Search

Trichoderma species are known to have a high potential for biotechnological applications. β-glucosidase enzyme is an important component of cellulase enzyme complex of Trichoderma with a crucial role in enzymatic degradation which is inhibited by glucose. The purpose of this study was to find the Trichoderma strains with high cellulase activity and tolerance to glucose. Therefore, 77 Trichoderma isolates were obtained from forest soils in Iran. Ten of them, had high cellulase activity, and the H1N44 isolate showed the highest activity of cellulase as well as high tolerance to glucose. In addition using FPAse assay, the level of cellulase activity was 0.66 U/mL in H1N44 and this result was 4-fold higher than β-glucosidase activity in Trichoderma reesei QM6a in the absence of glucose. Then, 10 representative cellulolytic isolates were sequenced in three genomic loci, including ITS, tef-1 and rpb-2 and H1N44 isolate was recognized as Trichoderma koningiopsis. As a result of this study, H1N44 was identified as a novel cellulolytic and glucose-tolerant strain with high potential for biotechnological utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Juice clarification is an important operation in the fruit processing industry. Sour Orange is a source of vitamin C that is cultivated in the north of Iran. Since turbidity of this fruit after juice extraction affects on quality, shelf-life and concentration of juice; clarification and removing of turbidity-causing factors is important. In this study, the effect of membrane parameters including pressure (1.2-2.2 bar) and temperature (25-35 °C) on the quality characteristics of sour orange during membrane clarification was investigated. The response surface methodology (RSM) by Design-Expert Software was used to optimize the clarification conditions. Results of the experiments showed that the Browning index was raised by increasing of temperature, but vitamin C content, Total antioxidant activity value and clarity was decreased in this condition. The Browning index was decreased by increasing of pressure; however, no significant effect was observed on the other quality characteristics. Results of process optimization indicated that the best condition to maximize of vitamin C content, total antioxidant and clarity and to minimize of Browning index achieved at 25 °C and 1.7 bar. In this condition the vitamin C content, Browning index, Total antioxidant activity and clarity was 24.9 (mg/100 cc juice), 0.106, 87.97% and 97.1%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study was performed to determine the clinical application of rest 99mTc-sestamibi in the assessment of viability and functional improvement of the left ventricle (LV) myocardium in the post-thrombolytic therapy of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Material and methods: In 37 patients with AMI who received thrombolytic therapy, 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiography, as well as the resting redistribution of 99mTc-sestamibi, was investigated, both within 1 week and 3–5 months after AMI. The predictive capacity of the perfusion percentage for myocardial function recovery was evaluated. Also, the capacities of the possible variables in the prediction of recovery of myocardial function resulting from a change in LV ejection fraction (EF) were evaluated using stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: Thirty-seven patients (30 men and 7 women; mean age: 58±14 years) with AMI were enrolled in the study. Redistribution was observed in 35 and 50 segments of the initial and follow-up scans, respectively. In addition, 146 segments with reverse redistribution (RR), both in the initial scan (118 segments) and the follow-up scan (86 segments), were also observed. An apparent difference in wall motion scores was seen between the initial and follow-up echocardiographs (p<0.001). Furthermore, using the optimal cut-off point of perfusion percentage in each image set, sensitivity as well as specificity and likelihood ratio (LR) for the improvement of regional wall motion after 3–5 months were defined. Conclusion: These data showed that redistribution and reverse redistribution of 99mTc-sestamibi post thrombolytic therapy can be used as a marker of viability to predict the recovery of segmental wall motion abnormality (stunning), as well as the improvement of segmental perfusion uptake. This study also demonstrates that the resting 99mTc-sestamibi SPECT can be used for an approximate assessment of LV function status and can predict the recovery of jeopardized myocardium function after thrombolytic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Khedmat S, Seyedabadi M, Ghahremani MH, Ostad SN. Cyclooxygenase 2 plays a role in Emdogain-induced proliferation. J Periodont Res 2011; 46: 67-73. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Enamel matrix proteins are involved in the development and regeneration of root cementum and in its attachment to dentin; however, the mechanisms through which this occurs have yet to be elucidated. The present study was therefore carried out to evaluate the mitogenic and proliferative responses of human periodontal fibroblast (HPLF) cells to Emdogain (EMD), and the potential role of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) in this process. We investigated the effects of EMD on 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation, colchicine freezing of mitosis, XTT [2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide] reduction and Trypan Blue dye exclusion, with or without celecoxibe, a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor; we also evaluated the expression of COX-2 mRNA and COX-2 protein in response to EMD. EMD significantly enhanced mitosis in, and proliferation of, human periodontal ligament fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner; however, there was a small increase of DNA synthesis only in response to a high dose of EMD (200 μg/mL). EMD (100 and 200 μg/mL) elicited an increase in COX-2 expression ( p ≤ 0.05). Celecoxibe (20 μ) diminished the EMD-induced mitosis and proliferation of HPLF cells ( p ≤ 0.05). Celecoxibe hampered EMD-induced mitosis and proliferation, which, in association with EMD-increased COX-2 expression, indicates that COX-2 may be involved in the proliferative response of HPLF cells to EMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]