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PloS One 2018To identify in vitro inhibitors of xanthine crystallization that have potential for inhibiting the formation of xanthine crystals in urine and preventing the development...
OBJECTIVE
To identify in vitro inhibitors of xanthine crystallization that have potential for inhibiting the formation of xanthine crystals in urine and preventing the development of the renal calculi in patients with xanthinuria.
METHODS
The formation of xanthine crystals in synthetic urine and the effects of 10 potential crystallization inhibitors were assessed using a kinetic turbidimetric system with a photometer. The maximum concentration tested for each compound was: 20 mg/L for 3-methylxanthine (3-MX); 40 mg/L for 7-methylxanthine (7-MX), 1-methylxanthine (1-MX), theobromine (TB), theophylline, paraxanthine, and caffeine; 45 mg/L for 1-methyluric acid; 80 mg/L for 1,3-dimethyluric acid; and 200 mg/L for hypoxanthine. Scanning electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology of the crystals formed when inhibitory effects were observed.
RESULTS
Only 7-MX, 3-MX, and 1-MX significantly inhibited xanthine crystallization at the tested concentrations. Mixtures of inhibitors had an additive effect rather than a synergistic effect on crystallization.
CONCLUSION
Two of the inhibitors identified here-7-MX and 3-MX-are major metabolites of TB. In particular, after TB consumption, 20% is excreted in the urine as TB, 21.5% as 3-MX, and 36% as 7-MX. Thus, consumption of theobromine could protect patients with xanthinuria from the development of renal xanthine calculi. Clinical trials are necessary to demonstrate these effects in vivo.
Topics: Aldehyde Oxidase; Chemical Precipitation; Crystallization; Down-Regulation; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Kidney Calculi; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Purine-Pyrimidine Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Urolithiasis; Xanthine; Xanthine Dehydrogenase; Xanthines
PubMed: 30157195
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198881 -
PeerJ 2024Salt stress is one of the significant abiotic stress factors that exert harmful effects on plant growth and yield. In this study, five cultivars of mung bean ( L.) were...
Salt stress is one of the significant abiotic stress factors that exert harmful effects on plant growth and yield. In this study, five cultivars of mung bean ( L.) were treated with different concentrations of NaCl and also inoculated with a salt-tolerant bacterial strain to assess their growth and yield. The bacterial strain was isolated from the saline soil of Sahiwal District, Punjab, Pakistan and identified as . Plant growth was monitored at 15-days interval and finally harvested after 120 days at seed set. Both sodium and potassium uptake in above and below-ground parts were assessed using a flame photometer. Fresh and dry mass, number of pods, seeds per plant, weight of seeds per plant and weight of 100 seeds reduced significantly as the concentration of NaCl increased from 3 to 15 dSm. There was a significant reduction in the growth and yield of plants exposed to NaCl stress without bacterial inoculum compared to the plants with bacterial inoculum. The latter plants showed a significant increase in the studied parameters. It was found that the cultivar Inqelab mung showed the least reduction in growth and yield traits among the studied cultivars, while Ramzan mung showed the maximum reduction. Among all the cultivars, maximum Na uptake occurred in roots, while the least uptake was observed in seeds. The study concludes that NaCl stress significantly reduces the growth and yield of mung bean cultivars, but inoculum alleviates salt stress. These findings will be helpful to cultivate the selected cultivars in soils with varying concentrations of NaCl.
Topics: Bacillus; Vigna; Sodium Chloride; Salt Stress; Potassium; Pakistan; Soil Microbiology; Sodium; Seeds; Plant Roots; Salt Tolerance
PubMed: 38854802
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17465 -
Scientific Reports Oct 2023Photoelectric observations of night sky brightness (NSB) at different zenith distances and azimuths, covering all the sky, at the Egyptian Kottamia Astronomical...
Photoelectric observations of night sky brightness (NSB) at different zenith distances and azimuths, covering all the sky, at the Egyptian Kottamia Astronomical observatory (KAO) site of coordinates ϕ = 29° 55.9' N and λ = 31° 49.5' E, were done using a fully automated photoelectric photometer (FAPP). The Bessel wide range system (UBVRI) is used for the first time to observe NSB for three consecutive nights (1-3 August, 2022) under good seeing conditions after the moon sets. The deduced results were taken in photons and converted into mag/arcsec. The average zenith sky brightness for U, B, V, R and I filters are found to be 20.49, 20.38, 19.41, 18.60 and 17.94 mag/arcsec respectively. The average color indices (U-B), (B-V), (V-R) and (R-I), at the zenith are detected to be 0.11, 0.98, 0.81 and 0.66, respectively. We plotted the isophotes of the sky brightness at KAO in U, B, V, R and I colors (filters) and determined both the average atmospheric extinction and sky transparency through these UBVRI filters. The atmospheric and other meteorological conditions were taken into our consideration during the observational nights. The results of the current study illustrate the main impact of the new cities built around KAO on the sky glow over it, and which astronomical observations are affected.
PubMed: 37798327
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43844-x -
Ocular Immunology and Inflammation Feb 2022To evaluate the effects of fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) on semiautomated aqueous flare measurements.
PURPOSE
To evaluate the effects of fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) on semiautomated aqueous flare measurements.
METHODS
Laser flare photometer (LFP) measurements was performed at baseline, 30 min, and 4 h after the intravenous administration of sodium fluorescein dye. FFA was performed immediately after the baseline LFP measurement. LFP values at 30 min and 4 h after FFA were compared to baseline values. Mean change in LFP measurements at 30 min and 4 hafter baseline was compared between FFA arm and controls.
RESULTS
The mean flare measurement in the FFA and control arm dropped 6% ( value = 0.002) and 9% ( value = 0.04), respectively. Mean change in LFP measurement at 30 min and 4 h after baseline was not significant between FFA arm and controls.
CONCLUSIONS
Administration of fluorescein dye does not increase LFP values. The decrease in the LFP measurement following FFA may be attributed to dilation drops.
Topics: Aqueous Humor; Fluorescein; Fluorescein Angiography; Humans; Photometry; Uveitis, Anterior; Visual Acuity
PubMed: 32966150
DOI: 10.1080/09273948.2020.1799036 -
Pediatric Health, Medicine and... 2023The most important anemia next to iron deficiency is anemia of inflammation. Micronutrient deficits, such as those in zinc and iron, can be caused by intestinal...
BACKGROUND
The most important anemia next to iron deficiency is anemia of inflammation. Micronutrient deficits, such as those in zinc and iron, can be caused by intestinal permeability and gut inflammation brought on by environmental enteric dysfunction. This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence and association of anemia with Environmental Enteropathy.
METHODS
Data on water sanitation and hygiene indicators and sociodemographic characteristics were collected using structured questionnaire. The lactulose to mannitol ratio (L:M) was calculated from the concentration of both sugars in the urine. Level of Hemoglobin was detected by using Hemocue-301 digital photometer. Blood and urine sample was collected from three hundred children aged 12-59 months to determine the status of Anaemia and Environmental Enteropathy respectively.
RESULTS
Data were analyzed by using Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation, and logistic regression model to indicate prevalence and association of anemia with environmental Enteropathy in children less than five years old. The prevalence of anemia in children with environmental enteropathy was 63.8% (95% CI: 57.6, 71.7), and there was a significant association (p = 0.0001, AOR 3.502, 95% CI: 1.929-6.371) between anemia and environmental enteropathy. In a multivariate analysis, children aged 1-3 years with caretakers who had no or only primary education and with monthly income of less than 3000 ETB were more likely to develop anemia.
CONCLUSION
The result of this study indicated that two-thirds of children less than five with environmental enteropathy had developed anemia, and there is a significant association between environmental enteropathy and anemia. Even though there are other causes of anemia, based on the findings of this study, more research is needed to identify factors associated with environmental enteropathy to mitigate anemia due to intestinal permeability or malabsorption and its impact in children under the age of five.
PubMed: 36798588
DOI: 10.2147/PHMT.S387747 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jul 2023Reduction of the production of amyloid beta (Aβ) species has been intensively investigated as potential therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However,...
Reduction of the production of amyloid beta (Aβ) species has been intensively investigated as potential therapeutic approaches for Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the degradation of Aβ species, another potential beneficial approach, has been far less explored. In this study, we discovered that ceruloplasmin (CP), an important multi-copper oxidase (MCO) in human blood, could degrade Aβ peptides. We also found that the presence of Vitamin C could enhance the degrading effect in a concentration-dependent manner. We then validated the CP-Aβ interaction using total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, fluorescence photometer, and fluorescence polarization measurement. Based on the above discovery, we hypothesized that other MCOs had similar Aβ-degrading functions. Indeed, we found that other MCOs could induce Aβ degradation as well. Remarkably, we revealed that ascorbate oxidase (AO) had the strongest degrading effect among the tested MCOs. Using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) neuron cells, we observed that AO could rescue neuron toxicity which induced by Aβ oligomers. In addition, our electrophysiological analysis with brain slices suggested that AO could prevent an Ab-induced deficit in synaptic transmission in the hippocampus. To the best of our knowledge, our report is the first to demonstrate that MCOs have a degrading function for peptides/proteins. Further investigations are warranted to explore the possible benefits of MCOs for future AD treatment.
PubMed: 37461701
DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.02.547398 -
Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis 1994Pineal photoreceptors of poikilothermic vertebrates possess numerous anatomical, physiological and biochemical similarities to retinal photoreceptors, including the... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study Review
Pineal photoreceptors of poikilothermic vertebrates possess numerous anatomical, physiological and biochemical similarities to retinal photoreceptors, including the rhythmic melatonin biosynthesis, with nocturnal peaks and low day-time levels. This brief outline will survey the photoreceptor properties of the pineal organ of poikilothermic vertebrates, which suggest that the pineal is not only a simple light detector (that acts as a kind of photometer), but that it is capable of processing the light information and to discriminate it from informations that have no meaning for its assumed photoperiodic function.
Topics: Acclimatization; Animals; Darkness; Fishes; Humans; Light; Melatonin; Photoreceptor Cells; Pineal Gland; Retina; Vertebrates
PubMed: 7801789
DOI: No ID Found -
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology &... Nov 2022Simulated daylight photodynamic therapy (SDL-PDT) is a new treatment alternative for actinic keratosis. The aim of this study was to show how the illuminance that...
BACKGROUND
Simulated daylight photodynamic therapy (SDL-PDT) is a new treatment alternative for actinic keratosis. The aim of this study was to show how the illuminance that reaches the target skin area during SDL-PDT depends on the spatial positioning of the patient.
METHODS
In this technical validation study, illuminance from the SDL-PDT system IndoorLux© was measured at different angles, directions, and distances from the light sources corresponding to potential target skin areas. Using two different photometers, data from 63 measuring points at seven specific distances from the ceiling were collected at 0°, 45°, and 90° angles, respectively. Illuminance levels ≥12,000 lux were regarded as adequate. Hotspots were defined as adequate measurements in all directions at a specific measuring point at distances of 1.3, 1.5, and 1.8 m from the light sources (i.e., the most common patient treatment positions).
RESULTS
Adequate illuminance levels were more common with photometer 1 (73%) than photometer 2 (57%). Almost all illuminance levels were adequate at a 0° angle with both photometers. Adequate illuminance levels were observed at 82-93% of the measuring points at a 45° angle and 22-47% at a 90° angle. Hotspots were registered with both photometers at all measuring points at 0°; 59-79% of the measuring points at 45°; and 0-21% at 90°.
CONCLUSION
Patient positioning is important during SDL-PDT. Adequate illuminance is achieved if target skin areas are positioned at 0°-45° angles relative to the light sources, but not at 90° angles.
Topics: Humans; Photochemotherapy; Aminolevulinic Acid; Photosensitizing Agents; Keratosis, Actinic; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 35437865
DOI: 10.1111/phpp.12792 -
Journal of Aerosol Science May 2017Recently, inexpensive (<$300) consumer aerosol monitors (CAMs) targeted for use in homes have become available. We evaluated the accuracy, bias, and precision of three...
Recently, inexpensive (<$300) consumer aerosol monitors (CAMs) targeted for use in homes have become available. We evaluated the accuracy, bias, and precision of three CAMs (Foobot from Airoxlab, Speck from Carnegie Mellon University, and AirBeam from HabitatMap) for measuring mass concentrations in occupational settings. In a laboratory study, PM measured with the CAMs and a medium-cost aerosol photometer (personal DataRAM 1500, Thermo Scientific) were compared to that from reference instruments for three aerosols (salt, welding fume, and Arizona road dust, ARD) at concentrations up to 8500 μg/m. Three of each type of CAM were included to estimate precision. Compared to reference instruments, mass concentrations measured with the Foobot (r-value = 0.99) and medium-cost photometer (r-value = 0.99) show strong correlation, whereas those from the Speck (r-value range 0.88 - 0.99) and AirBeam (0.7 - 0.96) were less correlated. The Foobot bias was (-12%) for ARD and measurements were similar to the medium-cost instrument. Foobot bias was (< -46%) for salt and welding fume aerosols. Speck bias was at 18% salt for ARD and -86% for welding fume. AirBeam bias was (-36%) for salt and (-83%) for welding fume. All three photometers had a bias (< -82%) for welding fume. Precision was excellent for the Foobot (coefficient of variation range: 5% to 8%) and AirBeam (2% to 9%), but poorer for the Speck (8% to 25%). These findings suggest that the Foobot, with a linear response to different aerosol types and good precision, can provide reasonable estimates of PM in the workplace after site-specific calibration to account for particle size and composition.
PubMed: 28871212
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaerosci.2017.02.013 -
Journal of Medicine and Life Jul 2023Breast carcinoma ranks as the second most common cancer among women worldwide. Despite significant therapeutic advancements, approximately 25% of breast carcinoma cases...
Breast carcinoma ranks as the second most common cancer among women worldwide. Despite significant therapeutic advancements, approximately 25% of breast carcinoma cases have resistance to current treatment modalities, posing a significant challenge for patient management. This study aimed to investigate the role of Sam68 mRNA and its protein in promoting oncogenesis and breast cancer progression. Sam68 protein levels were assessed in tissue samples using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay kit from Sun Long Biotech. Whole RNA was isolated from malignant breast tissue samples obtained from patients. The RNA concentration was determined using an Eppendorf photometer, yielding an average concentration of 62.1±10.07 ng/µl. The purity of the isolated RNA was evaluated by measuring the A260/A280 ratio (1.9±0.07) and the A260/A230 ratio (1.7±0.3). The results indicated a significant upregulation of Sam68 mRNA expression in breast cancer tissues, supporting the findings from previous studies and indicating the correlation between altered Sam68 expression and the development of breast carcinoma, highlighting the potential significance of Sam68 in the pathogenesis of the disease. Estimating Sam68 in the blood may serve as a potential biomarker for assessing the malignant grade and metastatic spread of breast carcinoma cells.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Neoplasms; Cell Line, Tumor; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; RNA, Messenger; RNA
PubMed: 37900073
DOI: 10.25122/jml-2022-0229