A Signature of Three microRNAs Is a Potential Diagnostic Biomarker for Glioblastoma

Background:Glioblastoma is the most common primary malignant neoplasm of the central nervous system. Despite progress in diagnosis and treatment, glioblastoma still has a poor prognosis. This study aimed to examine whether a signature of three candidate miRNAs (i.e. hsa-let-7c-5p, hsa-miR-206-5p, and hsa-miR-1909-5p) can be used as a diagnostic biomarker for distinguishing glioblastoma from healthy brain tissues. Methods:In this study, 50 FFPE glioblastoma tissue samples and 50 healthy tissue samples adjacent to tumor were included. The expression of each candidate miRNA (i.e. hsa-let-7c-5p, hsa-miR-206-5p, and hsa-miR-1909-5p) was measured using RT-qPCR. To show the roles of each miRNA and their biological effects on glioblastoma development and clinicopathological characteristics, in silico tools were used. ROC curves were performed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of each miRNA. Results:Based on the results, hsa-let-7c-5p and hsa-miR-206-5p were downregulated, while hsa-miR-1909-5p was upregulated in glioblastoma tumors compared to healthy samples. No association was detected between the expression of each candidate miRNA and sex. Except for hsa-let-7c-5p, other miRNAs did not correlate with age status. ROC curve analysis indicated that the signature of candidate miRNAs is a potential biomarker distinguishing between glioblastoma and healthy samples. Only hsa-miR-206-5p suggested the association with poor prognosis in glioblastoma patients. Conclusion:Our findings revealed that the signature of three miRNAs is capable of distinguishing glioblastoma tumor and healthy tissues. These results are beneficial for the clinical management of glioblastoma patients.Key Words: Inflammation, Gastric cancer, Gene expression, Pattern recognition receptors, RNA-seq     

Characterization of Aquimarina hainanensis isolated from diseased mud crab Scylla serrata larvae in a hatchery

Mass mortality due to necrosis signs occurred in hatchery-reared zoea stage larvae of the mud crab Scylla serrata in Okinawa, Japan, and a causative bacterium was isolated. In this study, we identified and characterized the bacterium by genome analysis, biochemical properties and pathogenicity. The bacterium was a Gram-negative, non-motile, long rod, forming yellow colonies on a marine agar plate. It grew at 20–33°C (not at 37°C) and degraded chitin and gelatin. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence identified the bacterium as Aquimarina hainanensis. Genome sequence data obtained from Illumina MiSeq generated 29 contigs with 3.56 Mbp in total length and a G + C content of 32.5%. The predicted 16 chitinase genes, as putative virulence factors, had certain homologies with those of genus Aquimarina. Experimental infection with the bacterium conducted on larvae of four crustacean species, brine shrimp Artemia franciscana, freshwater shrimp Caridina multidentata, swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus and mud crab S. serrata, revealed that this bacterium was highly virulent to these species. The present study suggests that the bacterium caused mass mortality in mud crab seed production was A. hainanensis and can be widely pathogenic to crustaceans.     

Effects of date palm leaf fiber on the thermal and tensile properties of recycled ternary polyolefin blend composites

This work investigated the effects of date palm leaf fiber (DPLF) content on the thermal and tensile properties; and morphology of compatibilized polyolefin ternary blend. Recycled polyolefin ternary blend consisting of low density polyethylene (RLDPE), high density polyethylene (RHDPE) and polypropylene (RPP) were fabricated at different parts per hundred resin (phr) of DPLF. Maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (MAPE) was used as compatibilizer to enhance the adhesion between filler and polymer matrix. The composites were prepared using melt extrusion and tests samples were produced via injection molding process. Thermal conductivity results showed that as much as 11 % reduction in thermal conductivity was achieved with the incorporation of 30 phr DPLF. Highest tensile strength was observed with the incorporation of 10 phr DPLF. The elongation at break was reduced with the addition of DPLF due to impediment of chain mobility by the fillers. Initial degradation temperature increased with the addition of DPLF. Hence, it is concluded that DPLF can be used to develop green and thermally insulating composites. It is hoped that the present results will stimulate further studies on the thermally insulative materials based on natural fibers reinforced polymer composites for applications in the building industries.     

Evaluation of in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of fusidic acid on Babesia and Theileria parasites

Fusidic acid known to has antibacterial, antifungal, and antimalarial activities. Fusidic acid blocks translation elongation factor G gene in Plasmodium falciparum. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of fusidic acid on the in vitro growth of bovine and equine Babesia parasites were evaluated. The inhibitory effect of fusidic acid on the in vivo growth of Babesia microti was also assessed. The in vitro growth of four Babesia species that were tested was significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) by micromolar concentrations of fusidic acid (IC₅₀ values = 144.8, 17.3, 33.3, and 56.25 μM for Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia caballi, and Theileria equi, respectively). Combinations of fusidic acid with diminazene aceturate synergistically potentiated its inhibitory effects in vitro on B. bovis and B. caballi. In B. microti-infected mice, fusidic acid caused significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of the growth of B. microti at the dose of 500 mg/kg BW relative to control group. These results indicate that fusidic acid might be incorporated in treatment of babesiosis.     

Emerging Biomedical Applications of Nano-Chitins and Nano-Chitosans Obtained via Advanced Eco-Friendly Technologies from Marine Resources

The present review article is intended to direct attention to the technological advances made in the 2010–2014 quinquennium for the isolation and manufacture of nanofibrillar chitin and chitosan. Otherwise called nanocrystals or whiskers, n-chitin and n-chitosan are obtained either by mechanical chitin disassembly and fibrillation optionally assisted by sonication, or by e-spinning of solutions of polysaccharides often accompanied by poly(ethylene oxide) or poly(caprolactone). The biomedical areas where n-chitin may find applications include hemostasis and wound healing, regeneration of tissues such as joints and bones, cell culture, antimicrobial agents, and dermal protection. The biomedical applications of n-chitosan include epithelial tissue regeneration, bone and dental tissue regeneration, as well as protection against bacteria, fungi and viruses. It has been found that the nano size enhances the performances of chitins and chitosans in all cases considered, with no exceptions. Biotechnological approaches will boost the applications of the said safe, eco-friendly and benign nanomaterials not only in these fields, but also for biosensors and in targeted drug delivery areas.     

Assessment of Water Quality Status for the Selangor River in Malaysia

Water quality degradation in the Selangor River will still be present in the years to come since pollutant loads from poultry farms, municipal wastewaters, and industrial wastewaters are not envisaged to be handled effectively. This will be facing the problems of water quality status to use for multiple purposes and to provide its aquatic environment continuously. The water quality evaluation system is used to assess the water quality condition in the river. This system distinguishes two categories of water condition i.e., the water quality index and water quality aptitude. The assessment of water quality for the Selangor River from nine stations along the main stream, which concludes that water has been highly polluted (index 5) immediately downstream of station 02 Selangor River before confluence with Kubu River due to high concentration of microorganisms and immediately downstream of station 06 Selangor River before confluence with Batang Kali River due to high concentrations of microorganisms and suspended particles, was verified. Mineral micropollutants were found to gradually pollute the stream water, ranging from the unpolluted water (index 1) in the upstream to the bad quality (index 4) in the downstream area.     

Potential angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory peptides from gluten hydrolysate: Biochemical characterization and molecular docking study

The present study was carried out to characterize ACE inhibitory peptides which are released from the trypsin hydrolysate of wheat gluten protein. In silico proteolitic digestion of a high molecular weight glutenin subunit was performed. Among the resultant fragments, four peptides were selected for chemical synthesis based on the chemoinformatics studies and docking properties. The ACE inhibitory activity and kinetic parameters of the most important peptides were determined. Molecular docking simulation was also performed to predict the sites on ACE in which these peptides bind and displayed inhibition mechanisms. Two peptide sequences of IPALLKR (P4) and AQQLAAQLPAMCR (P6) showed higher ACE inhibitory activity among peptide collection. The IC₅₀ values of P6 and P4 were 43 ± 1.3 μM and 68 ± 2.8 μM, respectively. P6 peptide was proved to be a more potent ACE inhibitor than P4 peptide. Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed that P6 and P4 behaved as non-competitive and competitive ACE inhibitors, respectively. The simulations showed that P4 bound to the active site region. Conversely, P6 bound to the N-terminus entrance of substrate tunnel and obstructed the substrate access into the catalytic site. Overall, the results showed that these peptides would be considered as a model for discovering new bio-compatible ACE inhibitors.     

The origin of mangosteen: A review

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana var. mangostana) is an obligate apomictic species which does not require a fertilization process to produce seeds. The absence...     

Structure-physicochemical function relationships of soybean beta-conglycinin heterotrimers

We purified four single molecular species of beta-conglycinin heterotrimers consisting of the alpha and beta subunits or the alpha' and beta subunits from mutant soybean cultivars lacking the alpha or alpha' subunit, respectively, and examined their structural features and physicochemical functions. The extent of the hydrophobicities of the heterotrimers was related to the number of the alpha or alpha' subunit. The thermal stabilities of the heterotrimers were mainly conferred by the subunit which had lower thermal stability. Solubilities at low ionic strength (mu = 0.08) of the heterotrimers containing the alpha or alpha' subunit were very similar to those of the alpha and alpha' homotrimers, respectively. Emulsifying abilities and heat-induced associations of the heterotrimers containing one beta subunit were similar to those of the alpha or alpha' homotrimer, whereas those of the heterotrimers containing two beta subunits were similar to those of the beta homotrimer.     

Growth performance and leaf ecophysiological traits in three Aquilaria species in Malaysia

New Forests - The genus Aquilaria (Thymelaeaceae) is widely used for the production of agarwood, and includes several valuable plantation species in Southeast Asia. To understand appropriate...