Search results for "phosphorus"
showing 10 items of 431 documents
Vitamin D Status and the Relationship with Bone Fragility Fractures in HIV-Infected Patients: A Case Control Study
2018
HIV-infected patients show high risk of fracture. The aims of our study were to determine the prevalence of vertebral fractures (VFs) and their associations with vitamin D in HIV patients. 100 patients with HIV infection and 100 healthy age-and sex-matched controls were studied. Bone mineral density was measured by quantitative ultrasound at the non-dominant heel. Serum osteocalcin and C-terminal telopeptide of collagen type 1 served as bone turnover markers. Bone ultrasound measurements were significantly lower in patients compared with controls (Stiffness Index (SI): 80.58 ± 19.95% vs. 93.80 ± 7.10%, respectively, p < 0.001). VFs were found in 16 patients and in 2 controls. HIV patie…
The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ modulates oxidative stress, inflammation and leukocyte-endothelium interactions in leukocytes isolated fr…
2016
It is not known if the mitochondria-targeted antioxidants such as mitoquinone (MitoQ) can modulate oxidative stress and leukocyte-endothelium interactions in T2D patients. We aimed to evaluate the beneficial effect of MitoQ on oxidative stress parameters and leukocyte-endothelium interactions in leukocytes of T2D patients. The study population consisted of 98 T2D patients and 71 control subjects. We assessed metabolic and anthropometric parameters, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX-1), NFκB-p65, TNFα and leukocyte-endothelium interactions. Diabetic patients exhibited higher weight, BMI, waist circumference, SBP, DBP, glucose, insulin, HOMA…
Assessing the biological activity of the glucan phosphatase laforin
2016
Glucan phosphatases are a recently discovered family of enzymes that dephosphorylate either starch or glycogen and are essential for proper starch metabolism in plants and glycogen metabolism in humans. Mutations in the gene encoding the only human glucan phosphatase, laforin, result in the fatal, neurodegenerative, epilepsy known as Lafora disease. Here, we describe phosphatase assays to assess both generic laforin phosphatase activity and laforin's unique glycogen phosphatase activity.
Ecological network analysis reveals the inter-connection between soil biodiversity and ecosystem function as affected by land use across Europe
2016
Soil organisms are considered drivers of soil ecosystem services (primary productivity, nutrient cycling, carbon cycling, water regulation) associated with sustainable agricultural production. Soil biodiversity was highlighted in the soil thematic strategy as a key component of soil quality. The lack of quantitative standardised data at a large scale has resulted in poor understanding of how soil biodiversity could be incorporated into legislation for the protection of soil quality. In 2011, the EcoFINDERS (FP7) project sampled 76 sites across 11 European countries, covering five biogeographical zones (Alpine, Atlantic, Boreal, Continental and Mediterranean) and three land-uses (arable, gra…
The application of casein phosphopeptide and amorphous calcium phosphate with fluoride (CPP-ACPF) for restoring mineral loss after dental bleaching w…
2018
Abstract Objective To conduct an in vitro evaluation of the effect of casein-phosphopeptide and amorphous calcium phosphate with fluoride [CPP-ACPF] upon the calcium [Ca] and phosphorus [P] composition and morphology of dental enamel and dentin after the application of two bleaching agents: 37.5% hydrogen peroxide [HP]) and 35% carbamide peroxide [CP]. Materials and methods The crowns of 40 extracted human teeth were divided into four groups (n = 10 each). The crowns were sectioned along the cervical-incisal axis, and each half was embedded in acrylic resin, leaving a window 3 mm in diameter to explore the enamel or dentin (according to the study group involved). Groups 1a and 1b correspond…
The Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant MitoQ Modulates Mitochondrial Function and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Pancreatic β Cells Exposed to Hyperg…
2019
Background/aims Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants such as mitoquinone (MitoQ) have demonstrated protective effects against oxidative damage in several diseases. The increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during glucose metabolism in β cells can be exacerbated under hyperglycaemic conditions such as type 2 diabetes (T2D), thus contributing to β cell function impairment. In the present work, we aimed to evaluate the effect of MitoQ on insulin secretion, oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) signalling in a pancreatic β cell line under normoglycaemic (NG, 11.1 mM glucose), hyperglycaemic (HG, 25 mM glucose) and lipidic (palmitic ac…
Metabolic shift of polyphosphate-accumulating organisms with different levels of polyphosphate storage
2012
Previous studies have shown that polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) are able to behave as glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) under different conditions. In this study we investigated the behavior of a culture enriched with Accumulibacter at different levels of polyphosphate (poly-P) storage. The results of stoichiometric ratios Gly degraded/HAc uptake, PHB synthesized/HAc uptake, PHV synthesized/HAc uptake and P release/HAc uptake confirmed a metabolic shift from PAO metabolism to GAO metabolism: PAOs with high poly-P content used the poly-P to obtain adenosine tri-phosphate (ATP), and glycogen (Gly) to obtain nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and some ATP. In a test whe…
Determination of phosphorus by instrumental neutron activation and bremsstrahlung measurement in bone samples
1997
A non destructive method based on the31P(n,γ)32P reaction for the assay of phosphorus in bone samples is described. This method involves a thermal neutron irradiation of 2 minutes in a reactor followed by the measurement of the bremsstrahlung produced by the β− of32P in a Ge-detector surrounded by an anti-Compton shield. Accuracy and precision were tested by analysing the certified NIST 1486 Bone Meal reference material and tri-calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2) samples. The value obtained for the reference material was in good agreement with the certified value and with relative standard deviation of 4.1% the precision was acceptable. The value obtained for Ca3(PO4)2 shows a deviation of −6% fr…
Chromo-Fluorogenic Detection of Nerve-Agent Mimics Using Triggered Cyclization Reactions in Push-Pull Dyes
2010
A family of azo and stilbene derivatives (1-9) are synthesized, and their chromo-fluorogenic behavior in the presence of nerve-agent simulants, diethylchlorophosphate (DCP), diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP), and diethylcyanophosphate (DCNP) in acetonitrile and mixed solution of water/acetonitrile (3:1 v/v) buffered at pH 5.6 with MES, is investigated. The prepared compounds contain 2-(2-N,N-dimethylaminophenyl)ethanol or 2-[(2-N,N-dimethylamino)phenoxy]ethanol reactive groups, which are part of the conjugated pi-system of the dyes and are able to give acylation reactions with phosphonate substrates followed by a rapid intramolecular N-alkylation. The nerve-agent mimic-triggered cyclization …
Application of the General Model "Biological Nutrient Removal Model No.1" to upgrade two full-scale WWTPs
2012
In this paper, two practical case studies for upgrading two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) using the general model BNRM1 (Biological Nutrient Removal Model No. 1) are presented. In the first case study, the Tarragona WWTP was upgraded by reducing the phosphorus load to the anaerobic digester in order to minimize the precipitation problems. Phosphorus load reduction was accomplished by mixing the primary sludge and the secondary sludge and by elutriating the mixed sludge. In the second case study, the Alcantarilla WWTP, the nutrient removal was enhanced by maintaining a relatively low dissolved oxygen concentration in Stage A to maintain the acidogenic bacteria activity. The VFA produce…