Search

The significance of the mutations taking place in the IFT122 gene in causing the cranioectodermal dysplasia disorder in humans is determined. The causative mutations of the genes are shown to highly affect the primary cilia function as well.

Abstract: The utility of a novel, chemoenzymatic procedure for the stereocontrolled synthesis of small peptides is presented in the preparation and structure optimisation of dipeptides with cytostatic/cytotoxic activity. The method uses Passerini multicomponent reaction for the preparation of racemic scaffold which is then enantioselectively hydrolysed by hydrolytic enzymes. Products of these transformations are further functionalised towards title compounds. Both activity and selectivity towards tumor cells is optimised. Final compound is shown to be an inhibitor of the protein kinase signaling pathway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new, efficient method for the multicomponent synthesis of tripeptide mimetics is presented. Simple, chemoenzymatic transformations of Passerini reaction products enable the introduction of varied amino acid moieties into the tripeptide scaffold, with control of the stereochemistry. Additionally, this method allows the convenient introduction of a methyl group to the amide nitrogen, leading to derivatives of N-methylated amino acids—compounds of interest for medicinal chemistry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Beginning in 2018, a new papaya disease occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Affected papaya trees exhibited symptoms including excessive shoot proliferation at the top of the crown, leaf mosaic and crinkling, and dieback. The disease was designated as Nigerian papaya bunchy top (NGPBT) disease. Since excessive shoot proliferation was the most characteristic symptom of the disease and it was indicative of phytoplasma infection, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based phytoplasma molecular diagnostic method was employed in this study. Phytoplasmas were detected in diseased papaya samples by semi-nested PCR using phytoplasma 16 S rRNA gene-specific primers. Subsequent determination and analysis of the amplified 16 S rRNA gene sequences and phylogenetic analysis revealed that NGPBT phytoplasmas were most closely related to ' Candidatus Phytoplasma convolvuli' in the Stolbur (16SrXII) group. Virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis based on the 16 S rRNA gene F2nR2 fragment showed that NGPBT strains represented a novel subgroup in the Stolbur phytoplasma group, designated as 16SrXII-O. This is the first report of a phytoplasma disease in papaya in Nigeria. Identification of the NGPBT strains not only broadened the genetic diversity of the Stolbur phytoplasma group but also signaled an expansion of the phytoplasma group's geographic distribution. Notably, two previously reported phytoplasmas associated with papaya diseases in Australia and Taiwan also belong to the 16SrXII group and exhibit symptoms similar to NGPBT disease. It would be interesting to learn how these three diseases relate to each other. Further in-depth study on weed reservoirs and insect vectors of NGPBT phytoplasmas will contribute to a better understanding of pathosystem and epidemiology of the NGPBT disease. • Reported a new papaya bunchy top disease occurred in Nigeria. • Confirmed phytoplasma as the causal agent of Nigerian papaya bunchy top disease. • Classification of the new identified Nigerian papaya bunchy top phytoplasma. • Broadening the genetic diversity of the Stolbur phytoplasma. • Signaling an expansion of the phytoplasma group's geographic distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We report the first unambiguous syntheses of glucitol-1,6-bis-phosphate and mannitol-1,6-bis-phosphate and their competitive inhibition of various fructose bis-phosphate aldolases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In 1990-93 the breeding performance of pied and collared flycatcher populations (Ficedula hypoleuca and Ficedula albicollis) was studied in Niepolomice Forest at Stanislawice (Cracow Province). Concentrations of the non-essential elements cadmium and lead in bird tissues were higher than those measured at Tavelsjo (Sweden), the reference site(Nyholm et al., 1994). The highest cadmium concentrations, up to 0.35 mug/g, were found in liver. The highest lead levels, up to 1.09 mug/g, occurred in breastbone samples. Levels of copper, zinc and iron were close to physiological norms. The main source of these elements in nestlings was likely to have been their diet. The number of fledgednestlings (3.2-5.2) in Stanisawice was lower than in Tavelsjo (6). The high percentages of nestlings with low levels of haemoglobin suggest that this may be the main factor contributing to the lower survival rates at Stanislawice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The oxidative burst of the host cells associated with bacterial pathogen infection contributes to the destruction of periodontal tissue. The present study investigates the effect of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on human gingival fibroblast (HGF) viability and ROS generation. Methods The cell viability by MTT assay, ROS level using H 2 DCF-DA probe, and protein thiol content were measured in HGFs after 24 h preincubation with different concentrations of DHA followed by treatment with H 2 O 2 . The cell death rate was determined by Annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and mitochondrial membrane potential (Δ Ψm ) was examined by MitoTracker Red probe in H 2 O 2 - and butyric acid-treated HGFs. The fatty acid composition of plasma membranes after incubation with DHA was determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Results DHA preincubation in a dose-dependent manner increased the viability of HGFs exposed to H 2 O 2 and decreased ROS generation compared to the control cells. In HGFs preincubated with 30 μM DHA, the Δ Ψm significantly increased in both H 2 O 2 - and butyric acid-treated cells. Moreover, incubation with DHA preserved the protein thiol level as effectively as N-acetylcysteine. Application of 50 μM DHA increased the quantity of viable cells, decreased the number of necrotic cells after H 2 O 2 treatment, and protected HGFs from apoptosis induced by butyric acid. DHA in the plasma membranes of these HGFs represented about 6% of the total amount of fatty acids. Conclusions These results demonstrate that enrichment of HGFs with DHA reduces ROS generation and enhances the mitochondrial membrane potential protecting the fibroblasts against cytotoxic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) induces the rise of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Some of them can stimulate oxidants production in myocardium with subsequent peroxidative damage to various biomolecules. We compared indices of oxidative stress: H2O2, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs), thiols in myocardium specimens between patients with active IE and those with valvular heart disease (VHD) of rheumatic etiology who underwent surgical valve replacement. Methods: 17 left ventricle papillary muscle specimens and 28 specimens of auricle of the right heart were collected from 45IE patients, and 16 papillary muscle and 12 auricle specimens from 28 VHD patients, respectively. Patients groups had similar NYHA functional class and majority of echocardiographic indices of heart morphology. H2O2 and TBARs were determined fluorometrically in myocardium homogenates whereas thiols with photometric method. Between and within groups comparisons and mutual correlations between variables were analyzed. Results: H2O2 generation from all myocardium specimens and auricles was 2.14- and 2.59- times higher (p<0.001) in IE patients than in VHD group. Auricles had the highest H2O2 levels within IE group. TBARs were 10-times higher (p<0.05) in IE when compared to VHD group in auricles and papillary muscles. Thiols did not differ between groups. H2O2 positively correlated with TBARs and negatively with thiols in all IE myocardium specimens (r=0.31 and r=−0.46, p<0.05) and auricles (r=0.58 and r=−0.67, p<0.05), respectively. No such associations were noted in VHD specimens. Conclusions: Active IE induces enhanced myocardial production of H2O2 and formation of TBARs which proves occurrence of oxidative stress in the heart. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) characterized by musculoskeletal abnormalities is often associated with atrioventricular conduction disturbances. Although some EDMD patients were reported to develop dilated cardiomyopathy, there are limited data on their left ventricular (LV) performance. Methods: Therefore, we echocardiographically assessed 27 men (23 cases aged 26.4±6.8 years with X-linked, and four cases aged 22.2±8.6 years with autosomal dominant (AD)) EDMD. Control group included 16 male healthy controls aged 24.8±6.0 (18–37) years. Results: Although LV end diastolic dimension was similar in EDMD and controls (4.9±0.6 and 4.99±1.1 cm, ns), dilated left ventricle was found in three X-linked EDMD subjects. LV ejection fraction was significantly reduced in EDMD (62.3±1% vs. 71.2±2%, p=0.01) and was below 50% in six (22.2%) X-linked EDMD patients. Doppler analysis disclosed prolonged isovolumetric relaxation time of the left ventricle in the studied group. This finding may indicate impaired LV relaxation. Conclusion: A significant subgroup of X-linked EDMD patients shows pronounced abnormalities of left ventricular function. This warrants cardiologic follow up of EDMD patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]