Evaluation of immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a liposome containing Brucella abortus S19 outer membrane protein in BALB/c mice

The use of liposome as an adjuvant and a vaccine carrier has been cited previously in the literature. It has also been shown to be effective in enhancing the immunogenicity of vaccine candidates. BALB/c mice immunized subcutaneously with outer membrane protein [OMP] of Brucella abortus S19 vaccine strain entrapped in a commercial cationic liposome [S19-OMP-liposome] for vaccine delivery, showed enhanced protection [P<0.05] compared to groups of mice inoculated with S19 OMP alone, S19 live B. abortus vaccine and liposome alone, when challenged intra-peritoneally with virulent B. abortus strain 544 at 30 days post-immunization [DPI]. The S19-OMP-liposome preparation was found to be safer compared to the live B. abortus S19 vaccine at 15 days post challenge [DPC], as evidenced by the significant difference in spleen weight between S19-OMP-liposome, S19 OMP and S19 live as well as the liposome control groups [P<0.01]. Antibody isotype response profiles of the experimental groups indicated that the immune response was Th1 cell mediated. The protective advantage conferred to mice immunized with S19-OMP entrapped in liposome over those immunized with the live B. abortus S19 version, could probably be related to the significantly different response of IgG2b at 30 DPI [P<0.01], IgG2a [P<0.01], IgG2b [P<0.01] and IgG3 [P<0.05] at the DPC stages, respectively

Sodium potassium ATPase and glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase activity in patients with hyperthyroidism: a comparison with euthyroid patients

Sodium potassium ATPase [Na+-K+ ATPase] and Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase [G 6 PD] activities in different tissues have been found to be stimulated by thyroid hormones. In erythrocytes, the activities of these enzymes were reported to vary. The aim of our study was to determine the sodium potassium ATPase and glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase activities in patients with hyperthyroidism and compare them with those of patients with euthyroid goiter. After approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee and obtaining informed consent from all patients, 40 hyperthyroid patients [17 men, 23 women; mean age 44.75 +/- 2.6 years] and 50 patients with euthyroid goiter [13 men, 37 women; mean age 37.2 +/- 1.6 years] were included in the study. They were classified based on T3, T4, TSH measurements. Erythrocyte Na+-K+ ATPase and G 6 PD activity were measured using spectrophotometry. In hyperthyroid patients, Na+-K+ ATPase activity was significantly lower compared to euthyroid controls [134.98 +/- 3.78 vs. 164.34 +/- 3.85 nmol pi/hr.mg protein, p<0.001] and G 6 PD levels were significantly elevated when compared to euthyroid controls [19.19 +/- 0.438 U/g Hb vs. 11.505 +/- 0.385 U/g Hb, p<0.001]. Hyperthyroidism is associated with decrease in Na+-K+ ATPase activity and increase in G 6 PD levels when compared to patients with euthyroid goiter. The measurement of Na+-K+ATPase activity could be used as an early marker for diagnosis of hyperthyroidism

ISSR markers based on GA and AG repeats reveal genetic relationship among rice varieties tolerant to drought, flood, or salinity / 浙江大学学报（英文版）（B辑：生物医学和生物技术）

Drought, flood, salinity, or a combination of these limits rice production. Several rice varieties are well known for their tolerance to specific abiotic stresses. We determined genetic relationship among 12 rice varieties including 9 tolerant to drought, flood, or salinity using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Based on all markers, the nine tolerant varieties formed one cluster distinct from the cluster of three control varieties. The salt-tolerant varieties were closest to two flood-tolerant varieties, and together they were distinct from the drought-tolerant varieties. (GA)(8)YG was the most informative primer, showing the highest polymorphic information content (PIC) and resolving power (Rp). The drought-, flood-, and salt-tolerant varieties grouped in three distinct clusters within the group of tolerant varieties, when (GA)(8)YG was used. Sabita was the only exception. The two aus varieties, Nagina22 and FR13A, were separated and grouped with the drought- and flood-tolerant varieties, respectively, but they were together in dendrograms based on other primers. The results show that ISSR markers associated with (GA)(8)YG delineated the three groups of stress-tolerant varieties from each other and can be used to identify genes/new alleles associated with the three abiotic stresses in rice germplasm.

Serum prostate-specific antigen levels in Middle Eastern men with subclinical prostatitis

To investigate the influence of subclinical or histologically diagnosed prostatitis on serum prostate-specific antigen [PSA] in patients investigated for prostatic disease in Kuwait. Serum PSA was assayed in patients investigated for prostatic disease in Mubarak Al-Kabeer Hospital, Kuwait, between December 2002 and December 2004. These included patients undergoing transrectal ultrasound with needle biopsy of the prostate gland and those who were treated with transurethral resection of the prostate or retropubic prostatectomy. The tissue was evaluated for prostatitis as well as the underlying disease, and the type and severity of prostatitis were compared with levels of serum PSA. Of the 331 tissue specimens, 18 [5.4%] did not show prostatitis, while 233 [70.4%] with benign prostate and 80 [24.2%] with malignant prostate disease showed prostatitis. Of 270 men with known serum PSA levels, 198 and 72 had benign and malignant prostate disease, respectively. Of the 198, 77 [41%] with benign prostate disease and prostatitis and of the 72, 52 [76%] with malignant prostate disease and prostatitis had serum PSA levels >10 ng/ml. The data showed that although raised serum PSA is more commonly associated with prostate cancer, subclinical prostatitis is a significant source of high serum PSA in over 40% of men in Kuwait. That local factors may obscure the usefulness of serum PSA as a screening tool suggests the need for a locally applicable paradigm to identify prostate cancer

Effect of industrial effluent on properties of groundwater.

Field survey was conducted to assess the quality of underground water in four major industrial areas of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and viz., Patancheru, Katedhan, Nacharam and Jeedimetla. Ground water samples were collected from wells at different lateral distances from the effluent streams i.e., starting from a minimum distance of 20 meters to a maximum distance of 620 meters from the effluent streams and analysed for different characteristics. The survey revealed that indiscriminate disposal of the effluent of industrial complexes around Hyderabad has aggrevated the acidity, EC, TDS, COD, Cl-, SO4(2-), PO4(3-), NO3-, F and heavy metals in the ground waters. As the sampling distance from the polluting stream increased a gradual improvement in the quality of ground water was noticed.