Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), flame retardant compounds used in epoxy resin circuit boards and upholstery, contaminate the environment and are found in human serum. Lymphocytes and monocytes are immune cells that among other functions secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β, an important regulator of immune responsiveness and tissue growth and repair. Thus, if its levels are dysregulated, loss of proper immune function and increased invasiveness of tumors could ensue. This study examines whether exposures to varying concentrations (0.05-5.0 μM) of TBBPA and HBCD for 24 hr, 48 hr, and 6 d interfere with the ability of immune cells to secrete IL-1β. The immune cell preparations examined were human natural killer (NK) cells, monocyte-depleted (MD) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MD-PBMC) and PBMC. Both increased and decreased secretion of IL-1β from all three types of cell preparation was seen with TBBPA exposures and was dependent on concentration and length of exposure. TBBPA induced changes varied considerably from donor to donor. Exposure to HBCD from 0.5-5.0 μM caused increases in IL-1β secretion after all lengths of exposures in all cell preparations. The specific HBCD levels at which increases occurred varied among donors. Examinations of the signaling pathway(s) responsible for the elevated secretion of IL-1β after HBCD exposure were carried out in MD-PBMC cells. Results revealed that MAPK pathways (ERK1/2 and p38) appear to be the targets of HBCD that lead to increased IL-1β secretion from immune cells.

Probiotics containing food supplements available in Bangladesh market were identified and collected for assessment. To assess their label claim, they were resuspended into sterile distilled water. Then, series dilutions of each sample solution were prepared and immediately plated out, in duplicate, into De Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) agar. These plates were then incubated at 37°C for 48 hours and colonies were counted. Viable cell numbers stated on the labels were compared with actual viable cell numbers. To assess the viability of the probiotics included in the products, probiotic strains were isolated from each of the four products and screened for inhibitory activity against six indicator strains. It was surprisingly found that although the viable cell numbers of all supplements were three to four log cycles lower than label claim of the products, however, this problem did not affect the inhibitory activity of the probiotic strains against indicator strains according to in vitro assessment. Legislation and regulation regarding prebiotic-probiotic containing products should be built up in Bangladesh to ensure quality products supply to the consumers. Moreover, manufacturers of probiotic containing products should take the responsibility for providing the consumer with scientifically and legally correct information.

The interaction of nucleic acids with their molecular targets often involves structural reorganization that may traverse a complex folding landscape. With the more recent recognition that many RNAs, both coding and noncoding, may regulate cellular activities by interacting with target molecules, it becomes increasingly important to understand the means by which nucleic acids interact with their targets and how drugs might be developed that can influence critical folding transitions. We have extensively investigated the interaction of the Spinach2 and Broccoli aptamers with a library of small molecule ligands modified by various extensions from the imido nitrogen of DFHBI (3,5-difluoro-4-hydroxybenzylidene imidazolinone) that reach out from the Spinach2 ligand binding pocket. Studies of the interaction of these compounds with the aptamers revealed that poly-fluorophenyl-modified ligands initiate a slow change in aptamer affinity that takes an extended time (half-life of ~40 min) to achieve. The change in affinity appears to involve an initial disruption of the entrance to the ligand binding pocket followed by a gradual lockdown for which the most likely driving force is an interaction of the gateway adenine with a nearby 2’OH group. These results suggest that poly-fluorophenyl modifications might increase the ability of small molecule drugs to disrupt local structure and promote RNA remodeling.

This study was conducted to explore the risk factors of the patients of ischemic heart disorder. Data were collected by questionnaires on the basis of age, sex, body mass index, smoking and presence or absence of other diseases like lung, kidney, thyroid and peripheral vascular diseases, diabetes etc. Data of 150 patients were analyzed statistically. Males were found more vulnerable to ischemic heart disorder than females. This study also indicates that increased body weight, higher body mass index, hypertension, smoking, sedenatary life style and family history of cardiac diseases are influential risk factors for ischemic heart disorder. Key Words: Ischemic heart disorder, body mass index, physical activity, risk factors. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v1i4.10060International Current Pharmaceutical Journal 2012, 1(4): 68-70

The rhizosphere is a small region surrounding plant roots that is enriched in biochemicals from root exudates and populated with fungi, nematode, and bacteria. Interaction of rhizosphere organisms with plants is mainly promoted by exudates from the roots. Root exudates contain biochemicals that come from primary and secondary metabolisms of plants. These biochemicals attract microbes, which influence plant nutrition. The rhizosphere bacteria (microbiome) are vital to plant nutrient uptake and influence biotic and abiotic stress and pathogenesis. Pseudomonas is a genus of gammaproteobacteria known for its ubiquitous presence in natural habitats and its striking ecological, metabolic, and biochemical diversity. Within the genus, members of the Pseudomonas fluorescens group are common inhabitants of soil and plant surfaces, and certain strains function in the biological control of plant disease, protecting plants from infection by soilborne and aerial plant pathogens. The soil bacterium Pseudomonas protegens Pf‐5 (also known as Pseudomonas fluorescensPf‐5) is a well‐characterized biological strain, which is distinguished by its prolific production of the secondary metabolite, pyoverdine. Knowledge of the distribution of P. fluorescens secretory activity around plant roots is very important for understanding the interaction between P. fluorescens and plants and can be achieved by real time tracking of pyoverdine. To achieve the capability of real‐time tracking in soil, we have used a structure‐switching SELEX strategy to select high affinity ssDNA and 2’ F‐Y‐RNA aptamers with specificity for pyoverdine over other siderophores. Pyoverdines from various strains possess a conserved chromophore along with strain‐specific peptide chain. Some of the isolated aptamers bind to chromophore of pyoverdine. These will identify pyoverdines from a variety of pseudomonads. Identification of aptamers that selectively bind the peptide portion of pyoverdine Pf‐5 is underway. The identified aptamers that are broadly and narrowly specific for pyoverdines or Pf‐5 will be optimized for integration into an electrochemical biosensor to track, in real time, P fluorescens activity and other pseudomonads in and around the rhizosphere.