Physiological and anatomical responses of wheat to induced dehydration and rehydration

Hydroponically grown wheat seedlings of two prominent Bulgarian cultivars (Katya and Prelom) were subjected to 48 h osmotic stress with PEG 8000 and were then rehydrated. The degree of stress was evaluated by monitoring relative water content, lipid peroxidation level, and accumulation of free proline and hydrogen peroxide in the leaves. Anatomy and ultrastructure of leaf tissue were observed under light microscopy. After imposition of stress, drought tolerant cultivar Katya displayed higher free proline content and significantly lower malondialdehyde and peroxide concentration in leaves than in the leaves of susceptible cultivar Prelom. After 24 h of rehydration Katya showed better ability to restore leaf water status and an apparent tendency towards recovery, whereas Prelom sustained higher levels of hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidation products and free proline and markedly low relative water content. Here, we have uncovered some of the characteristics displayed by cultivar Katya that enable it to survive and recover from severe osmotic stress. Interestingly, there was congruence between our results and the high level of cultivar Katya drought tolerance observed in the field.     

Phytochemical Study of Juglans regia L. Pericarps from Greece with a Chemotaxonomic Approach

Phytochemical research of different polarity extracts from green Juglans regia L. pericarps from Greece afforded 32 compounds: four pentacyclic triterpenes (1 – 4), three sesquiterpenes (5 – 7), four tetralones (8 – 11), two naphthoquinones (12 and 13), seven phenolic acids (14 – 20), one diarylheptanoid (21), one neo‐lignan (22), seven flavonoids (23 – 29), two phenylethanoids (30 and 31) and one hydrolysed tannin (32). Compounds 4 and 29 are isolated for the first time from the species, while compounds 3, 7, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30 are reported for the first time in Juglandaceae. Chemotaxonomic significance of isolated compounds into Junglandaceae family is thoroughly discussed.     

Identification and characterization of DUSP27, a novel dual-specific protein phosphatase

A novel human dual-specific protein phosphatase (DSP), designated DUSP27, is here described. The DUSP27 gene contains three exons, rather than the predicted 4-14 exons, and encodes a 220 amino acid protein. DUSP27 is structurally similar to other small DSPs, like VHR and DUSP13. The location of DUSP27 on chromosome 10q22, 50 kb upstream of DUSP13, suggests that these two genes arose by gene duplication. DUSP27 is an active enzyme, and its kinetic parameters and were determined. DUSP27 is a cytosolic enzyme, expressed in skeletal muscle, liver and adipose tissue, suggesting its possible role in energy metabolism.     

Secondary metabolites from Centaurea deusta with antimicrobial activity

The aerial parts of Centaurea deusta Ten. afforded in addition to several known compounds, mainly sesquiterpene lactones, one new eudesmanolide and one new elemane derivative. Structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activities of the isolated compounds was tested, using the microdilution method. All compounds tested showed high antifungal activity.     

Antimicrobial activity of acidic xylo-oligosaccharides produced by family 10 and 11 endoxylanases

Acidic oligosaccharides were obtained from birchwood xylan by treatment with a Thermoascus aurantiacus family 10 and a Sporotrichum thermophile family 11 endoxylanases. The main difference between the products liberated by xylanases of family 10 and 11 concerned the length of the products containing 4-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid. The xylanase from T. aurantiacus liberate from glucuronoxylan an aldotetrauronic acid as the shortest acidic fragment in contrast with the enzyme from S. thermophile, which liberated an aldopentauronic acid. Acidic xylooligosaccharides were separated from the hydrolysate by anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) and the primary structure was determined by 13C NMR spectroscopy. The acidic xylo-oligosaccharides were tested against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative aerobically grown bacteria, as well as against Helicobacter pylori. Aldopentauronic acid was proved more active against the Gram-positive bacteria and against H. pylori.     

Translational aspects of cardiac cell therapy

Cell therapy has been intensely studied for over a decade as a potential treatment for ischaemic heart disease. While initial trials using skeletal myoblasts, bone marrow cells and peripheral blood stem cells showed promise in improving cardiac function, benefits were found to be short‐lived likely related to limited survival and engraftment of the delivered cells. The discovery of putative cardiac ‘progenitor’ cells as well as the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells has led to the delivery of cells potentially capable of electromechanical integration into existing tissue. An alternative strategy involving either direct reprogramming of endogenous cardiac fibroblasts or stimulation of resident cardiomyocytes to regenerate new myocytes can potentially overcome the limitations of exogenous cell delivery. Complimentary approaches utilizing combination cell therapy and bioengineering techniques may be necessary to provide the proper milieu for clinically significant regeneration. Clinical trials employing bone marrow cells, mesenchymal stem cells and cardiac progenitor cells have demonstrated safety of catheter based cell delivery, with suggestion of limited improvement in ventricular function and reduction in infarct size. Ongoing trials are investigating potential benefits to outcome such as morbidity and mortality. These and future trials will clarify the optimal cell types and delivery conditions for therapeutic effect.     

Anticentromere antibody positive Sj?gren's Syndrome: a retrospective descriptive analysis

Introduction

A subgroup of patients with primary Sjögren''s Syndrome (SS) and positive anticentromere antibodies (ACA) were recognized as having features intermediate between SS and systemic sclerosis (SSc). Our goal was to describe this group clinically and serologically and define its tendency to evolve to full blown SSc.

Methods

Among 535 patients with primary SS we identified 20 ACA positive (ACA+/SS). We compared them to 61 randomly selected ACA negative SS patients (ACA-/SS), 31 ACA positive SSc patients with sicca manifestations [SSc/(+) sicca] and 20 ACA positive SSc patients without sicca manifestations [SSc/(-) sicca].

Results

Prevalence of ACA among SS patients was 3.7%. Cases and controls did not differ in sex ratio and age at disease onset. ACA+/SS patients had a lower prevalence of dry eyes, hypergammaglobulinaemia, anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies and a higher prevalence of Raynaud''s phenomenon and dysphagia compared to ACA-/SS patients. They also had lower prevalence of telangiectasias, puffy fingers, sclerodactyly, Raynaud''s phenomenon, digital ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux in comparison to both of the SSc subgroups and a lower prevalence of dyspnoea and lung fibrosis compared to the SSc/(+) sicca subgroup. Two patients originally having ACA+/SS evolved to full blown SSc. Four deaths occurred, all among SSc patients. Kaplan Meier analysis showed a significant difference between cases and controls in time from disease onset to development of gastroesophageal reflux, telangiectasias, digital ulcers, arthritis, puffy fingers, xerostomia, hypergammaglobulinaemia and dysphagia.

Conclusions

ACA+/SS has a clinical phenotype intermediate between ACA-/SS and SSc and shows little tendency to evolve to SSc.