ABSTRACT Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease and a growing global epidemic. In NAFLD, liver fat surpasses 5% of hepatocytes without the secondary causes of lipid accumulation or excessive alcohol consumption. Given the link between NAFLD and insulin resistance, the possible association between the rs2854744 (−202 G>T) promoter polymorphism of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) gene and NAFLD was investigated in this study. Materials and methods: In this genetic case-control association study, the IGFBP3 rs2854744 genotypes of 315 unrelated individuals, including 156 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD and 159 controls, were determined using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses. Results: The “GT+TT” genotype of the IGFBP3 rs2854744 polymorphism, compared with the “GG” genotype, was associated with a 2.7-fold increased risk of NAFLD after adjustment for confounding factors (P = 0.009; odds ratio [OR] = 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19-3.18). Additionally, the IGFBP3 rs2854744 “T” allele, in comparison with the “G” allele, was significantly overrepresented in NAFLD patients than the controls (P = 0.008; OR = 1.85; 95%CI = 1.23-2.94). Conclusion: Our findings first indicated that the IGFBP3 rs2854744 “GT+TT” genotype is a marker of increased NAFLD susceptibility; however, it needs to be supported by further investigations in other populations.

Abstract Background Contrary to the advantageous anticancer activities of curcumin (Cur), limited bioavailability and solubility hindered its efficacy. Here, nontoxic dendrosomal nano carrier with Cur was used to overcome these problems. Despite considerable antitumor properties of Oxaliplatin (Oxa), the limiting factors are drug resistance and adverse side-effects. The hypothesis of this study was to evaluate the possible synergism between dendrosomal nanocurcumin (DNC) and Oxa and these agents showed growth regulatory effects on SKOV3 and OVCAR3 cells. Methods and materials In the present study, colony formation, wound healing motility, cell adhesion, transwell invasion and migration assay and cell cycle arrest with or without DNC, Oxa and Combination were defined. In addition to, real time PCR and Western blot were used to analyze AKT, PI3K, PKC, JNK, P38 and MMPs mRNAs and proteins expressions. Docking of MMP-2-Cur, MMP-2-DNC and MMP-2-Oxa was performed and the results of all three complexes were simulated by molecular dynamics. Results Our findings illustrated that DNC had the greatest effect on cell death as compared to the Cur alone. Moreover, the growth inhibitory effects (such as cell death correlated to apoptosis) were more intense if Oxa was added followed by DNC at 4 h interval. However, insignificant effects were observed upon simultaneous addition of these two agents in both cell lines. Besides, a combination of agents synergistically alters the relative expression of MMP-9. Conclusions The docking results showed that His70 and Asp100 may play a key role at the MMP-2 binding site. The matrigel invasion as well as cell viability of ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and OVCAR3 by DNC alone or in combination with Oxa was inhibited significantly. The inhibitory effects of these agents were due to the differential expression levels of MMP 2 and MMP 9 regulated by multiple downstream signaling cascades. From the molecular dynamic simulation studies, it was confirmed that DNC established a strong interaction with MMP-2.

Resumo Objetivou-se estudar o cultivo in vitro de explantes de dupla escala de Galanthus transcaucasicus com diferentes concentrações de reguladores de crescimento: 0,5; 1; 2; 3; 4; 6; 8 e 10 mg L-1 de ácido naftalenoacético (ANA) e 0,5; 1; 2; 3 e 4 mg L-1 de benziladenina (BA). Após 18 semanas foram avaliados o número de bulbilhos regenerados e a porcentagem do calo. Posteriormente, os bulbilhos foram transferidos para um meio com 0,5; 1; 2; 3 e 4 mg L-1 de ANA e 0,5; 1; 2; 3 e 4 mg L-1 de BA e após 15 semanas foram medidos o comprimento dos bulbos e diâmetro. A maior intensidade de calo foi obtida com 4 mg L-1 de ANA ou 8 mg L-1 de ANA com 1 mg L-1 de BA. O maior número de bulbilhos regenerados foi obtido com 6 mg L-1 de ANA e 2 mg L-1 de BA. O maior diâmetro dos bulbilhos ocorreu com 4 mg L-1 ANA (9,4 mm), enquanto o menor foi observado com 0,5 mg L-1 BA (1,83 mm). A análise da variação genética usando ISSR não revelou variação somaclonal entre as plantas regeneradas a partir de BA e baixa concentração de ANA, mas houve variação somaclonal significativa em altas concentrações de ANA.

Abstract In vitro culture of twin-scaling explants of Galanthus transcaucasicus with different concentrations of plant growth regulators (PGRs) including 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 10 mg L-1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg L-1 benzyladenine (BA) was studied. After 18 weeks, the number of regenerated bulblets and intensity of callus was measured. Subsequently, bulblets were transferred to a medium with 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg L-1 NAA and 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 mg L-1 BA and, after 15 weeks, the bulblets length and diameter were measured. The highest intensity of callus was obtained on 4 mg L-1 NAA or 8 mg L-1 NAA with 1 mg L-1 BA. The highest number of regenerated bulblets was detected with 6 mg L-1 NAA and 2 mg L-1 BA. The highest diameter of bulblets occurred on four mgL-1 NAA (9.4 mm), while the lowest was observed on 0.5 mg L-1 BA (1.83 mm). The analysis of genetic variation using ISSR revealed that there was no somaclonal variation among the regenerated plants from BA and low level of NAA, but there was a significant somaclonal variation at high concentrations of NAA.

Chitinases have the ability of chitin digestion that constitutes a main compound of the cell wall in many of the phytopathogens such as fungi. In the following investigation, a novel chitinase with antifungal activity was characterized from a native Serratia marcescens B4A. Partially purified enzyme had an apparent molecular mass of 54 kDa. It indicated an optimum activity in pH 5 at 45ºC. Enzyme was stable in 55ºC for 20 min and at a pH range of 3-9 for 90 min at 25ºC. When the temperature was raised to 60ºC, it might affect the structure of enzymes lead to reduction of chitinase activity. Moreover, the Km and Vmax values for chitin were 8.3 mg/ml and 2.4 mmol/min, respectively. Additionally, the effect of some cations and chemical compounds were found to stimulate the chitinase activity. In addition, Iodoacetamide and Idoacetic acid did not inhibit enzyme activity, indicating that cysteine residues are not part of the catalytic site of chitinase. Finally, chitinase activity was further monitored by scanning electronic microscopy data in which progressive changes in chitin porosity appeared upon treatment with chitinase. This enzyme exhibited antifungal activity against Rhizoctonia solani, Bipolaris sp, Alternaria raphani, Alternaria brassicicola, revealing a potential application for the industry with potentially exploitable significance. Fungal chitin shows some special features, in particular with respect to chemical structure. Difference in chitinolytic ability must result from the subsite structure in the enzyme binding cleft. This implies that why the enzyme didn't have significant antifungal activity against other Fungi.