Neuroprotective Effects of Liraglutide for Stroke Model of Rats

The number of diabetes mellitus (DM) patients is increasing, and stroke is deeply associated with DM. Recently, neuroprotective effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) are reported. In this study, we explored whether liraglutide, a GLP-1 analogue exerts therapeutic effects on a rat stroke model. Wistar rats received occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for 90 min. At one hour after reperfusion, liraglutide or saline was administered intraperitoneally. Modified Bederson’s test was performed at 1 and 24 h and, subsequently, rats were euthanized for histological investigation. Peripheral blood was obtained for measurement of blood glucose level and evaluation of oxidative stress. Brain tissues were collected to evaluate the level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The behavioral scores of liraglutide-treated rats were significantly better than those of control rats. Infarct volumes of liraglutide-treated rats at were reduced, compared with those of control rats. The level of derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolite was lower in liraglutide-treated rats. VEGF level of liraglutide-treated rats in the cortex, but not in the striatum significantly increased, compared to that of control rats. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate neuroprotective effects of liraglutide on cerebral ischemia through anti-oxidative effects and VEGF upregulation.     

Enhanced Development of Azoxymethane-Induced Colonic Preneoplastic Lesions in Hypertensive Rats

Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. This study investigated the impact of hypertension, a component of metabolic syndrome, on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colorectal carcinogenesis using SHRSP/Izm (SHRSP) non-diabetic/hypertensive rats and SHRSP.Z-Lepr^fa/IzmDmcr (SHRSP-ZF) diabetic/hypertensive rats. Male 6-week-old SHRSP, SHRSP-ZF, and control non-diabetic/normotensive Wister Kyoto/Izm (WKY) rats were given 2 weekly intraperitoneal injections of AOM (20 mg/kg body weight). Two weeks after the last injection of AOM, the SHRSP and SHRSP-ZF rats became hypertensive compared to the control WKY rats. Serum levels of angiotensin-II, the active product of the renin-angiotensin system, were elevated in both SHRSP and SHRSP-ZF rats, but only the SHRSP-ZF rats developed insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hyperleptinemia and exhibited an increase in adipose tissue. The development of AOM-induced colonic preneoplastic lesions and aberrant crypts foci, was significantly accelerated in both SHRSP and SHRSP-ZF hypertensive rats, compared to WKY normotensive rats. Furthermore, induction of oxidative stress and exacerbation of inflammation were observed in the colonic mucosa and systemically in SHRSP and SHRSP-ZF rats. Our findings suggest that hypertension plays a role in the early stage of colorectal carcinogenesis by inducing oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, which might be associated with activation of the renin-angiotensin system.     

Maize Transcription Factor ZmARF4 Confers Phosphorus Tolerance by Promoting Root Morphological Development

Plant growth and development are closely related to phosphate (Pi) and auxin. However, data regarding auxin response factors (ARFs) and their response to phosphate in maize are limited. Here, we isolated ZmARF4 in maize and dissected its biological function response to Pi stress. Overexpression of ZmARF4 in Arabidopsis confers tolerance of Pi deficiency with better root morphology than wild-type. Overexpressed ZmARF4 can partially restore the absence of lateral roots in mutant arf7 arf19. The ZmARF4 overexpression promoted Pi remobilization and up-regulated AtRNS1, under Pi limitation while it down-regulated the expression of the anthocyanin biosynthesis genes AtDFR and AtANS. A continuous detection revealed higher activity of promoter in the Pi-tolerant maize P178 line than in the sensitive 9782 line under low-Pi conditions. Meanwhile, GUS activity was specifically detected in new leaves and the stele of roots in transgenic offspring. ZmARF4 was localized to the nucleus and cytoplasm of the mesophyll protoplast and interacted with ZmILL4 and ZmChc5, which mediate lateral root initiation and defense response, respectively. ZmARF4 overexpression also conferred salinity and osmotic stress tolerance in Arabidopsis. Overall, our findings suggest that ZmARF4, a pleiotropic gene, modulates multiple stress signaling pathways, and thus, could be a candidate gene for engineering plants with multiple stress adaptation.     

The Role of a Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetase in l‐Lysine Lactamization During Capuramycin Biosynthesis

Capuramycins are one of several known classes of natural products that contain an l ‐Lys‐derived l ‐α‐amino‐?‐caprolactam (l ‐ACL) unit. The α‐amino group of l ‐ACL in a capuramycin is linked to an unsaturated hexuronic acid component through an amide bond that was previously shown to originate by an ATP‐independent enzymatic route. With the aid of a combined in vivo and in vitro approach, a predicted tridomain nonribosomal peptide synthetase CapU is functionally characterized here as the ATP‐dependent amide‐bond‐forming catalyst responsible for the biosynthesis of the remaining amide bond present in l ‐ACL. The results are consistent with the adenylation domain of CapU as the essential catalytic component for l ‐Lys activation and thioesterification of the adjacent thiolation domain. However, in contrast to expectations, lactamization does not require any additional domains or proteins and is likely a nonenzymatic event. The results set the stage for examining whether a similar NRPS‐mediated mechanism is employed in the biosynthesis of other l ‐ACL‐containing natural products and, just as intriguingly, how spontaneous lactamization is avoided in the numerous NRPS‐derived peptides that contain an unmodified l ‐Lys residue.     

Alginate@Layered Silicate Composite Beads: Dye Elimination,Box–Behnken Design Optimization and Antibacterial Property

Journal of Inorganic and Organometallic Polymers and Materials - The discharge of industrial waste comprising organic pollutants into aquatic environment induces numerous health risks. Crosslinked...     

Dietary Guar Gum Reduces Lymph Flow and Diminishes Lipid Transport in Thoracic Duct-Cannulated Rats

Guar gum has a well-recognized hypolipidemic effect. This effect is thought to be due to the physicochemical properties of guar gum, which may cause changes in adsorption of lipids or the viscosity of the intestinal contents. Guar gum is a non-specific absorption inhibitor of any type of lipid-soluble compound. Permanent lymph duct cannulation was performed on rats to investigate the effects of dietary guar gum on lymph flow and lipid transport. Rats fed a 5% guar gum diet were compared with those fed a 5% cellulose diet, and lymph was collected after feeding. The water-holding capacity (WHC), settling volume in water (SV), and viscosity of guar gum were compared with those of cellulose. Rats fed with the guar gum diet had significantly lower lymph flow and lymphatic lipid transport than did rats fed with the cellulose diet. The WHC, SV, and viscosity of guar gum were significantly higher than those of cellulose. We propose that dietary guar gum reduces lymph flow and thereby diminishes lipid transport by means of its physicochemical properties related to water behavior in the intestine.     

Thermal and electrical conduction properties of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes produced by water-assisted chemical vapor deposition

We present both thermal and electrical conduction properties of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNTs), synthesized by the water-assisted chemical vapor deposition method using Fe–Ti–O nanoparticles as catalyst. Thermal diffusivity and electrical resistance of VACNTs have been measured by the laser flash method and direct-current four-terminal method, respectively. The VACNTs are found to have thermal diffusivities of the same order as isotropic graphite and the electrical characteristics of semiconductors. The electrical resistance shows a T^−1/4 temperature dependence, which implies that the conduction of electrons is dominated by 3D Mott variable range hopping.     

Graded evolution of anisotropic microstructure during sintering from crystal-oriented powder compact

Anisotropic sintering, including shrinkage and grain growth, was examined for c-axis-oriented (Sr,Ca)₂NaNb₅O₁₅ (SCNN) ceramics, which were prepared by colloidal processing under a magnetic field. In the c-axis-oriented SCNN powder compact, shrinkage and grain growth along the c-axis were higher than those along the a-axis. The anisotropic microstructural development was clearly associated with anisotropic sintering shrinkage. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy back scattering diffraction showed that the grain growth of oriented particles by including random grains contribute to the development of the oriented microstructure. Finally, the highly crystal-oriented SCNN ceramics with a densified microstructure were obtained through anisotropic sintering. These results clearly showed the potential to develop a well-defined anisotropic microstructure during sintering by designing and controlling the particle packing structure in a powder compact.     

Phase Equilibria in the Tl<Subscript>2</Subscript>Te-Tl<Subscript>5</Subscript>Te<Subscript>3</Subscript>-Tl<Subscript>9</Subscript>TmTe<Subscript>6</Subscript> Section of the Tl-Tm-Te System

Phase equilibria in the Tl₂Te-Tl₅Te₃-Tl₉TmTe₆ section of the Tl-Tm-Te ternary system were experimentally studied by using the powder x-ray diffraction technique, differential thermal analysis, as well as microhardness measurements applied to equilibrated alloys. Several isopleth sections and isothermal section at 680 K, as well as projections of the liquidus and solidus surfaces, were constructed. The Tl₅Te₃-Tl₉TmTe₆ section is characterized by the formation of continuous series of solid solutions (δ-phase) with Tl₅Te₃ tetragonal structure, which penetrate deep into the concentration triangle and occupy more than 90% of its area. A narrow area of solid solutions (α-phase) based on Tl₂Te was detected.