Dissecting the role of miR-21 in different types of stroke.

Stroke is an important neurological disease in which blood flow to the brain is interrupted and it is becoming an increasing non-communicable disease in developing countries. Current treatment options for stroke is modifying lifestyle practice, diabetes treatment, drugs, and other factors management, but yet no cure is available in sight for the disease, despite it requires new insight into the molecular and therapeutic targets. In general, MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs considered as of greater biological importance and controls molecular signaling pathways in diabetic pathogenesis. Among the reported MiRNAs, MIR-21 is considered to be an important MiRNA, which is frequently elevated in many types of types of strokes, suggesting that it plays an important role in cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Until now, there is no research paper that signifying the role of miR-21 in all types of strokes and the number of studies on the different category of strokes is limited, so in this paper, we are highlighting the recent investigations related to the significance of miR-21 in different types of strokes based on the up-to-date reports. It was found that MiR-21 was found to be normally up and down regulated in all types of strokes, however; we summarize the important research findings related to the role of miR-21 in different types of strokes.

Stability assessment of injectable castor oil-based nano-sized emulsion containing cationic droplets stabilized by poloxamer-chitosan emulsifier films.

The objectives of the present work were to prepare castor oil-based nano-sized emulsion containing cationic droplets stabilized by poloxamer-chitosan emulgator film and to assess the kinetic stability of the prepared cationic emulsion after subjecting it to thermal processing and freeze-thaw cycling. Presence of cryoprotectants (5%, w/w, sucrose +5%, w/w, sorbitol) improved the stability of emulsions to droplet aggregation during freeze-thaw cycling. After storing the emulsion at 4 degrees C, 25 degrees C, and 37 degrees C over a period of up to 6 months, no significant change was noted in mean diameter of the dispersed oil droplets. However, the emulsion stored at the highest temperature did show a progressive decrease in the pH and zeta potential values, whereas the emulsion kept at the lowest temperatures did not. This indicates that at 37 degrees C, free fatty acids were formed from the castor oil, and consequently, the liberated free fatty acids were responsible for the reduction in the emulsion pH and zeta potential values. Thus, the injectable castor oil-based nano-sized emulsion could be useful for incorporating various active pharmaceutical ingredients that are in size from small molecular drugs to large macromolecules such as oligonucleotides.

Optimization of media composition for Nattokinase production by Bacillus subtilis using response surface methodology.

Response surface methodology and central composite rotary design (CCRD) was employed to optimize a fermentation medium for the production of Nattokinase by Bacillus subtilis at pH 7.5. The four variables involved in this study were Glucose, Peptone, CaCl2, and MgSO4. The statistical analysis of the results showed that, in the range studied; only peptone had a significant effect on Nattokinase production. The optimized medium containing (%) Glucose: 1, Peptone: 5.5, MgSO4: 0.2 and CaCl2: 0.5 resulted in 2-fold increased level of Nattokinase (3194.25U/ml) production compared to initial level (1599.09U/ml) after 10h of fermentation. Nattokinase production was checked with fibrinolytic activity.

Optimization of medium composition for alkali-stable xylanase production by Aspergillus fischeri Fxn 1 in solid-state fermentation using central composite rotary design.

Response surface methodology and central composite rotary design (CCRD) was employed to optimize a fermentation medium for the production of alkali-stable cellulase-free xylanase by Aspergillus fischeri in solid-state fermentation at pH 9.0 with wheat bran as substrate. The four variables involved in this study were sodium nitrite, potassium dihydrogen phosphate, magnesium sulphate and yeast extract. The statistical analysis of the results showed that, in the range studied, only sodium nitrite had a significant effect on xylanase production. The optimized medium containing (in g/l) NaNO(2)-7.0, K2HPO(4)-1.0, MgSO(4)-0.5 and yeast extract-5.0 resulted in 1.9-fold increased level of alkali-stable xylanase (1024 U/g wheat bran) production compared to initial level (540 U/g) after 72 h of fermentation, whereas its value predicted by the quadratic model was 931 U/g. The level of protease activity was considerably decreased in optimized medium, thus helping to preserve the xylanase activity and demonstrating another advantage of applying statistical experimental design.

Derepressed 2-deoxyglucose-resistant mutants of Aspergillus niger with altered hexokinase and acid phosphatase activity in hyperproduction of beta-fructofuranosidase.

Aspergillus niger NRRL330 produces extracellular beta-fructofuranosidase (Ffase), and its production is subject to repression by hexoses in the medium. After ultraviolet mutagenization and selection, seven derepressed mutants resistant to 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) were isolated on Czapek's minimal medium containing glycerol. One of the mutants, designated DGRA-1, produced higher levels of Ffase. A considerable difference occurred in the mutants with reference to hexokinase and intracellular acid phosphatase activities. The hexokinase activity of the mutant DGRA-1 (0.69 U/mg) was 1.8-fold higher than the wild type (0.38 U/mg). Intracellular acid phosphatase activity of the mutant DGRA-1 (0.83 U/g of mycelia) was twofold higher than that of the wild type (0.42 U/g of mycelia), suggesting that phosphorylation and dephosphorylation steps could attribute to the 2-DG resistance of A. niger. However, additional mutations could account for the increased production of Ffase in the mutant DGRA-1.