1.
Cloning and characterization of a gene encoding novel zinc finger protein transcription factor induced under water deficit stress from rice (Oryza sativa) cv. N-22.
Soren, KR, Ali, K, Tyagi, A
Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics. 2012;(1):36-41
Abstract
A gene OsZnI encoding Cys3/His1-type zinc finger protein was isolated from the water stress-induced cDNA library of rice (Oryza sativa) cv. N-22, an early maturing, deep-rooted, drought-tolerant genotype adapted to upland conditions. The in-silico analysis revealed an insert of 800 bp with an ORF of 663 nucleotides, encoding 221 amino acids. OsZnI had three distinct features--nuclear localization signal (NLS) present in Arg152-Arg168, Zn finger domain between 185-193 amino acids and 12 amino acids conserved domain in 71-82 amino acids homologous to LEA motif, and belonged to C-type family of Zn finger protein. OsZnI showed induced expression under water deficit stress.
2.
The value of immunohistochemical expression of TTF-1, CK7 and CK20 in the diagnosis of primary and secondary lung carcinomas.
Al-Zahrani, IH
Saudi medical journal. 2008;(7):957-61
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To study the value of immunohistochemical staining of thyroid transcription factor-1 TTF-1, cytokeratin 7 CK7, and cytokeratin 20 CK20 in the differentiation between primary and secondary pulmonary carcinomas. METHODS Forty-three cases of lung carcinoma, 14 squamous cell carcinoma, 12 adenocarcinoma, 8 small cell carcinoma, 3 mesothelioma, and 6 metastatic tumors, were collected from the files of the Pathology Department, King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between 2004 and 2006. All cases were stained immunohistochemically following Avidin biotin method using monoclonal antibodies to TTF-1, CK7, and CK20. RESULTS Immunohistochemical staining of 43 cases of lung carcinoma revealed nuclear immunoreactivity for TTF-1 in all primary adenocarcinoma, and small cell carcinoma, while cases of squamous cell carcinoma were negative. Mesotheliomas were negative to TTF-1, CK7, and CK20. Metastatic tumors except for one case metastatic from the thyroid gland were negative to TTF-1. Cytokeratin 7 was positively expressed in primary tumors of lung, as well as metastatic tumors from the thyroid and breast. Cytokeratin 20 was negative in all primary lung tumors, while positive in metastatic carcinomas from the colon. CONCLUSION Thyroid transcription factor-1 is a sensitive marker for diagnosis of primary pulmonary adenocarcinoma, and differentiation between poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Cytokeratin 20 could be a marker for metastatic tumors from the colon to the lung since it was negative in all primary lung tumors.
3.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand bezafibrate for prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with coronary artery disease.
Tenenbaum, A, Motro, M, Fisman, EZ, Schwammenthal, E, Adler, Y, Goldenberg, I, Leor, J, Boyko, V, Mandelzweig, L, Behar, S
Circulation. 2004;(18):2197-202
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that type 2 diabetes is preventable by both lifestyle interventions and medications that influence primary glucose metabolism. Whether pharmacological interventions that influence primary lipid metabolism can also delay development of type 2 diabetes is unknown. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ligand bezafibrate on the progression of impaired fasting glucose phase to type 2 diabetes in patients with coronary artery disease over a 6.2-year follow-up period. METHODS AND RESULTS The study sample comprised 303 nondiabetic patients 42 to 74 years of age with a fasting blood glucose level of 110 to 125 mg/dL (6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L). The patients received either 400 mg bezafibrate retard (156 patients) or placebo (147 patients) once a day. No patients were using statins, and use of ACE inhibitors, which also reduce diabetes incidence, was relatively low. During follow-up, development of new-onset diabetes was recorded in 146 patients: in 80 (54.4%) from the placebo group and 66 (42.3%) from the bezafibrate group (P=0.04). The mean time until onset of new diabetes was significantly delayed in patients on bezafibrate compared with patients on placebo: 4.6+/-2.3 versus 3.8+/-2.6 years (P=0.004). Multivariate analysis identified bezafibrate treatment as an independent predictor of reduced risk of new diabetes development (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.99). Other significant variables associated with future overt type 2 diabetes in patients with impaired fasting glucose were total cholesterol level (hazard ratio, 1.22; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.51) and body mass index (hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.16). CONCLUSIONS Bezafibrate reduces the incidence and delays the onset of type 2 diabetes in patients with impaired fasting glucose. Whether the combination of bezafibrate with other recommended drugs for secondary prevention (statins and ACE inhibitors) would be as efficacious as suggested by our results remains to be determined.