Optimization of Algerian fir somatic embryos maturation

The effect of maturation pretreatment on development and growth of Abies numidica De Lann. somatic embryos was studied. The most beneficial was pre-culturing on Schenk and Hildebrandt medium without growth regulator for 2 weeks. Dry mass accumulation of emblings was lower than that of seedlings after 50 d of culturing. Contents of microelements in seedlings were higher than in emblings, but macroelements contents were higher in emblings. Contents of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b in cotyledons were higher in seedlings than in emblings while no qualitative differences were detected between the protein profiles of seedlings and emblings.     

Results of combined radiotherapy and hormonal treatment of prostate cancer patients with initial PSA value >40 ng/ml

AimTo evaluate the outcome of prostate cancer patients with initial PSA value >40 ng/ml.BackgroundThe outcome of prostate cancer patients with very high initial PSA value is not known and patients are frequently treated with palliative intent. We analyzed the outcome of radical combined hormonal treatment and radiotherapy in prostate cancer patients with initial PSA value >40 ng/ml.MethodsBetween January 2003 and December 2007 we treated, with curative intent, 56 patients with non-metastatic prostate cancer and initial PSA value >40 ng/ml. The treatment consisted of two months of neoadjuvant hormonal treatment (LHRH analog), radical radiotherapy (68–78 Gy, conformal technique) and an optional two-year adjuvant hormonal treatment.ResultsThe median time of follow up was 61 months. 5-Year overall survival was 90%. 5-Year biochemical disease free survival was 62%. T stage, Gleason score, PSA value, and radiotherapy dose did not significantly influence the outcome. Late genitourinal and gastrointestinal toxicity was acceptable.ConclusionRadical treatment in combination with hormonal treatment and radiotherapy can be recommended for this subgroup of prostate cancer patients with good performance status and life expectancy.     

A simple,reliable method to determine the mean gait speed using heel markers on a treadmill

Gait speed is an essential parameter of gait analysis. Our study proposed a simple and accurate method to extract a mean gait speed during walking on a treadmill using only kinematic data from markers placed on the heels of the participants’ feet. This method provided an attractive, simple method that remains resistant to errors in treadmill calibration. In addition, this method required only two markers, since heel markers are essential to gait analysis, and the proposed method is robust enough to differentiate among various gait speeds (mean error <1%).     

Effect of Thermal Processing and Maceration on the Antioxidant Activity of White Beans

Phenolic compounds, which naturally occur in beans, are known to have antioxidant activity, which may be partially lost during the processing of this legume. This study evaluated the effect of thermal processing and maceration on the phenolic acid and flavonoids profile and content and on the antioxidant activity of white beans. According to the results obtained from the 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) method, there were no significant differences among treatment groups analysed. When was using 1,1-diphenyl-2-pycrylhydrazyl method (DPPH), beans cooked without maceration present the higher antioxidant activity, and raw beans the lower. The phenolic acids found in greater amounts were gallic acid and chlorogenic acid. Kaempferol was only detected in the soaked and cooked samples; catechin and kaempferol-3-rutinoside were found in the highest concentrations. Quercetin and kaempferol-3-glucoside were not affected by the cooking process, either with or without maceration. In general, the heat treatment increased the antioxidant activity.     

Contribution to the European Pollen Database in Neotoma: a pollen diagram of Rokytecká slať mire,Bohemian Forest/Šumava (Czech Republic)

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany -     

Variability in sequence of Strawberry vein banding virus

The variability of the Strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV) isolates was investigated. In total 267 strawberry plants from 6 European countries and North America were tested for the presence of SVBV. Only 4 plants were positive. Partial genomic sequences of the capsid protein gene of three North American SVBV isolates were determined. Only minor sequence variability (0.7 %) was observed during a comparison with existing nucleotide data of the European and the North American isolates (9 isolates). No variability at all could be found in the annealing regions of primers and probes used for molecular detection of SVBV for these isolates. However, a comparison to a sequence of a Chinese isolate published recently revealed a much higher DNA sequence difference (9.5 %) of this isolate.     

Collagen-binding Microbial Surface Components Recognizing Adhesive Matrix Molecule (MSCRAMM) of Gram-positive Bacteria Inhibit Complement Activation via the Classical Pathway

Members of a family of collagen-binding microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs) from Gram-positive bacteria are established virulence factors in several infectious diseases models. Here, we report that these adhesins also can bind C1q and act as inhibitors of the classical complement pathway. Molecular analyses of Cna from Staphylococcus aureus suggested that this prototype MSCRAMM bound to the collagenous domain of C1q and interfered with the interactions of C1r with C1q. As a result, C1r₂C1s₂ was displaced from C1q, and the C1 complex was deactivated. This novel function of the Cna-like MSCRAMMs represents a potential immune evasion strategy that could be used by numerous Gram-positive pathogens.     

Increased Frequency of CD4 and CD8 Regulatory T Cells in Individuals under 15 Years with Multibacillary Leprosy

Background

Leprosy is a chronic disease, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, which poses a serious public health problem worldwide. Its high incidence in people under 15 years old in Ceará state, Brazil, reflects the difficulty of its control. The spectrum of clinical manifestations is associated with the immune response developed, with the Th1 and Th2 responses being related to the paucibacillary and multibacillary forms, respectively. Regulatory T cells (Treg), which can suppress Th1 and Th2 response, have received special attention in the literature and have been associated with development of chronic infections. However, their role in leprosy in individuals under 15 years old has not yet been elucidated. We evaluated the frequency of CD4⁺/CD8⁺CD25^highFOXP3⁺ and CD4⁺/CD8⁺CD25^highFOXP3^high cells in leprosy patients and household contacts, in both cases under 15 years old.

Methodology/Principal Findings

PBMC from 12 patients and 17 contacts were cultured for 72 hours with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 (activators) or with activators associated with total sonicated fraction of M. leprae. After culture, the frequency of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ Treg was identified by flow cytometry. Cells stimulated by activators and antigen from multibacillary patients showed Treg frequencies almost two times that of the contacts: CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ (21.93±8.43 vs. 13.79±8.19%, p = 0.0500), CD4⁺FOXP3^high (10.33±5.69 vs. 5.57±4.03%, p = 0.0362), CD8⁺FOXP3⁺ (13.88±9.19 vs. 6.18±5.56%, p = 0.0230) and CD8⁺FOXP3^high (5.36±4.17 vs. 2.23±2.68%, p = 0.0461). Furthermore, the mean fluorescence intensity of FOXP3 in Treg was higher in multibacillary patients than in the contacts. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation of the bacillary index and number of lesions with the frequency of all Treg evaluated in patients.

Conclusions/Significance

We have demonstrated for the first time that multibacillary leprosy patients under 15 years old have greater CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ Treg frequencies and these correlate with clinical and laboratorial aspects of disease. These findings suggest the involvement of these cells in the perpetuation of M. leprae infection.