AIM: To evaluate the effects of surgical weight loss (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with a modified Fobi-Capella technique) on non alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese patients.
Mescaline,among the earliest identified natural hallucinogens,holds great potential in psychotherapy treatment.Nonetheless,despite the existence of a postulated biosynthetic pathway for more than half a century,the sp...Mescaline,among the earliest identified natural hallucinogens,holds great potential in psychotherapy treatment.Nonetheless,despite the existence of a postulated biosynthetic pathway for more than half a century,the specific enzymes involved in this process are yet to be identified.In this study,we investigated the cactus Lophophora williamsii(Peyote),the largest known natural producer of the phenethylamine mescaline.We employed a multi-faceted approach,combining de novo whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing with comprehensive chemical profiling,enzymatic assays,molecular modeling,and pathway engineering for pathway elucidation.We identified four groups of enzymes responsible for the six catalytic steps in the mescaline biosynthetic pathway,and an N-methyltransferase enzyme that N-methylates all phenethylamine intermediates,likely modulating mescaline levels in Peyote.Finally,we reconstructed the mescaline biosynthetic pathway in both Nicotiana benthamiana plants and yeast cells,providing novel insights into several challenges hindering complete heterologous mescaline production.Taken together,our study opens up avenues for exploration of sustainable production approaches and responsible utilization of mescaline,safeguarding this valuable natural resource for future generations.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the association between serum insulin-like growth factor 1 （IGF-1）, osteocalcin, and parathyroid hormone （PTH） levels with the etiology and clinical condition of patients with chronic liver di...AIM： To investigate the association between serum insulin-like growth factor 1 （IGF-1）, osteocalcin, and parathyroid hormone （PTH） levels with the etiology and clinical condition of patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS： Eighty children with hepatocellular damage were divided into 3 groups according to the etiology of disease infection： bilharziasis （9 patients）, hepatitis B virus （HBV, 12 patients） and hepatitis C virus （HCV, 29 patients）. The Child score index was found as A in 24 patients, B in 22 patients, C in 4 patients. Thirty healthy children served as control group.HBsAg, HBcAbIgM, HBcAbIgG, and anti-HCV were detected using ELISA technique. HCV-RNA was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Antibllharzial antibodies were detected by indirect haemagglutination test. Liver function tests were performed using autoanalyser. Serum IGF-1, osteocalcin and PTH levels were measured by ELISA technique. Abdominal ultrasonography was also conducted. RESULTS： Serum IGF-1 level was significantly lower in all patient groups with liver diseases, while serum osteocalcin and PTH levels were significantly elevated in patients with HBV and HCV infections compared with the control group. Serum osteocalcin and PTH concentrations were measured with the severity of liver disease from Child A to C. Child A patients unexpectedly showed significantly reduced IGF-1 levels in comparison to patients staged as Child B or C. Serum osteocalcin level was negatively correlated with albumin （14.7 ± 0.54 vs 3.6 ± 0.10, P 〈 0.05）, while that for PTH was positively correlated with total protein （70.1 ± 2.17 vs 6.7 ± 0.10, P 〈 0.05） in patients with HCV infection.展开更多
Objective: Appetite loss is seen in 90% to 95% of patients with acute appendicitis;however, the cause of this symptom remains unknown. This study is performed to determine whether changes in the blood levels of two an...Objective: Appetite loss is seen in 90% to 95% of patients with acute appendicitis;however, the cause of this symptom remains unknown. This study is performed to determine whether changes in the blood levels of two anorexigenic hormones, leptin and NUCB2/nesfatin-1, can help to diagnose acute appendicitis in children and whether these two parameters can distinguish acute appendicitis from abdominal pain. Methods: Sixty children with comparable ages and body mass indices are divided into three groups of 20 children each: those with acute appendicitis, those with abdominal pain, and controls. The blood sample with acute appendicitis is taken preoperatively (T1), and subsequent samples are taken 24 hrs postoperatively (T2) and 3 days postoperatively (T3). The blood sample with abdominal pain subjects is also taken in the corresponding times with those with acute appendicitis while blood sample from controls is only taken in the T1 corresponding time. Leptin and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels are measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The serum leptin levels are significantly higher preoperatively than postoperatively in all three groups. The NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels at T1 in acute appendicitis are significantly higher than those at T2 in all three groups, but are restored at T3 to levels similar to those of controls. Neutrophil percentage has a sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 76.32%, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 level has a sensitivity of 47% and specificity of 95%, and the leptin level has a sensitivity of 64% and specificity of 51% in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Conclusions: High preoperative leptin and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels may be a causative factor for appetite suppression observed in patients with acute appendicitis. High preoperative and low postoperative serum leptin and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 concentrations may serve as new candidate biomarkers that help to distinguish acute appendicitis from abdominal pain in children in addition to high CRP concentration, high WBC count, and neutrophilia.展开更多
It is now well established that the insulin-binding macromolecules of fat cell membranes are proteins containing complex carbohydrates, and a number of biologically active molecules, such as hormones, lectins and toxi...It is now well established that the insulin-binding macromolecules of fat cell membranes are proteins containing complex carbohydrates, and a number of biologically active molecules, such as hormones, lectins and toxins, can influence the metabolism of the adipocyte by interaction with glycosylated components on its surface membrane.展开更多
基金Supported by The Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria del Instituto de Salud Carlos Ⅲ of the Spanish Ministry for Health and Consumer Affairs,No. PI030042,PI030024,PI070079 and PI11/001159
文摘AIM: To evaluate the effects of surgical weight loss (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with a modified Fobi-Capella technique) on non alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese patients.
基金fellowships from the Israel Ministry of Absorption and the Dean of the Plant Science Department in the Weizmann Institute.We thank Prof.David Nelson(University of Tennessee,USA)for the systematic naming of the cytochrome P450 enzymes characterized in this studyShmuel Regev and The Regev Nursery(Beit Elazari,Israel)for help in differentiating among Lophophora species+2 种基金Dr.Ziv Spiegelman for providing several N.benthamiana plantsXINTEZA(https://xinteza.com/)for funding this researchand the Adelis Foundation,the Leona M.and Harry B.Helmsley Charitable Trust,the Jeanne and Joseph Nissim Foundation for Life Sciences,Tom and Sondra Rykoff Family Foundation Research,Ron Sklare and the Raymond Burton Plant Genome Research Fund for supporting the A.A.laboratory。
文摘Mescaline,among the earliest identified natural hallucinogens,holds great potential in psychotherapy treatment.Nonetheless,despite the existence of a postulated biosynthetic pathway for more than half a century,the specific enzymes involved in this process are yet to be identified.In this study,we investigated the cactus Lophophora williamsii(Peyote),the largest known natural producer of the phenethylamine mescaline.We employed a multi-faceted approach,combining de novo whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing with comprehensive chemical profiling,enzymatic assays,molecular modeling,and pathway engineering for pathway elucidation.We identified four groups of enzymes responsible for the six catalytic steps in the mescaline biosynthetic pathway,and an N-methyltransferase enzyme that N-methylates all phenethylamine intermediates,likely modulating mescaline levels in Peyote.Finally,we reconstructed the mescaline biosynthetic pathway in both Nicotiana benthamiana plants and yeast cells,providing novel insights into several challenges hindering complete heterologous mescaline production.Taken together,our study opens up avenues for exploration of sustainable production approaches and responsible utilization of mescaline,safeguarding this valuable natural resource for future generations.
基金Supported by the National Research Centre during the research plan from 2001-2004 by projects 5/4/5 and 5/5/5 in collaboration with National Liver Institute of Menoufyia University
文摘AIM： To investigate the association between serum insulin-like growth factor 1 （IGF-1）, osteocalcin, and parathyroid hormone （PTH） levels with the etiology and clinical condition of patients with chronic liver disease. METHODS： Eighty children with hepatocellular damage were divided into 3 groups according to the etiology of disease infection： bilharziasis （9 patients）, hepatitis B virus （HBV, 12 patients） and hepatitis C virus （HCV, 29 patients）. The Child score index was found as A in 24 patients, B in 22 patients, C in 4 patients. Thirty healthy children served as control group.HBsAg, HBcAbIgM, HBcAbIgG, and anti-HCV were detected using ELISA technique. HCV-RNA was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Antibllharzial antibodies were detected by indirect haemagglutination test. Liver function tests were performed using autoanalyser. Serum IGF-1, osteocalcin and PTH levels were measured by ELISA technique. Abdominal ultrasonography was also conducted. RESULTS： Serum IGF-1 level was significantly lower in all patient groups with liver diseases, while serum osteocalcin and PTH levels were significantly elevated in patients with HBV and HCV infections compared with the control group. Serum osteocalcin and PTH concentrations were measured with the severity of liver disease from Child A to C. Child A patients unexpectedly showed significantly reduced IGF-1 levels in comparison to patients staged as Child B or C. Serum osteocalcin level was negatively correlated with albumin （14.7 ± 0.54 vs 3.6 ± 0.10, P 〈 0.05）, while that for PTH was positively correlated with total protein （70.1 ± 2.17 vs 6.7 ± 0.10, P 〈 0.05） in patients with HCV infection.
文摘Objective: Appetite loss is seen in 90% to 95% of patients with acute appendicitis;however, the cause of this symptom remains unknown. This study is performed to determine whether changes in the blood levels of two anorexigenic hormones, leptin and NUCB2/nesfatin-1, can help to diagnose acute appendicitis in children and whether these two parameters can distinguish acute appendicitis from abdominal pain. Methods: Sixty children with comparable ages and body mass indices are divided into three groups of 20 children each: those with acute appendicitis, those with abdominal pain, and controls. The blood sample with acute appendicitis is taken preoperatively (T1), and subsequent samples are taken 24 hrs postoperatively (T2) and 3 days postoperatively (T3). The blood sample with abdominal pain subjects is also taken in the corresponding times with those with acute appendicitis while blood sample from controls is only taken in the T1 corresponding time. Leptin and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels are measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The serum leptin levels are significantly higher preoperatively than postoperatively in all three groups. The NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels at T1 in acute appendicitis are significantly higher than those at T2 in all three groups, but are restored at T3 to levels similar to those of controls. Neutrophil percentage has a sensitivity of 100%, and specificity of 76.32%, NUCB2/nesfatin-1 level has a sensitivity of 47% and specificity of 95%, and the leptin level has a sensitivity of 64% and specificity of 51% in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. Conclusions: High preoperative leptin and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 levels may be a causative factor for appetite suppression observed in patients with acute appendicitis. High preoperative and low postoperative serum leptin and NUCB2/nesfatin-1 concentrations may serve as new candidate biomarkers that help to distinguish acute appendicitis from abdominal pain in children in addition to high CRP concentration, high WBC count, and neutrophilia.
文摘It is now well established that the insulin-binding macromolecules of fat cell membranes are proteins containing complex carbohydrates, and a number of biologically active molecules, such as hormones, lectins and toxins, can influence the metabolism of the adipocyte by interaction with glycosylated components on its surface membrane.
