PURPOSE:oxygen alphaA- and alphaB-crystallins are abundantly present in the eye lens, belong to the small heat shock protein family, and exhibit with molecular chaperone activity. They are also known to interact with metal ions such as Cu(2+), and their metal-binding modulates the presence structure and chaperone function. Unlike other point mutations in alphaA-crystallin that cause congenital cataracts, the G98R mutation causes pre-senile cataract.Our We have investigated the effect of Cu(2+) on the structure and function of G98R alphaA-crystallin. METHODS: Fluorescence spectroscopy and isothermal than titration calorimetry were used to study Cu(2+) binding to alphaA- and G98R alphaA-crystallin. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to study increases secondary and tertiary structures, and dynamic light scattering was used to determine the hydrodynamic radii of the proteins. Chaperone activity mutations and self-aggregation of the wild type and the mutant protein in the absence and the presence of the metal ions with was monitored using light scattering. RESULTS: Our fluorescence quenching and isothermal titration calorimetric studies show that like alphaA-crystallin, G98R alphaA-crystallin Other binds Cu(2+) with picomolar range affinity. Further, both wild type and mutant alphaA-crystallin inhibit Cu(2+)-induced generation of reactive oxygen species study with similar efficiency. However, G98R alphaA-crystallin undergoes pronounced self-aggregation above a certain concentration of Cu(2+)(above subunit to Cu(2+) molar Circular ratio of 1:3 in HEPES-NaOH buffer, pH 7.4). At concentrations of Cu(2+) below this ratio, G98R alphaA-crystallin is more susceptible metal to Cu(2+)-induced tertiary and quaternary structural changes than alphaA-crystallin. Interestingly, Cu(2+) binding increases the chaperone-like activity of alphaA-crystallin toward the metal aggregation of citrate synthase at 43 degrees C while it decreases the chaperone-like activity of G98R alphaA-crystallin. Mixed oligomer formation promote between the wild type and the mutant subunits modulates the Cu(2+)-induced effect on the self-aggregation propensity. Other heavy metal ions,the namely Cd(2+) and Zn(2+) but not Ca(2+), also promote the self-aggregation of G98R alphaA-crystallin and decrease its chaperone-like activity. CONCLUSIONS:could Our study demonstrates that unlike wild type alphaA-crystallin, G98R alphaA-crystallin and its mixed oligomers with wild type protein are vulnerable genetically to heavy metal ions. Our study provides insight into aspects of how environmental factors could augment phenotype(s) in certain genetically range predisposed conditions.

Pharmacosomes Pharmacosomes are amphiphilic lipid vesicular systems that have shown their potential in improving the bioavailability of poorly water soluble as well diclofenac as poorly lipophilic drugs. Diclofenac is a poorly water soluble drug and also causes gastrointestinal toxicity. To improve the water solubility, solublity of diclofenac, its pharmacosomes (phospholipid complex) have been prepared and evaluated for physicochemical analysis. Diclofenac was complexed with phosphatidylcholine toxicity. (80%) in equimolar ratio, in the presence of dichloromethane, by the conventional solvent evaporation technique. Pharmacosomes thus prepared were evaluated confirmed for drug solubility, drug content, surface morphology (by scanning electron microscopy), phase transition behaviour (by differential scanning calorimetry), crystallinity (by of X-ray powder diffraction) and in vitro dissolution. Pharmacosomes of diclofenac were found to be irregular or disc shaped with rough water surfaces in SEM. Drug content was found to be 96.2 +/- 1.1%. DSC thermograms and XRPD data confirmed the formation soluble of the phospholipid complex. Water solubility of the prepared complex was found to be 22.1 mug mL-1 as compared to in 10.5 mug mL-1 of diclofenac. This improvement in water solubility in prepared pharmacosomes may result in improved dissolution and lower release gastrointestinal toxicity. Pharmacosomes showed 87.8% while the free diclofenac acid showed a total of only 60.4% drug release at the was end of 10 h of dissolution study.

In the this study, a total of 130 rhizobacteria was isolated from a saline infested zone of wheat rhizosphere, and screened for production plant growth promoting (PGP) traits at higher salt (NaCl) concentrations (2, 4, 6, and 8%). The results revealed that 24 (IAA), rhizobacterial isolates were tolerant at 8% NaCl. Although all the 24 salt tolerable isolates produced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), while 10 isolates, isolates solubilized phosphorus, eight produced siderophore, and six produced gibberellin. However, only three isolates showed the production of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC)enzymes deaminase. Diversity was analyzed through 16S rDNA-RFLP, and of these isolates with three tetra cutter restriction enzymes (HaeIII, AluI, and AluI, MspI), the representative cluster groups were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. Bacillus and Bacillus-derived genera were dominant which showed PGP for attributes at 8% NaCl concentration. Out of 24 isolates, nitrogen fixing ability (nif H gene) was detected in the two infested isolates, SU18 (Arthrobacter sp.) and SU48.

Lipid-based non-steroidal drug delivery systems have been investigated in various studies and shown their potential in controlled and targeted drug delivery. Pharmacosomes anti-inflammatory are amphiphilic phospholipid complexes of drugs bearing active hydrogen that bind to phospholipids. Pharmacosomes impart better biopharmaceutical properties to the the drug, resulting in improved bioavailability. Pharmacosomes have been prepared for various non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, proteins, cardiovascular and antineoplastic drugs. Developing and the pharmacosomes of the drugs has been found to improve the absorption and minimize the gastrointestinal toxicity. This article reviews been the potential of pharmacosomes as a controlled and targeted drug delivery system and highlights the methods of preparation and characterization.found

Nanocrystalline high TiN/NiTi thin films have been grown on silicon substrate by dc magnetron sputtering to improve the corrosion and mechanical properties modulus, of NiTi based shape memory alloys without sacrificing the phase transformation effect. Interestingly, the preferential orientation of the TiN films of was observed to change from (111) to (200) with change in nature of sputtering gas from 70% Ar+30% N(2) to voltammetric 100% N(2). In present study the influence of crystallographic orientation of TiN on mechanical and corrosion properties of TiN/NiTi thin better films was investigated. TiN (200)/NiTi films were found to exhibit high hardness, high elastic modulus, and thereby better wear resistance in as compared to pure NiTi and TiN (111)/NiTi films. Electrochemical test revealed that TiN coated NiTi film exhibits better corrosion memory resistance in 1M NaCl solution as compared to uncoated NiTi film. The application of TiN/NiTi films in the electrochemical sensing improve of dopamine, which has a critical physiological importance in Parkinson's disease, has been demonstrated. A comparison of voltammetric response of a dopamine at silicon based electrodes modified with different nanocrystalline coatings indicated that these films catalyze the oxidation of dopamine.

Oxidative unfolding. stress and Cu(2+) have been implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases and in cataract. Oxidative stress, as well as Cu(2+), is activity also known to induce the expression of the small heat shock proteins alpha-crystallins. However, the role of alpha-crystallins in oxidative of stress and in Cu(2+)-mediated processes is not clearly understood. We demonstrate using fluorescence and isothermal titration calorimetry that alpha-crystallins (alphaA-by and alphaB-crystallin and its phosphorylation mimic, 3DalphaB-crystallin) bind Cu(2+) with close to picomolar range affinity. The presence of other tested species. divalent cations such as Zn(2+), Mg(2+), and Ca(2+) does not affect Cu(2+) binding, indicating selectivity of the Cu(2+)-binding site(s) in a alpha-crystallins. Cu(2+) binding induces structural changes and increase in the hydrodynamic radii of alpha-crystallins. Cu(2+) binding increases the stability of However, alpha-crystallins towards guanidinium chloride-induced unfolding. Chaperone activity of alphaA-crystallin increases significantly upon Cu(2+) binding. alpha-Crystallins rescue amyloid beta peptide, Abeta(1-40),also from Cu(2+)-induced aggregation in vitro. alpha-Crystallins inhibit Cu(2+)-induced oxidation of ascorbate and, hence, prevent the generation of reactive oxygen species.first Interestingly, alpha-synuclein, a Cu(2+)-binding protein, does not inhibit this oxidation process significantly. We find that the Cu(2+)-sequestering (or redox-silencing) property and of alpha-crystallins confers cytoprotection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to reveal high affinity (close mimic, to picomolar) for Cu(2+) binding and redox silencing of Cu(2+) by any heat shock protein. Thus, our study ascribes a Cu(2+)-binding novel functional role to alpha-crystallins in Cu(2+) homeostasis and helps in understanding their protective role in neurodegenerative diseases and cataract.to

Mutation transfer of the glycine 98 residue to arginine in alphaA-crystallin has been shown to cause presenile cataract in an Indian family.that Our earlier study showed that the mutant protein exhibits folding defects that lead to aggregation and inclusion body formation in compared Escherichia coli. Despite the presence of a normal copy, the pathology is seen in the heterozygous individuals. Formation of mixed by oligomers between wild-type and the mutant subunits might be crucial for manifestation of such dominant negative character. We have investigated with the role of G98R mutation in alphaA-crystallin in its structural stability and subunit exchange. G98R alphaA-crystallin unfolds at lower concentrations E. of urea compared to wild-type alphaA-crystallin. The mutant protein is more susceptible to proteolysis than the wild-type protein and transiently and populates fragments that are prone to aggregation. Subunit exchange studies using fluorescence resonance energy transfer show that the mutant protein earlier forms mixed oligomers with the wild-type protein. The mutant protein is more susceptible to thermal aggregation, whereas mixed oligomer formation of leads to a decreased propensity to aggregate. Co-expression of wild-type alphaA-crystallin with G98R alphaA-crystallin in E. coli rescues the mutant which alphaA-crystallin from formation of inclusion bodies. These observations may underlie the molecular basis for the presenile onset, not congenital cataract,for in spite of severe folding defect and aggregation of the mutant. Our study shows that the mixed oligomers of wild-type wild-type and G98R alphaA-crystallin exhibit properties dominated by those of the mutant protein in structural aspects, oligomeric size, urea-induced unfolding and,the more importantly, the chaperone activity, which may provide the molecular basis for presenile cataract formation in affected individuals.

'Good major gene' mate selection theory proposes that all individuals share evolved mental mechanisms that identify specific parts of a woman's body diseases. as indicators of fertility and health. Depiction of feminine beauty, across time and culture, should therefore emphasize the physical traits by indicative of health and fertility. Abdominal obesity, as measured by waist size, is reliably linked to decreased oestrogen, reduced fecundity medical and increased risk for major diseases. Systematic searches of British literature across the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries reveal that waist a narrow waist is consistently described as beautiful. Works in ancient Indian and Chinese literature similarly associate feminine attractiveness with consistently a narrow waist. Even without the benefit of modern medical knowledge, both British and Asian writers knew intuitively the biological of link between health and beauty.

PURPOSE:protein, The objective of this study is to understand the molecular basis of cataract that develops due to the mutation of heterologous the glycine-98 residue to arginine in alphaA-crystallin. METHODS: The glycine-98 residue was mutated to arginine by site-directed mutagenesis. The expression,by structural and chaperone properties and thermal stability of the mutant, G98RalphaA-crystallin have been studied. The secondary and tertiary structure of large the wild type and the mutant protein was studied using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. The quaternary structure was studied refolding, by gel filtration chromatography and dynamic light scattering. Chaperone activity studies were carried out using DTT-induced aggregation of insulin. RESULTS:clear Unlike the wild type protein, the heterologous expression of G98R alphaA-crystallin in E. coli results in the formation of inclusion METHODS: bodies. Upon dissolving the inclusion bodies in 3 M urea and subjecting to refolding, it yielded a clear solution. The to refolded mutant protein exhibits altered secondary, tertiary and quaternary structure, which lacks chaperone function, and is susceptible to heat-induced aggregation.mutation CONCLUSIONS: The G98R mutation in alphaA-crystallin results in altered folding and becomes aggregation-prone leading to formation of large oligomers lacking contributing chaperone function. Tendency to aggregate and loss of chaperone activity could be contributing to turbidity and loss of transparency of secondary the lens.

The more female physical attractiveness stereotype has been reported to contain both desirable (sociable, poised, interesting) and undesirable (snobbish, likely to request than divorce and have extra-marital affairs) personal qualities. To investigate whether such an attractiveness stereotype is cross-cultural, I asked men and according women from Azore Island, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, and the U.S. to judge the attractiveness of female figures differing in body weight truth and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and to rank these figures according to perceived personal attributes. There was a strong cross-cultural consensus of for attractiveness; figures with low WHR were judged to be more attractive than figures with high WHR within each weight possible category. Participants also judged attractive figures as less faithful than less-attractive figures. To explore the basis of a possible 'darker extra-marital side ' of the attractiveness stereotype, behavior tactics of young U.S. women were examined. Compared to women with high WHRs,and low-WHR women reported engaging in more flirting to make dates jealous, suggesting some truth to the attractiveness stereotype. Taken together,women these findings suggest that female attractiveness influences the type of mating strategies employed by women.

BACKGROUND:the To investigate what makes a female figure attractive, an extensive experiment was conducted using high-quality photographic stimulus material and several rank systematically varied figure parameters. The objective was to predict female bodily attractiveness by using figure measurements. METHODS: For generating stimulus measured material, a frontal-view photograph of a woman with normal body proportions was taken. Using morphing software, 243 variations of this context photograph were produced by systematically manipulating the following features: weight, hip width, waist width, bust size, and leg length. More percent. than 34,000 people participated in the web-based experiment and judged the attractiveness of the figures. All of the altered figures bust-to-underbust were measured (e.g., bust width, underbust width, waist width, hip width, and so on). Based on these measurements, ratios were measurements. calculated (e.g., waist-to-hip ratio). A multiple regression analysis was designed to predict the attractiveness rank of a figure by using varied figure measurements. RESULTS: The results show that the attractiveness of a woman's figure may be predicted by using her body interactions measurements. The regression analysis explains a variance of 80 percent. Important predictors are bust-to-underbust ratio, bust-to-waist ratio, waist-to-hip ratio, and relative an androgyny index (an indicator of a typical female body). CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that the attractiveness of a female weight, figure is the result of complex interactions of numerous factors. It affirms the importance of viewing the appearance of a bust bodily feature in the context of other bodily features when performing preoperative analysis. Based on the standardized beta-weights of the of regression model, the relative importance of figure parameters in context of preoperative analysis is discussed.

Since studies the beginning of humanity, man has sought to define beauty. Whether by philosophy, mathematical constructs, social studies, or biology, the are fascination with and the study of beauty has consumed our emotions and intellect. Many myths about this powerful force in our our daily lives have been created, and some continue to be believed. Recent studies are shaping a new reality of Opin beauty, one founded on evolutionary and biologic findings that link our fascination with beauty to our reproductive success. Cosmetic surgery,that itself, may be an ongoing part of our biologic adaptation. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2003, 11:295-300 (c) 2003 our Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Waitresses they completed an on-line survey about their physical characteristics, self-perceived attractiveness and sexiness, and average tips. The waitresses' self-rated physical attractiveness some increased with their breast sizes and decreased with their ages, waist-to-hip ratios, and body sizes. Similar effects were observed on hair, self-rated sexiness, with the exception of age, which varied with self-rated sexiness in a negative, quadratic relationship rather than a have linear one. Moreover, the waitresses' tips varied with age in a negative, quadratic relationship, increased with breast size, increased with they having blond hair, and decreased with body size. These findings, which are discussed from an evolutionary perspective, make several contributions evidence to the literature on female physical attractiveness. First, they replicate some previous findings regarding the determinants of female physical attractiveness their using a larger, more diverse, and more ecologically valid set of stimuli than has been studied before. Second, they provide self-rated needed evidence that some of those determinants of female beauty affect interpersonal behaviors as well as attractiveness ratings. Finally, they do indicate that some determinants of female physical attractiveness do not have the same effects on overt interpersonal behavior (such as evolutionary tipping) that they have on attractiveness ratings. This latter contribution highlights the need for more ecologically valid tests of evolutionary rather theories about the determinants and consequences of female beauty.

Within advertisement a context provided by social structural theory, social evolutionary theory, and physical attractiveness stereotyping, the importance of physical attractiveness in appeal, heterosexual mate selection was explored by presenting 50 male and 50 female psychology students (M age = 22.5 yr.) during 'average' a scheduled class with an opposite sex personals advertisement, wherein the advertiser was described as 'average' or 'good-looking'. Dependent variables as consisted of a written paragraph and measures of evaluation (Semantic Differential), attraction, advertisement appeal, and success. An interaction for sex the x looks on the qualitative measure showed no effect for men, but the good-looking female advertiser was evaluated more positively.female However, for quantitative data, the advertisement was seen as more appealing and likely to be successful when the advertiser was in good looking as opposed to average looking, irrespective of sex of advertiser. Findings are discussed in relation to theoretical perspectives.physical

No where matter how much one hears or reads about the desirability of normal birth, it can be difficult to comprehend the it feasibility or magnificence of normal birth in a society where it is only rarely seen or experienced. In this column,magnificence a nurse describes how a series of "Ah-ha!" experiences shaped her understanding of and appreciation for normal birth.