Altered expression of securin (Pttg1) and serpina3n in the auditory system of hearing-impaired Tff3-deficient mice

Introduction

Tff3 peptide exerts important functions in cytoprotection and restitution of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract epithelia. Moreover, its presence in the rodent inner ear and involvement in the hearing process was demonstrated recently. However, its role in the auditory system still remains elusive. Our previous results showed a deterioration of hearing with age in Tff3-deficient animals.

Results

Present detailed analysis of auditory brain stem response (ABR) measurements and immunohistochemical study of selected functional proteins indicated a normal function and phenotype of the cochlea in Tff3 mutants. However, a microarray-based screening of tissue derived from the auditory central nervous system revealed an alteration of securin (Pttg1) and serpina3n expression between wild-type and Tff3 knock-out animals. This was confirmed by qRT-PCR, immunostaining and western blots.

Conclusions

We found highly down-regulated Pttg1 and up-regulated serpina3n expression as a consequence of genetically deleting Tff3 in mice, indicating a potential role of these factors during the development of presbyacusis.     

Enhanced urease inhibition activity of Ag nanomaterials capped with N-substituted methyl 5-acetamido-β-resorcylate

Medically, bacterial ureases are important virulent factors and are used for treatment of peptic ulcers and urinary tones. Reported urease inhibitors are associated with various side effects including antibiotic resistance as a major one. Still there is an urgent need to synthesize new urease inhibitors. In this context we have synthesized new urease inhibitor i.e. AgL that is composed of Ag nanomaterials capped with N-substituted methyl 5-acetamido-β-resorcylate(L). The conjugation of L to silver was confirmed through FTIR, UV–vis and TEM analysis.Bare silver nanomaterials(Ag) were also prepared. The stability of AgL nanostructures was determined against various parameters(temperature, high salt concentration, pH) and found to be stable. The in vitro antimicrobial(antibacterial, antifungal), enzyme inhibition(xanthine oxidase, urease, carbonic anhydrase, α-chymotrypsin,cholinesterase) and antioxidant activities of AgL were investigated and compared with Ag, L and standard drugs.In comparison to other bioactivities, AgL shows statistically enhanced selective enzyme inhibition activity against urease enzyme. Urease inhibition activity of AgL was significantly greater than standard drug(thiourea),L and Ag. On a per weight basis, AgL required about 11–18 times less amount of L for inhibition of urease enzyme.     

A thyromimetic that decreases plasma cholesterol levels without increasing cardiac activity

A number of agents that mimic the ability of the thyroid hormone, T3, to decrease plasma cholesterol levels are described; one is as effective as T3 at reducing cholesterol levels and stimulating liver function, but has very little effect on cardiac function and is thus less likely to be toxic. The agent may be useful in the treatment of atherosclerosis.     

Size-manipulat ion, compacti on and electrical properties of barium manganite nanorods synthesized via the CHM method

A composite-hydroxide mediated method was employed to synthesize barium manganite nanorods.Diameter,surface smoothness and uniformity of these nanorods were optimized by varying reaction temperature and reaction time.The rods with an average diameter of 200 nm and length of1–1.5 μm were obtained at optimum conditions of 200 1C/48 h.The dielectric study of these rods reveals that they have higher value of dielectric constant at lower frequencies which was attributed to the interfacial and rotational type polarizations.Similarly,the increase in dielectric constant with temperature was attributed to the thermal activation of such polarizations.Furthermore,the analysis of ln(J) vs.E1/2characteristics in the temperature range of 300–400 K shows that possible operative conduction mechanism was of Poole–Frenkel type.The value of βexp was found to be 4.85 times greater than the expected theoretical value of feld lowering coeffcient with an internal feld enhancement factor ofα2 23.5.This high value of βexp may be due to some localized electric felds existing inside the sample.     

一株分离自四川温泉的嗜热鞘丝藻新种鉴定

为了确定分离自四川甘孜地区温泉的嗜热丝状菌株B121的分类信息, 为探索其应用价值提供遗传学分析基础, 对其进行基因组分析、系统发育分析、二级结构预测、形态学鉴定以及结合菌株钠盐耐受性和固氮能力的整体分析。在16S rRNA的系统发育分析中, 发现菌株 B121与菌株Thermoleptolyngbya oregonensis PCC 8501, Thermoleptolyngbya albertanoae ETS-08和Thermoleptolyngbya sp.O-77等嗜热鞘丝藻属菌株有较好的聚类。在16S-23S ITS二级结构预测分析中, 菌株B121的D1-D1'区域与属内参考菌株有一定的相似性, 序列同一性也较高, 但都没有到达广义的同种物种标准, 并且V2, BoxB及V3区域与其他对照菌株的差异较大。结合形态学分析, 确定菌株B121 是Thermoleptolyngbya属下的一个新种。菌株B121可在最高浓度为0.5 M的NaCl和NaNO₃培养基中生存, 也可在浓度为1 M的NaCl培养基中存活。当气相条件为Ar:N₂: CO₂=79:20:1 (体积比)时, 菌株B121的乙炔还原速率可以达到2564.1 nmol/(g·h)。     

Perspectives on the prevention and treatment of infection for orthopedic tissue engineering applications

The emergence of orthopedic tissue engineering devices as viable clinical solutions demands that the field address significant clinical complications associated with the implantation of foreign materials in the body, especially infection. While tissue engi- neering has focused on the development of methods to regenerate and repair, until recently there has been a relative dearth of literature regarding the intersection of tissue engineering and infection. In particular, local delivery of antimicrobials has long been of clinical interest, but only recently has that been translated into the realm of tissue engineering. In this perspective, we briefly review major modes of local delivery for infection prevention and treatment and discuss possible strategies for preventing implant-associated infections.     

Synthesis of titanium oxycarbonitride by carbothermal reduction and nitridation of ilmenite with recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

An innovative and sustainable carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CTRN) process of ilmenite (FeTiO₃) using a mixture of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and coal as the primary reductant under an H₂-N₂ atmosphere was proposed.The use of PET as an alternative source of carbon not only enhances the porosity of the pellets but also results in the separation of Fe from titanium oxycarbonitride (TiO_xC_yN_z) particles because of the differences in surface tension.The experiments were carried out at 1250℃ for 3 h using four different PET contents ranging from 25wt% to 100wt% in the reductant.X-ray diffraction (XRD),scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in conjunction with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX),and LECO elemental analysis were used to study the phases and microstructures of the reduced samples.In the case of 75wt% PET,iron distinctly separated from the synthesized TiO_xC_yN_z phase.With increasing PET content in the sample,the reduction and nitridation rates substantially increased.The synthesis of an oxycarbonitride with stoichiometry of TiO_0.02C_0.13N_0.85 with minimal intermediate titanium sub-oxides was achieved.The results also showed that the iron particles formed from CTRN of FeTiO₃ exhibited a spherical morphology,which is conducive for Fe removal via the Becher process.     

Zr-pillared montmoril lonite supported cobalt nanoparticles for Fischer – Tropsch synthesis

In this article Fischer–Tropsch(FT) synthesis was studied over cobalt nanoparticles supported on modifed Montmorillonite(Zr-PILC).Co-loaded/Zr-PILC catalysts were synthesized by hydrothermal methods and were characterized by XRD,XRF,BET,H2-TPR,TGA and SEM techniques.FT reactions were carried out in fxed bed microreactor(T 225 1C,260 1C and 275 1C,P 1,5 and 10 bars).The FT-products obtained over Co-loaded/Zr-PILC catalysts showed increased selectivity of C2–C12hydrocarbons and decreased selectivity towards CH4and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons(C21) at a TOS of 2–30 h as compared to the Co-loaded/NaMMT catalysts.With increase in reaction temperature from225 1C to 275 1C,CO-conversion and CH4selectivity increases while that of C5+hydrocarbons decreases.Decrease in CH4selectivity while increase in C5+hydrocarbons and CO-conversion were observed on increasing the pressure of reaction.