Plasma α- and γ-tocopherol have different pattern during normal human pregnancy

Plasma - and -tocopherol were monitored in pregnant women throughout healthy gestational periods and after delivery and were compared with that of non pregnant women. The mean plasma -tocopherol and -tocopherol concentrations in non pregnant Saudi women (15.2 ± 1.3 and 1.8 ± 0.2 ol/l respectively) were found within normal range. The maternal plasma -tocopherol level steadily increased reaching maximum level (19.1 ± 1.6 mol/l) at late gestation and then gradually decreased after delivery. On the contrary, the optimum level of -tocopherol (2.1 ± 0.2 mol/l) was at mid gestation, followed by a progressive decrease until one month after delivery (1.5 ± 0.1 ol/l). This study shows that the maternal plasma - and -tocopherol have different profiles that may be attributed to their different responses to the changes in maternal lipids during pregnancy.     

Auxin-cytokinin synergism in vitro for producing genetically stable plants of Ruta graveolens using shoot tip meristems

An efficient micropropagation protocol was developed for Ruta graveolens Linn. using shoot tip meristems derived from a 4-month-old field grown plant. In vitro shoot regeneration and proliferation was accomplished on Murashige and Skoogs (MS) semi-solid medium in addition to different doses of cytokinins viz.6- benzyl adenine (BA), Kinetin (Kn) or 2-isopetynyl adenine (2iP), singly or in combination with auxins viz. indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). Highest regeneration frequency (27.6%) was obtained on (MS) medium composed of BA (10 µM) with maximum number (9.4) of shoots and 4.3 cm shoot length after 4 weeks of incubation. Among various combinations tried best regeneration frequency (71%) of multiple shoot formation with highest number (12.6) of shoots per shoot tip explants were achieved in MS medium augmented with a combination BA (10.0 µM) and NAA (2.5 µM) after 4 weeks of incubation. The optimum frequency (97%) of rhizogenesis was achieved on half-strength MS medium having 0.5 µM IBA after 4 weeks of incubation. Tissue culture raised plantlets with 5–7 fully opened leaves with healthy root system were successfully acclimatized off in Soilrite? with 80% survival rate followed by transportation to normal soil under natural light. Genetic stability among in vitro raised progeny was evaluated by ISSR and RAPD markers. The entire banding pattern revealed from in vitro regenerated plants was monomorphic to the donor. The present protocol provides an alternative option for commercial propagation and fruitful setting up of genetically uniform progeny for sustainable utilization and germplasm preservation.     

Profiling of phosphoinositide molecular species in human and mouse platelets identifies new species increasing following stimulation

Phosphoinositides are bioactive lipids essential in the regulation of cell signaling as well as cytoskeleton and membrane dynamics. Their metabolism is highly active in blood platelets where they play a critical role during activation, at least through two well identified pathways involving phospholipase C and phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K). Here, using a sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method recently developed, we monitored for the first time the profiling of phosphatidylinositol (PI), PIP, PIP₂ and PIP₃ molecular species (fatty-acyl profiles) in human and mouse platelets during the course of stimulation by thrombin and collagen-related peptide. Furthermore, using class IA PI3K p110α or p110β deficient mouse platelets and a pharmacological inhibitor, we show the crucial role of p110β and the more subtle role of p110α in the production of PIP₃ molecular species following stimulation. This comprehensive platelet phosphoinositides profiling provides important resources for future studies and reveals new information on phosphoinositides biology, similarities and differences in mouse and human platelets and unexpected dramatic increase in low-abundance molecular species of PIP₂ during stimulation, opening new perspectives in phosphoinositide signaling in platelets.     

Nature and distribution of porosity and permeability in jurassic carbonate reservoirs of the Arabian Gulf basin

Summary The Middle-Upper Jurassic section in the Arabian Gulf basin forms one of the most prolific sequences in the world, in which an excellent combination of source, reservoir and seal rocks was developed within a major sedimentary cycle. The sequence consists of a) relatively quiet deep-water mudstone, wackestone and shale (source facies), b) shallow-water high enery grainstone and packstone (reservoir facies), and c) very shallow supratidal anhydrite (seal facies). The principal factors, which controlled the sedimentation of this sequence, are considered to have been eustatic sea-level change and epeirogenic movement of carbonate shelves. The Jurassic reservoirs of the major oil fields in this region show exceptionally high porosity up to 30% for their relatively old geologic age (some 150 million years old) and depths of burial in the range between 1,200 and more than 2,700 m. Porosity occurs most commonly as intergranular/remnant primary pore spaces, but its distribution is quite uneven and very complicated. To account for the existence of such high porosity (and permeability) in the Jurassic reservoirs, probable geological, physical and chemical factors for preserving and enhancing porosity (and permeability), such as acidic formation fluids, reduced fluid mobility, tectonic forces, ductility of intercalated beds (e.g. anhydrite), and dolomitization were examined. It has been observed in various fields in the region that oilsaturated portions of the Jurassic reservoirs tend to retain higher porosity than the surrounding water-saturated zones. Porosity preservation by hydrocarbons is possible primarily because of excess hydrocarbon pressure and of reduced mobility of water in such oil-saturated zones. To continue sediment diagenesis, a steady supply of minerals by formation water and the mobility of the water may have been essential. Because the entrapment of oil in the Jurassic reservoirs in the region is considered to have been as late as early Tertiary, some other (pre-migration) mechanisms which may have worked in the earlier geologic stages for preserving and creating porosity (and permeability) seem to be necessary.     

Cryptosphaeria Canker of Populus nigra Caused by Cryptosphaeria pullmanensis,a New Threat to Poplar Industry in Iran

Trunk diseases are potential threats to the poplar industry worldwide, including Iran. A survey on trunk diseases of Populus nigra in north‐western Iran revealed a new canker disease associated with dieback and decline of this host in West Azarbaijan Province of Iran. Wood samples were collected from poplar trees showing canker, dieback and decline symptoms and taken to the laboratory. A total of 173 fungal isolates were recovered from symptomatic tissues, of those 147 isolates had similar cultural and morphological features on potato dextrose agar. Based on a combination of morphological characteristics and phylogenetic inferences including DNA sequence data from the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, and ITS2), all 147 isolates were identified as Cryptosphaeria pullmanensis. The remaining 26 isolates were identified as Cytospora chrysosperma. Pathogenicity of Cr. pullmanensis on two‐year‐old P. nigra and Populus alba saplings under glasshouse conditions confirmed that Cr. pullmanensis is pathogenic on P. nigra and P. alba. Cryptosphaeria pullmanensis is here reported from Iran causing Cryptosphaeria canker on poplar trees for the first time. However, its host range, the extent of geographical distribution and management strategies remain to be examined.     

A new ant species of the Leptogenys sulcinoda-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Saudi Arabia

Leptogenys polaszeki sp. n. is described from the Asir Mountains, Saudi Arabia, based on the worker caste. The new species is a member of the L. sulcinoda-group and appears closest to L. bellii Emery, 1901, originally described from Ethiopia. The likely male caste of L. polaszeki sp. n. is described based on a single specimen collected by a pitfall trap in the type locality.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:5D3BF3AF-5308–48E8–8416–902278909AD5     

Lipid changes occuring in the course of hematological cancers

The relationship between plasma lipid levels and mortality from cardiovascular diseases has been shown in many studies, but there has been far less investigation into their relationship to non-cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the lipid profile of individuals with hematological malignancies and its relationship to disease activity. 238 patients were included in the study: 84 with acute leukemia, 62 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, 35 with Hodgkin's lymphoma, 32 with multiple myeloma, and 25 with myeloproliferative syndrome. The HDL cholesterol level of the patients differed to that of the individuals in the control group in the active disease period for all the analyzed disorders, but only remained statistically significant in the acute leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma groups during the remission period. Smaller differences were observed for the remaining lipid fractions, except for the triglyceride level, which increased in the active disease period in all the analyzed disorders except non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The most pronounced changes in the lipid fractions occurred in the HDL cholesterol level, and were the most remarkable for acute leukemia.     

Safety and immunogenicity of the candidate tuberculosis vaccine MVA85A in West Africa

Background

Vaccination with a recombinant modified vaccinia Ankara expressing antigen 85A from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, MVA85A, induces high levels of cellular immune responses in UK volunteers. We assessed the safety and immunogenicity of this new vaccine in West African volunteers.

Methods and Findings

We vaccinated 21 healthy adult male subjects (11 BCG scar negative and 10 BCG scar positive) with MVA85A after screening for evidence of prior exposure to mycobacteria. We monitored them over six months, observing for clinical, haematological and biochemical adverse events, together with assessment of the vaccine induced cellular immune response using ELISPOT and flow cytometry. MVA85A was well tolerated with no significant adverse events. Mild local and systemic adverse events were consistent with previous UK trials. Marked immunogenicity was found whether individuals had a previous BCG scar or not. There was not enhanced immunogenicity in those with a BCG scar, and induced T cell responses were better maintained in apparently BCG-naïve Gambians than previously studied BCG-naïve UK vaccinees. Although responses were predominantly attributable to CD4+ T cells, we also identified antigen specific CD8+ T cell responses, in subjects who were HLA B-35 and in whom enough blood was available for more detailed immunological analysis.

Conclusions

These data on the safety and immunogenicity of MVA85A in West Africa support its accelerated development as a promising booster vaccine for tuberculosis.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT00423839","term_id":"NCT00423839"}}NCT00423839     

Assessment of farmers practices to date palm soil fertilization and its impact on productivity at Al-Hassa oasis of KSA

Al-Hassa oasis is considered as the biggest irrigated one in the World, being well known for its extensive date palm cultivation with an estimate of at least three million trees. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of soil fertilization practices on the productivity potential of date palm trees grown under the climatic conditions of Al-Hassa oasis, KSA. The opinions of 258 active farmers were randomly surveyed using specifically designed questioners that were also fortified with personal communications. The size of the samples was designated in accordance to Cocoran equation. The total samples were allocated into two major parts (193 for the old oasis and 65 for the new oasis). Results showed that the farm features (utilized agricultural area (UAA), ownership and labors) are different in both parts of the oasis. Fertilization practices (quantity applied per area or per tree) were diverse causing dissimilar productivity potentials (total or per area or tree). The average production of a tree in the old oasis is 81.4 kg, whilst it is 54.6 kg in the new oasis. Date palm production is significantly affected by total number of trees, applied fertilizer quantity, cultivated area and labor power. The impact of these factors is unlike between the two parts of the oasis. It is then concluded from the study that there are sincere needs for improving the soil fertilization practiced for the date palm trees grown in the Al-Hassa oasis, KSA in order to increase their productivity potential and hence improve the farmers' income.     

ZnCl2 catalyzed new coumarinyl-chalcones as cytotoxic agents

A new series of coumarin-yl-chalcone derivatives (3a-m) had been designed and synthesized through different reactions such as aromatic addition, cyclization and Claisen-Schmidt reactions in good yields (54–78%). 5-acetyl-4-(2-hydroxyphenyl) -6-methyl-3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H) -one (1) has been synthesized by multi-component one pot reaction of salicylaldehyde, methyl acetoacetate and urea, which was further reacted with malonic acid employing ZnCl₂ catalyst to yield 5-acetyl-4-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-8-yl) -6-methyl-3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H) -one (2). The title compounds (3a-m) were synthesised by reacting 5-acetyl-4-(4-hydroxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-8-yl) -6-methyl-3, 4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one (2) with different aromatic aldehydes in the presence of potassium hydroxide. In silico studies, a preliminary screening method for predicting the anti-cancer activity was performed for the synthesized compounds (3a-m) against Src, Alb tyrosine kinase and homology model protein (PDB ID: 4csv). The derivatives 3h and 3m showed moderate binding energies. The in vitro cytotoxic activity was evaluated for the compounds 3h and 3m by using human cancer cell-line morphology and MTT assay against three human cell-lines A549 (Lung), Jurkat (Leukemia) and MCF-7 (Breast). The results indicate that the derivatives 3h and 3m display significant anti-cancer activity, however it was found to be less cytotoxic when compared to the standard used i.e. Imatinib.