Pre- and post-weaning nutrition status affects sheep mammary gland morphology and promotes differential gene expression.

Little is known about how varying the plane of nutrition before and after weaning can influence gene expression that drives mammary gland development (MGD). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate this paradigm in a seasonal sheep breed. Forty pre-weaning 30-day old Kurdish female lambs were fed either a low-nutrient and protein (L; 2.0 Mcal ME/kg DM; 8.70% crude protein [CP]) or high-nutrient and protein diet (H; 2.5 Mcal ME/kg DM; 14.80% CP). At d 120 (weaning), lambs were allocated into a 2 × 2 arrangement based on pre- and post-weaning diets, resulting in four groups (LL, LH, HL, HH). On d 210, mammary biopsy samples were taken for histomorphological and gene expression studies. Alveoli were larger in HH compared with all other groups (p < 0.05). Whilst estrogen receptor-alpha, progesterone receptor, growth hormone receptor and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 gene expression was modulated depending on pre- or post-weaning nutritional levels (p < 0.01). Overall, a consistent high plane of nutrition promoted MGD, with more a complex relationship evident between the expression of genes critical for mammary gland function and development. These findings provide scope for future tailored nutritional strategies to optimize both liveweight gain and MGD.

Human Toll like receptor 4 gene expression of PBMCs in diabetes mellitus type 2 patients.

Toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) is one of the most pivotal pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) in innate immune systems. In this study, we evaluate the expression of the TLR4 in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) in comparison to healthy controls. Expression of TLR4 in 32 human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with DM2 and 20 control samples was assessed using Real—Time PCR technique. For each patient, body mass index (BMI) and blood glucose levels were measured. The results of Real—Time PCR showed a 5—folds increase in expression of TLR4 on the PBMCs of DM2 patients in comparison to controls. No correlation was observed between the TLR4 expression and sex or BMI. Our results confirmed that DM2 can increase TLR4 expression independent from sex, blood glucose concentrations and BMI.

Synthesis and application of FePt/CNTs nanocomposite as a sensor and novel amide ligand as a mediator for simultaneous determination of glutathione, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and tryptophan.

In this study, we report the synthesis and application of a FePt/CNTs nanocomposite as a highly sensitive sensor and novel amide ligand (9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-dicarboximido)-4-ethylbenzene-1,2-diol as a mediator for the determination of glutathione (GSH), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and tryptophan (Trp). The synthesized materials were characterized with different methods such as NMR, IR spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, FESEM, cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The modified electrode exhibited a potent and persistent electron mediating behavior followed by well-separated oxidation peaks of GSH, NADH and Trp. The peak currents were linearly dependent on GSH, NADH and Trp concentrations in the range of 0.08-220, 1.0-400 and 5.0-500 µmol L(-1), with detection limits of 0.05, 0.8 and 1.0 µmol L(-1), respectively. The modified electrode was used for the determination of these compounds in real samples.

Plasmablastic Lymphoma presenting as small intestinal polyposis: A case-report.

BACKGROUND: Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a relatively new entity, classified by WHO as a rare variant of diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The present case report introduces a 17 year old girl with chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, intra-abdominal venous thromboses, ascites, mesenteric lymphadenopathies and small intestinal polyposis, the pathologic and immunohistochemistric examinations of the polypoid lesions were in favor of PBL. Numerous cases of PBL have been reported, but to our knowledge, this is the first report of PBL presenting as small intestinal polyposis.Among lymphomas, only mantle cell lymphoma and follicular cell lymphoma have been previously reported to cause intestinal polyposis. This report introduces Plasmablastic lymphoma, a rare variant of diffuse large B cell lymphoma, as a possible cause of small intestinal polyposis.

Effect of a magnetic field on high-harmonic generation by carbon nanotubes.

We consider a metallic single-walled carbon nanotube under the influence of the combination of laser and static magnetic fields. We study the nonlinear motion of pi electrons in metallic carbon nanotubes driven by external fields, and the induced current spectrum has been analyzed. High-harmonic generation in the presence of a transverse magnetic field is studied theoretically. Numerical calculations show that the plateau is extended to higher harmonics owing to the presence of magnetic field.

Molecular cloning and immunoglobulin E reactivity of a natural rubber latex lecithinase homologue, the major allergenic component of Hev b 4.

BACKGROUND: Hev b 4 is an allergenic natural rubber latex (NRL) protein complex that is reactive in skin prick tests and in vitro immunoassays. On SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), Hev b 4 is discerned predominantly at 53-55 kDa together with a 57 kDa minor component previously identified as a cyanogenic glucosidase. Of the 13 NRL allergens recognized by the International Union of Immunological Societies, the 53-55 kDa Hev b 4 major protein is the only candidate that lacks complete cDNA and protein sequence information. OBJECTIVE: We sought to clone the transcript encoding the Hev b 4 major protein, and characterize the native protein and its recombinant form in relation to IgE binding. METHODS: The 5'/3' rapid amplification of cDNA ends method was employed to obtain the complete cDNA of the Hev b 4 major protein. A recombinant form of the protein was over-expressed in Escherichia coli. The native Hev b 4 major protein was deglycosylated by trifluoromethane sulphonic acid. Western immunoblots of the native, deglycosylated and recombinant proteins were performed using both polyclonal antibodies and sera from latex-allergic patients. RESULTS: The cDNA encoding the Hev b 4 major protein was cloned. Its open reading frame matched lecithinases in the conserved domain database and contained 10 predicted glycosylation sites. Detection of glycans on the Hev b 4 lecithinase homologue confirmed it to be a glycoprotein. The deglycosylated lecithinase homologue was discerned at 40 kDa on SDS-PAGE, this being comparable to the 38.53 kDa mass predicted by its cDNA. Deglycosylation of the lecithinase homologue resulted in the loss of IgE recognition, although reactivity to polyclonal rabbit anti-Hev b 4 was retained. IgE from latex-allergic patients also failed to recognize the non-glycosylated E. coli recombinant lecithinase homologue. CONCLUSION: The IgE epitopes of the Hev b 4 lecithinase homologue reside mainly in its carbohydrate moiety, which also account for the discrepancy between the observed molecular weight of the protein and the value calculated from its cDNA.