Vertebrate species profiling in one step using a single primer

Current species profiling techniques usually require several steps to identify an unknown species in quarantine cases and other forensic applications. Here we have developed a species profiling test that produces unique profiles for all vertebrate species tested using a single primer in a polymerase chain reaction. Samples tested included a range of mammals and other vertebrates such as fish and marsupials; a group of animals yet to be characterized with molecular speciation techniques. Species-specific profiles were shown to be reproducible and able to be generated from less than 10 ng of total DNA, comparable to DNA quantities used in conventional species profiling techniques. A case study demonstrates the utility of the technique by distinguishing between commercial and protected species of the Macropodidae (kangaroo) superfamily.     

Age-related laterality shifts in auditory and attention networks with normal ageing: Effects on a working memory task

Our brains respond to age-related anatomical and physiological changes by reorganizing functions through increases in activity or laterality shifts, among other possibilities. In suboptimal conditions such as in a noisy environment, the impact of ageing on brain functions is likely to be most apparent. The present study examined the effects of normal ageing on the neural activity associated with working memory (WM) tasks performed in quiet (WMQ) and in noise (WMN). Participants of two different age groups (mean age of 29.9 years and 54.8 years) underwent fMRI scans while performing WMQ and WMN tasks. Behavioural findings reveal that, on average, older adults performed less accurately than younger participants across all tasks combined. Specific comparisons between WMQ and WMN tasks revealed that younger participants performed better in the WMN and older participants performed better in the WMQ. fMRI results reveal increased activity in older participants in regions of the right superior temporal gyrus (STG), right Heschl's gyrus (HG) and left thalamus in WMQ. During WMN tasks older participants demonstrate increased activity in the left STG, left middle temporal gyrus and bilateral thalamus. There was also a laterality shift with increasing age. Areas involved in this laterality shift in the WMQ task included the STG, HG and cerebellum. In the WMN task the areas demonstrating a laterality shift were the STG, HG, cerebellum and thalamus. Findings support the hypothesis that functional networks related to memory processing undergo brain reorganization during ageing. Findings also suggest that the demand on attentional resources increases to compensate for the effects of background noise in both ages studied. These findings contribute to the growing evidence that with ageing is a global reorganization in the functional neural networks associated with cognitive processing.     

Uzara – A quality control perspective of Xysmalobium undulatum

Context: Xysmalobium undulatum (L.) Aiton f var. (Asclepiadaceae), commonly known as uzara, is an ethnomedicinally important plant from southern Africa used to treat a variety of ailments. In addition to local use in African Traditional Medicine (ATM), formulations containing uzara have been successfully marketed by a number of pharmaceutical companies. Despite its commercialization, published adequate quality control (QC) protocols are lacking.

Objective: The study was conducted to develop QC protocols for uzara based on chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques.

Materials and methods: High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were used to develop phytochemical fingerprints of ethanolic root extracts of 47 uzara samples collected from eight distinct localities in South Africa. Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy was also explored as a suitable alternative technique for rapid and economic quantification of uzarin.

Results: Adequate chromatographic profiles were obtained using both HPTLC and LC-MS analyses. The chromatographic patterns showed qualitative similarities among plants collected from different locations. The levels of uzarin, the major constituent of uzara, were highly variable between locations, ranging from 17.8 to 139.9?mg/g (dry weight). A good coefficient of determination (R^2?=?0.939) and low root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP?=?7.9?mg/g) confirmed the accuracy of using MIR-PLS calibration models for the quantification of uzarin.

Discussion and conclusion: Both HPTLC and LC-MS can be used as tools in developing quality control procedures for uzara. MIR in combination with chemometrics provides a fast alternative method for the quantification of uzarin.     

Involvement of Spanish pulmonology centers in patient care, postgraduate education and research in asthma: the results of the ATENEA survey

Although asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic respiratory diseases, the participation of Spanish pulmonology units in the management of asthma may have room for improvement.     

lncRNA MIR155HG通过调控miR-133a-3p/Furin轴对心肌成纤维细胞增殖、迁移、分化和胶原合成的影响

目的 探讨长链非编码RNA MIR155宿主基因(lncRNA MIR155HG)对心肌成纤维细胞增殖、迁移、分化和胶原合成的影响及分子机制。方法 构建小鼠心肌梗死模型。分离心肌成纤维细胞,然后分为沉默对照组、沉默MIR155HG组、沉默MIR155HG和抑制物对照组、沉默MIR155HG和干扰miR-133a-3p组、沉默MIR155HG和过表达弗林蛋白(Furin)组。实时荧光定量PCR检测MIR155HG、miR-133a-3p和Furin表达水平;MTT法检测细胞活力;Transwell实验检测细胞迁移;Western blot检测细胞周期蛋白D1(Cyclin D1)、细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制剂1A(P21)、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)、Ⅰ型胶原蛋白(Col-1)、α-平滑肌肌动蛋白(α-SMA)表达;荧光素酶报告实验检测MIR155HG和miR-133a-3p以及miR-133a-3p和Furin的靶向关系。结果 在心肌梗死模型小鼠心脏组织中MIR155HG、Furin高表达,miR-133a-3p低表达(P＜0.05)。抑制MIR155HG表达后心肌成纤维细胞的细胞活力、迁移细胞数及Cyclin D1、VEGF、Col-1、α-SMA表达水平显著降低,P21表达水平显著升高(P＜0.05)。MIR155HG靶向调控miR-133a-3p,miR-133a-3p靶向调控Furin。抑制miR-133a-3p表达和过表达Furin逆转了抑制MIR155HG表达对心肌成纤维细胞增殖、迁移、分化和胶原合成相关蛋白的抑制作用。结论 抑制MIR155HG表达可抑制心肌成纤维细胞增殖、迁移、分化和胶原合成,其机制可能与调节miR-133a-3p/Furin轴有关。     

Reduced MIR130A is involved in primary immune thrombocytopenia via targeting TGFB1 and IL18

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a vital role in the regulation of immunological functions and prevention of autoimmune disease. The abnormal expressions of several miRNAs in patients with the acquired autoimmune disease, immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), have been reported. However, the exact mechanism of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of ITP is currently not well understood. This study examined the miRNA expression profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in ITP patients by miRNA array and TaqMan real‐time polymerase chain reaction. MIR130A expression was found to be significantly decreased in PBMCs from patients with active chronic ITP compared with that of normal controls. Subsequently, dual‐luciferase reporter gene analysis was used to validate that MIR130A targeted the transforming growth factor‐beta1 (TGFB1) and interleukin 18 (IL18) genes. In addition, we also monitored the dynamic expression of MIR130A and its targeted genes pre‐ and post‐treatment of ITP patients and determined that the expression of MIR130A and TGFB1 was up‐regulated, whereas IL18 expression was down‐regulated after effective treatment. In conclusion, this study suggests that reduced MIR130A is involved in ITP via targeting of TGFB1 and IL18 expression.     

Fast proton spectroscopic imaging of human brain using multiple spin-echoes

We introduce a multi-echo multi-slice MR proton spectroscopic imaging method, which allows for a dramatic reduction of the measurement time by acquiring multiple spin-echoes within a single repetition time. In the multi-echo multi-slice experiment discussed in this paper, a threefold reduction in measurement time is obtained by sacrificing some spectral resolution. Signal-to-noise ratio and spatial resolution are preserved. Metabolite images of N-acetyl aspartate, and total choline + total creatine from multiple slices through the human brain are presented and compared with images obtained with a conventional single-echo multi-slice method.