Germination responses of Diplotaxis harra to temperature and salinity

Diplotaxis harra (Forssk.) Boiss, an annual herb in the family of Brassicaceae, is widely distributed in many sandy and gypseous areas in southern Tunisia. Laboratory experiments were carried out to assess the effects of temperature and salinity on seed germination and recovery responses after seed transfer to distilled water. The germination responses of the seeds in complete darkness were determined over a wide range of temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C) and salinities (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl). Germination was inhibited by either an increase or decrease in temperature from the optimal temperature (15 °C). Highest germination percentages were obtained under non-saline conditions and an increase in NaCl concentrations progressively inhibited seed germination. Rate of germination decreased with an increase in salinity at all temperatures but comparatively higher rates were obtained at 15 °C. Salt stress decreased both the percentage and the rate of germination. An interaction between salinity and temperature yielded no germination at 200 mM NaCl. Seeds were transferred from salt solution to distilled water after 20 days, and those from low salinities recovered at all temperatures. At NaCl concentration of 200 mM, the recovery of germination was completely inhibited.     

Persistence of a chimerical phenotype after hepatocyte differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells

Abstract.  Objectives : Recent studies have suggested the potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into a hepatocyte-like lineage. Here, we evaluate the efficacy of hepatocyte differentiation of MSCs by studying acquisition of hepatocyte-like features together with alteration of the native mesenchymal phenotype. Material and methods : In vitro , we have investigated protein and mRNA level expression of hepatocyte and mesenchymal markers of mesenchymal-derived hepatocyte-like cells (MDHLCs) and we have evaluated their functionality using metabolic assays. In vivo , we investigated co-expression of hepatocyte (albumin, α-foetoprotein, cytokeratin 18) and mesenchymal (fibronectin, vimentin) markers after transplantation of MSCs or MDHLCs into severe combined immune deficiency mice. Results : We observed that while in vitro these cells acquired some phenotypic and functional features of mature hepatocytes, they partially preserved their mesenchymal phenotype. After intrasplenic transplantation, engrafted MSCs with isolated expression of fibronectin and α-foetoprotein were observed. When these cells were injected into the liver, they expressed all analysed markers, confirming the chimaeric co-expression observed in vitro . Conversely, liver-engrafted MDHLCs conserved their hepatocyte-lineage markers but lost their chimaeric phenotype. Conclusions : Hepatocyte differentiation of MSCs predominantly allows the acquisition of phenotypic hallmarks and provides chimaeric cells that maintain expression of initial lineage markers. However, advanced maturation to the hepatocyte-like phenotype could be obtained in vivo by conditioning MSCs prior to transplantation or by infusing cells into the liver micro-environment.     

Advanced therapeutic modalities in hepatocellular carcinoma: Novel insights

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, is usually a latent and asymptomatic malignancy caused by different aetiologies, which is a result of various aberrant molecular heterogeneity and often diagnosed at advanced stages. The incidence and prevalence have significantly increased because of sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, chronic infection with hepatotropic viruses and exposure to aflatoxins. Due to advanced intra- or extrahepatic metastasis, recurrence is very common even after radical resection. In this paper, we highlighted novel therapeutic modalities, such as molecular-targeted therapies, targeted radionuclide therapies and epigenetic modification-based therapies. These topics are trending headlines and their combination with cell-based immunotherapies, and gene therapy has provided promising prospects for the future of HCC treatment. Moreover, a comprehensive overview of current and advanced therapeutic approaches is discussed and the advantages and limitations of each strategy are described. Finally, very recent and approved novel combined therapies and their promising results in HCC treatment have been introduced.     

Basal ganglia hemorrhage in a case report following spinal surgery

Background

Intracranial hemorrhage is a rare but potentially severe complication of spinal surgery. Most reported post-operative ICH cases consist of cerebellar hemorrhage. There are fewer reported cases of supratentorial ICH following spinal surgery.

Case presentation

A 56-year-old woman underwent spinal surgery complicated by bilateral supratentorial intraparenchymal basal ganglia hemorrhage with both intraventricular extension and subarachnoid hemorrhage in both cerebral hemispheres.

Conclusion

The occurrence of neurological deterioration post-operatively following spinal surgery should alert physicians to the possibility of intracranial hemorrhage in order to facilitate rapid and optimal management. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting basal ganglia hemorrhage following spinal surgery. Moreover, consideration should be given to the possibility of this complication prior to recommendation of elective spinal surgery.

     

DNA barcoding of economically important freshwater fish species from north‐central Nigeria uncovers cryptic diversity

This study examines the utility of morphology and DNA barcoding in species identification of freshwater fishes from north‐central Nigeria. We compared molecular data (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences) of 136 de novo samples from 53 morphologically identified species alongside others in GenBank and BOLD databases. Using DNA sequence similarity‐based (≥97% cutoff) identification technique, 50 (94.30%) and 24 (45.30%) species were identified to species level using GenBank and BOLD databases, respectively. Furthermore, we identified cases of taxonomic problems in 26 (49.00%) morphologically identified species. There were also four (7.10%) cases of mismatch in DNA barcoding in which our query sequence in GenBank and BOLD showed a sequence match with different species names. Using DNA barcode reference data, we also identified four unknown fish samples collected from fishermen to species level. Our Neighbor‐joining (NJ) tree analysis recovers several intraspecific species clusters with strong bootstrap support (≥95%). Analysis uncovers two well‐supported lineages within Schilbe intermedius. The Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of Nigerian S. intermedius with others from GenBank recover four lineages. Evidence of genetic structuring is consistent with geographic regions of sub‐Saharan Africa. Thus, cryptic lineage diversity may illustrate species’ adaptive responses to local environmental conditions. Finally, our study underscores the importance of incorporating morphology and DNA barcoding in species identification. Although developing a complete DNA barcode reference library for Nigerian ichthyofauna will facilitate species identification and diversity studies, taxonomic revisions of DNA sequences submitted in databases alongside voucher specimens are necessary for a reliable taxonomic and diversity inventory.     

First record of non-marine ostracods from the Paleogene “hamadian deposits” of Méridja area,west of Bechar (southwestern Algeria)

A new non-marine ostracod fauna from the Paleogene “hamadian deposits” outcropping west of Bechar (southwestern Algeria) has been recovered from lacustrine to fluvial deposits of the Oued Méridja section and fluvial deposits on the southern edge of the Hamada de Méridja section. Recently, these sections have been dated as late Thanetian – early Ypresian (latest Paleocene to earliest Eocene) and Ypresian – earliest Lutetian (early to earliest middle Eocene), respectively, based on charophytes. The associated ostracod fauna recovered consists of relatively mostly moderately to badly preserved specimens and comprises 14 taxa, none of which could be identified to species level in view of its poor state of preservation; we have nevertheless been able to identify and describe the following taxa: Herpetocypris sp., Cyprinotus? sp., Heterocypris? sp. 1 and sp. 2, Cypris? sp., Ilyocypris sp., Cytheroidea indet. sp. 1 and sp. 2, Limnocytheridae indet. sp. 1, Cypridoidea indet. sp. 1, Cyprididae indet. sp. 1, and Ostracoda indet. sp. 1, 2 and 3. Only Heterocypris sp. 1 occurs in both sections. Although the fauna can as yet not be related to the few other contemporaneous faunas reported from the wider palaeogeographic area, it adds important new information to our poor knowledge on Eocene non-marine ostracods in North Africa and southern Europe. The Méridja sections and area are promising regarding the discovery of more, better preserved material and further studies, and one main limitation to the correlation of the fauna is the hitherto insufficient taxonomic knowledge on many faunal elements of Eocene non-marine ostracods to which our section contributes considerably.     

Investigation of immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects of eriodictyol through its cellular anti-oxidant activity

Many studies have been performed to assess the potential utility of natural products as immunomodulatory agents to enhance host responses against infection or to ameliorate immune-based pathologies. To determine whether eriodictyol has immunomodulatory effects and clarify which types of immune effector cells are stimulated in vitro, we investigated the stimulatory effect of eriodictyol on spleen cells isolated from BALB/c mice. Eriodictyol significantly stimulated splenocyte proliferation. However, only B lymphocytes (not T lymphocytes) could be stimulated by eriodictyol in a dose-related manner. Studies assessing potential effect of eriodictyol on innate immunity reported that eriodictyol enhanced significantly the killing activity of natural killer (NK) cells, T lymphocytes, and macrophages. We also demonstrated that eriodictyol inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production and lysosomal enzyme activity in murine peritoneal macrophages cultured ex-vivo, suggesting a potential anti-inflammatory effect in situ. Eriodictyol revealed also a cellular anti-oxidant activity in splenocytes and macrophages. Furthermore, eriodictyol increased catalase activity in spleen cells. From this data, it can be concluded that eriodictyol exhibited an immunomodulatory effect that could be ascribed in part to a cytoprotective effect related to its anti-oxidant activity.     

Taxonomic review of the “Bulimes”, terrestrial gastropods from the continental Eocene of the Hamada de Méridja (northwestern Sahara,Algeria) (Mollusca: Stylommatophora: Strophocheilidae?), with a discussion of the genera of the family Vidaliellidae

Terrestrial gastropods occur in many North African localities in Eocene continental deposits. Here we analyse the faunal assemblage from the Hamada de Méridja Formation in southwestern Algeria, dated as Early to Middle Eocene on the basis of charophytes. The assemblage consists of three closely related species that to date have been classified either in the extant Madagascan genus Leucotaenius v. Martens, 1860, or in the SW European Eocene genera Romanella Jodot, 1957 and Vicentinia Jodot, 1957. This is rejected for shell morphological and phylogeographical reasons, and a new classification as Maghrebiola gen. nov. is proposed. Maghrebiola is tentatively placed in the South American family Strophocheilidae, as species from the Early Eocene Itaboraí Basin of Brazil, currently placed in the genus Eoborus Klappenbach and Olazarri, 1970 in the family Strophocheilidae, superfamily Acavoidea, have a very similar shell habitus. This record possibly extends the known geographical range of the Strophocheilidae into the African continent during the Eocene. Immigration of this stock into North Africa during the Cretaceous via a still existing plate connection is assumed. An attribution of Maghrebiola to the African family Achatinidae is unlikely for shell morphological reasons despite certain habitus similarities, although the Priabonian genera Arabicolaria and Pacaudiella from Oman most likely belong into this family, and not to the Vidaliellidae as originally proposed. Possible causes for the very low diversity of the assemblage are mainly unfavourable living conditions, i.e. a relatively dry climate resulting in sparse vegetation and only occasional presence of water bodies, which may have had increased salinities, accounting for the lack of freshwater mollusks. The absence of any competing large gastropods may possibly have facilitated high intraspecific variability leading to sympatric occurrence of three closely related species, due to the animals occupying a wide range of available ecological niches. As the species discussed here have also been attributed to the genera Romanella and Vicentinia in the Vidaliellidae, we provide an appendix with annotated characterisations of most genera of the Vidaliellidae and list the nominal species assigned to them. This family is tentatively placed in the South American superfamily Orthalicoidea; its stock would have similarly immigrated from South America, but have successfully colonized mainly SW Europe, with only one Eocene species [Romanella kantarensis (Jodot, 1936)] recognized in Algeria.     

Umbilical cord fibroblasts: Could they be considered as mesenchymal stem cells?

In cell therapy protocols, many tissues were proposed as a source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) isolation. So far, bone marrow (BM) has been presented as the main source of MSC despite the invasive isolation procedure related to this source. During the last years, the umbilical cord (UC) matrix was cited in different studies as a reliable source from which long term ex vivo proliferating fibroblasts were isolated but with contradictory data about their immunophenotype, gene expression profile, and differentiation potential. Hence, an interesting question emerged: Are cells isolated from cord matrix (UC-MSC) different from other MSCs? In this review, we will summarize different studies that isolated and characterized UC-MSC. Considering BM-MSC as gold standard, we will discuss if UC-MSC fulfill different criteria that define MSC, and what remain to be done in this issue.