Isolation and study of azobenzene-transforming soil bacteria

Heterotrophic bacteria were isolated from soil and glass slides and classified as Bacillus cereus SNK12, Paenibacillus polymyxa SNK2, Azotobacter chroococcum ANKII, and Ochrobactrum intermedium ANKI. Their cultures could degrade azobenzene under the conditions of co-metabolism. A rapid test for the ability of bacteria to transform azobenzenes is proposed.Translated from Prikladnaya Biokhimiya i Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 41, No. 2, 2005, pp. 185–188.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Wackerow-Kouzova.     

Variation and inheritance of peroxidase activity and phenol and saccharide content in cacao in relation to susceptibility to black pod disease

The relationship between susceptibility to black pod disease and activity of peroxidases in crude extracts and soluble phenols and saccharides contents was studied in the pod cortex and in the seeds of three cacao clones: SNK413 (lowly susceptible), SNK10 (highly susceptible) and ICS95 (mildly susceptible) and in the F1 (SNK413×SNK10) and the F′1 (SNK10×SNK413) progeny. Phenol content and peroxidase activity in seeds increased as the pods matured; they were not the same in the proximal, middle and distal parts within the same pod at maturity. This variation could be correlated to the stage of development of the seeds. Total soluble saccharides and ketohexoses in the pod cortex did not vary significantly from one clone to another and could not be related to the susceptibility of the pods. Nevertheless, their contents were 2 to 4 times less in the F1 and F′1 progeny. Total soluble phenols, flavanol and hydroxycinnamic derivatives in the pod cortex were higher in the SNK413 clone. Hydroxycinnamic derivatives were not detected in the SNK10 clone and this character was transmitted to the progeny when SNK10 was male (F1 progeny). Phenolic cornpounds decreased in the F1 and F′1 progeny. These results suggest that phenolic compounds and peroxidase activity could be correlated to the susceptibility of cacao clones to black pod disease and that crossing two clones of different susceptibility produces hybrids with lower phenols and saccharides contents which may be responsible for their poor tolerance to black pod disease.     

Ubiquitylation and degradation of serum-inducible kinase by hVPS18, a RING-H2 type ubiquitin ligase

Serum-inducible kinase (SNK) is a member of polo-like kinases that serve as regulators of multiple events during cell division. Rapid changes in the activity and abundance of SNK were reported after the serum stimulation and after the activation of synaptic transmission in the brain. Yet the detailed mechanisms that control the level of SNK protein have not been fully elucidated. In this report, we show that the RING-H2 domain of hVPS18 (human vacuolar protein sorting 18) has a genuine ubiquitin ligase (E3) activity. Using the yeast two-hybrid screening, we identify SNK as a candidate substrate of hVPS18. The half-life of SNK is increased in HeLa cells that down-regulated hVPS18 by lentivirus-mediated small hairpin RNA interference. Furthermore, the delayed entry into S phase is observed in HeLa cells overexpressing hVPS18. These results suggest that hVPS18 may play an important role in regulation of SNK activity through its ubiquitin ligase.     

Inhibition of SNK‐SPAR signaling pathway promotes the restoration of motor function in a rat model of ischemic stroke

This study aimed to investigate the effects of SPAR signaling pathway on the restoration of motor function in ischemic stroke (IS). Sprague‐Dawley male rats were separated into the control and sham groups, as well as the group for middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model establishment. Successfully established rat ischemic models were randomly divided into model, SNK^MCAO‐del and pcDNA3.1‐SNK groups. The evaluation of motor function among the rats in each group was assessed using a balance beam, a screen test and the Garcia scoring method. CatWalk gait analysis was employed to evaluate the effect of the SNK signaling pathway on rat motor function. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and TUNEL staining were techniques were utilized for cerebral infarction (CI) area as well for hippocampal neuron apoptosis. The quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) and western blotting methods were performed to detect mRNA and protein expressions of SNK and SPAR. When compared with the model group, the SNK^MCAO‐del group displayed decreased motor function score and CI area, while contrasting results were observed in the pcDNA3.1‐SNK group. According to the results obtained from the CatWalk gait analysis, the SNK^MCAO‐del group showed a clear improvement compared to the model group whereas the pcDNA3.1‐SNK group exhibited poorer results than the model group in the objective parameters of the study, such as movement, speed, running duration, print area, maximal contact area, maximal, mean intensity, and stride length. These findings suggested that SNK gene silencing promotes motor function by inhibiting the SNK‐SPAR signaling pathway in rats with ischemic stroke.     

Changes in Carbohydrate, Amino Acid and Phenol Contents in Cocoa Pods from Three Clones after Infection with Phytophthora megakarya Bra. and Grif.

Mature pods from three clones ofTheobroma cacaoL., differingin their susceptibility toPhytophthora megakaryaBra. and Grif.,were infected with the fungal mycelium. Variations of the contentsin carbohydrates, ketohexoses, amino acids, phenols and flavonol,and hydroxycinnamic derivatives were followed in the cortexfor 4d. After pod infection, the amount of carbohydrates decreasedmore rapidly in the clone SNK10 (highly susceptible) than inthe clones SNK413 (low susceptibility) and ICS95 (mildly susceptible),suggesting their utilization by the fungus. At the same time,the amount of ketohexoses decreased by 22% in the clone SNK10,remained almost constant in the clone SNK413, and increasedby 53% in the clone ICS95. The content of amino acids increasedwith time in the pods of the three clones. The results suggestthat the amino acid variation is related to pod aging and tothe infection. Four days after treatment, an increase in phenolicswas measured in all cases. The increase in flavonol and hydroxycinnamicderivatives was related to the wounding and to the infectionof the pods. DuringPhytophthorablack pod development, variationsof the contents in the biochemicals studied herein were genotype-dependent,and the patterns of the changes could be related, at least inpart, to the susceptibility of the genotype toP. megakarya. Theobroma cacaoL.; cocoa; black pod; plant/fungus interaction; susceptibility     

Metabolic engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum for improved l-arginine synthesis by enhancing NADPH supply

Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology - Corynebacterium glutamicum SNK 118 was metabolically engineered with improved l-arginine titer. Considering the crucial role of NADPH level...     

Adsorption of Adenine and Thymine on Zeolites: FT-IR and EPR Spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffractometry and SEM Studies

The interactions of adenine and thymine with and adsorption on zeolites were studied using different techniques. There were two main findings. First, as shown by X-ray diffractometry, thymine increased the decomposition of the zeolites (Y, ZSM-5) while adenine prevented it. Second, zeolite Y adsorbed almost the same amount of adenine and thymine, thus both nucleic acid bases could be protected from hydrolysis and UV radiation and could be available for molecular evolution. The X-ray diffractometry and SEM showed that artificial seawater almost dissolved zeolite A. The adsorption of adenine on ZSM-5 zeolite was higher than that of thymine (Student-Newman-Keuls test-SNK p<0.05). Adenine was also more greatly adsorbed on ZSM-5 zeolite, when compared to other zeolites (SNK p<0.05). However the adsorption of thymine on different zeolites was not statistically different (SNK p>0.05). The adsorption of adenine and thymine on zeolites did not depend on pore size or Si/Al ratio and it was not explained only by electrostatic forces; rather van der Waals interactions should also be considered.     

Algae,bacteria and detritus as food for the harpacticoid copepod, Heteropsyllus pseudonunni Coull and Palmer

The harpacticoid copepod, Heteropsyllus pseudonunni Coull and Palmer, when fed Juncus roemerianus Scheele (needlerush) detritus produced significantly more eggs than when fed the alga Dunaliella sp. Five food rations and a starved control were used: A, algal concentration ≈ 10⁴ cells · ml^?1; LA, algal concentration 10³ cells · ml^?1; D, detritus concentration 0.25 g · ml^?1; LD, detritus concentration 0.025 g · ml^?1; LDLA, a mixture of the LD and LA rations. Geometric mean total egg production values were: LDLA 132.5; LD 132.6; D 120.5; A 65.8; LA 5.0. The LA results were significantly less (P = 0.05; Student-Newman-Keuls' test) than all others, while the A results were significantly less than the LDLA, LD and D results. The LDLA, LD and D results were not statistically different. Similar trends were obtained when mean brood sizes and mean number of broods were compared. In a second feeding experiment, using Juncus detritus, bacteria on sand grains, and algae (Nitzschia sp.) on sand grains, Heteropsyllus pseudonunni produced significantly more eggs (P = 0.05; SNK test) when fed detritus (166.0) or bacteria (132.2) than algae (58.9). The detritus and bacteria results were not significantly different.     

Effect of MgSO4 and K2SO4 on somatic embryo differentiation in Theobroma cacao L.

Somatic embryogenesis in cacao is difficult and this species is considered as recalcitrant. Therefore, reformulation of culture media might be a breakthrough to improve its somatic embryogenesis. In cacao, acquisition of somatic embryogenesis competence involves three main stages: induction of primary callus, induction of secondary callus and embryo development. Screening for MgSO₄ and K₂SO₄ concentrations for somatic embryo differentiation was conducted on three genotypes (Sca6, IMC67 and C151-61) at the three stages. The effect of these two salts in culture media appears to be most efficient at the embryo development stage. At this stage, high MgSO₄ (24 mM) and K₂SO₄ (71.568 mM) in the culture media induced direct somatic embryos on staminodes and petals of the Sca6 and IMC67 genotypes. Media supplemented with 6.0 mM and 12.0 mM MgSO₄ enabled high responsive of explants and produced high proportion of embryos. The positive effect of MgSO₄ and K₂SO₄ on the acquisition of embryogenesis competence was further tested on seven cacao genotypes reputed as non embryogenic: SNK12, ICS40, POR, IMC67, PA121, SNK64 and SNK10. All these genotypes were able to produce somatic embryos depending on the MgSO₄ concentration. Thus, our results showed that the recalcitrance of cacao to somatic embryo differentiation can be overcome by screening for the suitable MgSO₄ or K₂SO₄ concentration. Studies of the influence of different K⁺/Mg²⁺ ratios (at normal sulphate concentration) on somatic embryo differentiation revealed that sulphate supply was the main factor promoting responsive explants and the proportion of embryos. Cysteine synthase isoforms showed patterns related to morphogenetic structures sustaining that sulphur supply and its assimilation improve somatic embryogenesis in cacao.     

WWOX蛋白在胰腺癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的探讨WWOX蛋白在胰腺癌组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法应用免疫组织化学孓P法检测人胰腺癌组织芯片150芯（包括70例胰腺癌组织和5例胰腺炎）中WWOX蛋白的表达,采用HPIAS-1000图文报告管理系统对WWOX蛋白的表达进行定量分析,并用SPSS11．5软件对各组免疫组织化学反应阳性颗粒的平均光密度、阳性面积率做单因素方差分析和SNK（q）检验。结果胰腺癌组织中WWOX蛋白呈低表达,胰腺炎组织中WWOX蛋白呈高表达。结论提示WWOX基因表达下调可能在胰腺癌的发生、发展中起了重要作用。     

Effect of the physical properties of acrylic resin of overnight immersion in sodium hypochlorite solution

doi:10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2009.00336.x
Effect of the physical properties of acrylic resin of overnight immersion in sodium hypochlorite solution Objectives: This study evaluated colour stability, surface roughness and flexural strength of microwave‐polymerised acrylic resin after overnight immersion in sodium hypochlorite, simulating 180 days use. Materials and methods: Forty disc‐shaped (15 mm × 4 mm) and 40 rectangular specimens (65 mm × 10 mm × 3 mm) were prepared from microwave‐polymerised acrylic resin. The specimens were immersed in 0.5, 1% sodium hypochlorite, Clorox/Calgon and distilled water. Colour measurements (ΔE) were determined by a portable colorimeter. A surface analyser was used to measure roughness (μm). The flexural strength (MPa) was measured using a three‐point bending test in a universal testing machine. Data were evaluated by one‐way anova , followed by Student–Newman–Keuls test (α = 0.05). Results: Statistical analysis found significantly higher colour changes (SNK, p < 0.001) for the 1% sodium hypochlorite, but mean ΔE value quantified by National Bureau of Standards was classified as slight. When comparing the surface roughness, no statistical significance was found among the solutions (anova , p = 0.637). The 1% sodium hypochlorite presented significantly lower flexural strength compared with the control group (SNK, p = 0.034). Conclusion: It was concluded that immersion in 1% sodium hypochlorite solutions for 8 h does influence the colour stability and flexural strength of microwave‐polymerised acrylic resin, during the simulated period of 180 days.     

Effect of dental status on changes in mastication in patients with obesity following bariatric surgery

Background

Patients scheduled for bariatric surgery (BS) are encouraged to chew slowly in order to optimise the digestion process. The influence of dental status on patients'' ability to comply with advice on chewing behaviour is poorly documented. This study aims to compare modifications of chewing function before and after BS in three groups of obese patients differing in dental status.

Method and Findings

A cohort of 46 obese women provided three groups: FD group: fully dentate (7–10 functional dental units [FU]); PD group: partially dentate (4–6 FU) without partial dentures; DW group: partial and complete denture wearers. Chewing time (CT), number of chewing cycles (CC), and chewing frequency (CF) were measured before and after surgery during mastication of standardised samples of raw carrot, peanuts, banana, apple and jelly. The median particle-size distribution (D50) of the pre-swallowed bolus was also evaluated for peanut and carrot. Before surgery, the PD and DW groups exhibited greater mean CCs and CTs than the FD group (SNK p<0.05) and produced a bolus with higher granulometry (SNK, p<0.05) than the FD group. After surgery, CT and CC increased for all groups and for all foods, but not statistically significant for jelly. The resulting changes in bolus granulometry observed depended on both food and dental status. The granulometry of carrot bolus remained as fine or as coarse in FD and DW groups respectively as it was before surgery while it was significantly decreased in the PD group (Student''s test, p<0.001).

Conclusions

After bariatric surgery, all the obese patients, regardless of dental status modified their chewing kinematics. The effects of this chewing behaviour on bolus granulometry depended on dental status and type of food. Further studies are needed to understand better the impact of dental status on feeding behaviour and nutrition in patients with obesity.     

抑癌基因WWOX和FHIT在膀胱尿路上皮癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的探讨抑癌基因包含WW域的氧化还原酶(WWOX)和脆性组氨酸三联体(FHIT)在膀胱尿路上皮癌中的表达及临床意义。方法收集武汉大学人民医院病理科2006-2009年有完整临床和病理资料的膀胱尿路上皮癌存档蜡块50例和5例癌旁组织,采用免疫组织化学S-P法检测50例膀胱尿路上皮癌和5例癌旁组织中WWOX和FHIT的表达水平。采用HPIAS-1000高清晰度彩色病理图文报告管理系统,对WWOX和FHIT的表达进行定量分析,并用SPSS13.0软件对各组免疫组织化学反应阳性颗粒的平均光密度、阳性面积率做单因素方差分析和SNK(q)检验。结果 WWOX和FHIT的表达在膀胱尿路上皮癌中呈低表达,癌旁组织中呈高表达。膀胱尿路上皮癌与癌旁组织相比,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论 WWOX和FHIT在膀胱尿路上皮癌中的低表达是膀胱尿路上皮癌发生过程中的早期表现,通过联合检测可预测膀胱尿路上皮癌的预后。     

Critical role of CDK5 and Polo-like kinase 2 in homeostatic synaptic plasticity during elevated activity

Homeostatic plasticity keeps neuronal spiking output within an optimal range in the face of chronically altered levels of network activity. Little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms, particularly in response to elevated activity. We report that, in hippocampal neurons experiencing heightened activity, the activity-inducible protein kinase Polo-like kinase 2 (Plk2, also known as SNK) was required for synaptic scaling-a principal mechanism underlying homeostatic plasticity. Synaptic scaling also required CDK5, which acted as a "priming" kinase for the phospho-dependent binding of Plk2 to its substrate SPAR, a postsynaptic RapGAP and scaffolding molecule that is degraded following phosphorylation by Plk2. RNAi knockdown of SPAR weakened synapses, and overexpression of a SPAR mutant resistant to Plk2-dependent degradation prevented synaptic scaling. Thus, priming phosphorylation of the Plk2 binding site in SPAR by CDK5, followed by Plk2 recruitment and SPAR phosphorylation-degradation, constitutes a molecular pathway for neuronal homeostatic plasticity during chronically elevated activity.     

CD82／KA11在膀胱尿路上皮癌中的表达

目的探讨膀胱尿路上皮癌中CD82／KA11的表达及临床意义。方法收集武汉大学人民医院痫理科20062010年有完整临床和病理资料的膀胱尿路上皮癌存档蜡块50例和5例癌旁组织,采用免疫组织化学S-P法检测50例膀胱尿路上皮癌和5例癌旁组织中CD82／KA11的表达水平。采用HPIAS-1000高清晰度彩色病理图文报告管理系统,对（D82／KA11的表达进行定量分析,并帽SPSS13．0软件对各组免疫组织化学反应阳性颗粒的平均光密度、阳性面积率做单㈨素方差分析和SNK（q）检验。结果CD82／KA11在膀胱尿路上皮癌中呈低表达,癌旁组织中呈高表达。膀胱尿路上皮癌与癌旁组织相比,差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论CD82／KA11在膀胱尿路上皮癌中的表达异常可能在膀胱尿路上皮癌的发生和发展中发挥了重要作用。     

肿瘤转移抑制基因TIP30/CC3在膀胱尿路上皮癌中的作用

目的探讨膀胱尿路上皮癌中肿瘤转移抑制基因TIP30/CC3基因的表达及意义。方法收集武汉大学人民医院病理科2000-2006年有完整临床和病理资料的膀胱尿路上皮癌存档蜡块50例和5例癌旁组织,采用免疫组织化学S-P法检测50例膀胱尿路上皮癌和5例癌旁组织中TIP30/CC3基因的表达水平。并分析TIP30/CC3基因与膀胱尿路上皮癌临床和病理特征的关系。采用HPIAS-1000高清晰度彩色病理图文报告管理系统,对TIP30/CC3基因的表达进行定量分析,并用SPSS13.0软件对各组免疫组织化学反应阳性颗粒的平均光密度、阳性面积率做单因素方差分析和SNK(q)检验。结果 (1)TIP30/CC3基因在膀胱尿路上皮癌中呈低表达,癌旁组织中呈高表达。膀胱尿路上皮癌与癌旁组织相比,差异有显著性(P<0.05);(2)TIP30/CC3的表达与患者年龄、性别之间的差异均无显著性(P>0.05)。但与肿瘤浸润深度、分化程度和临床UICC分期之间的差异均有显著性(P<0.05)。结论抑癌基因TIP30/CC3基因在膀胱尿路上皮癌中的低表达可能促进了膀胱尿路上皮癌的发生和发展。     

Computer-aided morphometric analysis of the developing concentric structure of the human fetal intestinal tube

The Image-Pro Plus 3.0 morphometric program was used to study the region-specific organization of the human fetal intestine across the radial axis of the gut at weeks 12 and 18 of gestation. The thicknesses of the epithelium, the submucosa, the muscular layers and the myenteric ganglia were measured in resin-embedded semithin sections. Statistical analysis of the collected data was performed by using the two-way ANOVA, the SNK test and the Pearson correlation. The structural changes relating to the gut morphogenesis within this developmental period were followed both light and electron microscopically. The various tissues forming the radial axis of the intestinal tube exhibited different trends concerning their individual development. The thickness of the epithelium did not change in the fetal period investigated, although the epithelial surface displayed characteristic ultrastructural changes. The thickness of the submucosal layer increased significantly, but with different dynamics along the longitudinal axis, whereas the increases in size of the muscular layers and the myenteric ganglia did not differ significantly along the longitudinal axis of the embryonic intestine. The Pearson correlation revealed a significant correlation between the development of the circular muscle layer and that of the myenteric plexus along the whole length of the intestinal tube. The epithelium, the submucosa and the longitudinal muscle layers developed independently between weeks 12 and 18 of gestation.