Evaluation and comparison of native and recombinant LipL21 protein-based ELISAs for diagnosis of bovine leptospirosis

A 21-kDa leptospiral lipoprotein (LipL21) was evaluated for its diagnostic potential to detect bovine leptospirosis by ELISA. Both native LipL21 (nLipL21) and recombinant LipL21 (rLipL21) proteins were tested and compared regarding diagnostic efficiency, and no statistically significant difference was observed. The sensitivity of rLipL21 ELISA for 62 microscopic agglutination test (MAT) positive sera was 100% and the specificity with 378 MAT negative sera was 97.09%. Thus, rLipL21 protein-based ELISA could be used as an alternative to MAT for the diagnosis of bovine leptospirosis.

Modulatory influence of juvenile hormone analogue (JHa) and 20-hydroxyecdysone on lipophorin synthesis in red cotton bug, Dysdercus cingulatus Fabr.

Topical supply of methoprene, a juvenile hormone analogue (JHa) caused notable morphological disturbance in insects. Topical supply of methoprene to newly emerged adult female D. cingulatus caused notable disturbance and induced a dramatic reduction in the total haemolymph protein pattern and lipophorin production in tissues like fat body, ovary and haemolymph. Total protein concentration in haemolymph also showed significant reduction in 1 day old insects but increased slightly as age advanced. Application of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE) to 2-day-old adult female stimulated protein synthesis intensively. Lipophorin levels in fat body and ovary also simultaneously increased. Densitometric analysis revealed that methoprene inhibits while 20-HE stimulates lipophorin production in D. cingulatus.

Dislipidemia associada à terapia anti-retroviral em pacientes com AIDS / Dyslipidemia associated with antiretroviral therapy in AIDS patients

A disponibilidade da terapia anti-retroviral tem resultado em um enorme declínio nas taxas de morbidade e mortalidade dos pacientes infectados pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana. entretanto, tal terapia tem sido associada a efeitos metabólicos adversos, como a dislipidemia; sendo assim, indivíduos com doença arterial coronariana devem ser identificados e tratados. Este artigo faz uma revisão das anormalidades dos lipídios e das lipoproteínas associadas ao uso dos inibidores de proteases, sobre o possível mecanismo da dislipidemia associada a estes inibidores e usa o protocolo do programa de educação para tratamento do colesterol em adultos(National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Guidelines) para o acompanhamento do paciente com dislipidemia.

The effect of ingestion of egg on the serum lipid profile of healthy young Indians.

Thirty four healthy young volunteers (22 men, 12 women; age 25.7 +/- 5.8 years; BMI 20.8 +/- 2.3 kg/m2) participated in a randomized controlled cross-over trial on the effect of consuming one boiled egg every day for 8 wk on the serum lipid profile. The only significant change after 8 wk of egg consumption was an elevation of the total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio. However, scrutiny of individual responses revealed that twelve of the subjects (10 men, 2 women) had a greater than 15% rise in the LDL cholesterol level after 8 wk of egg consumption. These subjects, considered hyperresponders, showed significant increases (P < 0.025) at both 4 wk and 8 wk after egg consumption in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, and at 8 wk in total cholesterol/HDL cholesterol ratio. The remaining 22 hyporesponders showed no change in any of the variables measured at 4 wk or 8 wk after egg consumption. In view of the high nutritional value of eggs, a blanket ban on eggs is not justified. However, since up to one-third of the population may be hyperresponders, knowing the response of an individual is important before making the egg a regular item of the diet.

Synthesis and secretion of lipoproteins by primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

Synthesis and secretion of VLDL and LDL by primary cultures of rat hepatocytes maintained in serum free medium have been studied. A time-dependent increase found in the [3H]leucine labelled lipoproteins which floated at a density of 1.006 g/ml indicate the secretion of VLDL into the medium. That the hepatocytes also secrete. LDL is shown by floatation of [3H]leucine labelled lipoproteins by sequential centrifugation at a density range of 1.006-1.06 g/ml. Electrophoretic and immunoprecipitation analysis show that about 60% and 65% respectively of 3H-radioactivity is associated with apoB in the two fraction of lipoproteins. At about 12hr 70-75% lipoproteins in the culture medium is in the VLDL density range and 25-30% is in the LDL density range. Conversion of secreted VLDL to LDL has also been shown by incubating hepatocytes with pre-labelled lipoproteins when there is a decrease in the fraction of VLDL range with a corresponding increase in the fraction of the LDL density range. Addition of glycosaminoglycans such as hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulphate, and heparin into the medium cause significant increase in the synthesis and secretion of [3H]apoB into the medium indicating a possible secretory control of apoB by local reuptake.

Studies on in vitro synthesis of serum lipoproteins in rats maintained on normal and atherogenic diets: effects of cobalt and manganese supplements at deficient and abundant doses.

The effects of Co(II) and Mn (II) supplements at abundant as well as, deficient doses on in vitro synthesis of serum lipoproteins in rats maintained on normal and atherogenic diets were studied. While an adequate oral supplement of Co(II) or iv administration of Mn (II) at very low doses to the experimental rats fed on salt-free stock ration diet produces hyperlipidemic changes in increasing C/P ratio in serum and also the serum LP content. On the other hand, the animals on atherogenic diet supplemented with deficient Co(II) or excess Mn(II) results in a lowering of hyperlipidemia and hyperlipoproteinemia, with concomitant decrease in C/P ratio. Dietary lipids (eg. cholesterol, butter-fat etc.) vis-a-vis Mn (II) deficiency or Co(II) in excess reflect a homeostatic control mechanism for keeping the excess lipid in a state of solution as lipoprotein complexes. Deficient Co(II) or excess Mn (II) in turn, results in a decrease in protein synthesis and a relatively impaired rate of secretion of protein from liver to serum. Moreover, Mn (II) deficiency increases, while its abundance, significantly restricts 14C- labelled amino acid incorporation into alpha 2-lipoprotein molecules. Neither cobalt depletion, nor its adequate oral substitution help improvise the hepatic synthesis of alpha 2-apolipoproteins in experimental animals. This situation remains unaltered even by overloading the diets with saturated fats or by other atherogenic agents, instead of vegetable oils preferably rich in mono or dienoic fatty acids.