Strategy for urinary protein analysis

SUMMARY: Recent studies have highlighted the intrinsic toxicity of filtered proteins and their contribution to deterioration of renal function. In-depth analysis of proteinuria may assess the degree of glomerular and/or tubular involvement and help in the prognostication of an individual patient. One should consider not only the quantity but also the quality of the urinary protein. Apart from quantitating the total urinary protein, assessment of the quality of the protein may be achieved by performing sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) for an overview assessment follow by automated nephelometry or simple radial immunodiffusion measurement of specific proteins for calculating the selectivity index and detecting tubular dysfunction.     

Investigation of hypoglycemic,hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Terminalia paniculata bark in diabetic rats

Objective

To investigate the hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of Terminalia paniculata bark (AETPB) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.

Methods

Acute toxicity was studied in rats after the oral administration of AETPB to determine the dose to assess hypoglycemic activity. In rats, diabetes was induced by injection of STZ (60 mg/kg, i.p.) and diabetes was confirmed 72 h after induction, and then allowed for 14 days to stabilize blood glucose level. In diabetic rats, AETPB was orally given for 28 days and its effect on blood glucose and body weight was determined on a weekly basis. At the end of the experimental day, fasting blood sample was collected to estimate the haemoglobin (Hb), glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), serum creatinine, urea, serum glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), serum glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and insulin levels. The liver and kidney were collected to determine antioxidants levels in diabetic rats.

Results

Oral administration of AETPB did not exhibit toxicity and death at a dose of 2 000 mg/kg. AETPB treated diabetic rats significantly (P<0.001, P<0.01 and P<0.05) reduced elevated blood glucose, HbA1c, creatinine, urea, SGPT and SGOT levels when compared with diabetic control rats. The body weight, Hb, insulin and total protein levels were significantly (P<0.001, P<0.01 and P<0.05) increased in diabetic rats treated with AETPB compared to diabetic control rats. In diabetic rats, AETPB treatment significantly reversed abnormal status of antioxidants and lipid profile levels towards near normal levels compared to diabetic control rats.

Conclusions

Present study results confirm that AETPB possesses significant hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities in diabetic condition.     

Engineering Clustered Ligand Binding Into Nonviral Vectors: ��v��3 Targeting as an Example

The development of techniques to efficiently deliver genes using nonviral approaches can broaden the application of gene delivery in medical applications without the safety concerns associated with viral vectors. Here, we designed a clustered integrin-binding platform to enhance the efficiency and targetability of nonviral gene transfer to HeLa cells with low and high densities of α_vβ₃ integrin receptors. Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) nanoclusters were formed using gold nanoparticles functionalized with RGD peptides and used to modify the surface of DNA/poly(ethylene imine) (PEI) polyplexes. DNA/PEI polyplexes with attached RGD nanoclusters resulted in either 5.4- or 35-fold increase in gene transfer efficiency over unmodified polyplexes for HeLa cells with low- or high-integrin surface density, respectively. The transfection efficiency obtained with the commercially available vector jetPEI-RGD was used for comparison as a vector without clustered binding. JetPEI-RGD exhibited a 1.2-fold enhancement compared to unmodified jetPEI in cells with high densities of α_vβ₃ integrin receptors. The data presented here emphasize the importance of the RGD conformational arrangement on the surface of the polyplex to achieve efficient targeting and gene transfer, and provide an approach to introduce clustering to a wide variety of nanoparticles for gene delivery.     

Ames试验研究鞣酸和相关化合物的毒性和抗突变性

[目的 ]Ames试验研究鞣酸和相关化合物抗突变作用。 [方法 ]应用平皿掺入和悬浮培养抗突变性方法 ,比较研究鞣酸和相关化合物在无抑制和抑制浓度减少 2 硝基芴 (2 NF)、4 硝基喹啉 1 氧化物 (4 NQO)和N 甲基 N 硝基 N 亚硝基胍 (MNNG)回复菌落数。 [结果 ]鞣酸和相关化合物月桂木立口 酸、鞣花酸、木立口 酸丙脂、木立口 酸甲脂、木立口 酸和儿茶素抑制Ames试验沙门氏菌菌株生长 ,这种抑制作用与减少Ames试验回复突变和诱发突变菌落数相关。应用悬浮培养方法 ,鞣酸和相关化合物在无抑制浓度和抑制浓度对 2 NF、4 NQO和MNNG无抗突变作用。 [结论 ]Ames试验悬浮培养法是研究抑菌剂类化合物抗突变有用方法 ,可区别由毒性和抗突变作用减少的回复菌落数。     

Localisation of a gene for central areolar choroidal dystrophy to chromosome 17p

Central areolar choroidal dystrophy (CACD) is a rare inherited retinal disease which causes progressive profound loss of vision in patients during their 4th decade. We have identified a Northern Irish family with 19 affected individuals in three living generations. We have performed a total genome search and established linkage of CACD in this family to chromosome 17p (multipoint Zmax = 5.65 at D17S938). The genes for phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITPN), retinal guanylate cyclase (GUC2D), beta-arrestin 2 (ARRB2), pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and recoverin (RCV1) map to this region and are candidate genes for retinal disease. Analysis of the coding region of the PITPN gene failed to reveal any mutation in this family.      

Kinematic and plantar pressure adjustments to downhill gradients during gait

The purpose of the study was to investigate the peak plantar pressure (PP) and kinematic adjustments to various negative gradients (−GR) and walking velocities (WV) during treadmill fitness walking. While filmed, plantar pressure data for seven sensors were collected for eight female subjects. Faster WV were associated with increased heel PP (P < 0.05), but decreased forefoot PP. During −GR, subjects exhibited increased fifth metatarsal PP, but decreased medial forefoot PP. Greater knee flexion and step length respectively were inversely and directly related to heel PP. These heel PP responses were related to individual subject adaptations to −GR.