Oil bodies isolated from the mature seeds of rape (Brassica napus L.), mustard (Brassica juncea L.), cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.), flax (Linus usitatis simum), maize (Zea mays L.), peanut (Arachis ...hypogaea L.), and sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) had average diameters that were different but within a narrow range (0.6-2.0 μm), as measured from electron micrographs of serial sections. Their contents of triacylglycerols (TAG), phospholipids, and proteins (oleosins) were correlated with their sizes. The correlation fits a formula that describes a spherical particle surrounded by a shell of a monolayer of phospholipids embedded with oleosins. Oil bodies from the various species contained substantial amounts of the uncommon negatively charged phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol, as well as small amounts of free fatty acids. These acidic lipids are assumed to interact with the basic amino acid residues of the oleosins on the surface of the phospholipid layer. Isoelectrofocusing revealed that the oil bodies from the various species had an isoelectric point of 5.7 to 6.6 and thus possessed a negatively charged surface at neutral pH. We conclude that seed oil bodies from diverse species are very similar in structure. In rapeseed during maturation, TAG and oleosins accumulated concomitantly. TAG-synthesizing acyltransferase activities appeared at an earlier stage and peaked during the active period of TAG accumulation. The concomitant accumulation of TAG and oleosins is similar to that reported earlier for maize and soybean, and the finding has an implication for the mode of oil body synthesis during seed maturation.
There is limited evidence on clinical outcomes of arthroscopic partial repair (APR) and latissimus dorsi tendon transfer (LDTT) for posterosuperior massive rotator cuff tears (mRCTs). We aimed to ...compare clinical outcomes of APR and LDTT for partially repairable posterosuperior mRCTs and to determine whether outcomes differ among tears that involve the teres minor.
We retrieved the records of 112 consecutive patients with mRCTs deemed partially repairable due to fatty infiltration (FI) stage ≥3 in one or more rotator cuff muscles. Of the tears, 12 involved the subscapularis, 32 were managed conservatively, 14 were treated by reverse shoulder arthroplasty, and 7 were treated by stand-alone biceps tenotomy. Of the remaining 47 shoulders, 26 underwent APR and 21 underwent LDTT. At a minimum of 12 months, we recorded complications, active forward elevation, external rotation, the Constant-Murley score, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), and Simple Shoulder Test (SST) score.
No significant differences between the APR and LDTT groups were found in terms of follow-up (23.4 ± 3.5 months vs. 22.1 ± 4.1 months, P = .242), Constant-Murley score (64.8 ± 13.7 vs. 58.9 ± 20.0, P = .622), ASES score (78.3 ± 19.3 vs. 74.4 ± 14.5, P = .128), active forward elevation (158.1° ± 19.4° vs. 142.8° ± 49.1°, P = .698), or external rotation (33.3° ± 17.4° vs. 32.2° ± 20.9°, P = .752). By contrast, the APR group had a higher SSV (73.3 ± 17.5 vs. 59.5 ± 20.0, P = .010), and SST score (8.3 ± 2.4 vs. 6.4 ± 3.0, P = .024). Univariable analysis revealed that advanced FI of the teres minor compromised Constant-Murley scores (β = –25.8, P = .001) and tended to compromise ASES scores (β = –15.2, P = .062). Multivariable analysis corroborated that advanced FI of the teres minor compromised Constant-Murley scores (β = –26.9, P = .001) and tended to compromise ASES scores (β = –16.5, P = .058).
Both APR and LDTT granted similar early clinical outcomes for partially repairable posterosuperior mRCTs, regardless whether the teres minor was intact or torn. Advanced FI of the teres minor was the only independent factor associated with outcomes, as it significantly compromised Constant-Murley scores and tended to compromise ASES scores.
Phenolic acids represent a class of drugs with mild antibacterial properties. We have synthesized iodinated gallic and ferulic acids and together with commercially available iodinated forms of ...salicylic acids studied their cytotoxicity, bacteriostatic and anti-virulence action. Out of these, iodogallic acid had lowest minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.4 mM/118.8 μg/ml). Yet, it had strong effect on erythrocyte membrane lipid ordering and on α-hemolysin secretion by the bacteria at lower non-bacteriostatic and non-cytotoxic concentrations (<0.1 mM). Iodogallic acid formed static complexes with α-hemolysin in solutions (logKb = 4.69 ± 0.07) and inhibited its nano-pore conduction in artificial lipid bilayers (IC50 = 37.9 ± 5.3 μM). These effects of iodogallic acid converged on prevention of hemolysis induced by α-hemolysin (IC50 = 41.5 ± 4.2 μM) and pointed to enhanced and diverse anti-virulence properties of some aryl iodides. The analysis of molecular surface electrostatic charge distribution, molecular hydrophilicity, electronegativity, and dipole moment of studied compounds suggested the importance of the number of hydroxyl groups and their proximity to iodine in anti-virulence activity manifestation. In iodogallic acid, charge redistribution resulted in higher hydrophilicity without concomitant change in overall molecular electronegativity and dipole moment compared to non-iodinated gallic acid. This study shows new directions for the development of antibacterial/antivirulence therapeutics.
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•Iodo-gallic acid was biosynthesized•Compared to non-iodinated form it has enhanced antimicrobial and anti-virulence properties against S. aureus.•The mechanisms of action include bacteriostatic as well as antihemolytic effects.•Structure-function comparative study reveals important molecular modifications leading to the gain of function effects.
The straightforward synthesis of a new hexahomotrioxacalix3arene‐based ligand capped by a tren subunit was developed and the binding properties of the corresponding zinc complex were explored by NMR ...spectroscopy. Similarly to the closely related calix6tren‐based systems, the homooxacalixarene core ensures the mononuclearity of the zinc complex and the metal center displays a labile coordination site for exogenous guests. However, very different host–guest properties were observed: i) in CDCl3, the zinc complex strongly binds a water molecule and is reluctant to recognize other neutral guests, ii) in CD3CN, the exo‐coordination of anions prevails. Thus, in strong contrast to the calix6tren‐based systems, the coordination of neutral guests that thread through the small rim and fill the polyaromatic cavity was not observed. This unique behaviour is likely due to the fact that the 18‐membered ethereal macrocycle is too small to let a molecule threading through it. This work illustrates the key role played by the second coordination sphere in the binding properties of metal complexes.
Second coordination sphere matters: A hexahomotrioxacalix3arene‐based ligand capped by a tren subunit was synthesized. The corresponding zinc complex displays unique coordination and host‐guest properties, highlighting the crucial role played by the second coordination sphere in the recognition properties of metal complexes.
A number of different quantitative trait loci (QTL) for various phenotypic traits, including milk production, functional, and conformation traits in dairy cattle as well as growth and body ...composition traits in meat cattle, have been mapped consistently in the middle region of bovine chromosome 6 (BTA6). Dense genetic and physical maps and, ultimately, a fully annotated genome sequence as well as their mutual connections are required to efficiently identify genes and gene variants responsible for genetic variation of phenotypic traits. A comprehensive high-resolution gene-rich map linking densely spaced bovine markers and genes to the annotated human genome sequence is required as a framework to facilitate this approach for the region on BTA6 carrying the QTL.
Therefore, we constructed a high-resolution radiation hybrid (RH) map for the QTL containing chromosomal region of BTA6. This new RH map with a total of 234 loci including 115 genes and ESTs displays a substantial increase in loci density compared to existing physical BTA6 maps. Screening the available bovine genome sequence resources, a total of 73 loci could be assigned to sequence contigs, which were already identified as specific for BTA6. For 43 loci, corresponding sequence contigs, which were not yet placed on the bovine genome assembly, were identified. In addition, the improved potential of this high-resolution RH map for BTA6 with respect to comparative mapping was demonstrated. Mapping a large number of genes on BTA6 and cross-referencing them with map locations in corresponding syntenic multi-species chromosome segments (human, mouse, rat, dog, chicken) achieved a refined accurate alignment of conserved segments and evolutionary breakpoints across the species included.
The gene-anchored high-resolution RH map (1 locus/300 kb) for the targeted region of BTA6 presented here will provide a valuable platform to guide high-quality assembling and annotation of the currently existing bovine genome sequence draft to establish the final architecture of BTA6. Hence, a sequence-based map will provide a key resource to facilitate prospective continued efforts for the selection and validation of relevant positional and functional candidates underlying QTL for milk production and growth-related traits mapped on BTA6 and on similar chromosomal regions from evolutionary closely related species like sheep and goat. Furthermore, the high-resolution sequence-referenced BTA6 map will enable precise identification of multi-species conserved chromosome segments and evolutionary breakpoints in mammalian phylogenetic studies.
The prognosis of patients with early-stage unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma remains unsatisfactory. We assessed the efficacy and safety of brentuximab vedotin plus doxorubicin, vinblastine, and ...dacarbazine (BV-AVD) in previously untreated, early-stage unfavorable Hodgkin lymphoma (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02292979).
BREACH is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, phase II trial. Eligible patients were age 18-60 years with ≥ 1 unfavorable EORTC/LYSA criterion. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to four cycles of BV-AVD or standard doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, and dacarbazine (ABVD), followed by 30 Gy involved node radiotherapy. The primary end point was the positron emission tomography (PET) response rate after two cycles by expert independent review using the Deauville score. The study was designed to test if the PET-negative rate after two cycles of BV-AVD was superior to 75%. We hypothesized a 10% increase in the PET-negative rate after two cycles of BV-AVD.
Between March 2015 and October 2016, 170 patients were enrolled. After two cycles, the primary end point of the study was met: 93 (82.3%; 90% CI, 75.3 to 88.0) of 113 patients in the BV-AVD arm were PET-negative (Deauville score 1-3) compared with 43 (75.4%; 90% CI, 64.3% to 84.5%) of 57 in the ABVD arm. The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 97.3% (95% CI, 91.9 to 99.1) and 92.6% (95% CI, 81.4% to 97.2%) in the BV-AVD and ABVD arms, respectively. High total metabolic tumor volume was associated with a significantly shorter PFS (hazard ratio, 17.9; 95% CI, 2.2 to 145.5;
< .001). For patients with high total metabolic tumor volume, the 2-year PFS rate was 90.9% (95% CI, 74.4 to 97.0) and 70.7% (95% CI, 39.4% to 87.9%) in the BV-AVD and ABVD arms, respectively.
BV-AVD demonstrated an improvement in the PET-negative rate compared with ABVD after two cycles.
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