Thranemendoza2074
Mitochondria are intracellular organelles responsible for biological oxidation and energy production. These organelles are susceptible to damage from oxidative stress and compensate for damage by increasing the number of copies of their own genome, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Cancer and environmental exposure to some pollutants have also been associated with altered mtDNA copy number. Since exposures to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) have been shown to increase oxidative stress, we hypothesize that mtDNA copy number will be altered with exposure to these compounds. mtDNA copy number was measured in DNA from archived frozen liver and lung specimens from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) study of female Harlan Sprague Dawley rats exposed to TCDD (3, 10, or 100 ng/kg/day), dioxin-like (DL) PCB 126 (10, 100, or 1000 ng/kg/day), non-DL PCB 153 (10, 100, or 1000 μg/kg/day), and PCB 126 + PCB 153 (10 ng/kg/day + 10 μg/kg/day, 100 ng/kg/day + 100 μg/kg/day, or 1000 the development of the toxicity of dioxin-like compounds.Colour polymorphisms are popular study systems among biologists interested in evolutionary dynamics, genomics, sexual selection and sexual conflict. In many damselfly groups, such as in the globally distributed genus Ischnura (forktails), sex-limited female colour polymorphisms occur in multiple species. Female-polymorphic species contain two or three female morphs, one of which phenotypically matches the male (androchrome or male mimic) and the other(s) which are phenotypically distinct from the male (heterochrome). These female colour polymorphisms are thought to be maintained by frequency-dependent sexual conflict, but their macroevolutionary histories are unknown, due to the lack of a robust molecular phylogeny. Here, we present the first time-calibrated phylogeny of Ischnura, using a multispecies coalescent approach (StarBEAST2) and incorporating both molecular and fossil data for 41 extant species (55% of the genus). We estimate the age of Ischnura to be between 13.8 and 23.4 millions of years, i.e. Miocene. We infer the ancestral state of this genus as female monomorphism with heterochrome females, with multiple gains and losses of female polymorphisms, evidence of trans-species female polymorphisms and a significant positive relationship between female polymorphism incidence and current geographic range size. Our study provides a robust phylogenetic framework for future research on the dynamic macroevolutionary history of this clade with its extraordinary diversity of sex-limited female polymorphisms.
Evaluation of plants such as Combretum racemosum with claimed traditional use in the management of sickle cell anaemia in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa could serve as a useful research strategy in the search for potential anti-sickling drugs and templates.
This study aimed at evaluating the antisickling potential of C. racemosum by activity-guided purification and isolation of its active constituents.
Crude methanol extract of the root of C. racemosum and the fractions obtained by partitioning with chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous were investigated for anti-sickling activity against sodium metabisulphite induced sickling of sickle cell haemoglobin (HbSS). Repeated chromatographic separations were conducted on the most active chloroform fraction to purify and isolate bioactive compounds for further tests for anti-sickling activity. The characterization of the isolated compounds was done by mass spectrometry (FD
MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (
HNMR) spectroscopy.
The chloroform fraction (FA) (% sickled erythrocyte ranged from 3.0 to 34.1) exhibited better anti-sickling activity than aqueous (% sickled erythrocyte ranged from 38.9 to 51.5) as well as the crude methanol (% sickled erythrocyte ranged from 19.1 to 30.4). Hence, the phytochemical investigation was focused on the chloroform fraction, which led to the identification of two ellagic acid derivatives (3,3',4'-tri-O-methyl ellagic acid (A) and 3,3'-di-O- methyl ellagic acid (B). The two isolated compounds possessed good, comparable anti-sickling activities with compound A exhibiting a slightly better in vitro activity.
This paper reports for the first time anti-sickling principles from C. racemosum and therefore, provided some justification for the ethnomedicinal use of the plant in the management of sickle cell disease.
This paper reports for the first time anti-sickling principles from C. racemosum and therefore, provided some justification for the ethnomedicinal use of the plant in the management of sickle cell disease.
Glycyrrhiza glabra L., a traditional medicinal, has a history of thousands of years. It is widely used in clinic and has been listed in Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Licochalcone A is a phenolic chalcone compound and a characteristic chalcone of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. It has many pharmacological activities, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-angiogenic activities.
In this study, we explored the anti-tumor activity and potential mechanism of licochalcone A in vitro and in vivo.
In vitro, the mechanism of licochalcone A at inhibiting PD-L1 expression was investigated by molecular docking, western blotting, RT-PCR, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation assays. The co-culture model of T cells and tumor cells was used to detect the activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Colony formation, EdU labelling and apoptosis assays were used to detect changes in cellular proliferation and apoptosis. In vivo, anti-tumor activity of licochalcone A was assessed in a xenograft model of f licochalcone A and provide new insights into the anticancer mechanism of this compound.
More than 20%of hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) demonstrate ARDS requiring ICU admission. The long-term respiratory sequelae in such patients remain unclear.
What are the major long-term pulmonary sequelae in critical patients who survive COVID-19?
Consecutive patients with COVID-19 requiring ICU admission were recruited and evaluated 3months after hospitalization discharge. click here The follow-up comprised symptom and quality of life, anxiety and depression questionnaires, pulmonary function tests, exercise test (6-min walking test [6MWT]), and chest CT imaging.
One hundred twenty-five patients admitted to the ICU with ARDS secondary to COVID-19 were recruited between March and June 2020. At the 3-month follow-up, 62 patients were available for pulmonary evaluation. The most frequent symptoms were dyspnea (46.7%) and cough (34.4%). Eighty-two percent of patients showed a lung diffusing capacity of less than 80%. The median distance in the 6MWT was 400m (interquartile range, 362-440 m).