Search results for "Assay"

A High Sensitive Nested PCR for Toxoplasma gondii Detection in Animal and Food Samples

2013

Toxoplasma gondii is a major food and waterborne transmitted parasite world-wide. The tissues and meat samples of many warm blooded animals can contain tissues cysts from chronic toxoplasmosis. Water and vegetable can be contaminated by the parasitic oocysts shed through the feces of infected cats, representing the definitive host of the parasite. A sensitive PCR for Toxoplasma gondii detection is described. The first step amplified the region between the 28S and 18S rDNA in the closely related T. gondii and Neospora caninum; RFLP analysis distinguished the DNA from the two morphologically identical parasites. Although N. caninum is not involved in human transmission, so far, it is importan…

Tumoricidal Activity of Endothelial Cells

2001

The mechanism of NO- and H(2)O(2)-induced tumor cytotoxicity was examined during B16 melanoma (B16M) adhesion to the hepatic sinusoidal endothelium (HSE) in vitro. We used endothelial nitric-oxide synthetase gene disruption and N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester-induced inhibition of nitric-oxide synthetase activity to study the effect of HSE-derived NO on B16M cell viability. Extracellular H(2)O(2) was removed by exogenous catalase. H(2)O(2) was not cytotoxic in the absence of NO. However, NO-induced tumor cytotoxicity was increased by H(2)O(2) due to the formation of potent oxidants, likely ( small middle dot)OH and (-)OONO radicals, via a trace metal-dependent process. B16M cells culture…

Properties of locust muscle 6-phosphofructokinase and their importance in the regulation of glycolytic flux during prolonged flight

1987

6-Phosphofructokinase (PFK, EC 2.7.1.11) from the flight muscle of the locust (Locusta migratoria) was purified to a specific activity of 80 μmol min−1 (mg protein)−1 (at 25°C). 1. The enzyme is made up from subunits ofMr-81600, and the smallest catalytically active form is likely to be a tetramer. 2. PFK activity is markedly affected by the pH of the assay; the optimum pH was at about 8. 3. Physiological concentrations of ATP strongly inhibit locust PFK by shifting the S0.5 for fructose 6-phosphate (concentration required for 50% of maximum activity) out of the physiological concentration range. At pH 7.4 and about physiological concentrations of ATP, the curve of PFK activity against the …

Spirocurcasone, a diterpenoid with a novel carbon skeleton from Jatropha curcas.

2010

Spirocurcasone (14), a diterpenoid possessing the unprecedented "spirorhamnofolane" skeleton, was isolated from the root barks of Jatropha curcas, a plant extensively cultivated throughout the world, along with 11 known and two other new diterpenoids. The stereostructure of spirocurcasone was established using HRESIMS, NMR, and quantum mechanical calculation of the electronic circular dichroic (ECD) spectrum. Some of the isolated diterpenoids showed a potent activity against L5178Y, a mouse lymphoma cell line.

Thermotolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is linked to resistance to anhydrobiosis

2014

Abstract We have demonstrated that a thermotolerant yeast strain ( Saccharomyces cerevisiae TS1) is much more resistant to dehydration–rehydration treatments than a mesophilic strain of S. cerevisiae . Yeast resistance to dehydration–rehydration was found to be similar in cells from exponential and stationary growth phases. Under controlled rehydration conditions involving gradual rehydration in water vapour, yeast cell viability was maintained at 90–95%. When S. cerevisiae TS1 cells were pre-grown at 37 °C and then dried, controlled rehydration lead to restoration of plasma membrane integrity, indicating important differences in cell envelope architechture of mesophilic and thermotolerant …

Roflumilast N- oxide combined with sildenafil reverses cellular remodeling on IPF models

2017

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by a rapid progressive lung decline and premature death after its diagnosis. Roflumilast displayed anti-fibrotic effects in animal and cellular models. Recent studies indicate that the combination of PDE4 and PDE5 inhibitors (sildenafil) potentiates anti-fibrotic properties of each drug, suggesting potential beneficts of this combination. Objectives: To study the effects from adding sildenafil to roflumilast N-oxide (RNO) inhibiting TGFβ1-induced human alveolar type II (AECII) epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and human fibrocyte to myofibroblast transition in vitro. Methods: AECII and fibrocytes were isolated from he…

Proton-irradiated breast cells: molecular points of view

2019

Abstract Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, highly heterogeneous at both the clinical and molecular level. Radiation therapy (RT) represents an efficient modality to treat localized tumor in BC care, although the choice of a unique treatment plan for all BC patients, including RT, may not be the best option. Technological advances in RT are evolving with the use of charged particle beams (i.e. protons) which, due to a more localized delivery of the radiation dose, reduce the dose administered to the heart compared with conventional RT. However, few data regarding proton-induced molecular changes are currently available. The aim of this study was to investigate and descri…

Pretreatment T790M mutation detection by ultrasensitive PCR assay as predictor of efficacy in non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with 1st…

2019

Bisphosphonates affect migration ability and cell viability of HUVEC, fibroblasts and osteoblasts in vitro

2010

Oral Diseases (2011) 17, 194–199 Objectives:  Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BP-ONJ) is a side effect in patients being treated with bisphosphonates. The bisphosphonates most often associated with BP-ONJ are the highly potent nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, e.g. pamidronate or zoledronate. In terms of BP-ONJ aetiology, several theories are being discussed: inhibition of bone remodelling, effect on soft tissues, and antiangiogenic effect of bisphosphonates. The aim of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of different potent bisphosphonates on osteoblasts, fibroblasts and human umbilicord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Materials and methods:  Three nitr…

MicroRNA-29b-1 impairs in vitro cell proliferation, self‑renewal and chemoresistance of human osteosarcoma 3AB-OS cancer stem cells

2014

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of bone cancer, with a peak incidence in the early childhood. Emerging evidence suggests that treatments targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) within a tumor can halt cancer and improve patient survival. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the maintenance of the CSC phenotype, thus, identification of CSC-related miRNAs would provide information for a better understanding of CSCs. Downregulation of miRNA-29 family members (miR-29a/b/c; miR‑29s) was observed in human OS, however, little is known about the functions of miR-29s in human OS CSCs. Previously, during the characterization of 3AB-OS cells, a CSC line selected from human OS MG63 cells, we…