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Acid Levels (acid + level)
Kinds of Acid Levels Selected AbstractsSerum Uric Acid Levels Correlate With Left Atrial Function and Systolic Right Ventricular Function in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Heart Failure: The Hellenic Heart Failure StudyCONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 5 2008Christina Chrysohoou MD The authors sought to investigate whether serum uric acid levels are associated with systolic left and right ventricular function, as well as left atrial function in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure. The authors enrolled 106 consecutive patients (mean age 65±13 years). Echocardiographic and biochemical assessment was performed during the third day of hospitalization. Pulsed tissue Doppler imaging of the systolic function of mitral and tricuspid annulus was characterized by the systolic waves (Smv and Stv, respectively), expressed in cm/s, and the left atrial function by the Amv wave. Left atrial kinetics was calculated using an equation. Serum uric acid levels were inversely correlated with Stv (P=.005) and left atrial kinetics (P=.05), after controlling for potential confounders. Uric acid levels appear to be correlated with more impaired right ventricular systolic function and decreased left atrial work in patients with heart failure. [source] Esophageal Acid Levels after Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial FibrillationPACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 2009GEORG NÖLKER M.D. Background: Pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) is a potentially curative, nonpharmacologic treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Several procedural complications have been described, including esophageal wall lesions ranging from erythema and esophagitis, necrosis and ulcer, to atrio-esophageal fistula. We prospectively studied changes in esophageal acid levels before and after PVAI. Methods: We performed 24-hour pH-metry before and 1.3 ± 1.6 days after PVAI, in 25 patients (mean age = 62 ± 12 years, 17 men) with symptomatic AF. A 2-mm transnasal probe was inserted into the inferior part of the esophagus and into the stomach to measure pH levels at fixed intervals. DeMeester scores, indicating acidic gastro-esophageal reflux, were calculated. Results: The mean number of reflux episodes increased from 89 ± 80 before to 107 ± 94 after PVAI. The mean percentage of time with esophageal pH < 4 was shorter after (108 ± 193 minutes) than before PVAI (159 ± 245 minutes). The mean DeMeester score decreased from 49 ± 68 before to 31 ± 41 after PVAI (P < 0.05). We observed erythema or esophagitis in five patients, necrosis or ulcer in seven, and atrio-esophageal fistula in no patient. Conclusions: Our hypothesis of increased acid levels caused by stimulation of the right vagal nerve during isolation of the right upper pulmonary vein was not verified. [source] A Comparison of Salicylic Acid Levels in Normal Subjects after Rectal versus Oral DosingACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 2 2009Roger Maalouf MD Abstract Objectives:, The common practice is to use 162 mg of aspirin orally in the emergency department (ED) for patients presenting with myocardial infarction. If the patient cannot take aspirin orally in the authors' facility, then 600 mg of aspirin is given rectally. However, no strong evidence exists as to whether the oral and rectal doses provide equivalent risk protection. The authors hypothesized that the salicylic acid levels for orally and rectally administered aspirin will not be similar, because of the different dosages used and the different routes of administration. Methods:, The study sample consisted of healthy, nonpregnant, adult volunteers without active illness, who did not take any medication regularly. Each subject served as his or her own control to account for any confounding factors. The study was conducted on 2 days, separated by a 1-week washout period. On the first day, 162 mg of oral aspirin was chewed and swallowed. Salicylic acid levels were obtained at baseline (i.e., before taking the aspirin) and then 30, 60, and 90 minutes after dosing. The 600-mg aspirin suppository was self-administered 1 week later with a sample for laboratory measures again drawn at baseline and then 30, 60, and 90 minutes after dosing. Results:, Twenty-four subjects completed the study. The rectal suppository provided significantly more salicylic acid into the blood than the oral tablets over 90 minutes (p < 0.001). No statistical difference was noted between oral and rectal administration from baseline to 30 minutes (p > 0.05). However, mean salicylic acid levels from the rectal suppository were statistically higher than from the oral tablets from 30 to 60 minutes (p < 0.001) and from 60 to 90 minutes (p = 0.002). More than 60% of the subjects had an increasing salicylic acid level response over time to the rectal suppository. The salicylic acid level response to the oral administration was more evenly divided between those subjects whose salicylic acid levels peaked quickly and then fell or held steady (33%), those whose salicylic acid levels increased over time (29%), and those whose salicylic acid levels were measureable only after 60 minutes (25%). Although not statistically significant, these differences in group distributions for the type of salicylic acid level response between oral and rectal doses suggested the possibility of a rectal advantage. Conclusions:, Whether the higher salicylic acid levels and faster absorption of the rectal aspirin translate into better clinical outcomes is unknown and cannot be concluded from our study. Previous evidence, however, has shown that 162 mg of aspirin chewed and swallowed provided lower mortality in patients presenting with myocardial infarction. Our results suggested the rectal administration of a 600-mg suppository provides sufficient levels of salicylic acid within 90 minutes to meet or exceed that of oral aspirin. [source] Chemical Characterization of Orange Juice from Trees Infected with Citrus Greening (Huanglongbing)JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 2 2010Lilibeth Dagulo ABSTRACT:, The effects due to,Candidatus,Liberibacter infection, commonly called citrus greening or Huanglongbing (HLB), on volatile and nonvolatile components of orange juices, OJ, were examined using GC-MS and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). HLB symptomatic, asymptomatic, and control "Hamlin" and "Valencia" oranges were harvested from December to May during the 2007 to 2008 harvest season. Brix/acid levels in control and asymptomatic juices were similar but symptomatic juices were as much as 62% lower than control juices. No bitter flavanone neohesperidosides were detected and polymethoxyflavone concentrations were well below bitter taste thresholds. Limonin concentrations were significantly higher (91% to 425%) in symptomatic juice compared to control but still below juice bitterness taste thresholds. Juice terpenes, such as ,-terpinene and ,-terpinolene, were as much as 1320% and 62% higher in symptomatic juice than control. Average ethyl butanoate concentrations were 45% lower and average linalool was 356% higher in symptomatic Valencia OJ compared to control. Symptomatic Valencia OJ had on average only 40% the total esters, 48% the total aldehydes, and 33% as much total sesquiterpenes as control juice. Total volatiles between control and symptomatic juices were similar due to elevated levels of alcohols and terpenes in symptomatic juice. There were no consistent differences between asymptomatic and control juices. The chemical composition of juice from HLB/greening symptomatic fruit appears to mimic that of juice from less mature fruit. The reported off-flavor associated with symptomatic juices probably stem from lower concentrations of sugars, higher concentrations of acid as all known citrus bitter compounds were either below taste thresholds or absent. [source] New restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers for Aspergillus fumigatusFEMS IMMUNOLOGY & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2001Camile Pizeta Semighini Abstract In this study, we isolated and tested restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers for Aspergillus fumigatus based on PCR products amplified by the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primer R108. Four DNA fragments, Afd, Af5, Af4, and Af4A, were amplified. Fragments Afd and Af5 were 85% and 88% identical at the DNA level to part of the Afut1 retrotransposon from A. fumigatus. Fragment Af4A is a duplication of fragment Af4 and both showed similarity at the amino acid level with endonucleases from other fungal retrotransposons. We used both RAPD with primer R108 and RFLP assays with Afut1, Afd, and Af4A, to determine the genetic relatedness of clinical isolates of A. fumigatus isolated sequentially from four patients colonized with A. fumigatus. The combination of these different methods suggested that the isolates infecting the four patients were not identical. [source] Bile acid treatment alters hepatic disease and bile acid transport in peroxisome-deficient PEX2 Zellweger mice,HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Megan H. Keane The marked deficiency of peroxisomal organelle assembly in the PEX2,/, mouse model for Zellweger syndrome provides a unique opportunity to developmentally and biochemically characterize hepatic disease progression and bile acid products. The postnatal survival of homozygous mutants enabled us to evaluate the response to bile acid replenishment in this disease state. PEX2 mutant liver has severe but transient intrahepatic cholestasis that abates in the early postnatal period and progresses to steatohepatitis by postnatal day 36. We confirmed the expected reduction of mature C24 bile acids, accumulation of C27,bile acid intermediates, and low total bile acid level in liver and bile from these mutant mice. Treating the PEX2,/, mice with bile acids prolonged postnatal survival, alleviated intrahepatic cholestasis and intestinal malabsorption, reduced C27,bile acid intermediate production, and prevented older mutants from developing severe steatohepatitis. However, this therapy exacerbated the degree of hepatic steatosis and worsened the already severe mitochondrial and cellular damage in peroxisome-deficient liver. Both untreated and bile acid,fed PEX2,/, mice accumulated high levels of predominantly unconjugated bile acids in plasma because of altered expression of hepatocyte bile acid transporters. Significant amounts of unconjugated bile acids were also found in the liver and bile of PEX2 mutants, indicating a generalized defect in bile acid conjugation. Conclusion: Peroxisome deficiency widely disturbs bile acid homeostasis and hepatic functioning in mice, and the high sensitivity of the peroxisome-deficient liver to bile acid toxicity limits the effectiveness of bile acid therapy for preventing hepatic disease. (HEPATOLOGY 2007;45:982,997.) [source] Molecular characterization of a peroxiredoxin from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornisINSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, Issue 2 2001N. Tsuji Abstract Antioxidant enzymes in eukaryotes play an important role in protection against the oxygen radicals generated during aerobic metabolism. Here we report the cloning and characterization of a cDNA encoding the antioxidant enzyme peroxiredoxin from the hard tick Haemaphysalis longicornis (HlPrx). HlPrx is 939 bp long and contains a 101 bp non-translated sequence at the 5, end and a polyadenylation singnal followed by a poly(A) tail at the 3, end. HlPrx encodes a full-length protein with a predicted molecular mass of 26 kDa that possesses one cysteine residue at amino acid 49 that is conserved among Prx proteins of various species. GenBankÔ analysis showed that the deduced amino acid sequence had significant similarity to mammalian and plant Prxs at the amino acid level. A DNA-nicking assay revealed that Escherichia coli,expressed recombinant HlPrx (rHlPrx) inhibited oxidative-nicking of supercoiled plasmid DNA. Two-dimensional immunoblot analysis with mouse antirHlPrx serum showed reaction with a major constituent protein spot in extracts of adult ticks. In addition, immunoblot analysis showed that rHlPrx was immunoreacted with serum from rabbits repeatedly infested with H. longicornis. Localization analysis using mouse antirHlPrx serum revealed that native HlPrx was highly expressed in the salivary gland of the tick. Moreover, Northern blot analysis showed that the level of HlPrx transcripts was increased during blood sucking. The present results indicate that HlPrx may be an important detoxifying enzyme during the normal life span as well as during blood sucking in ticks. [source] CLONING AND EXPRESSION OF SPODOPTERA LITURA UBIQUITIN GENEINSECT SCIENCE, Issue 1 2003LI Zhao-fei Abstract Ubiquitin (UBI) plays a very important role in regulated non-lysosomal ATP dependent protein degradation. In the present work, the coding sequence of Spodoptera litura UBI gene was isolated (GenBank Accession No. AF436066). The length of this ORF is 228bp, encoding a protein with Mr of 8.56 kD and isoelectric point of 6.56. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that S. litura UBI is very similar to the homologous proteins of other eukaryotic species and it has 84% identity with S. litura nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpltMNPV) UBI at amino acid level. RT-PCR analysis showed that S. litura UBI gene is ubiquitously expressed in larva tissues which are susceptible to SpltMNPV infection. By constructing E. coli expression vector, S. litura UBI was highly expressed and the recombinant protein was purified using Ni-NTA resin column, and currently further study on the function of S. litura UBI in SpltMNPV infection is underway. [source] Relationship between seminal ascorbic acid and sperm DNA integrity in infertile menINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ANDROLOGY, Issue 6 2006Gyun Jee Song Summary Ascorbic acid has recently been reported to protect sperm DNA from the damage induced by exogenous oxidative stress in vitro. But, there is no report on seminal ascorbic acid and sperm DNA fragmentation in infertile men. In this study, we asked whether sperm DNA damage correlates with seminal ascorbic acid levels. Sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was analysed in 75 men by flow cytometry after acridine orange staining. We also measured the levels of seminal plasma ascorbic acid and total antioxidant capacity. Abnormal sperm DNA integrity (DFI , 30%) was observed in 12% of the patients with normal semen parameters and in 52% of the patients with abnormal semen parameters. There were significant correlations between the level of DFI and conventional semen parameters including sperm count, motility and morphology (r = ,0.29, ,0.55 and ,0.53 respectively; p < 0.05). Seminal ascorbic acid level was significantly lower in the patients with leucospermia than the patient with normal semen parameters. Interestingly, a significantly greater percentage of men with abnormal DFI were observed in the patients with low levels of seminal ascorbic acid compared with those with normal or high levels of ascorbic acid (59% vs. 33%, p < 0.05). Men with insufficient seminal ascorbic acid frequently have sperm DNA damage. [source] White blood cell sister chromatid exchange among a sample of Thai subjects exposed to toluene, an observationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2006Viroj Wiwanitkit Summary There is a particular concern with toluene because some research has indicated that toluene exposure could result in chronic toxicity including mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. This study aimed to determine the rate of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), a marker for genotoxicity, and its correlation to the classical urine biomarker for toluene exposure, urine hippuric acid, among a sample of Thai exposed subjects. A total of 26 police (all males) were included in this study. The average (mean ± SD) urine hippuric acid level in these police was 0.8 ± 0.4 mg/g creatinine. The average (mean ± SD) SCE level in these police was 4.5 ± 1.0/cell. The average SCE among the police with high urine hippuric acid levels was non-significantly higher than the average SCE level of those without (P = 0.41). This implies that the cytogenetic response to toluene was not different between the subjects with and without high toluene exposure. High exposure to toluene seems not to be related to high SCE. [source] cDNA cloning of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor of the marsupial Macropus eugenii (tammar wallaby)INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOGENETICS, Issue 2 2002C. L. Taylor Summary cDNA encoding a marsupial polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) was isolated from Macropus eugenii (tammar wallaby) mammary lymph node primarily by reverse transcriptase coupled polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR. This resulted in a 5, truncated clone and, in order to obtain the full-length sequence, genomic walking PCR was utilized. The complete sequence consists of 2696 bp of cDNA and encodes a predicted polypeptide of 732 amino acids. The wallaby sequence is highly conserved in relation to the only other reported marsupial pIgR sequence, that of Trichosurus vulpecula (brushtail possum), having a nucleotide identity of 86.7% and a deduced amino acid identity of 79.9%. The wallaby nucleotide sequence also has a moderate degree of similarity with the pIgR sequences of eutherian mammals, being most similar to that of the rat, with an identity of 63.1%. At the amino acid level, in comparison to eutherian sequences, the wallaby pIgR is most similar to that of humans with an identity of 52.6%. pIgR phylogenetic trees were constructed for tammar wallaby, brushtail possum and several eutherian mammal cDNA and deduced amino acid sequences. In both DNA and protein analyses, the eutherian sequences formed a sister clade to the exclusion of the marsupial sequences, in agreement with the current view of mammalian evolution. [source] Restoration of body mass in King Penguins after egg abandonment at a critical energy depletion stage: early vs late breedersJOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001Jean-Patrice Robin In fasting-incubating seabirds, it has been proposed that egg abandonment and refeeding should be induced when a low body mass (BM) threshold is attained, thus ensuring adult survival at the expense of immediate breeding. In the context of life-history trade-offs in long-lived birds, we have tested this hypothesis by comparing short-term survival and restoration of BM in King Penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus that abandoned their egg to those that were relieved normally by their mate at the end of the first incubation shift. Since King Penguins have an extended laying period, the possible influence of seasonal factors was also examined by comparing early and late breeders. Forty incubating males were experimentally forced to fast until egg abandonment by preventing relief by the female. At egg abandonment of both early and late breeding males, BM was below the BM threshold, fasting duration was eight days (about 30%) longer than for relieved birds, and plasma uric acid level was elevated (signature of increased body protein catabolism, phase III of fasting). All abandoning birds survived and came back from sea at a BM similar to that of relieved penguins. The duration of the foraging trip of abandoning early breeders was the same as that of relieved birds, and some abandoning birds engaged in a new breeding attempt. Abandoning late breeders, however, made foraging trips twice as long as those of relieved males. This difference can be explained by time constraints rather than nutritional constraints, abandoning early breeders having enough time left in the breeding season to engage in a new breeding attempt in contrast to abandoning late breeders. These observations lend support to the suggestion that not only BM but also an internal clock intervene in the decision to engage in breeding or not. By preventing a lethal energy depletion ashore and by acting at a fasting stage where the capacity to restore BM at sea is unaffected, abandonment at a low body condition threshold plays a major role in the trade-off between adult penguin survival and reproduction. [source] RNA binding motif (RBM) proteins: A novel family of apoptosis modulators?JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 1 2005Leslie C. Sutherland Abstract RBM5 is a known modulator of apoptosis, an RNA binding protein, and a putative tumor suppressor. Originally identified as LUCA-15, and subsequently as H37, it was designated "RBM" (for RNA Binding Motif) due to the presence of two RRM (RNA Recognition Motif) domains within the protein coding sequence. Recently, a number of proteins have been attributed with this same RBM designation, based on the presence of one or more RRM consensus sequences. One such protein, RBM3, was also recently found to have apoptotic modulatory capabilities. The high sequence homology at the amino acid level between RBM5, RBM6, and particularly, RBM10 suggests that they, too, may play an important role in regulating apoptosis. It is the intent of this article to ammalgamate the data on the ten originally identified RBM proteins in order to question the existence of a novel family of RNA binding apoptosis regulators. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Potato Chip Quality and Frying Oil Stability of High Oleic Acid Soybean OilJOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE, Issue 6 2005Kathleen Warner ABSTRACT High oleic soybean (HOSBO) and low linolenic acid soybean (LLSBO) oils were evaluated individually and in a 1:1 blend along with cottonseed oil (CSO) to determine frying oil stabilities and the flavor quality and stability of potato chips. Potato chips were fried in the oils for a total of 25 h. Potato chips and oils were sampled periodically for sensory data, gas chromatographic volatile compounds, free fatty acids, and total polar compounds. Total polar compounds levels decreased with increasing amounts of oleic acid. The LLSBO had the highest overall increase (17.3%) in total polar compounds from 0 to 25 h of frying. Flavor evaluations of fresh and aged (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 wk at 25 °C) potato chips showed differences between potato chips fried in different oil types. Potato chips fried in either LLSBO or in the 1:1 blend had significantly higher intensities of deep fried flavor than the chips fried in HOSBO. Potato chips fried in HOSBO, which had 2% linolenic acid and 1.3% linoleic acid, had significantly higher fishy flavor intensity than chips fried in the other oils. The presence of linoleic acid at a level lower than the amount of linolenic acid probably allowed for the fishy flavors from the degradation of linolenic acid in HOSBO to become more apparent than if the linoleic acid level was higher than linolenic acid. Hexanal was significantly higher in potato chips fried in LLSBO than in the chips fried in the other oils, indicating low oxidative stability during storage. Blending HOSBO with LLSBO in a 1:1 ratio not only improved flavor quality of chips compared with those fried in HOSBO, but also improved oil fry life and oxidative stability of chips compared with LLSBO. [source] Elevated oxidative stress and sensorimotor deficits but normal cognition in mice that cannot synthesize ascorbic acidJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 3 2008Fiona E. Harrison Abstract Oxidative stress is implicated in the cognitive deterioration associated with normal aging as well as neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. We investigated the effect of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on oxidative stress, cognition, and motor abilities in mice null for gulono-,-lactone oxidase (Gulo). Gulo,/, mice are unable to synthesize ascorbic acid and depend on dietary ascorbic acid for survival. Gulo,/, mice were given supplements that provided them either with ascorbic acid levels equal to- or slightly higher than wild-type mice (Gulo-sufficient), or lower than physiological levels (Gulo-low) that were just enough to prevent scurvy. Ascorbic acid is a major anti-oxidant in mice and any reduction in ascorbic acid level is therefore likely to result in increased oxidative stress. Ascorbic acid levels in the brain and liver were higher in Gulo-sufficient mice than in Gulo-low mice. F4 -neuroprostanes were elevated in cortex and cerebellum in Gulo-low mice and in the cortex of Gulo-sufficient mice. All Gulo,/, mice were cognitively normal but had a strength and agility deficit that was worse in Gulo-low mice. This suggests that low levels of ascorbic acid and elevated oxidative stress as measured by F4 -neuroprostanes alone are insufficient to impair memory in the knockouts but may be responsible for the exacerbated motor deficits in Gulo-low mice, and ascorbic acid may have a vital role in maintaining motor abilities. [source] A study to assess the cross-reactivity of cellulose membrane-bound peptides with detection systems: an analysis at the amino acid levelJOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, Issue 6 2010Carsten C. Mahrenholz Abstract The growing demand for binding assays to study protein,protein interaction can be addressed by peptide array-based methods. The SPOT technique is a widespread peptide-array technology, which is able to distinguish semi-quantitatively the binding affinities of peptides to defined protein targets within one array. The quality of an assay system used for probing peptide arrays depends on the well-balanced combination of screening and read-out methods. The former address the steady-state of analyte capture, whereas the latter provide the means to detect captured analyte. In all cases, however, false-positive results can occur when challenging a peptide array with analyte or detecting captured analyte with label conjugates. Little is known about the cross-reactivity of peptides with the detection agents. Here, we describe at the amino acid level the potential of (i) 5-(and 6)-carboxytetramethylrhodamine (5(6)-TAMRA), (ii) fluoresceinisothiocyanate in form of the peptide-bound fluorescein-substituted thiourea derivative (FITC), and (iii) biotin/streptavidin-POD to cross-react with individual amino acids in a peptide sequence. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Biological and Molecular Variability of Zucchini yellow mosaic virus in Iran,JOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 11-12 2008Kaveh Bananej Abstract Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV; family Potyviridae, genus Potyvirus) causes high yield losses to cucurbits in many parts of the world. The virus was detected for the first time in Iran in 1988, but the isolates have not been characterized. To study the genetic and biological diversity among Iranian ZYMV isolates, a set of twelve isolates, obtained during an extensive survey conducted from 2003 to 2006 in the major cucurbit-growing areas, were characterized. An experimental host range study of these isolates (referred as Iran-1 to Iran-12) revealed some variation in their biological properties. The nucleotide sequences of the genomic portion spanning the C-terminal part of NIb and N-terminal part of coat protein (CP) coding region were determined and compared with other available sequences. The identity among Iranian ZYMV isolates at the amino acid level reached 95.6,100%. The Iranian ZYMV isolates did not form a compact cluster in the phylogenetic tree, and the phylogenetic analyses and the estimation of genetic distance indicate that the Iranian ZYMV group consists of several independent introductions that evolved separately. [source] The effect of reduced amino acid level and increasing levels of lupin on growth performance and meat content in organic reared pigsJOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 3 2009Jan Værum Nørgaard Abstract BACKGROUND: Suitable protein sources for organic pig production are scarce. This project was aimed at studying the effect of a reduced amino acid level and thus crude protein level, and the inclusion of lupin in diets for grower-finisher pigs fed under organic conditions. Two hundred pigs (females:male castrates, 1:1) were fed either 100% or 85% of amino acid recommendations and lupin inclusions levels of 0%, 12.5% or 25% from 30 to 105 kg. RESULTS: Feed intake, daily gain and feed efficiency were not significantly affected by the amino acid level. Carcass meat percentage was 59.2% for females and 57.2% for castrates when fed low amino acid level and 0% lupin, and this was an effect of higher feed intake of castrates compared with females. The inclusion of 25% lupin reduced feed intake and daily gain, lowered feed efficiency and increased slaughter loss and carcass meat percentage. CONCLUSION: It is possible to reduce amino acid levels and thus crude protein levels without adverse effects on animal performance. It is, however, recommended to feed castrates restrictively to avoid low carcass meat percentage. Inclusion of up to 12.5% of lupin can be used in organic diets for pigs without negative effects on animal performance. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Aromatic hydrocarbon degradation genes from chronically polluted Subantarctic marine sedimentsLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2009M.S. Marcos Abstract Aim:, The goal of this study was to identify functional targets to detect polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading bacterial populations in cold marine ecosystems. Methods and Results:, We designed a degenerate primer set targeting genes encoding the , subunit of PAH-dioxygenases from Gram-positive bacteria. This primer set was used to amplify gene fragments from metagenomic DNA isolated from Subantarctic marine sediments (Ushuaia Bay, Argentina). These gene fragments were cloned and sequenced. We identified 14 distinct groups of genes, most of them showing significant relatedness with dioxygenases from Gram-positive bacteria of the genera Rhodococcus, Mycobacterium, Nocardioides, Terrabacter and Bacillus. The level of identity with these genes, however, was low to moderate (33,62% at the amino acid level). Conclusion:, These results indicate the presence of a high diversity of hitherto unidentified dioxygenase genes in this cold polluted environment. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Subantarctic marine ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to hydrocarbon pollution, and the development of environmental restoration strategies for these environments is pressing. The information obtained in this work will be the starting point for the design of quantitative molecular tools to analyse the abundance and dynamics of these aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial populations in the marine environment. [source] Protein phosphatase 2A on track for nutrient-induced signalling in yeastMOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2002Piotr Zabrocki Summary Early studies identified two bona fide protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)-encoding genes in Saccharo-myces cerevisiae, designated PPH21 and PPH22. In addition, three PP2A-related phosphatases, encoded by PPH3, SIT4 and PPG1, have been identified. All share as much as 86% sequence similarity at the amino acid level. This review will focus primarily on Pph21 and Pph22, but some aspects of Sit4 regulation will also be discussed. Whereas a role for PP2A in yeast morphology and cell cycle has been readily recognized, uncovering its function in yeast signal transduction is a more recent breakthrough. Via their interaction with phosphorylated Tap42, PP2A and Sit4 play a pivotal role in target of rapamycin (TOR) signalling. PPH22 overexpression mimics overactive cAMP,PKA (protein kinase A) signalling and PP2A and Sit4 might represent ceramide signalling targets. The methylation of its catalytic subunit stabilizes the heterotrimeric form of PP2A and might counteract TOR signalling. We will show how these new elements could lead us to understand the role and regulation of PP2A in nutrient-induced signalling in baker's yeast. [source] Comparison of endo-polygalacturonase activities of citrus and non-citrus races of Geotrichum candidum, and cloning and expression of the corresponding genesMOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2001Masayuki Nakamura summary Geotrichum candidum citrus race, a fungus that causes a sour rot disease in citrus fruits, secretes an endo-polygalacturonase (PG) that may facilitate the disease. There also exists a non-citrus race that is non-pathogenic to citrus fruits. In this research, we found that the PG activity of the citrus race isolates was much higher than that of the non-citrus race isolates in culture medium and inoculated lemon peel, and that there was a significant correlation between the PG activity and pathogenicity. We isolated the two corresponding PG genes, S31pg1 and S63pg1, from citrus race S31 and non-citrus race S63, respectively. S31PG1 and S63PG1 consisted of 368 and 369 amino acids, respectively. The two PG genes showed 68% identity at the amino acid level. In expression studies, S31pg1 transcript was detected in mycelia grown in liquid cultures of citrus race S31 containing either glucose, pectin or lemon peel broth. The transcript was also detected in lemon peel inoculated with the isolate. On the other hand, no transcript of S63pg1 was detected in mycelia grown on any liquid cultures of non-citrus race S63 and lemon peel inoculated with the isolate. These results indicate that PG may play an important role in the development of the sour rot symptom and be involved in the difference of pathogenicity between the two races. [source] Impact of digestible energy levels at three different dietary amino acid levels on growth performance and protein accretion in Atlantic salmonAQUACULTURE RESEARCH, Issue 3 2010Adel El-Mowafi Abstract Nine experimental feeds were prepared, having two different digestible energy levels (DE, 19.5 and 21.5 MJ kg,1) and three different amino acid levels (90%, 100% and 110%), and formulated with two alternative strategies (protein and fat vary freely or only protein varies freely). The design was not balanced and thus the 110% amino acid profile was only studied at 19.5 MJ kg,1 DE. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) with a mean body weight of 449±19 g were distributed in 24 tanks and were fed each of the experimental diets for a period of 90 days. The fish were fed three times daily and uneaten feed was collected. Increasing the dietary DE energy from 19.5 to 21.5 MJ kg,1 and the amino acid level from 90% to 100% of the requirement increased the feed intake and growth performance in Atlantic salmon. Increasing the amino acid level from 90% to 100% had a positive effect on the feed intake, growth and protein accretion. Also, the mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor I in muscle tissues pointed to this positive effect when the amino acid level increased. High probabilities were associated with a negative effect on the feed intake of reducing the amino acid level regardless of the DE level. It is recommended that the balanced amino acid level should not be adjusted by the same percentage rate as dietary energy, and possibly should not be reduced at all in order to maintain optimum performance and profitability. [source] Molecular cloning, genomic structure, and genetic mapping of two Rdl -orthologous genes of GABA receptors in the diamondback moth, Plutella xylostellaARCHIVES OF INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2010Guorui Yuan Abstract The Resistance to dieldrin (Rdl) gene encodes a subunit of the insect , -aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor. Cyclodiene resistance in many insects is associated with replacement of a single amino acid (alanine at position 302) with either a serine or a glycine in the Rdl gene. Two Rdl -orthologous genes of GABA receptors (PxGABAR,1 and PxGABAR,2) were cloned and sequenced from a susceptible strain (Roth) of Plutella xylostella. PxGABAR,1 and PxGABAR,2 showed 84% and 77% identity with the Rdl gene of Drosophila melanogaster at an amino acid level, respectively. The coding regions of PxGABAR,1 and PxGABAR,2 both comprise ten exons, with two alternative RNA-splicing forms in exon 3 of both genes. At the orthologous position of alanine-302 in D. melanogaster Rdl, PxGABAR,1 has a conserved alanine at position 282. PxGABAR,2 has a serine instead of an alanine at the equivalent position. With two informative DNA markers, both PxGABAR,1 and PxGABAR,2 were mapped onto the Z chromosome of P. xylostella. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Application of a fuzzy logic control system for continuous anaerobic digestion of low buffered, acidic energy crops as mono-substrateBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 3 2009P. Scherer Abstract A fuzzy logic control (FLC) system was developed at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW Hamburg) for operation of biogas reactors running on energy crops. Three commercially available measuring parameters, namely pH, the methane (CH4) content, and the specific gas production rate (spec. GPR,=,m3/kg VS/day) were included. The objective was to avoid stabilization of pH with use of buffering supplements, like lime or manure. The developed FLC system can cover most of all applications, such as a careful start-up process and a gentle recovery strategy after a severe reactor failure, also enabling a process with a high organic loading rate (OLR) and a low hydraulic retention time (HRT), that is, a high throughput anaerobic digestion process with a stable pH and CH4 content. A precondition for a high load process was the concept of interval feeding, for example, with 8 h of interval. The FLC system was proved to be reliable during the long term fermentation studies over 3 years in one-stage, completely stirred tank reactors (CSTR) with acidic beet silage as mono-input (pH 3.3,3.4). During fermentation of the fodder beet silage (FBS), a stable HRT of 6.0 days with an OLR of up to 15 kg,VS/m3/day and a volumetric GPR of 9 m3/m3/day could be reached. The FLC enabled an automatic recovery of the digester after two induced severe reactor failures. In another attempt to prove the feasibility of the FLC, substrate FBS was changed to sugar beet silage (SBS), which had a substantially lower buffering capacity than that of the FBS. With SBS, the FLC accomplished a stable fermentation at a pH level between 6.5 and 6.6, and a volatile fatty acid level (VFA) below 500 mg/L, but the FLC had to interact and to change the substrate dosage permanently. In a further experiment, the reactor temperature was increased from 41 to 50°C. Concomitantly, the specific GPR, pH and CH4 dropped down. Finally, the FLC automatically enabled a complete recovery in 16 days. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009; 102: 736,748. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Assessment of endothelial function and blood metabolite status following acute ingestion of a fructose-containing beverageACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 1 2010A. J. Bidwell Abstract Aim:, Fructose intake has increased concurrent with sugar intake and this increase has been implicated in contributing to the development of metabolic syndrome risk factors. Recent evidence suggests a role for uric acid (UA) as a potential mediator via suppression of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. The aim of this study was to explore this hypothesis by measuring changes in UA concentration and systemic NO bioavailability as well as endothelial function in response to acute ingestion of a glucose-fructose beverage. Methods:, Ten young (26.80 ± 4.80 years), non-obese (body mass index: 25.1 ± 2.55 kg m,2; percent body fat: 13.5 ± 6.9%) male subjects ingested either a glucose (100 g dextrose in 300 mL) or isocaloric glucose-fructose (glucose : fructose; 45 : 55 g in 300 mL) beverage. Blood was sampled pre- and every 15-min post-ingestion per 90 min and assayed for glucose, lactate, fructose, total nitrate/nitrate, UA and blood lipids. Forearm blood flow and pulse-wave velocity were recorded prior to and at 30 and 45 min time intervals post-ingestion, respectively, while heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were recorded every 15 min. Results:, The glucose-fructose ingestion was associated with a significant (P < 0.05) increase in plasma lactate concentration and altered free fatty acid levels when compared with glucose-only ingestion. However, UA was not significantly different (P = 0.08) between conditions (AUC: ,1018 ± 1675 vs. 2171 ± 1270 ,mol L,1 per 90 min for glucose and glucose-fructose conditions respectively). Consequently, no significant (P < 0.05) difference in endothelial function or systemic NO bioavailability was observed. Conclusion:, Acute consumption of a fructose-containing beverage was not associated with significantly altered UA concentration, endothelial function or systemic NO bioavailability. [source] Serum Uric Acid Levels Correlate With Left Atrial Function and Systolic Right Ventricular Function in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Heart Failure: The Hellenic Heart Failure StudyCONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 5 2008Christina Chrysohoou MD The authors sought to investigate whether serum uric acid levels are associated with systolic left and right ventricular function, as well as left atrial function in patients with newly diagnosed heart failure. The authors enrolled 106 consecutive patients (mean age 65±13 years). Echocardiographic and biochemical assessment was performed during the third day of hospitalization. Pulsed tissue Doppler imaging of the systolic function of mitral and tricuspid annulus was characterized by the systolic waves (Smv and Stv, respectively), expressed in cm/s, and the left atrial function by the Amv wave. Left atrial kinetics was calculated using an equation. Serum uric acid levels were inversely correlated with Stv (P=.005) and left atrial kinetics (P=.05), after controlling for potential confounders. Uric acid levels appear to be correlated with more impaired right ventricular systolic function and decreased left atrial work in patients with heart failure. [source] Impaired contractile function and mitochondrial respiratory capacity in response to oxygen deprivation in a rat model of pre-diabetesACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2009M. F. Essop Abstract Aim:, Obesity is a major contributor to the global burden of disease and is closely associated with the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. This study tested the hypothesis that mitochondrial respiratory capacity of the pre-diabetic heart is decreased leading to impaired contractile function and tolerance to ischaemia/reperfusion. Methods:, Eight-week-old male Wistar rats were fed a high caloric diet for 16 weeks after which anthropometric, metabolic, cardiac and mitochondrial parameters were evaluated vs. age-matched lean controls. Cardiac function (working heart perfusions) and mitochondrial respiratory capacity were assessed at baseline and in response to acute oxygen deprivation. Results:, Rats fed the high caloric diet exhibited increased body weight and visceral fat vs. the control group. Heart weights of obese rats were also increased. Triglyceride, fasting plasma insulin and free fatty acid levels were elevated, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were reduced in the obese group. Contractile function was attenuated at baseline and further decreased after subjecting hearts to ischaemia-reperfusion. Myocardial infarct sizes were increased while ADP phosphorylation rates were diminished in obese rats. However, no differences were found for mtDNA levels and the degree of oxidative stress-induced damage. Conclusions:, These data show that decreased mitochondrial bioenergetic capacity in pre-diabetic rat hearts may impair respiratory capacity and reduce basal contractile function and tolerance to acute oxygen deprivation. [source] Commercial Runner peanut cultivars in the USA: Fatty acid compositionEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Eui-Cheol Shin Abstract Though peanuts are classified as a high-fat food, they possess good proportions of fatty acids deemed as heart healthy. The fatty acid compositions of Runner peanuts were determined for commercially grown cultivars over two recent crop years. GC-FID analyses revealed that the fatty acid levels for Runner peanuts were significantly (p,<0.05) different among the normal, mid-, and high-oleic peanuts investigated. Oleic acid-to-linoleic acid (O/L) ratios were found to be 1.93,±,0.30, 5.25,±,1.12, and 16.9,±,5.20 for normal, mid-, and high-oleic peanut lipids, respectively. Tamrun OL01 possessed a fatty acid profile characteristic of a mid-oleic cultivar. From the sample set (n,=,151), mean %,weights for oleic acid and linoleic acid were 52.09,±,2.84 and 27.38,±,2.60 in normal, 69.33,±,3.18 and 13.66,±,2.35 in mid-oleic, and 78.45,±,2.05 and 5.11,±,1.67 in high-oleic peanuts, respectively. Cluster analysis segregated cultivars based on fatty acids into normal, mid-, and high-oleic groups. Factorial analysis revealed that cultivar effects were significant (p,<0.01) for all fatty acids, except for lignoceric acid. Cultivar effects were also highly significant (p,<0.001) for O/L, IV, unsaturated/saturated fatty acid (U/S) ratio, and %,saturation. Significant crop year effects were shown for palmitic, oleic, arachidic, gondoic, and lignoceric acids, as well as U/S ratio and %,saturation. Healthy unsaturated fats accounted for ,80% in all crop years and cultivars. [source] Altered kynurenine metabolism correlates with infarct volume in strokeEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 8 2007L. G. Darlington Abstract Inflammation and oxidative stress are involved in brain damage following stroke, and tryptophan oxidation along the kynurenine pathway contributes to the modulation of oxidative stress partly via the glutamate receptor agonist quinolinic acid and antagonist kynurenic acid, and via redox-active compounds such as 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid. We have confirmed that following a stroke, patients show early elevations of plasma neopterin, S100B and peroxidation markers, the latter two correlating with infarct volume assessed from computed tomography (CT) scans, and being consistent with a rapid inflammatory response. We now report that the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism was also activated, with an increased kynurenine : tryptophan ratio, but with a highly significant decrease in the ratio of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid : anthranilic acid, which was strongly correlated with infarct volume. Levels of kynurenic acid were significantly raised in patients who died within 21 days compared with those who survived. The results suggest that increased tryptophan catabolism is initiated before or immediately after a stroke, and is related to the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, with a major change in 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid levels. Together with previous evidence that inhibiting the kynurenine pathway reduces brain damage in animal models of stroke and cerebral inflammation, and that increased kynurenine metabolism directly promotes oxidative stress, it is proposed that oxidative tryptophan metabolism may contribute to the oxidative stress and brain damage following stroke. Some form of anti-inflammatory intervention between the rise of S100B and the activation of microglia, including inhibition of the kynurenine pathway, may be valuable in modifying patient morbidity and mortality. [source] Intrathecally applied flurbiprofen produces an endocannabinoid-dependent antinociception in the rat formalin testEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 3 2003Mehmet Ates Abstract It is generally accepted that the phospholipase-A2 -cyclooxygenase-prostanoids-cascade mediates spinal sensitization and hyperalgesia. However, some observations are not in line with this hypothesis. The aim of the present work was to investigate whether different components of this cascade exhibit nociceptive or antinociceptive effects in the rat formalin test. Intrathecal (i.th.) injection of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induced a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect on the formalin-induced nociception. Furthermore, thimerosal, which inhibits the reacylation of arachidonic acid thereby enhancing arachidonic acid levels, had an antinociceptive effect rather than the expected pronociceptive effect when given i.th. While the phospholipase A2 inhibitor methyl arachidonyl fluorophosphonate (MAFP; i.th.) had a significant antinociceptive effect, its analogue palmitoyl trifluoromethyl ketone (PTFMK; i.th.) had no significant effect on the formalin-induced nociception. However, MAFP, but not PTFMK, showed a cannabinoid CB1 agonistic effect as shown by the inhibition of electrically evoked contractions of the vas deferens isolated from CB1 wild-type mice but not of that from CB1 knockout mice. The antinociceptive effect of MAFP was completely reversed by the CB1 receptor antagonist AM-251 (i.th.), thus attributing such effect to its CB1 agonistic effect. Moreover, the antinociceptive effect of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, flurbiprofen (i.th.) was reversed by the co-administration of AM-251, but not by PGE2. Finally. the combination of phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF; intraperitoneal), which inhibits the degradation of anandamide through the inhibition of fatty acid amidohydrolase, with thimerosal (i.th.) produced a profound CB1 -dependent antinociception. The present results show that endocannabinoids play a major role in mediating flurbiprofen-induced antinociception at the spinal level. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||