Estimating genetic potential of biofuel forest hardwoods to withstand metal toxicity in industrial effluent under dry tropical conditions.

Biofuel tree species are recognized as a promising alternative source of fuel to conventional forms. Additionally, these tree species are also effective in accumulating toxic heavy metals present in some industrial effluents. In developing countries such as Pakistan, the use of biofuel tree species is gaining popularity not only for harvesting economical and environmentally friendly biofuel, but also to sequester poisonous heavy metals from industrial wastewater. This study was aimed at evaluating the genetic potential of two biofuel species, namely, Jatropha curcas and Pongamia pinnata, to grow when irrigated with industrial effluent from the Pak-Arab Fertilizer Factory Multan, Southern Punjab, Pakistan. The growth performances of one-year-old seedlings of both species were compared in soil with adverse physiochemical properties. It was found that J. curcas was better able to withstand the toxicity of the heavy metals present in the fertilizer factory effluent. J. curcas showed maximum gain in height, diameter, and biomass production in soil irrigated with 75% concentrated industrial effluent. In contrast, P. pinnata showed a significant reduction in growth in soil irrigated with more than 50% concentrated industrial effluent, indicating that this species is less tolerant to higher toxicity levels of industrial effluent. This study identifies J. curcas as a promising biofuel tree species that can be grown using industrial wastewater.

Expression of low molecular weight proteins in patients with leukaemia.

The current study is conducted to observe the differences in the level of low molecular weight proteins in the sera of patients with leukaemia in comparison to healthy subjects (control group). The sera of patients with leukaemia showed 15 peaks in the densitometric curve in comparison to the seven peaks of the controls. The peaks in the experimental samples that coincide with those in the control were of 134.14, 113.15, 76.06, 63.25, 48.07, 22.85 and 16.47 kDa molecular weights, respectively. Most of the new peaks appeared between the proteins of molecular weight 36-29 kDa in the experimental groups. Mean density of the 134.14 kDa protein band showed an increase in the protein in experimental groups I and II only whereas 113.15 and 22.85 kDa protein were increased in all experimental groups of patients with leukaemia. The expression of 76.06 and 63.25 kDa protein fraction was downregulated in the patients with leukaemia. A decline in the level of the protein of 48.07 kDa was observed in patients with leukaemia except in group I. Unlike the other protein fractions, the level of the protein of 16.47 kDa was significantly (p < 0.05) increased with a maximum density in group II. Intergroup experimental) comparison revealed an increasing pattern of 95.44 and 89.21 kDa with maximum level in group III sera. However the protein fractions of 38.07 and 34.94 kDa varied in the serum with maximum density in Group IV Protein fractions of 32.92 and 31.24 kDa were expressed in all age groups of patients with leukaemia with a maximum density in group III whereas the percentage densities of 14.42 and 13.56 kDa protein were quite different. This preliminary study will provide a basis to study the role of different proteins in patients with leukaemia.

Expression of low molecular weight proteins in patients with leukaemia / Expresión de las Proteínas de Bajo peso Molecular en Pacientes con Leucemia

The current study is conducted to observe the differences in the level of low molecular weight proteins in the sera of patients with leukaemia in comparison to healthy subjects (control group). The sera of patients with leukaemia showed 15 peaks in the densitometric curve in comparison to the seven peaks of the controls. The peaks in the experimental samples that coincide with those in the control were of 134.14, 113.15, 76.06, 63.25, 48.07, 22.85 and 16.47 kDa molecular weights, respectively. Most of the new peaks appeared between the proteins of molecular weight 36-29 kDa in the experimental groups. Mean density of the 134.14 kDa protein band showed an increase in the protein in experimental groups I and II only whereas 113.15 and 22.85 kDa protein were increased in all experimental groups of patients with leukaemia. The expression of 76.06 and 63.25 kDa protein fraction was downregulated in the patients with leukaemia. A decline in the level of the protein of 48.07 kDa was observed in patients with leukaemia except in Group I. Unlike the other protein fractions, the level of the protein of 16.47 kDa was significantly (p < 0.05) increased with a maximum density in Group II. Intergroup (experimental) comparison revealed an increasing pattern of95.44 and 89.21 kDa with maximum level in Group III sera. However, the protein fractions of 38.07 and 34.94 kDa varied in the serum with maximum density in Group IV Protein fractions of 32.92 and 31.24 kDa were expressed in all age groups of patients with leukaemia with a maximum density in Group III whereas the percentage densities of 14.42 and 13.56 kDa protein were quite different. This preliminary study will provide a basis to study the role of different proteins in patients with leukaemia.

El presente estudio se realiza con elfin de observar las diferencias en el nivel de proteínas de bajo peso molecular en los sueros de pacientes con leucemia, en comparación con pacientes sanos (grupo control). Los sueros de los pacientes con leucemia mostraron 15 picos en la curva densitométrica en comparación con los siete picos de los controles. Los picos en las muestras experimentales que coincidieron con aquéllos en los controles fueron de 134.14, 113.15, 76.06, 63.25, 48.07, 22.85y 16.47 kDa de peso molecular, respectivamente. La mayoría de estos nuevos picos aparecían entre las proteínas de peso molecular 36-29 kDa en los grupos experimentales. La densidad promedio de la banda proteica de 134.14 kDa sólo mostró un aumento en los grupos experimentales I y II, mientras que las proteínas de 113.15 y 22.85 kDa experimentaron un aumento en todos los grupos experimentales de pacientes con leucemia. La expresión de las fracciones de proteína de 76.06 y 63.25 kDa experimentó una reducción negativa (downregulation) en los pacientes con leucemia. Se observó una disminución en el nivel de la proteína de 48.07 kDa en los pacientes con leucemia, excepto en el Grupo I. A diferencia de las otras fracciones proteicas, el nivel de la proteína de 16.47 kDa aumentó significativamente (p < 0.05) con una densidad máxima en el Grupo II. La comparación intergrupal (experimental) puso de manifiesto un patrón de aumento de 95.44 y 89.21 kDa con un nivel máximo en los sueros del Grupo III. Sin embargo, las fracciones proteicas de 38.07 y 34.94 kDa variaron en el suero con densidad máxima en el Grupo IV Las fracciones proteicas de 32.92 y 31.24 kDa se expresaron en todos los grupos etarios de los pacientes con leucemia con una densidad máxima en el Grupo III, mientras que las densidades porcentuales del porcentaje de las proteínas de 14.42 y 13.56 kDa fueron bastante diferentes. Este estudio preliminar proporcionará la base para estudiar el papel de las diferentes proteínas en los pacientes con leucemia.