Inflammatory effect on the gastrointestinal system associated with COVID-19

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)that causes coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19)has provoked a global pandemic,mainly affecting the respiratory tract;however,a percentage of infected individuals can develop gastrointestinal(GI)symptoms.Some studies describe the development of GI symptoms and how they affect the progression of COVID-19.In this review,we summarize the main mechanisms associated with gut damage during infection by SARS-CoV-2 as well as other organs such as the liver and pancreas.Not only are host factors associated with severe COVID-19 but intestinal microbiota dysbiosis is also observed in patients with severe disease.

Beyond reproduction：the role of progesterone in neuropathic pain after spinal cord injury

Neuropathic pain,a type of pain arising after direct damage or disease of the nervous system,is often intractable and challenges the search of effective therapeutic strategies.In particular,neuropathic pain is a very frequent sequel of spinal cord injury（SCI）and a decisive contributor to decreased quality of life.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a lipid transfer protein gene(PsLTP1) from Pinus sylvestris(L.)

Plant nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are widely distributed through plant kingdom and are characterized by the presence of a central hydrophobic cavity, suitable for binding various hydrophobic molecules. Despite extensive research on nsLTP in different plant species, mostly angiosperm, and the great diversity of physiological processes in which they seem to be involved, their exact functions still remain unclear. Also, very limited experimental data are available on nsLTP in gymnosperm. In this study, we report for the first time on the molecular cloning of nsLTP, from Pinus sylvestris L.(PsLTP1, GenBank accession JN980402.1) and the expression pattern of PsLTP1 during ontogenesis and in response to environmental stress conditions. Total RNA from roots of 7-day old pine seedlings was used to isolate the cDNA clone, corresponding to Scots pine lipid transfer protein. The open reading frame of PsLTP1 consists of 372 bp encoding a protein of 123 amino acids. Amino acid sequence alignment revealed that mature PsLTP1 shares high level of similarity with nsLTP from other conifers and with well-studied nsLTPs from angiosperms. The PsLTP1 contains a 27-amino-acid N-terminal signal sequence and presents all the features of a plant nsLTP. Amino acid comparison analysis and 3D structure prediction showed that PsLTP1 is a type 1 nsLTP. The results of the expression analysis of Scots pine PsLTP1 gene revealed that its transcripts accumulate in actively growing tissues. Furthermore, transcription of PsLTP1 was upregulated in response to cold and salt treatments, and downregulated during acidic, osmotic and water stresses.

IL-1β, TNF-α and Sambucus nigra Reactive Serum Proteins as Biomarkers of Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Disease Progression

Amyloid-β (Aβ) can induce a chronic inflammatory immune response that is associated, amongst many others, to abnormal glycosylation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide (NO). The relation between development of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease progression and these serum markers has not been evaluated. Serum levels of iNOs, NO, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12 are determined with commercially available kits. Sialylation of albumin-free serum patterns is determined by Western blot analysis with Sambucus nigra (specific for sialic acid attached to terminal galactose in α2,6 linkage) lectin. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) haplotype is determined by Western blot using specific anti-ApoE 2, 3 or 4 antibodies. A mini-mental state examination (MMSE) test is also performed in the 10 MCI patients, 19 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients and 46 healthy age-matched controls evaluated. The results show an increase of iNOS in MCI and AD but significantly higher NO concentrations are only found in MCI patients. TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations are the only significantly increased cytokines in MCI patients;no differences between control and MCI or AD patients are found in regard to the other cytokines. An abnormal MMSE test result only correlates with a decrease in serum NO concentration in MCI patients. The terminal sialic acid linkage pattern of serum proteins also shows highly significant differences between MCI and AD patient. ApoE3/4 or 4/4 haplotypes are characteristic of MCI and AD patients. Our results imply that increased serum TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, NO and alterations of serum proteins glycosylation patterns in adult individuals with an abnormal MMSE test may serve as an early biomarker of MCI and AD development.

Composition and Thermal Behavior of Oils from Native Seeds and Fruits of Argentina and Uruguay

The purpose of this work was to study the thermal characterization of oils extracted from native seeds and fruits of the Argentina, Uruguayan region. This is important because it＇s necessary to find new applications for food industry. Uruguayan wild cardoon seed, Argentinian wild papaya seeds, Argentinian avocado pulp, Argentinian cherimoya seeds, Argentinian grapeseeds and four commercial brands of chia oils were studied. The thermal behaviors of the oils were analyzed on a differential scanning calorimetry （DSC）, TA Instrument, Q20 model equipped with an intercooler. These oils＇ thermal profiles presented differences, which are related to the compositions of fatty acids and triacylglycerols. The thermogram for the chia oil, with a high content of linolenic acid, presented a very important peak at about -40 ℃; whereas, the papaya oil with an oleic acid content of 74%, showed a peak at about -3 ℃. When comparing the thermal behaviors of these oils to commercial brand oils, it was found that the chia oil is similar to the flaxseed oil, the papaya similar to the olive oil and the avocado similar to the rice bran oil. The avocado oil, in particular, presents high solid content at cold store or winter temperatures, which would make its use in those conditions difficult （for example, a cosmetic cream or gourmet oil）. In conclusion, the thermal behavior of one oil sample as determined by DSC provides valuable information with regards to the possible use of new oils of American origin as replacement of usual commercial others.

Targeting the guanine-based purinergic system in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer’s disease（AD）is the main cause of dementia worldwide and affects approximately 5%of people with 65 years or older.The estimated increase in the elderly population suggests that cases of AD will rise in the next years.

Analysis of Water Temperature Influenced by Arduino-Controlled on Solar Desalinator of Low Cost

The solar desalinator is a low cost installation and operation equipment that can contribute to tackling the problem of water shortages in the world.Because of the importance of this equipment,the present work has the objective to quantify the relation of the temperature of the water with the production of the equipment.For this,a compact desalinator with glass cover in square pyramidal form and a heating system controlled by a logic programmer was built.As a result,it was verified the efficiency of the logic controller as an auxiliary tool for experimental work and the relationship between temperature ranges and desalination production.

How does zebrafish support new strategies for neuroprotection and neuroregeneration in hypoxia-related diseases?

Hypoxia is a condition found commonly in several disorders,such as ischemia,asthma,anemia and neonatal hypoxia.Individuals subjected suddenly to high altitude or extreme exercise are also challenged to low oxygen（O2）levels.Since the brain presents elevated basal O_2 consumption,this organ is readily affected by hypoxia.For this reason,

Phosphorylated KDR can be located in the nucleus of neoplastic cells

KDR （kinase insert domain receptor） phosphorylation induces several effects which lead eventually to cell proliferation and survival. The precise mechanisms by which KDR, once it is activated, communicates with the nucleus are starting to be understood but have not yet been completely unravelled. Two in vitro studies on animal cell lines reported in the literature have demonstrated that, following stimulation with VEGF, KDR is actually translocated within the nucleus. Our aim was to investigate whether this translocation occurs in human cells both in vitro and in vivo. Using laser scanning confocal microscopy, a variable nuclear localization of phosphorylated and total KDR in cell lines and tumour samples was found. In human neoplastic cell lines, hypoxic stimulation greatly increased the nuclear amount of total KDR but less so that of the phosphorylated form. Only after hypoxia and VEGF stimulation there was a comparably increased expression of phosphorylated and total KDR observed in the nuclei of these cells. We conclude that neoplastic cells show a variable expression of total and phosphorylated KDR in the nucleus. The precise functional meaning of nuclear location remains to be established.

The action of ethanol on G protein. <i>In silico</i>and cellular/molecular evidences

Ethanol (EtOH) enhances glycinergic currents in the central nervous system (CNS). Because evidence for an interaction between the α1 subunit of the glycine receptor (α1GlyR) and the G protein Gβγ subunit exists in vitro and because cAMP levels are known to increase in response to EtOH, we wanted to investigate the interaction between Gβγ and α1GlyR in response to EtOH treatment in HEK293 cells and to explore the possible sites of interaction between EtOH and the Gαs subunit. His pull-down assays in GlyR-His6-transfected HEK293 cells incubated with ethanol or propofol revealed that only EtOH treatment increased the binding of Gβγ heterodimers to α1GlyR. Using molecular modelling (protein structure prediction), was modelled the hGαs protein for the first time and validated this model by site-directed mutagenesis. By molecular docking, we identified some potential regions of interaction between hGαs and EtOH that are located on the SIII and SI regions of the Gαs. Therefore, we conclude that ethanol increases the interaction between α1GlyR and Gβγ in HEK293 cells, an effect that might be attributed to the interaction between EtOH and hGαs, which consequently stimulates hGαs.

Relation between Gastrointestinal Adverse Effects in Gaucher Disease Patients and Intestinal Disaccharidases Activity Evaluated by Methane Hydrogen Breath Test

The aim of this paper is to study the disaccharidase profile in GD （Gaucher disease） patients treated or not with miglustat and compare it with a healthy control group. Miglustat is an iminosugar used as substrate inhibitor in the therapy of some lysosomal disorders, its main side effects resembling carbohydrate maldigestion symptoms and cause more than 50% of medication discontinuation among GD patients. In-vitro studies have revealed that miglustat can act as an inhibitor of some digestive enzymes. An exploratory non-interventional study was designed to compare the disaccharidase profile assessed by MHBT （methane hydrogen breath test） and to analyze the correlation with the reported gastrointestinal symptoms in GD patients （40） and healthy subjects （20）. MHBT was performed following the ingestion of lactose, sucrose and maltose on different days. Each participant completed two detailed surveys about dietary habits, medications and gastrointestinal symptoms previous and during the test. Twenty-one GD were receiving miglustat, 10 （47.6%） of them reported gastrointestinal side effects, and 7/10 （70%） recorded a positive MHBT （lactose 5, maltose 2, and sucrose 1）. In 6/19 （31.6%） patients that never been exposed to miglustat and 7/20 （35%） controls a positive MHBT were detected. The comparison of the malabsorption phenotype between GD patients exposed and not exposed to miglustat （p = 0.028） and control group （p 〈 0.04） showed high statistical significance for the group of patients treated with miglustat. These results suggest that miglustat therapy induces persistent changes in digestive enzyme activity in GD patients.

Purification and Biochemical Characterization of a Protease Inhibitor Ⅱ Family from Jalapeno Pepper(Capsicum annuum L.)

Capsicum annuum L. was initially domesticated in Mexico and northern Central America, and represented an ancient Neotropical plant food complex. The purpose of this paper is to report the isolation and purification of a novo-member of a protease inhibitor from jalape&ntildeo pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) (PIJP). The molecular weight of PIJP inhibitor is 5.95 kDa with 56 amino acids and 6 Cys residues with high inhibitory activity to trypsin with a Ki value of 95 nM. This inhibitor according to the alignment with homologous from NCBI and Pfam databases is a member of proteinase inhibitors II. It is worthwhile to mention a major compositional difference between the proteinase inhibitor II families which have 8 Cys residues. PIJP is the first purified proteinase inhibitor, member of this family with only 6 Cys residues.

Correspondence amongst the PENO Test Battery Cognitive Results and Hippocampal Lesions in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by a decline of cognitive functions. Distinctive histopathological hallmarks are neuritic plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and synaptic alterations. Abnormally enlarged synaptic structures called “Meganeurite clusters” have been linked to plasticity changes. The aims of this study were to determine if cognitive impairment was related to specific neuritic and synaptic degeneration processes in patients with AD, and if the results of a cognitive test could be correlated with the histopathological damage. The neuropsychological evaluation obtained by the Protocole d’evaluation neuropsychologique optimal (PENO) test battery was used in live AD and control individuals. The histopathological evaluation of their brain after their death was carried out with specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to Aβ, pTau protein, synaptophysin, and GAP-43. Images were obtained by confocal microscopy. The results showed a significant difference between healthy controls and Alzheimer’s patients in neuropsychological evaluation and histopathological hallmarks expression. The most significant positive correlation in AD patients was between memory and language results with the PENO test and the presence of Aβ +pTau+ plaques in the hippocampus. An interesting negative correlation was between cognitive impairment and the presence of Meganeuritic clusters, considered as “plasticity” markers. These results strongly supported the use of the PENO battery test to evaluate the progression of cognitive impairment in AD prone individuals and patients due to the strong correlation of the test results with histopathological brain lesions characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.

Evaluation of an Examination in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

This work was aimed at assessing one of the examinations applied to the students enrolled in courses of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the School of Medicine, UNAM. We analyzed a f＇mal examination in this subject. The test consisted of 80 multiple choice questions. The database was exported to Excel and then to the SPSS 16 statistical software for statistical analyses. The following techniques were used： （1） dificulty index （Pi）, （2） discrimination index （Di）, （3） discrimination coefficient （rpbis）, and （4） Cronbach＇s alpha. Those questions that complied with 3 of the 4 mentioned techniques were considered acceptable; of the 80 questions, only 25 were accepted corresponding to 31%. The topic with the largest number of accepted questions was Water and pH （75%）, and the topics without accepted questions were Bioenergetics and Hormones （0%）. It is recommended that the faculty members that elaborate multiple choice examinations must know the subject, and should have a formation in didactics and educational methodology.

A new heparin fragment decreases liver ischemia-reperfusion injury

To the Editor:Ischemia-reperfusion injury following surgery and transplantation can lead to irreversible multiorgan failure.Intracellular calcium overload is associated to cellular death during ischemiareperfusion.A recently discovered heparin fragment (HF),trisulfated disaccharide (TD),that acts on sodium-calcium exchanger(NCX) decreasing intracellular Ca^(2+),showed effectiveness on protecting hepatocytes from ischemia-reperfusion injury [1].

Motor Development as a Potential Marker to Monitor Infantile Pompe Disease on Enzyme Replacement Therapy

After Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) using recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase (rhGAA), survival of Infantile Pompe Disease (IPD) patients through the first 18 months of age has been documented and acquisitions of motor development are an important outcome, but description of its course is scarce. Objective: To describe the motor development in an IPD patient and its correlation with clinical conditions during the first 18 months on ERT with rhGAA. Methods: By longitudinal observational study of an IPD case at early stage. Clinical and biochemical characteristics were obtained from patient records. Echocardiogram assessed cardiac indexes and the urinary biomarker—glucose tetrasaccharide (Glc4)—was obtained by HPLC/UV, following sample derivatization with butyl 4-amino benzoate and analysis on a C18 stationary phase column. Motor skills were evaluated with Alberta Infant of Motor Scale (AIMS) and motor delay was considered as motor percentile (p) below 10. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out and t-test was used to calculate the differences among means, with significance level defined as p value < 0.05. Results: After ERT beginning amelioration of the cardiomyopathy with reduced left ventricle mass index (LVMI) from the 2nd month onwards was observed, but above the upper normal limit for healthy children and CRIM-positive IPD patients. Although GAA antibodies level remained above the recommended titers and fluctuating elevation of Glc4 quantified, motor development analysis showed an ascendant curve expected for age within achievement of independent ambulation. Motor delay after pneumonia and maintenance of hypotonia were noted. Variation of Glc4 appeared long after a transitory intercurrence. Conclusion: In an IPD case, motor development can have normal evolution despite hypotonia. Motor analysis seems to be sensitive to follow-up clinical intercurrences. To elucidate the interaction among prognostic factors and outcomes, further clinical studies need to be conducted.

Triterpenes from Cabralea canjerana as in Vitro Inhibitors to Light Reactions of Photosynthesis

Aims: Cabraleadiol (1), Ocotilone (2) and Odoratone (3) are three triterpenes isolated from Cabralea canjerana (Vell.) Mart. (Meliaceae). They were chemically characterized, and their effect was tested on the light reaction of photosynthesis. Study Design: Natural products were used as models to find new models for inhibitors of photosynthesis. Place and Duration of Study: Departmento de Química, Universidade Federal de S&atildeo Carlos and Departmento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, between May 2013 and January 2014. Methodology: The natural products had their effect on the light reaction of photosynthesis studied by pollarography and Chlorophyll a (Chl a) fluorescence transients. Results: The compounds inhibited ATP synthesis and electron transport rate (basal, phosphorylating and uncoupled). Therefore, they act as Hill reactions inhibitors. Their inhibition site were located in the range of electron flow from OEC complex and between P680 to QA of PS II, and inhibited the photosystem II (PS II) by inducing the appearance of a K-band which is an indicative that the photochemical apparatus is failing at the donor side of PS II interacting at the OEC complex and by transforming active reaction centers to “heat sinks” or the formation of silent reaction centers unable to reduce QA. Conclusion: Furthermore, these triterpenes inhibit PS II and induce the appearance of small G band which is related with the decreased plastoquinone (PQ) pool reduction.

Temporal stability and directional change in a color cline of a marine snail from NW Spain

The evolution and maintenance of color clines is a classic topic of research in evolutionary ecology.However,studies analyzing the temporal dynamics of such clines are much less frequent,due to the difficulty of obtaining reliable data about past color distributions along environmen-tal gradients.In this article,we describe a case of decades-long temporal stability and directional change in a color cline of the marine snail Littorina saxatilis along the coastal inlet of the Ria de Vigo(NW Spain).L.saxatilis from this area shows a clear color cline with 3 distinct areas from the innermost to the more wave-exposed localities of the Ria:the inner,protected localities show an abundance of fawn-like individuals;the intermediate localities show a high diversity of colors;and the outer,wave-exposed localities show populations with a high frequency of a black and lineated morph.We compare data from the 1970s and 2022 in the same localities,showing that the cline has kept relatively stable for at least over half a century,except for some directional change and local variability in the frequency of certain morphs.Multiple regression analyses and biodiversity measures are presented to provide clues into the selective pressures that might be involved in the maintenance of this color cline.Future research avenues to properly test the explanatory power of these selective agents as well as the possible origins of the cline are discussed.

Kinetics of the H＋-ATPase from Dry and 5-Hours- Imbibed Maize Embryos in Its Native, Solubilized, and Reconstituted Forms

Membranes undergo recovery upon rehydration in seed germination. Previous work has described that the plasma membrane H＋-ATPase from maize embryos adopts two different forms at 0 and 5 h of imbibition. We investigated how the kinetics of these two forms could be affected by alterations in the plasma membrane （PM）. In comparison to the O-h, PMs from the 5-h imbibed embryos showed changes in glycerophospholipid composition, decrease in leakage, and increase in fluidity. Kinetics of the PM H^-ATPase from 0 and 5-h imbibed embryos showed negative cooperativity, With the removal of the membrane environment, the activity of the enzymes shifted to a more complex kinetics, displaying two enzyme components. Lipid reconstitution produced one component with positive cooperativity. In all cases, enzymes from 0 and 5-h imbibed embryos presented similar kinetics with some quantitative differences. These results indicate that the two enzyme forms have the potential ability to respond to changes in the membrane enyiror^rpent, but the fact that they do not show differences in the native membranes at 0 or 5 h implies that modifications in the membrane are not drastic enough to alter their kinetics, or that they are able to preserve their boundary lipids or associated proteins and thus retain the same kinetic behavior.

Heavy metal phytoextraction by Sedum alfredii is affected by continual clipping and phosphorus fertilization amendment

Improving the efficacy of phytoextraction is critical for its successful application in metal contaminated soils. Mineral nutrition affects plant growth and metal absorption and subsequently the accumulation of heavy metal through hyper-accumulator plants. This study assessed the effects of di-hydrogen phosphates （KH2PO4, Ca（H2PO4）2, NaH2PO4 and NH4H2PO4） application at three levels （22, 88 and 352 mg P/kg soil） on Sedum alfredii growth and metal uptake by three consecutive harvests on aged and Zn/Cd combined contaminated paddy soil. The addition of phosphates （P） significantly increased the amount of Zn taken up by S. alfredii due to increased shoot Zn concentration and dry matter yield （DMY） （P 〈 0.05）. The highest phytoextraction of Zn and Cd was observed in KH2PO4 and NH4H2PO4 treatment at 352 mg P/kg soil. The amount of Zn removed by phytoextraction increased in the order of 1st clipping 〈 2nd clipping 〈 3rd clipping, and for Cd extraction the order was 2nd clipping 〈 1st clipping 〈 3rd clipping. These results indicate that the application of P fertilizers coupled with multiple cuttings can enhance the removal of Zn and Cd from contaminated soils by S. alfredii, thus shortening the time needed for accomplishing remediation goals.