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JPMA. the Journal of the Pakistan... Jun 2024To determine the relationship between eating habits and mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid copy number in adult cases of eveningness chronotypes.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between eating habits and mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid copy number in adult cases of eveningness chronotypes.
METHODS
The cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted from September 2022 to June 2023 at the Physiology Department of the Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi, in collaboration with the Genetic Resource Centre, Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and comprised adult subjects who were assessed using the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire. The participants' eating habits were assessed using the Healthy Eating Assessment Questionnaire, and on they were divided into those with healthy eating habits in group A and those with unhealthy eating habits in group B. Deoxyribonucleic acid was extracted using the Chelex method, the mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid copy number of all participants was quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Data was analysed using SPSS 27.
RESULTS
Of the 80 subjects, 30(37.5%) were males and 50(62.5%) were females. The overall mean age was 24.27±6.91 years (range: 18-45 years). There were 40(50%) subjects in each group. The mean mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid copy number in group A was 2.74±0.14 compared to 2.26±0.25 in group B (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION
Subjects with healthy eating habits exhibited higher mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid copy numbers, indicating reduced damage to mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Adult; DNA, Mitochondrial; Feeding Behavior; Cross-Sectional Studies; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Adolescent; DNA Copy Number Variations; Circadian Rhythm; Pakistan; Surveys and Questionnaires; Diet, Healthy; Chronotype
PubMed: 38948979
DOI: 10.47391/JPMA.10314 -
Small (Weinheim An Der Bergstrasse,... Jul 2024Bismuth-based catalysts are effective in converting carbon dioxide into formate via electrocatalysis. Precise control of the morphology, size, and facets of...
Bismuth-based catalysts are effective in converting carbon dioxide into formate via electrocatalysis. Precise control of the morphology, size, and facets of bismuth-based catalysts is crucial for achieving high selectivity and activity. In this work, an efficient, large-scale continuous production strategy is developed for achieving a porous nanospheres BiO-FDCA material. First-principles simulations conducted in advance indicate that the BiO (111)/(200) facets help reduce the overpotential for formate production in electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reduction reaction (ECORR). Subsequently, using microfluidic technology and molecular control to precisely adjust the amount of 2, 5-furandicarboxylic acid, nanomaterials rich in (111)/(200) facets are successfully synthesized. Additionally, the morphology of the porous nanospheres significantly increases the adsorption capacity and active sites for carbon dioxide. These synergistic effects allow the porous BiO-FDCA nanospheres to stably operate for 90 h in a flow cell at a current density of ≈250 mA cm , with an average Faradaic efficiency for formate exceeding 90%. The approach of theoretically guided microfluidic technology for the large-scale synthesis of finely structured, efficient bismuth-based materials for ECORR may provide valuable references for the chemical engineering of intelligent nanocatalysts.
PubMed: 38948957
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202403778 -
Drug and Chemical Toxicology Jul 2024Gallic acid (GAL), rutin (RUT), and quercetin (QUE) are common antioxidant agents in fruits and vegetables with intriguing pharmacological effects. In the present study,...
Gallic acid (GAL), rutin (RUT), and quercetin (QUE) are common antioxidant agents in fruits and vegetables with intriguing pharmacological effects. In the present study, we compared the therapeutic outcomes of GAL + QUE in comparison with GAL + RUT co-treatment in a busulfan (BUS) model of testicular injury in Wistar rats. BUS (4 mg kg body weight (b.w) was injected intraperitoneally daily for 4 days. GAL + RUT or GAL + QUE (20 mg kg b. w) was delivered by oral gavage for 52 days. Examination of the testes of BUS-treated rats both biochemically and under light microscopy revealed an increased level of lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation, glutathione--transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and acid phosphatase with a concomitant decrease in the level of antioxidants: glutathione, ascorbic acid, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activities, suggesting testicular injury. Tissue sections confirmed the testicular injury-induced by BUS, including diminished spermatogenesis score index, tubular diameter, gonado-somatic index, testis weight, epithelia thickness and higher percentage of aberrant tubules. GAL + QUE co-administration had better recovery effects than GAL + RUT on the biochemical markers and protected against BUS-induced testicular damage. GAL + QUE treatment regimen has better capacity to maintain the antioxidant capacity of the testes and is more potent at reducing BUS-induced oxidative damage compared to GAL + RUT.
PubMed: 38948945
DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2024.2369591 -
Journal of Separation Science Jul 2024Glycosylation and phosphorylation rank as paramount post-translational modifications, and their analysis heavily relies on enrichment techniques. In this work, a facile...
One-step enrichment and stepwise elution of glycoproteins and phosphoproteins by hydrophilic Ti-immobilized dendrimer poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microparticles functionalized with polyethylenimine and phytic acid.
Glycosylation and phosphorylation rank as paramount post-translational modifications, and their analysis heavily relies on enrichment techniques. In this work, a facile approach was developed for the one-step simultaneous enrichment and stepwise elution of glycoproteins and phosphoproteins. The core of this approach was the application of the novel titanium (IV) ion immobilized poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microparticles functionalized with dendrimer polyethylenimine and phytic acid. The microparticles possessed dual enrichment capabilities due to their abundant titanium ions and hydroxyl groups on the surface. They demonstrate rapid adsorption equilibrium (within 30 min) and exceptional adsorption capacity for β-casein (1107.7 mg/g) and horseradish peroxidase (438.6 mg/g), surpassing that of bovine serum albumin (91.7 mg/g). Furthermore, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was conducted to validate the enrichment capability. Experimental results across various biological samples, including standard protein mixtures, non-fat milk, and human serum, demonstrated the remarkable ability of these microparticles to enrich low-abundance glycoproteins and phosphoproteins from biological samples.
Topics: Glycoproteins; Phosphoproteins; Polyethyleneimine; Dendrimers; Humans; Titanium; Polymethacrylic Acids; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Surface Properties; Animals; Particle Size; Adsorption; Cattle
PubMed: 38948935
DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202400154 -
Drug Testing and Analysis Jul 2024After the Swiss ban of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) in March 2023, other semisynthetic dibenzopyran cannabinoids emerged on the Swiss gray market. Hexahydrocannabiphorol...
After the Swiss ban of hexahydrocannabinol (HHC) in March 2023, other semisynthetic dibenzopyran cannabinoids emerged on the Swiss gray market. Hexahydrocannabiphorol (HHCP) was the most prominent of them due to its potent cannabimimetic effects, as anecdotal reports from recreational users suggest. In October 2023, a class wide ban of dibenzopyran cannabinoids was introduced in Switzerland to prevent new similar substances from entering the drug market. Various vendors in online shops claim that HHCP is made from CBD, even though they possess different alkyl chain lengths. An HHCP sample was analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), showing that a mixture of molecules with the same or a similar molecular mass as HHCP was present. Six different substances could be isolated from this sample using column chromatography. Four phenols ((9R)-HHCP, iso-HHCP, cis-HHCP, and abn-HHCP) and two ketones (possible intermediates to (9R)-HHCP and abn-HHCP) were identified by various nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) techniques. (9S)-HHCP was obtained in an impure fraction. In addition, a fraction was obtained that showed characteristic molecular and fragment ions consistent with bisalkylated products from the synthesis of similar compounds. The presence of abnormal cannabinoids (abn-HHCP) and bisalkylated cannabinoids is a confirmation that this sample was produced purely synthetically as initially suspected, as these compounds have not been reported in Cannabis. Chiral derivatization of the phenols with Mosher acid chlorides showed that only iso-HHCP was present as a scalemic mixture, indicating a good stereocontrol of this synthetic procedure.
PubMed: 38948934
DOI: 10.1002/dta.3759 -
International Journal of Chronic... 2024To determine the association of urinary phthalate metabolites with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), airflow obstruction, lung function and respiratory...
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association of urinary phthalate metabolites with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), airflow obstruction, lung function and respiratory symptoms.
METHODS
Our study included a total of 2023 individuals aged ≥ 40 years old in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to explore the correlation of eleven urinary phthalate metabolites (MCNP, MCOP, MECPP, MnBP, MCPP, MEP, MEHHP, MEHP, MiBP, MEOHP, and MBzP) with COPD, airflow obstruction and respiratory symptoms. Linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between urinary phthalate metabolites and lung function.
RESULTS
When compared to the first tertile, the third tertile of MEHHP was associated with the risk of COPD [OR: 2.779; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.129-6.840; 0.026]. Stratified analysis showed that MEHHP increased the risk of COPD by 7.080 times in male participants. Both MCPP and MBzP were positively correlated with the risk of airflow obstruction. The third tertile of MBzP increased the risk of cough by 1.545 (95% CI: 1.030-2.317; 0.035) times. Both FEV1 and FVC were negatively associated with MEHHP, MECPP, MnBP, MEP, MiBP and MEOHP.
CONCLUSION
Higher levels of MEHHP are associated with increased risk of COPD, and lower measures of FEV1 and FVC. MBzP is positively related to airflow obstruction and cough.
Topics: Humans; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Middle Aged; Risk Factors; Lung; Nutrition Surveys; Forced Expiratory Volume; Phthalic Acids; Adult; Biomarkers; United States; Vital Capacity; Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Linear Models; Logistic Models; Cough
PubMed: 38948906
DOI: 10.2147/COPD.S459435 -
Biochemistry Research International 2024The plant has been utilized in folk medicine. Analyzing phytochemical composition of dichloromethane/methanol (1 : 1) root part of gave oleic acid (), caffeic...
The plant has been utilized in folk medicine. Analyzing phytochemical composition of dichloromethane/methanol (1 : 1) root part of gave oleic acid (), caffeic acid-2-hydroxynonylester (), catechin (), and a pregnane derivative (). NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize compounds , while compound was identified through GC-MS analysis and literature comparison. The cytotoxicity of extracts from roots of was conducted against MCF-7 cell lines (human breast cancer) by MTT assay. According to the cytotoxicity study, -hexane extract exhibited a high level of toxicity with 28.9 ± 5.6% cell viability. Antibacterial activity was tested against , , , and The highest bacterial growth mean inhibition zone was measured for catechin (3) (13.72 ± 0.05 mm)) against at 0.25 mg/mL and acceptable related to standard. Antioxidant activity was studied by the DPPH assay. Based on the data from the antioxidant study, DCM/MeOH extract (70.32%) and catechin () showed good antioxidant activity (65.61%) (IC 0.25 g/mL) relative to that of the positive control (78.21%, IC 0.014 g/mL) at 12.5 g/mL. In each docking pose, catechin () scored higher binding affinity of -7.9, -7.2, and -6.4 kcal/mol towards PqsA, DNA gyraseB, and PK, respectively, compared to amoxicillin (-8.1, -6.1, and -6.4 kcal/mol). All five Lipinski rules were obeyed by compounds , which showed an acceptable drug resemblance. The lipophilicity was computed as less than five (1.47-4.01) indicating a lipophilic property. Catechin () obeys Veber's rule implying its good oral bioavailability. Binding affinity scores of catechin ()-protein interactions are in line with those from tests, indicating its potential antibacterial effect. The obtained cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity results support the utilization of in folk medicine.
PubMed: 38948887
DOI: 10.1155/2024/3713620 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Precision genetic medicine enlists antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to bind to nucleic acid targets important for human disease. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have many...
Precision genetic medicine enlists antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to bind to nucleic acid targets important for human disease. Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have many desirable attributes as ASOs but lack cellular permeability. Here, we use an assay based on the corrective splicing of an mRNA to assess the ability of synthetic peptides to deliver a functional PNA into a human cell. We find that the endosomolytic peptides L17E and L17ER are highly efficacious delivery vehicles. Co-treatment of a PNA with low micromolar L17E or L17ER enables robust corrective splicing in nearly all treated cells. Peptide-PNA conjugates are even more effective. These results enhance the utility of PNAs as research tools and potential therapeutic agents.
PubMed: 38948866
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.18.599558 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been pivotal in combating COVID-19, and numerous preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted their potential in nucleic...
Ionizable lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been pivotal in combating COVID-19, and numerous preclinical and clinical studies have highlighted their potential in nucleic acid-based therapies and vaccines. However, the effectiveness of endosomal escape for the nucleic acid cargos encapsulated in LNPs is still low, leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and side effects. Hence, improving endosomal escape is crucial for enhancing the efficacy of nucleic acid delivery using LNPs. Here, a mechanical oscillation (frequency: 65 Hz) is utilized to prompt the LNP-mediated endosomal escape. The results reveal this mechanical oscillation can induce the combination and fusion between LNPs with opposite surface charges, enhance endosomal escape of mRNA by 14%, and increase the transfection efficiency of mRNA up to 1.67 times in the current study. Additionally, cell viability remains high at 99.3% after treatment with oscillation, which is comparable to that of untreated cells. Furthermore, there is no obvious damage to other membranous organelles. Thus, this work presents a user-friendly and safe approach to enhancing endosomal escape of mRNA and boosting gene expression. As a result, our work can be potentially utilized in both research and clinical fields to facilitate LNP-based delivery by enabling more effective release of LNP-encapsulated cargos from endosomes.
PubMed: 38948864
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.19.599708 -
The effectiveness of selection in a species affects the direction of amino acid frequency evolution.BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Nearly neutral theory predicts that species with higher effective population size ( ) are better able to purge slightly deleterious mutations. We compare evolution in...
UNLABELLED
Nearly neutral theory predicts that species with higher effective population size ( ) are better able to purge slightly deleterious mutations. We compare evolution in high- vs. low- vertebrates to reveal which amino acid frequencies are subject to subtle selective preferences. We take three complementary approaches, two measuring flux and one measuring outcomes. First, we fit non-stationary substitution models of amino acid flux using maximum likelihood, comparing the high- clade of rodents and lagomorphs to its low- sister clade of primates and colugos. Second, we compare evolutionary outcomes across a wider range of vertebrates, via correlations between amino acid frequencies and . Third, we dissect the details of flux in human, chimpanzee, mouse, and rat, as scored by parsimony - this also enables comparison to a historical paper. All three methods agree on which amino acids are preferred under more effective selection. Preferred amino acids tend to be smaller, less costly to synthesize, and to promote intrinsic structural disorder. Parsimony-induced bias in the historical study produces an apparent reduction in structural disorder, perhaps driven by slightly deleterious substitutions. Within highly exchangeable pairs of amino acids, arginine is strongly preferred over lysine, and valine over isoleucine, consistent with more effective selection preferring a marginally larger free energy of folding. These two preferences match differences between thermophiles and mesophilic relatives. These results reveal the biophysical consequences of mutation-selection-drift balance, and demonstrate the utility of nearly neutral theory for understanding protein evolution.
SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT
According to the nearly neutral theory of molecular evolution, selection is less able to distinguish between similar alleles in species with lower population size. We identify which amino acids are subject to such weak preferences - these tend to be smaller, to be less costly to make, to promote structural disorder of proteins, and to be enriched in thermophiles relative to mesophiles. The latter agrees with theories of marginal protein stability under mutation-selection-drift balance.
PubMed: 38948853
DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.01.526552