Revista de Bioanálise e Biomedicina

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of the cow milk into buffalo milk during cheese-making on their physical-chemical and mechanical properties. The cow milk was added (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%) into buffalo milk to produce the mozzarella. We evaluated the physical-chemical composition, textural profile analyzer and melt ability. The cow milk inclusion in the buffalo milk altered the L* value of the mozzarella, decreasing it, and the mozzarella chromaticity (a* and b*) linearly and positively. Those attributes (firmness, chewiness, elasticity and cohesivity) are affected with cow’s milk inclusion, producing the lowest firmness and elasticity, characterized as less firm samples. The same behavior was observed for to melt ability, which decreased with cow milk inclusion. The measures of instrumental color, texture and the melt ability indicated that the cheese made with different levels of cow’s milk presented distinct characteristics of the mozzarella from just buffalo milk. Instrumental tests as color, texture and melt ability can be used in the detection of the buffalo’s mozzarella adulteration by cow’s milk, showing a potential alternative for the quality control of the buffalo’s mozzarella cheese.

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that poses a burden to the health care system due to its prevalence and chronic nature. Understanding β cell pathophysiology may lead to future therapeutic options for diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2. MicroRNAs (MiR) fine-tune β cell biochemical cascades through specific protein targets. This review argues that miRs may play a critical role in human islet β cell biology and are potential candidates for a new pharmacological strategy. We have reviewed and presented how miRs fine tune four biochemical cascades in islet β cells: glucose stimulated insulin secretion, β cell replication, apoptosis, and development. Only studies that examine human pancreatic islets either in vitro or in vivo are included. The unveiling role of miR pathways in regulating human islet β cell biology could open the door for diagnostic and therapeutic methods for diabetes mellitus prevention and therapy.

Present study describes the comparative pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of meloxicam (0.5 mg.kg-1) alone its concurrent administration with ofloxacin (7.5 mg.kg-1) by intravenous route in yak and cattle. Plasma concentration of meloxicam was determined by HPLC assay and pharmacokinetic parameters by compartmental method using “PHARMKIT” software. Following intravenous administration of meloxicam alone, t1/2α, t1/2β, AUC, Vdarea and ClB values were found to be 0.21+0.04 h, 4.65+0.40 h, 25.46+1.22 μg/ml.h, 1.97+0.11 L/kg and 0.35+0.02 L/h/kg, respectively in yak and all these values were almost comparable to those found in cattle. But the values of K12/K21, Vc, Vp and fc differed significantly between yak and cattle. Further, no significant differences were observed in values of majority of the pharmacokinetic parameters between meloxicam alone or its concurrent administration with ofloxacin in yak and cattle except the values of Vc, Vp and T/P which differed significantly between alone and concurrent administration in yak but not in cattle. Based on pharmacokinetic variables, the loading and maintenance doses of meloxicam were found to be 1.05 and 0.88 mg.kg-1 body weight for yak and 0.97 and 0.79 mg.kg-1 for cattle and be repeated at 12 h interval. Results of present study further suggest that important pharmacokinetic parameters do not significantly differ between yak and cattle and meloxicam can be used at same dose levels in both the species and adjustment in dosage regimen of meloxicam is not warranted in either of the species, if to be used concurrently with ofloxacin.

recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia with thin corpus callosum (ARHSP-TCC) is one of the most prevalent forms of complex ARHSP. Mutations in the SPG11 gene are the most common cause for ARHSP-TCC and accounts for up to 70% of all cases. The mutational spectrum of SPG11 gene is broad as all types of DNA alterations are detected in the gene and most mutations lead to a premature truncation of the protein, suggesting “loss of function” as the likely pathogenic mechanism. In the current study, we report a consanguineous Turkish family with ARHSP inheritance manifesting white matter abnormalities including TCC with relatively late age of onset. Sequencing of SPG11 gene revealed a homozygous insertion of 15 nucleotides at position 6886 in exon 38 (c.6886_6900Dup15) leading to an in-frame insertion of five amino acids at codon 2296 (p.K2296_L2300Dup5), which resides within a predicted, highly conserved, intradiol ring-cleavage dioxygenase domain (2104 -2381 residues). In silico structural prediction of intradiol domain of the mutated Spatacsin protein revealed that the duplication of five amino acids leads to an extra turn in α-helix and a slightly longer loop region. Our structural analysis suggests that it is unlikely that insertion mutation (c.6886_6900Dup15) causes dysfunctional protein rather the minor conformation changes may elicit a “gain of function”, which may be detrimental to endogenous function of Spatacsin thus cause HSP.

Submerged cultures of two entomogenous fungi Isaria sinclairii and I. tenuipes have been optimized for polysaccharides production and their biological activities have been evaluated under present studies with using one- factor-at-a-time method. Combination of various factors influenced the higher polysaccharides production in both of the fungi. Polysaccharides production was influenced by different carbon, nitrogen and mineral sources. In vitro evaluation of EPS and IPS of both species showed significant antioxidant activities and high inhibition rate of peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids.