Role of vitelline envelope during fertilization in the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon

Animal eggs possess investments through which sperm must penetrate. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the egg coating, the vitelline envelope, during sperm-egg interactions in the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon. The site(s) of primary binding between sperm and egg and the possible binding molecule(s) for sperm were identified. In vitro adsorption of the vitelline envelope protein onto the sperm surface showed that primary binding occurred between the sperm anterior spike of acrosome intact sperm and the vitelline envelope. Results from streptavidin blotting revealed that the component of the vitelline envelope that interacts with the sperm integral membrane protein is a 370 kDa protein. In addition, it was shown that the vitelline envelope protein had no ability to induce acrosome reaction. These results suggest that the function of the vitelline envelope is as a primary binding site for sperm in shrimp, but not a sole trigger for the acrosome reaction.     

Bioceramics in ossicular replacement prostheses: a review

For many decades, bioceramic materials have been used in a variety of biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, hardness, wear resistance and compressive strength properties. Bioceramic materials, including Bioglass, glass ceramic materials, and hydroxyapatite, have used to create total ossicular replacement prostheses and partial ossicular replacement prostheses. This review describes design factors associated with middle ear implants as well as clinical use of bioceramic materials in middle ear implants.     

A reduced curcuminoid analog as a novel inducer of fetal hemoglobin

Thalassemia is an inherited disorder of hemoglobin molecules that is characterized by an imbalance of α- and β-globin chain synthesis. Accumulation of unbound α-globin chains in erythroid cells is the major cause of pathology in β-thalassemia. Stimulation of γ-globin production can ameliorate disease severity as it combines with the α-globin to form fetal hemoglobin. We examined γ-globin-inducing effect of curcuminoids extracted from Curcuma longa L. and their metabolite reduced forms in erythroid leukemia K562 and human primary erythroid precursor cells. The results showed that curcuminoid compounds, especially bisdemethoxycurcumin are potential γ-globin enhancers. We also demonstrated that its reduced analog, hexahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin (HHBDMC), is most effective and leads to induction of γ-globin mRNA and HbF in primary erythroid precursor cells for 3.6?±?0.4- and 2.0?±?0.4-folds, respectively. This suggested that HHBDMC is the potential agent to be developed as a new therapeutic drug for β-thalassemia and related β-hemoglobinopathies.     

Carbazole alkaloids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Murraya koenigii</Emphasis> trigger apoptosis and autophagic flux inhibition in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells

Carbazole alkaloids, a major constituent of Murraya koenigii (L.) Sprengel (Rutaceae), exhibit biological effects such as anticancer activity via the induction of apoptosis, and they represent candidate chemotherapeutic agents. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent cancer of the oral cavity and a growing and serious health problem worldwide. In this study, we investigated the anticancer properties and mechanisms of action of two carbazole alkaloids derived from M. koenigii leaves, mahanine and isomahanine, in the OSCC cell line CLS-354. At 15 μM, mahanine and isomahanine were cytotoxic to CLS-354 cells, triggering apoptosis via caspase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Autophagosomes, visualised using monodansylcadaverine (MDC) labelling, were numerous in carbazole alkaloid-treated cells. Mahanine and isomahanine markedly induced the expression of the autophagosome marker microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3, type II (LC3B-II). Genetic and chemical inhibition of autophagy via silencing of the Autophagy protein 5 gene and exposure to bafilomycin A1 (BafA1), respectively, did not arrest carbazole alkaloid-induced apoptosis, indicating that it occurs independently of autophagic activation. Surprisingly, both carbazole alkaloids caused increased accumulation of p62/sequestosome1 (p62/SQSTM1), with coordinated expression of LC3B-II and cleaved caspase-3, suggesting inhibition of autophagic flux. Our results suggest that inhibition of autophagic flux is associated with carbazole alkaloid-induced apoptosis. Our findings provide evidence of a novel cytotoxic action of natural carbazole alkaloids and support their use as candidate chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of OSCC.     

Labdane‐type diterpenes from Hedychium gardnerianum with potent cytotoxicity against human small cell lung cancer cells

Seven labdane‐type diterpenes, coronarin E, coronarin A, yunnancoronarin A, yunnancoronarin B, hedyforrestin B, villosin, and hedyforrestin C were isolated from the rhizome of Hedychium gardnerianum and evaluated for cytotoxic activity against human small cell lung cancer (NCI‐H187) and non‐cancerous Vero cells. The results showed that villosin exhibited potent cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ of 0.40 μM, which was higher than that of the drug ellipticine (IC₅₀ 1.79 μM). Moreover, ellipticine was very toxic to Vero cells (IC₅₀ 7.47 μM) whereas the toxicity of villosin was undetectable at concentration lower than 166.42 μM. The results have indicated that the lactone ring is essential for high cytotoxic activity and that the presence of a hydroxyl group at the 6 or 7 position causes decrease in activity. The very high cytotoxicity against the NCI‐H187 cells and the exceptionally high selectivity index (>416) of villosin suggested that this compound may be used as a potential lead molecule for antitumor therapeutic development. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fetal loss associated with second trimester amniocentesis

Objective  

To evaluate the fetal loss rate associated with second trimester amniocentesis.     

Enhanced dissolution of sildenafil citrate as dry foam tablets

Dry foam formulation technology is alternative approach to enhance dissolution of the drug. Sildenafil citrate was suspended in sodium dodecyl sulfate solution and adding a mixture of maltodextrin and mannitol as diluent to form a paste. Sildenafil citrate paste was passed through a nozzle spray bottle to obtain smooth foam. The homogeneous foam was dried in a vacuum oven and sieved to obtain dry foam granules. The granules were mixed with croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate and compressed into tablet. All formulations were evaluated for their physicochemical properties and dissolution profiles. All the tested excipients were compatible with sildenafil citrate by both differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and infrared (IR) analysis. There are no X-ray diffraction (XRD) peaks representing crystals of sildenafil citrate observed form dry foam formulations. The hardness of tablets was about 5?kg, friability test <1% with a disintegration time <5?min. The sildenafil citrate dry foam tablet had higher dissolution rate in 0.1 N HCl in comparison with commercial sildenafil citrate tablet, sildenafil citrate prepared by direct compression and wet granulation method. Sildenafil citrate dry foam tablet with the high-level composition of surfactant, water and diluent showed enhanced dissolution rate than that of the lower-level composition of these excipients. This formulation was stable under accelerated conditions for at least 6 months.     

The presence and distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone-liked factor in the central nervous system of the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon

The distribution and presence of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the central nervous system (CNS) of Penaeus monodon were examined by immunocytochemistry, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and radioimmunoassay (RIA). We demonstrated the existence of octopus (oct)GnRH-liked immunoreactivity (ir-octGnRH) and lamprey (l)GnRH-III-liked immunoreactivity (ir-lGnRH-III) in cell bodies of medium-sized neurons of the anterior part (protocerebrum) of the supraesophageal ganglion (brain). In addition, only the ir-octGnRH was detected in the nerve fibers located in the brain and segmental ganglia (subesophageal, thoracic, and abdominal ganglia). Moreover, some branches of these fibers also innervated the neurons in the middle (deutrocerebrum), posterior (tritocerebrum) brain and segmental ganglia. There was no ir-lGnRH-I and ir-salmon (s)GnRH detected in the shrimp CNS. The results from HPLC and RIA showed ir-GnRH in the CNS using anti-lGnRH-III, but not with anti-mammalian (m)GnRH. The data from immunocytochemistry, HPLC and RIA suggest that ir-GnRH in shrimp may be more similar to octGnRH and lGnRH-III than the other forms. These findings support the hypothesis that GnRH-liked factor(s) may be an ancient peptide that also exists in this decapod crustacean.