Soluble C-Type Lectin-Like Receptor 2 Elevation in Patients with Acute Cerebral Infarction

Background: Acute cerebral infarction (ACI) includes cardiogenic ACI treated with anticoagulants and atherosclerotic ACI treated with antiplatelet agents. The differential diagnosis between cardiogenic and atherosclerotic ACI is still difficult. Materials and Methods: The plasma sCLEC-2 and D-dimer levels were measured using the STACIA system. Results: The plasma sCLEC-2 level was significantly high in patients with ACI, especially those in patients with atherosclerotic or lacunar ACI, and plasma D-dimer levels were significantly high in patients with cardioembolic ACI. The plasma levels of sCLEC-2 and the sCLEC-2/D-dimer ratios in patients with atherosclerotic or lacunar ACI were significantly higher than those in patients with cardioembolic ACI. The plasma D-dimer levels in patients with atherosclerotic or lacunar ACI were significantly lower than those in patients with cardioembolic ACI. The plasma levels of sCLEC-2 and the sCLEC-2/D-dimer ratios were significantly higher in patients with atherosclerotic or lacunar ACI or acute myocardial infarction in comparison to patients with cardioembolic ACI or those with deep vein thrombosis. Conclusion: Using both the plasma sCLEC-2 and D-dimer levels may be useful for the diagnosis of ACI, and differentiating between atherosclerotic and cardioembolic ACI.

Soluble C-Type Lectin-Like Receptor 2 Is a Biomarker for Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is induced by excess activation coagulation, and activated platelets are also involved in pathogenesis. Therefore, plasma levels of soluble C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (sCLEC-2), a new marker for platelet activation, can be expected as a marker of DIC in critically ill patients. Plasma levels of sCLEC-2 and D-dimer were measured using the STACIA system. Plasma sCLEC-2 and D-dimer levels were significantly higher in patients with underlying diseases of DIC than in those with unidentified clinical syndrome (UCS). Plasma sCLEC-2 levels were significantly higher in the patients with DIC and Pre-DIC than in those without DIC or Pre-DIC. Similarly, plasma D-dimer levels were also significantly higher in patients with DIC and Pre-DIC than in those without DIC or Pre-DIC. The plasma sCLEC-2 levels in all patients and those with a DIC score ≤ 4 were significantly higher in non-survivors than survivors. The plasma D-dimer levels in all patients, those with a DIC score ≥ 5 and those with a DIC score ≤ 4, were significantly higher in non-survivors than in survivors. The plasma sCLEC-2 is expected as a marker for DIC/Pre-DIC as well as the prognostic marker in critically ill patients.

Heterologous Expression and Biochemical Characterization of the Human Zinc Transporter 1 (ZnT1) and Its Soluble C-Terminal Domain

Human zinc transporter 1 (hZnT1) belongs to the cation diffusion facilitator (CDF) family. It plays a major role in transporting zinc (Zn2+) from the cytoplasm across the plasma membrane and into the extracellular space thereby protecting cells from Zn2+ toxicity. Through homology with other CDF family members, ZnT1 is predicted to contain a transmembrane region and a soluble C-terminal domain though little is known about its biochemistry. Here, we demonstrate that human ZnT1 and a variant can be produced by heterologous expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells and purified in the presence of detergent and cholesteryl hemisuccinate. We show that the purified hZnT1 variant has Zn2+/H+ antiporter activity. Furthermore, we expressed, purified and characterized the soluble C-terminal domain of hZnT1 (hZnT1-CTD) in a bacterial expression system. We found that the hZnT1-CTD melting temperature increases at acidic pH, thus, we used an acetate buffer at pH 4.5 for purifications and concentration of the protein up to 12 mg/mL. Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis of hZnT1-CTD is consistent with the formation of a dimer in solution with a V-shaped core.

Ethnomedicinal Information and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis of Water Soluble Vitamins (C, B1, B3, B6, folic acid) and Fat Soluble Vitamins (A, D3, E) of Three Consumable Parts of Musa paradisiaca: Cultivated in Tripura, India

Musa paradisiaca (Banana plant), which belongs to Musaceae, is a tropical plant-based fruit crop for Tripura, India. The main consumable parts of the banana plant are fruit, stem, and flower. This study aims to ethonomedicinal survey and determine the water-soluble (C, B1, B3, B6, folic acid) and fat-soluble (A, D3, E) vitamins of three consumable parts (unripe fruit, stem, and flower) of Musa paradisiaca, cultivated in Tripura, India. Ethnomedicinal information of plant samples were collected by field survey method. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method was used for the determination of water-soluble (C, B1, B3, B6, folic acid) and fat-soluble (A, D3, E) vitamins. From ethnomedicinal survey it was observed that three edible parts of Musa paradisiaca to have medicinal values. The results revealed that banana fruit and banana stem contained an appreciated amount of water-soluble vitamins (C, B1, B3, B6, folic acid) compared to banana flowers. The content of vitamin C of banana fruit, banana stem, and the banana flower was 1.3±0.2 mg/g dry powder, 1.8±0.3 mg/g dry powder, and 0.7±0.2 mg/g dry powder respectively. In fat-soluble vitamins, vitamin A was present in a fair amount of banana fruit (18.3±3.8 mg/g dry powder), stem (11.8±2.3 mg/g dry powder), and flower (10.7±1.6 mg/g dry powder). Results suggested that frequent intake of the banana's consumable parts may minimize vitamin deficiency in the human body.

The size and the age of the metabolically active carbon in tree roots

Little is known about the sources and age of C respired from tree roots. Previous research in tree stems has identified two functional pools of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC): an ‘active’ pool supplied directly from canopy photo-assimilates that supports metabolism and a ‘stored’ pool used when fresh C supplies are limited. We compared the C isotope composition of water soluble NSC and respired CO for aspen roots (Populus tremula hybrids) that were cut off fresh C supply via stem-girdling and prolonged incubation of excised roots. We used bomb radiocarbon to estimate the time elapsed since C fixation for respired CO, water-soluble C, and structural α-cellulose. While freshly excised roots respired CO with mean age <1 yr, within a week the age increased to 1.6-2.9 yr. Freshly excised roots from trees girdled ~3 months previously had similar respiration rates and NSC stocks as un-girdled trees, but respired older C (~1.2 yr). We estimate the NSC in girdled roots must be replaced 5-7 times by reserves remobilized from root-external sources. Using a mixing model and observed correlations between ΔC of water-soluble C and α-cellulose, we estimate ~30% of C is ‘active’ (~5 mg C g).

Understanding the interdependent cycles of soil carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus during soil saturation events

&lt;p&gt;With climate change, much of the world will experience devastating shifts in weather patterns like increased flooding, intensifying periods of soil saturation. Soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) cycles are sensitive to changes in soil saturation, where exchange between the mineral-bound and the soluble bioavailable pools can occur with increases in moisture content. With soil saturation, C, N, and P may be mobilized either through greater diffusion or reduced conditions that cause desorption of mineral-bound C, N and P into their respective soluble pools. De-sorption, resorption and diffusion dynamics of C, N, and P may or may not reflect the stoichiometry of the mineral bound pool. Changes in bioavailable soluble C, N and P that could occur with soil saturation and drying may cause unknown consequences for microbial biomass C:N:P. With increases in soil moisture, simultaneous changes in both substrate stoichiometry and microbial growth may occur that impact microbial biomass stoichiometry. &amp;#160;Such changes in microbial stoichiometry and microbial retention of C, N, and P may affect the post-flood fate of soluble C, N, and P. Understanding how releases in mineral bound C, N and P alter the bioavailable C:N:P and how this in turn impacts microbial activity and accumulation of these substrates can inform predictions of retention or losses of C, N and P following soil saturation events.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To determine if mineral-bound, soluble and microbial biomass stoichiometry is maintained or altered during and after soil saturation events, we used a laboratory incubation approach with manipulated soil saturation and duration. Soil incubations were maintained at three water-holding capacity (WHC) levels: 20% (control), 50%, (moderate) and 100% (severe). We maintained the moderate and severe water-logging treatments for &amp;#160;0.5 h, 24 h, 1 week, followed by air-drying to 20% WHC to examine the influence of flood duration. To understand the exchanges of C, N and P between different pools during flooding, we compared changes in soluble and mineral bound soil C, N and P and impacts on microbial C, N, and P exo-cellular enzymes, and microbial biomass C:N:P. Preliminary results indicate that greater soil moisture content increases soluble P and that the 24 hour flood period captures shifts in the mineral bound P pool that do not remain for the longer flood period (1 week). Enzyme activity similarly reflects an increase in microbial activity in the soil held at 50% and 100% moisture content for 24 hours. We also discuss how soil moisture levels and flood duration impact soluble and mineral bound C relative to P, and how microbial biomass C:N:P tracks these fractions. By exploring the combined response of mineral-bound and soluble C, N, and P to variation in soil saturation, we can better understand how different flood scenarios will impact soil C, N and P retention.&lt;/p&gt;