Data on sodium tetraborate as a modulation of hypertrophic intracellular signals.

The present work benefits the use of sodium tetraborate to prevent and treat hypertrophic cardiac. The data obtained from the work could serve as a reference point to compare with data obtained in vivo studies with cardiac damage. This research will be an advantage for future researches to stimulate the ones focused on developing food supplements to prevent heart diseases such as cardiac hypertrophic. This article also indicates the data on the optimal concentration of isoproterenol as an inducer of hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes. Also, data of the cytotoxic effect of sodium tetraborate on normal cardiomyocytes is revealed. Finally, data of viability, cell size, proliferation nuclear antigen (PCNA) and apoptosis is shown. The expression of transcription factors linked to hypertrophy such as GATA-4, MEF2c, NFAT, CDk9, and myogenin was also quantified by immunofluorescence. The mRNA expression of adrenergic receptors (alpha and beta), AKT1 and Erk1 / 2 and genes of early response to hypertrophy (c-myc, c-fos, c-jun) are also shown as Cts of RT-qPCR. GAPDH and 18 s were used as housekeeping genes.

Alterations in the non-neuronal cholinergic system induced by in-vitro exposure to diazoxon in spleen mononuclear cells of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus).

Organophosphate pesticides as diazinon disrupt the neuroimmune communication, affecting the innate and adaptive immune response of the exposed organisms. Since the target molecule of diazinon is typically the acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE), the existence of a non-neuronal cholinergic system in leukocytes makes them susceptible to alterations by diazinon. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the activity of AChE, acetylcholine (ACh) concentration, and the expression of nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChR) and muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChR) in spleen mononuclear cells (SMNC) of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus) exposed in vitro to diazoxon, a diazinon metabolite. SMNC were exposed in-vitro to 1 nM, 1 µM, and 10 µM diazoxon for 24 h. The enzyme activity of AChE was then evaluated by spectrophotometry, followed by ACh quantification by ultra-performance liquid chromatography. Finally, mAChR and nAChR expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR. The results indicate that AChE levels are significantly inhibited at 1 and 10 µM diazoxon, while the relative expression of (M3, M4, and M5) mAChR and (ß2) nAChR is reduced significantly as compared against SMNC not exposed to diazoxon. However, ACh levels show no significant difference with respect to the control group. The data indicate that diazoxon directly alters elements in the cholinergic system of SMNC by AChE inhibition or indirectly through the interaction with AChR, which is likely related to the immunotoxic properties of diazinon and its metabolites.

Role of sodium tetraborate as a cardioprotective or competitive agent: Modulation of hypertrophic intracellular signals.

Boron is an essential trace element in cellular metabolism; however, the molecular mechanism of boron in the heart is unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of sodium tetraborate (as boron source) as a possible protective agent or competitive inhibitor of cardiac hypertrophy in an in vitro murine model. We evaluated different previously reported sodium tetraborate concentrations and it was found that 13 µM improves viability without affecting the cellular structure. We demonstrated that cardiomyocytes pretreated with sodium tetraborate prevents cellular damage induced by isoproterenol (cardioprotective effect) by increasing proliferation rate and inhibiting apoptosis. In addition, the reduction of the expression of the α1AR and ß1AR adrenergic receptors as well as Erk1/2 was notable. Consequently, the expression of the early response genes c-myc, c-fos and c-jun was delayed. Also, the expression of GATA-4, NFAT, NKx2.5 and myogenin transcription factors involved in sarcomere synthesis declined. In contrast, cardiomyocytes, when treated simultaneously with sodium tetraborate and isoproterenol, did not increase their size (cytoplasmic gain), but an increase in apoptosis levels was observed; therefore, the proliferation rate was reduced. Although the mRNA levels of α1AR and ß1AR as well as Erk1/2 and Akt1 were low at 24 h, their expression increased to 48 h. Notably, the mRNA of expression levels of c-myc, c-fos and c-jun were lower than those determined in the control, while the transcription factors GATA-4, MEF2c, Nkx2.5, NFAT and CDk9 were determined in most cells. These results suggest that pretreatment with sodium tetraborate in cardiomyocytes inhibits the hypertrophic effect. However, sodium tetraborate attenuates isoproterenol induced hypertrophy damage in cardiomyocytes when these two compounds are added simultaneously.

Role of colanic acid polysaccharide in serum resistance in vivo and in adherence.

The production of an extracellular layer of polysaccharide, termed the capsule, is a common feature of many bacteria. Capsules play a vital role in permitting evasion of the host immune specific and nonspecific defenses as well as helping in adhesion for colonization of host tissue. Colanic acid capsule is usually produced in low quantities and is a common feature of several enteric bacteria. The role of the colanic acid capsule in aiding adhesion and virulence was investigated. Encapsulated and unencapsulated cells were injected into granuloma pouches that were formed on the backs of rats. During the first 50 h, the viability of the matched encapsulated and unencapsulated cells decreased. These studies showed that colanic acid capsule does not confer resistance to the bactericidal activity of serum or to phagocytosis in vivo, since there was no significant difference in the survival rates of both strains over time. Adherence studies were conducted in monolayers of human carcinoma intestinal cells (T84) with the same matched strains. After incubating radioactively labeled bacteria with the colon cells, the level of adherence was determined by measuring the radioactivity remaining in the tissue culture wells. The results of these experiments indicated that the unencapsulated cells adhered more readily to the intestinal cells, suggesting that colanic acid capsule interferes with adherence in this model system.

[Hepatitis C]. / Hepatitis C.

The development of specific serological markers for virus C hepatitis makes possible the identification of patients infected with this virus. Epidemiological aspects as well as clinical and therapeutic ones are summarize in this article.

Comparison of the in situ survival and activity ofKlebsiella pneumoniae andEscherichia coli in tropical marine environments.

A near-shore coastal mangrove island receiving untreated sewage and a coastal cove receiving rum distillery effluent in Puerto Rico were examined for their ability to support survival and activity ofKlebsiella pneumoniae andEscherichia coli. Pure cultures of both bacteria were monitored for 96 hours in situ at both locations using membrane diffusion chambers.K. pneumoniae survived at all sites as measured by AODC and Coulter Counter direct counts. However, at the mangrove island less than 20% of theK. pneumoniae population was active (AODC) after the first 3 hours and less than 10% of this population was respiring (INT). In contrast, the coastal area which was receiving rum distillery effluent was able to maintain 40% of theK. pneumoniae population in an active state with 90% respiring. TheE. coli population declined by two orders of magnitude at the mangrove island, but remained unchanged at the rum distillery outfall. TheE. coli population had a higher proportion of active cells and respiring cells thanK. pneumoniae at all sites. At the rum distillery site, theE. coli population was remarkable in that 95% remained active and 99% were respiring. This study suggests that, when sufficient organic loading exists,E. coli, a "nonsurvivor," can overcome the bactericidal effects of tropical marine waters.K. pneumoniae, a "survivor," could survive under all conditions but could not maintain the activity or respiration that theE. coli population could, even when high organic loads were present. Morphological changes related to nutrient stress in the tropical marine environment were apparent inE. coli, but not inK. pneumoniae. Based on physiological activityE. coli is just as much a "survivor" asK. pneumoniae in tropical marine waters.

Klebsiella pneumoniae in orange juice concentrate.

Fecal coliform-positive, capsule-forming Klebsiella pneumoniae cells were observed in high densities (10(4) to 10(8) CFU/100 ml) in two commercial batches of frozen orange juice concentrate at a cannery in Puerto Rico. Contamination of both lots was gross and included off colors and odors. Isolates of K. pneumoniae from these concentrates revealed growth at 4, 25, and 34 degrees C with generation times from 0.39 to 1.84 h.