Study of Processing Conditions during Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Deer By-Product Tallow for Targeted Changes at the Molecular Level and Properties of Modified Fats.

In most cases, the unused by-products of venison, including deer tallow, are disposed of in rendering plants. Deer tallow contains essential fatty acids and can be used to prepare products for everyday food and advanced applications. This work aimed to process deer tallow into hydrolyzed products using microbial lipases. A Taguchi design with three process factors at three levels was used to optimize the processing: amount of water (8, 16, 24%), amount of enzyme (2, 4, 6%), and reaction time (2, 4, 6 h). The conversion of the tallow to hydrolyzed products was expressed by the degree of hydrolysis. The oxidative stability of the prepared products was determined by the peroxide value and the free fatty acids by the acid value; further, color change, textural properties (hardness, spreadability, stickiness, and adhesiveness), and changes at the molecular level were observed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The degree of hydrolysis was 11.8-49.6%; the peroxide value ranged from 12.3 to 29.5 µval/g, and the color change of the samples expressed by the change in the total color difference (∆E*) was 1.9-13.5. The conditions of enzymatic hydrolysis strongly influenced the textural properties: hardness 25-50 N, spreadability 20-40 N/s, and stickiness < 0.06 N. FTIR showed that there are changes at the molecular level manifested by a decrease in ester bonds. Enzymatically hydrolyzed deer tallow is suitable for preparing cosmetics and pharmaceutical matrices.

Phytochemicals, Biological Activities, Molecular Mechanisms, and Future Prospects of Plantago asiatica L.

Plantago asiatica L. has been used as a vegetable and nutritious food in Asia for thousands of years. According to recent phytochemical and pharmacological research, the active compositions of the plant contribute to various health benefits, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer. This article reviews the 87 components of the plant and their structures, as well as their biological activities and molecular research progress, in detail. This review provides valuable reference material for further study, production, and application of P. asiatica, as well as its components in functional foods and therapeutic agents.

Biology of PEST-Containing Nuclear Protein: A Potential Molecular Target for Cancer Research.

PEST-containing nuclear protein (PCNP), a novel nuclear protein, is involved in vital cellular processes like cell proliferation and mediates tumorigenesis. PCNP is a short-living, small nuclear protein of only 178 amino acids with two remarkable PEST sequences that are rich in proline (P), glutamic acid (E), serine (S), and threonine (T). The current understanding of PCNP reveals that PCNP has the ability to interact with cell cycle regulatory proteins; tumor suppressors (p53 and pRB), and promoters (cyclin E and cyclin D) to determine the fate of tissues to facilitate the process of either apoptosis or cell proliferation. In many preclinical studies, it has been evaluated that PCNP expression has associations with the development and progression of various cancers like neuroblastoma, lung adenocarcinoma, and ovarian cancer. Based on these depicted novel roles of PCNP in cell cycleregulation and of PCNP in tumorigenesis, it is logical to consider PCNP as a potential molecular target for cancer research. The aim of the current communication is to present an update on PCNP research and discussion on the potential role of PCNP in cancer development with challenges and opportunities perspectives. Considering the available evidence as a baseline for our statement, we anticipate that in the future, new research insights will strengthen the aim to develop PCNP-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that will move the PCNP from the laboratory to the cancer clinic.

Consolidating and Upscaling Molecular Research Capacity in Nigeria: On Who's Account?

Molecular research and researchers engage in studies that seek to understand the structures, functions, and interactions of biomolecules as the basis for cellular and systemic effects in living organisms. This research approach was made possible by considerable technological advancements that equip researchers with tools to view biomolecules. Although molecular research holds great promises for improving lives and living, the technological requirements and equipment to undertake molecular research are quite expensive, often requiring a heavy start-up capital or investment. In developing countries such as Nigeria, where the majority of the population lives below the poverty line and research funding is abysmally low, such heavy investments into research that do not provide immediate solutions to societal problems are difficult. This is mostly due to limited resources available to tackle many urgent and pressing needs, and limited perspective and understanding of policymakers, leading to infrastructural and skilled personnel deficit to support molecular research. Despite all these, the field of molecular research continues to grow exponentially globally, hence, funding and investments into this critical life science research area have become imperative. With the rich biodiversity of humans, animals, and plants in Nigeria, and the huge burden of infectious diseases in the country or region, global advances in genomics and proteomics studies will be incomplete without adequate contribution from Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa region. This paper examines the progression and challenges of undertaking molecular research in Nigeria, and how Nigerian molecular research scientists are tackling these issues, with recommendations for improved molecular research capacity and output in the country or region.

The genus Scaptodrosophila Duda (Diptera, Drosophilidae), part III: the riverata species group from China, with morphological and molecular evidence for five new species.

A new species group, the riverata species group, is established within the genus Scaptodrosophila based on morphological and molecular evidence for five known and five new species from China: S. abdentata sp. nov., S. cederholmi (Okada, 1988), S. crocata (Bock, 1976), S. paraclubata (Sundaran & Gupta, 1991), S. platyrhina sp. nov., S. puncticeps (Okada, 1956), S. riverata (Singh & Gupta, 1977), S. serrateifoliacea sp. nov., S. sinuata sp. nov. and S. tanyrhina sp. nov. A key to this group is provided. Furthermore, 51 mtDNA COI sequences belonging to S. puncticeps, S. riverata and the five new species are used for verifying species boundaries defined by the morphological data.

An evaluation of the genetic conditioning of evoking pain.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Pain is an integral element of the pathogenic process and sometimes determines its course. Disorders in pain sensation, as well as its lack, the pain threshold, and variability in sensation of the same pain stimuli as more or less intensive by different persons, may be genetically conditioned. The aim of the study is to examine genes in pathogenesis of chronic pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted in a specially selected group of 31 persons: study group - 20 patients with chronic pain, and control group - 11 healthy individuals who did not experience pain. The control group of 11 healthy persons, compared with the study group, was the catalyst for determining the relative quantification (RQ) of gene expression. Biological material in the form of venous blood was collected from the study participants into the tubes containing anticoagulant EDTA KE/2.7 ml (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), preventing extracorporeal blood clotting. RESULTS: Analysis of expression of the examined genes showed over-expression of the DRD1 gene in patients experiencing chronic pain, which means that in these patients an increased number of dopamine D1 receptors encoded by this gene should be expected. The dopamine D1 receptor is a G-protein-coupled receptor which regulates (stimulates or inhibits) adenyl cyclase - the enzyme responsible for synthesis of cyclic AMP (cAMP). An increase in the concentration of cAMP in neurons enhances the sensation of pain. CONCLUSIONS: The genes (DRD1, COMT, OPRK1, HCN2) have a significant role in the pathogenesis of chronic pain in various diseases; they can also influence the perception of pain. Knowledge of these genes can contribute to the development of effective methods of combating pain.

Impression Cytology Is a Non-invasive and Effective Method for Ocular Cell Retrieval of Zika Infected Babies: Perspectives in OMIC Studies.

IMPORTANCE: Non-invasive techniques for retrieving ocular surface cells from babies infected by zika virus (ZIKV) during the gestational period remain to be determined. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe an optimized impression cytology method for the isolation of viable cells from Zika infected babies with and without Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) in satisfactory amount and quality to enable easy adoption in the field and application in the context of genomic and molecular approaches. DESIGN SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: Ocular surface samples were obtained with a hydrophilic nitrocellulose membrane (through optimized impression cytology method) from twelve babies referred to the Pediatric Service of the Antonio Pedro Hospital, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After an authorized written informed consent from the parents, samples were collected from both eyes of 12 babies (4 babies with maternal ZIKV exposure during gestation and presence of clinical signs which included ocular abnormalities and microcephaly; 4 babies with maternal ZIKV exposure during gestation but no clinical signs; and 4 unaffected control babies with negative PCR for Zika virus and without clinical signs). Cells were used for microscopy analyses and evaluated for their suitability for downstream molecular applications in transcriptomic and proteomic experiments. RESULTS: Our optimized impression cytology protocol enabled the capture of a considerable number of viable cells. The microscopic features of the conjunctival epithelial cells were described by both direct analysis of the membrane-attached cells and analysis of cytospinned captured cells using several staining procedures. Epithelial basal, polyhedral and goblet cells were clearly identified in all groups. All cases of ZIKV infected babies showed potential morphological alterations (cell keratinization, pyknosis, karyolysis, anucleation, and vacuolization). Molecular approaches were also performed in parallel. Genomic DNA and RNA were successfully isolated from all samples to enable the establishment of transcriptomic and proteomic studies. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Our method proved to be a suitable, fast, and non-invasive tool to obtain ocular cell preparations from babies with and without Zika infection. The method yielded sufficient cells for detailed morphological and molecular analyses of samples. We discuss perspectives for the application of impression cytology in the context of ZIKV studies in basic and clinical research.

Principais tópicos em oncogenética / Main subjects in oncogenetics

Introdução: O câncer é um distúrbio genético no qual ocorre a perda do controle da proliferação celular. De maneira geral, podemos dividir os casos de câncer em esporádicos (mutações somáticas restritas ao tumor), que são a maioria, e hereditários (mutações germinativas presentes em todas as células do indivíduo), que em conjunto correspondem a aproximadamente a 10% de todos os casos. É importante compreender o papel da Oncogenética na identificação de pacientes com risco aumentado para desenvolvimento de câncer para possibilitar medidas de detecção precoce, de prevenção e de tratamento, diferenciadas das recomendadas para a população em geral. Métodos: Foi realizada revisão da literatura através dos sites de busca PubMed e Scielo, bem como através de literatura e Guidelines pertinentes à área da Oncogenética. Resultados: A indicação de investigação genética molecular deve ser baseada em uma suspeita de câncer hereditário, sugerida pela história de câncer do paciente e de sua família. Os critérios de indicação variam para as diversas síndromes hereditárias. Assim, torna-se importante o aconselhamento genético pré e pós-teste, a fim de direcionar a investigação mais indicada para cada caso e permitir que o paciente possa realizar escolhas informadas e adaptar-se ao risco e/ou à condição que esse diagnóstico traz à sua vida. Conclusão: A fim de tornar a oncogenética acessível à população em risco, é necessário capacitar mais profissionais no aconselhamento genético, buscar um maior acesso aos exames moleculares especialmente no serviço público de saúde, garantir a qualidade dos testes realizados por diferentes centros e a adequada interpretação de seus resultados.

Introduction: Cancer is a genetic disorder in which occurs a loss of control of cell proliferation. In general, we can divide cancer cases into sporadic (tumor-restricted somatic mutations), which are the majority, and hereditary (germ mutations present in all the cells of the individual), which together account for approximately 10% of all cases. It is important to understand the role of Oncogenetics in identifying patients at increased risk for cancer development in order to enable early detection, prevention and treatment measures, unlike those recommended for the general population. Methods: A review of the literature was performed through PubMed and Scielo databases, as well as through literature and guidelines considered relevant to the area of Oncogenetics. Results: The indication of molecular genetic research should be based on a suspected hereditary cancer, suggested by the patient's and his family's cancer history. The indication criteria vary for the various hereditary syndromes. Thus, pre and post-test genetic counseling becomes important in order to direct the most appropriate investigation for each case, allowing the patient to make informed decisions and to adapt to the risk and / or to the condition this diagnosis brings to his / her life. Conclusion: In order to make Oncogenetics accessible to the population at risk, it is necessary to train more professionals in genetic counseling, to seek greater access to molecular tests, especially in the public health service, to ensure the quality of the tests carried out by different centers and also to provide adequate interpretation of the results.

Recent advances in genitourinary tumors: A review focused on biology and systemic treatment.

Updated information published up to 2016 regarding major advances in renal cancer, bladder cancer, and prostate cancer is here presented. Based on an ever better understanding of the genetic and molecular alterations that govern the initial pathogenic mechanisms of tumor oncogenesis, an improvement in the characterization and treatment of urologic tumors has been achieved in the past year. According to the Cancer Genome Atlas (ATLAS) project, alterations in the MET pathway are characteristics of type 1 papillary renal cell carcinomas, and activation of NRF2-ARE pathway is associated with the biologically distinct type 2. While sunitinib and pazopanib continue to be the standard first-line treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma of clear cell histology, nivolumab and cabozantinib are now the agents of choice in the second-line setting. In relation to urothelial bladder carcinoma, new potential molecular targets such as FGFR3, PI3K/AKT, RTK/RAS, CDKN2A, ARIDIA, ERBB2 have been identified. Response to adjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy appears to be related to basal, luminal, and p53-like intrinsic subtypes. A phase II study with eribulin and a maintenance phase II trial with vinflunine have shown promising results. Similarly, the use of the check point inhibitors in advanced disease is likely to revolutionize the management of patients who have progressed after cisplatin-based chemotherapy. In prostate cancer, seven mutually exclusive molecular subtypes have been identified by the TCGA project. Chemotherapy has been consolidated as a key treatment for castration-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer, and abiraterone, enzalutamide, cabazitaxel, and radium-223 remain standard therapeutic options for men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. All this progress will undoubtedly contribute to the development of new treatments and therapeutic strategies that will improve the survival and quality of life of our patients.

How to Begin Molecular Research of Metabolic Diseases.

Advancing higher education is an important goal within the scientific and medical communities. The Korean Endocrine Society has worked with medical researchers who hope to conduct molecular research in addition to their clinical education. Based on concepts developed at a 2016 educational workshop, this article summarizes the requirement for a strong foundation in the performance of molecular research. Specifically, recent articles in metabolic research are highlighted to provide examples of commonly used techniques in this field of study.

How to Begin Molecular Research of Metabolic Diseases

Advancing higher education is an important goal within the scientific and medical communities. The Korean Endocrine Society has worked with medical researchers who hope to conduct molecular research in addition to their clinical education. Based on concepts developed at a 2016 educational workshop, this article summarizes the requirement for a strong foundation in the performance of molecular research. Specifically, recent articles in metabolic research are highlighted to provide examples of commonly used techniques in this field of study.

New advances in genitourinary cancer: evidence gathered in 2014.

This review provides updated information published in 2014 regarding advances and major achievements in genitourinary cancer. Sections include the best in prostate cancer, renal cancer, bladder cancer, and germ cell tumors. In the field of prostate cancer, data related to treatment approach of hormone-sensitive disease, castrate-resistant prostate cancer, mechanisms of resistance, new drugs, and molecular research are presented. In relation to renal cancer, relevant aspects in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma, immunotherapy, and molecular research, including angiogenesis and von Hippel-Lindau gene, molecular biology of non-clear cell histologies, and epigenetics of clear renal cell cancer are described. New strategies in the management of muscle-invasive localized bladder cancer and metastatic disease are reported as well as salient findings of biomolecular research in urothelial cancer. Some approaches intended to improve outcomes in poor prognosis patients with metastatic germ cell cancer are also reported. Results of clinical trials in these areas are discussed.

Estrategia de verificación de calidad de las cepas de Escherichia coli conservadas en la Colección del Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología / Strategy to verify quality of Escherichia coli strains kept in the collection of the Center of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology

La colección de microorganismos de interés biotecnológico del Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología incluye diferentes cepas de bacterias y levaduras utilizables en la manipulación de genes mediante el empleo de la ingeniería genética y para la producción de proteínas recombinantes por métodos biotecnológicos. La colección de hospederos de Escherichia coli centraliza todas las cepas que se utilizan en los proyectos de investigación-desarrollo de la institución. Este microorganismo constituye una de las herramientas biológicas imprescindibles para el trabajo en ingeniería genética y la investigación molecular. La fidelidad de los resultados experimentales depende en parte de la calidad de los bancos de estas cepas, que està determinada por las condiciones de almacenamiento y las estrategias de evaluación de los mismos. La complejidad del manejo de esta colección està influida en gran medida por el hecho de que en los medios de propagación pueden crecer un gran número de contaminantes ambientales de difícil identificación. Mientras màs similar es el contaminante a la cepa de interés, màs difícil es lograr bancos puros con una estabilidad confiable para la conservación. En este trabajo se describe cómo se garantiza el control de calidad de los bancos de Escherichia coli. Los métodos y estrategias de verificación que se describen han sido desarrollados en nuestro laboratorio(AU)

The Collection of Biotechnological-Interest Microorganisms of the CIGB includes several bacteria and yeast strains used in gene manipulation by means of genetic engineering and the production of recombinant proteins. The E coli host collection contains all the strains used in the research projects of the institution. This microorganism is an important tool for genetic engineering and molecular research. Accuracy of results depends on the quality of the microorganism banks, which it is determined by the storage conditions and the evaluation strategies of these microorganisms. The complexity of the management of this collection is influenced by the fact that a great number of contaminants may grow in the propagation media and they are difficult to identify. The more similar is the pollutant to the strain of interest, the harder it is to obtain pure banks with reliable stability and conservation. This work describes how quality control is ensured in the E. coli banks. The verification methods and strategies described here have been developed in our laboratory(AU)

Cytological diagnosis of multiple myeloma presenting as a jaw swelling.

Multiple myeloma is a systemic B-cell lymphoproliferative disease with varied manifestations. Its diagnosis can therefore pose difficulties for both the clinicians and pathologists. Jaw lesions, though not uncommon, rarely present as the first sign in multiple myeloma. We present here the case of a 45 year-old female who presented with a swelling of the jaw and on subsequent work-up, was diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Recent research regarding this disease has also been highlighted.