Articles

Genetic polymorphisms and asthma: findings from a case–control study in the Madeira island population

Asthma is a complex disease influenced by multiple genetic and environmental factors. While Madeira has the highest prevalence of asthma in Portugal (14.6%), the effect of both genetic and environmental factor...

Authors: Anabela Gonçalves Berenguer, Ana Teresa Fernandes, Susana Oliveira, Mariana Rodrigues, Pedro Ornelas, Diogo Romeira, Tânia Serrão, Alexandra Rosa and Rita Câmara

Apoptosis in HEp-2 cells infected with Ureaplasma diversum

Bacterial pathogens have many strategies for infecting and persisting in host cells. Adhesion, invasion and intracellular life are important features in the biology of mollicutes. The intracellular location of Ur...

Authors: Aline Teixeira Amorim, Lucas Miranda Marques, Angelita Maria Oliveira Gusmão Santos, Hellen Braga Martins, Maysa Santos Barbosa, Izadora Souza Rezende, Ewerton Ferraz Andrade, Guilherme Barreto Campos, Tássia Neves Lobão, Beatriz Araujo Cortez, Telma Alvez Monezi, Glaucia Maria Machado-Santelli and Jorge Timenetsky

Antioxidant, antimicrobial, toxicity and analgesic properties of ethanol extract of Solena amplexicaulis root

This study was subjected to investigate different pharmacological properties of ethanol extract of Solena amplexicaulis root.

Authors: Md Golam Kabir, Md Monsor Rahman, Nazim Uddin Ahmed, Md Fakruddin, Saiful Islam and Reaz Mohammad Mazumdar

Screening the antifungal activity of essential oils against decay fungi from palmyrah leaf handicrafts

The whitish tender leaves of Palmyrah are used for making handicrafts. The problem with these articles is discolouration with time and become more brittle due to fungal attack. This could be prevented by some ...

Authors: Subajini Mahilrajan, Jeyarani Nandakumar, Robika Kailayalingam, Nilushiny Aloysius Manoharan and SriThayalan SriVijeindran

Malignant melanoma in Chile: different site distribution between private and state patients

The body site location of primary Malignant Melanoma (MM) has been correlated with prognosis and survival. Ethnic, genetics, sun exposure factors are related to the anatomical distribution of MM. Low and high ...

Authors: Viviana B Zemelman, Carlos Y Valenzuela, Ivo Sazunic and Irene Araya

Protein microarray for complex apoptosis monitoring of dysplastic oral keratinocytes in experimental photodynamic therapy

Photodynamic therapy is an alternative treatment of muco-cutaneous tumors that uses a light source able to photoactivate a chemical compound that acts as a photosensitizer. The phthalocyanines append to a wide...

Authors: Clara Matei, Mircea Tampa, Constantin Caruntu, Rodica-Mariana Ion, Simona-Roxana Georgescu, Georgiana Roxana Dumitrascu, Carolina Constantin and Monica Neagu

In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Cryptostegia grandiflora Roxb. ex R. Br. leaves

Despite Cryptostegia grandiflora Roxb. ex R. Br. (Apocynaceae) leaves are widely used in folk Caribbean Colombian medicine for their anti-inflammatory effects, there are no studies that support this traditional u...

Authors: Jenny P Castro, Yanet C Ocampo and Luis A Franco

Differential expression and localization of ADAM10 and ADAM17 during rat spermatogenesis suggest a role in germ cell differentiation

Extracellular metolloproteases have been implied in different process such as cell death, differentiation and migration. Membrane-bound metalloproteases of the ADAM family shed the extracellular domain of many...

Authors: Paulina Urriola-Muñoz, Carlos Lizama, Raúl Lagos-Cabré, Juan G Reyes and Ricardo D Moreno

Comparative proteomic analysis of different developmental stages of the edible mushroom Termitomyces heimii

Termitomyces heimii is a basidiomycete fungus that has a symbiotic relationship with termites, and it is an edible mushroom with a unique flavour and texture. T. heimii is also one of the most difficult mushrooms...

Authors: Norasfaliza Rahmad, Jameel R Al-Obaidi, Noraswati Mohd Nor Rashid, Ng Boon Zean, Mohd Hafis Yuswan Mohd Yusoff, Nur Syahidah Shaharuddin, Nor Azreen Mohd Jamil and Norihan Mohd Saleh

Essential oils from two Eucalyptus from Tunisia and their insecticidal action on Orgyia trigotephras (Lepidotera, Lymantriidae)

Essential oils extracted from aromatic and medicinal plants have many biological properties and are therefore an alternative to the use of synthetic products. The chemical composition of essential oils from tw...

Authors: Badreddine Ben Slimane, Olfa Ezzine, Samir Dhahri and Mohamed Lahbib Ben Jamaa

Characterization of Escherichia coli virulence genes, pathotypes and antibiotic resistance properties in diarrheic calves in Iran

Calf diarrhea is a major economic concern in bovine industry all around the world. This study was carried out in order to investigate distribution of virulence genes, pathotypes, serogroups and antibiotic resi...

Authors: Masoud Shahrani, Farhad Safarpoor Dehkordi and Hassan Momtaz

Celecoxib decreases growth and angiogenesis and promotes apoptosis in a tumor cell line resistant to chemotherapy

During the last few years it has been shown in several laboratories that Celecoxib (Cx), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent (NSAID) normally used for pain and arthritis, mediates antitumor and antiangioge...

Authors: Carlos Rosas, Mariana Sinning, Arturo Ferreira, Marcela Fuenzalida and David Lemus

Morphometric and phytochemical characterization of chaura fruits (Gaultheria pumila): a native Chilean berry with commercial potential

For the first time, a morphometric characterization of chaura (Gaultheria pumila) fruits has been conducted between natural populations growing in the Villarrica National Park, Araucania Region, Chile. Chaura is ...

Authors: Evelyn Villagra, Carola Campos-Hernandez, Pablo Cáceres, Gustavo Cabrera, Yamilé Bernardo, Ariel Arencibia, Basilio Carrasco, Peter DS Caligari, José Pico and Rolando García-Gonzales

Dynamics of tear fluid desiccation on a glass surface: a contribution to tear quality assessment

Fern-like crystalloids form when a microvolume of tear is allowed to dry out at ambient conditions on a glass surface. Presence of crystalloids in tear “microdesiccates” is used to evaluate patients with Dry-E...

Authors: Leonidas Traipe-Castro, Daniela Salinas-Toro, Daniela López, Mario Zanolli, Miguel Srur, Felipe Valenzuela, Aníbal Cáceres, Héctor Toledo-Araya and Remigio López-Solís

Assessment of the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant activity of a bloom forming microalgae Euglena tuba

Unstable generation of free radicals in the body are responsible for many degenerative diseases. A bloom forming algae Euglena tuba growing abundantly in the aquatic habitats of Cachar district in the state of As...

Authors: Dipankar Chaudhuri, Nikhil Baban Ghate, Shampa Deb, Sourav Panja, Rhitajit Sarkar, Jayashree Rout and Nripendranath Mandal

Compositional studies and biological activities of some mash bean (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) cultivars commonly consumed in Pakistan

In recent years, the desire to adopt a healthy diet has drawn attention to legume seeds and food products derived from them. Mash bean is an important legume crop used in Pakistan however a systematic mapping ...

Authors: Muhammad Zia-Ul-Haq, Shakeel Ahmad, Shazia Anwer Bukhari, Ryszard Amarowicz, Sezai Ercisli and Hawa ZE Jaafar

A robust HIV-1 viral load detection assay optimized for Indian sub type C specific strains and resource limiting setting

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) viral load testing at regular intervals is an integral component of disease management in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients. The need in countries l...

Authors: Arpan Acharya, Salil Vaniawala, Parth Shah, Harsh Parekh, Rabindra Nath Misra, Minal Wani and Pratap N Mukhopadhyaya

Organic acids, sugars, vitamin C content and some pomological characteristics of eleven hawthorn species (Crataegus spp.) from Turkey

The Hawthorn (Crateagus sp.) mostly occurs around the temperate region of the world with a high number of species, producing a fruit with numerous beneficial effects for human health. The aim of the study was to ...

Authors: Muttalip Gundogdu, Koray Ozrenk, Sezai Ercisli, Tuncay Kan, Ossama Kodad and Attila Hegedus

Methanol extract from Vietnamese Caesalpinia sappan induces apoptosis in HeLa cells

This study evaluated the cytotoxic activity of extracts from Caesalpinia sappan heartwood against multiple cancer cell lines using an MTT cell viability assay. The cell death though induction of apoptosis was as ...

Authors: Tran Manh Hung, Nguyen Hai Dang and Nguyen Tien Dat

Effect of chlorocholine chlorid on phenolic acids accumulation and polyphenols formation of buckwheat plants

Effect of chlorocholine chloride (CCC) on phenolic acids composition and polyphenols accumulation in various anatomical parts (stems, leaves and inflorescences) of common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) i...

Authors: Oksana Sytar, Asel Borankulova, Irene Hemmerich, Cornelia Rauh and Iryna Smetanska

The structure of selective dinucleotide interactions and periodicities in D melanogaster mtDNA

We found a strong selective 3-sites periodicity of deviations from randomness of the dinucleotide (DN) distribution, where both bases of DN were separated by 1, 2, K sites in prokaryotes and mtDNA. Three main ...

Authors: Carlos Y Valenzuela

Physiological and biochemical characterization of egg extract of black widow spiders to uncover molecular basis of egg toxicity

Black widow spider (L. tredecimguttatus) has toxic components not only in the venomous glands, but also in other parts of the body and its eggs. It is biologically important to investigate the molecular basis of ...

Authors: Yizhong Yan, Jianjun Li, Yiya Zhang, Xiaozhen Peng, Tianyao Guo, Jirong Wang, Weijun Hu, Zhigui Duan and Xianchun Wang

Robertsonian chromosomes and the nuclear architecture of mouse meiotic prophase spermatocytes

The nuclear architecture of meiotic prophase spermatocytes is based on higher-order patterns of spatial associations among chromosomal domains from different bivalents. The meiotic nuclear architecture depends...

Authors: Soledad Berríos, Catalina Manieu, Julio López-Fenner, Eliana Ayarza, Jesús Page, Marisel González, Marcia Manterola and Raúl Fernández-Donoso

Immune enhancement activities of silk lutein extract from Bombyx mori cocoons

Declining immune function poses an important clinical challenge worldwide and supplementation with natural products that possessing immune enhancing properties is a promising approach for preventing or delayin...

Authors: Porkaew Promphet, Sirirat Bunarsa, Manote Sutheerawattananonda and Duangkamol Kunthalert

Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) dux (Diptera: Sarcophagidae): A flesh fly species of medical importance

Although tropical climate of Thailand is suitably endowed with biodiversity of insects, flies of medical importance is not well investigated. Using information from literature search, fly survey approach and s...

Authors: Kabkaew L Sukontason, Sangob Sanit, Tunwadee Klong-klaew, Jeffery K Tomberlin and Kom Sukontason

Comparative acute toxicity of gallium(III), antimony(III), indium(III), cadmium(II), and copper(II) on freshwater swamp shrimp (Macrobrachium nipponense)

Acute toxicity testing were carried out the freshwater swamp shrimp, Macrobrachium nipponense, as the model animal for the semiconductor applied metals (gallium, antimony, indium, cadmium, and copper) to evaluate...

Authors: Jen-Lee Yang

Compositional studies and Biological activities of Perovskia abrotanoides Kar. oils

Current study has been designed to evaluate the chemical composition of essential and fixed oils from stem and leaves of Perovskia abrotanoides and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of these oils.

Authors: Sadaf Naz Ashraf, Muhammad Zubair, Komal Rizwan, Rasool Bakhsh Tareen, Nasir Rasool, Muhammad Zia-Ul-Haq and Sezai Ercisli

Seed germination of Agave species as influenced by substrate water potential

Plants of Agave spp. perform Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) and are highly drought-tolerant, but little is known concerning seed germination under low water availability. The aim of this study was to assess t...

Authors: Hugo M Ramírez-Tobías, Cecilia B Peña-Valdivia, Carlos Trejo, J Rogelio Aguirre R and Humberto Vaquera H

Estimation of antioxidant, antimicrobial activity and brine shrimp toxicity of plants collected from Oymyakon region of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia

Several plants are reported to be produced various biological active compounds. Lichens from the extreme environments such as high altitude, high UV, drought and cold are believed to be synthesized unique type...

Authors: Babita Paudel, Hari Datta Bhattarai, Il Chan Kim, Hyoungseok Lee, Roman Sofronov, Lena Ivanova, Lena Poryadina and Joung Han Yim

Evaluation of seasonal antioxidant activity and total phenolic compounds in stems and leaves of some almond (Prunus amygdalus L.) varieties

This study aimed to determine the seasonal changes of total antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds in samples taken from leaves (April, July, October) and stems (April, July, October, January) of some alm...

Authors: Aysel Sivaci and Sevcan Duman

Role of berberine in ameliorating Schistosoma mansoni-induced hepatic injury in mice

Schistosomiasis is caused by helminth parasites of the genus Schistosoma. Berberine chloride (BER), an isoquinoline alkaloid, has been used in vivo for its antiparasitic, antioxidant and hepatoprotective properti...

Authors: Mohamed A Dkhil

Association of serum total bilirubin levels with diastolic dysfunction in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is one of the main characteristics of heart failure patients with a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. As bilirubin is regarded as an important endogenous anti...

Authors: Huan Zheng, Ye Li and Nanzi Xie

Acute oral toxicity and anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic extract from Lampaya medicinalis Phil in rats

Algesia and inflammation are related with several pathological conditions. It is known that many drugs available for the treatment of these problems cause unwanted side effects. This study was aimed at evaluat...

Authors: Glauco Morales, Adrián Paredes, Alberto Olivares and Jaime Bravo

Selected spices and their combination modulate hypercholesterolemia-induced oxidative stress in experimental rats

Effect of aqueous extracts of Allium sativum (garlic), Zingiber officinale (ginger), Capsicum fructensces (cayenne pepper) and their mixture on oxidative stress in rats fed high Cholesterol/high fat diet was inve...

Authors: Gloria A Otunola, Oyelola B Oloyede, Adenike T Oladiji and Anthony J Afolayan

Effects of R219K polymorphism of ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 gene on serum lipids ratios induced by a high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet in healthy youth

Diets are the important players in regulating plasma lipid profiles. And the R219K polymorphism at the gene of ATP-binding cassette transporter 1(ABCA1) was reported to be associated with the profiles. However, n...

Authors: Hui Liu, Jia Lin, Xing Chun Zhu, Yuan Hao Li, Mei Fan, Rong Rong Zhang and Ding Zhi Fang

Assessment of changes in the brca2 and p53 genes in breast invasive ductal carcinoma in northeast Brazil

BRCA protein interacts with at least 13 different proteins that have been implicated with cancer susceptibility and loss of BRCA function is correlated to sensitivity to DNA crosslinking agents in preclinical ...

Authors: Eduardo AVF Ramalho, João LQ Silva-Filho, Marina FS Cartaxo, Carmelita BL Cavalcanti, Moacyr JBM Rêgo, Maria BM Oliveira and Eduardo IC Beltrão

First report of in vitro selection of RNA aptamers targeted to recombinant Loxosceles laeta spider toxins

Loxoscelism is the envenomation caused by the bite of Loxosceles spp. spiders. It entails severe necrotizing skin lesions, sometimes accompanied by systemic reactions and even death. There are no diagnostic means...

Authors: Amalia Sapag, Catalina Salinas-Luypaert and Carlos Constenla-Muñoz

Biological Research marks its 50th year by joining BioMed Central

Authors: Manuel J Santos