Production of healthier goat milk. Use of a concentrate supplemented with a “protected” fat rich in PUFA

In order to obtain healthier goat milk as far as its fat composition is concerned, milk production and composition trials were carried out with Granadina goats kept in semi-extensive breeding conditions. The animals were feeding indoors with a concentrate supplemented or not with 7% of fat conveniently protected against the action of rumen, which had 35% of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The amount of milk produced was higher (p < 0.05) with consumption of the fat supplemented concentrate. At the same time, and although there was no difference in the milk concentration of fat and protein nitrogen (p > 0.05), the corresponding yields were higher for consumption of the fat supplemented concentrate. As for the composition of milk fat, the use of the supplemented concentrate resulted in fat with a higher (p < 0.05) concentration of PUFA and a lower (p < 0.05) concentration of stearic acid. At the same time, the concentration of medium chain triglycerides, which is the specific nutritional value particular to goats' milk, was the same whichever concentrate was consumed.     

Bioremediation of oil‐contaminated soil in Kuwait. I. landfarming to remediate oil‐contaminated soil

During the Gulf Crisis, the State of Kuwait was subjected to hazards caused by the oil well fires. The discharged oil formed over 300 oil lakes, covering land areas in excess of 49 km². In addition, deposits from aerial fallout covered massive areas of Kuwait's desert soil. It has been widely recognized that the heavily oil‐contaminated soil must be remediated in order to avoid total damage to the land, water ecosystems, and/or the eventual release of hazardous particulate compositions to the atmosphere. A large number of diverse technological options were being considered for the remediation of contaminated soil. Bioremediation techniques involving enhanced landfarming was selected and evaluated at pilot scale

The experiments were initiated in November 1992 at the Burgan oil field in which 16 landfarming plots of 120 m² each were constructed. The study continued for 18 months, during which time petroleum hydrocarbon concentration, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), and heavy metals were monitored regularly. The result obtained showed that landfarming treatment resulted in more than 80% reduction of oil contamination within 15 months. The treatment also resulted in a substantial reduction of the PAHs concentrations.     

Role of oil‐seed cakes for the management of plant‐parasitic nematodes and soil‐inhabiting fungi on lentil and mungben

The oil‐seed cakes of neem (Azadirachta indica), castor (Ricinus communis), linseed (Linum usitatissimum), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), mustard (Brassica campestris) and duan (Eruca sativa) were tested for their efficacious nature against plant‐parasitic nematodes and soil‐inhabiting fungi infesting lentil and also on the subsequent crop, mungbean in field trials. The population of plant‐parasitic nematodes such as Meloidogyne incognita, Rotylenchulus reniformis, Tylenchorhynchus brassicae, Helicoty‐lenchus indicus etc., and the frequency of pathogenic fungi Macrophomina phaseolina, Fusarium oxysporum f. lentis, Rhizoctonia solarii, Septoria leguminum, Sclerotium rolfsii, etc., were significantly reduced by the incorporation of oil‐seed cakes, however, the frequency of saprophytic fungi Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viridae, Penicillium degetatum, etc., was increased. A several‐fold improvement was observed in plant‐growth parameters such as plant weight, percent pollen fertility, pod numbers, chlorophyll content, nitrate reducíase activity in leaves and root‐nodulation. The residual effects of different oil‐seed cakes were also noted in the subsequent crop, mungbean, in the next growing season. The population of plant‐parasitic nematodes and frequency of soil‐inhabiting fungi also influenced by the depth of ploughing.     

Comparative genome‐wide analysis of small RNAs of major Gram‐positive pathogens: from identification to application

In the recent years, the number of drug- and multi-drug-resistant microbial strains has increased rapidly. Therefore, the need to identify innovative approaches for development of novel anti-infectives and new therapeutic targets is of high priority in global health care. The detection of small RNAs (sRNAs) in bacteria has attracted considerable attention as an emerging class of new gene expression regulators. Several experimental technologies to predict sRNA have been established for the Gram-negative model organism Escherichia coli. In many respects, sRNA screens in this model system have set a blueprint for the global and functional identification of sRNAs for Gram-positive microbes, but the functional role of sRNAs in colonization and pathogenicity for Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis and Clostridium difficile is almost completely unknown. Here, we report the current knowledge about the sRNAs of these socioeconomically relevant Gram-positive pathogens, overview the state-of-the-art high-throughput sRNA screening methods and summarize bioinformatics approaches for genome-wide sRNA identification and target prediction. Finally, we discuss the use of modified peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) as a novel tool to inactivate potential sRNA and their applications in rapid and specific detection of pathogenic bacteria.     

Environmental fate of the chemical mixtures: Crude oil,JP‐5, mineral spirits,and diesel fuel

Petroleum hydrocarbon mixtures in soils and groundwater present unique challenges in the estimation of potential human exposures and subsequent health risks. A major component of risk assessment affected by mixtures is the evaluation of environmental fate. The fate of petroleum mixtures may be evaluated by using either of three approaches: (1) the evaluation of the fate of indicator chemical(s), (2) the evaluation of the fate of the mixture as a whole with a surrogate, and (3) the evaluation of the fate of the hydrocarbon mixture as a whole. The limiting factor in the selection of an approach is the availability of information on specific chemical constituents in the mixture. The evaluation of environmental fate requires quantitative information regarding the distribution, mobility, and degradation/transformation as represented by various physicochemical properties. In addition to the availability of this information, the selection of the evaluation method should be consistent with the goals of the project, as each approach will produce different results. This presentation discusses the issues related to the identification and implementation of each of the approaches to the evaluation of the environmental fate of four petroleum mixtures (crude oil, JP‐5, mineral spirits, and diesel) for risk assessment purposes.     

Critical evaluation of methods for determination of body fat content in children: back to basic parameters?

Considering the increasing prevalence of obesity among children and of obesity related disorders in the pediatric population, the reliable evaluation of body fat content in children is of critical importance in research and clinical medicine. In this study, we assessed the congruency of different estimates for body fat content in prepubertal children. We determined anthropometric parameters, such as BMI and skinfold thickness, and bioelectrical impedance in 676 prepubertal Caucasian children. We calculated body fat percentage (BF%) from these parameters applying 5 distinct algorithms and established raw centiles for these models. Expectedly, girls had significantly higher BF% regardless of the method applied. There were, however, significant variances in the calculated amount of BF% between the algorithms, with BIA based equations giving highest BF%, while skinfold based equations tended to provide lower BF% values. Direct comparison of the algorithms revealed a high degree of inconsistency and poor agreement in the assessment of body fat with variations of >10% BF%. Great differences in basic parameters, such as DeltaBMI (3.2 kg/m (2)) or Deltaskinfolds (1.75-fold), would be needed to reliably predict correct ranking of 10% difference in body fat with 95% probability. In summary, BF% strongly varies depending on both the method as well as the algorithm used. This questions the applicability of such field methods for the assessment of BF% for comparative analyses and the superiority of information over basic parameters such as BMI.     

Design,synthesis and evaluation of curcumin-based fluorescent probes to detect Aβ fibrils

Amyloid β fibrillation is an early event in Alzheimer’s disease, so its detection is important to understand its roles in Alzheimer’s disease. Curcumin, which has poor water solubility, has been reported to have many pharmacological activities including potent anti-amyloid β fibril activity in Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, we found that curcumin analogues with the fluorescence property instead of non-inhibition of amyloid β fibrils. The development of new curcumin analogue, Me-CUR (9), as fluorescent switchable probe to detect amyloid β fibrils is described. Me-CUR (9) shows excellent fluorescence, especially higher than ThT (4), in the presence of amyloid β fibrils. These results suggest that Me-CUR (9) can become a useful in vitro amyloid fluorescence sensor for diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.     

HLA polymorphism and evaluation of European, African, and Amerindian contribution to the white and mulatto populations from Paraná, Brazil

Polymorphism of classical HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DR, and HLA-DQ genes differs greatly among populations, both in frequencies and in the presence of alleles and haplotypes particular to population groups, making these genes powerful tools for the study of origins of populations and their degree of admixture. Antigen, allele, and haplotype frequencies, together with linkage disequilibrium patterns, are reported for 2 populations in the southern Brazilian state of Paraná, one of predominantly European ancestry (white), the other of predominantly African and European ancestry (mulatto). Genetic distance estimates between the 2 groups and other populations studied previously, and of degree of admixture, were performed. In accordance with phenotypic classification, the white population is of predominantly European origin (80.6%), with a smaller contribution of African (12.5%) and Amerindian (7.0%) genes. The mulatto population consists of African (49.5%) and European (41.8%) ancestry, with a smaller but significant contribution of Amerindian (8.7%) ancestry. On the basis of history and population genetics, there is controversy regarding the Amerindian contribution to Paraná's gene pool. These results provide a better picture of Paraná's ethnic constitution and on the Amerindian contribution to the white and mulatto populations.     

The potential of an insect pheromone lure,Z‐7‐dodecen‐1‐yl acetate,compared with peanut butter to attract laboratory and wild rats and mice

Abstract

We compared the attractiveness to rats and mice of two lures, the pheromone Z‐7‐dodecen‐1 ‐y 1 acetate and peanut butter. In the first part of the study, laboratory‐bred rats and mice were placed in a Y‐maze. Each arm of the maze offered their normal food, plus either the pheromone or 5% ethanol as a control. There were no significant differences, by species or sex, in the number of visits or the amount of time spent in each arm. The male mice took significantly less time, however, to enter the control arm of the maze than the pheromone arm. In addition, female mice were less active during the first 5 min of the Y‐maze study than during the 5 min familiarisation period, suggesting a repellent effect of the pheromone lure. In the second part of the study, tracking tunnels were placed out in the field and baited with one of three lures—the pheromone, peanut butter or a 5% ethanol control. There was no significant difference in the number of visits by mice to tunnels containing the three lures, but rats made more visits to the tunnels containing peanut butter in the “Test” stage than in the “Neo” stage. The wild rats and mice were found not to be neophobic, suggesting the standard 3‐week familiarisation period is not necessary.     

Comparative evaluation of the antiproliferative effect of cyclosporin A and γ-interferon on normal and HPV-transformed keratinocytes by cell counting, MTT assay and tritiated thymidine incorporation

We compared three techniques, the MTT tetrazolium assay, cell counting, and tritiated thymidine ([3H]TdR) incorporation assay to measure the antiproliferative effect of cyclosporin A (CsA) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) on normal human skin keratinocyte cultures (NHK) used at the second passage and human papillomavirus type 16- and 18-transformed cell lines (EK16 and EK18) exposed continuously to the drugs for 3 days. The three techniques showed that under CsA (0.5 and 8 μ/ml) and IFN-γ (5 and 160 U/ml) treatments the cells remained viable and that the growth of keratinocytes was inhibited. For IFN-γ, the MTT colorimetric assay consistently underestimated its growth inhibitory activity as compared to cell counting or [3H]TdR incorporation, whatever the cells used. For high doses of CsA, MTT and cell counting gave similar percentages of inhibitory activity whatever the cells; MTT underestimated this activity as compared to [3H]TdR incorporation only in NHK and EK18 cells, whereas similar results were obtained with EK16 cells. In conclusion, this investigation shows that MTT sensitivity differed with the drug and also according to the keratinocyte cultures. The MTT test is clearly not appropriate for study of IFN-γ treatment whatever the keratinocytes used. Such discrepancies indicate that the MTT test should be done with care on cultures to measure the effects of drugs on cell growth; the growth inhibition should be carefully considered and it would be best if two different methods were used.     

Thiosugar Nucleosides. Synthesis and Biological Activity of 1,3,4‐Thiadiazole,Thiazoline and Thiourea Derivatives of 5‐Thio‐d‐Glucose

New acylated 5‐thio‐β‐d‐glucopyranosylimino‐disusbstituted 1,3,4‐thiadiazols 8, and 11 were prepared, via spontaneous rearrangements, by cycloaddition of the glycosyl isothiocyanate 2 with the reactive intermediates 1‐aza‐2‐azoniaallene hexachloroantimonates 4 and 6, respectively. Reaction of 2 with aminoacetone or chloroethylamine afforded the acylated 5‐thio‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐4‐imidazoline‐2‐thione nucleoside 16 and glucopyranosylamino‐2‐thiazoline derivative 18, respectively. Deblocking of 8, 11, 17 and 19 furnished the free nucleoside analogues 9, 12, 18 and 20, respectively. Analogously, treatment of 2 with chloroethylamine in the 1:2 ratio afforded the thioureylendisaccharide 21. No in vitro antiviral activity against HIV‐1, HIV‐2, human cytomegallovirus (HMCV), has been found for the new synthesized compounds.     

Comparative evaluation of the effects of treatment with tocilizumab and TNF-α inhibitors on serum hepcidin,anemia response and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis patients

Introduction

Anemia of inflammation (AI) is a common complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and has a negative impact on RA symptoms and quality of life. Upregulation of hepcidin by inflammatory cytokines has been implicated in AI. In this study, we evaluated and compared the effects of IL-6 and TNF-α blocking therapies on anemia, disease activity, and iron-related parameters including serum hepcidin in RA patients.

Methods

Patients (n = 93) were treated with an anti-IL-6 receptor antibody (tocilizumab) or TNF-α inhibitors for 16 weeks. Major disease activity indicators and iron-related parameters including serum hepcidin-25 were monitored before and 2, 4, 8, and 16 weeks after the initiation of treatment. Effects of tocilizumab and infliximab (anti-TNF-α antibody) on cytokine-induced hepcidin expression in hepatoma cells were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR.

Results

Anemia at base line was present in 66% of patients. Baseline serum hepcidin-25 levels were correlated positively with serum ferritin, C-reactive protein (CRP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28). Significant improvements in anemia and disease activity, and reductions in serum hepcidin-25 levels were observed within 2 weeks in both groups, and these effects were more pronounced in the tocilizumab group than in the TNF-α inhibitors group. Serum hepcidin-25 reduction by the TNF-α inhibitor therapy was accompanied by a decrease in serum IL-6, suggesting that the effect of TNF-α on the induction of hepcidin-25 was indirect. In in vitro experiments, stimulation with the cytokine combination of IL-6+TNF-α induced weaker hepcidin expression than did with IL-6 alone, and this induction was completely suppressed by tocilizumab but not by infliximab.

Conclusions

Hepcidin-mediated iron metabolism may contribute to the pathogenesis of RA-related anemia. In our cohort, tocilizumab was more effective than TNF-α inhibitors for improving anemia and normalizing iron metabolism in RA patients by inhibiting hepcidin production.     

Pigment stratigraphy and trophic status: An evaluation of radionuclide‐dated lacustrine sediment

Sediment cores from the profundal region of relatively young (ca. 45 years), warm‐monomictic Lake Vechten were dated with Cs and ²¹⁰Pb and analyzed for major carotenoids, chlorophyll, and pheophytin. Vertical sediment accretion rates determined from a clay/sand horizon and from the radionuclide datings varied between 0.60 and 0.74 cm/year. Sedimentation rates based on paniculate matter collected in sediment traps agreed with results of the ¹³⁷Cs method with average values of respectively 2.9 and 2.3 kg dry weight m^‐2 year^‐1. It was concluded that the profundal sediment is fairly undisturbed. Pigments showed a severalfold increase from the deepest to the superficial sediment layers. Their profiles were compared with limnological data obtained during previous studies of Lake Vechten. Evidence was provided that the distribution of pigments reflected grossly the trophic history of the lake, which became more eutrophic during the last two decades. Pigment analyses of sediment cores may be a useful tool to rapidly obtain rough basic information on the recent trophic development of stratified lakes liable to eutrophication.     

Design,synthesis and biological evaluation of novel dual inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase and β-secretase

To explore novel effective drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a series of dual inhibitors of acetylcholineterase (AChE) and β-secretase (BACE-1) were designed based on the multi-target-directed ligands strategy. Among them, inhibitor 28 exhibited good dual potency in enzyme inhibitory potency assay (BACE-1: IC₅₀ = 0.567 μM; AChE: IC₅₀ = 1.83 μM), and also showed excellent inhibitory effects on Aβ production of APP transfected HEK293 cells (IC₅₀ = 98.7 nM) and mild protective effect against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced PC12 cell injury. Encouragingly, intracerebroventricular injection of 28 into amyloid precursor protein (APP) transgenic mice caused a 29% reduction of Aβ_1–40 production. Therefore, 28 was demonstrated as a good lead compound for the further study and more importantly, the strategy of AChE and BACE-1 dual inhibitors might be a promising direction for developing novel drugs for AD patients.     

Morphological and physiological responses of Triglochin buchenaui K?cke, Mering & Kadereit to various combinations of water and salinity: implications for resilience to climate change

Impacts of abiotic factors on low lying salt marsh species have been closely evaluated as unique stressors, but few studies have determined the physiological and morphological responses to predicted climate change conditions. This study investigated the effects of water state (tidal, flooded and drought) and salinity on Triglochin buchenaui K?cke, Mering and Kadereit, newly separated from the Triglochin bulbosa L. complex. Growth, proline concentration, relative water content, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll concentration and morphological analyses were done following 3?months of treatments. Results showed significant variation in height (7.57?±?0.5?C29?±?1.55?cm, p?<?0.005, df?=?55), leaf area increments and relative growth rates which decreased with increasing salinity under all water states. There was almost a cessation of growth under submergence which reduces the plant??s regeneration potential under these conditions. Proline accumulation (1.84?±?0.23?C3.36?±?0.38?mg?g^?1 DW), response of photosynthetic pigments and electrolyte leakage (8.17?±?0.80?C38.36?±?7.42?%???S?g^?1?FW) were fundamental to osmotic and membrane response regulation. Plants survived in all water states at salinity up to 45?ppt, but the optimum range was 0?C18?ppt, and best water state was the tidal condition. Viable rhizomes were produced under drought conditions but in the absence of seed banks, regeneration of the species following prolonged submergence may not be possible due to absence of both rhizomes and seeds. In their natural habitat, highly succulent T. buchenaui plants (29?±?1.55?cm tall and above) are indicative of freshwater conditions.     

Design,Efficient Synthesis,and Anti‐HIV Activity of 4′‐C‐Cyano‐ and 4′‐C‐Ethynyl‐2′‐deoxy Purine Nucleosides

Some 4′‐C‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxy purine nucleosides showed the most potent anti‐HIV activity among the series of 4′‐C‐substituted 2′‐deoxynucleosides whose 4′‐C‐substituents were methyl, ethyl, ethynyl and so on. Our hypothesis is that the smaller the substituent at the C‐4′ position they have, the more acceptable biological activity they show. Thus, 4′‐C‐cyano‐2′‐deoxy purine nucleosides, whose substituent is smaller than the ethynyl group, will have more potent antiviral activity. To prove our hypothesis, we planned to develop an efficient synthesis of 4′‐C‐cyano‐2′‐deoxy purine nucleosides (4′‐CNdNs) and 4′‐C‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxy purine nucleosides (4′‐EdNs). Consequently, we succeeded in developing an efficient synthesis of six 2′‐deoxy purine nucleosides bearing either a cyano or an ethynyl group at the C‐4′ position of the sugar moiety from 2′‐deoxyadenosine and 2,6‐diaminopurine 2′‐deoxyriboside. Unfortunately, 4′‐C‐cyano derivatives showed lower activity against HIV‐1, and two 4′‐C‐ethynyl derivatives suggested high toxicity in vivo.