Two real-time PCR assays targeting the small-subunit (SSU) ribosomal DNA (rDNA) were designed to assess the proportional biomass of diatoms and dinoflagellates in marine coastal water. The reverse primer for the diatom assay was designed to be class specific, and the dinoflagellate-specific reverse primer was obtained from the literature. For both targets, we used universal eukaryotic SSU rDNA forward primers. Specificity was confirmed by using a BLAST search and by amplification of cultures of various phytoplankton taxa. Reaction conditions were optimized for each primer set with linearized plasmids from cloned SSU rDNA fragments. The number of SSU rDNA copies per cell was estimated for six species of diatoms and nine species of dinoflagellates; these were significantly correlated to the biovolumes of the cells. Nineteen field samples were collected along the Swedish west coast and subjected to the two real-time PCR assays. The linear regression of the proportion of SSU rDNA copies of dinoflagellate and diatom origin versus the proportion of dinoflagellate and diatom biovolumes or biomass per liter was significant. For diatoms, linear regression of the number of SSU rDNA copies versus biovolume or biomass per liter was significant, but no such significant correlation was detected in the field samples for dinoflagellates. The method described will be useful for estimating the proportion of dinoflagellate versus diatom biovolume or biomass and the absolute diatom biovolume or biomass in various aquatic disciplines.Several diverse taxa are represented in the phytoplankton communities of coastal marine environments. These contribute to primary production and form the base of the marine food chain. Annual variation in primary production is caused by external factors such as nutrient access, light, and temperature (18). Seasonal patterns-including changes in phytoplankton diversity, community composition, and biovolumesalso affect the magnitude of primary production. Additionally, short-term fluctuations within the phytoplankton community are common and are due to the dynamics of local hydrographic conditions (1), zooplankton grazing (48), and exchange between sediment and the water column (6, 27). Thus, the structure of the phytoplankton community is influenced by several biotic and abiotic factors, and the taxonomic composition will, in turn, affect other functions of the marine ecosystem.Two of the most prominent and important phytoplankton classes in coastal marine waters and freshwater bodies are diatoms, Bacillariophyceae, and dinoflagellates, Dinophyceae. The taxonomic class Bacillariophyceae comprises approximately 100,000 extant species; planktonic species are predominantly autotrophic, and cell sizes range from 2 m to 5 mm (37). The number of dinoflagellate species in the marine phytoplankton is approximately 2,000, of which 50% are heterotrophic and the rest are auto-or mixotrophic. Their cell sizes range from 2 m to 2 mm (45). The variability within these classes is vast in many respects, but genetic, phy...

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Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) and flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) likely have a role in the oxidation of intermediate metabolites of busulfan (Bu). In vitro studies to investigate the involvement of these enzymes are cumbersome because of the volatile nature of the intermediate metabolite tetrahydrothiophene (THT) and the lack of sensitive quantitation methods. This study explored the association between the CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2B6 and FMO3 genotypes and sulfolane (Su, a water soluble metabolite of Bu) plasma levels in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The relationship between these genotypes and the effectiveness of myeloablative conditioning was also analyzed. Sixty-six children receiving an intravenous Bu-based myeloablative conditioning regimen were genotyped for common functional variant alleles in CYP2C9 (*2 and *3), CYP2C19 (*2 and *17), FMO3 (rs2266780, rs2266782 and rs1736557) and CYP2B6 (*5 and *9). The plasma levels of Bu and its metabolite Su were measured after the ninth Bu dose in a subset of 44 patients for whom plasma samples were available. The ratio of Bu to Su was considered the metabolic ratio (MR) and was compared across the genotype groups. Higher MRs were observed in CYP2C9*2 and *3 allele carriers (mean±s.d.: 7.8±3.6 in carriers vs 4.4±2.2 in non-carriers; P=0.003). An increased incidence of graft failure was observed among patients with an MR>5 compared with those with MR values <5 (20% vs 0%; P=0.02). In contrast, a significantly higher incidence of relapse and graft failure (evaluated as event-free survival) was observed in patients with malignant disease who carried CYP2B6 alleles with reduced function on both chromosomes compared with carriers of at least one normal allele (100% vs 40%; P=0.0001). These results suggest that CYP2C9 has a role in the oxidation reactions of THT and indicate that it may be possible to predict the efficacy of Bu-based myeloablative conditioning before HSCT on the basis of CYP genotypes and Bu MRs.

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Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a well established but complex treatment option for malignant and non-malignant disorders in pediatric patients. Most commonly used myeloablative and non-myeloablative conditioning regimens in children comprise alkylating agents, such as busulfan (BU) and cyclophosphamide. Inter-individual variability in the pharmacokinetics of BU can result in altered conditioning of the patient and therefore lead to relapse or rejection due to under exposures, or occurrence of toxicities due to over exposures. With the introduction of the intravenous formulation of BU, this variability has been reduced but still cannot be fully predicted. Inter and intra-individual variability of BU kinetics is more common in children compared to adults and toxicity of BU based regimens is still a concern. It has been hypothesized that some of this variability in BU pharmacokinetics and treatment outcomes, especially the toxicity, might be predicted by genetic variants of enzymes involved in the metabolism of BU. This review intends to summarize the studies performed to date on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics of BU based conditioning, specifically in relation to children.

Yield and physicochemical characteristics of protein isolates recovered from rohu processing waste by acid and alkali-aided protein solubilization were studied. pH 2.0 from acidic side and pH 13.0 from alkaline side resulted in maximum protein solubility, whereas minimum solubility was observed at pH 5.5. Except for pH 13.0, theoretical protein recovery was more than the actual recovery after centrifugation. Maximum protein recovery after the first centrifugation cycle was observed for pH 2.0 and pH 13.0, and the maximum protein recovery during the second centrifugation cycle was observed at precipitation pH 5.5 in both acidic and alkaline methods. Acidic and alkaline methods resulted in a total process recovery of 31.81±0.001% and Downloaded by [University of Cambridge] at 11:A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t 2 31.11±0.01%, respectively. Isolates prepared by acidic method had more whiteness and high foaming capacity, whereas isolates prepared using alkaline methods had less whiteness, tough texture, and high foaming stability. No microbial counts were detected in any of the isolates. Acid and alkaline methods described in this study can be used for the recovery of proteins from rohu processing waste with good yields and functionality.