Protective effect of exendin-4 treatment on erectile dysfunction induced by chronic methylglyoxal administration in rats

Publication date: Available online 21 May 2018
Source:Peptides
Author(s): Selvinaz Dalaklioglu, Arda Tasatargil, Nilay Kuscu, Soner Celik, Ciler Celik-Ozenci, Sebahat Ozdem, Ayse Barutcigil, Ikbal Kucukcetin
ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic exendin-4 (Ex-4) treatment on corpus cavernosum (CC) dysfunction in methylglyoxal (MGO) administered rats.MethodsMale rats were divided into four groups as control, MGO (75 mg/kg/day in drinking water for 12 weeks), MGO + low-dose Ex-4 (0.1 μg/kg twice daily subcutaneously for 12 weeks concomitant with MGO), and MGO + high-dose Ex-4 (1 μg/kg twice daily subcutaneously for 12 weeks concomitant with MGO). Nitric oxide (NO)-mediated endothelium-dependent and neurogenic CC relaxations were evaluated by acetylcholine (ACh) and electrical field stimulation (EFS), respectively. Apoptosis was determined by TUNEL. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS), NADPH oxidase subunit gp91phox (NOX2), and Rho kinase (ROCK2) expressions in CC were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Levels of the malondialdehyde (MDA) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) were also measured.ResultsIn MGO administered rats, both endothelium-dependent and neurogenic CC relaxations were significantly impaired as compared to controls. Apoptotic cell death and levels of MDA and AOPP increased significantly in MGO administered rats. eNOS and p-eNOS expressions decreased significantly in MGO group, while gp91phox expressions increased significantly. The diminished relaxation in response to ACh or EFS as well as the changes in expression of proteins in MGO groups were significantly improved by exendin-4 treatment. TUNEL-positive cells, and levels of MDA and AOPP in MGO group rats were also significantly reduced by exendin-4.ConclusionExendin-4 treatment improves NO-mediated CC relaxations in MGO administered rats probably by inhibiting NADPH oxidase.



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Energy consumption habits and human health nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

This study explores the impact of fossil fuels consumption, solid fuels consumption for cooking purposes, economic growth, and carbon emissions on human health, with a key emphasis on the occurrence of tuberculosis and the high mortality rate in Sub-Saharan Africa. For its practical insights, the study develops a system Generalized Method of Moment (GMM) for a panel of 34 middle- and lower-middle-income countries from 1995 to 2015. The study adopts a flexible methodology to tackle endogeneity in the variables. The robust results report that the use of solid fuels (charcoal, peat, wood, wood pellets, crop residues) for cooking purposes and the consumption of fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas) are significantly increasing the occurrence of tuberculosis. In addition, the results highlight that the consumption of both solid fuels and fossil fuels has adverse affects on life expectancy by increasing the mortality rate in Sub-Saharan African countries. Results report that renewable energy sources like sun, wind, and water (all with potential to prevent households from direct exposure to particulate matters and harmful gases) as well as a rise in economic growth serve as helping factors to control the occurrence of tuberculosis and to decrease the mortality rate. Moreover, the use of renewable energy sources is serving to lessen emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxides, and particulate matters, which can ultimately decrease the mortality rate and extend the life expectancy in Sub-Saharan Africa.

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Cranial vault thickness variation and inner structural organization in the StW 578 hominin cranium from Jacovec Cavern, South Africa

Publication date: Available online 21 May 2018
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Amélie Beaudet, Kristian J. Carlson, Ronald J. Clarke, Frikkie de Beer, Jelle Dhaene, Jason L. Heaton, Travis R. Pickering, Dominic Stratford
The Sterkfontein Caves site is one of the richest early hominin fossil localities in Africa. More specifically, the fossiliferous deposits within the lower-lying Jacovec Cavern have yielded valuable hominin remains; prominent among them is the Australopithecus partial cranium StW 578. Due to the fragmentary nature of the braincase, the specimen has not yet been formally assigned to a species. In this context, we employ microtomography to quantify cranial thickness and composition of StW 578 in order to assess its taxonomic affinity. As comparative material, we investigate 10 South African hominin cranial specimens from Sterkfontein (StW 505, Sts 5, Sts 25, Sts 71), Swartkrans (SK 46, SK 48, SK 49) and Makapansgat (MLD 1, MLD 10, MLD 37/38), attributed to either Australopithecus or Paranthropus, as well as 10 extant human and 10 extant chimpanzee crania. Thickness variation in and structural arrangement of the inner and outer cortical tables and the diploë are automatically assessed at regular intervals along one parasagittal and one coronal section. Additionally, topographic cranial vault thickness distribution is visualized using color maps. Comparisons highlight an absolutely and relatively thickened condition of the StW 578 cranial vault versus those of other South African Plio-Pleistocene hominins. Moreover, in StW 578, as well as in the Australopithecus specimens Sts 5 and Sts 71 from Sterkfontein, the diploic layer contributes substantially to cumulative vault thickness (i.e., >60%). Within the comparative sample investigated here, StW 505 and Sts 71 from Sterkfontein Member 4, both attributed to Australopithecus, most closely resemble StW 578 in terms of cranial vault thickness values, tissue proportions, and two- and three-dimensional distributions. Including additional Plio-Pleistocene Australopithecus and Paranthropus crania from South and East Africa in future studies would further help establish morphological variability in these hominin taxa.



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Dietary signals in the premolar dentition of primates

Publication date: Available online 21 May 2018
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Jeremiah E. Scott, Ryan M. Campbell, Luisa M. Baj, Maegan C. Burns, Mia S. Price, Jaime D. Sykes, Christopher J. Vinyard
Dietary adaptations specific to the premolar row remain largely undocumented across primates. This study examines how relative premolar size varies among broad dietary groups (i.e., folivores, frugivores, insectivores, hard-object feeders) using a phylogenetically and ecologically diverse sample of species. We quantified relative premolar size with shape ratios computed using mandibular length, body mass, palate area, and M¹ area to evaluate hypotheses that link variation in relative premolar size to differences in tooth loading, energy requirements, the probability of tooth-food-tooth contact during mastication, and shifts in preferred bite point. Our results revealed the following dietary signals. First, primate folivores have large premolar rows relative to palate area in comparison to frugivores and insectivores. This contrast is consistent with the hypothesis that folivores require large postcanine teeth relative to the size of the oral cavity to increase the probability of particle fracture during mastication. Second, hard-object feeders are distinct from other groups in having P⁴s that are large relative to their M¹s. This morphology is not associated with an increase in the size of the premolar row relative to mandibular length. This combination challenges the idea that hard-object feeders have large premolars as an adaptive response to resisting the loads incurred when processing mechanically challenging foods. We therefore interpret the large P⁴/M¹ ratios of hard-object feeders as indicating greater functional integration across the premolar-molar boundary owing to a mesial shift in preferred bite point. Finally, in a restricted subset of anthropoids, we found that, relative to mandibular length, premolar area increases with dietary elastic modulus (E) and toughness (R), indicating that relative premolar size is evolutionarily sensitive to food mechanical properties. Thus, our results show that relative premolar size is correlated with diet, highlighting the importance of this region for understanding the evolutionary history of primate dietary adaptations.



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Evaluation of a nanocomposite of PEG-curcumin-gold nanoparticles as a near-infrared photothermal agent: an in vitro and animal model investigation

Abstract

Hyperthermia is a promising alternative modality for the conventional cancer treatments. Nanoparticle-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) has been widely applied for hyperthermia cancer therapy by a near-infrared light irradiation. Some special nanoparticles can convert light energy into heat and destroy the tumor cells. Inspired from the photothermal efficacy of the gold nanoparticles, here we synthesized, characterized, and applied novel photothermal polyethylene glycol-curcumin-gold nanoparticles (PEG-Cur-Au NPs) in cancer PTT. The effect of PEG-Cur-Au NPs upon irradiation by an 808-nm laser on C540 (B16/F10) cell line as well as implanted (bearing) melanoma tumor in inbred C57 mice was investigated. In vitro temperature increment, cell viability evaluation, and histological analyses were performed. The results showed a dose-dependent cytotoxicity of PEG-Cur-Au NPs toward C540 (B16/F10) cell line at concentrations ≥ 25 μg mL⁻¹ with an IC₅₀ value of 42.7 μg mL⁻¹ in dark (and with no toxicity for 10 μg mL⁻¹). On the other hand, 808-nm laser irradiation alone (without using PEG-Cur-Au NPs) for 10 min induced killing effect on the C540 (B16/F10) cell line in a laser power-dependent manner at power density > 0.5 W cm⁻² (no toxicity for 0.5 W cm⁻²). However, PPT using PEG-Cur-Au NPs was tremendously observed after laser illumination. Even under laser irradiation at a power density of 0.5 W cm⁻² of PEG-Cur-Au NPs of concentrations < 10 μg mL⁻¹, PTT of the cells was substantial. Histological analyses and volume measurements of the induced tumors in the mice revealed an appropriate control of the tumors upon PTT by PEG-Cur-Au NPs. Combination of PEG-Cur-Au NP administration and 808-nm diode laser irradiation destroyed the melanoma cancer cells in the animal model.

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Design optimisation of C ion implantation of α-Al2O3 for medical dosimetry

Publication date: 5 September 2018
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 153
Author(s): Mini Agarwal, S.K. Garg, K. Asokan, S. Thulkar, S. Chander, M.K. Dalai, Pratik Kumar
The present work reports the fabrication and characterization of α–Al2O3:C, a highly sensitive low effective atomic number (Zeff = 10.7) OSL material for medical dosimetry, through a new approach of doping via implantation. In this study, a Single Crystalline α–Al2O3 (SCALO) and a Sapphire α–Al2O3 (SALO) are used and implanted with 100 keV of C⁺ at various fluences (mol%) from 2.5 × 10¹⁴ ions cm⁻² (~0.04%) to 6.25 × 10¹⁵ ions cm⁻² (~1%) and are pre-heated up to 220 °C. The structural, optical, morphological and luminescent studies of the Carbon doped α–Al2O3 (α–Al2O3:C) are carried out using X-ray diffraction, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Photo-luminescence (PL), Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (TOF-SIMS), Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL), and Thermo-Luminescence (TL). The doping of ~1 mol% of C⁺ is found at an optimized doping level due to its high intensity of luminescence. This phenomenon is studied for heavy charged particle (HCP) dosimetry, which might prove effective for cancer treatment. It is found that α –ALO:C (both the single crystalline and the sapphire alumina) has the capability to measure large radiation doses (~kGy). This is attributed to the generation of stable defects after the incorporation of Carbon that results in a linear response with the dose and in extraordinary efficiency. Thus, this study confirms the development of α–Al2O3 by the novel approach of C⁺ implantation method and the findings result in an efficient medical radiation dosimeter.

Graphical abstract

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The spatial distribution of α phase in laser melting deposition additive manufactured Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al alloy

Publication date: 15 September 2018
Source:Materials & Design, Volume 154
Author(s): Zongge Jiao, Jun Fu, Zhuo Li, Xu Cheng, Haibo Tang, Huaming Wang
Ti-10V-2Fe-3Al alloy specimen has been fabricated by laser melting deposition additive manufacturing technique. Due to the repeated heating and cooling during deposition, complicated and unique phase transformation process take place with forming different microstructures from forging. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction method is used to understand the spatial distribution of α phase in different grains. The results indicated that, in as deposited alloy, α laths has a plate morphology, and they precipitated out from β phase followed a tetrahedral relationship. And the different grain orientation result to the specific different morphology. When the cutting plane parallel to the {100} plane of BCC cell, α laths are perpendicular to each other. If the cutting plane is parallel to the {111} plane, a special morphology with mixture of plate-like and rod-like α phase is founded.

Graphical abstract

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