低氧应激下甘肃鼢鼠与SD 大鼠心脏抗氧化酶和ATP 酶活性的比较

为探讨低氧应激下甘肃鼢鼠心脏对抗氧化损伤和电生理紊乱的可能机制,对甘肃鼢鼠和SD 大鼠在4. 5%氧浓度下分别进行2 h、4 h、6 h、8 h、10 h、16 h 低氧应激,比较常氧和各时程低氧下二者心脏超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和Ca^{2 +} - ATP 酶、Ca^{2 +} - Mg^{2 +} - ATP 酶、Na ⁺ - K ⁺ - ATP酶活性,以丙二醛(MDA)含量作为机体氧化损伤指标。结果显示,常氧组甘肃鼢鼠GR 活性比SD 大鼠高,SOD、CAT、Ca^{2 +}-ATP 酶、Ca^{2 +} - Mg^{2 +} - ATP 酶和Na ⁺ - K ⁺ - ATP 酶活性及MDA 含量与SD 大鼠相比均无显著性差
异;低氧组甘肃鼢鼠SOD、CAT、GR、Ca^{2 +} - ATP 酶、Ca^{2 +} - Mg^{2 +} - ATP 酶和Na ⁺ - K ⁺ - ATP 酶活性迅速升高,显著高于SD 大鼠,MDA 含量则显著低于SD 大鼠。说明甘肃鼢鼠心脏通过提高抗氧化酶活性清除低氧诱导产生的多余自由基,并通过提高ATP 酶活性保证心电活动正常、心率稳定,应对低氧应激。     

甘肃鼢鼠与SD大鼠骨骼肌低氧适应的比较

运用组织学和紫外分光光度法,对常氧、低氧2周和4周的甘肃鼢鼠(Myospalax cansus)及SD大鼠(Rattus norvegicus)骨骼肌形态结构、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)活力及肌红蛋白(Mb)浓度进行测定。结果显示,甘肃鼢鼠骨骼肌形态结构在常氧、低氧2周及4周后变化不明显;SD大鼠随低氧时间延长发生显著变化,低氧2周后,肌纤维明显萎缩,间隙增大,结构较紊乱;低氧4周后,肌纤维破裂,呈细丝状,不规则,大小不一致,肌节紊乱。甘肃鼢鼠LDH活性随低氧时间增长逐渐降低,但无显著性差异(P0.05);在不同时间低氧处理后,甘肃鼢鼠前后肢的LDH活性均极显著低于SD大鼠(P0.01);常氧条件下,甘肃鼢鼠前后肢SDH活性低于SD大鼠,但无显著差异(P0.05),低氧2周及4周后,与SD大鼠呈极显著差异(P0.01);常氧条件下,甘肃鼢鼠前后肢Mb浓度均显著高于SD大鼠(P0.05),低氧2周及4周后,极显著高于SD大鼠(P0.01)。结果表明,甘肃鼢鼠骨骼肌较SD大鼠有着更强的低氧耐受力。     

急性低氧应激下甘肃鼢鼠与SD大鼠血清儿茶酚胺类激素含量比较

利用酶标记技术,测定了人工模拟急性低氧状态下,不同时程低氧暴露组的甘肃鼢鼠(Myospalaxcansus)与SD大鼠(Rattus norregicus)血清儿茶酚胺类激素含量。结果表明,常氧状态下SD大鼠血清儿茶酚胺含量显著高于甘肃鼢鼠(P0.05),甘肃鼢鼠及SD大鼠血清儿茶酚胺和去甲肾上腺素含量在急性低氧初始阶段(0.5～4.0 h)均呈上升趋势,其他时程组二者无显著差异(P0.05)。SD大鼠在低氧应激6.0 h后血清儿茶酚胺和去甲肾上腺素含量急剧下降,并在低氧6.5～7.0 h死亡,甘肃鼢鼠血清内2种激素的含量随低氧时程加大而呈现增高趋势,未出现死亡现象,说明甘肃鼢鼠对低氧环境有较强的适应性。     

常氧条件下高原鼢鼠、甘肃鼢鼠及SD大鼠血液理化特征比较

为探讨不同低氧环境适应动物的血液理化特征,用美国雅培手掌血气分析仪分别测定常氧适应4周的高原鼢鼠(Myospalax baileyi)及甘肃鼢鼠(M.cansus)血液的血气、酸碱及电解质指标,并与SD大鼠(Rattus norvegicus)进行比较。结果显示,常氧适应后,甘肃鼢鼠与高原鼢鼠动脉氧分压(PaO2)、静脉氧分压(PvO2)、动静脉氧分压差(PaO2﹣PvO2)、动脉氧饱和度(SaO2)、静脉氧饱和度(SvO2)及氧利用率均无显著性差异,两种动物静脉血的氧分压和氧饱和度均极显著低于SD大鼠,氧利用率极显著高于SD大鼠;高原鼢鼠与甘肃鼢鼠动、静脉血红蛋白(Hb)及动、静脉红细胞压积(HCT)无显著性差异,血红蛋白含量与SD大鼠无显著性差异,但红细胞压积(HCT)极显著低于SD大鼠;高原鼢鼠和甘肃鼢鼠血液酸碱特征趋于一致,不同于SD大鼠,动静脉pH差(pHa﹣pHv)及动静脉CO2总含量差(TvCO2﹣TaCO2)显著高于SD大鼠,动脉二氧化碳分压(PaCO2)极显著低于SD大鼠,动静脉二氧化碳分压差(PvCO2﹣PaCO2)极显著高于SD大鼠;高原鼢鼠和甘肃鼢鼠血浆中钠离子(Na+)浓度、钾离子(K+)浓度、游离钙离子(iCa2+)浓度及动静脉钠离子浓度差(Na+v﹣Na+a)、钾离子浓度差(K+v﹣K+a)和游离钙离子浓度差(iCa2+v﹣iCa2+a)无显著性差异;高原鼢鼠动脉血钾离子浓度显著低于SD大鼠,钾离子浓度差显著高于SD大鼠;甘肃鼢鼠钾离子浓度差及动、静脉血钙离子浓度显著高于SD大鼠。这些结果说明,低氧适应动物血气、酸碱及电解质特征一致,与地面生活的SD大鼠差异很大,表现出较低的红细胞压积和较高的氧利用率,血液能耐受较宽范围的酸碱变化,维持电解质稳定,保证内环境稳态。     

沙棘油对运动大鼠心肌及肝脏抗氧化作用的实验研究

目的:研究沙棘油对6周递增负荷运动训练大鼠心肌及肝脏自由基的影响。方法:通过对运动大鼠按一定方式分组实验,选取心脏及肝脏的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)四个抗氧化指标进行测试。结果:运动训练后灌胃沙棘油能显著提高大鼠心肌及肝脏中超氧化物歧化酶,谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶以及过氧化氢酶的活性,并能显著降低丙二醛的含量。结论:证实了沙棘油具有增强抗氧化酶活性和提高大鼠运动能力的作用。     

低氧-复氧胁迫对鲢抗氧化酶活性及Cu/Zn-SOD和Mn-SOD基因表达的影响

为探究低氧-复氧胁迫对鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)抗氧化酶活性及Cu/Zn-SOD和Mn-SOD基因表达的影响, 对鲢进行急性低氧、持续低氧及复氧实验, 进而分析血清、心脏和肝脏中不同抗氧化酶和SODs基因表达的变化特征。结果表明: 在急性低氧胁迫后, 血清中总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-PX)活性随着氧浓度的降低均呈上升趋势, 但超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性呈先升后降的趋势。在持续低氧胁迫后, 血清中T-AOC和GSH-PX活性随着低氧胁迫时间的增加显著升高(P<0.05); 心脏中SOD活性显著高于常氧水平(P<0.05), 但Cu/Zn-SOD和Mn-SOD基因表达在低氧胁迫24h时显著低于常氧水平(P<0.05); 肝脏中SOD活性在低氧胁迫24h时显著高于常氧水平(P<0.05), 且Cu/Zn-SOD和Mn-SOD基因表达在低氧胁迫24h时也显著高于常氧水平(P<0.05)。复氧后, 血清、心脏和肝脏中T-AOC、SOD、CAT和GSH-PX活性均能恢复至常氧水平, 且心脏和肝脏中Cu/Zn-SOD和Mn-SOD基因表达的也能恢复至常氧水平, 但肝脏中Mn-SOD基因表达恢复至常氧水平较在心脏中所需时间更少。因而, 鲢可以通过调节抗氧化酶的活性来保护自身免受氧化应激造成的损伤。研究为解析低氧胁迫下鲢抗氧化应激机制提供了基础。     

高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔肺细叶的结构特征

高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔是青藏高原土著动物,对低氧具有很好的适应性.为了探讨在低氧环境中两者肺细叶结构的适应特征,应用体视学方法测量了肺细叶相关指标.结果发现 :高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔肺单位面积肺泡数显著高于SD大鼠,单个肺泡面积和弹性纤维/肺实质比显著低于SD大鼠;高原鼢鼠肺泡隔厚度最厚,高原鼠兔最薄,且三种动物具显著差异; 高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔气-血屏障的算术平均厚度(Ta)和调和平均厚度(Th) 均显著低于SD 大鼠;在三个级别的微血管中,高原鼠兔中膜肌层厚度显著低于高原鼢鼠,两种高原动物均显著低于SD大鼠;高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔的微血管密度(MVD)显著高于SD大鼠.以上结果表明,高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔肺细叶结构特征表现出一定趋同,这些特征有利于在低氧条件下提高肺气体扩散容量;但是,肺泡隔厚度和微血管中膜肌层厚度/血管外径比又表现出明显的差异,可能是不同生境造成的[动物学报 54(3):531-539,2008].     

急性和慢性低氧胁迫对卵形鲳鲹幼鱼肝组织损伤和抗氧化的影响

自然海域和养殖水体环境频现低氧,本研究针对卵形鲳鲹(Trachinotus ovatus)不耐低氧的特性,将(31.59±3.01)g(n=30)的卵形鲳鲹在(23±0.7)℃下进行3、6、12和24 h的急性和14 d的慢性低氧[溶解氧为(1.55±0.20)mg/L]胁迫。运用光学和电子显微技术,比较急、慢性低氧胁迫对卵形鲳鲹肝组织显微和超微结构的影响。通过测定肝组织中的丙二醛(MDA)含量及过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GSH)的活性,分析低氧胁迫对卵形鲳鲹肝是否造成氧化损伤。急性低氧胁迫下,卵形鲳鲹肝组织间出现空泡、小叶结构破坏,细胞内线粒体数量减少,出现过氧化物酶体,肝细胞间血窦剧烈扩张。这些病理损伤随胁迫时间延长更趋严重,24 h时甚至出现局部肝细胞融合、坏死,慢性低氧胁迫14 d时,肝细胞局部坏死,细胞膜溶解,细胞核破裂分解,胞质内细胞器不明显,只可分辨粗面内质网,细胞内空泡体积大,细胞结构松散,血窦扩张。急性低氧胁迫下丙二醛(MDA)含量随时间先上升后下降,慢性低氧胁迫14 d时丙二醛(MDA)则显著增加。急性低氧胁迫下超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GSH)上升后恢复,过氧化氢酶(CAT)则持续上调,慢性低氧胁迫下超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽还原酶(GSH)显著上调,过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性下降。结果表明,卵形鲳鲹幼鱼肝组织在低氧胁迫下病理变化明显,氧化损伤严重,且慢性低氧胁迫比急性更甚。     

镉胁迫对萝卜幼苗活性氧产生、脂质过氧化和抗氧化酶活性的影响

镉胁迫使萝卜幼苗超氧阴离子(O2)、过氧化氢(H2O2)和丙二醛(MDA)含量增加;随着镉浓度提高,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性首先明显上升,然后逐渐下降,甚至低于对照;叶片过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性明显增加,根系CAT活性则减少;根系以及较高浓度镉处理后期叶片的谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性均显著增加.由此推测:在胁迫初期可能主要由SOD和CAT发挥抗氧化作用,而在胁迫后期由于抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽(AsA-GsH)循环途径的激活,还原型谷胱甘肽和植物络合素含量的提高可能在清除活性氧或者直接螯合镉中起作用.     

高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔心脏对低氧环境的适应

为了探讨高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔心脏对低氧环境的适应机制,以Sprague-Dawley (SD)大鼠为对照,测量三者的心脏/体重比(HW/BW)、右心室/(左心室 室间隔)重量比[RV/(LV S)];应用免疫组织化学方法测定心肌微血管密度(microvessel density, MVD);通过显微体视学技术比较线粒体的面数密度(NA,单位面积中线粒体数目)、体密度(Vv,单位体积心肌纤维中线粒体的体积密度)、面密度(Sv,单位体积心肌纤维中线粒体外膜的面积密度)、比表面(δ,线粒体外膜面积与其自身体积的比);用分光光度法测定心肌中的肌红蛋白(myoglobin, Mb)含量、乳酸(lactic acid, LD)含量和乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase, LDH)活力;聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳观察LDH同工酶谱.结果显示:高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔HB/WB显著大于SD大鼠(P<0.05), RV/(LV S)显著小于SD大鼠(P<0.05).高原鼢鼠、高原鼠兔和SD大鼠心肌MVD和线粒体NA依次递减(P<0.05);高原鼢鼠线粒体Vv显著低于高原鼠兔和SD大鼠(P<0.05),高原鼠兔与SD大鼠之间没有明显差异;高原鼢鼠线粒体Sv显著高于SD大鼠(P<0.05),与高原鼠兔相比无明显差异;高原鼠兔和SD大鼠的线粒体δ无显著差异,但均明显低于高原鼢鼠(P<0.05).高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔心肌Mb含量显著高于SD大鼠(P<0.05);高原鼢鼠心肌LD含量显著高于高原鼠兔和SD大鼠(P<0.05);两种高原动物心肌LDH活力显著低于SD大鼠(P<0.05).同工酶谱显示,高原鼢鼠、高原鼠兔和SD大鼠的LDH中H亚基所占比例依次递减.以上结果提示,高原鼢鼠和高原鼠兔通过增加心肌线粒体Sv、MVD以及Mb含量提高其在低氧环境获取氧的能力;同时,由于生境和习性上的不同,两者线粒体指标又表现出差异性.     

Land,livestock, and livelihoods: Changing dynamics of gender,caste, and ethnicity in a Nepalese Village

Over the past 10 years, Ghusel VDC, Lalitpur District has moved from primarily subsistence agriculture into the wider cash economy aided by the Small Farmers' Development Program (SFDP), which provides credit to farmers mainly for the purchase of buffalo for milk production, and by the National Dairy Corporation, which supports local dairy cooperatives. Analysis reveals that buffalo-keeping and milk sales are increasing the well-being of many households, while at the same time creating new inequalities in gender roles and responsibilities, greater inequities between Brahmin and Tamang residents in Ghusel, and placing pressures on the ecosystem for increased supplies of fodder and fuelwood. Evidence suggests that there is critical, need for attention to the social, and particularly gender-based, implications of maintaining livestock for milk sales and to the ecological underpinnings of this livelihood system.     

Influence of Fluoride on Rat Kidney Antioxidant System: Effects of Methionine and Vitamin E

The aim of the study has been to determine and compare the influence upon the kidney antioxidative system, exercised by administration of vitamin E, and vitamin E in combination with methionine, under conditions of oxidative stress induced by sodium fluoride. The experiment was carried out on Wistar FL rats (adult males) that, for 35 days, were administered water, NaF, NaF with vitamin E, or vitamin E with methionine (doses: 10 mg NaF/kg of body mass/24 h, 3 mg vitamin E per 10 μl per rat for 24 h, 2 mg methionine per rat for 24 h). The influence of administered sodium fluoride and antioxidants upon the antioxidative system in kidney was examined by analyzing the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activity of the most important antioxidative enzymes (SOD, total and both its isoenzymes, GPX, GST, GR, and CAT). The studies carried out confirmed the disadvantageous effect of the administered dose of NaF upon the antixodiative system in rats (increase in the concentration MDA, decrease activity of all antioxidative enzymes). The administration of vitamin E increased the activity of studied enzymes with the exception of glutathione reductase GR; it also reduced the procesess of lipid peroxidation. It has been found that combined doses of vitamin E and methionine were most effective in inhibiting lipid peroxidation processes. The results confirmed the antioxidative properties of methionine.     

Identification of specific binding sites for leukotriene C4 in human fetal lung

Specific leukotriene C₄ (LTC₄) binding sites were identified in membrane preparations from human fetal lung. Specific binding of [³H]-LTC₄ represented 95 percent of total binding, reached steadystate within 10 minutes and was rapidly reversible upon addition of excess unlabeled LTC₄. Binding assays were performed at 4°C under conditions which prevented metabolism of [³H]-LTC₄ (80 mM serineborate, 10 mM cysteine, 10 mM glycine). Under these conditions, greater than 95 percent of the membrane bound radioactivity, as analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography, co-eluted with the LTC₄ standard. Computer-assisted analyses of saturation binding data showed a single class of binding sites with a dissociation constant (K_d) of 26 + 6 nM and a density (B_max) of 84 ± 18 pmol/mg protein. Pharmacological specificity was demonstrated by competition studies in which specific binding of [³H]-LTC₄ was displaced by LTC₄ and its structural analogs with inhibition constants (K_j) of 10 to 30 nM, whereas LTD₄, diastereoisomers of LTD₁, LTE₄ and the end organ antagonist FPL 55712 were 150 to 700 fold less potent competitors than LTC₄. These results provide evidence for specific, reversible, saturable, high affinity binding sites for [³H]-LTC₄ in human fetal lung membranes.     

Reorientation of Microfibrils and Microtubules at the Outer Epidermal Wall of Maize Coleoptiles During Auxin-Mediated Growth

Auxin-mediated elongation growth of isolated subapical coleoptile segments of maize (Zea mays L.) is controlled by the extensibility of the outer cell wall of the outer epidermis (Kutschera et al., 1987). Here we investigate the hypothesis that auxin controls the extensibility of this wall by changing the orientation of newly deposited microfibrils through a corresponding change in the orientation of cortical microtubules. On the basis of electron micrographs it is shown that cessation of growth after removal of the endogenous source of auxin is correlated with a relative increase of longitudinally orientated microfibrils and microtubules at the inner wall surface. Conversely, reinduction of growth by exogenous auxin is correlated with a relative increase of transversely orientated microfibrils and microtubules at the inner wall surface. These changes can be detected 30–60 min after the removal and addition of auxin, respectively. The functional significance of directional changes of newly desposited wall microfibrils for the control of elongation growth is discussed.     

多马胺能药物对鲇鱼促性腺激素（GtH）分泌活动的影响

以珠江流域鲇鱼（silurus asotus)为实验材料,研究了多巴胺（DA）能药物（DA及其D－2型受体拮抗物 ,DOM）对鲇鱼促性腺激素（GtH)释放的影响,结果表明,在性腺发育的各个时期,单独注射DOM（5ug/g)均不能显著提高鲇鱼血液基础GtH水平,当DOM与LHRH－A联合注射时能显著增强LHRH－A刺激GtH释放的作用;DA只能抑制GnRH诱导的GtH释放,对基础GtH释放无抑制作用,这种生殖内分泌调节方式与鲇形目的革胡子鲇（Clarias gariepinus)和大鳍Hu（Mystus macropterus)相似,而与鲤形目的鲁科（Cyrpindiae)鱼类不同。     

Gamma-glutamylcysteine protects ergothioneine-deficient Mycobacterium tuberculosis mutants against oxidative and nitrosative stress

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb.), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB), cannot synthesize GSH, but synthesizes two major low molecular weight thiols namely mycothiol (MSH) and ergothioneine (ERG). Gamma-glutamylcysteine (GGC), an intermediate in GSH synthesis, has been implicated in the protection of lactic acid bacteria from oxidative stress in the absence of GSH. In mycobacteria, GGC is an intermediate in ERG biosynthesis, and its formation is catalysed by EgtA (GshA). GGC is subsequently used by EgtB in the formation of hercynine-sulphoxide-GGC. In this study, M.tb. mutants harbouring unmarked, in-frame deletions in each of the fives genes involved in ERG biosynthesis (egtA, egtB, egtC, egtD and egtE) or a marked deletion of the mshA gene (required for MSH biosynthesis) were generated. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry analyses (LC-MS) revealed that the production of GGC was elevated in the MSH-deficient and the ERG-deficient mutants. The ERG-deficient ΔegtB mutant which accumulated GGC was more resistant to oxidative and nitrosative stress than the ERG-deficient, GGC-deficient ΔegtA mutant. This implicates GGC in the detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in M.tb.     

Interactions of an antitumor platinum compound with deoxyribonucleic acid, histones, L-amino acids, poly-L-amino acids, nucleosides and nucleotides

Interaction of cis-dichloro(dipyridine)platinum(II) (cis-PPC) with calf thymus DNA, calf thymus histone, l-amino acids, poly-l-amino acids, nucleosides, and nucleotides has been evaluated by equilibrium dialysis technics. At least a 28 % decrease in the association of cis-PPC with DNA occurs when the platinum compound is pre-incubated with l-amino acids. The greatest decrease in association is seen upon pre-incubation of the platinum compound with the free amino acids. Glut, Asp, Lys, Arg, and CySH, before the addition of a sack containing a solution of DNA. The low level of association between DNA and the amino acids tends to rule out competition between cis-PPC and amino acids for DNA association sites. cis-PPC was repelled from sacks containing positively charged poly-l-Lys, poly-l-Arg, and calf thymus histone; however, in the presence of poly-l-Glut and poly-l-Asp, cis-PPC associated with these negatively charged polymers to a considerable degree. Enhanced chloride dissociation from cis-PPC was observed in the presence of all of the amino acids and the nucleotides GMP, CMP, UMP, and TMP, but not in the presence of AMP or the nucleosides rG and dG. In the presence of calf thymus histone, the association of cis-PPC with calf thymus DNA was reduced by more than 50% at histone/DNA ratios of 0.8–1.0.These data suggest that cis-PPC or cis-Pt(II) may associate with electron-rich areas of not only nucleic acids and proteins but also with body pools of free nucleotides and amino acids. The presence of positively charged histones shielding DNA strands in vivo suggests that the most probable point of platinum-DNA association would be at de-repressed areas of DNA which are undergoing RNA synthesis. The aquated form of the platinum complex may also associate with acidic proteins which appear to be involved in the positive control of RNA synthesis and, as a result, this interaction may be of pharmacological significance.     

Tuning of electronic properties of one-dimensional cyano-bridged Cu-Ni, Cu-Pd, and Cu-Pt bimetallic assemblies by stereochemistry of ligands

Preparations, XPS and electronic spectroscopy, and magnetism of seven new one-dimensional cyano-bridged coordination polymers, chiral [Cu(RR-chxn)₂][Pd(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (1), [Cu(trans-chxn)₂][M(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (2, 4, and 6 for M = Pd, Ni, and Pt), and [Cu(cis-chxn)₂][M(CN)₄] · 2H₂O (3, 5, and 7 for M = Pd, Ni, and Pt) (RR-chxn = cyclohexane-(1R,2R)-diamine, trans-chxn = racemic trans-cyclohexane-(1,2)-diamine, and cis-chxn = racemic cis-cyclohexane-(1,2)-diamine) have been reported in view of tuning of their electronic properties by stereochemistry of chxn ligands and metal-substitution. Comparison of Cu 2p_1/2 and 2p_3/2 peaks of XPS and broad d-d bands around 18 000 cm⁻¹ of electronic spectra are described systematically for 1-7. Variable-temperature magnetic measurement shows that complexes 1-7 indicate weak antiferromagnetic interactions via cyano-bridges. Because of semi-coordination coupled with pseudo Jahn-Teller elongation and electrostatic interaction for 1, the axial Cu-N coordination bond distances of 2.330(7) and 3.092(8) Å are considerably longer than those of equatorial ones in the range from 2.016(6) to 2.030(6) Å. The former bond distances of 1 are intermediate values among the related Ni (2.324(6) and 3.120(8) Å) and Pt (2.34(1) and 3.09(1) Å) complexes.     

Biofortification of crops with seven mineral elements often lacking in human diets – iron, zinc, copper, calcium, magnesium, selenium and iodine

The diets of over two-thirds of the world's population lack one or more essential mineral elements. This can be remedied through dietary diversification, mineral supplementation, food fortification, or increasing the concentrations and/or bioavailability of mineral elements in produce (biofortification). This article reviews aspects of soil science, plant physiology and genetics underpinning crop biofortification strategies, as well as agronomic and genetic approaches currently taken to biofortify food crops with the mineral elements most commonly lacking in human diets: iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iodine (I) and selenium (Se). Two complementary approaches have been successfully adopted to increase the concentrations of bioavailable mineral elements in food crops. First, agronomic approaches optimizing the application of mineral fertilizers and/or improving the solubilization and mobilization of mineral elements in the soil have been implemented. Secondly, crops have been developed with: increased abilities to acquire mineral elements and accumulate them in edible tissues; increased concentrations of 'promoter' substances, such as ascorbate, β-carotene and cysteine-rich polypeptides which stimulate the absorption of essential mineral elements by the gut; and reduced concentrations of 'antinutrients', such as oxalate, polyphenolics or phytate, which interfere with their absorption. These approaches are addressing mineral malnutrition in humans globally.     

Invited Review Free Radicals in Foods

During the last decade increasing attention has been given to the role of free radicals in biological oxidations. The subject has been of increasing interest to both the food scientist and the physiologist. Free radical scavengers in the form of both indigenous and added antioxidants are necessary for the successful preservation of food; free radicals are increasingly being implicated in the onset of, among others, ischaemic heart disease and for protection against these diseases it is suggested that the dietary intake of the antioxidant vitamins should be increased especially for diets high in polyunsaturated fats. ^1,2 Convenience and snack foods which absorb substantial amounts of frying oils are being increasingly consumed. Since poly-unsaturated fatty acids are particularly susceptible to oxidation by free radicals during the storage, cooking and frying of foods, the potential risk of exposure to lipid degradation products' is likely to have increased. In foods the non-enzymic and lipoxygenase catalysed oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, β-carotene and vitamin A can result in the loss of essential nutrients and the development of off-flavours.