Life Sciences Commons^™

Comparing The Gut Flora Of Irish Breastfed And Formula-Fed Neonates Aged Between Birth And 6 Weeks Old, Gordon Cooke, John Behan, Nicola Clarke, Winifred Gorman, Mary Costello

Articles

The exact composition of the complex microsystem that constitutes the gut flora continues to be explored as molecular methodology supplements traditional microbiological studies. The current study reports a random analysis of the faecal flora composition for 31 neonates in the 0–1 day age group, 41 neonates aged 2–5 days and 33 6-week-old neonates. All infants, born at the National Maternity Hospital, Ireland, were considered healthy, full-term normal deliveries and were either exclusively breastfed or formula-fed from birth. Microbiological and biochemical analyses of the faecal samples were used to specifically enumerate Lactobacillus spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Bacteroides spp., …

Regulatable Gene Expression Systems For Gene Therapy Applications: Progress And Future Challenges, Shyam Goverdhana, Mariana Puntel, Weidong Xiong, Jeffrey Zirger, Carlos Barcia, James Curtin, Eric Soffer, Sonali Mondkar, Gwendalyn King, Jinwei Hu, Marianela Candolfi, Diane Greengold, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro

Articles

Gene therapy aims to revert diseased phenotypes by the use of both viral and nonviral gene delivery systems. Substantial progress has been made in making gene transfer vehicles more efficient, less toxic, and nonimmunogenic and in allowing long-term transgene expression. One of the key issues in successfully implementing gene therapies in the clinical setting is to be able to regulate gene expression very tightly and consistently as and when it is needed. The regulation ought to be achievable using a compound that should be nontoxic, be able to penetrate into the desired target tissue or organ, and have a half-life …

A Revised Nomenclature For Mammalian Acyl-Coa Thioesterases/Hydrolases, Mary Hunt, Junji Yamada, Lois Maltais, Mathew Wright, Ernesto Podesta, Stefan Alexson

Articles

Acyl-CoA thioesterases, also known as acyl-CoA hydrolases, are a group of enzymes that hydrolyze CoA esters such as acyl-CoAs (saturated, unsaturated, branched chain), bile acid-CoAs, CoA esters of prostaglandins etc, to the corresponding free acid and coenzyme A. There is however significant confusion regarding the nomenclature of these genes. In agreement with the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC) and the Mouse Genomic Nomenclature Committee (MGNC), a revised nomenclature for mammalian acyl-CoA thioesterases/hydrolases has been suggested for the 12 member family. The family root symbol is ACOT, with human genes named ACOT1-12, and rat and mouse named Acot1-12. Several of the …

Endostatin Modulates Vegf-Mediated Barrier Dysfunction In The Retinal Microvascular Endothelium, Brenda B. Brankin, M. Campbell, P. Canning, T. Gardiner, A. Stitt

Articles

Recent evidence indicates that the anti-angiogenic peptide endostatin may modulate some of the vasomodulatory effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the retina, including reduction of blood retinal barrier function although it remains uncertain how endostatin promotes endothelial barrier properties. The current study has sought to examine how physiological levels of endostatin alters VEGF-induced inner BRB function using an in vitro model system and evaluation of occludin and ZO-1 regulatory responses. In addition, the ability of exogenous endostatin to regulate VEGF-mediated retinal vascular permeability in vivo was investigated.

Retinal microvascular endothelial cells (RMEC's) were exposed to various concentrations of …

Effect Of Heat Schock On Browning-Related Enzymes In Minimally Processed Iceberg Lettuce And Crude Extracts, Ana Belen Martin-Diana, Daniel Rico, Catherine Barry-Ryan, Jemina Mulcahy, Jesus Maria Frias, Gary Henehan

Articles

The effects of heat shock on PPO and POD activity in minimally processed Iceberg lettuce was examined during storage (10 days). The results were compared with the effect of temperature on crude extracts of these enzymes (in vitro analysis). Fresh-cut lettuce washed at 50 °C showed significantly lower PPO and POD activity throughout storage than lettuce washed at 4 °C and 25 °C. These results were consistent with a sensory analysis in which the panellists found the lowest browning scores in those samples treated at 50 °C. When PPO and POD were analysed in vitro, the samples treated …

Development And Validation Of A Food-Frequency Questionnaire For The Determination Of Detailed Fatty Acid Intakes, Maria Cantwell, Michael Gibney, Denis Cronin, Katherine Younger, John O'Neill, Linda Hogan, Mary Flynn

Articles

Objective: To validate a fat intake questionnaire (FIQ) developed to assess habitual dietary intake while focusing on the assessment of detailed fatty acid intake including total trans unsaturated fatty acids (TUFA). Design: An 88 food item/food group FIQ was developed using a meal pattern technique. Validation was achieved by comparison with dietary intake assessed by a modified diet history (DH) in a cross-over design. Eighty-four individuals supplied adipose tissue biopsies for linoleic acid and total TUFA analysis as an independent validation of the FIQ and DH. Setting: Medical Centre, Dublin Airport, Republic of Ireland. Subjects: One hundred and five healthy …

Combining Cytotoxic And Immune-Mediated Gene Therapy To Treat Brain Tumors, James Curtin, Gwendalyn King, Marianela Candolfi, Remy Greeno, Kurt Kroeger, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro

Articles

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a type of intracranial brain tumor, for which there is no cure. In spite of advances in surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, patients die within a year of diagnosis. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop novel therapeutic approaches for this disease. Gene therapy, which is the use of genes or other nucleic acids as drugs, is a powerful new treatment strategy which can be developed to treat GBM. Several treatment modalities are amenable for gene therapy implementation, e.g. conditional cytotoxic approaches, targeted delivery of toxins into the tumor mass, immune stimulatory strategies, and these will all …

New Insights Into Bile Acid Amidation, Mary Hunt, Eithne O'Shea, Karianne Solaas, Bengt Kase, Stefan Alexson

Articles

No abstract provided.

Comparison Of Dna Extraction From Cervical Cells Collected In Preservcyt Solution For The Amplification Of Chlamydia Trachomatis, Helen Keegan, Clara Boland, Alison Malkin, Mairead Griffin, Fergus Ryan, Helen Lambkin

Articles

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate three methods of DNA extraction for the amplification of Chlamydia trachomatis in uterine cervical samples collected in PreservCyt solution. ThinPrep is the trade name for the slide preparation. Methods: Thirty-eight samples collected in LCx buffer medium, which were identified as C. trachomatis infected by ligase chain reaction (LCR), were selected for this study. DNA from the PreservCyt samples was extracted by three methods: (i) QIAamp kit, (ii) boiling in Tris-EDTA buffer with Chelex purification, and (iii) Proteinase K digestion with Chelex purification. Sample DNA was tested for the presence …

Real-Time Reverse Transcription Pcr For Detection And Quantitative Analysis Of Equine Influenza Virus., Michelle Quinlivan, Eugene Dempsey, Fergus Ryan, Sean Arkins, Ann Cullinnane

Articles

Equine influenza is a cause of epizootic respiratory disease of the equine. The detection of equine influenza virus using real-time Light Cycler reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technology was evaluated over two influenza seasons with the analysis of 171 samples submitted for viral respiratory disease. Increased sensitivity was found in overall viral detection with this system compared to Directigen Flu A and virus isolation, which were 40% and 23%, respectively, that of the RT-PCR. The assay was also evaluated as a viable replacement for the more traditional methods of quantifying equine influenza virus, 50% egg infectious dose and 50% tissue culture infectious …

Validation Of A Multiplex Pcr Assay For The Simultaneous Detection Of Human Papillomavirus And Chlamydia Trachomatis In Cervical Preservcyt Samples., Helen Keegan, Alison Malkin, Mairead Griffin, Fergus Ryan, Helen Lambkin

Articles

No abstract provided.

Identification Of Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorder Patients With Lowered Acyl-Coa Thioesterase Activity In Human Skin Fibroblasts, Mary Hunt, Jos Ruiter, Petra Mooyer, Carlo W T Van Roermond, Rob Ofman, Lodewig Ijlst, Ronald J A Wanders

Articles

Background: Acyl-CoA thioesterases are enzymes that hydrolyze acyl-CoAs to the free fatty acid and coenzyme A (CoASH). These enzymes have been identified in several cellular compartments and are thought to regulate intracellular levels of acyl-CoAs, free fatty acids and CoASH. However, to date no patients deficient in acyl-CoA thioesterases have been identified. Design: Acyl-CoA thioesterase activity was measured in human skin fibroblasts. Western blot analysis was used to determine Type-II acyl-CoA thioesterase protein levels in patients. Results: Activity was found in human fibroblasts with all saturated acyl-CoAs from C4:0- to C18:0-CoA, with highest activity detected with lauroyl-CoA and myristoyl-CoA (C12:0 …

Gene Therapy And Targeted Toxins For Glioma, James Curtin, Gwendalyn King, Marianela Candolfi, Kurt Kroeger, Pedro Lowenstein, Maria Castro

Articles

The most common primary brain tumor in adults is glioblastoma. These tumors are highly invasive and aggressive with a mean survival time of nine to twelve months from diagnosis to death. Current treatment modalities are unable to significantly prolong survival in patients diagnosed with glioblastoma. As such, glioma is an attractive target for developing novel therapeutic approaches utilizing gene therapy. This review will examine the available preclinical models for glioma including xenographs, syngeneic and genetic models. Several promising therapeutic targets are currently being pursued in pre-clinical investigations. These targets will be reviewed by mechanism of action, i.e., conditional cytotoxic, targeted …

Real-Time Reverse Transcription Pcr For Detection And Quantitative Analysis Of Equine Influenza Virus, Michelle Quinlivan, Eugene Dempsey, Fergus Ryan, Sean Atkins, Ann Cullinane

Articles

Equine influenza is a cause of epizootic respiratory disease of the equine. The detection of equine influenza virus using real-time Light Cycler reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technology was evaluated over two influenza seasons with the analysis of 171 samples submitted for viral respiratory disease. Increased sensitivity was found in overall viral detection with this system compared to Directigen Flu A and virus isolation, which were 40% and 23%, respectively, that of the RT-PCR. The assay was also evaluated as a viable replacement for the more traditional methods of quantifying equine influenza virus, 50% egg infectious dose and 50% tissue culture infectious …

A Study Examining The Effects Of Tissue Processing On Human Tissue Sections Using Vibrational Spectroscopy, Eoghan O'Faolain, Mary Hunter, Joe Byrne, Peter Kellehan, Mary Mcnamara, Hugh Byrne, Fiona Lyng

Articles

The use of vibrational spectroscopy in the detection of cancer is a newly emerging diagnostic field, which has shown great potential to date. Many investigations have been carried out on frozen tissue samples, which by their very nature are hard to obtain. However, histology departments have archives of thousands of tissue samples, preserved and mounted in wax blocks. If this archival material can be shown to yield good Raman and IR spectra capable of differentiating between normal and cancerous tissue, it would improve the diagnostic capabilities of spectroscopy even further. Results from these formalin-fixed paraffin processed (FFPP) tissue sections, will …

Effect Of Temperature On The Kinetic Behaviour Of Polyphenol Oxidase And Peroxidase In Fresh-Cut Lettuce, Ana Belen Martin-Diana, Daniel Rico, Catherine Barry-Ryan, Jemina Mulcahy, Gary Henehan, Jesus Maria Frias

Articles

Activity levels for polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes were exanimate in crude extracts and showed significantly higher values in photosynthetic tissue than in vascular tissue. Time courses at 50 ºC showed a rapid loss of POD activity and a similar but slower loss of PPO activity in all tissue while incubations at 4 ºC and 25 ºC showed no significant loss of activity over the same time period. The thermal treatment of the extracts (50 ºC) caused a decrease in the PPO and POD activities over time, in all the samples. PPO had less dependence on temperature than …

Effect Of Calcium Lactate On Quality, Safety And Nutritional Senescence Parameters Of Minimally Processed Vegetables, Ana Belen Martin-Diana, Daniel Rico, Jesus Maria Frias, Jemina Mulcahy, Gary Henehan, Catherine Barry-Ryan

Articles

Calcium lactate maintained quality senescence indicators, as well as chlorine in Iceberg lettuce, and enhanced nutritional values during storage in sliced carrots better than chlorine. Colour and texture objective measurements did not show differences between treatments for Iceberg lettuce; however there were differences in colour in sliced carrots, showing greater change in colour values in samples treated with chlorine. Calcium lactate washing treatments prevented the bleaching effect on saladcut lettuce and sliced carrots and also diminished the appearance of white surfaces over storage. The ascorbic acid decreased during storage independently of the type of treatment used for both vegetables, however …

Novel Washing Methods To Extend The Quality And Enhance The Nutritional Value Of Minimally Processed Vegetable Products, Ana Belen Martin-Diana, Daniel Rico, Jesus Maria Frias, Jemina Mulcahy, Gary Henehan, Catherine Barry-Ryan

Articles

This paper reports on the development of alternative washing treatments to extend the quality and safety of fresh cut-vegetables and improve their nutritional value. Washing with Ca-lactate (3%) prevented the bleaching effect on salad-cut lettuce and sliced carrots and the appearance of whiteness on the second one normally associated with sodium hypochlorite washing solutions (120 ppm Chlorine). Ca-lactate maintained and enhanced nutritional values during storage, especially in carrots. Sliced carrots treated with Ca-lactate had significant (p

Optimisation Of Calcium Lactate Washing Treatment On Salad-Cut Lettuce: Quality Aspects, Ana Belen Martin-Diana, Daniel Rico, Catherine Barry-Ryan, Jesus Maria Frias, Jemina Mulcahy, Gary Henehan

Articles

Markers of quality retention: colour, texture, browning, texture related enzymes and sensory properties, were analysed during storage. The use of high temperatures (50ºC) showed a positive effect on enzymes related to quality maintenance. It reduced the activity of the browning-related enzymes polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase but it increased the activity of pectin methyl esterase, an enzyme involved in the maintenance of texture. High calcium lactate concentrations (3 %) produced a reduction in the respiration rate of the salad-cut lettuce during storage, but also a loss of luminosity and greenness (a*). The use of high temperatures and intermediate calcium lactate concentrations …