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Helicobacter pylori is a gram-negative microaerophilic microorganism intricately associated with chronic gastrointestinal disorders and gastric cancer. H. pylori can cause various upper digestive tract diseases, including chronic gastritis, peptic ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and gastric cancer. The bacterium exhibits a variety of pathogenic mechanisms, including colonization, the expression of virulence factors, and the development of drug resistance. This article presents a comprehensive review of H. pylori pathogenesis, emphasizing recent research advancements concerning the cytotoxin-associated gene A, vacuolating cytotoxin, outer membrane proteins, and other virulence factors. Additionally, it examines the molecular mechanisms underlying drug resistance and evaluates the efficacy of conventional therapeutic approaches. Recently, researchers have attempted novel therapeutic regimens, including probiotics and Chinese medicine-assisted therapies, to enhance therapeutic effects. This article aimed to offer an overview of the academic community’s comprehension of H. pylori infection and to highlight the current treatment options.

Background: There is limited evidence on the effects of arsenic species and metabolic capacity on child neurodevelopment, particularly at low levels. Further, little is known about the critical window of exposure. Objective: To estimate the associations of arsenic exposure and arsenic metabolism in different pregnancy periods with neurodevelopment of two-year-old children. Methods: Concentrations of arsenobetaine (AsB), arsenite, arsenate, monomethyl arsenic acid (MMA), and dimethyl arsenic acid (DMA) in urine samples collected in three trimesters from 1006 mothers were measured using HPLC − ICPMS. Inorganic arsenic (iAs) was calculated as the sum of arsenite and arsenate. Total arsenic (tAs) was calculated as the sum of iAs, MMA and DMA. Child neurodevelopment was assessed with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Results: The geometric mean (GM) of SG-adjusted tAs in the first, second, third trimester was 16.37, 12.94, 13.04 μg/L, respectively. The mental development index (MDI) score was inversely associated with iAs and tAs. Compared to the 1st quartile, the MDI score decreased 0.43 (95%CI: −4.22, 3.36) for the 2nd, 6.50 (95%CI: −11.73, −1.27) for the 3rd, 5.42 (95%CI: −10.74, −0.10) for the 4th quartiles of iAs, and decreased 4.03 (95%CI: −7.90, −0.15) in the 4th quartile of tAs. In trimester-specific models, negative associations of DMA [−1.94 (95%CI: −3.18, −0.71)] and tAs [−1.61 (95%CI: −3.02, −0.20)] with the psychomotor development index (PDI) were only observed in 1st trimester. Conclusions: Our study found inverse associations between prenatal arsenic exposure, especially in early pregnancy, and neurodevelopment of children at two years old, even at low exposure levels.

Glyphosate-resistant crops developed by the CP4-EPSPS gene from Agrobacterium have been planted on a massive scale globally, which benefits from the high efficiency and broad spectrum of glyphosate in weed control. Some glyphosate-resistant (GR) genes from microbes have been reported, which might raise biosafety concerns. Most of them were obtained through a hygromycin-HPT transformation system. Here we reported the plant source with 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) gene from goosegrass endowed rice with high resistance to glyphosate. The integrations and inheritability of the transgenes in the rice genome were investigated within two generations. The EiEPSPS transgenic plants displayed similar growth and development to wild type under no glyphosate selection pressure but better reproductive performance under lower glyphosate selection pressure. Furthermore, we reconstructed a binary vector pCEiEPSPS and established the whole stage glyphosate selection using the vector. The Glyphosate-pCEiEPSPS selection system showed a significantly higher transformation efficiency compared with the hygromycin-HPT transformation system. Our results provided a promising alternative gene resource to the development of GR plants and also extended the plant transformation toolbox.

D-Lactate is oxidized by two classes of D-lactate dehydrogenase (D-LDH), namely, NAD-dependent and NAD-independent D-LDHs. Little is known about the characteristics and biological functions of D-LDHs in rice. In this study, a functional NAD-independent D-LDH (LOC_Os07g06890) was identified in rice, as a result of alternative splicing events. Characterization of the expression profile, subcellular localization, and enzymatic properties of the functional OsD-LDH revealed that it is a mitochondrial cytochrome-c-dependent D-LDH with high affinity and catalytic efficiency. Functional analysis of OsD-LDH RNAi transgenic rice demonstrated that OsD-LDH participates in methylglyoxal metabolism by affecting the activity of the glyoxalase system and aldo-keto reductases. Under methylglyoxal treatment, silencing of OsD-LDH in rice resulted in the accumulation of methylglyoxal and D-lactate, the decrease of reduced glutathione in leaves, and ultimately severe growth inhibition. Moreover, the detached leaves of OsD-LDH RNAi plants were more sensitive to salt stress. However, the silencing of OsD-LDH did not affect the growth under photorespiration conditions. Our results provide new insights into the role of NAD-independent D-LDHs in rice.

Abstract Background Myosin-Vb has been shown to be involved in the recycling of diverse proteins in multiple cell types. Studies on transferrin trafficking in HeLa cells using a dominant-negative myosin-Vb tail fragment suggested that myosin-Vb was required for recycling from perinuclear compartments to the plasma membrane. However, chemical-genetic, dominant-negative experiments, in which myosin-Vb was specifically induced to bind to actin, suggested that the initial hypothesis was incorrect both in its site and mode of myosin-Vb action. Instead, the chemical-genetic data suggested that myosin-Vb functions in the actin-rich periphery as a dynamic tether on peripheral endosomes, retarding transferrin transport to perinuclear compartments. Results In this study, we employed both approaches, with the addition of overexpression of full-length wild-type myosin-Vb and switching the order of myosin-Vb inhibition and transferrin loading, to distinguish between these hypotheses. Overexpression of full-length myosin-Vb produced large peripheral endosomes. Chemical-genetic inhibition of myosin-Vb after loading with transferrin did not prevent movement of transferrin from perinuclear compartments; however, virtually all myosin-Vb-decorated particles, including those moving on microtubules, were halted by the inhibition. Overexpression of the myosin-Vb tail caused a less-peripheral distribution of early endosome antigen-1 (EEA1). Conclusion All results favored the peripheral dynamic tethering hypothesis.

Objective: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of HBO therapy on biochemical parameters, renal morphology and renal scintigraphy in rats undergoing chronic unilateral partial ureteral obstruction (UPUO)., Material and Methods: Thirty-five rats were divided into five equal groups: Control group; Sham group; HBO group; UPUO group and UPUO/HBO group. The effects of HBO therapy were examined using biochemical parameters and histopathological changes. After calculating the score for each histopathological change, the total histopathological score was obtained by adding all the scores. In addition, dynamic renal scintigraphy findings were evaluated., Results: Serum parameters indicating inflammation, serum tumor necrosis factoralpha, ischemia modified-albumin, IMA/albumin ratio and Pentraxin-3 levels, were observed to be high in the UPUO group and low in the UPUO/HBO treatment group. Similarly, in the treatment group, the reduction in malondialdehyde, total oxidant status and oxidative stress index levels and increase in total antioxidant capacity values were observed to be statistically significant compared to the UPUO group (p<0.001, p=0.007, p<0.001, p=0.001, respectively). The total score and apoptosis index significantly decreased after administration of HBO treatment. Dynamic 99mTc-MAG3 renal scintigraphy also showed convincing evidence regarding the protective nature of HBO against kidney injury. In the UPUO/HBO therapy group, the percentage contribution of each operated kidney increased significantly compared to the UPUO group (41.73% versus 32.72%)., Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that HBO therapy had a reno-protective effect by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and preserving renal function after renal tissue damage due to induction of UPUO., (Copyright® by the International Brazilian Journal of Urology.)

Background: Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is a well-known experimental model of hypertension (HT). It was shown that oxidative stress contributes to the pathogenesis of HT. Resveratrol is a potent anti-oxidant that is found in red grapes, peanuts and red wine. It improves the NO response and increases endothelial NOS expression, which causes endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation as well as renal vasodilation. We aimed to explore the effects of resveratrol on blood pressure, the water-salt balance and sodium excretion as a reflection of renal function in NOS-inhibited rat models., Methods: Thirty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g) were used in this study. In order to obtain hypertension models, an NOS inhibitor, N-nitro-L-arginin (L-NNA) was used. The rats were randomly divided into five groups: controls (given water and 0.8% salty diet) and four groups [given L-NNA, resveratrol (RSV) eluent, RSV, and L-NNA + RSV]. Blood pressures were measured indirectly by the tailcuff method on the first, seventh and 10th days. At the end of the study protocol (10th day), fluid balance, glomerular filtration rate, fractional sodium excretion, and blood and urine sodium and creatinine levels were measured., Results: At the end of the study protocol, blood pressures were higher in only the L-NNA group (117.8 ± 3.5 vs 149.5 ± 2.1 mmHg; p < 0.05), as expected. Additional applications of RSV with L-NNA could not prevent the increase in blood pressure (122.8 ± 7.3 vs 155.4 ± 4.4 mmHg; p < 0.05). There were no remarkable changes in water-salt balance and renal function with the application of resveratrol., Conclusion: Resveratrol was unable to prevent or reverse blood pressure increase in NOS-inhibited rats.

Super porous poly(2-hydroxy ethyl methacrylate) (p(HEMA)) cryogel was successfully synthesized by using polyethylene glycol diacrylate (p(EGDA)) crosslinker under cryogenic conditions. Poly(Tannic acid) (p(TA)) macro-, micro-, and nanoparticles prepared from a natural polyphenol, tannic acid (TA), were embedded into p(HEMA) cryogel networks to obtain composite p(TA) particle-embedded p(HEMA) cryogel. Different size ranges of spherical p(TA) particles, 2000-500μm, 500-200μm, 200-20μm, and 20-0.5μm size, were included in the cryogel network and illustrated by digital camera, optic microscope, and SEM images of the microgel-cryogel network. The swelling properties and moisture content of p(TA) microgel-embedded p(HEMA) cryogel were investigated at wound healing pH conditions such as pH5.4, 7.4, and 9 at 37.5°C, and the highest swelling capacity was found at pH9 with 972±2% swelling in 30s. Higher amounts of DI water were quickly absorbed by p(HEMA)-based cryogel, and moisture retention within the cryogel structure for a longer time period at room temperature is due to existence of p(TA) particles. Degradation profiles of p(TA) particle-embedded p(HEMA) cryogel were shown to be controlled by different pH conditions, and a linear release profile was found with total cumulative release of 5.8±0.8mg/g TA up to 12days at pH7.4 and 37.5°C. The antioxidant behavior of degraded p(TA) particles from p(HEMA) cryogel were found as 46±1μgmL -1 gallic acid equivalent and 165±18mMtroloxequivalentg -1 . The p(TA) particle-embedded p(HEMA) cryogel has high hemocompatibility with 0.0158±0.0126% hemolysis ratio, and effective hemostatic properties with 8.1±0.9 blood clotting index., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

From a natural polyphenol, Tannic acid (TA), poly(TA) nanoparticles were readily prepared using a single step approach with three different biocompatible crosslinkers; trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether (TMPGDE), poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGGE), and trisodium trimetaphosphate (STMP). P(TA) particles were obtained with controllable diameters between 400 to 800nm with -25mV surface charge. The effect of synthesis conditions, such as the emulsion medium, pH values of TA solution, and the type of crosslinker, on the shape, size, dispersity, yield, and degradability of poly(Tannic Acid) (p(TA)) nanoparticles was systematically investigated. The hydrolytic degradation amount in physiological pH conditions of 5.4, 7.4, and 9.0 at 37.5°C were found to be in the order TMPGDE

The objective of the present study was to determine whether preischemic administration of syringic acid (SA) would attenuate renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Rats were divided into three groups: Sham group; IR group; and IR + SA group. The effects of SA were examined using biochemical parameters including serum ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The apoptosis status and histopathological changes were evaluated. After calculating the score for each histopathological change, the total score was obtained by summing all the scores. In the SA group, MDA, IMA, TOS, and OSI decreased significantly compared to the IR group. After SA administration, the increase in GPx activity was found to be significant. Apoptosis decreased significantly in the SA group compared with the IR group. The total score significantly decreased after administration of SA. Taken together, our findings suggest that SA preconditioning is effective in reducing tissue damage induced in kidney IRI. Renal histology also showed convincing evidence regarding the protective nature of SA.

The CY2C19 and P2Y12 gene polymorphisms are responsible for resistance to clopidogrel, known as drug unresponsiveness. In this study we researched the effect of gene polymorphism on clinical results of patients who began clopidogrel therapy after acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease. The study included 51 patients. The patient group included patients who had begun prophylactic clopidogrel due to acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease in the last 2 years. All patients were monitored by the Neurology Outpatient Clinic at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversity Research Hospital, Çanakkale, Turkey, and only those monitored for at least 1 year were included in the study. When the *1, *2 and *3 alleles of the CYP2C19 gene polymorphism were evaluated, two patients were homozygotes for *2/*2, 13 patients were heterozygous for *1/*2 and 36 patients were homozygotes for the wild type *1/*1. No patient had the *3 allele. Three heterozygous patients, one for *2/*2 and two for *1/*2, stopped clopidogrel therapy due to repeated strokes and began taking warfarin. When evaluating P2Y12 52 (G>T) and 34 (C>T) polymorphisms, all alleles were of the wild type. The CYP2C19 and P2Y12 gene polymorphisms may cause recurring strokes linked to insufficient response to treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular disease. In our patient group, three patients suffered repeated strokes and these patients had the CYP2C19*2 gene polymorphism. As a result, before medication use, genetic testing is important for human life, quality of life and economic burden.

Objectives: Stroke poses a crucial risk for mortality and morbidity. Our study aimed to investigate the effect of p-coumaric acid on focal cerebral ischemia in rats., Material and Methods: Rats were randomly divided into four groups, namely Group I (control rats), Group II (ischemia rats), Group III (6 hr ischemia + p-coumaric acid rats) and Group IV (24 hr ischemia + p-coumaric acid rats). Cerebral ischemia was induced via intraluminal monofilament occlusion model. In all groups, the brain was removed after the procedure and rats were sacrificed. Malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and nuclear respiratory factor-1 were measured in the ischemic hemisphere. The histopathological changes were observed in the right hemisphere within the samples. Functional assessment was performed for neurological deficit scores., Results: Following the treatment, biochemical factors changed significantly. Histopathologically, it was shown that p-coumaric acid decreased the oxidative damage. The neurological deficit scores of p-coumaric acid-treated rats were significantly improved after cerebral ischemia., Conclusion: Our results showed that p-coumaric acid is a neuroprotective agent on account of its strong anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic features. Moreover, p-coumaric acid decreased the focal ischemia. Extra effort should be made to introduce p-coumaric acid as a promising therapeutic agent to be utilized for treatment of human cerebral ischemia in the future.

Daidzein, a plant extract, has antioxidant activity. It is hypothesized, in this study, that daidzein exhibits neuroprotective effects on cerebral ischemia. Rat models of middle cerebral artery occlusion were intraperitoneally administered daidzein. Biochemical and immunohistochemical tests showed that superoxide dismutase and nuclear respiratory factor 1 expression levels in the brain tissue decreased after ischemia and they increased obviously after daidzein administration; malondialdehyde level and apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase caspase-3 and caspase-9 immunoreactivity in the brain tissue increased after ischemia and they decreased obviously after daidzein administration. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and luxol fast blue staining results showed that intraperitoneal administration of daidzein markedly alleviated neuronal damage in the ischemic brain tissue. These findings suggest that daidzein exhibits neuroprotective effects on ischemic brain tissue by decreasing oxygen free radical production, which validates the aforementioned hypothesis.

Poly(acrylonitrile) (p(AN))-based materials such poly(acrylonitrile-co-(3-acrylamidopropyl)-trimethylammonium chloride (p(AN-co-APTMACl)), poly(acrylonitrile-co-4-viniyl pyridine) (p(AN-co-4-VP)) and poly(acrylonitrile-co-N-isopropylacrylamide) (p(AN-co-NIPAM)) core-shell nanoparticles were prepared. The core materials, AN, in p(AN-co-4-VP) nanoparticles, were amidoximated and the shell materials, 4-VP, were quaternized to generate p(AN-co-4-VP)(+) and p(AN-co-4-VP)(++), single and double positively charged core-shell nanoparticles, respectively. Furthermore, interpenetrating microgels-hydrogel (IPN) polymeric networks were prepared by mixing double quaternized p(AN-co-4-VP)(++) core-shell particles with acrylamide (AAm) and 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate (HEMA) before polymerization. A model drug, fluorescein sodium salt (FSS) was used in absorption/release studies from these IPNs. Moreover, the prepared and chemically modified particles were tested against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538, Pseduomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027, Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633, and Escherichia coli ATCC8739, and found that some of these particles had antibacterial properties against tested bacteria., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Polymeric 4-VP (p(4-VP)) particles were synthesized in an oil-in-water microemulsion system using various amounts of ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as crosslinker. The prepared p(4-VP) particles were chemically modified to obtain positively charged particles as polyelectrolytes. Furthermore, these p(4-VP) particles were used for in situ Ag and Cu metal nanoparticle syntheses to provide dual action with an additional advantage as bactericidal particles. The synthesized p(4-VP) particles with positive charges and metal constituents were tested for potential antibacterial action against various bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC6538, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC9027, Bacillus subtilis ATCC6633, Escherichia coli ATCC8739. It was found that p(4-VP) particles, especially the positively charged forms had potential as antibacterial materials. The synthesized particle dimensions were characterized with TEM, and DLS measurements. Chemical modification of the particles was confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and zeta potential measurements, and the metal nanoparticle contents were determined with thermogravimetric (TGA) studies., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Deficiency in the vasorelaxant capacity is a result of an oxidative stress in diabetic animals and seems to be an etiological factor of vascular complications of diabetes. The present study was designed to examine whether resveratrol (RSV), a polyphenolic compound which is naturally present in grape and red wine, has a protective effect on diabetic aorta. Resveratrol (5 mg/kg/d, i.p.) was administered for 42 d to streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg) induced diabetic rats. Loss of weight, hyperglycemia, and elevated levels of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) were observed in diabetic rats. Resveratrol treatment was significantly effective for these metabolic and biochemical abnormalities. The contractile responses of the aorta were recorded. Compared with control subjects, the aorta showed significantly enhanced contractile responses to noradrenaline (NA), but not to potassium chloride (KCl), in diabetic rats. Treatment of diabetic rats with resveratrol significantly reversed the increases in responsiveness and sensitivity of aorta to noradrenaline. In diabetic aorta, the relaxation response to acetylcholine (Ach) was found to be significantly decreased compared with control subjects, and resveratrol treatment reversed this; no such change was observed in the relaxation response to sodium nitroprusside (SNP). These results indicated that resveratrol significantly improved not only glucose metabolism and oxidative injury but also impaired vascular responses in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats.

The gene for the type I interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor has been mapped in both mouse and human. In the human genome, a combination of segregation analysis of rodent-human hybrid cells and chromosomal in situ hybridization has placed the gene on the long arm of chromosome 2, at band 2q12. This is near the reported map position of the loci for IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta (2q13----2q21). The murine gene has been mapped by analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms in interspecific backcrosses to the centromeric end of chromosome 1, in a region that is syntenic to a portion of human chromosome 2. The murine Il-1r1 gene has thus been separated from the IL-1 genes, which lie on murine chromosome 2.

We have generated a 30-cM molecular genetic linkage map of the proximal half of mouse chromosome 14 by interspecific backcross analysis. Loci that were mapped in this study include Bmp-1, Ctla-1, Hap, hr, Plau, Psp-2, Rib-1, and Tcra. A region of homology between mouse chromosome 14 and human chromosome 10 was identified by the localization of Plau to chromosome 14. This interspecific backcross map will be valuable for establishing linkage relationships of additional loci to mouse chromosome 14.

Chromosomal locations have been assigned to seven members of the TGF-beta superfamily using an interspecific mouse backcross. Probes for the Tgfb-1, -2, and -3, Bmp-2a and -3, and Vgr-1 genes recognized only single loci, whereas the Bmp-2b probe recognized two independently segregating loci (designated Bmp-2b1 and Bmp-2b2). The results show that the seven members of the TGF-beta superfamily map to eight different chromosomes, indicating that the TGF-beta family has become widely dispersed during evolution. Five of the eight loci (Tgfb-1, Bmp-2a, Bmp-2b1, Bmp-2b2, Vgr-1) mapped near mutant loci associated with connective tissue and skeletal disorders, raising the possibility that at least some of these mutations result from defects in TGF-beta-related genes.

Interspecific backcross mice were used to create a molecular genetic linkage map of chromosome 2. Genomic DNAs from N2 progeny were subjected to Southern blot analysis using molecular probes that identified the Abl, Acra, Ass, C5, Cas-1, Fshb, Gcg, Hox-5.1, Jgf-1, Kras-3, Ltk, Pax-1, Prn-p, and Spna-2 loci; these loci were added to the 11 loci previously mapped to the distal region of chromosome 2 in the same interspecific backcross to generate a composite multilocus linkage map. Several loci mapped near, and may be the same as, known mutations. Comparisons between the mouse and the human genomes indicate that mouse chromosome 2 contains regions homologous to at least six human chromosomes. Mouse models for human diseases are discussed.

A molecular genetic linkage map of mouse chromosome 13 was constructed using cloned DNA markers and interspecific backcross mice from two independent crosses. The map locations of Ctla-3, Dhfr, Fim-1, 4/12, Hexb, Hilda, Inhba, Lamb-1.13, Ral, Rrm2-ps3, and Tcrg were determined with respect to the beige (bg) and satin (sa) loci. The map locations of these genes confirm and extend regions of homology between mouse chromosome 13 and human chromosomes 5 and 7, and identify a region of homology between mouse chromosome 13 and human chromosome 6. The molecular genetic linkage map of chromosome 13 provides a framework for establishing linkage relationships between cloned DNA markers and known mouse mutations and for identifying homologous genes in mice and humans that may be involved in disease processes.

The zona pellucida is a unique, oocyte-specific matrix that coats the surface of all mammalian eggs. Composed of three sulfated glycoproteins in the mouse (ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3), the zona pellucida facilitates early events in fertilization and protects the embryo during preimplantation development. Using DNA isolated from hamster-mouse somatic cell hybrids and from C57BL/6J X Mus spretus interspecific backcross progeny, Zp-2 was located on chromosome 7, 11.3 +/- 3.2 cM distal to Tyr, and Zp-3 was located on chromosome 5, 9.2 +/- 2.9 cM distal to Gus.