Do bushmeat consumers have other fish to fry?

The overexploitation of tropical forests for bushmeat and of the oceans for fish are two of the most important threats to global biodiversity. Both phenomena also have manifold implications for human livelihoods and food security. A recent article by Brashares et al. indicates that these two resources are linked: when regional fish supplies are low, local bushmeat hunting intensifies. Although coordinated management of bushmeat and fisheries is thus needed, gaps in our knowledge of these systems must first be filled.     

Pathophysiology of hypertension in response to placental ischemia during pregnancy: A central role for endothelin?

Background: Preeclampsia is new-onset hypertension with proteinuria during pregnancy. The initiating event in preeclampsia has been postulated to involve reduced placental perfusion, which leads to widespread dysfunction of the maternal vascular endothelium.Objective: The main objective of this brief review was to highlight some of the recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms whereby the endothelin (ET) system, via ET type A (ET_A) receptor activation, modulates blood pressure in preeclamptic women and in animal models of pregnancy-related hypertension.Methods: This review focused on the role of ET and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in preeclampsia, with emphasis on the pathophysiology of hypertension in response to placental ischemia in animal models of pregnancy. Relevant published data were identified by searching PubMed and supplemented with contributions from our laboratory.Results: Studies in preeclamptic women indicate that their hypertension is associated with increases in ET synthesis. Recent studies in pregnant rats indicate that the ET system is activated in response to reductions in uterine perfusion pressure and to chronic elevations in serum TNF-α concentrations. In these 2 animal models, the findings also suggest that ET A receptor activation may play a role in mediating hypertension.Conclusions: Although recent studies in animal models implicate an important role for the ET system in preeclampsia, the usefulness of selective ET A receptor antagonists for the treatment of hypertension in women with preeclampsia remains unclear. This important question will not be answered until well-controlled clinical studies using specific ET A receptor antagonists are conducted for women with preeclampsia.     

Do mares possess an intracellular endometrial inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis during early pregnancy?

Cytosol was prepared from endometrium collected from pregnant or nonpregnant mares 14 d after ovulation and was added to a prostaglandin-generating system (bovine fetal cotyledonary microsomes). Addition of endometrial cytosol from pregnant mares suppressed microsomal synthesis of prostaglandin F, but addition of endometrial cytosol from nonpregnant mares increased microsomal synthesis of prostaglandin F. The results suggest that mares possess an intracellular inhibitor of prostaglandin F synthesis during early pregnancy.     

Ovarian and placental expression of 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase during pregnancy in deer

The enzyme 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (20α-HSD) catalyzes the conversion of progesterone to its inactive form, 20α-hydroxyprogesterone. This enzyme has been shown to play a critical role in the regulation of luteal function in experimental animals. In this study, we cloned and expressed the gene encoding elk deer 20α-HSD from reproductive placental and ovarian tissues. PCR, 3'- and 5'-RACE, and northern blot analysis were performed for the cloning and characterization of deer 20α-HSD gene. We expressed recombinant deer 20α-HSD protein and used western blot analysis to determine protein expression levels in the placenta and ovary during pregnancy. The full cDNA sequence of 20α-HSD was used to clone an open reading frame encoding 323 amino acids and consisting of 1142 bp. The nucleotide sequence of deer 20α-HSD showed high homology with the sequences of the bovine (96%), goat (96%), and human (83%) 20α-HSD genes. 20α-HSD mRNA was strongly expressed in the placenta on days 30, 60, and 70 of pregnancy. A high level of the protein was also detected in the placenta but not in fetal skin tissue. The recombinant 20α-HSD protein produced in mammalian cells and bacterial systems had a molecular weight of approximately 37-kDa. The deer 20α-HSD protein signal was specifically localized in the basal part of the primary chorionic villi and chorionic stem villus of the placenta during early pregnancy. The 20α-HSD protein was also intensively localized in the larger luteal cells of the corpus luteum during pregnancy.     

Do physiological roles foster persistence of drug/multidrug-efflux transporters? A case study

Drug and multidrug resistance have greatly compromised the compounds that were once the mainstays of antibiotic therapy. This resistance often persists despite reductions in the use of antibiotics, indicating that the proteins encoded by antibiotic-resistance genes have alternative physiological roles that can foster such persistence in the absence of selective pressure by antibiotics. The recent observations that Tet(L), a tetracycline-efflux transporter, and MdfA, a multidrug-efflux transporter, both confer alkali tolerance offer a striking case study in support of this hypothesis.     

Does aminoglycoside-acetyltransferase in rapidly growing mycobacteria have a metabolic function in addition to aminoglycoside inactivation?

All the rapidly growing mycobacteria tested, Mycobacterium fortuitum complex, M. smegmatis, M. phlei, and M. vaccae, contained one of two characteristics, but were different from previously recognized aminoglycoside-acetyltransferases. The acetylation reaction of both the enzymes from M. fortuitum and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3-N-acetyltransferase-III) with radiolabeled acetyl coenzyme A was inhibited severely by oxalacetate. It was suggested that the inhibitory effect of oxalacetate is due to the condensation reaction between oxalacetate and acetyl coenzyme A resulting in the generation of citrate.     

Does random blood glucose sampling outdate testing for glycosuria in the detection of diabetes during pregnancy?

A random blood glucose concentration was determined in 2403 pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at between 28 and 32 weeks'' gestation. The calculated 99% cut off values were 6.1 mmol/l (110 mg/100 ml) within two hours after a meal and 5.6 mmol/l (101 mg/100 ml) more than two hours after a meal. Patients with a blood glucose concentration in excess of these values were referred for a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Of 59 referred, four were found to have previously unsuspected but unequivocal diabetes mellitus and another four to have impaired glucose tolerance on the basis of the World Health Organisation''s criteria. Screening all antenatal patients by randomly measuring blood glucose concentrations is not only cheap and efficient but also does not interfere with the routine of busy antenatal clinics.     

Caveolins redistribute in uterine epithelial cells during early pregnancy in the rat: An epithelial polarisation strategy?

At the time of implantation, uterine luminal epithelial cells undergo a dramatic change in all plasma membrane domains. Changes in the basolateral plasma membrane at the time of implantation include progression from smooth to highly tortuous, as well as a loss of integrin-based focal adhesions. Another aspect of the basolateral plasma membrane that has not been studied in uterine epithelial cells are caveolae, which are omega-shaped invaginations of the plasma membrane known to be involved in endocytosis and contribute to membrane curvature. The current study investigated caveolin, a major protein of caveolae, to explore the possible roles that they play in the remodelling of the basolateral plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells during early pregnancy in the rat. Morphological caveolae were found at the time of implantation and were significantly increased compared to day 1 of pregnancy. Caveolins 1 and 2 were found to shift to the basolateral plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells at the time of implantation as well as when treated with progesterone alone, and in combination with oestrogen. A statistically significant increase in the amount of caveolin-1 and a decrease in caveolin-2 protein in uterine epithelial cells was observed at the time of implantation. Caveolin-1 also co-immunoprecipitated with integrin β1 on day 1 of pregnancy, which is a protein that has been reported to be found in integrin-based focal adhesions at the basolateral membrane on day 1 of pregnancy. The localisation and expression of caveolin-1 at the time of implantation is consistent with the presence and increase of morphological caveolae seen at this time. The localisation and expression of caveolins 1 and 2 in luminal uterine epithelium at the time of implantation suggest a role in trafficking proteins and the maintenance of a polarised epithelium.     

Do facts have a place in science?

The use of the word ‘fact’ in science is discussed. It is suggested that the everyday meaning of the term is assumed when it is used in science and that this can create problems. Some possible ways of overcoming these difficulties are indicated.     

Is active glucose transport present in bovine ciliary body epithelium?

Hyperglycemia is a major risk factor for diabetic cataract formation. Effective regulation of glucose transport by the ciliary body epithelium (CBE) is pivotal to normal glycemic control in the anterior eye, which in turn affects the glucose level of the crystalline lens. The present study aimed to characterize the glucose transport mechanisms across the bovine blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) represented by the CBE. With an Ussing-type chamber, the glucose transport kinetics were measured and characterized in the presence and absence of various glucose transporter inhibitors. The saturation characteristics of the CBE to glucose were estimated from an Eadie-Hofstee plot. The mRNA expression of glucose transporters in specific regions of the bovine CBE was assessed using RT-PCR. The trans-CBE glucose flux was found to be sensitive to the glucose transporter inhibitors cytochalasin B, phloretin, and phlorizin. The transport system had a kinetic constant of 5.3 mM and a maximum velocity of 349.5 nmol.h(-1).cm(-2). Gene expression for GLUT1, GLUT3, GLUT4, GLUT5, and SGLT2 was observed in both the pars plana and pars plicata regions of the bovine CBE. This study demonstrates that glucose transport across the bovine CBE is primarily passive in nature. However, the novel findings of 1) the presence of a phlorizin-sensitive glucose flux and 2) gene expression for SGLT2 mean that a potential role for active glucose transport cannot be ruled out. The elucidation of the exact function of SGLT2 in the bovine CBE may shed important light on the glucose transport and physiology of the BAB and inform future studies of glycemic control in relation to diabetic cataract formation.     

Are tyrosine kinases involved in mediating contraction-stimulated muscle glucose transport?

Muscle contractions and insulin stimulate glucose transport into muscle by separate pathways. The contraction-mediated increase in glucose transport is mediated by two mechanisms, one involves the activation of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and the other involves the activation of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CAMKII). The steps leading from the activation of AMPK and CAMKII to the translocation of GLUT4 to the cell surface have not been identified. Studies with the use of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein suggest that one or more tyrosine kinases could be involved in contraction-stimulated glucose transport. The purpose of the present study was to determine the involvement of tyrosine kinases in contraction-stimulated glucose transport in rat soleus and epitrochlearis muscles. Contraction-stimulated glucose transport was completely prevented by pretreatment with genistein (100 microM) and the related compound butein (100 microM). However, the structurally distinct tyrosine kinase inhibitors 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyridine and herbimycin did not reduce contraction-stimulated glucose transport. Furthermore, genistein and butein inhibited glucose transport even when muscles were exposed to these compounds after being stimulated to contract. Muscle contractions did not result in increases in tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins such as proline-rich tyrosine kinase and SRC. These results provide evidence that tyrosine kinases do not mediate contraction-stimulated glucose transport and that the inhibitory effects of genistein on glucose transport result from direct inhibition of the glucose transporters at the cell surface.     

New roles for DIF? Effects on early development in Dictyostelium

The DIFs are unusual, chlorinated molecules which induce stalk cell differentiation during the later, multicellular phase of Dictyostelium development. Here we provide evidence that one or more DIFs have a role during early development, when small amounts are known to be made. Initial indications came from an optical technique which detects changes in shape or cohesion of cells in suspension (Gerisch and Hess, PNAS 71, 2118, 1974). After a period of optical inactivity at the start of development, cell suspensions normally produce spontaneous spike-shaped light-scattering oscillations synchronised by oscillations in extracellular cAMP levels, followed by sinusoidal oscillations where the synchroniser is not known. DIFs 1 and 2 produce optical responses from cells at all these early stages of development. The phase of both spiked and sinusoidal oscillations can be shifted, indicating an effect on the oscillator in each case. We find further: (1) cAMP oscillations and cAMP relay during spiked oscillations are transiently inhibited by DIF-1. (2) DIF-1 causes a transient decrease in cellular cGMP levels in cells taken before oscillations commence and likewise inhibits the cGMP response to a cAMP stimulus in cells taken later in development. Cytoskeletal organization and hence cell shape might be affected by DIF-1 by this indirect route. (3) The effects of DIF-1 are transient, even though it is essentially stable in the cell suspension. Cells somehow adapt to DIF-1. (4) The effects are chemically specific: DIF-1 and DIF-2 are active at 10(-7) to 10(-8) M, with DIF-2 being the more active, whereas related compounds have little or no activity at 10(-6) M. These results indicate that cells are responsive to DIFs 1 and 2 from the start of development and suggest a wider role for the DIFs. This role might involve effects on cAMP signalling and on intracellular second messengers.     

Plasma C-peptide concentration in women with Type 1 diabetes during early and late pregnancy

Diabet. Med. 29, e361-e364 (2012) ABSTRACT: Aims There are previous suggestions of increased C-peptide concentration in women with Type?1 diabetes during pregnancy. Our aim was to re-evaluate the hypothesis of a pregnancy-induced increase by measuring plasma C-peptide concentration in women with stable blood glucose control under standardized fasting and meal-stimulated conditions. Methods Ten women with Type 1 diabetes; median age 31.1?years, median diabetes duration 19?years, median HbA(1c) 52?mmol/mol (6.9%) were admitted to a clinical research facility for two 24-h visits in early (12-16?weeks) and late (28-32?weeks) pregnancy. Women They ate standardized study meals - 80-g carbohydrate dinner, 60-g carbohydrate breakfast, and fasted between meals and overnight. Closed-loop insulin delivery maintained stable and comparable glycaemic conditions. Paired samples for plasma glucose and C-peptide were obtained. Results Plasma glucose levels were comparable in early (median 6.5?mmol/l; interquartile range 5.6-8.6) and late pregnancy (median 7.0?mmol/l; interquartile range 6.1-7.8; P?=?0.72). There was no change in fasting or meal-stimulated plasma C-peptide concentration from early to late pregnancy; mean difference 4.0?pmol/l (95%?CI -6.0 to 7.0; P?=?0.9). Four women had detectable C-peptide; peak (range) early vs. late pregnancy 48.5 (10-115) vs. 40.0?pmol/l (80-105); P?=?0.5, which was weakly associated with plasma glucose; R(2) =?0.15, P?相似文献   

Is glucose transport enhanced in virus-transformed mammalian cells? A dissenting view

Much of the literature on the uptake of glucose by untransformed and transformed animal cells is based on experiments carried out with 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DOG). Results obtained with this analog can be ambiguous, since 2-DOG can be phosphorylated by hexokinases of animal cells. An intracellular trapping mechanism is thus provided. Therefore, the total flux of 2-DOG into the cell is a resultant of both transport and hexokinase action, and the measurement of total 2-DOG incorporation is a valid measurement of transport only if 2-DOG is phosphorylated as rapidly as it enters the cell. Evidence is presented here that this is not necessarily the case, significant levels of free intracellular 2-DOG approaching external concentrations were found in untransformed and transformed mouse 3T3 cells even at early times during uptake. Differences in total intracellular 2-DOG between untransformed and transformed cells were accounted for entirely by 2-deoxyglucose phosphate. Thus, it appears the apparent increase of 2-DOG uptake accompanying transformation in these cell lines is not due to an effect on the transport process, but on enhanced phosphorylation, which is a reflection of an alteration in the regulation of glycolysis. The ambiguity introduced by phosphorylation can be oviated by the use of an analog that cannot be phosphorylated, such as 3-O-methyl-D-glucose. The rate of transport and efflux of this sugar was not found to be different in untransformed versus transformed 3T3 cells. Moreover, deficiencies of this analog as a substrate for the glucose transport system are pointed out.     

Do you have a probiotic in your future?

The possibility of using microbes to maintain health, and to prevent or treat disease is a topic as old as microbiology. However, one factor impeding the introduction of effective probiotics has been our very limited understanding of the composition of the human microbiome, as well as the biological requirements for these organisms. With advances in understanding the microbiome and its metagenome in humans and other mammals, we now can build a more robust scientific basis to develop probiotic strategies. Increasing knowledge of intramicrobial competition and cooperation, as well as host-microbe cross-signaling, will facilitate design of new probiotics and the modeling of their deployment, leading to eventual clinical trials.     

Do freshwater plants have adaptive responses to typhoon-impacted regimes?

In tropical regimes, cyclones exert great influence on the local aquatic habitats. The objective of our study was to investigate if aquatic plants have an adaptive response to typhoon influence. Population traits of six aquatic species in different life-forms (emergent species: Scirpus triangulatus, Eleocharis plantagineiformis, Rotala rotundifolia, Eriocaulon buergerianum; submerged: Blyxa echinosperma; floating-leaved: Nymphoides indica) were investigated to compare intraspecific variations in high and low typhoon-impacted regions on Hainan Island in southern China. In the high typhoon-impacted region, there was greater belowground biomass allocation in both emergent and floating-leaved species. The ratio of belowground to total biomass of each emergent was 41% (P = 0.028), 38% (P = 0.034), 27% (P = 0.040), 19% (P = 0.043) greater respectively, and floating-leaved N. indica was 40% (P = 0.014) greater than in the low typhoon region. The stem height of relatively tall emergent species (S. triangulatus and E. plantagineiformis) was 35% (P = 0.033), 42% (P = 0.046) lower, and floating-leaved species N. indica had decreased leaf area (49%, P < 0.001) and number (30%, P < 0.001) on water surface in the high typhoon-impacted region than in the low. These adaptations of the plants will reduce their risk of mechanical damage from strong winds or wind-induced currents. Submerged species in the study showed no variation in traits between the high and low typhoon-impacted regions.