Abstract Given the major role of the mitochondrion in cellular homeostasis, dysfunctions of this organelle may lead to several common diseases in humans. Among these, maternal diseases linked to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations are of special interest due to the unclear pattern of mitochondrial inheritance. Multiple copies of mtDNA are present in a cell, each encoding for 37 genes essential for mitochondrial function. In cases of mtDNA mutations, mitochondrial malfunctioning relies on mutation load, as mutant and wild-type molecules may co-exist within the cell. Since the mutation load associated with disease manifestation varies for different mutations and tissues, it is hard to predict the progeny phenotype based on mutation load in the progenitor. In addition, poorly understood mechanisms act in the female germline to prevent the accumulation of deleterious mtDNA in the following generations. In this review, we outline basic aspects of mitochondrial inheritance in mammals and how they may lead to maternally-inherited diseases. Furthermore, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies for these diseases, which may be used in the future to prevent their transmission.

Resumo Contexto O conhecimento de variações da artéria testicular é vital para assegurar que essas artérias não serão negligenciadas durante a realização de diferentes técnicas operatórias, já que qualquer dano poderia causar atrofia testicular. Objetivos Este estudo teve como objetivo identificar variações na origem e no trajeto das artérias testiculares. Foi feita uma tentativa de classificar as artérias com base em suas diferentes origens. Métodos Este estudo examinou 42 cadáveres de adultos do sexo masculino com idade entre 40 e 70 anos preservados em formol. As diferentes origens da artéria testicular foram identificadas e classificadas. Variações na origem e no trajeto da artérias foram coloridas, fotografadas e documentadas. Foram medidas as distâncias entre a origem das artérias testiculares e o ponto médio da origem das artérias renais. Resultados As artérias testiculares foram classificadas em quatro categorias com base em sua origem. Essa variabilidade foi definida com relação às artérias renal e mesentérica inferior. A distância média entre a origem da artéria testicular e o ponto médio da origem da artéria renal foi de 3,08 e 3,47 cm nos lados direito e esquerdo, respectivamente. As variações foram encontradas quase exclusivamente no lado esquerdo. As variações observadas incluíram múltiplos ramúsculos formando a artéria testicular, artérias suprarrenais surgindo a partir da artéria testicular, e duplicação da artéria testicular. Conclusão Este estudo traz informações sobre variações da artéria testicular e propõe uma classificação que poderia ajudar os cirurgiões durante diferentes procedimentos realizados no abdome e na pelve de pacientes do sexo masculino.

Abstract Background Knowledge of testicular artery variations is vital to ensure that they are not neglected during a variety of different operative techniques, since damage can cause testicular atrophy. Objectives The present study was therefore intended to identify variants in the origin and course of the testicular arteries. An attempt was made to classify the arteries based on their various origins. Methods This study examined 42 formalin-fixed cadavers of 40 to 70-year-old adult males. Variant origins of the testicular artery were identified and classified. Variations in the origin and course of the artery were colored, photographed, and documented. The distances between the origins of the testicular arteries and the mid-points of the origins of the renal arteries were measured. Results Testicular arteries were classified into four categories on the basis of origin. This variability was defined in relation to the renal and inferior mesenteric arteries. The mean distance between the origin of the testicular artery and the mid-point of the origin of the renal artery were 3.08 and 3.47 cm, on the right and left sides respectively. Variations were almost exclusively found on the left side. The variations observed included multiple arterial twigs forming the testicular artery, suprarenal arteries arising from the testicular artery, and testicular artery duplication. Conclusion This study provides an insight into variations in the testicular artery and proposes a classification which could help surgeons during a variety of procedures on the male abdomen and pelvis.

ABSTRACT High performance thin layer chromatographic method (HPTLC) has been developed for the quantification of reserpine and ajmalicine in root part of two different population of Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz and Rauvolfia tetraphylla L., Apocynaceae, collected from Punjab and Uttarakhand. HPTLC of methanolic extract of root containing indole alkaloids, i.e., reserpine and ajmalicine, was performed on TLC Silicagel 60 F254 (10 cm × 10 cm) plates with toluene:ethyl acetate:formic acid (7:2:1), as mobile phase. Quantification of the reserpine and ajmalicine was performed in the absorption–reflection mode at 268 nm. The recovery of reserpine and ajmalicine were 99.3 and 98.7% respectively. The calibration curves were linear for both the reserpine and ajmalicine, in the range of 200–1200 ng. HPTLC densitometry has been performed for the estimation of reserpine and ajmalicine in root part of R. serpentina and R. tetraphylla for the first time. The method is simple, rapid and cost effective and can be used for routine analysis of ajmalicine and reserpine in different Rauvolfia species as well as for quality control of herbal drugs containing Rauvolfia species.

Abstract Shea tree sawdust delignification kinetic data during alkaline peroxide pretreatment were investigated at temperatures of 120 °C, 135 °C, and 150 °C. The activation energy during delignification was 76.4 kJ/mol and the Arrhenius constant was calculated as 8.4 x 106 per min. The reducing sugar yield for the treated to the untreated biomass was about 22-fold. Enzymatic hydrolysis conditions studied were; time (72 h and 96 h), substrate concentration (20, 30, 40, and 50 g/L), and enzyme loadings (10, 25, 40, 50 FPU/g dry biomass), which showed the optimum conditions of 96 h, 40 g/L, and 25 FPU/g dry biomass at 45 °C hydrolysis temperature. At the optimized enzymatic hydrolysis conditions, the reducing sugar yield was 416.32 mg equivalent glucose/g treated dry biomass. After 96 h fermentation of treated biomass, the ethanol obtained at 2% effective cellulose loading was 12.73 g/L. Alkaline peroxide oxidation pretreatment and subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis improved the ethanol yield of the biomass.

ABSTRACTThe decoctions of the Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub., Fabaceae, Bauhinia variegata L., Fabaceae, and Ocimum gratissimum L., Lamiaceae, are traditionally used for the treatment of various types of hepatic disorder. Phytochemical studies have shown that total flavonoids from these plants were the major constituents of the picked out part of each plant. The present study was planned to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of flavonoid rich fractions of the B. monosperma, B. variegata and O. gratissimum against paracetamol induced liver damage. Flavonoid rich fractions were isolated by solvent fractionation from each plant. Each fraction was subjected to various qualitative chemical tests to findout the metabolites. Flavonoid fractions of each plant were subjected for pharmacological screening. The rats were monitored for change in liver morphology, biochemical parameters like serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and total bilirubin for the groups receiving the flavonoid-rich fractions. All flavonoid rich fractions showed significant hepatoprotective activity. The histological studies supported the biochemical parameters. From the results of biochemical analysis and histopathological studies, it can be accomplished that in the ethyl acetate fraction of O. gratissimum showed highest hepatoprotective activity as compared to other fractions. The present study was the first evidence of flavonoid-rich fractions of each plant have a remarkable hepatoprotective effect. All fractions contain a potent hepatoprotective agent suggested to be a flavone, which may find clinical application in amelioration of paracetamol-induced liver damage.

The electroreduction of the antidepressant drug Bupropion hydrochloride has been studied in aqueous media at dme. Single well defined wave was obtained in different supporting electrolytes, like, KNO3, ammonium citrate buffer, acetate buffer, B. R. buffer, etc. The effect of pH on this reduction has been studied in B. R. buffer in the pH range 3.13 - 11.0. The Bupropion hydrochloride is best reduced in slightly acidic medium. This behavior was attributed to the reduction of >C=O group present in the drug. The effect of concentration and temperature on half wave potential has also been investigated. The reduction of drug was found to be irreversible and diffusion controlled, hence kinetic parameters (K0fh, αn) are evaluated using Meites Israel and Gaur Bharagav,s method. Further, with increase in temperature the values of K0fh also increase, showing that irreversibility of the system decreases on increasing the temperature.

Cold upsetting experiments were carried out on sintered Fe-0.8%C steel preforms in order to evaluate the technical relationship that exist between the applied stresses against continuous deformation and densification. Powder preforms of 86% theoretical density and 0.40 of initial aspect ratio were subjected to incremental compressive loading of 0.04 MN under three different friction conditions such as dry, graphite and zinc stearate employed during deformation until fracture appears at free surfaces. Experimental results revealed that the response of applied stresses with induced strain and attained densification exhibits a continuous enhancement but with three different stages. Irrespective of friction conditions the first and third stage shows steep rise, which offers high resistance to deformation, whereas the second stage shows virtually steady state; deformation needed gradual increase in applied stresses but with high rate of densification. Further, preform deformed under without lubricant exhibited maximum strain hardening as well as an enhanced rate of strain hardening through out the deformation in comparison with lubricants employed conditions.

Acid catalyzed reactions of three proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), namely omeprazole, lansoprazole and pantoprazole, have been investigated and monitored by direct current polarography at dropping mercury electrode (D.M.E) in phosphate buffer (0.1 M) of pH 3-7.5. This gives well defined current-time profiles of individual electroactive degradation products along with their starting materials. The investigation shows that the order of stability of three PPIs can be written as: pantoprazole > omeprazole > lansoprazole. The rate of degradation of PPIs decreases with decreasing the basicity of the corresponding benzimidazole nitrogen of PPIs, as predicted by the effect of individual substituents on each of the benzimidazole rings. At pH 7.5 all three PPIs are almost stable and the observed half wave potentials (E1/2 ) are -1.07 V for omeprazole, -1.25 V for lansoprazole and -1.32 V for pantoprazole. On decreasing the pH from 7.5 to 3.0 the anodic shift in E1/2 values were observed along with degradation of the PPIs and simultaneous appearance of degradation products. The present study may provide an insight for designing more potent new proton pump inhibitors.

The polymer hydrogel was synthesized by photo-polymerization process (UV light, 60 ºC) in presence of Photo-initiator (IrgacureR) and Cross-linker (NN'-methylene bisacrylamide; MBAM). In the present work, the drying of polymer hydrogel was carried out to study the effect of temperature, gel-sheet thickness, monomer ratio of acryl acid to acrylamide (AA/AM), concentration of MBAM and quantity of monomers. A correlation has been developed for modified sheet thickness as a function of contraction coefficient and degree of drying. Effective diffusivity was estimated from Fickian-diffusive model considering modified sheet thickness and was found to be in the range of 1.1 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-10-5.93 <FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10-10 m²/s. The activation energy obtained using Arrhenius type equation was found to be in the range of 2979-10737 kJ/kmol H2O. The drying behavior shows an initial shoot-up in drying rate followed by constant rate and two falling rate periods.

Cultivo no estado sólido foi utilizado para avaliar as possibilidades de utilizar a casca e a borra de café como substrato para a produção do cogumelo comestível do gênero Flamulina. A cepa de F. velutipes LPB foi adaptada em um meio contendo extrato de casca de café. Os melhores resultados em termos de produção do cogumelo foram obtidos com taxas de inoculação de 25%, embora não tenha sido observadas diferenças significativas quando taxas inferiores foram utilizadas (10-20%). O teor de umidade ideal para o crescimento micelial foi de 60% e 55% para a produção com casca e a borra de café. Utilizando a casca de café como substrato, a primeira frutificação ocorreu após 25 dias de inoculação e a eficiência biológica foi de aproximadamente 56% com duas colheitas após 40 dias. Utilizando-se a borra de café como substrato, a primeira frutificação ocorreu 21 dias após a inoculação e a eficiência biológica alcançada foi de 78% em 40 dias de cultivo. Houve uma redução nos teores de cafeína e taninos da ordem de 10,2 e 20,4%, respectivamente na casca de café após 40 dias. Na borra de café, os índices de taninos foram reduzidos em 28% após 40 dias. Esta redução foi atribuída à degradação da cafeína e taninos pela cultura. Os resultados mostraram a praticabilidade de usar a casca e a borra de café como substrato sem nenhum suplemento nutritivo para o cultivo sólido desse fungo comestível. A borra apresentou melhores resultados do que a casca de café.

Solid state cultivation (SSC) was carried out to evaluate the feasibility of using coffee husk and spent-ground as substrates for the production of edible mushroom Flammulina under different conditions of moisture and spawn rate. The strain of F. velutipes LPB 01 was adapted for a coffee husk extract medium. Best results were obtained with 25% spawn rate, though there was not much difference when lower spawn rates (10-20%) were used. Ideal moisture content for mycelial growth was 60% and 55% for coffee husk and spent-ground, respectively. With coffee husk as substrate, first fructification occurred after 25 days of inoculation and the biological efficiency reached about 56% with two flushes after 40 days. With spent-ground as substrate, first fructification occurred 21 days after inoculation and the biological efficiency reached about 78% in 40 days. There was decrease in the caffeine and tannins contents (10.2 and 20.4%, respectively) in coffee husk after 40 days. In coffee spent-ground, the tannin contents decreased by 28% after 40 days. These decrease was attributed to the degradation of caffeine or tannins by the culture because these were not adsorbed in the fungal mycelia. Results showed the feasibility of using coffee husk and coffee spent-ground as substrate without any nutritional supplementation for cultivation of edible fungus in SSC. Spent ground appeared better than coffee husk.

O nosso trabalho teve como proposta o isolamento e identificação de microrganismos para uso como probiótico em aves. As espécies foram selecionadas de acordo com aspectos de biosegurança, viabilidade durante a estocagem, tolerância a pH baixo, suco gástrico, bile e atividade antimicrobiana. As espécies foram isoladas do papo, proventrículo, moela, íleo e ceco de frango. Os conteúdos destes segmentos foram diluídos e semeados em meio MRS e incubados por 48 h a 37°C em anaerobiose. A identificação das culturas foi realizada de acordo com as características de Lactobacillus presentes no Manual Bergey’s, como bacterioscopia (morfologia), coloração de Gram, crescimento a 15 e 45°C e fermentação de diferentes fontes de carbono. Baseado nestes critérios Lactobacillus fermentum LPB foi identificado e testado para uso como probiótico em frangos. O isolado bacteriano foi avaliado como suplemento alimentar para frangos de corte. Os resultados mostraram que, em comparação com a presença e efeitos de antibióticos, a implantação de L. fermentum LPB, resultou em efeitos similares, manifestado por eficiência alimentar durante o crescimento de frangos.

Studies were carried out to isolate and identify microorganisms for probiotic use for chickens. Selection of strains included various criteria such as agreement with bio-safety aspects, viability during storage, tolerance to low pH/ gastric juice, bile, and antimicrobial activity. The strains were isolated from the crop, proventriculus, gizzard, ileum and caeca of chicken. Decimal dilution of the contents of these segments were mixed with MRS medium and incubated for 48 h at 37°C under anaerobiosis. The identity of the culture was based on characteristics of lactobacilli as presented in the Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, carrying out bacterioscopy (morphology), Gram stain, growth at 15 and 45°C, and fermentation of different carbon sources. Based on these criteria, Lactobacillus fermentum LPB was identified and tested for probiotic use for chickens. The isolate was evaluated for poultry feeds supplement. The results showed that in comparison to the presence and effects of antibiotics, L. fermentum LPB implantation resulted in a similar effect as that of antibiotics manifested by feed efficiency in growth of chicks.

Resíduos celulósicos obtidos a partir do cultivo de plantas podem ser utilizados como substratos nos processos de bioconversão. Bagaço de cana é um importante substrato e fonte de biomassa obtido a partir do processamento da cana de açucar. Em razão da sua produção em grandes volumes o mesmo pode ser utilizado como substrato ideal em processos microbianos para obtenção de produtos de elevado valor comercial. Esse trabalho de revisão apresenta os recentes desenvolvimentos em processos biológicos utilizando a técnica da fermentação no estado sólido na obtenção de enzimas, aminoácidos, ácidos orgânicos e componentes farmacêuticos de interesse industrial.

Lignocellulosic residues obtained from crops cultivation form useful sources to be used as substrate for bioconversion processes. Sugarcane bagasse, which is a complex substrate obtained from the processing of sugar cane, is an important biomass among such sources. Due to its abundant availability, it can serve as an ideal substrate for microbial processes for the production of value added products. This paper reviews recent developments on biological processes developed on production of various products in solid state fermentation using sugarcane bagasse as the substrate and describes production of protein enriched feed, enzymes, amino acid, organic acids and compounds of pharmaceutical importance, etc. through microbial means.