Soil chemistry and mineral problems in farm livestock. A review

A review is made of the influence of soil chemistry and soil characteristics on the occurrence of mineral problems in farm livestock, with major emphasis on ruminants maintained on pastures and forages. The review is developed in two sections: (1) a general discussion of factors affecting transfer of elements through the soil—plant—animal complex, with some reference to techniques employed in assessing problems of animal health; (2) a more detailed review of certain mineral deficiency and toxicity conditions in livestock caused by specific elements for which a relationship with soil properties has been clearly demonstrated on an international basis. This includes phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, copper, molybdenum, cobalt, selenium, iodine and fluorine. The relationships are, in general, quite complex and affected not only by geology and soil chemistry but by climate, intensity of the agricultural systems, nature of the vegetative cover and characteristics and management of the grazing animal.     

DNA G-quartets in a 1.86 A resolution structure of an Oxytricha nova telomeric protein-DNA complex.

The Oxytricha nova telomere end binding protein (OnTEBP) recognizes, binds and protects the single-stranded 3'-terminal DNA extension found at the ends of macronuclear chromosomes. The structure of this complex shows that the single strand GGGGTTTTGGGG DNA binds in a deep cleft between the two protein subunits of OnTEBP, adopting a non-helical and irregular conformation. In extending the resolution limit of this structure to 1.86 A, we were surprised to find a G-quartet linked dimer of the GGGGTTTTGGGG DNA also packing within the crystal lattice and interacting with the telomere end binding protein. The G-quartet DNA exhibits the same structure and topology as previously observed in solution by NMR with diagonally crossing d(TTTT) loops at either end of the four-stranded helix. Additionally, the crystal structure reveals clearly visible Na(+), and specific patterns of bound water molecules in the four non-equivalent grooves. Although the G-quartet:protein contact surfaces are modest and might simply represent crystal packing interactions, it is interesting to speculate that the two types of telomeric DNA-protein interactions observed here might both be important in telomere biology.     

Continuous and Discontinuous Cigarette Smoke Exposure Differentially Affects Protective Th1 Immunity against Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is the leading cause of death due to a bacterial pathogen. Emerging epidemiologic evidence suggests that the leading risk factor associated with TB mortality is cigarette smoke exposure. Despite this, it remains poorly understood what is the effect of cigarette smoke exposure on anti-TB immunity and whether its potential detrimental effect can be reversed by cigarette smoking cessation. In our current study, we have investigated the impact of both continuous and discontinuous cigarette smoke exposure on the development of anti-mycobacterial type 1 immunity in murine models. We find that while continuous cigarette smoke exposure severely impairs type 1 immunity in the lung, a short-term smoking cessation allows rapid restoration of anti-mycobacterial immunity. The ability of continuous cigarette smoke exposure to dampen type 1 protective immunity is attributed locally to its affects on innate immune cells in the lung. Continuous cigarette smoke exposure locally, by not systemically, impairs APC accumulation and their production of TNF, IL-12, and RANTES, blunts the recruitment of CD4+IFN-γ+ T cells to the lung, and weakens the formation of granuloma. On the other hand, smoking cessation was found to help restore type 1 immunity by rapidly improving the functionality of lung APCs, enhancing the recruitment of CD4+IFN-γ+ T cells to the lung, and promoting the formation of granuloma. Our study for the first time demonstrates that continuous, but not discontinuous, cigarette smoke exposure severely impedes the lung expression of anti-TB Th1 immunity via inhibiting innate immune activation and lung T cell recruitment. Our findings thus suggest cigarette smoking cessation to be beneficial to the control of pulmonary TB.     

Antitumor Effects of 3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-Hexahydroxystilbene in hl-60 Human Promyelocytic Leukemia Cells

Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trihydroxystilbene, RV) exerts remarkable cytostatic and cytotoxic effects against a multitude of human cancer cell lines. Since the introduction of additional hydroxyl groups was supposed to increase the biological activity of RV, we have synthesized a number of polyhydroxylated stilbene analogues as potential antitumor agents. In this study, the activity of 3,3′,4,4′,5,5′-hexahydroxystilbene (M8) was investigated in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Employing a growth inhibition assay, incubation with M8 and RV resulted in IC₅₀ values of 6.25 and 12 μM, respectively. Using a specific Hoechst/propidium iodide double staining method, we found that M8 was able to induce apoptosis in concentrations significantly lower than those of RV. In addition, M8 arrested cells in the S phase and totally depleted cells in the G2-M phase of the cell cycle (143% and 0% of control after treatment with 12.5 μM M8, respectively). We therefore believe that this promising agent deserves further preclinical and in vivo testing.     

Nuclear inclusions in the human adenohypophysis. A fine-structural study of nontumorous and adenomatous pituitaries.

Electron microscopy revealed the presence of nonviral nuclear inclusions in human nontumorous as well as adenomatous adenohypophysiocytes, regardless of cell type. Based on ultrastructural appearances, the inclusions have been classified as simple bodies, complex bodies and filamentous aggregates. Many transitional forms were noted between the simple and complex bodies, however, no relationship between the nuclear bodies and filamentous aggregates was found. It can be concluded that the three types of inclusions are normal nuclear constituents. Since no accumulation of these structures was observed in cells associated with enhanced secretion it appears that they are not related to hormonal hyperactivity in the human adenohypophysis.