Efficient isolation of high quality nucleic acids from different tissues of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Taxus baccata</Emphasis> L.

Improved and efficient methods were developed for isolating high quality DNA and RNA from different sources of Iranian Yew (Taxus baccata L.). The methods were based on CTAB extraction buffer added with high levels of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and β-mercaptoethanol to properly remove polysaccharides and prevent oxidation of phenolics. The pellets obtained by ethanol precipitation were washed only with Chloroform: isoamyl alcohol (24:1). So, we could successfully eliminate the dangerous phenol/chloroform extraction steps from the isolation procedure. Both spectrophotometric (A₂₆₀/A₂₈₀ and A₂₆₀/A₂₃₀ ratios) and agarose electrophoresis analysis of isolated nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) indicated good results. DNA with the average yield of 100–300 μg/g leaf and stem tissue and total RNA with an average yield of 20–30 μg/g cell culture and 80–100 μg/g leaf and stem tissue of Iranian yew could be obtained. Successful amplification of pam and pds by PCR and RT-PCR, showed the integrity of isolated DNA and RNA, respectively.     

MicroRNAs take part in pathophysiology and pathogenesis of Male Pattern Baldness

Male Pattern Baldness (MPB) or androgenetic alopecia is a common form of hair loss with androgens and genetics having etiological significance. Androgens are thought to pathophysiologically power on cascades of chronically dramatic alterations in genetically susceptible scalp dermal papillas, specialized cells in hair follicles in which androgens react, and finally resulting in a patterned alopecia. However, the exact mechanisms through which androgens, positive regulators of growth and anabolism in most body sites, paradoxically exert their effects on balding hair follicles, are not yet known. The role of microRNAs, a recently discovered class of non-coding RNAs, with a wide range of regulatory functions, has been documented in hair follicle formation and their deregulation in cancer of prostate, a target organ of androgens has also been delineated. Yet, there is a lack of knowledge in agreement with microRNAs’ contribution in pathophysiology of MPB. To investigate the role of microRNAs in pathogenesis of MPB, we selected seven microRNAs, predicted bioinformatically on a reverse engineering basis, from previously published microarray gene expression data and analyzed their expression in balding relative to non-balding dermal papillas. We found for the first time upregulation of four microRNAs (miR-221, miR-125b, miR-106b and miR-410) that could participate in pathogenesis of MPB. Regarding microRNAs’ therapeutic potential and accessibility of hair follicles for gene therapy, these microRNAs can be considered as good candidates for a new revolutionized generation of treatments.     

Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles by the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica

The application of green-synthesis principles is one of the most impressive research fields for the production of nanoparticles. Different kinds of biological systems have been used for this purpose. In the present study, AuNPs (gold nanoparticles) were prepared within a short time period using a fresh cell extract of the marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica as a reducing agent of HAuCl4 (chloroauric acid) solution. The UV-visible spectrum of the aqueous medium containing AuNPs indicated a peak at 530 nm, corresponding to the surface plasmon absorbance of AuNPs. The X-ray diffraction pattern also showed a Bragg reflection related to AuNPs. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was performed for analysis of surface functional groups of AuNPs. Transmission electron microscopy and particle-size-distribution patterns determined by the laser-light-scattering method confirmed the formation of well-dispersed AuNPs. The most frequent size of particles was 79 nm.     

Does Dietary vitamin E or C Decrease Egg Yolk Cholesterol?

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary vitamin E and C on serum metabolites, yolk cholesterol, egg quality, and performance of layer hens. One hundred sixty-eight commercial Hy-Line W-36 layer hens were randomly divided into seven groups and six replicates with four hens in each. Dietary treatments were introduced after the pre-experimental period (10 days) to adjust egg production. Treatments were levels of vitamin E or C (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg diet) supplementation to the basal diet for 4 weeks, whereas the control group received no supplementation. Egg production, egg weight, and feed consumption were recorded during the study. Shell thickness, Haugh unit score, yolk color, yolk weight, yolk cholesterol, and blood parameters were measured at the end of experiment. There was no significant effect of dietary vitamin E or C on hen performance. Egg yolk cholesterol concentrations decreased linearly by antioxidant vitamin supplementation (P?<?0.01). Egg yolk cholesterol reduction did not have any negative effect on egg production rate. Antioxidants, especially vitamin C, increased serum glucose concentration (P?<?0.05). Serum total cholesterol content did not change by vitamin supplementation but cholesterol in high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) decreased and cholesterol in low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) increased (P?<?0.05), as dietary vitamin E or C supplementation increased in diets. These results are in conflict with the previous hypothesis that antioxidants have a role in LDL-C removal from the blood or increasing HDL-C. Vitamin E was more effective than vitamin C in this case and if these results are confirmed by further studies, they may result to revision in researchers’ point of view about antioxidant especially in human medicine.     

Serum Trace Element Levels in Febrile Convulsion

Febrile convulsion is the most common disorder in childhood with good prognosis. There are different hypotheses about neurotransmitters and trace element changes in biological fluids which can have a role in pathogenesis of febrile convulsion. In this study, serum selenium, zinc, and copper were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry in the children with febrile convulsion (n?=?30) and in the control group (n?=?30). The age and sex of the subjects were registered. Selenium and zinc were found to be significantly lower in febrile convulsion cases than in the control group (p?<?0.0001 and p?<?0.0001, respectively). There was no significant difference in the value of copper between the two groups (p?=?0.16). While selenium and zinc levels were 44.92?±?10.93 μg/l and 66.13?±?18.97 μg/dl in febrile convulsion, they were found to be 62.98?±?9.80 μg/l and 107.87?±?28.79 μg/dl in healthy children. Meanwhile, copper levels were 146.40?±?23.51 μg/dl in the patients and 137.63?±?24.19 μg/dl in the control group, respectively. This study shows that selenium and zinc play an important role in the pathogenesis of febrile convulsion.     

桑蓟马在桑树中空间分布的研究

桑蓟马Pseudodendrothrips mori是桑树的一种主要害虫。它的寄生直接影响供桑叶的质量和产量。我们通过泰勒幂法则和Morisita的散度指标对桑树蓟马在植株和桑园内的空间分布进行检验,结果显示:P.mori种群在植株内和桑园里的分布都存在局部化。桑树中蓟马的分布在树内显示出幼虫蓟马位于低层(从上面叶子起5-10层),但成虫更喜欢上层(从上面叶子起1-5层)。同一植株叶子的不同方向上蓟马密度没有出现明显变化。桑园内蓟马主要分布在桑园东部、南部和北部的植株上,中部,西部植株上的蓟马密度较低。P.mori的成虫和幼虫在叶子上的分布呈现明显聚集化。     

Two-state irreversible thermal denaturation of Euphorbia characias latex amine oxidase

Thermal denaturation of Euphorbia latex amine oxidase (ELAO) has been studied by enzymatic activity, circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetry. Thermal denaturation of ELAO is shown to be an irreversible process. Checking the validity of two-state it really describes satisfactorily the thermal denaturation of ELAO. Based on this model we obtain the activation energy, parameter T(*) (the absolute temperature at which the rate constant of denaturation is equal to 1 min(-1)), and total enthalpy of ELAO denaturation. HPLC experiments show that the thermal denatured enzyme conserves its dimeric state. The N(2)-->kD(2) model for thermal denaturation of ELAO is proposed: where N(2) and D(2) are the native and denatured dimer, respectively.     

Extraction and determination of opium alkaloids in urine samples using dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction followed by high-performance liquid chromatography

A simple, rapid and sensitive method based on dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) combined with high-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) was used to determine opium alkaloids in urine samples. Some effective parameters on extraction were studied and optimized. Under the optimum conditions, enrichment factors and recoveries for different opiates are in the range of 63.0-104.5 and 31.5-52.2%, respectively. The calibration graphs are linear in the range of 0.50-500 μg L(-1) and limit of detections (LODs) are in the range of 0.2-10 μg L(-1). The relative standard deviations (RSDs) for 200 μg L(-1) of morphine, codeine and thebaine, 5.0 μg L(-1) of papaverine and 10.0 μg L(-1) of noscapine in diluted urine sample are in the range of 2.8-6.1% (n=7). The relative recoveries of urine samples spiked with alkaloids are 84.3-106.0%. The obtained results show that DLLME combined with HPLC-UV is a fast and simple method for the determination of opium alkaloids in urine samples.