No description available.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters use the power of ATP binding and hydrolysis to deliver a wide variety of molecules across membrane bilayers. Crystal structures in the past two decades have provided snapshots of these transporters under various conditions, which revealed conformational changes of transporters upon substrate and ATP binding along the transport pathway. However, understanding of kinetics of substate translocation and the knowledge of transient intermediates along the transport pathway remain primitive, especially for Type II ABC importers. In this thesis work, I employed fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to study the transport mechanism of BtuCD, a model type II ABC importer that transports vitamin B12. I also exploited the photophysical property of the transport substrate, B12, that quenches the fluorescence of certain fluorophores nearby through FRET, which enables the monitoring of B12 binding and release. Our ensemble FRET data showed the binding of B12 and nucleotide both weaken the interaction between BtuCD and BtuF. Our single-molecule FRET (smFRET) experiments not only revealed stepwise movement of substrate molecule through the transporter in real-time and at the single-molecule level, but also yielded the rates of transition between individual conformational states, which had not been previously characterized in any other transporters. The results showed that ATP hydrolysis, instead of ATP binding, drives the power-stroke for the transport cycle. They also showed two sequential ATP hydrolysis events are required to complete a transport cycle, with the first ATP hydrolysis event delivering B12 into the cavity of BtuCD and the second resetting the BtuCD-F complex for a new cycle of transport.

Yes / Background: The incidence of self-reported premature hair graying (PHG) seems to be on the rise. PHG has a profound impact on the patient's quality of life. It remains an incompletely understood etiology with limited and modest treatment options. Aim: The evaluation of the demographic and clinical profile of patients with premature canities, and exploration of the association of this entity with certain systemic disorders suspected to be related to its etiology. Methods: Seventy-one cases of premature canities (onset noticed by patients before 25 years of age) presenting to an urban skin clinic in Gurugram, India, between September 2012 and September 2015 with this complaint were retrospectively analyzed. The patient records were retrieved that provided details of the onset, duration and pattern of involvement, history, and examination findings (scalp, cutis, and general physical). Since all these patients had been screened for anemia, thyroid disorder, fasting blood glucose, and Vitamin B12 levels at the time of presentation, these parameters were also available for analysis. Results: The mean age at onset of graying was 10.2 ± 3.6 years (range: 5–19 years), with an almost equal gender distribution. The earliest age of onset recorded was 5 years. A positive family history of PHG (at least one of the biological parents or siblings) was obtained in 64 (90.1%) of the cases. The temporal regions of the scalp (35.2%) were most commonly involved followed by the frontal region (18.3%). Hypovitaminosis B12 and hypothyroidism showed significant association with the disorder, whereas anemia, serum ferritin, and fasting blood glucose did not. Conclusion: The age of onset of hair graying can be as low as 5 years. Temporal and frontal areas are the most commonly involved sites. A strong family history, Vitamin B12 deficiency, and hypothyroidism are strongly associated with PHG. Larger case–control studies are mandated for discerning the correlation of these and other risk factors with PHG.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (MSc) -- Stellenbosch University, 1990. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main aim of this workpiece was to establish the physiological parameters against which a vitamin Bu deficiency could be measured. A comparison between the hematological values of healthy patients and those suffering from pernicious anemia due to vitamin Bu deficiency was done. A specific case of pernicious anemia was used in the comparison of abnormal values to the values of normal healthy patients. The comparison consisted of blood analyses with the help of specified instruments, photomicrographs of bone marrow and blood smears and statistical data. A Coulter Counter Model ZF was used for the hematological analyses of blood, a radio-isotope assay for serum vitamin B u was done and photomicrographs were taken with a NIKON Microflex camera with photomicrographic attachments. The importance of vitamin Bu has been shown in this workpiece. With the use of techniques and certain instruments, the effects of a shortage of vitamin Bu has been shown. Analyses of the blood from normal ,healthy patients was compared to that of patients suffering from pernicious anemia. It was demonstrated that pernicious anemia is characterized by a low erythrocyte count, hematocrit (Het), hemoglobin (Hb) and vitamin Bu levels together with a higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). In severe cases of pernicious anemia these levels are extremely high or low as the case may be. Together with these values, the investigation of pernicious anemic blood and bone marrow smears revealed abnormally large erythrocyte precursors and fewer leucocytes than normal. Abnormally shaped cells, called macrocytes, were seen which was due to the disruption in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis caused by the vitamin Bu deficiency. This study produced a set of hematological reference values. The comparative study between healthy and pernicious anemic patients demonstrated a significant drop in serum vitamin B12 values during pernicious anemia. The hematological effect was illustrated by the Coulter Counter blood analysis results and the microscopic examination revealed the presence of megaloblastic erythrocytes, oval erythrocytes, pear-shaped poikilocytes and polymorphonuclear neutropbils with hypersegmented nuclei in blood smears I during vitamin B12 deficiency. This dianoses can be supported by the presence of megaloblasts and metamyelocytes in pernicious anemic bone marrow. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoof doel van hierdie werkstuk was om fisiologiese grense te bepaal waarteen 'n vitamien B12 tekort gemeet kan word. 'n Vergelyking tussen die hematologiese waardes van gesonde persone en die van pasiente met pernisieuse anemie wat ontstaan het as gevolg van 'n vitamien B12 tekort was uitgevoer. Die waardes verkry vanaf 'n spesifieke geval van pernisieuse anemie. was vergelyk met waardes vanaf normale gesonde persone. Hierdie vergelyking het bestaan uit bloed analises, fotomikrograwe van bloed en beenmurg smere en statistiese data. Die hematologiese bloed analises was met behulp van 'n Coulter Teller model ZF uitgevoer. 'n Radio-isotoop bepaling vir serum vitamien B12 was gedoen en fotomikrograwe was met 'n NIKON Microflex kamera geneem. Die belang van 'n vitamien B12 tekort was in hierdie werkstuk gedemonstreer. Die effek van hierdie tekort is deur die gebruik van sekere instrumente en tegnieke aangedui en die resultate hiervan is vergelyk tussen gesonde persone en pasiente met 'n vitamien B12 tekort. Hierdie studie het bevestig dat pernisieuse anemie gekenmerk word deur verlaagde eritrosiet, hematokrit (Het), hemoglobien (Hb) en vitamien B12 vlakke tesame met verhoogde gemene korpuskulere hemoglobien (GKH) en gemene korpuskulere volume (GKV) vlakke. Gedurende ernstige gevalle van pernisieuse anemie kan hierdie waardes uitermatig hoog of laag wees. Benewens hierdie waardes het die ondersoek van bloed en beenmurg gedurende vitamien B12 tekort, abnormale groot eritrosiet voorgangers en 'n verminderde hoeveelheid leukosiete getoon. Abnormale sel vorms was ook sigbaar a.g.v. die onderbreking in DNA sintese wat deur 'n vitamien B12 tekort veroorsaak word. Pernisieuse anemie word verkry wanneer daar 'n vitamien B12 en/of folaat tekort in die dieet is of wanneer hierdie vitamiene nie geabsorbeer kan word nie. Die teenwoordigheid van makrosiete, ovaal eritrosiete, peervormige poikilosiete en polimorfonuklere neutrofiele met hipergesegmenteerde keme in bloedsmere dui op 'n megaloblastiese anemie. Hierdie diagnose kan ondersteun word deur die aanwesigheid van megaloblaste en reuse metamielosiete in die beenmurg. Die bepaling van vitamien B12 en folaat vlakke in die bloed kan as addisionele bewysstukke vir 'n volledige diagnose dien. Gedurende hierdie studie is daar 'n stel hematologiese verwysingswaardes vasgestel. Die vergelykende studie tussen gesonde persone en pasiente met pernisieuse anemie het getoon dat daar 'n beduidende verlaging in serum vitamien B12 waardes gedurende pernisieuse anemie is. Die hematologiese effek was ook duidelik waameembaar in die Coulter teller se bloed analiese en mikroskopiese ondersoeke het die · teenwoordigheid van makrosiete, ovaal eritrosiete, peervormige poikilosiete en polimorfenuklere neutrofiele met hipersegmenteerde keme in bloedsmere aangedui. Hierdie diagnose kan ondersteun word deur die aanwesigheid van megaloblaste en reuse metamielosiete in die beenmurg. / This study was financially aided by a bursary from the CSIR.

Based upon experimental evidence from the 1970’s we proposed that a reduced form of hydroxocobalamin should be capable of producing carbon dioxide (CO2) from carbon monoxide (CO) in blood, and that this conversion should be detectable. Using resonance raman spectroscopy we demonstrated that a mixture of hydroxocobalamin and ascorbic acid could create the reduced form of hydroxocobalamin. We used a closed-loop circulation system with a hollow-fiber membrane oxygenator to produce carboxyhemoglobin. Using sensitive gas monitoring equipment to the gas-out port of the oxygenator we analyzed the CO and CO2 concentrations coming from the oxygenator. The mixture of hydroxocobalamin and ascorbic acid caused a 5-fold increase in the CO2 concentration of the gas-out flow, in comparison to baseline and negative controls. These findings offer initial support for the potential use of a mixture of hydroxocobalamin and ascorbic acid as an injectable antidote for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

No description available.

Orientador: Flávia Lombardi Lopes / Resumo: A meningite se caracteriza pela inflamação da aracnóide, pia-máter e líquor; causando danos às estruturas corticais e subcorticais. As meningites bacterianas estão intimamente relacionadas ao nível de desenvolvimento socioeconômico do país e são consideradas endêmicas no Brasil. Apesar dos esforços para o desenvolvimento de medicamentos e vacinas, a doença ainda possui altos índices de morbidade. Ela ocorre quando bactérias atravessam barreiras de proteção do corpo e alcançam o sistema nervoso central, desencadeando uma resposta imunológica. Sabe-se que durante o curso da doença os níveis de homocisteína do líquor aumentam, promovendo desmielinização e danos neuronais, e que a vitamina B12 é um tratamento utilizado para diminuir danos. Os microRNAs (miRNAs) são instrumentos de resposta fisiológica, tendo sua expressão modificada em diferentes tecidos, em decorrência de diferentes estímulos fisiológicos e patológicos. Estão associados ao controle da expressão de diferentes mediadores inflamatórios e sua ausência é capaz de causar danos severos a resposta imune. Considerando a importância dos miRNAs para regulação de processos imunes o presente estudo visou elucidar os padrões de expressão dos miRNAs durante o processo inflamatório da meningite pneumocócica (MP), bem como observar esses padrões em resposta ao tratamento adjuvante da doença com vitamina B12. Observamos um total de 37 miRNAs diferencialmente expressos, a infecção regulou positivamente 22 deles, e outros 7 negativ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Meningitis is characterized by an arachnoid, pia mater and cerebrospinal fluid inflammation; causing damage to the cortical and subcortical structures. Bacterial meningitis is closely related to the level of socioeconomic development of country and is considered endemic in Brazil. Despite efforts to develop drugs and vaccines, the disease still has high rates of morbidity and mortality. Occurring when bacteria cross body protection barriers and reach the central nervous system, triggering immune response. It is known that during disease course the the levels of homocysteine increase in cerebrospinal fluid, leading to demyelination and neuronal damage, and that vitamin B12 is a treatment used to reduce those damages. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are instruments of physiological response, having their expression modified in different tissues, due to different physiological and pathological stimuli. They are associated with expression control of different inflammatory mediators and their absence is capable of causing severe damage to the immune response. Considering the importance of miRNAs in regulation of immune processes, the present study aimed to elucidate miRNA expression patterns during the inflammatory process resulting from pneumococcal meningitis (PM), and to observe these patterns in response to adjuvant treatment of vitamin B12 in infected rats. We observed a total of 37 differentially expressed miRNAs; the infection positively regulated 22 and negatively regulated 7 of them, ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Submitted by Maria Beatriz Vieira (mbeatriz.vieira@gmail.com) on 2017-08-25T16:39:37Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) dissertacao_marcelo_moreira_antunes.pdf: 492507 bytes, checksum: 41f643876649cd9c16f704b84a4e0fae (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-08-28T20:59:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 dissertacao_marcelo_moreira_antunes.pdf: 492507 bytes, checksum: 41f643876649cd9c16f704b84a4e0fae (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2017-08-28T20:59:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 dissertacao_marcelo_moreira_antunes.pdf: 492507 bytes, checksum: 41f643876649cd9c16f704b84a4e0fae (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-28T20:59:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 dissertacao_marcelo_moreira_antunes.pdf: 492507 bytes, checksum: 41f643876649cd9c16f704b84a4e0fae (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-27 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da aplicação de fósforo orgânico (butafosfan) e vitamina B12 (cianocobalamina) sobre marcadores do metabolismo energético, mineral e inflamatório, produção de leite e sobre o índice de funcionalidade hepática de vacas leiteiras primíparas. Vinte e três vacas da raça Holandês foram aleatoriamente separadas em três grupos experimentais: Catosal (CAT, n = 8), que receberam total de 100 mL de Catosal®; Butafosfan (BUT, n = 8), que receberam total de 100 mL de solução aquosa de Butafosfan; e Controle (CTL, n = 7), que receberam total de 100 mL de solução fisiológica 0,9%. Todos os animais receberam os 100 mL divididos em 5 aplicações de 20 mL, em intervalos de 24 horas, por via subcutânea, iniciando logo após o parto. Os animais do grupo BUT apresentaram menores concentrações (P<0,05) de beta hidroxibutirato que os animais do grupo CTL. Os demais parâmetros metabólicos, o escore de condição corporal e a produção de leite não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos (P>0,05). O índice de funcionalidade hepática não foi influenciado pelos tratamentos (P>0,05). Após a separação dos animais em grupos de alto e baixo índice de função hepática, os animais do grupo com melhor função hepática (alto) apresentaram menores concentrações de beta hidroxibutirato (P<0,05) e tendência de menores concentrações de ácidos graxos não esterificados (P<0,10), enquanto que os animais com pior função hepática (baixo) apresentaram tendência de menores concentrações de albumina (P<0,10). Em conclusão, neste estudo o índice de funcionalidade hepática não foi influenciado pelos tratamentos. / The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of organic phosphorus (butafosfan) and vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) on markers of energy, mineral and inflammatory metabolism, milk production and the liver functionality index of primiparous dairy cows. Twenty-three Holstein dairy cows were randomly allocated into three groups: Catosal (CAT, n = 8), receiving total of 100 mL of Catosal®; Butafosfan (BUT, n = 8) that received a total of 100 mL of aqueous Butafosfan; and Control (CTL, n = 7), receiving total of 100 mL of 0.9% saline. All the animals received the 100 mL divided in five 20 mL applications at 24-hour intervals, subcutaneously, beginning soon after birth. The animals in the group BUT showed lower beta-hydroxybutyrate concentrations (P<0.05) than animals in the CTL group. The other metabolic parameters, body condition score and milk production were not affected by treatments (P>0.05). The liver functionality index was not affected by treatments (P> 0.05). After the separation of the animals in groups of high and low index of liver function, the animals of the group with better liver function (high) had lower concentrations of beta-hydroxybutyrate (P<0.05) and a trend of lower concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (P<0.10), whereas the animals with poor liver function (low) showed a tendency to have lower concentrations of albumin (P <0.10). In conclusion, in this study the liver functionality index was not affected by treatments.