Micropropagation,phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of gamma-irradiated blackberry (Rubus fruticosus L.) plantlets

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant - In vitro methods were used to study the consequences of gamma irradiation on morphological and biochemical changes in blackberry plantlets....     

Photosynthetic response to light and temperature in Laminaria digitata gametophytes from two French populations

Given the growing body of evidence on the general decline of kelp beds worldwide, it is crucial to understand the physiological responses of kelp gametophyte stages to environmental parameters. We investigated the physiological responses to light and temperature of gametophytes from two populations of Laminaria digitata in contrasting environments along the French coast of the English Channel. Gametophytes of both populations were highly tolerant of high light through an efficient down-regulation of photosynthesis triggered by the activation of the xanthophyll cycle. Temperature increases promoted photosynthesis and photosystem II showed high resistance to short-term exposure to high temperatures currently encountered in the field. Gametophytes from the two sites displayed some differences in their pigment content and photosynthetic characteristics, but low replication and difference in time of sampling precluded tests of potential local adaptation to the light conditions at each site, as observed in previously published results on adult sporophytes. Gametophytes of L. digitata appeared to be resistant to irradiation and temperature conditions currently experienced in the field, confirming their role in persistence of kelp species under stressful environmental conditions.     

Improvement of Metabolic and Histological Changes of Adiposity in Rats by Synthetic Oleoyl Chalcones

We previously reported that synthetic oleoyl chalcones had a favorable effect to alleviate metabolic consequences of obesity in male SD rats. In this work, we prepared and characterized by spectroscopic tools, a set of six oleoyl chalcones ( 5a–c , 10 and 11a,b ). The comparative effects of the previously prepared oleoyl chalcones and their new synthetic analogs on metabolic and histological changes in obese male SD rats were studied. It was found that the oleoyl chalcones III_a and IV were the best in improving many metabolic parameters, e. g., FBG, FI, ISI, TG, and total cholesterol. They cured systemic inflammation, through inhibition of the TNF-α and induction of adiponectin production. Moreover, chalcones III_a and IV alleviated the oxidative stress accompanying obesity through the induction of the antioxidant enzymes GPX, SOD and CAT besides, GSH. Interestingly, chalcones III_a and IV exerted hepatoprotective potency and ameliorated the manifestations of NAFLD via inhibition of apoptosis and induction of autophagy of hepatic cells. In conclusion, the oleoyl chalcones III_a and IV were the most effective candidates among the series of synthetic chalcones in correcting body weight and the consequent metabolic and histological changes in adiposity.     

Identification of PlexinD1 and AHDC1 as a putative interactors for Tip-1 protein

The class 1 PDZ domain Tip-1 protein was first identified as a binding partner for the Human T-Cell Leukaemia Virus type 1 (HTLV-1) Tax oncoprotein. It was later shown to interact with: the RhoA signaling effector Rhotekin, the Wnt signaling effector β-catenin and the E6 oncoprotein from high-risk HPV16 but not low-risk HPV6. These observations suggested that Tip-1 may be an important “hub” protein that is involved in pathways with a proven link to carcinogenesis. Based on these findings, it was decided to further characterize the cellular role of Tip-1 by carrying out a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify new binding partners in order to uncover potentially novel functions of this protein. This identified an intracellular fragment of the trans-membrane receptor plexin D1 and a C-terminal fragment of the AT hook DNA binding containing 1 (AHDC1) protein which had a carboxyl terminal PDZ binding domain consensus sequence. Both of these interactions were confirmed by yeast mating assay which was also used to show that mutant constructs of AHDC1 lacking the carboxyl PDZ binding site did not bind Tip-1. Immunofluorescent imaging of these proteins in HPV16 E6 expressing human C33A cervical carcinoma cells suggested they may co-localize.     

Alpha fetoprotein in maternal blood during normal and pathological pregnancies]

AFP was assayed in serum of normal pregnant women and in patients with pathological pregnancy. Pathological levels of AFP, defined as increased or decreased concentrations compared with the normal distribution, was detected in 83.5 % of pregnant women who delivered a dysmature child and in 88 % of those whose placenta was macroscopically sclerous. A longitudinal determination of AFP appears to be useful in the follow-up of risk of abortion.     

Studies on distribution and metabolism of valproate in rat brain,liver, and kidney

Time-course studies on the distribution and metabolism of valproate (VPA) in rat brain, liver, and kidney, after intraperitoneal injection of a mixture of [¹⁴C]VPA and [³H]VPA, showed that: (1) maximal amount of radioactivity in the various tissues was observed after 30 min from the time the drug was administered; (2) at 30 min the distribution of labeled VPA in brain, liver, and kidney was 17%, 64%, and 19% of the total radioactivity, respectively; (3) at 24 hr more than 97% of the total radioactivity was lost from the tissues and the¹⁴C/³H ratios increased significantly with time. Studies on the regional distribution of the drug showed that it is relatively homogeneously distributed. Studies on the subcellular distribution of the drug showed that it is associated mostly with the soluble and mitochondrial fractions, with little radioactivity in the myelin and synaptosomal fractions. Radiochromatography of VPA metabolites in perchloric acid extracts from brain, liver, and kidney revealed the presence of four metabolites. VPA was not incorporated into phospholipids of the neuronal membranes. Furthermore, it had no significant effects on Mg²⁺-ATPase and (Na⁺+K⁺)-ATPase in synaptosomes and microsomes obtained either from control or from rats injected with VPA. It was concluded that this antiepileptic drug does not appear to act through its incorporation into neuronal membrane or through its action on the Na⁺ pump.Contribution No. 0601 from the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912.     

Prediction of prognosis in patients with left ventricular dysfunction using three-dimensional strain echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Netherlands Heart Journal - We evaluated three-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) strain and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with delayed contrast enhancement (DCE) for the...