The Reverse Transcriptase/RNA Maturase Protein MatR Is Required for the Splicing of Various Group II Introns in Brassicaceae Mitochondria.

Group II introns are large catalytic RNAs that are ancestrally related to nuclear spliceosomal introns. Sequences corresponding to group II RNAs are found in many prokaryotes and are particularly prevalent within plants organellar genomes. Proteins encoded within the introns themselves (maturases) facilitate the splicing of their own host pre-RNAs.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects of Three Types of Silver-Iron Oxide Binary Hybrid Nanoparticles.

Background: Multifunctional nanostructures have received great deal of attention in biomedical area due to their capabilities in the development of new therapeutic and diagnostic agents. Silver and iron oxide nanoparticles, owing to their specific characteristics, are considered to develop bifunctional hybrid nanoparticles for magnetic delivery of silver nanoparticles as cytotoxic agent toward cancer cells.

Objective: This study was designed to explore the in-vitro cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of three different silver-iron oxide binary hybrid nanoparticles on human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line.

Colon Mass as a Secondary Metastasis from Cholangiocarcinoma: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma.

Cholangiocarcinoma (bile ducts cancer) is a rare and aggressive form of cancer. It metastasizes frequently to liver, peritoneum, and lungs. Colon metastasis is extremely uncommon.

Frequency of IgA Nephropathy Presenting at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Pakistan.

Objective: To determine the frequency of IgAnephropathy presenting at a tertiary care hospital.

Study Design: Across sectional, observational study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad and Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, from November 2008 to November 2014.

Expression of a Recombinant Anti-HIV and Anti-Tumor Protein, MAP30, in Nicotiana tobacum Hairy Roots: A pH-Stable and Thermophilic Antimicrobial Protein.

In contrast to conventional antibiotics, which microorganisms can readily evade, it is nearly impossible for a microbial strain that is sensitive to antimicrobial proteins to convert to a resistant strain. Therefore, antimicrobial proteins and peptides that are promising alternative candidates for the control of bacterial infections are under investigation. The MAP30 protein of Momordica charantia is a valuable type I ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) with anti-HIV and anti-tumor activities.

Anticancer activity assessment of two novel binuclear platinum (II) complexes.

In the current study, two binuclear Pt (II) complexes, containing cis, cis-[Me2Pt (μ-NN) (μ-dppm) PtMe2] (1), and cis,cis-[Me2Pt(μ-NN)(μ dppm) Pt((CH2)4)] (2) in which NN=phthalazine and dppm=bis (diphenylphosphino) methane were evaluated for their anticancer activities and DNA/purine nucleotide binding properties. These Pt (II) complexes, with the non-classical structures, demonstrated a significant anticancer activity against Jurkat and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. The results of ethidium bromide/acridine orange staining and Caspase-III activity suggest that these complexes were capable to stimulate an apoptotic mechanism of cell death in the cancer cells.

Development of a (68)Ga-peptide tracer for PET GnRH1-imaging.

Objective: Total synthesis, quality control and preclinical evaluation of [(68)Ga]-DOTA-triptorelin ([(68)Ga]-DOTA-TRP) is reported as a possible PET radiotracer for GnRH receptor imaging.

Methods: DOTA-TRP was totally synthesized in two steps and after characterization went through radiolabelling optimization studies followed by tracer stability. The biodistribution of the tracer in normal male rats and 4T1 tumour-bearing mice was performed in 120 min after i.

The future of regional anesthesia education: lessons learned from the surgical specialty.

Purpose: Application of ultrasound in regional anesthesia has now become the standard of care and its use has shown to reduce complications. Nevertheless, gaining expertise in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia requires the acquisition of new cognitive and technical skills. In addition, due to a reduction in resident working hours and enforcement of labour laws and directives across various states and countries, trainees perform and witness fewer procedures.

The Nerves of the Adductor Canal and the Innervation of the Knee: An Anatomic Study.

Background And Objectives: Adductor canal block contributes to analgesia after total knee arthroplasty. However, controversy exists regarding the target nerves and the ideal site of local anesthetic administration. The aim of this cadaveric study was to identify the trajectory of all nerves that course in the adductor canal from their origin to their termination and describe their relative contributions to the innervation of the knee joint.

Efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss in total knee replacements.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss in total knee replacement.

Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at Quaid-e-Azam International Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan, and comprised data of patients who underwent total knee replacement between January 2012 and December 2014. The effect of tranexamic acid on postoperative haemoglobin, hematocrit and number of blood units transfused was noted and compared between cases who had received standard dose of tranexamic acid with those who had not received it.

Teaching ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia remotely: a feasibility study.

Background: Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia (UGRA) requires acquisition of new skills. Learning requires one-on-one teaching, and can be limited by time and mentor availability. We investigate whether the skills required for UGRA can be developed and subsequently assessed remotely using a novel online teaching platform.

Development of a novel pH sensor based upon Janus Green B immobilized on triacetyl cellulose membrane: Experimental design and optimization.

A novel pH optical sensor was prepared by immobilizing an azo dye called Janus Green B on the triacetylcellulose membrane. Condition of the dye solution used in the immobilization step, including concentration of the dye, pH, and duration were considered and optimized using the Box-Behnken design. The proposed sensor showed good behavior and precision (RSD<5%) in the pH range of 2.

IV and Perineural Dexmedetomidine Similarly Prolong the Duration of Analgesia after Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block: A Randomized, Three-arm, Triple-masked, Placebo-controlled Trial.

Background: Perineural and IV dexmedetomidine have each been suggested to prolong the duration of analgesia when administered in conjunction with peripheral nerve blocks. In the first randomized, triple-masked, placebo-controlled trial to date, the authors aimed to define and compare the efficacy of perineural and IV dexmedetomidine in prolonging the analgesic duration of single-injection interscalene brachial plexus block (ISB) for outpatient shoulder surgery.

Methods: Ninety-nine patients were randomized to receive ISB using 15 ml ropivacaine, 0.

Increased Litter Size and Suckling Intensity Stimulate mRNA of RFamide-related Peptide in Rats.

Background: RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) inhibits gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in rats. This study evaluates the effects of litter size and suckling intensity on RFRP mRNA expression in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus (DMH) of rats.

Materials And Methods: A total of 32 pregnant and 4 non-lactating ovariectomized (control group) Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this experimental study.

The Molecular Epidemiology and Evolution of Murray Valley Encephalitis Virus: Recent Emergence of Distinct Sub-lineages of the Dominant Genotype 1.

Background: Recent increased activity of the mosquito-borne Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV) in Australia has renewed concerns regarding its potential to spread and cause disease.

Methodology/principal Findings: To better understand the genetic relationships between earlier and more recent circulating strains, patterns of virus movement, as well as the molecular basis of MVEV evolution, complete pre-membrane (prM) and Envelope (Env) genes were sequenced from sixty-six MVEV strains from different regions of the Australasian region, isolated over a sixty year period (1951-2011). Phylogenetic analyses indicated that, of the four recognized genotypes, only G1 and G2 are contemporary.

A novel aeration-assisted homogenous liquid-liquid microextration for determination of thorium and uranium in water and hair samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy.

A novel method based on aeration-assisted homogeneous liquid-liquid microextraction using high density solvent is presented, which is combined with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy in which simultaneous preconcentration and determination of thorium and uranium with arsenazo III as the chelating reagent is carried out. To achieve optimum conditions, several parameters such as pH, concentration of arsenazo III, extraction and homogenous solvent types and their volumes, salt concentration and extraction time were investigated. Under which, the calibration graphs were linear in the range of 0.

Working draft genome sequence of the mesophilic acetate oxidizing bacterium Syntrophaceticus schinkii strain Sp3.

Syntrophaceticus schinkii strain Sp3 is a mesophilic syntrophic acetate oxidizing bacterium, belonging to the Clostridia class within the phylum Firmicutes, originally isolated from a mesophilic methanogenic digester. It has been shown to oxidize acetate in co-cultivation with hydrogenotrophic methanogens forming methane. The draft genome shows a total size of 3,196,921 bp, encoding 3,688 open reading frames, which includes 3,445 predicted protein-encoding genes and 55 RNA genes.

An Expedited Care Pathway with Ambulatory Brachial Plexus Analgesia Is a Cost-effective Alternative to Standard Inpatient Care after Complex Arthroscopic Elbow Surgery: A Randomized, Single-blinded Study.

Background: Common standard practice after complex arthroscopic elbow surgery includes hospital admission for 72 h. The authors hypothesized that an expedited care pathway, with 24 h of hospital admission and ambulatory brachial plexus analgesia and continuous passive motion at home, results in equivalent elbow range of motion (ROM) 2 weeks after surgery compared with standard 72-h hospital admission.

Methods: A randomized, single-blinded study was conducted after obtaining approval from the research ethics board.

Point-of-care ultrasound defines gastric content and changes the anesthetic management of elective surgical patients who have not followed fasting instructions: a prospective case series.

Purpose: Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents is a major cause of anesthesia morbidity and mortality. Point-of-care gastric ultrasound provides information regarding the type and volume of gastric content. The hypothesis of this prospective cohort study was that the addition of point-of-care gastric ultrasound to standard patient assessment results in changes in anesthetic management in at least 30% of elective surgical patients who do not follow fasting instructions.

Aspirin-mediated acetylation induces structural alteration and aggregation of bovine pancreatic insulin.

The simple aggregation of insulin under various chemical and physical stresses is still an important challenge for both pharmaceutical production and clinical formulation. In the storage form, this protein is subjected to various chemical modifications which alter its physicochemical and aggregation properties. Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) which is the most widely used medicine worldwide has been indicated to acetylate a large number of proteins both in vitro and in vivo.

A study on the regulatory network with promoter analysis for Arabidopsis DREB-genes.

Dehydration response element binding factors (DREBs) are one of the principal plant transcription factor subfamilies that regulate the expression of many abiotic stress-inducible genes. This sub-family belongs to AP2 transcription factor family and plays a considerable role in improving abiotic stresses tolerance in plants. Therefore, it is of interest to identify critical cis-acting elements involved in abiotic stress responses.

Expression of melanocortin-4 receptor and agouti-related peptide mRNAs in arcuate nucleus during long term malnutrition of female ovariectomized rats.

Objective: Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) and agouti-related peptide (AgRP) are involved in energy homeostasis in the rat. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of MC4R and AgRP mRNAs in arcuate nucleus (ARC) during long term malnutrition of female ovariectomized rats.

Materials And Methods: Ten female ovariectomized rats were divided into two equal groups (n=6) of normal and restricted diet groups.