucopyranoside at elevated ionic strengths; oxygen evolution activity is about 1,000 μmoles O 2 /hr/mg Chl in the presence of CaCl 2 . A Mn quantitation and a kinetic study of Z, the donor to P 680 , reveals that on a Chl basis this new preparation shows an almost four-fold enrichment in Mn and the electron transport components of PSII.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/43532/1/11120_2004_Article_BF00118314.pd

Expression of NRG1 and its receptors in human bladder cancer

BACKGROUND: Therapies targeting ERBB2 have shown success in the clinic. However, response is not determined solely by expression of ERBB2. Levels of ERBB3, its preferred heterodimerisation partner and ERBB ligands may also have a role. METHODS: We measured NRG1 expression by real-time quantitative RT–PCR and ERBB receptors by western blotting and immunohistochemistry in bladder tumours and cell lines. RESULTS: NRG1a and NRG1b showed significant coordinate expression. NRG1b was upregulated in 78 % of cell lines. In tumours, there was a greater range of expression with a trend towards increased NRG1a with higher stage and grade. Increased expression o

Neoplastic transformation of rat liver epithelial cells is enhanced by non-transferrin-bound iron

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Iron overload is associated with liver toxicity, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma in humans. While most iron circulates in blood as transferrin-bound iron, non-transferrin-bound iron (NTBI) also becomes elevated and contributes to toxicity in the setting of iron overload. The mechanism for iron-related carcinogenesis is not well understood, in part due to a shortage of suitable experimental models. The primary aim of this study was to investigate NTBI-related hepatic carcinogenesis using T51B rat liver epithelial cells, a non-neoplastic cell line previously developed for carcinogenicity and tumor promotion studies.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>T51B cells were loaded with iron by repeated addition of ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) to the culture medium. Iron internalization was documented by chemical assay, ferritin induction, and loss of calcein fluorescence. Proliferative effects were determined by cell count, toxicity was determined by MTT assay, and neoplastic transformation was assessed by measuring colony formation in soft agar. Cyclin levels were measured by western blot.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>T51B cells readily internalized NTBI given as FAC. Within 1 week of treatment at 200 μM, there were significant but well-tolerated toxic effects including a decrease in cell proliferation (30% decrease, p < 0.01). FAC alone induced little or no colony formation in soft agar. In contrast, FAC addition to cells previously initiated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) resulted in a concentration dependent increase in colony formation. This was first detected at 12 weeks of FAC treatment and increased at longer times. At 16 weeks, colony formation increased more than 10 fold in cells treated with 200 μM FAC (p < 0.001). The iron chelator desferoxamine reduced both iron uptake and colony formation. Cells cultured with 200 μM FAC showed decreased cyclin D1, decreased cyclin A, and increased cyclin B1.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results establish NTBI as a tumor promoter in T51B rat liver epithelial cells. Changes in cyclin proteins suggest cell cycle disregulation contributes to tumor promotion by NTBI in this liver cell model.</p

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of natural products

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) is an interesting process to obtain high valuable compounds and could contribute to the increase in the value of some food by-products when used as sources of natural compounds. The main benefits will be a more effective extraction, thus saving energy, and also the use of moderate temperatures, which is beneficial for heat-sensitive compounds. For a successful application of the USAE, it is necessary to consider the influence of several process variables, the main ones being the applied ultrasonic power, the frequency, the extraction temperature, the reactor characteristics, and the solvent-sample interaction. The highest extraction rate is usually achieved in the first few minutes, which is the most profitable period. To optimize the process, rate equations and unambiguous process characterization are needed, aspects that have often been lacking. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.The authors thank the Generalitat Valenciana for their financial support in project PROMETEO/2010/062 and the Caja de Ahorros del Mediterraneo for M.D. Esclapez's pre-doctoral grant.Esclapez Vicente, MD.; García Pérez, JV.; Mulet Pons, A.; Cárcel Carrión, JA.; Esclapez, MD. (2011). Ultrasound-assisted extraction of natural products. Food Engineering Reviews. 3(2):108-120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12393-011-9036-6S10812032Abad Romero B, Bou-Maroun E, Reparet JM, Blanquet J, Cayot N (2010) Impact of lipid extraction on the dearomatisation of an Eisenia foetida protein powder. Food Chem 119:459–466Adewuyi YG (2001) Sonochemistry: environmental science and engineering applications. Ind Eng Chem Res 40:4681–4715Atchley AA, Crum LA (1988) Acoustic cavitation and bubble dynamics. 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Food Sci Technol Int 9:215–221Naguleswaran S, Vasanthan T (2010) Dry milling of field pea (Pisum sativum L.) groats prior to wet fractionation influences the starch yield and purity. Food Chem 118:627–633Orozco-Solano M, Ruiz-Jiménez J, Luque de Castro MD (2010) Ultrasound-assisted extraction and derivatization of sterols and fatty alcohols from olive leaves and drupes prior to determination by gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. J Chromatogr A 1217:1227–1235Patist A, Bates D (2008) Ultrasonic innovations in the food industry: from the laboratory to commercial production. Innovative Food Sci Emerg Technol 9:147–154Price GJ (1990) The use of ultrasound for the controlled degradation of polymer solutions. In: Mason TJ (ed) Advances in sonochemistry, vol 1. Jai Press, Cambridge, pp 231–287Riener J, Noci G, Cronin DA, Morgan DJ, Lyng JG (2010) A comparison of selected quality characteristics of yoghurts prepared from thermosonicated and conventionally heated milks. 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Development and validation of the Online Histrionic Personality Scale (OHPS) using the DSM-5 criteria for Histrionic Personality Disorder

The present study evaluated personality presentation in online environments in terms of histrionic personality. The aim of the study was to develop the Online Histrionic Personality Scale (OHPS). The OHPS was developed using the diagnostic criteria for histrionic personality disorder (HPD) in the DSM-5 and assesses histrionic behavior in online environments. The present study comprised 381 university students (219 females and 162 males) from four different samples. The validity of the OHPS was investigated utilizing exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and criterion validity. As a result of the EFA, a single-factor structure with an eigenvalue of 3.850 was found and accounted for 48.12% of the total variance. This one-dimensional structure was tested with CFA in two different samples. CFA results show that OHPS had an acceptable fit. The criterion validity of the OHPS was examined with the Desire for Being Liked Scale (DBLS) and the Histrionic Personality Belief subscale of the Personality Belief Questionnaire-Short Form (PBQ-STF). Analysis showed that the OHPS was significantly associated with desire for being liked (r = .65, p < .01) and histrionic personality beliefs (r = .70, p < .01). The reliability of the OHPS was evaluated with Cronbach’s α internal consistency reliability coefficient and corrected item total correlation coefficient in three different samples. The Cronbach α internal consistency coefficients of the OHPS were .84 (EFA sample), .88 (CFA sample), and .88 (criterion validity sample). Corrected item total correlation coefficients of OHPS ranged from .53 to .62 in the EFA sample, .47 to .78 in the CFA sample, and .52 to .76 in the criterion validity sample. The distribution of data was examined with floor and ceiling effects in three different samples. Finally, the standard error of measurement (SEM) was calculated in three different samples. There were no floor and ceiling effects in the data, and the SEM values were within acceptable limits. When validity and reliability analyses of the OHPS are considered as a whole, it is concluded that the OHPS is a valid and reliable scale that assesses online histrionic personality among university students

Inflammatory Gene Regulatory Networks in Amnion Cells Following Cytokine Stimulation: Translational Systems Approach to Modeling Human Parturition

A majority of the studies examining the molecular regulation of human labor have been conducted using single gene approaches. While the technology to produce multi-dimensional datasets is readily available, the means for facile analysis of such data are limited. The objective of this study was to develop a systems approach to infer regulatory mechanisms governing global gene expression in cytokine-challenged cells in vitro, and to apply these methods to predict gene regulatory networks (GRNs) in intrauterine tissues during term parturition. To this end, microarray analysis was applied to human amnion mesenchymal cells (AMCs) stimulated with interleukin-1β, and differentially expressed transcripts were subjected to hierarchical clustering, temporal expression profiling, and motif enrichment analysis, from which a GRN was constructed. These methods were then applied to fetal membrane specimens collected in the absence or presence of spontaneous term labor. Analysis of cytokine-responsive genes in AMCs revealed a sterile immune response signature, with promoters enriched in response elements for several inflammation-associated transcription factors. In comparison to the fetal membrane dataset, there were 34 genes commonly upregulated, many of which were part of an acute inflammation gene expression signature. Binding motifs for nuclear factor-κB were prominent in the gene interaction and regulatory networks for both datasets; however, we found little evidence to support the utilization of pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) signaling. The tissue specimens were also enriched for transcripts governed by hypoxia-inducible factor. The approach presented here provides an uncomplicated means to infer global relationships among gene clusters involved in cellular responses to labor-associated signals

A Field Guide to Pandemic, Epidemic and Sporadic Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

In recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become a truly global challenge. In addition to the long-known healthcare-associated clones, novel strains have also emerged outside of the hospital settings, in the community as well as in livestock. The emergence and spread of virulent clones expressing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is an additional cause for concern. In order to provide an overview of pandemic, epidemic and sporadic strains, more than 3,000 clinical and veterinary isolates of MRSA mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Malta, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago as well as some reference strains from the United States have been genotyped by DNA microarray analysis. This technique allowed the assignment of the MRSA isolates to 34 distinct lineages which can be clearly defined based on non-mobile genes. The results were in accordance with data from multilocus sequence typing. More than 100 different strains were distinguished based on affiliation to these lineages, SCCmec type and the presence or absence of PVL. These strains are described here mainly with regard to clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance- and virulence-associated markers, but also in relation to epidemiology and geographic distribution. The findings of the study show a high level of biodiversity among MRSA, especially among strains harbouring SCCmec IV and V elements. The data also indicate a high rate of genetic recombination in MRSA involving SCC elements, bacteriophages or other mobile genetic elements and large-scale chromosomal replacements

A Field Guide to Pandemic, Epidemic and Sporadic Clones of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

In recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become a truly global challenge. In addition to the long-known healthcare-associated clones, novel strains have also emerged outside of the hospital settings, in the community as well as in livestock. The emergence and spread of virulent clones expressing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is an additional cause for concern. In order to provide an overview of pandemic, epidemic and sporadic strains, more than 3,000 clinical and veterinary isolates of MRSA mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Malta, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Australia, Trinidad & Tobago as well as some reference strains from the United States have been genotyped by DNA microarray analysis. This technique allowed the assignment of the MRSA isolates to 34 distinct lineages which can be clearly defined based on non-mobile genes. The results were in accordance with data from multilocus sequence typing. More than 100 different strains were distinguished based on affiliation to these lineages, SCCmec type and the presence or absence of PVL. These strains are described here mainly with regard to clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance- and virulence-associated markers, but also in relation to epidemiology and geographic distribution. The findings of the study show a high level of biodiversity among MRSA, especially among strains harbouring SCCmec IV and V elements. The data also indicate a high rate of genetic recombination in MRSA involving SCC elements, bacteriophages or other mobile genetic elements and large-scale chromosomal replacements

Four-Stage Audit Demonstrating Increased Uptake of HIV Testing in Acute Neurology Admissions Using Staged Practical Interventions.

BACKGROUND: UK National Guidelines (UKNG) advise HIV testing in clinically indicated neurological presentations. We audited the impact of our practical strategies to increase uptake of HIV testing at a regional acute neurology admissions unit. METHODS: We audited HIV testing in 4 periods over 2 years: before we designed a UKNG-based "HIV testing in Neurology" protocol ("pre-protocol"); after dissemination of the protocol alone ("post-protocol"); post-protocol dissemination combined with both a tailored departmental admissions clerking proforma to prompt for HIV testing & consenting, and regular focussed tutorials to doctors on HIV testing in neurological patients ("post-proforma"); and finally one year after the post-proforma period ("+1 year"). We also looked at the total number of HIV tests sent from the unit during the two-year period. We assessed significance using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: 47.8% of all acute neurology non-stroke admissions were eligible for HIV testing during all the audit periods. Testing rates were as follows: pre-protocol 21.9%; post-protocol 36.6%; post-proforma 83.3%; and at +1 year 65.4% (p<0.05 for both post-protocol and +1 year when compared to pre-protocol). Documentation of consent for HIV testing improved from 25% to 67.6% with the HIV-tailored clerking proforma. The total number of HIV tests requested from the unit doubled in the post-proforma period compared to pre-protocol (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion: the combination of an HIV testing protocol, a tailored departmental clerking proforma and regular focussed teaching to doctors on indications for HIV testing led to a sustained increase in HIV testing uptake in our regional acute neurology admissions unit