Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in human genetic transmissible spongiform encephalopathies

The 14-3-3 protein test has been shown to support the clinical diagnosis of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) when associated with an adequate clinical context, and a high differential potential for the diagnosis of sporadic CJD has been attributed to other cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) proteins such as tau protein, S100b and neuron specific enolase (NSE). So far there has been only limited information available about biochemical markers in genetic transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (gTSE), although they represent 10–15% of human TSEs. In this study, we analyzed CSF of 174 patients with gTSEs for 14-3-3 (n = 166), tau protein (n = 78), S100b (n = 46) and NSE (n = 50). Levels of brain-derived proteins in CSF varied in different forms of gTSE. Biomarkers were found positive in the majority of gCJD (81%) and insert gTSE (69%), while they were negative in most cases of fatal familial insomnia (13%) and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (10%). Disease duration and codon 129 genotype influence the findings in a different way than in sporadic CJD

A century of trends in adult human height

Being taller is associated with enhanced longevity, and higher education and earnings. We reanalysed 1472 population-based studies, with measurement of height on more than 18.6 million participants to estimate mean height for people born between 1896 and 1996 in 200 countries. The largest gain in adult height over the past century has occurred in South Korean women and Iranian men, who became 20.2 cm (95% credible interval 17.5-22.7) and 16.5 cm (13.3-19.7) taller, respectively. In contrast, there was little change in adult height in some sub-Saharan African countries and in South Asia over the century of analysis. The tallest people over these 100 years are men born in the Netherlands in the last quarter of 20th century, whose average heights surpassed 182.5 cm, and the shortest were women born in Guatemala in 1896 (140.3 cm; 135.8-144.8). The height differential between the tallest and shortest populations was 19-20 cm a century ago, and has remained the same for women and increased for men a century later despite substantial changes in the ranking of countries

2-Aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) is a reliable blocker of store-operated Ca²⁺ entry but an inconsistent inhibitor of InsP₃-induced Ca²⁺ release

Since its introduction to Ca2+ signaling in 1997, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (2-APB) has been used in many studies to probe for the involvement of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors in the generation of Ca2+ signals. Due to reports of some nonspecific actions of 2-APB, and the fact that its principal antagonistic effect is on CaCa2+ entry rather than Ca2+ release, this compound may not have the utility first suggested. However, 2-APB has thrown up some interesting results, particularly with respect to store-operated Ca2+ entry in nonexcitable cells. These data indicate that although it must be used with caution, 2-APB can be useful in probing certain aspects of Ca2+ signalin

Hydroalcoholic extract based-ointment from Punica granatum L. peels with enhanced in vivo healing potential on dermal wounds

International audienceThe present study reports for the first time, the in vivo wound healing potential of Punica granatum L. peels. A 5% (w/w) methanolic extract based-ointment was formulated and evaluated for its wound healing in guinea pigs. The ointment was applied in vivo on the paravertebral area of twelve excised wounded models once a day for 10 consecutive days. The ointment significantly enhanced the wound contraction and the period of epithelialization as assessed by the mechanical (contraction rate, tensile strength), the biochemical (increasing of collagen, DNA and proteins synthesis) and the histopathological characteristics. Such investigation was encouraged by the efficiency of the methanolic extract as antimicrobial and antioxidant. Indeed, the extract showed antioxidant activity as strong as natural and synthetic compounds (Trolox, BHA, Quercetin). Furthermore, the extract exhibited significant antibacterial and antifungal activity against almost all tested bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella anatum, Salmonella typhimurium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and fungi Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Trichopyton rubrum and Aspergillus niger. The formulated ointment might well find use as skin repair agent without hazard to human health based on these results and on the fact that it has been well established that the extracts of pomegranate used in conditions similar to those applied by traditional medicine, showed no toxic effects

Amino acid sequence analysis of the annexin super-gene family of proteins

The annexins are a widespread family of calcium-dependent membrane-binding proteins. No common function has been identilied for the family and, until recently, no crystallographic data existed for an annexin. In this paper we draw together 22 avallable annexin sequences consisting of gg similar repeat units, and apply the techniques of multiple sequence alignment, pattern matching, secondiry structure prediction and conservation analysis to the characterisation of the molecules. The analysiJ clearly shows that the iepeats cluster into four distinct families and that greatest variation occurs within the repeat 3 units. Multiple alignment of the 88 repeats shows amino acids withconserved phy_sicochemical properties at22 positions, *ittr otrty Gly at position i3 being absolutely conserved in all repeats. Secondary structure prediction techniques identify five conierved helices in"each r.p.ut unit and patterns of conserved hydrophobic amino acids are consistent wilh one face of a helix packing uguitrrt the_protein core in predicted helices a, c, d, e. Helix b is generally hydrophobic in all repeats, but co=ntiins a striking pattern of repeat-specifrc residue conservation at position:i, with Arg in repeats + and Clu i " r"p"uit z, but unconserved amino acids in repeats 1 and 3. This suggests repeats Z and, + may interact via a buried saltbridge. The loop between predicted helices a and b of repeit 3 shows features distinct from the equivalent loop in repeats 1,2 and 4, suggesting an important structurai and/or functional role for this region. No compelling evidence emerges from this _ study for uteroglobin and the annexins sharing similar tertiaiy structures, or fo