Preliminary investigation of mineral content of pollen collected from different Serbian maize hybrids - is there any potential nutritional value?

BACKGROUND: Bee pollen has already proved to be a good supplement rich in iron and zinc. Studies on the application of flower pollen in the food industry and medicine have begun. Bearing in mind the prevalence of maize as a crop culture, its pollen will be easily available. The mineral composition of pollen of seven Serbian maize hybrids was analyzed in order to establish its nutritional value and the benefits of its implementation in the human diet using the inductively coupled plasma method. RESULTS: The presence of twenty four different macro- (nine) and micronutrients (fifteen) was detected. The most common minerals were phosphorus and potassium, while arsenic, cobalt, lead, nickel and molybdenum were found in some samples. CONCLUSION: Comparing the results obtained with recommended or tolerable dietary intake references for adults, it was found that maize pollen can be used as a very good source of zinc, iron, chromium and manganese for humans. With regard to selenium content, pollen samples proved to be moderately good source of this important micronutrient. Contents of some elements (Fe, Zn, Mn, Cr, Se, Al and V) showed significant differences depending on hybrid type. In some samples increased concentrations of aluminum and vanadium were recorded, which may pose a potential problem due to their toxicity. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

Artemisinin evaluation in Romanian Artemisia annua wild plants using a new HPLC/MS method.

Artemisinin, a sesquiterpene lactone from Artemisia annua L., has received considerable attention in the last few decades as a potent antimalarial drug. Artemisinin has rather low toxicity; it is effective against drug-resistant Plasmodium species and against cerebral malaria. This study reports the development of a rapid and sensitive assay for the quantification of artemisinin in A. annua by reversed phase HPLC/MS. In the selected optimal experimental conditions, artemisinin exhibited a well-defined chromatographic peak with a retention time of 2 ± 0.2 min. The chromatographic signal shows a linear dependence with artemisinin concentration, enabling the use of this signal for artemisinin quantification according to the following regression equation: y = 2665.40x - 14697.61. The correlation coefficient (R(2)) was 0.9989. For every concentration within the range of the standard curve (0.1-2 µg mL(-1)), accuracy was between 95 and 104%. Artemisinin content in Romanian A. annua wild plants varies between 0.17 and 0.21% (dry weight basis).

Antibacterial activity of some Artemisia species extract.

The antimicrobial activities of ethanol, methanol and hexane extracts from Artemisia absinthium, Artemisia annua and Artemisia vulgaris were studied. Plant extracts were tested against five Gram-positive bacteria, two Gram-negative bacteria and one fungal strain. The results indicated that Artemisia annua alcoholic extracts are more effective against tested microorganisms. However, all plants extracts have moderate or no activity against Gram-negative bacteria. The obtained results confirm the justification of extracts of Artemisia species use in traditional medicine as treatment for microbial infections.

Effect of sub-Tenon's and peribulbar anesthesia on intraocular pressure and ocular pulse amplitude.

PURPOSE: To compare the effect of peribulbar and sub-Tenon's anesthesia on intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) in the injected eye and the fellow noninjected (control) eye. SETTING: Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. METHODS: This prospective study measured IOP and OPA at baseline and 1 and 10 minutes after administration of lidocaine anesthesia in 40 consecutive adult patients having elective cataract surgery. RESULTS: The IOP remained stable throughout the study with both modes of anesthesia. One minute after injection of the anesthetic agent, the OPA was significantly decreased in the injected eyes in both the sub-Tenon's (24%; P < .05) and peribulbar (25%; P < .05) groups. The decrease in the OPA in the sub-Tenon's group (14%; P < .05) was detectable after 10 minutes in the control eyes. In the peribulbar anesthesia group, the OPA in the control eyes increased significantly (9%; P < .05) 1 minute after injection of the anesthetic agent, returning to preinjection levels 10 minutes after the injection. CONCLUSIONS: The OPA in the eyes in which lidocaine was injected decreased significantly in both the sub-Tenon's and peribulbar groups. These findings have implications for the management of patients whose ocular circulation may be compromised.

Oligomerization of ETO is obligatory for corepressor interaction.

Nearly 40% of cases of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) of the M2 subtype are due to a chromosomal translocation that combines a sequence-specific DNA binding protein, AML1, with a potent transcriptional repressor, ETO. ETO interacts with nuclear receptor corepressors SMRT and N-CoR, which recruit histone deacetylase to the AML1-ETO oncoprotein. SMRT-N-CoR interaction requires each of two zinc fingers contained in C-terminal Nervy homology region 4 (NHR4) of ETO. However, here we show that polypeptides containing NHR4 are insufficient for interaction with SMRT. NHR2 is also required for SMRT interaction and repression by ETO, as well as for inhibition of hematopoietic differentiation by AML1-ETO. NHR2 mediates oligomerization of ETO as well as AML1-ETO. Fusion of NHR4 polypeptide to a heterologous dimerization domain allows strong interaction with SMRT in vitro. These data support a model in which NHR2 and NHR4 have complementary functions in repression by ETO. NHR2 functions as an oligomerization domain bringing together NHR4 polypeptides that together form the surface required for high-affinity interaction with corepressors. As nuclear receptors also interact with corepressors as dimers, oligomerization may be a common mechanism regulating corepressor interactions.

Effectiveness of sub-Tenon's versus peribulbar anesthesia in extracapsular cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of sub-Tenon's versus peribulbar anesthesia in extracapsular cataract surgery. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology and the Maccabi Eye Institute, Tel Aviv, Israel. METHODS: Sixty-four consecutive patients who had extracapsular cataract surgery were randomized to have sub-Tenon's or peribulbar anesthesia. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before and 1 and 10 minutes after injection. The motility of the rectus muscles was evaluated before and 20 minutes after the injection, and the patient's anxiety level was recorded immediately after the injection. Pain was assessed intraoperatively and 1 and 24 hours postoperatively by patient self-grading. RESULTS: One minute after the injection, IOP increased significantly in the peribulbar group (mean 7.97 mm Hg +/- 8.80 [SD]) (P < .05). There was no significant increase in the sub-Tenon's injection group (mean 0.12 +/- 3.09 mm Hg). In both groups, IOP returned to preinjection levels by 10 minutes postoperatively. Patients with peribulbar anesthesia reported a significantly higher level of anxiety than those who had sub-Tenon's anesthesia (P < .05). Although the intraoperative pain levels were the same, the sub-Tenon's group reported significantly higher levels of pain 1 and 24 hours postoperatively; 16% in the sub-Tenon's group and none in the peribulbar group reported moderate pain 24 hours after anesthesia. Ocular motility was the same except for the inferior rectus muscle, which was less motile on average in the peribulbar group. CONCLUSION: Sub-Tenon's anesthesia led to less IOP elevation than peribulbar anesthesia and provided similarly good globe immobilization and approximately the same pain levels intraoperatively.

Effect of oral nifedipine on ocular blood flow in patients with low tension glaucoma.

AIM: To investigate the effect of oral nifedipine on ocular blood flow in patients with low tension glaucoma (LTG). METHODS: In this prospective study we examined the effects of 3 weeks of treatment with oral nifedipine 30 mg/day in 11 patients with LTG, by using colour Doppler ultrasound imaging to measure haemodynamic variables in the central retinal (CRA), short posterior ciliary (SPCA), and ophthalmic (OA) arteries. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and blood pressures were also evaluated. RESULTS: Nifedipine failed to alter IOP nor did it change peak systolic velocity, end diastolic velocity,or the resistance index in any of the three ocular vessels studied (p > 0.05). However systolic and diastolic systemic arterial blood pressure measurements varied significantly after nifedipine treatment compared with baseline (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study failed to demonstrate a significant effect of nifedipine on retrobulbar circulation of patients with LTG.

Cloning of a complementary deoxyribonucleic acid encoding the murine homolog of the very low density lipoprotein/apolipoprotein-E receptor: expression pattern and assignment of the gene to mouse chromosome 19.

We report the cloning of a complementary DNA for the mouse homolog of the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)/apolipoprotein-E receptor (VLDLR), the deduced amino acid sequence of the protein, and the mapping of the gene encoding the receptor to mouse chromosome 19. Northern hybridization revealed that the VLDLR messenger RNA (mRNA) is most abundant in skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, and brain. It was also detected in lung and in low levels in liver, but it was not found in spleen or testes. Levels of VLDLR mRNA in mouse placenta increased from days 8-18 of gestation. The VLDLR mRNA was induced in 3T3-L1 cells undergoing differentiation into adipocytes. The increase in VLDLR mRNA paralleled the rise in lipoprotein lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase mRNAs. However, VLDLR and low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein were increased in the presence of retinoic acid, whereas the induction of lipoprotein lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase mRNAs was inhibited. Our observations demonstrate regulated expression of the VLDLR gene in placenta and adipocytes, where the receptor protein may play roles in the uptake of triglyceride-rich particles for storage of lipid (adipocytes) or for lipid transport to the fetus (placenta). The availability of a murine complementary DNA probe and the knowledge of the map position of the VLDLR gene in the mouse genome will facilitate studies on the function and regulation of this protein.

Catecholaminergic neurons result from intracerebral implantation of embryonal carcinoma cells.

A replication-defective retrovirus was used to introduce the marker gene nlsLacZ into the murine embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell line PCC7-S-aza-R-1009. Undifferentiated EC cells were implanted into the central nervous system of adult rats. One month later, the grafted cells continued to express the nlsLacZ gene. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the presence of EC-derived neurons. These neurons were capable of expressing tyrosine hydroxylase and extended neurites into the host parenchyma. EC-derived glial cells could not be detected. There was no evidence of tumorigenicity. These results demonstrate the utility of EC cells for introduction of exogenous gene products into the central nervous system in experimental models of gene therapy.

A novel member of the thyroid/steroid hormone receptor family is encoded by the opposite strand of the rat c-erbA alpha transcriptional unit.

A cDNA encoding a novel member of the thyroid/steroid hormone receptor superfamily, called Rev-ErbA alpha, has been isolated from a rat GH3 cell library. Rev-ErbA alpha is an approximately 56-kilodalton protein most similar in structure to the thyroid hormone receptor (c-erbA) and the retinoic acid receptor, but it does not bind either thyroid hormone or retinoic acid. The mRNA encoding Rev-ErbA alpha is present in many tissues and is particularly abundant in skeletal muscle and brown fat. A genomic DNA fragment containing the entire Rev-ErbA alpha cDNA sequence was isolated and characterized. Remarkably, this DNA fragment also contained a portion of the c-erbA alpha gene. r-erbA alpha-1 and r-erbA alpha-2 are alternative splice products of the c-erbA alpha gene and are members of the receptor superfamily. The genes encoding Rev-ErbA alpha and r-erbA alpha-2 overlap, with their coding strands oriented opposite one another. A 269-base-pair segment of the bidirectionally transcribed region is exonic in both the Rev-ErbA alpha and r-erbA alpha-2 genes, resulting in complementary mRNAs. Thus, through alternative splicing and opposite-strand transcription, a single genomic locus codes for three different members of the thyroid/steroid hormone receptor superfamily. Potential implications of this unusual genomic arrangement are discussed.