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Scientific Reports Jul 2023A one-step sandwich chemiluminescence immunometric assay (LIA) was developed for the quantification of bifunctional peptidylglycine-α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) in...
A one-step sandwich chemiluminescence immunometric assay (LIA) was developed for the quantification of bifunctional peptidylglycine-α-amidating monooxygenase (PAM) in human plasma (PAM-LIA). PAM is responsible for the activation of more than half of known peptide hormones through C-terminal α-amidation. The assay employed antibodies targeting specific catalytic PAM-subunits, peptidylglycine alpha-hydroxylating monooxygenase (PHM) and peptidyl-alpha-hydroxyglycine alpha-amidating lyase (PAL), to ensure detection of full-length PAM. The PAM-LIA assay was calibrated with a human recombinant PAM enzyme and achieved a detection limit of 189 pg/mL and a quantification limit of 250 pg/mL. The assay demonstrated good inter-assay (6.7%) and intra-assay (2.2%) variabilities. It exhibited linearity when accessed by gradual dilution or random mixing of plasma samples. The accuracy of the PAM-LIA was determined to be 94.7% through spiking recovery experiments, and the signal recovery after substance interference was 94-96%. The analyte showed 96% stability after six freeze-thaw cycles. The assay showed strong correlation with matched EDTA and serum samples, as well as matched EDTA and Li-Heparin samples. Additionally, a high correlation was observed between α-amidating activity and PAM-LIA. Finally, the PAM-LIA assay was successfully applied to a sub-cohort of a Swedish population-based study, comprising 4850 individuals, confirming its suitability for routine high throughput screening.
Topics: Humans; Edetic Acid; Mixed Function Oxygenases; Multienzyme Complexes
PubMed: 37402878
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37976-3 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2022N-isopropyl-N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (IPPD) is used as a ubiquitous antioxidant worldwide, it is an additive in tire rubber easily discharged into the surrounding...
N-isopropyl-N-phenyl-1,4-phenylenediamine (IPPD) is used as a ubiquitous antioxidant worldwide, it is an additive in tire rubber easily discharged into the surrounding environment. At present, there is no study concerning the subacute toxicity of IPPD on fish. We used zebrafish embryos (2 h post-fertilization) exposed to IPPD for 5 days at concentrations of 0, 0.0012, 0.0120 and 0.1200 mg/L to investigate its toxic effects of embryonic development, disruption of growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis. The results showed that IPPD exposure decreased hatchability, weakened movement ability, reduced body length, and caused multiple types of deformities in zebrafish embryos. The expression of genes involved to GH/IGF and HPT axis were altered after exposure to IPPD in zebrafish larvae. Meanwhile, exposure to IPPD significantly decreased thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3) contents in larvae, which indicated that HPT axis was in a disturbed state. Moreover, treatment of IPPD decreased the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) as well as levels of glutathione (GSH). While the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) were elevated after exposure to IPPD. The present study thus demonstrated that IPPD induced oxidative stress, caused developmental toxicity and disrupted the GH/IGF and HPT axis of zebrafish, which could be responsible for developmental impairment and growth inhibition.
Topics: Animals; Larva; Phenylenediamines; Thyroid Gland; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Zebrafish
PubMed: 35567929
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113614 -
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Mar 2022The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to threaten public health. For developing countries where vaccines are still in shortage, cheaper...
The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to threaten public health. For developing countries where vaccines are still in shortage, cheaper alternative molecular methods for SARS-CoV-2 identification can be crucial to prevent the next wave. Therefore, 14 primer sets recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) was evaluated on testing both clinical patient and environmental samples with the gold standard diagnosis method, TaqMan-based RT-qPCR, and a cheaper alternative method, SYBR Green-based RT-qPCR. Using suitable primer sets, such as ORF1ab, 2019_nCoV_N1 and 2019_nCoV_N3, the performance of the SYBR Green approach was comparable or better than the TaqMan approach, even when considering the newly dominating or emerging variants, including Delta, Eta, Kappa, Lambda, Mu, and Omicron. ORF1ab and 2019_nCoV_N3 were the best combination for sensitive and reliable SARS-CoV-2 molecular diagnostics due to their high sensitivity, specificity, and broad accessibility. KEY POINTS: • With suitable primer sets, the SYBR Green method performs better than the TaqMan one. • With suitable primer sets, both methods should still detect the new variants well. • ORF1ab and 2019_nCoV_N3 were the best combination for SARS-CoV-2 detection.
Topics: Benzothiazoles; COVID-19; Diamines; Humans; Quinolines; RNA, Viral; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; SARS-CoV-2; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 35218386
DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-11822-4 -
Toxicology and Industrial Health Jun 2023Performing risk assessments (RA) on household use of flexible polyurethane (PU) foams requires access to reliable data about emission and migration of potential diamine...
Performing risk assessments (RA) on household use of flexible polyurethane (PU) foams requires access to reliable data about emission and migration of potential diamine impurities. A toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and a methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) based foam were thermally treated to enable measurements on samples with defined concentrations of the corresponding diamines, toluene diamine (TDA), and methylene dianiline (MDA). The thermally treated foams used for emission testing contained up to 15 mg.kg of TDA and 27 mg.kg of MDA. Those used for migration testing contained 5.1 mg.kg of TDA and 14.1 mg.kg of MDA. Stability of the thermally generated diamines was sufficient for testing over a 37-day period. Analytical techniques that did not decompose the polymer matrix were applied. Emission rates for TDA and MDA isomers were less than the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.008-0.07 μg.m.h. Migration was studied using samples of the same thermally treated foams over a 35-day period. Quantifiable migration of MDA from the MDI-based foam was only observed on Days 1 and 2. From Day 3 onward, migration rates were less than the LOQ. Quantifiable migration of TDA from the TDI-based foam rapidly decreased with time and was only observed on Days 1 thru 3. From Day 4 onward, migration rates were less than the LOQ. Theoretically, the migration rate should be inversely proportional to the square root of time (t) as t. This relationship was confirmed by the experimental data and enables extrapolating migration values to more extended time periods to conduct RAs.
Topics: Polyurethanes; Diamines; Toluene 2,4-Diisocyanate; Amines; Occupational Exposure
PubMed: 37145999
DOI: 10.1177/07482337231172816 -
RNA Biology Dec 2021Early detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been proven crucial during the efforts to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19...
Early detection of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been proven crucial during the efforts to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several diagnostic methods have emerged in the past few months, each with different shortcomings and limitations. The current gold standard, RT-qPCR using fluorescent probes, relies on demanding equipment requirements plus the high costs of the probes and specific reaction mixes. To broaden the possibilities of reagents and thermocyclers that could be allocated towards this task, we have optimized an alternative strategy for RT-qPCR diagnosis. This is based on a widely used DNA-intercalating dye and can be implemented with several different qPCR reagents and instruments. Remarkably, the proposed qPCR method performs similarly to the broadly used TaqMan-based detection, in terms of specificity and sensitivity, thus representing a reliable tool. We think that, through enabling the use of vast range of thermocycler models and laboratory facilities for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, the alternative proposed here can increase dramatically the testing capability, especially in countries with limited access to costly technology and reagents.
Topics: Benzothiazoles; COVID-19; COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing; DNA; DNA Primers; Diamines; Humans; Intercalating Agents; Nasopharynx; Quinolines; RNA, Viral; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; SARS-CoV-2; Sensitivity and Specificity
PubMed: 33966602
DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1926648 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Aug 2021Despite the common use of salens and hydroxyquinolines as therapeutic and bioactive agents, their metal complexes are still under development. Here, we report the...
Despite the common use of salens and hydroxyquinolines as therapeutic and bioactive agents, their metal complexes are still under development. Here, we report the synthesis of novel mixed-ligand metal complexes (MSQ) comprising salen (S), derived from (2,2'-{1,2-ethanediylbis[nitrilo(E) methylylidene]}diphenol, and 8-hydroxyquinoline (Q) with Co(II), Ni(II), Cd(II), Al(III), and La(III). The structures and properties of these MSQ metal complexes were investigated using molar conductivity, melting point, FTIR, H NMR, C NMR, UV-VIS, mass spectra, and thermal analysis. Quantum calculation, analytical, and experimental measurements seem to suggest the proposed structure of the compounds and its uncommon monobasic tridentate binding mode of salen via phenolic oxygen, azomethine group, and the NH group. The general molecular formula of MSQ metal complexes is [M(S)(Q)(HO)] for M (II) = Co, Ni, and Cd or [M(S)(Q)(Cl)] and [M(S)(Q)(HO)]Cl for M(III) = La and Al, respectively. Importantly, all prepared metal complexes were evaluated for their antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The metal complexes exhibited high cytotoxic potency against human breast cancer (MDA-MB231) and liver cancer (Hep-G2) cell lines. Among all MSQ metal complexes, CoSQ and LaSQ produced IC values (1.49 and 1.95 µM, respectively) that were comparable to that of cisplatin (1.55 µM) against Hep-G2 cells, whereas CdSQ and LaSQ had best potency against MDA-MB231 with IC values of 1.95 and 1.43 µM, respectively. Furthermore, the metal complexes exhibited significant antimicrobial activities against a wide spectrum of both Gram-positive and -negative bacterial and fungal strains. The antibacterial and antifungal efficacies for the MSQ metal complexes, the free S and Q ligands, and the standard drugs gentamycin and ketoconazole decreased in the order AlSQ > LaSQ > CdSQ > gentamycin > NiSQ > CoSQ > Q > S for antibacterial activity, and for antifungal activity followed the trend of LaSQ > AlSQ > CdSQ > ketoconazole > NiSQ > CoSQ > Q > S. Molecular docking studies were performed to investigate the binding of the synthesized compounds with breast cancer oxidoreductase (PDB ID: 3HB5). According to the data obtained, the most probable coordination geometry is octahedral for all the metal complexes. The molecular and electronic structures of the metal complexes were optimized theoretically, and their quantum chemical parameters were calculated. PXRD results for the Cd(II) and La(III) metal complexes indicated that they were crystalline in nature.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Coordination Complexes; Density Functional Theory; Ethylenediamines; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Inhibitory Concentration 50; Ligands; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Conformation; Molecular Docking Simulation; Oxyquinoline; Powder Diffraction; Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Thermogravimetry
PubMed: 34443314
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26164725 -
Journal of Immunology Research 2022The leading cause of mortality in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) is thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. Notch signaling is essential for vessel morphogenesis...
BACKGROUND
The leading cause of mortality in patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) is thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection. Notch signaling is essential for vessel morphogenesis and function. However, the role of Notch signaling in aortic pathology and aortic smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation in Marfan syndrome (MFS) is not completely understood.
METHODS
RNA-sequencing on ascending aortic tissue from a mouse model of MFS, , and wild-type controls was performed. Notch 3 expression and activation in aortic tissue were confirmed with real-time RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot. and wild-type mice were treated with a -secretase inhibitor, DAPT, to block Notch activation. Aortic aneurysms and rupture were evaluated with connective tissue staining, ultrasound, and life table analysis.
RESULTS
The murine RNA-sequencing data were validated with mouse and human MFS aortic tissue, demonstrating elevated Notch3 activation in MFS. Data further revealed that upregulation and activation of Notch3 were concomitant with increased expression of SMC contractile markers. Inhibiting Notch3 activation with DAPT attenuated aortic enlargement and improved survival of mice. DAPT treatment reduced elastin fiber fragmentation in the aorta and reversed the differentiation of SMCs.
CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrated that matrix abnormalities in the aorta of MFS are associated with increased Notch3 activation. Enhanced Notch3 activation in MFS contributed to aortic aneurysm formation in MFS. This might be mediated by inducing a contractile phenotypic change of SMC. Our results suggest that inhibiting Notch3 activation may provide a strategy to prevent and treat aortic aneurysms in MFS.
Topics: Animals; Aorta; Aortic Aneurysm; Diamines; Disease Models, Animal; Elastin; Fibrillin-1; Humans; Marfan Syndrome; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Mutant Strains; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle; Receptor, Notch3; Thiazoles
PubMed: 35211631
DOI: 10.1155/2022/7538649 -
Advances in Clinical and Experimental... Feb 2022The sealer penetration into the dentinal tubules might be beneficial, especially in necrotic endodontic cases, as it provides the obstruction of the contaminated tubules.
BACKGROUND
The sealer penetration into the dentinal tubules might be beneficial, especially in necrotic endodontic cases, as it provides the obstruction of the contaminated tubules.
OBJECTIVES
To determine the effect of 3 final irrigants (sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), alcohol and chlorhexidine (CHX)) on the penetration of an epoxy sealer into the dentinal tubules.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The study was carried out on 60 single-canal human teeth with straight roots. The root canals were prepared to the ISO 40/04 size, using the Reciproc® instruments. The teeth were divided into 4 groups (n = 15). The canals in each group were irrigated according to the following scheme: group 1 (control) - 5.25% NaOCl; group 2 - smear layer removal (40% citric acid (CA) and 5.25% NaOCl) and 5.25% NaOCl; group 3 - smear layer removal (as in group 2), and 40% CA, water and 98% isopropyl alcohol; and group 4 - smear layer removal (as in group 2), and 40% CA, water and 2% CHX. The root canals were filled using the vertical condensation technique with gutta-percha and the porphyrin-labeled AH Plus™ sealer. After 3 days, 1-milimeter-thick cross-section slices were cut from the roots at a distance of 2 mm, 5 mm and 8 mm from the apex. The sections were imaged under a confocal microscope and the sealant penetration depth into the dentinal tubules was measured.
RESULTS
The longest resin tags in all parts of the roots were found in group 4 (CHX), and the shortest in group 1 (control). The mean depth of the sealer penetration (in micrometers) was as follows: 21, 22 and 23 (group 1); 201, 231 and 374 (group 2); 170, 232 and 280 (group 3); and 330, 408 and 638 (group 4) in the apical, middle and coronal parts, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The final irrigation with CHX resulted in the deepest penetration of the epoxy sealer into the tubules. Isopropyl alcohol had the most negative impact on the sealer penetration into the tubules.
Topics: 2-Propanol; Chlorhexidine; Edetic Acid; Humans; Microscopy, Confocal; Root Canal Filling Materials; Root Canal Irrigants; Root Canal Preparation; Sodium Hypochlorite
PubMed: 35212490
DOI: 10.17219/acem/142991 -
Plant Physiology Mar 2022Growth promotion induced by the endosymbiont Piriformospora indica has been observed in various plants; however, except growth phytohormones, specific functional...
Growth promotion induced by the endosymbiont Piriformospora indica has been observed in various plants; however, except growth phytohormones, specific functional metabolites involved in P. indica-mediated growth promotion are unknown. Here, we used a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolite analysis to identify tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) metabolites whose levels were altered during P. indica-mediated growth promotion. Metabolomic multivariate analysis revealed several primary metabolites with altered levels, with putrescine (Put) induced most significantly in roots during the interaction. Further, our results indicated that P. indica modulates the arginine decarboxylase (ADC)-mediated Put biosynthesis pathway via induction of SlADC1 in tomato. Piriformospora indica did not promote growth in Sladc1-(virus-induced gene silencing of SlADC1) lines of tomato and showed less colonization. Furthermore, using LC-MS/MS we showed that Put promoted growth by elevation of auxin (indole-3-acetic acid) and gibberellin (GA4 and GA7) levels in tomato. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) adc knockout mutants, P. indica colonization also decreased and showed no plant growth promotion, and this response was rescued upon exogenous application of Put. Put is also important for hyphal growth of P. indica, indicating that it is co-adapted by both host and microbe. Taken together, we conclude that Put is an essential metabolite and its biosynthesis in plants is crucial for P. indica-mediated plant growth promotion and fungal growth.
Topics: Basidiomycota; Chromatography, Liquid; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Roots; Putrescine; Tandem Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 34791442
DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab536 -
International Endodontic Journal Aug 2020To evaluate the antimicrobial, toxicity and cleaning effectiveness of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and maleic acid (MA) alone and combined with cetrimide (CTR).
AIM
To evaluate the antimicrobial, toxicity and cleaning effectiveness of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and maleic acid (MA) alone and combined with cetrimide (CTR).
METHODOLOGY
Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects were assessed on Chinese hamster cells V79 using the MTT, clonogenic and micronucleus assays, respectively. The bacterial inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC, respectively) were determined on a strain of Enterococcus faecalis. Antimicrobial tests were performed on a biofilm model after treatment with the chelating agents by using a biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) and confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) assays. Quantification of cell biomass and percentage of live and dead cells in the biomass were assessed for each group. The percentage reduction of accumulated hard-tissue debris (AHTD) after root canal preparation and final irrigation protocols was evaluated by micro-CT. Statistical tests of one-way analysis of variance (anova), Bonferroni test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Dunn's multiple comparison test and Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank tests were used.
RESULTS
Cetrimide alone as well as in combination with EDTA and MA at dilutions of 1/10 and 1/100 was significantly more toxic as compared to untreated controls (P < 0.001). All tested mixtures were nontoxic at a dilution of 1/1000. EDTA retained a weak inhibitory and bactericidal effect against planktonic cells, whilst MA inhibited cells growth and killed 99.9% of the cells when diluted. CTR revealed the most prominent effect, being inhibitory and bactericidal, also when diluted. Cetrimide alone or combined with EDTA was able to remove, respectively, 40% (P < 0.01) and 60% (P < 0.001) of the entire biomass after 1 min. Conversely, MA alone and in combination with CTR did not have a significant effect on biomass reduction. After final irrigation, the AHTD volume was significantly decreased in all groups (P < 0.05). EDTA + CTR and MA + CTR were associated with a significant reduction in the percentage of AHTD on the entire root canal compared to the same solutions without surfactant.
CONCLUSIONS
7% MA was less cytotoxic in comparison with 17% EDTA. The addition of cetrimide to EDTA and MA removed accumulated hard-tissue debris effectively from the canal walls and increased their antimicrobial activity when compared to the same solutions without detergents.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Chelating Agents; Cricetinae; Dental Pulp Cavity; Edetic Acid; Root Canal Irrigants; Root Canal Preparation; Sodium Hypochlorite
PubMed: 32344451
DOI: 10.1111/iej.13314