How Do Shipworms Eat Wood? Screening Shipworm Gill Symbiont Genomes for Lignin-Modifying Enzymes

Shipworms are ecologically and economically important mollusks that feed on woody plant material (lignocellulosic biomass) in marine environments. Digestion occurs in a specialized cecum, reported to be virtually sterile and lacking resident gut microbiota. Wood-degrading CAZymes are produced both endogenously and by gill endosymbiotic bacteria, with extracellular enzymes from the latter being transported to the gut. Previous research has predominantly focused on how these animals process the cellulose component of woody plant material, neglecting the breakdown of lignin – a tough, aromatic polymer which blocks access to the holocellulose components of wood. Enzymatic or non-enzymatic modification and depolymerization of lignin has been shown to be required in other wood-degrading biological systems as a precursor to cellulose deconstruction. We investigated the genomes of five shipworm gill bacterial symbionts obtained from the Joint Genome Institute Integrated Microbial Genomes and Microbiomes Expert Review for the production of lignin-modifying enzymes, or ligninases. The genomes were searched for putative ligninases using the Joint Genome Institute’s Function Profile tool and blastp analyses. The resulting proteins were then modeled using SWISS-MODEL. Although each bacterial genome possessed at least four predicted ligninases, the percent identities and protein models were of low quality and were unreliable. Prior research demonstrates limited endogenous ability of shipworms to modify lignin at the chemical/molecular level. Similarly, our results reveal that shipworm bacterial gill-symbiont enzymes are unlikely to play a role in lignin modification during lignocellulose digestion in the shipworm gut. This suggests that our understanding of how these keystone organisms digest and process lignocellulose is incomplete, and further research into non-enzymatic and/or other unknown mechanisms for lignin modification is required.

Case report: MRI findings of acute uremic encephalopathy in a 1-year-old boy

We present a 1-year-old boy who presented to the emergency department with a 7-day history of diarrhoea and vomiting. The initial renal function profile demonstrated a urea of 55 mmol l−1 (normal range between 5 and 20 mmol l−1), creatinine 695 micromol/L (normal range between 62–106 micromol/L) and potassium 9.1 mmol l−1 (normal range between 3.5–5.0 mmol l−1), with a profound metabolic acidosis. Upon examination, there were no significant findings, specifically no neurological abnormality. He was prescribed back-to-back Salbutamol nebulisers, to increase the shift of extracellular potassium into the intracellular space, followed by i.v. calcium gluconate, with some improvement in potassium levels. A further 5 mmol of sodium bicarbonate was given, as well as a stat dose of 1 mg/kg furosemide, and per rectal calcium resonium. He was then commenced on an infusion with 10% dextrose with insulin. He was subsequently found to be in urinary retention and a catheter was inserted, which drained 1700 ml. A subsequent renal function profile, 24 hours after admission, demonstrated improvement with urea 39 mmol l−1, creatinine 300 micromol/L and potassium 3.0 mEq/L.

Hypolipidemic effects of curcumin, cinnamon, vitamin C and simvastatin in domestic rabbits

This study investigated the hypolipidemic effects of curcumin, cinnamon, vitamin C and simvastatin in male rabbits. The hypolipidemic effect of these materials were assessed by following the effects on body weight, the lipid profile and liver enzymes. The lipid profile includes total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL). The liver activities enzymes include aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum. Highly significant increases in lipid profile parameters of rabbit group were found in rabbits fed with high lipid diet only over the respective values in the control group. Liver function profile showed a significant increase in this group as compared to those in the control group. The groups treated with curcumin, cinnamon, vitamin C and simvastatin showed a variable significant decrease in lipid profile in this order: cinnamon > vitamin C > simvastatin > curcumin and in liver functions profile in this order: curcumin > simvastatin > vitamin C > cinnamon. Groups treated with these materials showed significant body loss as compared to untreated rabbits in this order: cinnamon > curcumin > vitamin C > simvastatin.

Effect of Vitamin C Supplementation on Serum Ascorbic Acid Level and Liver Function Profile in Healthy Individuals

This study was conducted to explore the effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on serum liver function tests in healthy individuals. A total of 200 subjects were selected randomly. 100 were given ascorbic acid supplementation for 30 days. The other 100 were not given ascorbic acid supplementation, and serum ascorbic acid level and liver function profile was observed before and after intake of ascorbic acid in group A and without intake in group B. The liver function parameters determined were aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, indirect bilirubin and serum protein (total protein, albumin and globulin). These parameters along with serum ascorbic acid were measured before and 30 days after vitamin C supplementation. Various parameters of liver function profile were improved swiftly when compared to other group which was not given ascorbic acid supplementation. While comparing the two treatment groups for 30 days, statistically significant improvement was seen in serum ascorbic acid levels (p<0.001) along with improvement in some components of liver function profile such as serum ALT (p<0.01), AST (p<0.01), Total Bilirubin (p<0.01) and Direct bilirubin (p<0.001), Total Proteins (p<0.01) and Albumin (p<0.001) in group A as compared to Group B (without vitamin C supplementation intake). Conclusively, Liver Functions were significantly improved with vitamin C supplementation, giving the supportive evidence of the use of vitamin C as an antioxidant.

Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Emphysema

Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema (CPFE) is a clinical entity characterized by the combination of upper lobe emphysema and lower lobe fibrosis, the latter owing to various interstitial lung diseases. These patients have a characteristic lung function profile, with relatively preserved dynamic and static lung volumes, contrasting with a significant reduction of carbon monoxide transfer. The pathogenic mechanisms leading to the coexistence of emphysema with fibrosis remain unclear and different theories have been proposed. CPFE is frequently complicated by pulmonary hypertension, acute exacerbations, and lung cancer leading to poor natural history and prognosis. The syndrome of CPFE represents a distinct pulmonary manifestation in the spectrum of lung diseases associated with connective tissue diseases. Currently, there are no established recommendations regarding the management of patients with CPFE. We provide a review on the existing knowledge of CPFE regarding the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, radiologic appearance, complications, prognosis, and possible treatment options.

Biochemical study on immunomodulation and safety margin of inosine acedoben dimepranol before and after vaccination

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunopotentiating effect of IAD in broiler chickens either vaccinated or unvaccinated and to evaluate the safety profile of IAD after treatment with escalating doses. To assess the immunological effect of IAD, eighty chicks were used and divided into four groups. First group kept as control group, second received Isoprinosine (16.3 mg/kg, day after day), third received a routine New Castle disease virus vaccine and the last group received both treatments of Isoprinosine and ND vaccine. The second part of the study aimed to evaluate the safety profile of IAD, to achieve this aim eighty chicks were used, divided equally and given different concentration of IAD 8.15, 16.3, 32.6 mg/kg day after day repetitively. We concluded that, IAD enhanced both nonspecific and specific immune responses in broiler chicken, especially in vaccinated ones, in terms of increased antibody and decreased NDV titers, indicated by HI and PCR, respectively. Also, IAD showed dose-dependent good safety profile, including blood picture, organ function profile and metabolic parameters, indicated by biochemical analyses.